WHAT WERE THEY SMOKING? (The Smoke Joint)

My search for the best hot dog in New York continues….

Is it me or is the Smoke Joint not just a reference to a place to hang out and eat BBQ? It’s been a long time since I indulged in the other sort of smoked joint I’m referring to, but my guess is the Fort Greene BBQ spot is a definite double entendre.

A hot dog with pulled pork might have been one of those things I thought up in college after one too many smoked joints. But it’s something this place serves every single day. And they’ve gotten a lot of press for it over the years.

I’ve enjoyed the BBQ here in the past, but never thought of it as game changing food. So I was surprised to discover their hot dog being so buzzed about. In concept, it reminded me a little of Ditch Plains hot dog topped with mac and cheese. But this didn’t work nearly as well as that creamy porky creation.

First off, I found the hot dog (which is from a lesser-known brand called Hatfield) overdone. It was dry and featured no discernible snap. It had some salty and garlicky flavors but they got lost underneath more meat.

The pulled pork’s peppery chew didn’t add any moisture to the dog. I’m realizing if I want something to top my dog, it’s got to be some sort of sauce, flavor enhancer, or contrasting texture. This didn’t work as either. It was rather frustrating because I wanted to love it. Sounds like a perfect match. Dousing it with sweet BBQ sauce and mustard helped, but I got very confused about what I was eating.

Perhaps this combination could work if executed a little differently with some more sauce or beans or something. The menu claims this is the best hot dog in Brooklyn. Now I know they’re smoking more than just meat!

Does The Smoke Joint have the best hot dog in NY? In my estimation, not even in Brooklyn. Even without the extra pulled pork, the dog was overgrilled and dry. 6 out of 10.