Visited Eli's BBQ after a visit to the Cincy Zoo for their Winterlights celebration. So many options it was hard to make a decision. I went with Pulled Pork Sandwich Plate getting Jalapeno Cornbread, Baked Beans, and Cole Slaw for my sides. Everything tasted so good. The baked beans were sweet and spicy. The pulled pork was perfect tender and juicy. I got some of the sauce on my shirt but oh well. My only issue is that towards the end of my meal I found hair that clearly didn't belong to me. I let the cashier know she asked if I wanted food to replace it but I wasn't interested in getting more food with the possibility of finding more hair. Anyways, Eli has outside and indoor seating. The food was good so that is why I gave them a four stars even after finding hair in my food. This place is definitely a must visit. read more

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I'm not sure how well Eli's has handled mass popularity and acclaim. For its first two or three years on Eastern Avenue, I loved this place, like most sane people in Cincinnati did. But the crowds have changed the modest, laid-back roadhouse atmosphere for the worse. There are way more big exurban families, plus lots of young, presumptuous-looking dudes who look like former or current frat vice presidents rolling up in their $50,000 SUVs. The outdoor set-up just isn't very enjoyable--to me, it just has the feel of a mass-produced picnic. And while the pawnshop turntable is pretty charming inside the tiny dining area, those giant speakers broadcasting the same scratchy music outdoors sound horrible. The prices for the sandwich & two sides combo have risen about 30 percent from just two or three years ago. But it's still a decent deal at $10.25. Most importantly, the signature product--the pulled pork--has become inconsistent, even within a single sandwich. On a visit a few months back, the pork was so salty as to be barely edible. On a couple of other more recent visits, there are too many bites that are just dried out and not tender, and the kitchen's use of too much sugary sauce isn't a solution for this problem. Also, while those beans and grits are still flavorful, the grits have been so soupy that you really can't eat them with a fork (no spoons are offered). The mac-and-cheese is even grosser, just a flavor-deprived soup of thin melted cheese. That said, Eli's probably still has the best barbecue in a bad barbecue town. And I should note that I was very skeptical about the turkey, but I tried it only the last couple of years and think it's terrific, with the right level of smoke and very tender. We still visit occasionally, and will continue to do so, just a bit less often than we used to. read more

Off the beaten path of the local restaurants but locals know exactly where to find it. The food has always been good and the BBQ is imo in the top 3 in Cincinnati. Prices are fair and portions are plentiful. Seems like lately the food taste has been a bit of a hit or miss but for me, it's worth the gamble and I always return. Lots of covered outside picnic table seating creates a cool vibe. Byobeer in a small cooler and you can drink, eat, and relax. They are also very pet friendly, so bring your furry friend. read more

One of the best BBQ spots I've been to! This has always been a must-stop whenever traveling through Cincinnati (all two times, so far). Fortunately I've never really had to wait in line for too long. The ribs can take some time to prepare, but when you get them, they are smokey and tender, and not overly well done. They don't skimp out on the meat like other BBQ places I've been too. The jalapeno cornbread is a great side! It's not dry, and it will fill you up while leaving you wanting for more. While they don't serve other traditional BBQ stuff (like brisket), the ribs, rib tips, and pulled pork are all you really need from here! Eli's is definitely a spot to check out whenever you're in Cincinnati! I will be back for sure! read more

Cause Damn. The Smoked Wings are the best wings you will ever have, service was exceptional and fast, we ordered 3 entree's and 3 sides and it came out in less than 10 minutes. Lots of outdoor seating and great music playing. And damn, those wings and mashed potatoes will knock your socks off. read more

The first thing I have to mention is that their menu posted on the outside of the building right next to the front door. They do this because there's not enough room inside for everyone-it's designed for one person per party to order while the rest of the party sits at their benches or hangs outside. I advise taking a picture and then moving off to the side so everyone else can look at the menu. Once the order is made, sit back and enjoy your company. They'll call your number out loud and you can pick up/out your condiments, eating utensils, etc. not a ton of "service" with this joint, but it's designed that way, so no worries-I just don't want the reader to get the idea of a waiter/waitress tending to your table. And, yes, the food is outstanding. I liked the atmosphere the most read more

