Highlands Smokehouse

4.5 ( 799 reviews )
$10–20
595 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC 28741, United States
+1 828-526-3554

Highlands Smokehouse has quickly established itself as a must-visit destination in Highlands, NC, according to rave reviews from delighted patrons. Nestled at 595 Franklin Rd, this charming eatery is a favorite for its mouthwatering BBQ, particularly the brisket, hailed as the best by many visitors, including Brent Schott, who gave it a perfect 10/10. The cozy ambiance and welcoming staff create an inviting environment, making it ideal for a casual meal or family gathering.

Reviewers like Christina McDonald and Michael Panyard rave about their experience, noting the incredible pulled pork nachos, rich mac and cheese, and flavorful tacos. The generous portion sizes ensure you won't leave hungry, while the attentive service adds a personal touch to your dining experience. Patrons were particularly impressed with the staff's camaraderie and the genuine pride they take in their work, as highlighted by Theresa Singletary.

Highlands Smokehouse not only serves exceptional food but also offers a relaxed atmosphere perfect for sharing stories and enjoying good company. If you're in the area, don’t miss out on this delightful smokehouse that promises great food and unforgettable service.

Amenities and More

  • Service options
    • Outdoor seating
    • Kerbside pickup
    • On-site services
    • Takeaway
    • Dine-in
    • Delivery
  • Highlights
    • Fast service
    • Great beer selection
    • Great cocktails
  • Popular for
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Offerings
    • Alcohol
    • Beer
    • Cocktails
    • Coffee
    • Comfort food
    • Quick bite
    • Small plates
    • Spirits
    • Wine
  • Dining options
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Catering
    • Dessert
    • Seating
    • Table service
  • Amenities
    • Bar on site
    • Toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Groups
    • Tourists
  • Planning
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Credit cards
    • Debit cards
    • NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs
    • Kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Parking

Reviews For Highlands Smokehouse

Brent Schott
Jun 15,2025
This is hands down the best brisket place I have ever eaten at. I hear the owners are amazing people from some of the employees. Couldn't help but to review. Great addition to our vacation out this way. 10/10 recommend
Christina McDonald
Jun 8,2025
Traveled from Central Florida to escape a hot winter and found this wonderful place. It was a chill environment, and wonderful service. The food is what had us come back 3 times during our stay in Cashiers. The Brisket, Mac n cheese and Chili were our favorites.
Theresa Singletary
Jun 7,2025
We stopped at Highlands Smokehouse for a quick lunch on our way home, and wow - so glad we did! From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. Everyone was so kind and clearly proud to be part of the team. Two gentlemen behind the bar were prepping for service and saw me taking photos - rather than just smiling and moving on, they took the time to tell me the story behind the renovation, showed me some of the original roofing, and even gave us a peek at the cozy outdoor area with a fireplace and overhead heaters. That level of hospitality really stood out! And the food? Absolutely delicious! We shared the pulled pork nachos (topped with all the good stuff) and a trio of tacos (2 chicken, 1 brisket), and let me tell you - we did not leave hungry. The portion sizes were generous, the presentation was great, and every bite was packed with flavor. We’re already looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu. Huge thanks to the Highlands Smokehouse team - you are the kind of employees every business owner dreams of. You made our visit truly special!
Michael Panyard
May 23,2025
My family and I were only in this area for a few days on vacation and after eating here once - we all were in agreement we needed to have one more meal there before we left town. While our first night was busy and we ended up taking it to go because of lack of seating, the service was very friendly and quick considering the quality of food we got. They also were very gluten free friendly and helpful finding options we could have. The brisket was my personal favorite, but my two kids split their BBQ nachos...which were enormous and the queso was killer - I might have stollen a few chips. My wife also says this was the best chicken she's ever had - barely tried the sauces because the chicken alone was so flavorful. I also found out (too late) they have their own bourbon which I'll need to go back and try some day. I personally loved the Mac and cheese as my side of choice (not gluten free). Loved it so much I got souvenir hoodie. Don't pass this place up!
Alan Kline
May 22,2025
this was the best food and service we experienced in our 5 days hiking in the Highlands, even better than the fancier restaurants in town. we ate their twice, enjoyed the pulled pork, tacos, and nachos while watching the Olympics on their big screen on the back patio. Very nice place, friendly service, and delicious food. Would definitely go back.
Connie Martin
May 12,2025
Such a pleasant surprise! We ordered the 2 meats (sliced brisket and ribs) and brisket sandwich. WOW, generous portion, fair price, great quality. The brisket was fall apart tender, ribs were tenderly smoked. At staff recommendation, I ordered the mac & cheese. I NEVER order mac & cheese because always disappointed. NOT THIS TIME. This might be the best item on the menu!!! The okra was light and crispy with no oily residue. So very good. The brisket sandwich was yummy, tender and generous portion of meat. We ordered that with the baked beans and yummy. The beans have a slightly sweet mesquite flavor, so good. Next time, I need to save room for the banana pudding because I'm sure it's delicious too.
Davis Bacher
May 4,2025
Nice place. Great service and the food was wonderful with large portions. The Mac and cheese is amazing the ribs were excellent and I really like their Texas BBQ sauce.
Jennifer Drum
Mar 16,2025
Great BBQ place in Highlands! The staff was very nice and the atmosphere was neat. I got the chicken tacos with a salad. The tacos had a nice pesto flavor to them and the green goddess salad dressing was delightful. I tried the Mac and cheese my husband got which was creamy and had great flavor. Same with his brisket and collared greens!

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