BBQ in cincinnati?

i just moved to cincinnati and wondered where i can get some decent bbq?

i just moved here from tuscaloosa, ala., home of archibald's (ok, it's in northport, but still...) mmmm. i was telling someone about my favorite place for bbq, and, well, i got really hungry telling them how to get to archibald's... so what you got? thanks so much.

Welcome to Cincinnati :-)

I don't know exactly what the BBQ is like in Alabama, having never been there, but of course Willie Anderson (RT for the Bengals) speaks highly of it. In any case, all I can talk about is the bbq around here that I do like, and hope it is to your liking too.

Montgomery Inn is the most famous restaurant in town, and their specialty is bbq pork ribs. Some locals on this board have commented that they do not like the ribs or sauce there, to be fair, but I find them to be wonderful. I also commend the saratoga chips and the salad with the house vinegrette dressing. This place fairly pricey.

I have eaten at and can also recommend three other places that are less well known, and in each case unique and very small operations

1) Pit to Plate on Compton Road, College Hill. Very good pulled pork, they smoke their own. Also offers 1.00 a pound smoking for turkeys at thanksgiving - you give her the turkey, the owner smokes it for you. The meat comes unsauced mostly, with a choice of sauces at the table. Easily my favorite of the three

2) The meat is much smokier but also seemingly pricier at BBQ Revue in Madonsonville. I tried and liked beef and pork bbq they offer there, which again is offerred with or without sauce. I am told the ribs are excellent, but haven't tried them.

3) A place that I just found a couple of weeks ago in Sharonville shows promise, called One of a Kind Ribs, on Sharon Road, just short of where it meets up with Reading Road. Very small operation, but the bbq'd quarter chicken I had there was tender, delicious, and well sauced. I hope to go back soon. Their hours are a bit odd, so look them up in the phone book or call ahead.

Hey, TJ......

What about Gary Burbank's joints? Are they still around? They used to be great about 20 years ago....mid 80's.....when they first opened. He took a year off and traveled the south in search of the perfect BBQ. I used to buy the mustard sauce and bring it home in big quart styrofoam containers.

Any comments?

Stogie

quote:

Originally posted by Stogie

Hey, TJ......

What about Gary Burbank's joints? Are they still around? They used to be great about 20 years ago....mid 80's.....when they first opened. He took a year off and traveled the south in search of the perfect BBQ. I used to buy the mustard sauce and bring it home in big quart styrofoam containers.

Any comments?

Stogie

Last time I checked, only the Sharonville and Beavercreek locations were still around. I know the Ft. Mitchell and Florence locations have folded. I think he oversaturated the local market. There wasn't that much of a call for BBQ back when they first opened and started expanding. Now his place is just one of many. To tell the truth, I wasn't terribly impressed with Burbanks on the one occasion I ate there. The sauces were good, but the meat left quite a bit to be desired. I like Gary though, so I guess I owe him another shot. He's been nothing but good for Cincinnati.

I also ate at Burbanks once only, and was pretty disappointed with pretty much every aspect of the visit.

You dont see many cars in the Sharonville location (visible from i-75) at any hour....

I like Gary's radio show but for BBQ I'm a Montgomery Inn man.

quote:

Originally posted by Stogie

Hey, TJ......

What about Gary Burbank's joints? Are they still around? They used to be great about 20 years ago....mid 80's.....when they first opened. He took a year off and traveled the south in search of the perfect BBQ. I used to buy the mustard sauce and bring it home in big quart styrofoam containers.

Any comments?

Stogie

Back in the '80s Burbank opened a place in Columbus, and I liked it. It didn't last very long. Probably because I liked it.

quote:

Originally posted by Stogie

Hey, TJ......

What about Gary Burbank's joints? Are they still around? They used to be great about 20 years ago....mid 80's.....when they first opened. He took a year off and traveled the south in search of the perfect BBQ. I used to buy the mustard sauce and bring it home in big quart styrofoam containers.

Any comments?

