I haves lived in Madisonville for 26 years. I guess I'm part of the 'gentrification' but let's not go there huh. Today I craved a good pulled pork sandwich. Bee's BBQ was nearby & the right obvious choice. Located down a side street off the main drags - Madison & Whetzel - the small quirky storefront is really a 'hole in the wall' operation. Stepping into the place (don't hit your noggin on the door closer ) you'll find yourself standing in the lobby / counter area the size of a Russian golag prison cell. Get cozy with all the other customer / order placers because you'll literally be squeezed next to them like a sardine in a tin can. But none of this really matters because it's all about the experience right! You'll see the menu board - old fashion style - showing the offerings & its price. I got pulled pork & it was just $9. To make it even better.. you can get pickles and or onion put on it for FREE!! To make it even more crazy... I was told that a bag of Grippo's chips is tossed in as well. Who knew? That's all I feel like writing for now so call me if you want to know more read more

Go get it, while they've got it, because it won't last long! Bee's consistently has got it going on! It's quite a drive for me, at 40 minutes, but it is worth every delicious bite. Over my visits there, I've had the brisket, ribs, baked beans, cornbread and a few other items. The ribs are fantastic. Juicy and seasoned to perfection. They're meaty and satisfying in every way. I have to say the same about the brisket. A good portion, sliced beautifully and tastes as good as it looks. Almost every BBQ joint can occasionally have a day where maybe the meat was left on the smoker 5 minutes too long. And anyone who knows smoked meats knows that minutes can make a big difference. I've not yet had that experience at Bee's. Now, this Bee's location is very unassuming. It's smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood and if you blink while driving down the street, you'll miss it. It has always amazed me how such a small place can bust out so much great food. There is no restaurant seating. It is a walk in with a simple counter right at the front entrance. They do have a number of picnic tables outside, so if the weather's nice, you can enjoy your food outside. If not, you'll probably have to take it home. And good luck getting all the way home without diving into the bag and eating in the car. It's nearly impossible to smell that delicious fog of smoked ecstasy that is permeating the fabric of your car without your mouth watering out of control. Go ahead and try it. Good luck with that. Here's my only negative thing with Bee's, and I must stress that this is merely a personal preference. I feel that their sauce falls a little flat. I do like my BBQ sauce to have a little kick, a little sweet and some tang with it. I've always found Bee's sauce to be just a little on the bland side. There's a catch to this though - the MEAT makes the meal. Good meat doesn't really need sauce. But, again as a personal preference, I do like a good BBQ sauce to compliment the meat. Would I go back? Let's just say that the 40 minute drive is actually healthy for me. If it was any closer, I am highly confident that I would have astronomical blood pressure and gridlocked arteries. No question. But I go back every single time that I'm in the area and also whenever I can't shake the thought of it. Pro Tip: Get there early and/or call ahead. Calling ahead may not always get you the results you need though. I have tried before and receive their voice mail. It's a small operation and, no doubt, they're busy slinging the golden meats of the Gods. You may also want to check their Facebook page for any announcements. There was at least one time that I tried to go and they were closed. They announced this closing on their website, but I hadn't thought ahead enough to check. read more

Small takeout place with some outdoor seating. Get there before they sell out for the day! Our favorites were the ribs and mac and cheese.

I got there 15 minutes before they open and there was already 5 people there. It was raining so that may have helped. So I was able to try more food this time. I got the brisket chili. I think that was my favorite dish. I believe there was ground beef that was grounded along with brisket. It had beans and I did not add anything else and it has a very good taste. I would get it next time. Ribs, they were just okay. Had a nice bark but wasn't thrilled about the rub. Not really any smoky taste and I've had better ribs. I would not get them again. Brisket was just okay. It was a single piece cut like a slab of meatloaf. It should have been cut in two probably 3 pieces. Brisket is a fatty piece of meat and with it being that big, it was a huge piece of fat instead of smaller pieces which would be incorporated with the meat. Had a nice bark and tasted okay. If it was cut to what brisket should be cut to I may have had a better experience with it. I would get this again. Pulled pork was very good. It did have a bark and it was flavorful. If the bbq sauce was a tad hotter and not as sweet I would have really liked it. The sides. The green beans disappointed me. I was expecting bold flavors but it was bland even with the bacon in it. The baked beans tasted different this time around where it seem like they needed to cook a little longer to be a little thicker. I paid for a corn muffin but they forgot to give it to me so I cannot provide an assessment on it. Overall this was an okay meal and I wouldn't put this on my favorite bbq place. They sell out quickly and it would not be a place that I would drive to if they are only open for a couple hours a day and it's hit or miss on what they would have left . It tells me they don't cook enough food to serve over 2 hours and with people talking about needing to get there before they run out proves that only if you live close it would be worth it. I just happen to be in the area but normally it would take me 25 minutes to get here. read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Hot sausage, greens and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Love this place.... I've had numerous items here and they are all great!! Today was Wingwends... Amazing wings read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Smoked Wings - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fantastic brisket plate and turkey sandwich. This is a real deal BBQ joint just off the main drag in Madisonville. Friendly guy at the counter and outdoor seating at picnic tables.. No-frills just as BBQ should be but focus on the brisket with a red line and tender and great flavor. The turkey sandwich was stacked and the turkey was also fall apart tender. Exceptional. The Cole slaw had just the right amount of mayonnaise and the green beans with generous brisket & flavor. All as it should be. read more

