Barbeque Jim's Smokehouse is not just any restaurant; it's a family passion and commitment.  Elmhurst resident, Jim Lawshe, his mother Ruth and brother Tom bring to you a unique combination of items, prepared daily and highlighting with an award winning pit smoke barbecue taste that can't be beat.

Jim Lawshe is the owner and one of the first people you meet when you walk through the doors of Barbeque Jim's Smokehouse.  Jim is the creator and profector of all the barbecue recipes, which is a special taste of "sweet and tangy, but not hot", used by the restaurant.   Jim is the expert at customizing and coordinating a catering menu for any event. 

Tom Lawshe who manages the restaurant, brings 15 years of restaurant industry experience including, most recently, Lettuce Entertain You, Scoozi, Chicago.  His combination of experience and commitment to Barbeque Jim's Smokehouse has brought growth and professionalism, enhancing that same level of expectation set by Jim.  Tom has also created many items on the menu and can be found at the restaurant daily, making sure your experience is a fulfilling one.

Ruth Lawshe, "Mom" not only brings many recipes of her own to the restaurant but she is also one of your chefs while maintaining books for the restaurant. 

Jim's love for barbecue started 11 years ago when he started entering contests.  The first one was in the mid 80's, a rib contest sponsored by Mike Royko and the Chicago Tribune.  After a couple of years this contest gave Jim the taste for competition.  Jim and his family enter competitions from Illinois to Iowa, from Tennessee to Alabama.   He has taken first place in several competitions in a number of barbecue categories and has been Illinois State Champion three times, first for a whole hog in 1994, then for brisket, and last year for ribs.

When Jim's neighbors got wind of his talent with tantalizing sauce and smoke, Jim was asked to cater parties as well as several events at Immaculate Conception Church.    With a home full of trophies and the encouragement of family, friends and customers, Jim opened Barbecue Jim's Smokehouse on York Road.

The restaurant is host to lunch and dinner for barbecue lovers everywhere.  The eatery is a sit down and carry out facility while continuing its long time tradition of catering a range of items from whole pigs to hams to turkeys and ribs.

The barbecue recipes are Jim's own creations and almost everything is made daily from scratch from recipes his mother Ruth and brother Tom have long since perfected. 

The restaurant can be best describes as "authentic pit smoked barbecue".   A wood smoker, which uses a combination of fruitwoods and charcoal heats up one end and emits smoke into the rotisserie.  Jim's prefers Apple Wood to all other fruit woods.  The rotisserie it self is quite large with a capacity of 700 pounds of meat or several pigs if a catering job calls for it. 

The menu is divided into sandwiches, platters, combination platters, salads and side dishes.  Ribs, chicken, pork shoulder, brisket, turkey breast and sausage are all barbecued in Jim's award winning style.  Jim's special barbecue sauce is used on all his sandwiches, platters and meats.

There are two kinds of barbecued sausage sandwiches, smoked sausage and hot link Cajun-style sausage for those who like it spicy.  Other sandwiches include beef brisket, pulled pork shoulder (slow roasted for several hours), smoked turkey breast and pulled chicken. 

Ruth's homemade salads include such items as tortellini salad, potato salad, and creamy cole slaw.  Tom makes the red beans and rice salad.  Don't miss the Caesar salad and garden salad, which are available "barbecued", topped with your choice of barbecued sandwich meats.

To round out any order chips, snacks, brownies, cookies and beverages are available.