The restaurant is located at a historical building, which was built as a railroad hotel in the 1840s. It was heavily renovated after 4 fires between 1992 and 1994. The building was purchased by Hog Tails in 2011, becoming their second location. The restaurant mostly serves meat-focused dishes which are smoked using aged hickory. The restaurant began a trend of Southern food restaurants in Waterloo Region.
History
Use as hotel and tavern
The Lancaster Hotel ca. 1900
The Lancaster House was a railroad hotel built in the 1840s located at 574 Lancaster St. W.[3][2] It was the first hotel built in Bridgeport, Ontario.[4] The hotel's license was issued to Gottlieb Bitzer.[5] In 1896, the building was purchased by John Grasser from Habfried Hunderhager.[4] In the 1930s, the building was used as a meeting space and held a 85-person dining room;[5] Herman Wagner owned the building at this time.[5] David Kirby, who owned the Tavern from 1956 to 1976, established the Ocean Queen lounge: a nautical-themed jazz venue.[5]
Between 1992 and 1994, there were a series of four fires which resulted in the building being completely renovated.[2][6] During this period, Mike Kelly owned the building.[5] The first fire, in February 1992 was caused by a cigarette;[6] the second, in May 1992, was thought to be caused by light bulbs and destroyed the tavern's top floor.[6][3] Both the third and fourth fires were arsons: they occurred in February 1993 and July 1994.[6] The Tavern continued to operate as a bar and Dixieland jazz venue.[7][2]
Purchase by Hogtails
Hog Tails, a Waterloo-based southern barbeque restaurant, was opened in 2009 by Chris and Cathy Corrigan.[8][2][7] Due to their lack of seating and lengthy wait times, the restaurant looked for a second location and purchased the Tavern from Kelly in 2011.[8][2] The restaurant was renamed to the Lancaster Smokehouse,[2] and the Corrigans renovated its kitchen and dining area—which seats 600.[7] Darryl Haus purchased the original Waterloo Hog Tails location in 2015 and it later permanently closed.[9][10]
The Corrigans stated the weekly Dixieland jazz shows would continue;[7] the shows were later moved elsewhere.[11] As of a 2016 Waterloo Region Record article, the Smokehouse now hosts weekly blues shows.[12] The Smokehouse was featured on the Food Network show You Gotta Eat Here!.[8] The segment was recorded in 2013 and was broadcast in 2014.[8] The Smokehouse added a concrete outdoor patio in the early 2020s.[13]
Food and menu
The Lancaster Smokehouse serves southern-style barbeque with mostly meat-focused dishes, for example, Texas short ribs, Nashville Hot Chicken, Po' Boy, and Beef Brisket.[1][14][15] According to Andrew Coppolino of CBC News, the Smokehouse recognizes "the pigtail's historic place at the Waterloo County table" by having it on the menu.[16] For drinks, local beers, wines, bourbons, Southern-themed cocktails, and soft drinks are served.[12] The meats are smoked using aged hickory and large pieces of meat are smoked overnight.[1] Food portions are large, with Jasmine Mangalaseril of TheRecord writing "we [left] with a couple days' lunches and suppers in hand".[1][12] Dessert is provided by Crumb Bakehouse, a sister company of the Smokehouse.[1]
Reception
According to a 2012 Record article, HogTails and the Smokehouse started a trend of Southern food restaurants in Waterloo Region.[17] Sandra Walneck of TheRecord reviewed the restaurant in 2016.[12] Walneck praised the food and atmosphere, but criticized the slow service and some of the dishes.[12]
