The Thirsty Goat replaced the former Casa del Sol in Fitchburg. The menu features typical American fare and some smokehouse items and reminds me of Tony Roma’s, which used to exist a few blocks away.

Although it’s not a destination restaurant, the Thirsty Goat does help fill the restaurant void in Fitchburg. According to a server, it will start brewing its own beer next year.

As expected with a smokehouse menu, your table includes homemade BBQ sauces. All four were essentially the same, but I found myself using the chipotle one the most. One way to try all the smokehouse items is the sampler platter ($22.99).

• The meat came off the ribs easily and had enough flavor that it didn’t require any sauce.
• On the other hand, the brisket was mild in flavor and a bit dry, requiring sauce.
• The sausage was dense, had a good snap and had a slight heat.
• You get one each of pulled pork, brisket and chicken in the smoked sliders appetizer ($10.99). The chicken really stood out by being moist and smoky.

The rest of the menu has burgers/sandwiches, entrees, salads and a Friday fish fry.

• The Atlantic cod ($12.99) was a bit soggy–I prefer my fried fish crunchy. I’m glad I didn’t get the all-you-can eat version ($17.99).
• The broasted chicken (2 pieces for $8.99, 4 for $12.99) perfectly combined crunchy and tender textures. It’s a hidden gem on the menu.
• The salmon fillet ($16.99) was a pleasant surprise. The menu doesn’t describe it, but the salmon is heavily seasoned and was bursting with flavor.
• As for the sides, the beans are slightly sweet and spicy but the red peppers overtook the flavor. There was good heat in the corn but it was otherwise bland. The corn bread was like spongecake and served at room temperature. The mac and cheese was creamy but average.

The Thirsty Goat is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout.

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See more photos in our Thirsty Goat Flickr album.