The Lancaster Smokehouse (colloquially The Lanc)[1][2] is a southern-style barbeque restaurant in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada at 574 Lancaster Street West.
| Lancaster Smokehouse | |
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 The Smokehouse in 2023 | |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2011 |
| Owner(s) | Chris Corrigan and Cathy Corrigan |
| Previous owner(s) | Mike Kelly |
| Food type | Southern barbeque |
| Street address | 574 Lancaster St. W. |
| City | Kitchener, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°28′47″N 80°29′03″W / 43.479660°N 80.484245°W |
| Seating capacity | 600 |
| Website | lancsmokehouse |
The restaurant is located at a historical building, which was built as a railroad hotel in the 1840s. It was heavily renovated after 4 fires between 1992 and 1994. The building was purchased by Hog Tails in 2011, becoming their second location. The restaurant mostly serves meat-focused dishes which are smoked using aged hickory. The restaurant began a trend of Southern food restaurants in Waterloo Region.
History
editUse as hotel and tavern
edit
The Lancaster House was a railroad hotel built in the 1840s located at 574 Lancaster St. W.[3][2] It was the first hotel built in Bridgeport, Ontario.[4] The hotel's license was issued to Gottlieb Bitzer.[5] In 1896, the building was purchased by John Grasser from Habfried Hunderhager.[4] In the 1930s, the building was used as a meeting space and held a 85-person dining room;[5] Herman Wagner owned the building at this time.[5] David Kirby, who owned the Tavern from 1956 to 1976, established the Ocean Queen lounge: a nautical-themed jazz venue.[5]
Between 1992 and 1994, there were a series of four fires which resulted in the building being completely renovated.[2][6] During this period, Mike Kelly owned the building.[5] The first fire, in February 1992 was caused by a cigarette;[6] the second, in May 1992, was thought to be caused by light bulbs and destroyed the tavern's top floor.[6][3] Both the third and fourth fires were arsons: they occurred in February 1993 and July 1994.[6] The Tavern continued to operate as a bar and Dixieland jazz venue.[7][2]
Purchase by Hogtails
editHog Tails, a Waterloo-based southern barbeque restaurant, was opened in 2009 by Chris and Cathy Corrigan.[8][2][7] Due to their lack of seating and lengthy wait times, the restaurant looked for a second location and purchased the Tavern from Kelly in 2011.[8][2] The restaurant was renamed to the Lancaster Smokehouse,[2] and the Corrigans renovated its kitchen and dining area—which seats 600.[7] Darryl Haus purchased the original Waterloo Hog Tails location in 2015 and it later permanently closed.[9][10]
The Corrigans stated the weekly Dixieland jazz shows would continue;[7] the shows were later moved elsewhere.[11] As of a 2016 Waterloo Region Record article, the Smokehouse now hosts weekly blues shows.[12] The Smokehouse was featured on the Food Network show You Gotta Eat Here!.[8] The segment was recorded in 2013 and was broadcast in 2014.[8] The Smokehouse added a concrete outdoor patio in the early 2020s.[13]
Food and menu
editThe Lancaster Smokehouse serves southern-style barbeque with mostly meat-focused dishes, for example, Texas short ribs, Nashville Hot Chicken, Po' Boy, and Beef Brisket.[1][14][15] According to Andrew Coppolino of CBC News, the Smokehouse recognizes "the pigtail's historic place at the Waterloo County table" by having it on the menu.[16] For drinks, local beers, wines, bourbons, Southern-themed cocktails, and soft drinks are served.[12] The meats are smoked using aged hickory and large pieces of meat are smoked overnight.[1] Food portions are large, with Jasmine Mangalaseril of The Record writing "we [left] with a couple days' lunches and suppers in hand".[1][12] Dessert is provided by Crumb Bakehouse, a sister company of the Smokehouse.[1]
Reception
editAccording to a 2012 Record article, HogTails and the Smokehouse started a trend of Southern food restaurants in Waterloo Region.[17] Sandra Walneck of The Record reviewed the restaurant in 2016.[12] Walneck praised the food and atmosphere, but criticized the slow service and some of the dishes.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Mangalaseril, Jasmine (March 7, 2019). "Dining Out: Wear your eating pants to The Lancaster Smokehouse in Kitchener". Waterloo Region Record. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Flanagan, Ryan (September 22, 2011). "Bridgeport landmark is history". Kitchener Post.
- ^ a b Aagaard, Christian (May 26, 1992). "Second blaze hits Lancaster House: Fire Marshal's Office searches for cause". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. B1. ProQuest 275423908.
- ^ a b Eichler, Idessa (1950). Thirty-Eighth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society (PDF). Waterloo Historical Society. "Bridgeport, a History".
- ^ a b c d e "Fire causes $300,000 damage to 139-year-old Lancaster hotel". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. February 18, 1992. A1. ProQuest 275240250.
- ^ a b c d "Lancaster House fire labelled arson". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ontario. July 14, 1994. B1. ProQuest 275418722.
- ^ a b c d "Lancaster Tavern to become smokin' hot barbecue restaurant". Waterloo Region Record. September 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Parkhill, Charlotte (April 25, 2013). "You Gotta Eat Here". Kitchener Post.
- ^ "Techies and foodies driving change in downtown Kitchener restaurant scene". Waterloo Region Record. February 6, 2016. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (March 4, 2019). "Don't Skip This Dish: Brisket Nachos at Lancaster Smokehouse". Kitchener Post. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Opinion | New Orleans North: A longtime music tradition returns to Waterloo Region". Waterloo Region Record. March 4, 2022. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Dining Out: Southern flavour hits the spot at Lancaster Smokehouse in Kitchener". Waterloo Region Record. March 18, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Chronicle, Bill Jackson Waterloo (June 10, 2021). "'We've taken a rundown lot and made it into something beautiful': Patios await reopening in Waterloo". Waterloo Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (March 30, 2019). "Winner, winner, fried chicken dinner: Hot spots in Waterloo region for this favourite dish". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (July 27, 2019). "From classic to crafted creations, Andrew Coppolino takes a look at local sandwich options". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Coppolino, Andrew (April 27, 2019). "Iconic dishes of Waterloo region". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "More great southern cooking". Waterloo Region Record. September 20, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2023.