Smoke Shop BBQ Will Fully Renovate Kendall Square Space Before Opening

Andy Husbands and Brian Lesser shared a bit more about their upcoming Smoke Shop barbecue restaurant with the Cambridge Licensing Commission last week, and Cambridge Day was there. (Note: The restaurant will be called Smoke Shop, not Smoke Shack, as the Day refers to it.)

Namely, Husbands (Tremont 647, Sister Sorel) and Lesser (Sweet Cheeks Q, Tavern Road, Storyville, etc.) plan a full renovation of the former Tommy Doyle's space at One Kendall Square, with work to begin in earnest in August. Husbands pushed back the previously-announced "fall" opening timeline to the more vague "prior to the end of the year," according to the Day.

Construction will include taking over some of Tommy Doyle's extensive outdoor patio for more indoor seating, ending up with 40 seats outside. Last week, Smoke Shop was approved for 149 seats inside, plus room for 31 to stand. While reconfiguring the interior — Lesser called the current layout "a little too disconnected" — Smoke Shop will add a counter for take-out service, the Day reports.

When Smoke Shop opens later this year, it will offer a menu from a World Barbecue Champion, featuring platters with choices such as competition ribs, Texas hot links, and agave barbecue wings; meat boards "served with appropriate sauces" and items like jowl bacon, jerk pork belly, and "pig candy;" and other appetizers, snacks, and accompaniments. The Day notes there will be one "whole hog" available per night that serves 10 people.