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Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee, Okauchee Lake, WI

Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee

4.6
4.6
55 Reviews
$30 and under
Barbecue

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 15 times today
  • Great for scenic views
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
For the last 18 years, Joe Hennes and his wife Ellen have been building a family-oriented meeting place for friends to gather at Sloppy Joe's Saloon and Spoon in Hubertus. In December 2020, they purchased this property, and brought the philosophy of food, fun, and laughter from Washington County to Lake Country. They renamed the property Smoke on the Water to reflect the revamped menu which includes a large selection of home-smoked meat items. Open jams, live music, karaoke and fun events are already a regular part of the experience.

And after a decade of the lower level sitting vacant, they just launched "Below Deck," a brand new state of the art banquet facility and live music venue that accommodates about 250 people.

Whether arriving by land or sea, you'll enjoy Lake Country's best lake-vibe barbecue, cocktails, live music & friends.

Experience Smoke on the Water - where strangers become friends, and friends become family.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–23:00 Sat 16:00–22:00 Sun 11:00–20:00
  • Phone number
    (262) 468-5012
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 55 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Wisconsin

    Great for scenic views

  • Milwaukee

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Milwaukee

    Great for scenic views

  • Milwaukee

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee offers "excellent smoked BBQ" with stunning lake views that enhance a memorable dining experience. Guests rave about the "gorgeous sunset" views and attentive service, particularly from standout servers like Jill and Shannon. Popular menu items include brisket and seafood, making it a top dining choice.

55 Reviews
  1. Joe

    Milwaukee

    29 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Smoke on the Water was a good overall experience. Visited on a Sunday night so the restaurant was mostly empty, so service was attentive and food came quickly. Food was pretty good, not great - table had a variety of dishes, sentiment was the same across the board. Would be a great spot in summer with the patio, will come back again when the weather is nicer to give it another try.

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  2. Chip

    Denver

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 9 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent drinks and service. The food was great as well. Had the brisket and smoked chicken platter. It was a very large portion for the price. We’ll be back.

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  3. Richard

    Milwaukee

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 4 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another great experience at Smoke on the Water! We love the feel of the restaurant and the people there. It is definitely worth our drive! We brought family to celebrate a birthday and not a single person was disappointed with their food. We loved that the owners came to say hi and check how our experience was (as always). They even wished my spouse a happy birthday and offered him a dessert or birthday drink. We love that the food is great and the prices aren't out of this world expensive. You get great food at a good price. We highly recommend Smoke on the Water. It's a place to impress guests, a date night or even just a place to make new friends with the great, welcoming staff.

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  4. Patti

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our server, Amber, did a great job! The food was excellent!

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  5. Anita

    Milwaukee

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 26 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Probably unfair to judge a dinner during a Badger Game, costume party and band regarding noise level, but based on today’s service and previous visits, I would definitely recommend Smoke on the Water to others.

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  6. Mary

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 23 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pretty place for lunch and to look out on the lake.

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  7. Susan

    New York City

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 22 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server, Shannon, was terrific. She reviewed the menu quickly and cheerfully. Our food arrived quickly, and the brisket salad was yummy. Great water view.

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  8. Eileen

    Milwaukee

    16 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 19 October 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Waited over 30 minutes for a server to come to our table to take our order. She apologized for the wait. Took our drink order and food order. Food came out, but no drinks. We were just about finished, didn’t see our server, so asked someone to check on our drinks. Shortly , One drink was served, but waited 15 minutes for the second one (again had to ask when our drink would arrive). We won’t be back.

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  9. ChristinaK

    Milwaukee

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 19 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Server Jill was the best - super friendly and went out of her way to ensure my husband was able to get his favorite dessert. The sunset view on the deck is always gorgeous and the brisket is delicious. We have been here when it is crazy busy but the servers are always attentive and take the time to make sure our dining experience is enjoyable. One of our favorite places to go - we always leave happy.

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  10. Jon

    Chicago

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 19 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice! Sat outside so enjoyed the lake view. Did not feel rushed.

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FAQs

Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee is rated 4.6 stars by 55 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 15 times today
Google Map for Smoke on the Water BBQ Okauchee

N50W35016 Wisconsin Ave, Okauchee Lake, WI 53069

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    Oconomowoc
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–23:00 Sat 16:00–22:00 Sun 11:00–20:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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  • Terms of Use
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