There are things I really, really like about Eli's. Andddd there are things I really, really hate about Eli's. THE GOOD. This place is a Cincinnati staple that has also raked in national acclaim. I remember reading an article last year which claimed Eli's had made it onto a list of the top 5 BBQ joints in the COUNTRY. Pretty dang cool. I whole-heartedly agree that Eli's pulled pork is phenomenal. I've ordered it every single time I've eaten here and have never been disappointed. My husband is a big fan of their smoked turkey sandwich, as well. I also love the prices here (ignoring the fact that they've definitely raised them from my first visit). You get something unique to Cincinnati for fast-casual restaurant prices. For two people, we spent under $20. It doesn't hurt that you get to BYOB. This doesn't really win them any stars, but it's worth mentioning that Eli's finally accepts debit and credit cards. They hadn't in the past and this was always a huge inconvenience for those of us who prefer to leave their cash in the bank. Glad they got with the times. THE BAD: While their meats are top-notch, their sides are just BLAH. We had Eli's on Sunday night and between the four of us we ordered the Cole slaw, potato pancake, cheese macaroni, and jalapeno cornbread. None of these wowed anyone at the table, but they weren't bad and served their purposed of rounding out the meal. Customer service is mediocre. When I ordered my meal on Sunday night, I asked the girl if the pulled pork sandwich came with Cole slaw. I have eaten here before (although it's been a while) and I thought I remembered there being slaw, because it's a must for me, so I asked. She told me no, while looking irritated by my question, so I quickly ordered a side of slaw. Turns out, all their meats DO come with a small side of slaw, I guess you could consider it more of a garnish. Either way, it was PLENTY to add to my sandwich, but now I was stuck with a whole side nearly four times it size. Would it have killed her to take the two seconds to explain what came with my sandwich? THE UGLY: The parking and seating situations are a NIGHTMARE. Parking first. I feel it's worth noting that they have actually improved the parking since my last visit. They paved the gravel road behind the restaurant and put down brick pavers in parking areas, this is leaps and bounds better than what used to be. That being said, let's not forget that this place is famous on a national level. There is NOT enough parking. You could still end up on the street, and I mean WAY down the street, during peak times. Next, you have the seating. Eli's has recently built a very nice covered sitting area outside to replace what I remember as being a smaller tent seating area, but unfortunately, they've lost all the picnic tables in the green space out back. I'm hoping they are just cleaning it up and it'll be back to its original purpose in no time... but I don't actually know that. We had to hover around the seating areas for ten minutes before a group finally got up and left. The problem is that many people will hover long after they've finished their meals. There is currently not enough seating to accommodate this. Ok, yeah, there is some limited seating inside... but when the lines get long, their indoor dining feels overcrowded in a way I could never enjoy. In spite of all the bad and ugly, this pulled pork in amazing. Like, mind-blowingly good. Which is why I still gave it 4-stars. Everyone should give it a try at least once, just make sure you're ready to wait. Wait for parking, waiting for seating, wait for your food. read more

It isn't as good as it was about 3 years ago. I use to eat there at least once a week. Now it's about every year or so. Buns are smaller they taste different, don't give much bbq or slaw. Use to be best bbq around. read more

This place has perhaps the best pulled pork in Ohio. With Its rustic charm I absolutely loved going here.

I went here this past Monday night with my family and was pleasantly surprised at the venue, the prices, and the BYOB policy. The special was the beef tips, where you basically got BOGO with sides as well. The portion size was massive and the beef was pretty tasty. I got a pulled pork sandwich with beans and cole slaw. All of it was delicious, but the beans were more spicy than I initially anticipated. Definitely will be going again when I visit the great Cincinnati area in the future. read more

I had it doordashed. they tried to blame the door Dasher to why the food was cold including their hot dog bun was completely unheated the containers themselves were the reason they're just loose and open and airy like when I try to discuss this with their staff everyone admitted to being a manager but not able to do anything about it there's just nothing we're going to do about it was pretty much the attitude it was really shameful as it chef of many years this is embarrassing behavior first of all you keep your hot food hot and you're cold food cold I actually got just the opposite, these are basics. containers that actually work and keeping your food hot that's a great idea and maybe you're cold food separate which wasn't very disappointing very childlike behavior from the staff and I guess everybody's a manager too. I was told by one of these managers that I could just come in person and visit after he blamed the doordasher falsely if I wanted to have a right experience which I wasn't having it that very moment with them well I'm extremely handicapped and really can't get about no compensation was offered I don't really remember an apology I just can't remember and told that's like it is pretty much. Extremely disappointing read more

