Smoking meats is gaining popularity across the city and why not? It’s awesome. There’s something about smoke and meat that is just so alluring, even intoxicating. So when the Blacksmith opened in place of the lackluster Range at the Wyndham Dubai Marina it was all systems go for a visit!

On the first stop by it was almost impossible to get a table. Turns out a lot of people are just as excited about the effect fire has on various cuts of meat as I am. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and left us wanting more, especially since the Texas Brisket Sandwich and BBQ Beef Short Rib were so good. 

On to round two and for some inexplicable reason, the same thing that happened on the second visit to Mighty Quinn’s happened here at The Blacksmith. Call it the sophomore jinx but low and behold the smoker was out of action due to a major overhaul being undertaken to boost it’s magical smoking capacity. This rendered the menu a shadow of its former self. Basically it’s a pretty weird situation to have your main tool of trade down but expect to somehow still be open. Anyhow, this wasn’t known at the time and having been seated we ploughed on with the heavily truncated menu as we wondered why the place was empty. Clearly the word was out and we didn’t get the memo!

At the risk of being quite rude, it would have been better to have left - so to cut a short story shorter, it was a completely missable affair with a nonsensical happy hour and some pretty poor service with the grilled and inedible octopus being the poster Cephalopoda of this debacle.

Lesson learnt - you can’t have BBQ without fire so don’t try to.

I understand the damage of temporarily shutting down but the damage that was done by being open was probably just as bad. 

Moving on and after many months of soul searching we plucked up the courage to give the place another go.  Thankfully the pit master had his new toy and the octopus seems to have been ditched to make way for an upgraded menu (including 14 pages of drinks) and better service approach.

Smart Move.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire and thankfully the smokey goodness once promised was back in all its glory and thus The Blacksmith 2.0 was born. 

First up the Amadillo Eggs (AED 40) are pretty awesome and by the way their not actually eggs. The melted cheese inside these beef balls acts as the yolk and they’re really good. The Kickn’ Chicken (AED 39) which is a trio of of pulled smoked chicken croissants is also a great way to start things while the mains of Pulled Lamb (AED 79) and BBQ Beef Short Rib (AED 179) are getting ready. These mains were absolutely on point and come with a couple of sides too. The Cilantro Lime Slaw (AED 25) does a great job of cutting through the smokey goodness of the brisket, while the Dusted Fries (AED 25) and the Mac and Dream Sauce (AED 25) are just good fun to munch on.

While at the top end of things price wise, The Blacksmith has definitely put its demons to rest and with the heat of Summer behind us, this mainly al fesco dining spot is coming into its own at just the right time.