Ivy City Smokehouse

The story

Ivy City Smokehouse | Bib Gourmand BBQ & Seafood in Washington, DC

Smokehouse Craft in Washington, DC

At Ivy City Smokehouse, the craft of smoking seafood is the result of decades of experience. The team’s smoke masters, Chef Ron Goodman and Jesus Bercian, have been curing and smoking seafood together since 1984, bringing a combined 70 years of knowledge to the pit. Their work helped introduce pastrami-style salmon to the market and made them early adopters of dry-curing Norwegian salmon using traditional European methods.

Chef Ron Goodman, the chief development officer, graduated from the Culinary Institute in 1972 and later earned graduate degrees in biology with a focus on food science. He became the eighth certified research chef in the country. His deep understanding of food science underpins the restaurant’s commitment to quality, which includes voluntary certification as a Safe and Quality Food (SQF) facility.

Sustainably Sourced, Expertly Smoked

The restaurant sources only BAP-certified farms, and its buyers have been sourcing the finest seafood locally, nationally, and internationally since 1984. This commitment to sustainability is paired with a rigorous approach to smoking—using both scientific lab testing and the trained senses of the smoke masters to judge when the raw material and each step of the curing and smoking process is just right.

The result is a menu of BBQ and seafood that has earned Ivy City Smokehouse a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, a testament to good quality and good value cooking. The restaurant’s products are designed by a Michelin-recognized chef, and the operation itself was named the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s Best Regional Food Producer/Manufacturer in 2018.

A Hub for the Neighborhood

Located at 1356 Okie St. NE in Washington, DC, Ivy City Smokehouse offers table service for lunch and dinner, with outdoor seating available. The space also accommodates private parties and provides catering, delivery, and takeaway options. Whether you are stopping in for a set lunch or picking up smoked fish to enjoy at home, the focus remains on the careful, time-honored process that defines this smokehouse.