Bee's Barbeque really HIT THE SPOT!!! Great service...easy location...very convenient!!! I'm very glad that I live so close!!! read more

Buddy picked up 50 wings today for a guys Christmas party. They were so good. Even plain they were great. Even better with Carolina Gold and the Original sauce. Definitely recommend read more

Came here to take out some food for lunch as a treat. A super small bbq joint and mostly all take out. I'm fairly sure there's outdoor seating but definitely nothing inside. The owner let me know everything is smoked and made at the location. I got the 2 meat platter with two sides. The brisket was absolutely delicious and the item would come back for. Thick cut, super tender, and fatty. The ribs were okay in my opinion - personally I like my ribs on the saucier side and a bit more fall off the bone than what I had that day. The beans were good but probably will try something else next time. However the peach cobbler was divine. I don't typically like fruit cobbler but this is also the item I am coming back for. You could tell it was made fresh that day. If I were to come back I'm definitely sticking to the brisket with possibly extra sauce on the side and the peach cobbler!! read more

Some guys at my work mentioned getting some Bee's Barbecue recently, and after they told me about the place, I decided that I had to tag along. I really like discovering hidden gems and this certainly fits the quintessential description of a hidden gem. It's just a couple turns off of Madison Road in a residential area so it's an unexpected surprise. And good? More like GREAT! The place itself is pretty small with no indoor seating. Just enough space for the kitchen and a counter plus a handful of people getting ready to order some goodies. There is outdoor seating nearby for nice days. The menu isn't huge but features classic barbecue meats, sides, sandwiches, and desserts. They're only open from 11:00am until they sell out, so if you're wanting some, I recommend you get there early, because they seem to have a regularly busy lunch rush. I opted for a single meat plate with two sides, the brisket (I LOVE good brisket) with mac and cheese and greens, for $14. The portions were definitely worth it and everything tasted outstanding. The brisket was immensely tender and I really liked that it wasn't super fatty. The greens tasted VERY fresh and had a spicy kick. The mac and cheese was rich and creamy like truly good mac and cheese should be. This was certainly one of the best barbecue experiences I've had on a while. I could definitely see going back sometime and bringing my lady along too. Besides, with more options than just brisket, I gotta try more, right? read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Come on in and get your 'cue on! - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Went for lunch on Wed 6/14. This is a great BBQ restaurant but very small with only outside seating. They have pulled pork and brisket, sandwiches with BBQ sauce and chicken wings (only on Wednesday's). The sandwiches can also be made as a "bee sting" which adds cole slaw and Grippos BBQ potato chips on the sandwich. I highly recommend the brisket bee sting. All food was excellent and the side of Macaroni and cheese was also great. Go early for best selection! read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Barbecue brisket bee sting sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Best BBQ in Cincinnati we have ribs and brisket. The rib fall out of the bone. The brisket is flavorful. Their own BBQ sauce is also sweet and vinegary. Very good highly recommended read more

Wife and I heard about a BBQ place we hadn't tried, called Bees Barbeque. It's located in Madisonville. It's carryout , no indoor seating. However, they do have outside seating. We decided to order different items. My wife got the brisket sandwiche , which came with onions, pickles, coke slaw and bbq sauce ( Very good!!!) I got the Bee Sting sandwich, which was pulled pork , pickles, onions, and BBQ Grippo potato chips on top. That was very good as well. Then we had sides of Mac and cheese, baked beans, both very good. And.........don't forget to order the Peach Bourbon cobbler. That topped off a great lunch. We can't wait to go back. The cobbler, I'll let the pic do the talking read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Peach bourbon cobbler, good to the last bite - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

