City Barbeque

It pains me to have to rate City BBQ with a two star «meh» rating but you gotta do what you gotta do. I use to come to the City BBQ in Westerville, Ohio pretty frequently but the last couple times that I’ve came, the meat has been beef jerky dry. If this was a one time experience then I wouldn’t think too much of it but this has been the last 3 or 4 times that I’ve been.
I even recommended one of my out of town friends from down south to check out City BBQ. This is one of the friends who comes up north and raves about how great bbq is down south. I’m like, «Yeah whatever! Down south, down smouth. You can go to City BBQ and get that A1 treatment». Imagine how embarrassing it was when we went and got more of an C+ treatment instead lol.
I won’t say that I’ll never be back to City BBQ because that’s a stretch, I’ll just have to give them some time to hopefully get their act right.
If I don’t get any BBQ, I’ll definitely pop in for some gumbo, potato salad, and peach cobbler. Even though the meat has been lacking, I have yet to be let down by any of the previously mentioned side dishes.
If you’re a fan of mac and cheese and bake beans (I know you are because who isn’t?) I wouldn’t recommend those sides. They aren’t trash but they aren’t your moms either. Unless your mom is average in the kitchen, go ahead and order up!
If you haven’t had City BBQ before its definitely worth a try but they can be a bit pricey if your playing Russian Roulette guessing weather you’ll receive juicy brisket or brisket jerky.
Meat: C/​C+
Side dished: B+
Customer Service: B
Location: B+

I found my new favorite BBQ restaurant! I was in Columbus for work and fell in love with City BBQ. In fact, I loved it so much I ate at it 3 times and 2 different locations. First, great beef and pork. Bottled soda. SWEET BBQ sauce, and sides to kill for. Their mac n cheese was perfect and they had burnt ends at this location. I just wish they had a location in Colorado!

When I first moved to Ohio, my first bbq experience was with City BBQ. Some kinda way I had a box of their frozen brisket in my freezer and heated it up one night. Surprisingly, it was very tender with wonderful flavor. So in my head I’m thinking, «If it’s this good frozen, I can only image what the restaurants items taste like.» Now I hardly go to BBQ places because I’m from Down South and… WE KNOW AND DO BBQ! And usually, especially during spring and summer, I smoke my own meats. But this day in December (and 2 years later) I finally decide to give em a shot. Completely disappointed. I ordered a 2 meat place with ribs and sausage with mac & cheese and baked beans. The mac and cheese was processed, cafeteria style. Thumbs down and the beans could’ve been cooked a little longer and they weren’t as tender as they should’ve been. The addition of the brisket was welcome as that’s how we make our beans back home but the sauce was nothing to write home about, none of them are. The sausage was okay, I must say. They gave me 2 whole links but the ribs, although they were smoked, were the smallest St Louis style ribs that I had ever seen. And to top it all of, this meal was almost $ 20 (highway robbery)!
Now I try not to be a regional snob when it comes to food but there are some things that I just believe that we do waaaaaayyyyyyy better Down South and BBQ happens to be one of them. I’ll stick to doing my own regardless of the weather because back home, this place wouldn’t be open for 6 months.

Four stars is as good as I can give any BBQ place north of the Low Country and not in my own backyard. I’m saving 4.5 stars for the next little road side shack in South Carolina and 5 stars is reserved for my own dry rubbed, slow smoked pork from the back yard.
With that disclaimer, City BBQ is THE PLACE in Columbus for some really tasty pork, beef or turkey. These guys know their que. With or without sauce it’s always a treat. Their pork is almost as good as mine, their brisket is almost as good as my brothers, and their turkey is phenomenal! Much juicier than anything I’ve ever turned out.
Definitely put any location on your list, I’ve eaten at most of them and never been disappointed.

While lunching at City BBQ again today (amazing!) I noticed a Unilocaler quote on the box of BBQ sauce in the center of the table. Coincidentally it was mine! I’m famous! Woo hoo!
Also, the patio is amazing. And I’m hearing great things about the Cowbell sandwich.

