The Smoke Haus â a 6,000sq. ft. 200-cover American-style restaurant serving huge portions and themed as a âMan v Foodâ venue â has recently opened in Cardiff following a project described as âa joyâ by the client.
Located at the former Hooters premises on Mary Ann Street, this is the second venue for The Smoke Haus, with the first already a success in Swansea since its debut two years ago.
Specialising in BBQ ribs, burgers, steaks, sandwiches, pork and brisket and foot-long hot dogs, The Smoke Haus was established by managing director Mark Power who has spent 20 years working in the catering industry and has travelled around America where meat and barbeques are hugely popular.
Speaking of the work to create the new restaurant within the old Hooters premises, Mark told Premier Construction:
âThe transformation has been absolutely fantastic â the difference has been phenomenal â I am absolutely delighted.
âThe restaurantâs theme is very much inspired by my time in America and my love of the food there, which has now become massively popular in the UK. Luckily weâre a little bit ahead of the game when we opened up in Swansea two years ago.
âWe were very lucky that Hooters was also an American themed restaurant and the large size of the venue and the type of kitchen and the equipment already installed in there therefore readily lent itself to becoming The Smoke Haus. The customer area was completely re-designed, a new bar was installed in a different location and a large area of raised seating was added.â
The design and colour scheme was inspired by a recent trip to America by Mark and includes lots of dark wood and mood lighting, with iconic local images on the walls. âWe have tried to be earthy and rustic â very much ârib shackâ in our approachâ, he said.
Works within the kitchen include the installation of smoker ovens and the installation of low- level theatre-style walls to allow diners to view the preparation of the food.
The restaurant frontage was completely transformed with new seating, railings and signage.
Mr Power says that the Swansea-based Smoke Haus has been extremely popular, with its huge portions and masses of meat, hence his decision to expand the brand to Cardiff.
Dishes include the Philly cheese steak, a 24 oz steak, the Big Bertha burger (with five stacked cheeseburgers) and The Smoke Haus Threesome which brings together pulled pork, slow cooked brisket and salami. Cuts of meat are sourced from local butchers and farmers, smoked in house and served with homemade sauces.
There is also the infamous 666 (hot wing) challenge, where customers are dared to eat six spicy chicken wings in six minutes, with a six minute after burn.
âThe creation of the Smoke Haus brand has been a real labour of love. When we first opened in Swansea, I didnât have a great deal of money to spend, I just had an idea regarding the food I wanted to produce. With the new venue I had more money to spend and have enjoyed seeing it evolve over the duration of the contract. I am extremely proud of itâ said Mark, particularly commending the work of shopfitter Dave Sparks of Pro-Spec on the scheme. âHis precision and attention to detail was incredible and the project was just a joy for me,â he added.
One of the Smoke Hausâs most famous dishes is The Mixed Grill, a silver platter with brisket, Smoke Haus pulled pork, pastrami served with a âHaus chilli dogâ, full rack of pork sheet ribs, a large portion of skin on fries and coleslaw. A more locally themed favourite is the Pulled Lamb Hoagie â A slow roasted shoulder of Welsh lamb, pulled and served in a hoagie with crisp lettuce, dry slaw, sweet sauce and a mint salsa.