Stogie

My understanding from an acquaintance that knows Gary is that he just got tired of running the things. The quality is so uneven, because some of the joints were franchised (the one in Eastgate and the little one in Mt. Lookout for instance). The only one he really took an interest in was the original near Tri-County. And that's a franchise joint too, now....

I've had Pit to Plate and BBQ Revue. My employer brought in Pit to Plate for our Christmas/State of the Company meeting this year and I was sold. Great stuff.

BBQ Revue is a family favorite for us. Although the sauce is oddly seasoned -- TJ? I haven't been able to identify that distinctive taste. Is it celery seed, you think? That's the only thing I've come up with. The ribs are great, by the way -- meaty, smoky, fall-off-the-bone tender.

As TJ alluded, I'm a longtime hater of the so-called "Ribs King" at the Montgomery Inn, where you are not only served livestock, you are treated like livestock. I'll only add this: If it hasn't seen wood smoke, it isn't BBQ, the The Inn boils its ribs.

Thanks for the tip on the Sharon Road place. I've got to try it.

Finally, a nebulous and somewhat hazy recommendation. Somewhere in Lincoln Heights, there's a place called The Country Preacher. It's in a ramshackle house in a so-called "bad" part of town. It's only open Thursday through Saturday (or at least it was when I was going there). And for five bucks you can get the soul food meal of your dreams. Brisket, Boston butt, ribs, roasts grilled over wood fires and boldly sauced and spiced. Four side dishes, including gooey rich Mac/Cheese, porky greens, frenetically seasoned black-eyed peas, baked tomatoes, green beans, squash, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes etc., etc., etc. You enter the front door and stand in the dreary battered living room area, which looks into a kitchen where all is being cooked on the two largest stoves you've ever seen, including an immense cauldron of a skillet with gorgeous sizzling fried chicken. Order, carry out, and eat. It's glorious. For four years when I worked in Blue Ash, the Preacher was a Friday tradition for us all.....I'm going to have to try to find it again.....

yeah, when i came for my interview, i was taken to the montgomery inn, and was less than impressed with the ribs. the sauce was waaaay too thick. it's like the sauce was the main course, not the ribs. bad, bad form if you ask me. the saratoga chips were really good, though.

i live in hyde park, so the bbq revue isn't that far and i may try that soon. thanks. (i read a review of it in the inky and it had good things to say about the brisket -- i love a good beef brisket -- lived in texas, too. texas q... mmm. sausage)

thanks for the help and let's continue this thread. also, i don't know if there's a message dealie on this bad boy, but i'd love to hear some other cincy favorites

Hyde Park?

You're just across the Beechmont Levy from me, more or less :-) welcome not only to Cincinnati, but the East Side! Woo! I'm in Mt Washington.

When you get a chance, try Montgomery Inn again, but get something other than the ribs, and I think you'll be impressed. IMHO, the do everything on their menu quite well. Make sure, as I said before, to get the salad with the house vinegrette dressing.

Here's a link to a review on BBQ Review http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/012601_alacarte.html

Here's a link to a review of a small bbq place (named Boston Butts) I haven't tried yet on the nw side of Cincinnati: http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/042304_bostonbutz_25.html

Here's some reviews from the local alternative/weekly paper for one BBQ joint I mentioned and two others I didn't: http://www.citybeat.com/2003-10-08/diner.shtml

Also, I can't believe I forgot to mention I place I personally don't like, but many people swear by, and they definitely cook over wood: Walt's Hitching Post in Northern KY, maybe 5 minutes from downtown Cincy. Here's a couple of links to reviews of Walt's:
http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/031904_walts.html
http://www.citybeat.com/2000-03-16/diner.shtml

Jim McKee: good to see you're still on here, hadn't seen your posts in quite some time. My experience with BBQ Revue, despite thefact that it is the closest to my house, has been limited, so I can't answer your question. The folks there seem pretty friendly, might be worth it to just ask them at the counter :-) . Also: have you tried the BBQ at Ollie's Trolley (I always get a burger there, just too good) or at Walt's Hitching Post?

Also, can you point me towards a commercially available bbq sauce you like? Name me one that I can get from most local grocery stores (Biggs, Meijer's, Krogers) and another (if you like) that I need to go to a specialty store for, incl Jungle Jims.