These guys are the best!!! I have been to several of their city bar-​b-​q location but none compare to this one. Always friendly and the food is fresh. I had them cater a large party for me with a whole pig. wow! Awesome! On time beautiful presentation! Eat there 2 to 3 times a month.

In town on business and I asked a local for a good barbeque place — so I landed here. Got the two meat dinner ($ 12.99) and added two side for an additional $ 2.99. Meats were the brisket and sausage, sides were beans and potato salad.
Brisket was nice and tasty which had some burned ends mixed in. Sausage was ok, not great, not terrible, but ok. I used their original sauce on everything as I don’t like sweet or hot sauce. Original sauce was good.
Potato salad was made with red potatoes, had nice chunks but was a bit too creamy for my liking. It too was okay.
Beans were tasty, had good flavor and had chunks of brisket in them. Beans were good.
Portion size was big but was able to polish it all off.

Went in for a late lunch. Ordered the cowbell sandwich. With two sides french fries and collard greens with pork. My husband ordered the sample platter with slaw and baked beans. The food was good. Smoked but a little dry. My husband sample platter had a sausage two slices of turkey breast pork and brisket. To which she said he probably could’ve done better. There were three sauces to choose from. The best for me was the brushfire. Or else it would’ve been too sweet. Haven’t been there in a while. So it was good to try again, I don’t know if we’ll go back soon. Probably be a while but it was good for what it was!

I used to frequent this establishment at least once a week before they changed their potato salad recipe. They used to have some that was exactly like my Moms but they changed it. I still enjoy their baked beans with brisket and their pulled pork and chicken are pretty good too. It’s pretty dependable for BBQ when I’m craving it and I can’t get to my fave Mom and Pop joints. As I’ve not had a whole lot of barbecue in other states I wouldn’t be able to comment on whether it’s as good as or not but I do know it’s not too bad. I have t had the experiences of the other reviewers so can only comment on mine. I don’t give it more stars because I’ve had better que at my Mom and Pops.

Man, tough to find better BBQ this far north. Affordable and clean with great service– they do it right. They sell it each day until what they have made runs out. Love the variety of BBQ sauce they have at each table, and love that they have hush puppies!

Delicious! Nice big portions. I split the pulled pork sandwich with two sides. And we both were completely full and satisfied. Can’t wait to come back for some more bbq! Great food and good prices

Carryout this visit. Succulent meat once again. Tried the turkey for a first. It was sliced thick to hold in the juice. Easily a finger digit (1″) tall, and 2 digits hanging over each side of the bun. The bun is nothing special, but always tastes fresh. There is no LTO. Pickles, and onions are at the self serve condiment station. The green beans are flat and greyish tinted, but they had a lot of seasoning. The baked beans are the best. Great sauce. Great chunks of pulled pork. Great taste. I still prefer a napkin to the rolls of paper towels stationed at all the tables. Fast and friendly.

GREAT barbecue restaurant!!! I love getting the pulled chicken sandwich with spicy barbecue. I asked for a basket of fries and got A BUNCH for a good price. Great non-​alcoholic bottled drinks too.

We had a party of 7 so we were all able to try pretty much everything. All of the food was really good. Only complaint is standing in line waiting for food next to people eating. It was a bit crowded but I would most certainly eat there again.

Oh my lord! If you are from the south, absolutely do not eat at this restaurant!
I ordered a half slab of ribs, corn pudding, macaroni & cheese, baked beans and cornbread instead of the Texas toast.
As I sat down to eat my food, I looked around and everyone seems to be very happy and really enjoy their food. As a result, I could not wait to dig in.
I first tried the ribs and thought I was going to gag. The ribs were covered in average grade BBQ sauce whic was fine but the rib meat tasted old and they were extremely greasy. The macaroni and cheese was from a box — also garbage. On to the baked beans — let me just say I have never had baked beans that taste worse. The baked beans were a combinatikn of sweet, salty and burnt then drenched in the city barbeque sauce — they were horrible. I spent about $ 20.00 and was only able to eat the cornbread and a portion of my corn pudding.
Again if you are from Ohio go here because I think you will like it because you have not yet experienced phenomenal BBQ but if you are from Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas or Missouri just head over to Chipotle. Wait until you return home to get your BBQ fix!
Side bar the banana pudding is from the Jello mix and you will smell like smoke when you leave.

