After ordering at 530 for a 7 pm drop off they outsourced to doordash- no issue there- then changed delivery people 3 times then cancelled my order. Apparently a driver showed up at 7 and was told it was cancelled. I felt sorry for the driver. City BBQ then texted me saying the driver failed to fulfill my order. I'm trying to support my local restaurants but I will not be supporting this one now or when things get back to normal. read more

The food was the bomb. The staff was super nice. If you ever get Megan, Olivia, or Emma to help you they will take care of you for sure. First time in Blue Ash and first food stop. Amazing. I got Brisket tacos, with the corn salsa. Put the ranch on it. BOMB! I also got the Baja salad to go and it looks amazing. Staff was super nice which made all the difference too. read more

Good place to have a real barbeque restaurant - actually, good place to have a good kitchen! I don't know what has happened to City Barbecue, & where I come from it is call Barbeque - but not only do they perform a serious injustice on their belly ribs, they seem to have missed the mark with their corn pudding, their green beans, and their peach cobbler. So what WAS good? Their chicken - I ordered a full chicken and only got a 1/2 chicken. I can live with that, I let my wife & children eat the meat this meal. I ordered the collard greens, they were pretty good. Then I tried the sugary corn pudding and found in dry and oddly, a little salty. I tried the succulent green beans and found them overly peppery and otherwise okay. I had ordered macaroni & cheese for the little ones - I tried it and found the macaroni seemed mealy, tough, and not the al dente kind of tough - but it was a hit with the 4 and under crowd! For dessert, we tried the peach cobbler. Each one of us - no matter the treatment - with a cola, with ice cream, with water - found the peach cobbler bitter and unappetizing. Probably used bourbon peaches to make their cobbler, it reminds me of my grandfather's favorite - chocolate covered cherries soaked in bourbon. He loved them, he talked them up, he gave me one, and I have never eaten another chocolate covered cherry since! I even hate the smell and flavor of chocolate & cherries/strawberries. All in all, I find City Barbecue to be lacking in wholesome food at a fair price. I was able to reconcile to no ribs after about 3 trips to separate locations before I realized they used belly ribs and the barbecue was "Montgomery Inn" style, not the Kansas City to Memphis to NC style. Why should a Southerner try for a taste from home when all they get is semi-tough slathered meat that doesn't even taste smoked? I understand it is smoked.....but c'mon, it isn't quite the same. I've always liked the green beans - and so have my children - but today, they all left the green beans on their plates. I've never had the corn pudding last through one meal, and we have better than 1/2 of the quart still in the container. We threw the peach??cobbler away. This was my last trip to City Barbecue. I've not been impressed in the past, and now I'm disgusted. Just another rip-off of my hard earned money for something that I grew up with and have now experienced in the worst possible way. Thank God we were take-out, I'd have lost my temper in the restaurant with how bad the meal tasted! read more

Oh my gawd...... lord have mercy!! This was phenomenal. Who would have thought around the corner from our hotel in Ohio was this gem??? The pork... seriously, tender and so juicy! The Brisket is my fav and I am a harsh critic! Tons of flavor and so moist. The ribs.... fall off the bone, seasoned and smoked to perfection! Even the chicken rocked and usually it's hard to make chicken spectacular! The green beans, fries and corn bread were our sides.... yumm-o!!!! Great service!! If I come back to Ohio... I'm coming here for sure! read more

Keeps getting worse and worse. Used to be a very good restaurant but now is unpredictable and has employees who lie and don't care. Ordered curbside pick up. Arrived on time. The 3 poorly marked pick up spots were full so parked immediately in front of the entrance. 10 minutes after receiving a text they would be right out, had to call them and find out where my order was. Told that they couldn't find me. The employee never looked - never came out of the store. If she had she would have tripped over me. Several more minutes and my food finally arrived. Got it home, soggy buns, cold fries, missing bbq sauce. Won't be back anytime soon. Too small to safely distance inside or outside on the patio. At least the employee who delivered to me wore a mask. read more

Was staying at Embassy Suites and they recomended this place. JACKPOT!!! The barbecue here is amazing. I got the turkey and 3 ribs two meat special. It was SO much meat I couldn't finish it. Will definitely return. read more