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum
Last time I checked, only the Sharonville and Beavercreek locations were still around.

The Beavercreek location, unfortunately, is closed.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Also, I can't believe I forgot to mention I place I personally don't like, but many people swear by, and they definitely cook over wood: Walt's Hitching Post in Northern KY, maybe 5 minutes from downtown Cincy. Here's a couple of links to reviews of Walt's:
http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/031904_walts.html
http://www.citybeat.com/2000-03-16/diner.shtml

The Hitching Post is the only BBQ place in the Greater Cincy area that I'd rate lower than Montgomery Inn's famous Pork Chops in Catsup. Absolutely garbage. Terrible service and a sheep-like crowd of regulars who keep going back despite the frightfully indifferent BBQ. Too bad. It's convenient to home, but so are several White Castles. Try it as a baseline knowing that the only way to go is up.

Just in case we are crossing wires here, Wally, I am not referring to the Hitching Post that serves mostly fried chicken, but Walt's Hitching Post in Ft. Wright/Covington. Check the link to be sure. If you're talking about the same place I am, then, uh....nevermind? :-)

I do know they have an outdoor smoker building 50 feet or so away from the restaurant proper, and that most bbq lovers on here seem to prefer their ribs smoked, so I thought it worth a mention. I haven't been there in many, many years.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson



Also, can you point me towards a commercially available bbq sauce you like? Name me one that I can get from most local grocery stores (Biggs, Meijer's, Krogers) and another (if you like) that I need to go to a specialty store for, incl Jungle Jims.

Lately, I've been using Stubbs...It's not as sweet as some, but I really like it.....

Where are you buying the Stubb's sauce at?

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Where are you buying the Stubb's sauce at?

Try Meijer. That's where I found it, although they are anything but consistent about their stocking policies. Oklahoma Joe's was my favorite until they quit carrying it. For a short time they had both the regular and spicy varieties. Even my wife liked it.
If all else fails, try Jungle Jims.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Where are you buying the Stubb's sauce at?

Saw it tonight at the Bigg's in Newtown? Mt. Washington? On the levee near Lunken Airport, whatever the case.
BTW, we tried Betta's last weekend and loved it. According to our waitress, they've recently opened a Norwood location with a brick oven. We plan to try that with the kids while we're on vacation. Thanks for the tip.

We probably were in the store at the same time, Wally ...I had to stop in to pick up some milk and other things last night on the way home.

I also found the Stubbs sauce there -- last night, in fact -- but when I noted that the second ingredient was/is vinegar, I didn't buy it. Jim McKee, if you're listening, I am looking for an alternate sauce that is of what is to me the 'traditional' style thick sauce, slightly less thick than ketchup. Not a thin, vinegar based sauce. I'm sorry that I wasn't more specific in my original request....

Glad you liked Betta's. The Norwood location is more of a pizza place than an Italian Restaurant, btw.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

We probably were in the store at the same time, Wally ...I had to stop in to pick up some milk and other things last night on the way home.

I also found the Stubbs sauce there -- last night, in fact -- but when I noted that the second ingredient was/is vinegar, I didn't buy it. Jim McKee, if you're listening, I am looking for an alternate sauce that is of what is to me the 'traditional' style think sauce, ie slightly less thick than ketchup. Not a thin, vinegar based sauce.

Glad you liked Betta's. The Norwood location is more of a pizza place than an Italian Restaurant, btw.

I doubt we were there at the same time. I went at lunch, which for me is 2:30am. ;-)
As for Betta's, the pizza angle should work well with the kids along. The Mt. Lookout location was perfect for my wife and I on a rare occasion without the kids.