I was here minutes after opening on a Saturday. There were three men already waiting for their orders. Perhaps this was a mistake to come at this time. I ordered Brisket with bbq beans and collard greens, only to be told they had NO collards. Such a disappointment right from the start, because we love collards and consider them a treat. My partner ordered Turkey. We got our food after a reasonable wait. Once home and eating, we began our assessment. My brisket was easily a third inedible fat. Some might eat that stuff, like Andrew Zimmern, but I don't enjoy it The meaty part was okay, but not very smokey or flavorful. The sauce was THE dullest sauce I've ever had served to me at a barbecue restaurant. We both agreed is tasted like a slightly chunky ketchup with a tiny amount of cumin or something added. Partner said Turkey sandwich was good but better is available at our other local spots. He said it's not smokey or flavorful. The coleslaw was pretty good, very finely chopped and lightly seasoned. It was neither creamy nor vinegary. It definitely could use a shot of apple cider vinegar to brighten it up. The beans? Just say NO. They are an odd combination of what might be black beans, pintos, navy, and kidney beans in a sludgy base, not sticky, not sweet as advertised, just a hint of barbecue flavor. We both found them super unappetizing and couldn't eat them. I've eaten barbecue all over the South, lived in Houston, Kansas City, and near Lexington, North Carolina. I've eaten a LOT of barbecue of all kinds. Overall, the only reason we would return is to try the ribs or get collard greens, but I'm not optimistic about them now. read more

Solid BBQ spot. I am from the south and as a result love Texas style BBQ. This spot was tasty but I was missing that deep Smokey flavor for both the brisket and the ribs. The baked beans are a smash hit! Would def order a pint of those on a cheat day. Overall, very good BBQ! read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - 2meat plate with ribs & brisket, greens, and baked beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I recently had Bee's for the first time (Fathers Day) and thought it was amazing (brisket sandwich, slaw, baked beans, green beans). Today is my neighbor's 73rd birthday. She moved to Cincinnati 4 years ago from Mississippi and told me she was disappointed with our city's barbecue. So, I thought it might be a good idea to spoil her on her birthday with some great, local barbecue. She ordered 1/2 slab of ribs, mac and cheese, cole slaw, cornbread w/molasses butter, and peach cobbler. She was overwhelmed with the deliciousness of her meal and gives Bee's a 5 out of 5 rating. I asked her if I could write a review on her behalf since she is sight impaired and is incapable of writing one herself. Both of us will return to Bee's! Man...do I love great "hole-in-the-wall" places!!! read more

Just grabbed some food for the first time today. Will definitely have to go back to be able to try everything on the menu. We got all four sides to try, the Bee Sting sandwich (but with brisket on the cashier's expert recommendation) and the pulled pork sandwich. Everything was top-notch! Great amount of meat on the sandwiches. If you read the reviews, you can see everyone praising pretty much every item. I agree, but want to add a couple things I haven't seen anyone talk about: - The coleslaw: really good! It's simple, with a crack of black pepper. Coleslaw is my go-to side at bbq joints and its always hit or miss: too savory or too sweet, too much mayo, or not enough, vinegar is the only flavor, etc.. This coleslaw is light, fresh, a bit of mayo, and that bit of black pepper to top it off. Really nice! - The sandwich stacking: Every sandwich or burger I get, I have to "re-stack" so the toppings are spread evenly, instead of being lopsided and eating all the pickles in one bite. The sandwiches we got were stacked perfectly evenly! A bit of pickle or onion in each bite! Just shows the level of care to get everything right. Unfortunately, this was literally a "out was so good, we ate everything so fast we didn't get photos" situation, but we'll be back with another chance next time. What a gem for the neighborhood! read more

Throughly impressed! I'm a bbq lover and kept my expectations low on our lunch trip out to Bee's. I've not found a lot of quality bbq in Cincinnati, but Bee's is doing bbq right! I even tried out the collard greens and, WOW! Before today, there were only two peoples greens that I like, and one of them was my own. Now there are three. I will definitely be back soon. read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Brisket and rib plate - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

You walk in and can smell the smoke! The food they crank out of this tiny little place is unreal. The meat was good but the sides were where it was at! The collard greens were some of the best I've had. Definitely check this place out! read more