Wow! This place is epic! Great service and some of the best bbq I've ever had. Love that you can sit outside and enjoy the wonderful Cincinnati breeze! When i came in i was assisted by a lovely young lady named Ava. She was so sweet and helpful. read more

A young man by the name of Will helped me look for my lost bracelet by going thru the trash piece by piece. What great customer service. Oh and BTW, food was amazing as always. Tried the hot dogs for the first time. Awesome. Thanks again Will! read more

I visit my family in Cincinnati once a year and they have told me about Eli's BBQ many times. When we decided to do some take out, I volunteered to pick it up so I could scope it out (and Yelp about it). I can see how Eli's is a really fun place on a nice day. There are tables on the outside and it is BYOB, which is never a bad time. Unfortunately, the day I went it was under construction and it was snowing. I did not get to enjoy the outside, but the atmosphere inside was pretty fun too. We picked up some pulled pork to go and I gotta say that it was really good. The meat was tender and juicy and the BBQ sauce was just right. We cooked our own sides so I didn't get a chance to sample the sides, but based on the meat, I would really like to try them in the future. I hope to be back during a future (summer) trip to Cincy! read more

Best bbq ever! I just recently became a vegetarian though so I wish they had more options for me. Either way, it's great.

Never disappoints. I love Eli's bbq sauce and really everything I've tried from Eli's. My go-to is the sandwich with sides of Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. Definitely a place you have to try once and once you do, you won't want to go anywhere else. read more

YUMMM. Best BBQ in Cincinnati. I usually buy a plate with the BBQ Turkey sandwich, baked beans, and jalapeño cornbread. Their mac and cheese is also cravable Genrous portions and fair prices. read more

The barbecue is good but I will admit that I am not a huge fan of barbecue. This isn't my favorite place to go but a lot of people LOVE it. I would say if you are really into barbecue then check it out. read more

Absolutely amazing BBQ! We ordered the pulled pork and smoked turkey- both were tender and full of flavor. Highly recommed both! Try the jalepeno cornbread but I'd skip the mac and get the beans. They have a great choice of old school bottles of soda which is neat. The outdoor seating makes the place unique and even more wonderful. Service was fast and friendly- such a fun little spot. There's plenty of parking our T back and plenty of seating outdoors as well. I'll definitely be back when I come to the area again! read more

Has to be my favorite BBQ place in the area. I've been here a few times but this was my first time checking in here. I have had multiple different items off the menu but this time I went with the ribs, and I don't regret that choice for one second. The ribs have a fantastic seasoning (tastes a bit like some brown sugar on it) and were nice and tender and came off the bone quite easily. I also tried the jalapeno grits & jalapeno corn bread. The grits weren't bad and the jalapeno added a nice flavor to it, but the jalapeno cornbread was excellent. It's BYOB, so come prepared with your own beverages. But with the number of breweries around Cincinnati, just bring a growler with you! There's also not much seating (maybe 10 tables of 4 apice), so getting a table isn't really guaranteed. During the summer it's great to sit outside in the park area where there's plenty of picnic tables and enjoy this delicious food outside. It can get busy as well, so parking spots are at a premium sometimes. I'll most definitely be back here again very soon! read more

A great summer stop, the atmosphere is great and also eating outside is a plus, quite possibly some of the best BBQ in nati.

Eli's is one of the best BBQ restaurants in the area. Their pulled pork is my favorite in town and they have the best side: Jalapeño Cheddar Grits. Being the best, they're also among the busiest restaurants in town. Expect to wait upwards of 40 minutes during peak times. Is it worth it? That depends on how patient you are. I'm not very, so if it's too busy I usually resort to other solid BBQ options around Cincinnati. read more

The ribs were very good but the side that I had were ehhh at best. I had the coleslaw and it was bland. I also had the jalapeno cornbread. The cornbread itself was not bad even though the bottom was mushy and could have baked longer. The worst part was that there was not enough jalapeno to even taste it. read more

Absolute favorite restaurant in the city. Every time friends or family are in town, this is the spot. The BYOB and dim lighting makes the atmosphere fee super casual. The wait is usually 30min to 1 hour on busy nights. Turkey and hotdogs are to die for and the beans are close behind. read more

