Holy Smoke BBQ, the troubled restaurant that opened in December after a multi-year construction project only to close in February, is once again back open. A woman who answered the phone at the Curry Ford Road barbecuerie — which had been disconnected in February — said the place was shut down for almost a month while the owner replaced the management team.

That’s encouraging. As I mentioned in my review of Holy Smoke, the restaurant was sorely in need of professional guidance. One big problem I experienced — as did many others who commented — was the surprising absence of major menu items on just about any given night.

Here’s hoping the new management will bring the place around. I know that many in the area were looking forward to its opening; I’m looking forward to revisiting and finding a much improved barbecue joint. 

I thought Holy Smoke was a terrific name for a barbecue restaurant. I thought Steak and Salad was a lousy name for any restaurant, especially one that specialized in Turkish cuisine. Now Steak and Salad, on Mills Avenue just south of Nebraska Street, has a new name: Atilla’s Steak & Salad Bar & Grill. Wait, does that mean its steak house with a salad bar? Or is it still steak and salad served in a bar and grill? I think I would have gone with Atilla’s Barbarian & Grill.

Whatever, it’s still Turkish cuisine. And while the name is somewhat of an improvement, it has me wondering if the waitress calls everybody hun?

And before you start writing to correct me, I know that the Hunnic leader spelled his name Attila, but can’t I have a little fun?

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