I was with a friend on an adventure to visit a distillery here in Ohio and he asked me what my favorite bourbon was... as I pondered on how to answer this, I realized that the answer for this was pretty much how I answer when friends ask me about my favorite BBQ. It's not just the smoked meats and sides, it's the road trip to get there, the new friends I meet along the way that I truly relish. During this distillery trip, my friend mentions a place that used to be a 'pop up' that has built a brick and mortar store in the past year that has amazing bbq. I'd never even heard of Bee's BBQ until this moment and I felt the need to arrange another adventure to get meet these folks. We plan on a Saturday morning as the reviews state they tend to run out of brisket quickly. It's a 45min drive, we get there around 1015a(they open at 11a) and I immediately get out of the car to go check this literal hole in the wall store. I meet the owner(s) and they are just the nicest people. I get a short tour of the smoking area and then wander around to check out the picnic area and the greenhouse. So the meats.. I got brisket and ribs and I worry that the 45min drive home the brisket will lose its juiciness. I was wrong, the brisket was absolutely incredible. Seriously, some of the best brisket I've even enjoyed. It reminds me of the days of BBQ Revue that used to be less than a mile from Bee's. I would wager that this brisket right off the counter and in the picnic area would be even better!?! The ribs were meaty and full of flavor. Not too smoky, not too seasoned, just the perfect bite. The only side I got were the beans from all the reviews mentioning them. Again, did not disappoint, for me they are a bit spicy but that's perfect for me. If you love brisket and live anywhere from 2hrs or less away, do yourself a favor and make an adventure and go meet these incredibly nice folks and enjoy some delicious bbq. Support the local mom and pops. It'll make you feel like you're helping out a local families. This adventure was well worth the drive, beautiful day for a drive, good talking in the car and with the incredibly nice folks here at Bee's and the food was outstanding. read more

See all

"Hole in the Wall Comes Through" Just just have either ignore the physical place or just call it charming I guess. No matter, we are here for the BBQ, right? The greens are the best I have ever had. The MacnCheese is similiar to what one will find in Cincinnati (code - horrible) and just can't compare to the West Coast. Brisket and and hot links were a home run. The people inside were super nice, and the prices seem almost too low. read more

Bee's Barbecue has opened its doors finally at their own brick and mortar location in Madisonville!! For at least a couple of years they have been doing pop-ups at Dutch's in Hyde Park. Sadly, Dutch's has shut down, but I believe a little of their memory might have moved to Madisonville. If you've ever gone to their pop-ups (very popular) then they've brought the same quality and attention to their stand alone shop. Their Grand Opening is 4/17/2021, tomorrow, but they've had soft openings this week., and I had the day off, luckily! Right now, they are only open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 until they sell out, and they've sold out every day of their soft open! Now, some people say, "why not throw some more meat on the smoker, and keep selling??!" That's NOT how you do good BBQ. The meats need to have hours and hours (and hours) on the smoker to get the quality smoked flavor, you just can't rush good quality, and Bee's isn't the kind of place that would sacrifice quality for quantity. So, once it's gone, you're just gonna have to come back tomorrow! Ok, the food: 10/10. I got the Bee Sting sandwich today. Pulled pork, cole slaw, Grippo's BBQ, and Bee's Hot BBQ sauce. Very tasty! In the past, I've gotten the brisket, you can literally cut it with a plastic fork, a friend spun his up like spaghetti, SO tender! There's spicy sausage that I remember from the pop-ups as being exceptionally tender with a good spice kick. There are a variety of smoked meats that you can get by the pound, or on sandwiches. Their sides rule too! Their Sticky Beans are some of the best beans I've ever had. Some other typical sides, but all of them have been dressed to the next level, but you'll find all the staples: mac & cheese, greens, etc. So if you're still reading this, you should go. There are a few picnic tables in the lot next door. I almost hate writing this review, cuz it's going to be a huge success, then I won't be able to get it anymore. I was one of the first to review Eli's BBQ, and look what happened to them! But with the last name of McCue, I feel I need to try all the barbeCue in town and let the world partake in my namesake's bounty. You know what to do. read more

See all

I don't want to be a Debbie downer but this place just wasn't for me. They say sticky beans but that was not what I got. Maybe I'm a bit more traditional. The BBQ also was not up there for me. The time I went there there was a line and a friend of mine loved it. So I can't give it 5 stars and I would not give it 1 because it may be my taste. But for the traditionalist, I think there are other choices that will leave you coming back. If you ask me City BBQ would be my choice between the two. And the atmosphere of sitting in your car, taking it home, or sitting outside leaves me giving it a 3 star there too. All the best if you give this a try that it's a fav for you. read more

Delicious! Get there early because they run out of food quick but I had the bee sting sandwich (pulled pork, coleslaw and grippos) and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend this local spot! One of the workers was even kind enough to give us a banana pudding to go as we were leaving read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Bee sting sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

when ordering from Bee's it made me feel like a family. their brisket chill is amazing something perfect for the cold months .

