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Lancaster Smokehouse

The Lancaster Smokehouse (colloquially The Lanc)[1] is a southern-style barbeque restaurant in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada at 574 Lancaster Street West.

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

Use as hotel and tavern

The Lancaster House was a railroad hotel built in the 1840s located at 574 Lancaster St. W.[2][3] 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.[3][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][2] 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][3]

Purchase by Hogtails

Hog Tails, a Waterloo-based southern barbeque restaurant, was opened in 2009 by Chris and Cathy Corrigan.[8][3][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][3] The restaurant was renamed to the Lancaster Smokehouse,[3] 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

The 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

According 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]

External links

References

  1. Jasmine Mangalaseril. Dining Out: Wear your eating pants to The Lancaster Smokehouse in Kitchener Waterloo Region Record, 2019-03-07, retrieved 2023-05-10^
  2. Christian Aagaard. Second blaze hits Lancaster House: Fire Marshal's Office searches for cause Waterloo Region Record, May 26, 1992^
  3. Ryan Flanagan. Bridgeport landmark is history Kitchener Post, September 22, 2011^
  4. Idessa Eichler. Thirty-Eighth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society Waterloo Historical Society, 1950^
  5. Fire causes $300,000 damage to 139-year-old Lancaster hotel Waterloo Region Record, February 18, 1992^
  6. Lancaster House fire labelled arson Waterloo Region Record, July 14, 1994^
  7. Lancaster Tavern to become smokin' hot barbecue restaurant Waterloo Region Record, 2011-09-22, retrieved 2023-05-07^
  8. Charlotte Parkhill. You Gotta Eat Here Kitchener Post, April 25, 2013^
  9. Techies and foodies driving change in downtown Kitchener restaurant scene Waterloo Region Record, 2016-02-06, retrieved 2023-05-07^
  10. Andrew Coppolino. Don't Skip This Dish: Brisket Nachos at Lancaster Smokehouse Kitchener Post, 2019-03-04, retrieved 2023-05-10^
  11. Opinion Waterloo Region Record, 2022-03-04, retrieved 2023-05-08^
  12. Dining Out: Southern flavour hits the spot at Lancaster Smokehouse in Kitchener Waterloo Region Record, 2016-03-18, retrieved 2023-05-10^
  13. Bill Jackson Waterloo Chronicle. 'We've taken a rundown lot and made it into something beautiful': Patios await reopening in Waterloo Waterloo Chronicle, June 10, 2021, retrieved 2023-05-10^
  14. Andrew Coppolino. Winner, winner, fried chicken dinner: Hot spots in Waterloo region for this favourite dish CBC News, March 30, 2019, retrieved May 10, 2023^
  15. Andrew Coppolino. From classic to crafted creations, Andrew Coppolino takes a look at local sandwich options CBC News, July 27, 2019, retrieved May 10, 2023^
  16. Andrew Coppolino. Iconic dishes of Waterloo region CBC News, April 27, 2019, retrieved May 10, 2023^
  17. More great southern cooking Waterloo Region Record, 2012-09-20, retrieved 2023-05-10^