Never really eaten here before but have heard phenomenal things about it and seen their products sold at Kroger. Decided to stop in with a friend to try it out tonight and was 100% satisfied with every aspect of this restaurant. The interior is so cute and loved the record player. The girl working was very knowledgeable about the menu and explained everything very detail oriented. I ordered the smoked turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. I always thought my family made the best Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes but I was mistaken.. they were both perfect. I also got a side of their sauce that comes with the wings to try.. SO delicious! The guy working when I asked for a box was super helpful as well and knowledgeable about the dry rub when I asked about it. My friend got the pulled pork which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I have tried Cole slaw my whole life and never found one I actually liked, until tonight. Great food, great prices and of course great service. Parking in the back made an easy walk in through the rain. Highly recommend and will absolutely be back for some wings! read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Smoked turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, with cole slaw and their wing sauce. - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Excellent food and great vibe every time. I typically go for the rib bones, but the sandwiches and dogs are excellent too - you simply can't go wrong here. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had. read more

Best BBQ in the tristate Amazing staff Generous size servings It's like they want you to take a doggie bag home with you just to remind you of the dining experience you just had, not that you will soon forget the amazing flavors and the tender juicy meat just falling off those rib bones!! read more

I'm glad I don't live near the joint. I would eat here almost every day. I had the pulled pork sandwich, jalapeño corn bread, and cheesy grits. I also shared some rib tips with the group I was with. Pulled pork was very good. Large portion. The corn bread was average. I was hoping for a little more. The cheesy grits were good. I say all of this to get to the rib tips. Outstanding! Smokey, sweet...everything rib tips should be. Byob. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I LOVE ELI'S!! They seriously have the best ribs I've ever had, I don't even feel the need to put sauce on them! But if I am in the mood for some of their delicious sauce, I get pulled pork :D The jalapeno cheesy grits are my favorite side. There really isn't anything bad about this place, I love that it's BYOB, their new pavilion is legit, they accept credit cards now, and the Dojo Gelato truck is there often! This is my favorite place to bring out-of-towners in the summer. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We stopped on a road trip based on yelp reviews. Pulled pork was fairly standard. Hot dogs were yummy! Interesting concept, variety of flavor and texture. Got tired of them by the end of 2 though. Cheese grits ditto. Interesting, got tired by end. Mac n cheese standard fake Velveetaish stuffs. Hits the spot in your tummy made for that kind if mac n cheese. Ribs were excellent! Loved the rub on them. FYI, for me 4 stars = would go back on my own initiative but wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out. read more

Everyone can find something on the menu. We had Eli's at our block party this year. So easy and everyone had enough

We couldn't wait to try Eli's BBQ.. voted #1 in Cincinnati, who wouldn't want to try it out? We loved the outdoor seating!! BYOB is awesome. I tried the hotdogs, which were just okay.. nothing special. The beef tips were delicious and everyone enjoyed their pulled pork. We will definitely be back - great food, great time. read more

Elis is top notch. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had and I've had the opportunity to eat BBQ at several places around the country. Great atmosphere. Definitely recommend read more

I was desperate for bbq so I took the 25min drive to try this place and I will say don't waste your money. Yes the ribs were tender but likely because they were boiled a good while before BAKING. There was no flavor to the meat seasoning or smoke wise so I'm certain they weren't actually grilled. They could have atleast put some hickory chips in their oven to trick you with a little flavor. The beans had good flavor but they were watered down in like a sauce I guess to extend them. The mashed potatoes came about 1/2 cup so very small portions as well. I'm so mad I wasted my time/gas trying this mess I thought I'd atleast save someone else the misery. read more

Best pulled pork in town... that's about it. Always bad service from uninterested teenagers. The location in OTR has better service. The sides are below average, one of the only BBQ spots with subpar Mac and cheese. I would recommend going another 3 miles down the road to PigCandy. I've been about 5 times (It is within walking distance of my home) my last two visit the table was sticky and they messed up my order. One time I sat there for 15 mins then had to walk up and ask them for my food, they then handed it to me and said "I thought you said to go" no apology and then the two of them went right back to being in their phones. read more

Their Barbecue is some of the best you can find in Cincinnati. The staff is great and the wait times are often short even late in the day. Would recommend to anyone! read more