Its been a while since ive been to city bbq (first time i went i was married now im happily divorced) and this time i had the chance to try alot more than last time. we had the city sampler and it was so good: brisket, chicken, pork, ribs then we had mac & cheese, green beans, texas toast and muffins. but let me not forget the part that touched my heart: i really love fried pickles and when i saw it on the menu i ordered them but was told that they were out. i made a sad face and the cook managed to give me the last battered fried pickles for no charge!!! we also had a few bottled sodas along with our meals. the place was very cozy but all i wanted to do was grab our meal and go home so i could eat the bbq in the privacy of my own home and be as messy as i wanted with no stares! lol yes, im a messy bbq eater and i love it!

Vegetarians, cover your eyes: I really like City Barbecue. It’s a local chain, but it’s well-​executed and is consistently delicious.
When I find myself on the go and haven’t had a chance to eat, there’s a good possibility I’m near a City. Most of my choices for a quick meal are pretty limited, especially since I don’t eat wheat. But with City BBQ, I can run in and order a little brisket or chicken – in about the same time as fast food.
It’s not the most original BBQ place I’ve ever been to, but the meats, sides, and iced tea are all home runs. The people are generally very nice as well. And the price is great too.

For the life of me I do not understand why this place has received so many favorable ratings! I stopped there this evening with my son, must of been around 8:00 PM or so. my son can not eat bread so I got him a pound of brisket (he is a growing boy and not ate much all day)! He also got a side of fries because he thought they were included (his mistake) and a medium size fountain drink. Myself I had the special which was pulled rib sandwich, I made it a platter with fries and green beans with bacon. .
My fries were cold as was my pulled rib meat, additionally the meat was way overcooked to the point of being burnt and very very dry.
Even with the addition of the signature BBQ sauce that is served from the warmer as supposedly it is meant to be heated up? Well that was cold also. I struggled to finish it as I was hungry and although nor overly busy there was a line waiting to get served. I did not want to stand in line again to complain.
My sons brisket was good he said but my sandwich was awful.
The tab came to $ 36.00 which I am still trying to fathom why so much (was not given a receipt)
Taking into account the quality of my food and the price I paid, In my opinion this was substandard and not value for the money at all.
It seems that cold food and dried out meat is, judging by other peoples reviews not only acceptable but expected and a good thing.
Has the pallet of the masses changed that much that we are in a time when a dollar burger and fries from a fast food chain is of a better quality and standard than that of food served at a supposedly well rated restaurant?
Guess my taste in food is becoming obsolete because I expect it to taste good and be of a reasonable quality when dining at a restaurant and not something that can not even compete with the dollar menu!
Just my opinion, I am biased because I like food hot and fresh food.

Always good. Love the City BBQ. Today is $ 1.15 a bone night (ribs). Stopped to feed the folks. Hopefully mom will appreciate it. I know dad does.
Back at the house… good as always. Hopefully I’ll get to eat before it gets too cold. I know the second I start to eat mom will need something I have to get or do.
Got the regular bbq sauce and the hot bbq sauce. The hot is very spicy but good. But stick the regular sauce as it is good without being spicy.

I got on Unilocal to find a nearby barbecue place. Although our hotel was closer to the Polaris mall, I saw this recommendation first and found directions. It was easy to drive to and we got to see a little bit of Westerville.
My husband was slightly worried he would not get enough to eat (he’s a big eater). But he left happy and full. The meat was delicious, as was the barbecue. We greatly enjoyed our experience.