The service was good, very friendly and the food is fantastic. Ordering process is a little confusing so be patient. Overall good place to go.
One of the best meals I've had. Went with a few friends to chat and share some food after a hike and it was a great atmosphere to chat and share some food. Really great service sitting at the bar. Beer and food came quickly. The brisket was my favourite, it melted in your mouth. My only complaint would be that the chicken was a little dry but besides that I loved it!
I wanted to love this place as Hamilton really needs an authentic southern smokehouse and Saltlick is close but not quite there yet.
The service was friendly though somewhat of an afterthought. As for the food itself: fried chicken was tasty, the ribs were OK. Slightly underdone, as it took a little too much force to get them off the bone (although I'd much rather have them served like this than overcooked and completely fall of the bone).
The brisket.... So close! Cooked perfectly, by why ruin all those hours of slow cooking and fat rendering, by covering up the smokey flavor with far too much sub par BBQ sauce.
Keep doing what you're doing, but let the smoke speak for itself and put the sauce on the side where it belongs.
After hearing about Saltlick’s opening on James Street North in Hamilton, I was on a mission to try it out. Why? Because it’s a smokehouse. I discovered my love for the smoky flavour when I sat in front of my first campfire. I instantly relax whenever I think about the comforting, warm aroma. My first encounter with smoked food was a slice of smoked salmon and since then I never stopped eating it. Years later, I tried my first block of smoked cheddar and decided that my life needed more of it.
Everything is amazing! I usually go for the pork belly banh mi and the brisket mac & cheese. This place is designed to serve groups, so round up some folks and get some platters.
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Table of 12 went there tonight. The place smells wonderful and is clean with the choices on chalkboards. The table orders together and picks 2-4 choices of meat to go with 2 types of sides. This is all served family style. Our group settled on pulled bbq pork- mouth watering and wonderfully flavoured, bbq ribs- crispy on outside with a perfect amount of sauce and spices, bbq chicken- tasty and juicy however, there were 7 x 1/4 chicken legs for our group. We had to cut the legs without any utensils that could do that easily, We also had flat steak cut into slices that many agreed was melt in your mouth tender with great flavouring. The sides we chose were mac and cheese with brisket- I would highly recommend, and we wanted a lighter option so we chose a cucumber salad- Just ok. ne of our party tasted the trio gelato- a scoop each of blueberry, lemon and vanilla. It was excellent to finish the meal. Our highlights for the evening beside the food was the absolute wonderful waitress who took our large group in stride with a smile. We changed reservations at the last minute and she adapted as if it was no big deal. The down points were there arent utensils to serve all these items. A few tongs and a sharp knife would make this dinner perfect. Lastly afer eating all this bbq with fingers this plce ran out of wet naps. When a place that serves this type of food with no wet way of washing fingers should get out and buy some fast. They should never run out. I am looking forward to going back for sure. Loved the meat.
My favourite lunch spot in Hamilton. When you first walk in you will notice simple decor, with a clean and warm atmosphere. The menus are written on the walls, so don't be afraid to scope out all the signs.
Every time we have been here, one the the staff always acknowledges us immediately, and invite us the sit anywhere we want. They are all really polite and knowledgeable about the menu.
All food items are served on wood planks, family style. They may appear to have a limited menu, but it's clearly because they have specialized what they offer. This time we opted for the brisket sandwich with the mac and cheese side. The food itself is wonderful; brisket was really juicy and packed with flavour. Small details like the sauce in the sandwiches is what makes the meal. The mac and cheese is more on the mild side, but the flavourful brisket pieces in it are a perfect compliment to the side-- I hope they never change how they prepare it!
Can't wait for next time. Been there twice now. Foods awesome. Great cuts well prepared. Nice space. I'll be back again and again!
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Meat heaven. This spot was once McCartney & Son's (soup, sandwich and salads), but, has been transformed into Salt Lick Smokehouse in downtown Hamilton. Chef Shane McCartney is still running the kitchen and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here.
You have a choice of meats from beef, pork, and chicken (all broken down by cuts diagrammed perfectly on the wall). Meals are served family style so everyone can share. We went with Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, pork belly, and Wagyu steak. 5 meats and 2 sides were $26 per person.
The ribs and brisket had a great bark on them and both were tender and flavorful. The Wagyu steak was cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. Would definitely recommend the bacon wrapped pork belly as well, melt in your mouth goodness. The mac and cheese was a solid side but it was missing that cheesy punch I was looking for (perhaps the onion and brisket in it were overshadowing it). The cornbread had cheese and jalapeno in it and while the flavor was tasty, I found it to be really dense. Minor gripes in an otherwise fantastic meal.
The Hammer has limited options for BBQ, and only one downtown that I can think of (Rolly Rockets). Salt Lick Smokehouse should be an excellent addition to James Street North. I will definitely be going back.
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