This is a hidden GEM. B and his team are amazing. We are regulars and our team loves when Bee's is in the Saturday lunch menu. He brisket rocks and never leave without the Beans. If you don't support super local places like this you are crazy. Nothing like great barbecue. Thank you for moving from pop-up to full storefront. read more

Great little place to eat! Brisket was great! Mac & Cheese was one of the best I have ever eaten! I would definitely recommend to eat at this place. read more

Best bbq in Cincinnati. Hands down!! The staples are amazing (pulled pork, ribs, BRISKET) but don't sleep on the turkey. Can't say enough about the beans or Mac n cheese. Corn bread was our dessert but their actual desserts look great too. Make it a point to get their early as they will sell out. This place is outstanding! Nice people too! read more

The best brisket I have ever had! Just need to get there early if you want some! Sides are also phenomenal. My favorites are the Mac and cheese and the baked beans. If I was to Pick a favorite dessert it would be the peach cobbler. Great people making great food! read more

Bee's has done it again! We ordered a tray of Bee's pulled pork and a tray of the Mac & Cheese for a family and friend get together. Again, it did not disappoint. The pulled pork is so moist and flavorful on it's own. Spoon some of the bbq sauce, hot or mild, and it takes it to a whole other level. Thank you Bee for going the extra mile due to my mix up in days on when to pick it up. All of our guests can't say enough on how good your food is. Thank you for making our event a success! read more

This is the best BBQ in Cincinnati. Hands down. The ribs are perfect, the wings are the best I've had and the service and atmosphere is just what you want from a BBQ joint. I've had the best in Memphis and this place is better. read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Smoked Buffalo Chicken Wings - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Finally got there in time to try! They sell out around 3 most days and usually have a line but it is so worth it. Chris at the counter was very friendly and the food was so good. Never had turkey this moist, beans were amazing with the perfect amount of flavor and Mac was also very good, loved the shells! Will def be back to try more of their items! So glad they have a brick and mortar now! Freshest BBQ in town, an amazing team serving it, and a perfect addition to madisonville. I don't think you could make a bad menu choice here, looking forward to trying the greens, more meats, and the desserts ! read more

Bee’s Barbecue - Madisonville - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Brisket is the king here. Arrive early, as lines get long and they sell out fairly early. Brisket is a weekend treat I believe. The turkey is good, and I love the Smokey sauce! I tend to order and take it home, but there are some outside tables. Brendon and his staff are kind and helpful and yes, I got blamed laughingly for ordering the last of the brisket one Saturday! Thankfully we all laughed! Small tip - if you're there on a weekend and waiting in line, bring an umbrella and water to keep out of the sun! It gets hot. And please don't bring your dogs, the pavement is way too hot for them in the summer! read more

Just had to try Bee's Barbecue oh my god so glad we did. I got the brisket sandwich, which was huge so good with coleslaw and pickles. We also added Mac and cheese which was creamy My hubby got the stinger which is the barbecue sandwich with coleslaw and barbecue chips on top. He loved it.At last we had to try their bourbon peach cobbler. Will definitely be a regular there. read more

This place has always been the best option in town for smoked heaven - brisket, ribs, turkey, and more. But today I finally got my hands on an elusive brisket cheesesteak - complete with whiz! - and it reminds me why this place is a must-try. read more

The ribs were meaty and favorable. The ribs did not have a smokee favor but were tasty. I did get 2 sides with the ribs. Collards and baked beams unfortunately the collards had no taste and were not really cooked the way collards should be cooked. They were almost raw with to many stems that were hard to chew. The baked beans taste like they were straight from the can with a small amount of seasonings. They were not very sticky either like they had water in them. The meal did not come with any bread as well you had to ask for bread and then you any got one slice of white bread. I probably will go back but only for the ribs. The wait for service was very long but they did have some tables out in front you could sit down and wait. They did not take call in orders when I was there. I might return for ribs but the sides are definitely No. read more

Awesome BBQ! Tried the bee sting sandwich and turkey breast. Both great. We will definitely be back!

Hands down best brisket I've had in the Cincinnati area. Took the family to this spot that I've heard nothing but good things about. We were all excited to finally get to this spot for some eats. We sampled a little bit of everything on our stop in and weren't disappointed in anything...well I guess the only disappointing thing was we didn't save room for dessert. Must try! read more

We had Bee's BBQ cater our wedding and they were amazing. The food was delicious as always and the service outstanding! They were very responsive and helpful in suggesting amounts for ordering. They make the BEST bbq and their staff is super friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend Bee's BBQ! read more

Great food, great people this place is part of our regular rotation for a great lunch.