Smoke On The Water BBQ Shack: best bbq in Gibsons

Smoke On The Water BBQ Shack is a cute little wooden shack on the harbour in Gibsons, a small town on the Sunshine Coast. We found them while exploring downtown Gibsons and the food smelled amazing so we decided to check them out.

The shack

This review is based on an in-dining experience but it is also kinda takeout because they don’t actually have an in-dining area. They have a small covered patio that can maybe seat 6-8 people overlooking the harbour, but it was full and also really sunny/hot so we decided not to wait for seats there. We ended up sitting right outside the tourist/visitor building right next to it because there are benches outside and it was in the shade.

Food

For 2 people, we order a platter and add on a few sides: fresh corn flan (+$3) and Kennebec potato fries (+$5).

Brisket plate ($27)

First of all, can we talk about the presentation?? I know BBQ is casual but this plate looks SO appetizing and it’s not all mixed up together in a gross way.

We order the brisket plate because brisket is how we judge if a bbq restaurant is good or not. The plate comes with over 1/3 pound of Certified Angus Beef Brisket slow smoked served with slaw, mac & cheese, and beans. They added the fresh corn flan in the plate, which isn’t usually included in the plate.

The brisket? Amazing. SO TENDER – it literally falls apart when your tongue touches it. It also has a great smoky flavour and aroma.

The mac & cheese is pressed into a block and coated with panko on all 4 sides to give it extra crunch.

The slaw is as is (I’m not a big fan of slaw) but it wasn’t overly saucy so it was refreshing.

Beans were surprisingly not that bad (I don’t like beans).

The corn flan was slightly sweet and had the texture of a really soft bread or unsmooth pudding (however way you like it). I liked it and I think it went well with the plate.

I was surprised at how large the side of fries were. They are double fried but not as crispy as I would have liked. I did like the house spice rub on them though!

Final thoughts

Loewe’s rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We loved the food we got from Smoke On The Water BBQ Shack. It might even be the best BBQ we’ve had in BC in a long time! They source ingredients from local farmers and all of the meat are smoked on site with real hardwood.

$27 seems a little pricey for a plate, but it’s actually enough to feed 2 people (especially if you add on a side) and the quality of the smoked brisket is premium. I highly recommend anyone visiting Gibsons to stop by Smoke On The Water BBQ Shack for their bbq meats and a great view.

Sincerely, Loewe