Cleveland Ohio BBQ

Any roadies familiar with any Cleveland area BBQ and Rib joints? Preferably the west side out to Elyria-Lorain.

Anyone who's seen my posts knows that Barbecue is my passion. That said, I've been making annual business trips to Cleveland for ten years now and, although we've found some excellent food in a wide variety of ethnicities and genres, we have yet to find anything that qualifies as even modestly great 'Que. We've tried a place called Hot Sauce Williams that was only passable in terms of food and downright scary in terms of atmosphere and location. The rest were so unmemorable I don't even remember their names. You might want to check a site called Citysearch.com and plug in Cleveland/Barbecue. The reviews aren't always reliable but at least you'll get a fairly complete list of places.

THAT CONFIRMS MY SUSPENSION. I'm here now and looking for a small place. Wish me luck.

Sorry, When in Cleveland, I prefer a good plate of Perch and Pierogis. I save my BBQ cravings for The South, Texas and Kansas City.

There is Dave's bar-b-que in North Olmstead that just recently opened, I think he won a couple of rib burnoff contests here in Cleveland and decided to open a restaurant here. I haven't been there yet but it looks like it's always crowded so it must be good. Another Retaurant in the area that won a "Best Ribs" contest is Pacer's in Lakewood. We got a local chain that has pretty good ribs called Geppetto's. I hope this helps.

I looked up Dave's website, It is called "Famous Dave's" and it is a chain having restauants all over the country.

I saw Famous Dave's yesterday. I'll try to get by Pacers in Lakewood. I am a pit master with notable cudos from food and BBQ critics and officienados. I find that when offered something other than "chain" BBQ, they will come. Smokey Bones is building a place in Elyria at this time

quote:

Originally posted by hungryjim

There is Dave's bar-b-que in North Olmstead that just recently opened, I think he won a couple of rib burnoff contests here in Cleveland and decided to open a restaurant here. I haven't been there yet but it looks like it's always crowded so it must be good. Another Retaurant in the area that won a "Best Ribs" contest is Pacer's in Lakewood. We got a local chain that has pretty good ribs called Geppetto's. I hope this helps.

What Cleveland does not have is good BBQ. Perhaps a mountain man can start anew and grow a business without attachments. Good smoked stuff would go over great there.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Famous Dave's is a Chain, based in the Minneapolis MN area. If you saw one in Ohio it is a relativily new addition to that Franchise chain.
We have a couple in the Louisville area...better than Tony Roma's, but NOT the example of BBQ we like to think of.

We have Famous Dave's in Knoxville and they are mediocre but I really admire the owner as he is one of the most charitable folks around. He shares the wealth.

I actually enjoy some of the menu and the rib tips are pretty good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Josey, Pacers is at the top of my street!
Excellent exotic pizza, a little pricey, very popular, but alas, no bbq on the menu. Hope you are enjoying your stay here, however I can think of no bbq place I would steer you to.

Still looking for a place to call my own, y'all help out.Josey Wales and I are close buddies.

Me thinks that Josey Wales and you are very close. I wonder if he can smoke pork as well as you?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Well I would agree that it is very difficult to find a good barbeque outside the Western/Southern areas of the USA, at least that I know of. There is a place called Hoggys which is a chain that I like better than I do Smokey Bones, even though I know Smokey Bones has won some awards. There are a few locations in the Cleveland area, you might want to give them a try, their website is http://www.hoggys.com/

I'm sorry but Cleveland has no good BBQ. Charlotte doesn't either but it is closer.

quote:

Originally posted by V960
I'm sorry but Cleveland has no good BBQ. Charlotte doesn't either but it is closer.

V960,
Charlotte doesn't need to - after all, it's got Jamison's Livermush!
Offally, Ort. Carlton in Lovely Athens, Georgia.
P. S. Charlotte does have a good many fine meat-and-threes scattered about town, mostly run by Greek families.
P. P. S. Charlotte doesn't need barbecue when it's in between Lexington, N. C. with its plethora of good places and Gaston County, where the fish camp is the place to go.
P. P. P. S. Bridges' in Shelby puts out some good 'cue if you're ever over that way.

My wife and kids eat Neese's livermush. Only liver I eat is foie gras (which we raise ourselves) or ankimono (Japanese dish using monkfish liver). Liver and I have never gotten along very well.

Your point about the closeness of great Q to Charlotte is well taken, just seems a shame Charlotte hasn't even got good Q much less great considering how close Shelby, Greensboro and Lexington are by interstate. Ole Original closed over ten years ago (was on Camp Green St just off hwy 74) and Q left the Queen City. I was born here fifty years ago and have just gotten used to it.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Me thinks that Josey Wales and you are very close. I wonder if he can smoke pork as well as you?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Josey and Monsieur Cachon are indeed very well acquainted and very knowledgable on a variety of subjects, even gardening.

I do a southern variation of Rumake with chicken livers that is a tasty treat. Foie Gras, please, my heart is trying to pump here. [:D

quote:

Originally posted by V960

My wife and kids eat Neese's livermush. Only liver I eat is foie gras (which we raise ourselves) or ankimono (Japanese dish using monkfish liver). Liver and I have never gotten along very well.

Your point about the closeness of great Q to Charlotte is well taken, just seems a shame Charlotte hasn't even got good Q much less great considering how close Shelby, Greensboro and Lexington are by interstate. Ole Original closed over ten years ago (was on Camp Green St just off hwy 74) and Q left the Queen City. I was born here fifty years ago and have just gotten used to it.

The more I consider doing a restaurant again and the endless hours that it entails........me is re-thinking of being a caterer only where I can set my schedule and choose the jobs that I want to do. I am sure that once the word gets out that I will be busy enough with that type of venue. I have done on site cooking for years with great success.

I agree that Famous Dave's is just okay...........we had one open up here in Mays Landing , NJ (15 miles west of Atlantic City)

I felt that their brisket was "to die for"..(the real thing)
but the roast chicken had absolutely no taste, (very bland).
on the plus side, at least it was fresh tasting....

wish they had beef ribs though........they are harder to find...
we've got a Damon's 1/2 mile from the Famous Daves , but no beef ribs either...

good luck on your BBQ search !

ellen in nj

Hopefully when you return to Cleveland, I will have my bbq spot open. We current operate as a catering business (CATERING TO YOU), and we have been providing Cleveland and surrounding areas with great down home traditionaly smoked mouth watering bbq (we really use real wood). Our menu does not stop at bbq, but that's where we began and our growth has taken us from soul food to fine dining. I have been working as a professional Chef for 12 years, and I truly enjoy the business of satisfying wonderful customers. If you have any questions about our business feel free to contact us at cateringtoyou1@sbcglobal.net, and when in Cleveland keep us in mind because we truly respect the art of true BBQ. We are trying to change Clevelands' bad reputation for bbq

Within the last year, a two new BBQ places have opened on the far west side in Avon. One is a branch of the Moosehead Grill in Vermilion, this one's called the Mighty Moose BBQ, on Detroit Rd between Rts 83 and 611. I haven't tried it yet, but the ribs at Moose Head have always been top-notch. www.mightymoosebbq.com

On Route 83 north of I-90 is the new home for Bubba's Q in Avon. It's run by former Cleveland Brown Al "Bubba" Baker and his wife. They had been doing catering for several years, and now have a full-time restaurant as of earlier this year. They've been very favorably reviewed by the Plain Dealer and Scene Magazine, and won the Taste of Cleveland in 2005. I've had their food on several occasions and was impressed. www.bubbabakerbbq.com