Soul & Smoke - Avondale at Rockwell on the River

“hello i was craving some gumbo n bbq n searched for some n this place popped up so i tried it.”

hello i was craving some gumbo n bbq n searched for some n this place popped up so i tried it. i got the samplers too n i loved it! best collar greens i ever had. the cornbread was so soft and gooey it stuck to my teeth! love it! i wanna try it again n try more stuff😋

Cristina M

Jan 2026

“I am not lying when I say…I just had the BEST Polish with bun of my ENTIRE life.”

I am not lying when I say…I just had the BEST Polish with bun of my ENTIRE life! For real! And I’m born & raised in CHICAGO! I’ve had em all to! Maxwell St., etc. The other food was very good also!! The atmosphere was surprisingly nice and upscale too!!! I’m saving my BEST comment for last…our server RIO is the TRUTH! Very very friendly! Very knowledgeable of food! Very accommodating! Very professional but yet still cool as hell!! RIO is a major asset of Soul & Smoke Avondale!!! This dude did EVERYTHING with much SWAG!!! I’m not gettin paid for this review either!

Dean Walker

Jan 2026

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical that the bbq would be good.”

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical that the bbq would be good. I was wrong, it was GREEEAT!! 5 stars definitely! Mario provided transparent opinions on the whole menu! Food was a perfect amount, temperature and came out in a timely fashion. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of the food because it disappeared into my stomach lbs!

jonathan landingham

Nov 2025

“This is a fantastic spot, especially for those who come by boat and dock.”

This is a fantastic spot, especially for those who come by boat and dock. The ambience is relaxing, and there is an outdoor desk area. Tasty soul food, BBQ, and drinks are also available.

David Vega (Tridence)

Oct 2025

“Delicious barbecue in a large warehouse.”

Delicious barbecue in a large warehouse. Right on the water, there is outdoor seating on the patio. Seating inside as well. The brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese and corn muffins were amazing!

hawksoccer33

Oct 2025

“We had our wedding welcome event hosted and catered with Soul & Smoke, and it was a lovely experience.”

We had our wedding welcome event hosted and catered with Soul & Smoke, and it was a lovely experience! For a 250 person Saturday event at the height of wedding season, they were not only the most affordable choice by far, but also a truly gorgeous and welcoming event space in their own right! We had a private patio overlooking the river, as well as the full indoor space. The food was excellent; vegan and vegetarian options were available, and S&S worked with us to customize our open bar package to fit our specific needs. The only thing I’d note is that the approximate serving guide is very generous — when in doubt, round down on the amount of catering! The staff was the biggest stand out here; Chef Jack and his team took absolutely excellent care of us, and were communicative and wonderful from start to finish. They really went above and beyond, and we felt so held by them on a chaotic and wonderful day!

Ned Baker

Sep 2025

“First time going and will definitely be back.”

First time going and will definitely be back. Food was delicious, the mac and cheese was amazing! Great music and service, and overall amazing food. The coleslaw was so good I even drank the water from it!

Nancy M

Aug 2025

“It's clearly just recently opened and is planning to expand, but the food and the atmosphere is absolutely amazing.”

It's clearly just recently opened and is planning to expand, but the food and the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. We went on a weeknight and they only had one person working so it was slower service, but he was doing his best. It's confusing and unclear what you're supposed to do when you get in there. I'll save you the trouble, find yourself a table. Order at the counter or use the QR code at the indoor tables. It appears they have a machine you can do self checkout but it wasn't working. The food runs out because it's so popular so order for later pick up early in the day, even if you'll be dining in. There is ample parking (on a week night). Great views! Beautiful space! The confusion and the wait was worth it. Amazing food!! I suggest you run there now!

Amber Lockwood

Jul 2025

“Excellent excellent excellent.”

Excellent excellent excellent. Flavorful, unpretentious bbq. I tried the rip tips which came with apple slaw, and I added on mac&cheese and cornbread. Everything got the job done. I’ll be back. Would love to try some of the other meats they offer. The outdoor patio is also very nice, and they use the inKind app.

Chris Eyo

Jun 2025

“Great food in a beautiful setting.”

Great food in a beautiful setting! I had the Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage, Turkey and Rib Tips, Brisket, a Side Sampler, and the Shrimp & Grits; everything was flavorful, well-seasoned, and juicy. Pro-tip: Add some of their Tangy vinegar-based BBQ sauce to the collard greens! This also is a beautiful location to enjoy lunch either in the atrium area, or outside by the river....if I lived here, I'd be here often!! And shout out to Rio for the amazing service!!!

Kahja Elliott

Jun 2025

“We were in the area looking for something amazing.”

We were in the area looking for something amazing. We stumbled upon Soul and Smoke. They were catering and hosting a wedding, so we had to order take out. We got the brisket dinner with an extra side of garlic mashed potatoes and some bread and butter pickles. Everything we got was amazing. The Carmel cake was our dessert which was good too.

Heather Forester

May 2025

“This place is PHENOMENAL!!”

This place is PHENOMENAL!!! If you want decent barbecue and soul fusion this is the place. The brisket was so tender and the macaroni and cheese was so creamy. The jalepeno and cheddar sausage was the best sausage I’ve had in a while. And those house made pickles and onions were such a nice compliment to the brisket. Cannot wait to come back.

Erin Bentley

Apr 2025