Eli's certainly doesn't need another 5-star review to prove how truly awesome it is, but what the hell -- here's one more. This place is so cool and quirky... Parking is a bit of a shit show, but that's part of the whole experience, right? Then there's the tiny interior space where you order, and there's a smattering of tables too. Trust me though -- you'll want to sit outside (unless you're reading this in the winter, obvi). There's so much space with tents and tables and chairs and picnic areas! We're talking lots of comfortable, community seating. For such a busy, popular place, the folks working here are super nice. Not jaded at all, and they made my first visit feel special. I decided on smoked turkey, baked beans, jalapeno grits, and I noshed on a friend's coleslaw. Everything was fantastic! Seriously, some of the best BBQ I've eaten anywhere. My sides were all winners too -- especially the grits! I'm one of those finicky southern boys who hates most people's grits up here in the Midwest, but Eli's knows what's up. GRITS, YO. The only thing I'd tell you to avoid is the mac and cheese. I didn't try it, but my pals were not fans. It legit looked like cheese soup with a sprinkling of noodles that you have to fish out. But no worries -- everything else was delicious! So, yeah, you should totally come here. Unless you're a horrible person who hates delicious smoked meats and insanely cool experiences. read more

This is one of my more favorite bbq spots of all time not because it's particularly spectacular or inventive. Eli's is one of those places that really mirrors the city. The reason I love going back here is because the food is consistent, it's also fair priced for BBQ which is often very pricy. The food here is well made, the sides are really tasty and the staff are genuinely kind. I've had BBQ all over the place and I grew up in VA and I really enjoy Eli's. People like different things in their BBQ, Eli's isn't the smokiest, most seasoned, most tender but it hits all those categories consistently far above average. And at a very solid price at that. Most spots can only excel in one category at best and you're going to be shelling out big money. The BYOB policy is fun too. Stick to the ribs, not enough smoke for me but still they are awesome. Going here when the weather is great with friends and family and a mini cooler of beer is just flat out fun. Keep the great work up and I will always be a faithful patron of Eli's. read more

Delicious BBQ! I loved the pet-friendly out door area, and the inside throw-back vinyl records and player are super fun!

BEST. BBQ. EVER!! Both daughter and hubby had been there before and I have been dying to try it after seeing it so highly rated on Yelp. Well, yesterday was the day! Love the fact that an outline of a pig is their sign on the street and once you enter, you can tell that it is going to be a unique experience. At first glance, you think "hole in the wall", but as you look around, it becomes so much more than that. Could it be the real turntable with old albums that you can choose yourself and play? Man, that really brings me back to my heyday! Or the tin lunchbox, the truly antique corolla typewriter or the fact that when they tell you how long the wait is - you truly don't mind! Not much seating indoors, but there is lots more outside on wooden picnic tables surrounded by a tent and heaters on since it was a little chilly when we went. I could just imagine how packed this place must be in great weather! Hubby & son got a half slab of ribs each and my daughter & I went for the pulled pork sandwiches. Our sandwiches had such generous portions that you literally had to eat some of the meat from the center before you could lift it up for eating! Oh my gosh - this pork was tender, delicious and the very best that Cincinnati has to offer! The funny part of the evening was that I ordered jalapeno cheese grits as my side and daughter ordered mashed potatoes as hers. To tell the truth I was woefully disappointed in my side until my daughter said that she knew that she didn't order the grits but it was so delicious that she wanted to eat it anyway! So, that's where my grits went - luckily there was enough left for me to savor. I had gotten her mashed potatoes - they were only meh, especially when you are expecting them to be aforementioned grits. I'm from the south and I'm here to tell you that these were the best grits ever - right up there with shrimp n' grits from Charleston and this is north of the Mason-Dixon line! It's unbelievable how much flavor they have! Their mac n' cheese was comfort food done right with two different cheeses. What a value at $5/sandwich and for $3 extra you could get two sides! Be forewarned about two things - BYOB and no credit cards! As one of their workers was clearing our empty plates away, he asked if this was our first time. He implored us next time to "resist the temptation" to always go for the pork, then went on to describe other foods to try. First, their turkey sandwich is made from a young turkey breast marinated for over a day before they get smoked & grilled. Top it with their coleslaw & BBQ sauce - his description was making me drool. Apparently, their all-beef hot dogs are not to be missed as they, too, are smoked then served with coleslaw, sauce and pork crispins! Now, I'll be thinking about those two divine temptations until I can try them. Even though they only have one bathroom for everyone to use, when you enter it's like going back in time with the walls plastered in old newspapers, magazine articles and ads. Not neatly framed pieces - literally just plastered on the walls, but that just adds to the unique factor of this place. Gordon Ramsay is fond of saying to only do a few things, but do them extremely well. Eli's has taken this advice to heart much to their diner's delight! read more

