Gordon Davis, mastermind of the original Ceviche, knows a few things about designing tempting menus, and his skills are in full evidence at Smoke, his new upscale BBQ joint. You go there for lunch thinking you’ll just have the Texas brisket sandwich — dense with flavor, the beef amazingly rich and tender, the bun perfectly toasted. But then you look over that menu and think, well maybe just a little appetizer, too — like one of those skewers of grilled meats that come dangling from a banana-hanger-like thing. And throw in that sizzling skillet of mac and cheese, too. And oh, hell, that salad sure sounds good. That’s it, you think. But then the desserts catch your eye and you give in against your better judgment. And when dessert turns out to be warm gingerbread apple cobbler with a generous scoop of Tonya and Matt’s vanilla bean, you give yourself a pass. Tell yourself you won’t eat that much next time. Right. 901 W. Platt St., Tampa, 813-254-7070
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2008.