Do you work near that Bigg's, then? I'm at the top of the hill

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Do you work near that Bigg's, then? I'm at the top of the hill

I'm at the bottom. USBank Center on Wooster Rd. I go to Bigg's about once a week. I couldn't tell you what Bigg's looks like in the light of day.

quote:

Originally posted by jmckee



Finally, a nebulous and somewhat hazy recommendation. Somewhere in Lincoln Heights, there's a place called The Country Preacher. It's in a ramshackle house in a so-called "bad" part of town. It's only open Thursday through Saturday (or at least it was when I was going there). And for five bucks you can get the soul food meal of your dreams. Brisket, Boston butt, ribs, roasts grilled over wood fires and boldly sauced and spiced. Four side dishes, including gooey rich Mac/Cheese, porky greens, frenetically seasoned black-eyed peas, baked tomatoes, green beans, squash, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes etc., etc., etc. You enter the front door and stand in the dreary battered living room area, which looks into a kitchen where all is being cooked on the two largest stoves you've ever seen, including an immense cauldron of a skillet with gorgeous sizzling fried chicken. Order, carry out, and eat. It's glorious. For four years when I worked in Blue Ash, the Preacher was a Friday tradition for us all.....I'm going to have to try to find it again.....

According to the yellow pages on the internet, the Country Preacher Restaurant is at 1067 Steffen Ave. in Cincinnati and their phone number is (513) 563-1606. Hope this helps you.

I drive south on I-75 past Lincoln Heights every day, and so I'll take a look to see if the Country Preacher still exists and all. It's just a short jump off the highway.

There is a sign clearly visible from the freeway there for a place called "Sweeney's Weenies" which I never heard of, and also appears to no longer exist. Wild. I didn't think any hot dog places (other than the Goldstars and Skylines and their like) existed in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

There is a sign clearly visible from the freeway there for a place called "Sweeney's Weenies" which I never heard of, and also appears to no longer exist. Wild. I didn't think any hot dog places (other than the Goldstars and Skylines and their like) existed in Cincinnati in my lifetime.

Are you sure that isn't "Queenie's Weenies"? Just across from the old GE complex? When my son was just a toddler I would occasionally take him out for lunch and we tries Queenie's once just for something different. Nothing to write home about (even if you are just up the hill.) There was a place in Florence just off the US 42 exit around the same time named Flo's Hot Dogs. We ate there a few more times than Queenie's, but it wasn't a taste sensation either.
Now that I think of it, the Buffalo Wings & Rings on Dixie Highway in Erlanger/Edgewood was once a hot dog place that was owned by one of the old Cincinnati Royals. We ate there once during a Christmas shopping trip to China Town. (The Cincinnati Royals and China Town. I'm REALLY showing my age now.)

It is just across from the GE complex, but the sign (raised to a fairly great height) says "Sweeney's Weenies".

In any case, long gone, by the looks of things. I wasn't even sure which building had housed the establishment, as there were several empty ones right there.

I got off the freeway and cruised down Steffen Ave after work, and found the Country Preacher. There was a large CLOSED sign in the window of what looked to be a person's home, surrounded on most sides with a unpainted wooden privacy fence, rather than a restaurant.

I'll check back in after a few weeks, just in case they are on vacation or whatever, but it didn't look like they were simply closed for the day or whatever....

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

It is just across from the GE complex, but the sign (raised to a fairly great height) says "Sweeney's Weenies".

In any case, long gone, by the looks of things. I wasn't even sure which building had housed the establishment, as there were several empty ones right there.

Good chance they went by both names at one time or another. Also a good chance that I just thought Weenie Queenie sounded funnier and substituted it in my own head. I wish I could say that kind of stuff never happens, but I'd be lying. The building HAS been closed for years and it didn't look like much when it was open. You sure wouldn't have mistaken it for a restaurant.

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

Are you sure that isn't "Queenie's Weenies"?

err, I stand corrected. I re-checked the sign on the way home the other night and it is (err was) Queenies, not Sweenies. Sorry bout that.

I passed a bbq place in Wilmington, Ohio called Beaugard's. I think a preacher owns and cooks the ribs there. Just wandered if anyone has been there and how is it??

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

err, I stand corrected. I re-checked the sign on the way home the other night and it is (err was) Queenies, not Sweenies. Sorry bout that.