Everyone loves this place. The barbecue pork is good and enjoyable. Is it the greatest that I have ever had and I want to rush back....NO. They don't have brisket. The ribs were decent but nothing special. Sides were OK but nothing fantastic. My wife will disagree with me that's OK. Their restaurant has limited seating (It is a dive) and they have a tent outside that you can sit in. It is BYOB. People bring coolers here. I have been to parties that served Eli's. It was fine. Sorry I have traveled in the south and been to more enjoyable places. For Cincinnati it is 4 stars. read more

Two words: Mac & Cheese. Not only is their BBQ the best I've ever tasted in Cincinnati, but it also is a great choice for all of your catering needs. Had it for a recent party of 200 and it was a great asset to the night. Only downside may be the cold winter outdoor seating....pros know to get it to go. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Pulled pork sandwich with TWO sides of Mac and cheese. Leinenkugal brought separately. - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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CASH ONLY. CASH ONLY. CASH ONLY. I write this three times, because they lost a star for this. Not for BEING cash only, but for not making it clear. This is the best BBQ in Cincinnati, by far. I am from Alabama so I have authority to make these types of pronouncements. I'll get to the food in a minute, but I need to say again CASH ONLY. When I went, I was in a huge hurry, I was picking up lunch for the crew at a photo shoot and before I left I had searched the website AND the facebook page for hours and prices. Nothing said they were cash only. We are in a postmodern world, people--if you are cash only then you need to let people know. Who carries cash anymore? Not me. So I had to place my order, drive a couple miles away to an ATM, and then come back. Not good, and incredibly frustrating. Now to the food: Well--it's amazing. NO ONE frustrates me as much as I was on this day, and still gets four stars. No one, but Eli's, that is. I haven't even been able to venture into the land of ribs, which is one of my favorite lands...because I'm stuck on the pulled pork sandwich. It comes with slaw, which you MUST get. Listen to me: I HATE coleslaw. Never eat it. Would NEVER order it. But I'm telling you, you must get the coleslaw on your sandwich. Not on the side...ON the sandwich. And you will be transported, afterwards, to heaven. Bliss. I have heard they are moving to OTR in a permanent location (not only in Findlay Market), and that will be absolutely amazing. I can't wait. Until then, Riverside Drive isn't too far. But for the love of God, bring cash! read more

HOLY YUM SAUCE YELP PEEPS!!!! Good gravy this place is even better than I imagined. If Eli's were a person I'd compare them to the Duke's of Hazard driving their bad ass car yelling YEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWW!!!! and only then would you perhaps get a glimpse of how truly amazing Eli's is. I don't know what I expected honestly but all my expectations were destroyed, in a FANTASTIC way. Ok, here's how it went... My sweetie and I were feeling adventurous and decided to try something new. We had Eli's in the bookmarks and decided on the first warm day to check it out. As we drove to the other side of town, we got a bit lost looking for it and the river was WAAAAY up. We weren't sure if the water had reached the place or not so we were a bit concerned. We realized we had blown past the place initially and turned around to find our way. Then we saw the most amazing beacon in the sky, a pig on a sign. We knew we had found our slice of heaven. Parking was totally full up front so we took the next side street and were able to find a spot pretty quickly despite seeing a ton of people at Eli's. There were so many people outside sitting at picnic tables that I was a little confused at first. Is there a park back there with some type of outing? Do people live back there? What the??? We got out and walked to the front of the place and it was seriously the coolest thing I've seen in awhile. I lived in Charlotte for almost 2 years and Man, I tell you what for an instant I felt like I was back. It was nice. Eli's is not what I would call, your typical Cincy affair. We walked in through a rickety screen door to an open and small dark dining room with amazing handcrafted artwork gracing the walls. You could smell the delicious aroma all the way down the street. When we came in, it was like a gracious sucker punch to the face and stomach that I'd be happy to get beaten up by repeatedly. Seriously. An old record player was blaring some old tunes, and as we waited in line, the menu was visible and easy to read for us newbies. There is a cooler with bottled pop and water, so I went old school and grabbed an orange crush, while my love grabbed a bottle of Coke. The record went off midway through our wait, and I heard the girl ask her coworker to go flip the record. Now, that's not something you hear every day and it was awesome. Our turn to order came quickly, and we ordered 2 BBQ sandwiches 2 sides of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and our 2 drinks. It was all right at $20. Amazing. We head outside and there were tents with picnic tables or just tables in the sun. We opted for the sunshine and looked around. People in large groups, people alone, people with their dogs, etc. Everyone just seemed to be happy. I noticed some people with alcohol and realized that this is a BYOB place! How cool is that? It did take a bit for our food to come out, but it was such a nice day and such a large crowd that I didn't mind. When your food is ready they yell your name, so pay attention! When it did come out, wow. WOW, wOw. The sandwich had pork piled on top of it and it was so tender and delectable. I am a lady who loves some pulled pork, and Eli's did not disappoint. The mac and cheese was ok, but a bit too cheesy for me and not my fave. My honey didn't eat all of his either, but the mashed potatoes were cool! They cook them on the grill so the top is almost like a hashbrown or something.. it had a nice crunch on the surface and the inside was salty and creamy. My only complaints, parking obviously can be an issue but it's worth it. The drinks go quickly when you're waiting, so you may want to order 2 of them. The 3rd thing is that they only have one container of BBQ sauce where you pick up your food. If you didn't put enough on when you grabbed it, you have to walk all the way back up there just to add more since they don't have it on the tables. I will definitely go back, even though it's all the way on the other side of town. it was worth every mile. YUM. I just can't say enough great things about the place. read more