Take-away order of pulled pork ("naked" - no bun) was dry with minimal flavor. Also, weight of the order was 25% less than charged......which probably resulted from how the order was processed, namely the employee grabbing a handful of product and not using a scale. This happened on April 10, 2018. Called City Barbeque on same day to talk to the manager (Steve). He was not available, but a return call was promised. No call received. Sub-par food, non existent customer service....thus no more business from this consumer. read more

So many restaurants taste all the same... not this one. City Barbeque tastes like you made it at home. My family doesn't eat red meat, but the smoked turkey and chicken is always great, and when combined to make it a 'family pak' it always the hit at dinner! Take out or dine in their comfortable and clean restaurant. Give it a try tonight! read more

Respectable barbeque, I'd go back if there weren't better BBQ restaurants in Cincinnati. The meat on my brisket sandwich was good, but the bun was soggy. I enjoyed the vinegar slaw, but the baked beans were mediocre - the beans were harder than I'd like, and the sauce was only okay. The food is a bit on the expensive side, $12 for a sandwich and two sides is not cheap, but would be reasonable if the food was a little better. read more

This place does not deserve its four star rating. I got two pulled pork sandwiches for a friend and I as well as two orders of fries. The buns were soggy, meat was very fatty and lacked flavor, and the fries were limp / soggy. I couldn't get more than half way through my sandwich because of how much fat it had in it. My friend's sandwich had two bones in it even which is a choking hazard. Overall one of the worst BBQ restaurants I have experienced. I really hope I don't get sick... read more

City Barbeque Blue Ash keeps getting better and better. We recently visited the Gahanna restaurant and they are not even close in being considered for 5 stars like the Blue Ash location. The pulled pork and beef brisket are fantastic in Blue Ash. The baked beans and corn pudding are wonderful. The chocolate Texas sheet cake is noticeably better in Blue Ash as the real thing vs Gahanna store. I would hope if any changes are made they could enhance the mac and cheese with some topping crunchiness. read more

I actually went here for lunch and was kinda dreading it because it always looks so busy but suprisingly it was easy because you can order online!!! Awesome idea, and they give you all sorts of ways to get discounts from their loyalty card, email club, and mondays are double points day. Their portions are huge including the sides and they are deliciious especially the bannana pudding and the gumbo. Although the gumbo is a little spicy. but overall a great experience. I want to go back and try every meat and sandwich platter. read more

I ordered a full order of ribs, macaroni and cheese, green beans, potato salad and cornbread I had sweet tea 1/2 w/ lemonade. I enjoyed our selections the food was well seasoned. Will return soon read more

Very friendly workers! I made a mistake on my order (I forgot to order a sandwich) and the manager said I wondered why you just got sides... then proceeded to get me the sandwich gratis! Everyone greeted us with a smile! read more

The only good things about this place are the prices and the speed of service, otherwise it's pretty dreadful. The pulled pork was dry as a bone, but was helped by a heaping of BBQ sauce and some slaw that was 90% mayonnaise. The green beans weren't bad but were soggy and limp, as was the bacon with it. The baked beans were so sweet as to be cloying - I couldn't eat past a few bites. read more

I went to City BBQ for the first time on Labor Day 2019 and I was impressed with the quality of the food. Everything was prepared well and tasted delicious. The meat seemed to be of adequate quantity for the price but the size of the side items was too small compared to the portions of the meat. I even upgraded to the larger size of sides on the Judges Sampler but found them to be inadequate for 3 people. Like I said everything was good and the price was reasonable but even if it cost more there should be options for even larger sides with the with sample the city options. We dined outside at one of the picnic tables and really enjoyed the experience on a not too hot Labor Day. Even though City BBQ has been in business for 20 years this was my first time there but I promise it will not be my last. read more

I ate today at this location, poor experience with the food. Fries were greasy, they replaced them did not get better, taste like the grease needed changing. Had the brisket, was greasy an also fatty. Ate there two weeks ago, the food was better, probably will not be back. The person working in the dinning room, named Mel was the best part of the visit. She tried to make my stay better. I just told her I chalked it up as a lost, and wasn't going to worry about it. No consistency! read more

Being from St. Louis makes you real selective about BBQ and this place did not disappoint. Everything was delicious, the hush puppies were awesome and so was the "more cowbell" sandwich. Service was prompt and everyone was friendly. Prices were very reasonable as well. I also noticed how clean the restaurant was. read more

