Hamilton’s low-and-slow smokehouse serving up honest American barbecue

Forefront the buzzing Stewart Avenue sits the unassuming Double Duck Smokehouse, but what they’re smoking and sizzling up in this kitchen is far from inconspicuous. Inside, smoky meat aromas fill the air as hungry lunch-goers eagerly wait for their afternoon smoked meat pick-me-up.

Double Duck Smokehouse’s current Hamilton home may be fresh, but the team has been plating up a mean barbecue spread for Novocastrians since 2022, smoking their way through the Racecourse Hotel, Premier Hotel, and even a food trailer before setting up shop in Hamilton.

Double Duck Smokehouse owner - Tyler Priestley (L)

Dishing up their first meals out the back of the Racecourse Hotel, owners Sheldon and Tyler had no idea that their smoker and big ideas would become the backbone of a successful foodie partnership. Sheldon grew up surrounded by hospitality and smoke-cooking traditions in America, bringing decades of barbecue experience to the business. Tyler saw cooking and running a business as a fresh start, driven to build something meaningful for his local community.

Together, they have combined their experience, passion, and drive to create a wildly popular traditional American smokehouse for Newcastle that stays true to its low-and-slow roots.

It’s clear from their “Best Pie in Newcastle” title that these guys are serious about their menu, ensuring every dish leaving the kitchen delivers a mouth-watering experience for their customers. Beyond the food, Double Duck Smokehouse has been built for the community, bringing authentic American barbecue flavours to the Hunter through a thoughtful, sustainable approach that keeps Novocastrians coming back for more.

What they’re DisHhing up

Traditional American barbecue that stays true to slow cooking methods. Their signature brisket is dry-rubbed, basted, and smoked over wood in-house for more than seven hours. A fine-tuned process of patience and pride that produces an incredibly tender and juicy house signature with deep smoky flavours.

Double Duck focuses on a house-made approach, with every rub, sauce, and pizza base made in-house using fresh local produce. But what matters most in the kitchen is variety, offering their smoked meats across multiple formats, from fan-favourite loaded barbecue bowls to brisket pizza, keeping customers coming back to see what’s new on the menu.

Our must-tries from the kitchen

BBQ Packs

Choose from a variety of BBQ packs sizes loaded with their signature beef brisket that melts in your mouth, accompanied by juicy pulled pork finished with the Double Duck homemade barbecue sauce. Add a side of their mouth-watering smoked pork ribs lathered in barbecue sauce, with meat so tender it literally falls off the bone.

The packs are rounded out with traditional house-made sides, from seasoned chips to hand-tossed coleslaw. A tender showcase of regional American barbecue styles.

Brisket, Jalapeno, Cheese Pie

This pie absolutely lives up to their “Best Pie in Newcastle” title. As simple as its name suggests, this flaky homemade pastry crust is filled with signature brisket, oozing melted cheese, and the perfect amount of jalapeno spice. A simple pie that punches well above its weight.

Porky Cubano

A trio of house meats – pulled pork, ham, and bacon-topped with pickles and melted cheese, lathered with house-made Dijon mustard and tucked between fluffy Turkish bread. This Cubano delivers an authentic flavour with an extra meaty twist on the Cuban-inspired sandwich.

Reuben

Toasted rye bread loaded with a generous stack of signature brisket, topped with sauerkraut, cheese, and drizzled with Russian sauce. An incredibly tasty brisket twist on the classic American sandwich.

Brisket Pizza

Not your average barbecue menu item, but this pizza should not be overlooked. Starting with their handmade pizza base, layered with a BBQ base and topped with signature brisket, then finished with a drizzle of homemade chipotle sauce. Petition to make pizza a barbecue staple, anyone?

What’s next for Double Duck Smokehouse?

Tyler and Sheldon are busy expanding their American barbecue empire, with big plans on the horizon. In the short term, the team is preparing to launch their national wholesale pie line, alongside a growing catering and events arm that will include a custom-built 4-metre smoker trailer later this year. Their long-term goal is to continue opening Double Duck Smokehouse storefronts across the Hunter, sharing the pride of their American barbecue menu with more Novocastrians.

Stay tuned, the business will also be launching an exciting new brand concept early in the new financial year. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with their exciting next chapter!

The rundown

→  A traditional showcase of low and slow American barbecue
→  Deep smoky, savoury and tangy flavours
→  Your saucy BBQ smokehouse go-to $$
→  Vegetarian options
→  Incredibly tender and flavourful beef brisket and pork ribs, plus an unmissable American take on the classic Australian pies. Yeehaw!

The DisHh features are booked anonymously and paid independently by HUNTERhunter. A restaurant cannot pay to be featured in The DisHh.