Bureau County Republican

Haze Smokehouse is named one of Illinois’ best

LASALLE — Haze Smokehouse has been named one of Illinois’ Top 10 barbeque restaurants.

The classification puts this LaSalle eatery in the company of barbeque hot spots like Smoque BBQ in Chicago, and Urbana’s Black Dog Smoke & Ale House.

The Top 10 list was published by Best Things Illinois, a media site that ranks food, entertainment and recreation destinations across the state. Rankings are based on customer reviews, the list-makers’ personal experiences, and other media sources, such as magazine features and reviews.

“It’s a complete surprise and an honor,” said Lee Pakula, owner of Haze Smokehouse. “Chicago has some amazing BBQ, and to see Haze ranked among the best is a testament to how hard our entire team works to make every guest experience a great one.”

Haze Smokehouse opened in April 2015 at the corner of Second and Bucklin streets. Owners Lee and Kegan Pakula are newcomers to the restaurant business. They say the key to their success is attention to detail, fresh ingredients, and their house-made sauces, sides and smoked meats.

Best Things Illinois' writes, "Customers rave about everything on the menu and can't wait to come back. The customer service is also outstanding and very accommodating." The full list can be found at www.bestthingsil.com.

Haze is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. They offer both patio and indoor seating, a full-service bar, and live blues every weekend in the summer.