Hickory's Smokehouse Thornaby

2nd time visiting since hickory's opened and I have to say the speed the kitchen is getting food out now since its opening week is wild! Was sat at the kitchen viewing area type seating and watching the chefs work and communicate was amazing. Everyone got on so well and no arguments or bitter sounding staff. Servers were friendly and chatty. Only thing would of been if we were checked up on a tiny tiny bit more frequently but given how busy the place was it was a none issue overall. Food quality as always top notch, tasted amazing and the little birthday donut was a lovely touch to end the meal on. The happy hour cocktails tasted amazing and were very well priced. My one and only real criticism is the tip being pre added to the bill, where I was happy to leave it on due to good service I do find it a bit annoying that you would have to ask for it to be removed. It sets an uncomfortable president saying I dont want to tip or then feel obliged to explain the reasoning for it to be removed. I know the receipt says its no issue but surely its better to allow people to option to tip than the option to remove a pre set amount. Id be willing to give more without that being on the bill than automatically having it charged and then feeling less inclined to give more. Other than that small gripe I cannot fault the place. The whole experience is amazing at a good price for the quality of the food offered.

Beyond amazing, really captured the American experience. Food is amazing portions are generous, our server "ruby" was amazing. Did amazing with dealing with allergy requirements and checking everything, we had the smokehouse platter then the make your own smores. Will definitely go again, would try the other sharing platters. Only thing i would say is corn on the cob is corn ribs. The corn salad thing is lovely but not corn on the cob lol. Genuinely some of the best food and service I have ever had.

Nice food, cooker really well as you would expect. Remember to request some biscuit samples before you order. Service really good. Deco really good. Car park is really big. I think there is the option to make this place even bigger as there is a large unused section. Would recommend.

It is good to see a smokehouse opened at our doorstep. We got the platter for one, hot chicken tacos, mac & cheese and a smoked okra gumbo. It was a great platter because it had a little bit of everything but some meats on the platter was really dry for our linking and thereafter we felt everything tasted nearly the same. The appetizers definitely looked better on the menu than the actual look itself. It’s only shredded pieces of chicken. The sides are actually better than everything else we had. Maybe we will go back and try burgers and fajitas instead. There’s a lot of entertainment for kids in case they are bored as I think people take longer to eat due to the portion size. The brunch menu looks more interesting, might go back for another go. Definitely can’t fault the service and atmosphere.

This evening, my husband, sister-in-law and brother-in-law were invited to the Hickory’s Smokehouse “Practice Makes Perfect” event, and what a fantastic experience it was from start to finish. Our reservation was for 6:45pm, but we arrived a little early and were shown to the bar while our table was being prepared. We ordered drinks and were given complimentary popcorn to snack on, a simple but thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. Within minutes our table was ready, and we were seated in a lovely, spotless booth. Everything felt so fresh, clean, and inviting thanks to it being newly opened. Once seated, we ordered our starters and mains. Our first round of drinks arrived: the Eggnog, Cloudy Lemonade, Life’s a Peach Sweet Tea, and the Frozen Pornstar. Every drink was bursting with flavour, but the Eggnog was a clear standout, rich, creamy, festive, and absolutely a must-try. Our starters soon followed: Hot-Honey Fried Chicken Tacos, Garlic Mushrooms, Giant Garlic-Buttered Pretzel Bites, and the Southern Fried Onion Blossom. Each dish was incredible and so full of flavour. The Onion Blossom in particular was a favourite, delicious, huge, and definitely made for sharing! For mains, we ordered The Cattleman’s Choice sharer for two and The Smokehouse Platter for two. The four of us shared everything between us and enjoyed being able to sample a bit of everything. The food was cooked to perfection, the flavours were amazing, and the portions were enormous, so much so that we boxed up the leftovers to take home. Our dog thoroughly enjoyed the Beef Rib Bone! At the beginning of the meal, myself and my sister-in-law let the staff know that my husband’s 40th is coming up soon despite him insisting “No it’s not!” (even though it very much is!). They gave him a sticker and a Happy Birthday board for the table but because we mentioned it casually we thought nothing more of it, so when dessert arrived at the end of the meal, the surprise was for all of us. The team brought out a special birthday dessert complete with a sparkler, and the entire staff along with most of the diners nearby broke into a full rendition of Happy Birthday. He was mortified, we were all in stitches, and it genuinely made the evening even more memorable. We also had a second round of drinks: the Snow-ito, Kentucky Vice, South Pole Sling, and another Eggnog because it was that good. Despite being totally full, we couldn’t resist ordering desserts: Alabama Chocolate Fudge Cake, The Cookie Creation, Honeycomb Toffee Fudge Pieces with Butterscotch Fro-Co, and the S’mores. Everything was delicious, but the S’mores were especially fun as they arrived with a mini fire pit for toasting marshmallows right at the table. Partway through the evening, the PR lady came over to chat with us about the restaurant, its start-up story, and the team behind it. She kindly gave us a little tour, including the private dining area (which we’re now considering booking for my husband’s actual birthday celebration). The manager, Chris, also checked in with us several times throughout the night, which was a lovely personal touch. A special shoutout goes to our waitress, Anne-Marie, who was absolutely fabulous. She looked after us so well, kept the atmosphere fun, and had us laughing all evening. She truly added to the experience. The venue itself is brilliant, with family-friendly features such as a cinema room for children, a large outdoor play area, a Fro-Co station with pick-your-own toppings, and beautifully designed dining areas. The whole place has that warm, authentic Southern American feel we love, a perfect little American fix while we save for our next trip. Overall, Hickory’s Smokehouse exceeded every expectation. Amazing food, incredible service, generous portions, and a fantastic atmosphere. We can’t wait to return and we might be back even sooner for that birthday celebration!