Posted on Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 4:08 p.m.
Southern-style barbecue restaurant opens on West Michigan Avenue
By Chelsea Hoedl
A new southern-style barbecue restaurant opened Aug. 1 on West Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti Township, according to Concentrate Media.
DJ’s Kitchen and Dining Smokehouse, 1004 West Michigan Ave., serves all of its own sauces, smokes all of its own meat and makes all of its dishes to order, the story said.
The 1,100-square-foot space has a 26-person dining capacity, but owner Justin Allen plans to expand by creating a patio for additional seating and renovating the second floor in the future, Concentrate said.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.
Comments
John
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Washtenaw Co is on the fast-track to being Michigan's BBQ capitol. I can't say that makes me at all sad. Looking forward to trying it out.
Lawrence La Fountain
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:23 a.m.
The website has a different address, 1004 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI
John
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 5 p.m.
Rut-roh, looks like the website exceeded the traffic limit. I guess that means people are interested though!
Chelsea Hoedl
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:25 a.m.
The address is 1004 W Michigan Ave. and has been corrected in the story. I apologize for the mistake.
Lawrence La Fountain
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:24 a.m.
This is the website: http://djsdining.com/ PHONE: 734-340-5248 LOCATION & HOURS 1004 West Michigan Ave. Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Open 6 Days a week Tuesday-Saturday 11am - 10pm Sunday 9am - 3pm Monday Closed
M
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:36 a.m.
I ate there when it opened. Food was absolutely horrible and I will never go back. Meat had absolutely no smoke flavor, sauce was gross, corn bread tasted like it was made from a box, and mac and cheese was completely dry. This was the first time I ever threw BBQ food out and did not finish it or save it for later. Save your money and go with Red Rocks, Satchels, Boogie Woogie, and Ron's Roadside. All are a million times better than this attempt at BBQ.
Cmac
Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
I have been to DJS 3 times and have tried something different every time. Nothing "m" is saying is true at all in my opinion. All the food was great as well as the service. I recommend everyone goes to DJS! "M" you you should stay off of the internet with your disrespectful comments. People like you are what is wrong with online feedback.
Smokehouse
Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
You got jokes! Its good to have a sense of humor! So far your the only one complaining about anything we have been doing here. In one week we already have a lot of repeat customers. What does that tell you? It's not the food and its not us! hmm... Once again I will mention that I'll have a BBQ throw down anywhere, anytime!!
M
Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 6:29 a.m.
I really can't wait for other to try this, and for the yelp reviews to come in. Meat tastes like it came from an oven. No sign or smell of any smoking going on here...at least not in terms of food. Sauce was warm, chunky, and a hybrid of can and blah. Please don't ever put your "BBQ" up against any place in town- you'll be so butt hurt by the experience. Trust me, check yelp in a few weeks, this is the bottom of the barrel.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.
Yes, great chicken takes time! I want my chicken fresh fried, not sitting under heat lamps. It is worth the wait.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.
We honestly have only had 2 complaints. They were not because the food was bad either. It was because the friend chicken takes a good 15 to cook and the customer was on happy with the wait time. The one customer was so happy after he ate his fried chicken he made us a little drawing. A big smiley face. Around the face he wrote several nice comments about how good the food was. Even stating that it was well worth the wait!
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:35 p.m.
Did you call, complain or return the food? If not, why not? If it was as you say, I would have demanded a refund. "Sauce was gross" ... what does that even mean? Usually words like "too sweet" "too oily" would be used. It is hard to believe *everything* was as bad as you say, because they wouldn't last a week serving that, and the reviews would be horrible.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:07 a.m.
Can't please everyone. Sorry you had a bad experience with us but your comments are ridiculous. I'll put our BBQ up against anyone.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:29 a.m.
wait...! is this where that yellow mexican restaurant with the reflective windows was? all I have to say is location...location...location...
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:02 a.m.
Yes, we are located in what used to be a bright yellow mexican restaurant. We toned down the outside with a new paint.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
your map linky doesn't work...
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.
smokehouse, i meant aanews linky didn't work. (they didn't have one)
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
I was just on our website and the map link was working. I understand our website has had some flaws depending on what browser you are using. I'll get to work on that and make sure it's working properly for all browsers. Thank you for the heads up on that!!
Basic Bob
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:19 a.m.
I can't wait to try the greens and hush puppies. I was hoping for fried okra and banana pudding.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:59 a.m.
Banana Pudding will be a special we run. It was hard for me to leave that off the menu. Same for the fried okra. We have a pretty wide range of sides and in an attempt to keep to menu short we left off the fried okra.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.
You can check out our website to see our full menu. You can also follow us on facebook. We will be posting weekly, monthly and Chefs specials from time to time on facebook. Our weekly specials once we have them set will remain the same every week. Our monthly and chefs specials will continue to change. All of our specials will be items that you will not find on our menu. Otherwise it would not be a special! Hope to see you all very soon!
Cash
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:14 p.m.
Can't wait to try it and we wont' be waiting long! :-) Thanks for taking a chance opening a business for those of us in eastern Washtenaw County....we love BBQ!
Cash
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 10:41 p.m.
Their FB page and other pages show their address as 1004 West Michigan. Chelsea, can you verify the address? Thanks.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:56 a.m.
Its in Ypsilanti
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:26 a.m.
ypsilanti or chelsea? (read start of this post...)
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:18 a.m.
Our address is 1004 W Michigan Ave.
Billy
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 10:12 p.m.
I would like to point out....THEY HAVE POUTINE!!!!!!!!! Wait.....let me say that again....THEY HAVE POUTINE!!!!!!
A2JetSet
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:51 p.m.
If it's half as good as the poutine at Grange, I'm there!
Jonathan Blutarsky
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:57 a.m.
I've got to check it out. Bona Sera (Dowtown Ypsilanti) does a spin on putine with duck fat & gnocchi on a regular basis - it ain't traditional but it does rock.
Stephanie
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
Where exactly is this place?
trespass
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 9:34 a.m.
@Smokehouse- The original article in Concentrate says 2300 W Michigan Ave. You might want to correct that.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:18 a.m.
We are located on Michigan ave and Warner. The address is 1004 W Michigan ave.
blueeyedpupil
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
now the most important question, do you delver? food looks wonderful cant wait to try it. good prices too.
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:17 a.m.
Yes we do deliver! We use Good Guys Delivery for our delivery services
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 9:31 p.m.
Their menu terminology is a little ambiguous. In some places they say meat is smoked, in other places they say it is slow cooked. "Our tender, meaty pork spare ribs are slow cooked for 4-5 hours " Slow cooked or smoked? There is a big difference. I'm sure we're all tired of "slow cooked" ribs that have liquid smoke added, etc. It is probably smoked, and if so, they might want to correct the menu.
Nicholas Urfe
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:47 a.m.
Figured that was the case. Looking forward to trying them!
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:22 a.m.
Our Spare Ribs are smoked for between 4-5hrs until tender. The menu has the spare ribs listed as being from the smoker. However the description does say they are slow cooked
cinnabar7071
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 9:39 p.m.
I slow cook my BBQ with smoke (apple or hickory, sometimes both), but I was up north last month at a BBQ joint and the lady said they didn't use smoke, I left.
cinnabar7071
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 9:10 p.m.
Any idea what type of wood they smoke with?
Smokehouse
Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
We smoke with Cherry wood
lynel
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 8:47 p.m.
Oh, my!! Look at the pictures and the menu, can't wait to get over there!
treetowncartel
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 8:31 p.m.
Mmmm barbecue, I'll be there soon