We went there once, many years ago. I think my wife was pregnant at the time so that would make it 1992. Wasn't it Chicago-style hot-dogs? I think thats what I got. But it was really a bad location for a restaurant.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveCincy

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

err, I stand corrected. I re-checked the sign on the way home the other night and it is (err was) Queenies, not Sweenies. Sorry bout that.

We went there once, many years ago. I think my wife was pregnant at the time so that would make it 1992. Wasn't it Chicago-style hot-dogs? I think thats what I got. But it was really a bad location for a restaurant.

That would be about right. My son was just a toddler. Nothing special, especially considering the price.
TJ, I think there was a Sweeney's seafood restaurant across the highway in that general area many years ago. I think it's gone also. That might be what you were thinking of.

Jim McKee: good news.

I went by the Country Preacher again on Friday evening and found it closed again - BUT - I noted that the local Police Station was right down the street, and a number of them were milling about outside, I suppose this was just after a shift change or somesuch. I went up to one of the officers and asked them if the Country preacher was closed for good, and he told me that no, they just keep very weird hours. He too was suprised they were closed on a nice Friday evening.

I will keep checking, nope to report a Roadfood experience at some point :-)

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Jim McKee: good news.

I went by the Country Preacher again on Friday evening and found it closed again - BUT - I noted that the local Police Station was right down the street, and a number of them were milling about outside, I suppose this was just after a shift change or somesuch. I went up to one of the officers and asked them if the Country preacher was closed for good, and he told me that no, they just keep very weird hours. He too was suprised they were closed on a nice Friday evening.

I will keep checking, nope to report a Roadfood experience at some point :-)

Cool. Let me know.

On another front:

At the northwest corner of Sharon and Mosteller roads in Sharonville, Ohio, is a parking lot containing a food wagon and a couple of large oildrum smokers. It's the location of Jim Dandy Barbecue. Excellent. The motto is a not-so-veiled slap at Cincinnati's Montgomery Inn: "Spiced and Smoked, not Boiled and Soaked."

Excellent brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. Top-notch sides.

DaveCincy: Yeah, Lincoln Heights isn't exactly one of the city's finest neighborhoods. But I'd guess the owner figured he'd pick up business from thousands of workers at the GE AE Plant across the highway.

Bluegrass031: Sorry, haven't been to Wilmington other than a drive up 71 on the way to somewhere else.

I have to laugh at the words Preacher and Mosteller in the same post. I had a good friend from the Cincinnati area named Mosteller, and he was called Preacher Mosteller. He wasn't a preacher, he was an outdoor writer.

even though I work for this place, It's getting well known in town, we've been open lil over a year now. But I can mark my words ya come back for more taste. City Barbeque, Centerville

Other store locations are all in Columbus, We are the only store outside of Columbus.

quote:

Originally posted by meat.me.at.the.city

even though I work for this place, It's getting well known in town, we've been open lil over a year now. But I can mark my words ya come back for more taste. City Barbeque, Centerville

Other store locations are all in Columbus, We are the only store outside of Columbus.

I'm a big fan of City Barbeque. There's one about a quarter of a mile from my home here in Gahanna. I'm a big fan of the pulled pork and the brisket,the greens, the beans, and the macaroni and cheese. I don't care for the ribs. Too tough. I love the macaroni and cheese.

From the way the CEO wants the ribs are chew off the bone, not fall off the bone, I've ran the boards area for over a year & just few weeks ago got promoted to the pits, so I know what your talking about with meat being tough, I'm very picking on what should be served as far as quality as most people in any business should be. Hope you can expierence us at Centerville someday

quote:

Originally posted by bluegrasser031

I passed a bbq place in Wilmington, Ohio called Beaugard's. I think a preacher owns and cooks the ribs there. Just wandered if anyone has been there and how is it??

Sorry for adding to this rather late, but...

Re: Beaugard's in Wilmington, OH

We've been there once, so our experience is limited. IIRC, the pulled pork sandwiches were decent, but rather skimpy on the meat and already mixed with a sauce. They came with shredded cabbage on it, I think. Not coleslaw, but plain cabbage. Sides (coleslaw, potato salad) were in very small styrofoam cups and were okay, nothing to write home about. I thought the portions were fairly small for the price, certainly much smaller than what other local BBQ places gave you.

