Tucked in a light industrial strip of car yards, smash repairs and auto electricians, 2 Smoking Barrels is Wollongong’s go-to American barbecue. The outlay on a BBQ platter for two ($78) seems hefty but when you get stuck into three meats, three sides, two soft rolls and some pickles you’ll quickly realise it delivers more than you both require. We ended up taking two slices of stretchy pit-smoked brisket, a mound of pulled pork (that avoided the usual too-sweet trap) and some hot links (house-made sausages) home with us for a killer rustic spaghetti sauce dinner. Make sure one of your chosen sides is their burnt end beans. This blend of beans and burnt beef brisket ends is delicious (you need potato gems for dipping) and very hearty. The ‘slaw makes a good counterpoint, as it is very lightly dressed. In terms of the craft brews, the local guy (brewed in Austinmer) Coal Coast Brew ($7.50) easy to like. The interstate entry, Rover ($7.50), is hoppier with slightly more bitterness if that floats your boat. They’re apparently not supposed to be consumed on the outdoor tables, but these tough pandemic times call for greater flexibility from us all…

The Gong's first legit American BBQ. We got the platter for 2 and the Bubba Gump Po boy. We opted for the brisket, pulled pork, corn bread, vinegar slaw and fries. Serving was quite generous and this could feed 3 people. The brisket and pulled pork were tendered and moist. I liked that the vinegar side wasn't creamy, it helped compliment the smoked meats. The po boy was also good, the special sauce had dill in it which made it taste a bit like a prawn big mac 😅. Overall it was a tasty lunch. Definitely hit them up if you're craving smoked meats