Darn tasty brisket! Mighty impressive barbecue in Cincinnati.So good I went back two nights in a row! Loved the hot sauce and the atmosphere. read more

Food was delicious. Self serve and clean up. Staff was very friendly. We shared, The City Sampler and it was more than enough for both of us. Excellent price. My favorite on the sampler was the beef. read more

My wife and I are huge BBQ fans and try new places wherever we travel. We were in Cincinnati for a soccer tournament and high hopes for City BBQ based on the stars and reviews in Yelp, but we were underwhelmed at best. The ribs were very well cooked, tender and juicy, but they had almost no flavor. We tried several of the sauces to see if they could give the ribs some flavor, but they too, were nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately, the baked beans and coleslaw were pretty much the same. Not bad, just average, hence the 3 stars. Not sure what all the hype is about. Now, if you want really great BBQ, try Smoque in Chicago. It's the best we've ever had. read more

Cincinnati is not known as a hotbed of barbecue joints. With that being said, City BBQ is a solid choice. My recommendations include the pulled chicken with 'Bama sauce and the corn pudding. Some places don't need a lot of BBQ sauce choices. I mean City BBQ has sauce options, but the smoky flavor of the meat is good without the sauce! read more

I was so happy when City BBQ opened right around the corner from my work - I was getting sick of Subway being my only quick option for lunch. I really like the lunch plate - a smaller version of one of their sandwiches plus two large sides - more than enough food to fill me up all for under $7! Each time I've had to wait for one of my sides - hush puppies one time and fries the other - which can be annoying if you're on a time crunch, but it's the lunch rush. read more

Stopped in last night to grab a bite to eat. Had the pulled pork sandwich, an order of fried pickles and a soft drink. Pulled pork sandwich was really good. Fried pickles were good, but a little spicy. I don't know what the sauce was that came with it, but I didn't like it. Restaurant was very clean and staff were friendly. I enjoyed sitting on the patio last. read more

Pretty good for a BBQ chain. Nice variety of sides to choose from and the sauces are yummy. It can be a little pricey though, since sides are not included. I still need to try their peach cobbler. read more

The grilled bread, classic BBQ sauce, and peach cobbler were with the trip for this restaurant in a area not where the are not overwhelming choices. The rack of ribs was good, but dry in the middle. Not up to standard for this Tennessee boy. To be fair, it was one of there last three racks for night. Would give them another visit. An good choice for the area. Friendly service and fast. read more

Wow! We tried the Brisket @ a Yelp event on Friday. . . By Sunday, we were @ this location for round 2! We had not planned on eating out and we had our dog with us. We decided to eat outside since we had the dog. Right away, one of the employees came outside to answer any questions we might have had and even offered scraps of brisket for our dog. What?!? What amazing service! We are City Barbeque rookies AND we had our 3 kids in tow, so it took us awhile to decide. The cashier taking our order was super friendly and patient. She even cheerfully offered samples of sides for us to try. Between the 5 of us here is what we tried: Brisket - Amazing! Just do it!! More Cowbell Sandwich - Awesome name, but my husband and I thought all the extras took away from the simple deliciousness of the brisket. My 10 year old son LOVED it. Chicken Fingers - Delicious and more chicken than breading. . . As it should be! Mac n' Cheese - Husband loved. Not my thing, but I am picky about my mac n' cheese. Hush Puppies - Must have! Who even serves these any more?!? Fries - Awesome! Cole Slaw - Good. Not creamy (if that's what you're into). Potato Salad - Good - Somewhat sweet. Cornbread- Fine, but slightly dry. Pickles - from the self serve area are delish! Nehi Grape Soda! Nehi!!! Kids meals are reasonable @ $4.49 including entree, side dish, and drink. Portions are generous. The brisket ($7.99 + 2.99 for 2 sides could possibly feed 2). Honestly can't say enough good things about the service! We will be back for sure! read more

Always fantastic. Plus, I can eat here and consume a lot of food without consuming a lot of calories. I tend to opt for pulled pork or brisket when I hit a barbeque joint, but the turkey here is fantastic...and high in protein. The collards are fantastic and they do not skimp on the meat. Staff here is always friendly and smiley. I like that! Of all the barbeque that I have had in the last couple years, City is the most consistent and delicious. And they have local craft beers, and some others available in bottles. I will always swing by here when I get a chance. read more