Even though I liked their pulled pork better than City BBQ, I think City BBQ is the better deal. We didn't try anything else at Beaugard's, so I can't comment on ribs, etc. Neither Beaugard's or City BBQ even began to compare with the Q we'd sampled down south in Tennessee and Alabama, where it was cheaper, larger portions, and a lot tastier. :(

Incidentally, Smoking up in Kettering, OH (on Woodman, in that shopping center with the Christopher's restaurant) has re-opened after their fire, I think. We only got to go there once before they had their accident and shut down, but the ribs were pretty good, as I recall. There's also another Smokey Bones location recently opened in Centerville along 725, but I thought their food was overrated and didn't care for the sports bar-like atmosphere when I went to the first one up north.

Ariane

there's only one plac to go in Cincy for really good BBQ and sides:
June Bug's.

quote:

Originally posted by SouthHillbilly

there's only one plac to go in Cincy for really good BBQ and sides:
June Bug's.

We haven't been there yet, but it's been on our list of places to try!

Ariane

I drove by a "june Bug's in cincy.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Also, can you point me towards a commercially available bbq sauce you like? Name me one that I can get from most local grocery stores (Biggs, Meijer's, Krogers) and another (if you like) that I need to go to a specialty store for, incl Jungle Jims.

quote:

Originally posted by jmckee

Lately, I've been using Stubbs...It's not as sweet as some, but I really like it.....

I finally went and bought a bottle of Stubb's (the only kind they had was "mild") last night at the Biggs at the foot of the hill on Beechmont, and found it to be very different than any sauce i have ever had. A lot more vinegar, very little if any sweetness to it, despite molasses and corn syrup appearing early in the ingredients listing. It'll take a while to grow on me, as used as I am to the typically sweet sauces found here in Cincinnati.

What is this sauce best with, Mr McKee?

Stubbs is an Austin,Tx restaurant.

Typical Tx fare would be beef,chicken,spares,and sausage.

Pulled pork is a rare commodity.

Many Texans speak of sweet sauce with disdain.

Tom

Yeah, here in Cincinnati, we are accustomed to very thick, sweet bbq sauce.

I've learned not to speak disdainfully of regional differences....I can truthfully say I don't like the thin vinegar-sauce that typically accompanies 'que in North Carolina, but I respect the difference and accept that this style of sauce is what they've become accustomed to and love. One man's trash being another's treasure, and all that stuff :-)

etc etc....

But thanks for the info :-)

Mr McKee....anything to add?

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Also, can you point me towards a commercially available bbq sauce you like? Name me one that I can get from most local grocery stores (Biggs, Meijer's, Krogers) and another (if you like) that I need to go to a specialty store for, incl Jungle Jims.

quote:

Originally posted by jmckee

Lately, I've been using Stubbs...It's not as sweet as some, but I really like it.....

I finally went and bought a bottle of Stubb's (the only kind they had was "mild") last night at the Biggs at the foot of the hill on Beechmont, and found it to be very different than any sauce i have ever had. A lot more vinegar, very little if any sweetness to it, despite molasses and corn syrup appearing early in the ingredients listing. It'll take a while to grow on me, as used as I am to the typically sweet sauces found here in Cincinnati.

What is this sauce best with, Mr McKee?

I've used it on most anything, from baby back ribs, to boneless country style ribs (which are a good alternative now, since my 12 year old has braces and can't "pull" at ribs), chicken, Cornish hens, and kebabs. I love the stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Yeah, here in Cincinnati, we are accustomed to very thick, sweet bbq sauce.

I've learned not to speak disdainfully of regional differences....I can truthfully say I don't like the thin vinegar-sauce that typically accompanies 'que in North Carolina, but I respect the difference and accept that this style of sauce is what they've become accustomed to and love. One man's trash being another's treasure, and all that stuff :-)

etc etc....

But thanks for the info :-)

Mr McKee....anything to add?

