Central Jersey · Mercer County

1911 Smokehouse

Trenton, NJ

1911 Smokehouse got its start in 2015 when Maurice Hallett — a self-taught pitmaster who'd been smoking meat as a hobby — opened the doors at 11 W Front St in Trenton. His BBQ education came largely from the road: years of travel for work with General Motors, including time spent in Germany, exposed him to smoked-meat traditions he'd bring home and adapt. Before any of that, Hallett studied international business at Lehigh University and went on to earn his MBA — a background that shows in how methodically the brand has grown since. His brother, Reggie Hallett, now runs day-to-day operations in Trenton as chef and co-owner. The house style sits deliberately between two BBQ traditions — dry-rubbed and smoked, with sauce served on the side, landing somewhere between North Carolina's vinegar-forward approach and Memphis's smoke-first sensibility. The standout, though, is a dish Hallett says you won't find almost anywhere else: proprietary fried rib tips, alongside brisket, pulled pork, smoked wings, and a brisket chili that's built a following of its own. 1911 Smokehouse has grown well past its original Trenton location — there's now a second restaurant in Willingboro, a franchise partnership inside Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, and a seasonal outpost at Community Park Pool in Princeton. Back on Front Street, the original location still hosts "First Fridays on Front Street," a recurring community block party that's become a neighborhood fixture. Full catering is available too, with trays of brisket, pulled pork, ribs, wings, smoked turkey, shredded chicken, ham, and sides for larger gatherings. The following backs it up — 1911 Smokehouse has built a Facebook community of roughly 7,000 followers and over 17,000 check-ins, plus an active Instagram presence showing off the smoked meats and cocktail menu.