The meats and sides are delicious. Beware, a busy Friday or Saturday night is messy, chaotic and a little less in the quality department. I like that we can go from ordering to eating in minutes flat, however, and have a meal that is superior to a fast food joint. read more

I've been to this location several times and have gotten the half slab of ribs. Unfortunately, each time the ribs have been a bit dry and tough. The meat is definitely not falling off the ribs. The brisket and pulled pork are actually pretty good, so I'm giving up on the ribs and getting those instead. read more

Hit or miss on whether the meat has been cooked right and it is the same with the sides. Great food when they get it right, but this one consistently gets it wrong. Not a fan. read more

Real good. Great sauces. Quick service. Solid bbq. Yeah..i'll try to make it back next time I'm rollin thru. It's easy to go crazy on the meats. Get the greens and texas toast too. Lots to try here.. read more

I have so much to say about City Barbeque, but let's begin with a lesson: When you smoke a brisket, the vast majority of the flavor never gets too far into the meat. Most of the action happens near the surface, where the rub mingles with the smoke. And if you leave just enough fat on top of the brisket before throwing it on the smoker, everything melds together into a sticky, fatty, spice-laden substance known as the bark. It is, by far, the most flavorful part of the brisket. The folks behind City Barbeque--the ones who've brought their smoked meat to competitions and won--know this. They even have a section of their website explaining what bark is, and why it tastes so good. So imagine my dismay when the carver at this Blue Ash location unwraps a fresh brisket, slides his knife through the upper surface of the meat and unceremoniously dumps the bark into the trash. I wanted to cry, but I'm glad I witnessed it, because I finally understood why my City Barbeque experiences have been so inconsistent. Long before I became obsessed with this stuff, I gave City Barbeque's brisket a try and dismissed it as dry and flavorless. But a couple months ago I went back on the recommendation of someone who knows barbecue and is familiar with City's competition work. I ordered online, and discovered an ordering option for "extra bark." Just for kicks, I filled out the special requests section that followed: "Fatty side please!" (Brisket has a fatty side and a lean side; you can probably guess which one tastes better.) The brisket I got was tender with the flavor of rendered fat, and plenty of chewy, salty, peppery bark to go with it. It was like eating at a different restaurant. Now, the fat vs. lean thing isn't unheard of. Some places assume people don't want fatty meat, while others know to save it for the folks who care enough to ask. But the bark is another matter. Why would you default to removing the most flavorful part of the brisket for everyone, saving only a few edge bits for the occasional request? On the whole, City Barbeque is passable. They make some exceptional collard greens and corn bread pudding, and their pulled pork--again, if you ask for extra bark--is tasty enough. Good barbecue shouldn't need sauce, but their spicy variant is a fine fallback. As for the brisket, all I can assume is that the servers got some bad advice, and they're getting away with it because most people don't know what they're missing. I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed. read more

Really great bbq and sides wow. Tastes like homemade cooking. A pleasant first time on our way to Cleveland. Most of the staff was friendly too. read more

Lunch today, very good as usual. The bbq is good, nice selection of sides and the outside seating is a great option when the weather is nice. read more

For some reason I couldn't place my order online, so I placed a call to this establishment. I was on hold for more than 25 minutes and no one ever answered the line. I have never eaten here and I suppose that I never will. I have worked in the restaurant industry for 20+ years. Every place that I have worked makes the phone a priority. You all should take notes. read more

Pretty good for barbque but I've certainly had better in Cincinnati (you have to check out Eli's)

The Best of Cincinnati...and no kidding! We've eaten there twice in two weeks. This latest time, three of us sampled almost everything for about $30. Get the sampler, it's enough for two. The Baked Beans are to die for as is the Brisket. My favorite is the smoked sausage. I hope they keep the sweet potato casserole on the menu permanently. Highly recommend! read more

Average bbq. Great sides. Plesant staff

City Barbeque was close to the hotel I was staying so thought I would check it out. I was glad I did. I ordered the 2 meat combination (pulled pork + Beef brisket) with 2 sides. Portions were generous I should have just ordered one meat. I would recommend the 2 meat combo only if you are really hungry. The meats had great flavor and were tender. I will definitely be back when I am in the area next trip. read more