In the spirit of amity, I shall not rise to the red flag calling me to dis a certain joint (hint: name includes a street beginning with M) and its sauce. But I do love North Carolina 'cue, and Virginia 'cue (Pierce's Pitt Barbecue, near Williamsburg, in particular).

By the way, Jim Dandy's, which is a trailer and a smoker at Sharon and Mosteller Roads, has nice pulled pork and sides; ate there Monday. They're building a real sit-down restaurant up Sharon Road a bit, near the I-75 interchange. I'll keep you apprised.

Jack

I don't get up to the Northern part of town much, but will try to spot them if I am up that way (Microcenter is my best excuse to be in the area)

What are their hours, and will they be operating through the Winter? If not, when is their spring re-opening?

The sit down - which side of I-75 will it be on? the Princeton HS side or the other?

So near to the sole remaining Burbanks.....hehe......no respect for what I am told was once great 'que, a long time ago......

At the Sharonville end of Sharon, just shy of Reading, is yet another smoked bbq place named "One of a Kind Ribs". Pretty good, but didn't seem to do a lot of business, and haven't been there in over a year.

Have you made it to CityQ yet? I haven't, but really want to get over there.

Suddenly, we're getting a lot of new and good bbq (no "M") choices here in Cincinnati.

Smokin Ox in the square in Oxford was a neat place and one I wish I could get back to without a 5 hour drive attached. excellent menu, the owners know their bbq, and do an excellent job with it. Lots of other good items on the menu including hot dog wrapped in bacon and covered in chili, which they call a texas Tommy. Pretty good deal for a college town location.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Also, can you point me towards a commercially available bbq sauce you like? Name me one that I can get from most local grocery stores (Biggs, Meijer's, Krogers) and another (if you like) that I need to go to a specialty store for, incl Jungle Jims.

quote:

Originally posted by jmckee

Lately, I've been using Stubbs...It's not as sweet as some, but I really like it.....

I finally went and bought a bottle of Stubb's (the only kind they had was "mild") last night at the Biggs at the foot of the hill on Beechmont, and found it to be very different than any sauce i have ever had. A lot more vinegar, very little if any sweetness to it, despite molasses and corn syrup appearing early in the ingredients listing. It'll take a while to grow on me, as used as I am to the typically sweet sauces found here in Cincinnati.

What is this sauce best with, Mr McKee?

I'm not Mr McKee, but I'd suggest pulled pork. It was a HUGE hit at our house two weeks ago. Pappy's XXX is another great sauce. I've only seen it in Carrolton, KY.
And you might want to check the Kroger up in Anderson Township. They had the whole collection of Stubbs sauce.

quote:

Originally posted by arianej

quote:

Originally posted by bluegrasser031

I passed a bbq place in Wilmington, Ohio called Beaugard's. I think a preacher owns and cooks the ribs there. Just wandered if anyone has been there and how is it??

Sorry for adding to this rather late, but...

Re: Beaugard's in Wilmington, OH

We've been there once, so our experience is limited. IIRC, the pulled pork sandwiches were decent, but rather skimpy on the meat and already mixed with a sauce. They came with shredded cabbage on it, I think. Not coleslaw, but plain cabbage. Sides (coleslaw, potato salad) were in very small styrofoam cups and were okay, nothing to write home about. I thought the portions were fairly small for the price, certainly much smaller than what other local BBQ places gave you.

Even though I liked their pulled pork better than City BBQ, I think City BBQ is the better deal. We didn't try anything else at Beaugard's, so I can't comment on ribs, etc. Neither Beaugard's or City BBQ even began to compare with the Q we'd sampled down south in Tennessee and Alabama, where it was cheaper, larger portions, and a lot tastier. :(

Incidentally, Smoking up in Kettering, OH (on Woodman, in that shopping center with the Christopher's restaurant) has re-opened after their fire, I think. We only got to go there once before they had their accident and shut down, but the ribs were pretty good, as I recall. There's also another Smokey Bones location recently opened in Centerville along 725, but I thought their food was overrated and didn't care for the sports bar-like atmosphere when I went to the first one up north.