My love for food has its costs. I now shop at the Big and Tall store (p.s. I'm not tall), I spend an inordinate amount of money on eating out, and I like my BBQ sauce by the pint with a straw in it. Yes, it's true, I love BBQ. And lucky for me, southern-style BBQ is infiltrating every city in the United States. Here in Cincinnati we are blessed with a near perfect pit BBQ joint in Columbia-Tusculum by the name of Eli's BBQ. This place is all kinds of money. $5 gets you a bombass pulled pork or smoked turkey sandwich on a toasted bun with or without coleslaw (don't hate on cabbage, get the slaw!). $3 more gets you two side dishes which are all ridiculously ridiculous. The mac and cheese is gooey and angelic, the jalapeno cornbread is a fiery delight, and the baked beans are the best I've had in my life (I think I tasted chili powder, bourbon, and Tinkerbell's fairy dust in them... they were that good). The ambiance is awesome, you can eat outside on a picnic bench or sit inside their cozy indoor seating area and fill your audible senses with the amazing sounds of vinyl records from the 60s and 70s. The staff is fun and upbeat, and honestly there is nothing negative I can say about this place (except that they didn't open their restaurant across the street from my place). If your idea of BBQ is dipping a McNugget into a BBQ sauce packet then expand your horizons and treat yourself to a culinary orgasm at Eli's BBQ. And if you're already a lover of smoked meats and great homemade southern fare, then make your way to Columbia-Tusculum and bask in the blissfulness that is Eli's BBQ. read more

Oh Eli's - talk about a gem hidden in the back pocket of the Queen City. I'm pretty notoriously hard to please, but Eli's blew my mind and my taste buds. It restored my faith and hope in the culinary scene in Cincinnati. When you first get to Eli's, it's literally like walking into someone's kitchen. Talk about a homey experience. While you're waiting in line (and there's ALWAYS a line), peruse the milk crate of albums to your right. If you eat inside, you can DJ your own meal. The menu is fairly limited though - or discerning, if you want a positive spin. You can choose from the pulled pork, smoked turkey sandwich, or hot dog a la carte for $5 or as a platter which comes with either of the above and two sides for $8. The pulled pork is phenomenal. It is smoky and has just the right amount of BBQ sauce. The sauce is not too sweet and is full of spices, making every bite a really bold and flavorful experience. The ribs are delicious - those you have to purchase a la carte. They are moist and you just know they've been cooking low and slow all day, just waiting for you to come eat it. Now let's talk sides. I always get the jalapeño cornbread and the jalapeño grits. I have never been disappointed. The cornbread is moist and complements my pulled pork oh so well. Though I'm not normally a fan of grits, the grits at Eli's are smooth, creamy, and have a slight kick from the jalapeños. There's not even a morsel left over when I'm done with it. I'm also not a big fan of Mac-n-cheese but I'd happily eat a whole tub of it if it were made at Eli's. The Mac is not overcooked and limp, and there isn't so much cheese you'll get a coronary just looking at it. Don't get me wrong. It's still cheesy but it's not too ridiculously rich, just ridiculously good. What other praises could I sing of Eli's? The outside seating is basically benches at a backyard BBQ, as if you were just attending a good friend cookout. So it's a really down home and unpretentious experience. Oh and did I mention it's BYO? I don't know why you're still reading this review. Hurry up and go get yourself some Eli's. I'll probably see you in line. read more