Ariane

Thanks for the feedback on Beaugard's. Sorry it took me so long to reply. The thing about barbeque is you can drive by a place and it really smells good. Then you go in and take your chances. I agree that Tennessee has some great bbq joints. I would like to go to Memphis sometime and hit a bunch of those bbq joints.

quote:

Originally posted by jmckee

By the way, Jim Dandy's, which is a trailer and a smoker at Sharon and Mosteller Roads, has nice pulled pork and sides; ate there Monday. They're building a real sit-down restaurant up Sharon Road a bit, near the I-75 interchange. I'll keep you apprised.

Jack

This week's Enquirer included the following tidbit....

quote:

Originally posted at http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051208/ENT01/512090306/1026

New Sharonville barbecue

A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Sharonville. Jim Emig sold barbecue roadside for the last five years, but has now moved inside to a brand-new building. Jim Dandy's Family BBQ is open at 2343 E. Sharon Road, just a few hundred yards from its former road-side spot.

Jim Dandy's serves hickory and cherry wood-smoked ribs, chicken and pulled pork, and apple and cherry wood-smoked beef brisket. Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. (513) 771-4888.

I'll add that I finally made it to CityQ on Tylersville Road while out shopping for kid's/wife's chistmas presents, and it was a very eye-opening experience. More on that later. Suffice it to say for now, I am starting to understanding what ya'all mean when you say real BBQ requires no sauce.

I've previously lived in Cincinnati and remember seeing some barbecue sauce in Biggs with a funny label. It had a picture of a guy that looked like a pimp with a purple jacket. I think he had a feather in his hat also. What's this barbecue sauce called? Also, it had a funny quote on the can but I can't seem to remember what that was. Does anybody know the name of the sauce and what the quote says?

5906
If you go over to Jungle Jim's you will find a huge display of literally hundreds of sauces that fit the description you've given. Hot--Super Hot---and up and up and up. Some of the Labels are Obscene in almost everyone's definition of the term! I remember donating a bottle of "Psycho Bi*ch from Hell" Sauce to the lovely Elise at the very first Roadfood get together in 2004 in SoCal.

EDIT.... OOPS! I didn't catch the part about you now living in Colorado. Well, if you ever get back to Cincinnati follow the directions to Jungle Jim's and Stock Up !! Or order from Mo'Hotta Mo Bettah!! the Sauce website

Take a look at
http://www.hierophantsound.com/ikes.html

I have a bottle of this in my fridge right now :-)

quote:

Originally posted by

What else can i do with it?

Try the new just opened smoke house of JIM DANDY's in Sharonville just a little east of I-75 on Sharon Road......best I'v had around here he rubs it then smokes it.............

quote:

Originally posted by ephus

i just moved to cincinnati and wondered where i can get some decent bbq?

i just moved here from tuscaloosa, ala., home of archibald's (ok, it's in northport, but still...) mmmm. i was telling someone about my favorite place for bbq, and, well, i got really hungry telling them how to get to archibald's... so what you got? thanks so much.

I have the perfect place for you! I used to live in Birmingham. I am originally from Memphis. But I lived in Wilmington Ohio for several years. If you want some true authentic southern BBQ then you need to head up 71 about 20 minutes north of Kings Island and eat at Beaugard's in Wilmington. You'll be glad you made the trip. This is a wonderful family that moved up there from Arkansas. They slow cook their meats and make their own memphis style sauce.
Tell them Mandy sent you.

Try CityQ. 7706 Voice of America Centrre, West Chester. 513-755-2011.

It's the Cincinnati area name for City Barbeque out of Columbus. City Barbeque is excellent fare, from the pulled pork to the smoked links to the brisket, chicken and turkey. And the sides are great, too.

Well, if yer in Cincy now, and you WERE from Alabama, you could get in yer car and drive 90 minutes east on US 32 and then south 20 minutes on US 23 to get to The Southern Moon (old Holiday Inn) restaurant, a mile north of Portsmouth.

http://www.theportsmouthdaysinn.com/restaurant.htm

The guy there (who runs the restaurant part) lived in Alabama where he ran a barbeque place and now he's here at P-Town doing the same thing. Worth the trip