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Nice Vibe, had the feel of family reunion going on. The picnic table spread out kids were running around playing. My wife and kids live in Milwaukee was just visiting my mom. We ordered pork sandwich, rib tips, and ribs. Our sides were Mac and cheese, baked beans and cheese grits. So for smoked bbq it was really good. They could use a little help wit the sauce but over I could see me being a regular if I lived here. It is BYOB that is and important thing to remember and currently no indoor seating. Mac and cheese was good so was baked beans. For the neighborhood it's in I would of thought it would of been a little more diverse. But probably not restaurants fault. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Abandoned building next door - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Pitiful attempt at BBQ. On top of that, every single time I've been forced to go there (by someone else who insisted -- but never again), we had to wait a LONG time to get our food after it was ordered. No matter how busy they were, the food took forever -- which makes no sense for a BBQ place (the food is already finished, because it's been smoking, and by the time you get there it's just being kept warm). Eli's only has found success because the owner participated in / sponsored every possible event in the early days of the business, marketed very hard, and also because he put the first location on the East Side at a time when there were no good BBQ joints there. BBQ Revue far overshadowed them in quality, but they didn't market hard like Eli's, and then closed when the owner died. Eli's is proof that the marketing and hype is far more important than quality. Also, they don't do brisket. Any BBQ place that doesn't do brisket should be avoided. Brisket requires skill and experience, and if a BBQ place is not serving brisket, then they don't have a kitchen staff with a high skill level. Go to Lucius Q -- currently the reigning champ in local BBQ joints. And they have great brisket! read more

The second most overrated bar b q in town, nothing tops Montgomery inn unless you've never had real bar b q...Eli's has heavy sugar and sodium...sides are lackluster and overall I don't get the press...4-5 superior places in town... read more

Got the rib tips. The portion is massive. However, I wasn't impressed with the execution of the ribs. The ribs were somewhat tough and definitely not falling off the bone. Significant connective tissue and tendons remained unbroken on the bone. There was a well-seasoned rub on the ribs with a slightly sweet complexity. This was enjoyable. The BBQ sauce they offer was amazing and partially redeemed the dish. read more

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

Very limited menu but what they have is excellent. Very tasty and very filling and their sauces are great. Cool atmosphere too, I would definitely go back. read more

Excellent food and service. It's quaint, hip, folksy. They play old records from the 1960's-1970's. THE BBQ IS AWESOME. Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed. Tender juicy ribs. Once you eat there, it'll be your new forever BBQ joint. read more

Best BBQ in Cincinnati and NKY area. Food is excellent and pricing is very reasonable

Oh this place was just so good!!! My family came into town this week and I knew I had to take them here to try the best BBQ. The weather was perfect we're picked up a couple ribs and enjoyed their food while sitting under their outdoor patio with a bit of music playing. We did go for a late lunch so there wasn't much of a crowd, but for us the chill vibes and wonderful weather was perfect for us! read more

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

Some of the best food in Cincinnati- hands down! The seating though seems to need upgraded, it is a popular restaurant that's growing and the few picnic tables don't do the trick anymore. With that idea of growth, the wait has been longer than usual. Love this place though! read more

I have been going to this place for years. There might be better bbq out there somewhere, but I haven't found it. Every time I go to a concert at Riverbend, I always go early to eat at Eli's. Everything they have is great. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Ribs, hot dog, jalapeño cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

TLDR: Pretty good BBQ with good pulled pork. Had Eli's BBQ catered for a couple of corporate events. Enjoyed their BBQ options with pulled pork being my favorite. They strike a good balance between fatty and lean meat. Baked beans and Cole slaw are standard. Their jalapeno grits dish is quite good tho... The grits are pretty creamy and the jalapeno adds a nice kick to it. Overall, a good spot to get BBQ in the cinci area. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Pulled pork, baked beans, and Cole slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

(If Yelped allowed 1/2 star ratings I would give 3.5!) Checked this place out on a Saturday night, not too busy and plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. I like that the outdoor area and menu caters to groups and BYOB. This could definitely be a spot to hang for a few hours with a group of friends. I personally thought the food was just okay. Definitely not bad, but not amazing. I got the pulled pork sandwich, which was dry until we asked for sauce (the menu didn't say you had to ask for any). It also had some crusty pieces within the pork which I didn't love. But overall not bad! My boyfriend got the ribs and he really liked them! I thought their coleslaw was very good, it had a slight tang-y flavor that made it unique from a lot of other coleslaws I've had in the past. I wasn't a huge fan of the Mac n cheese, thought it was a little too "Velveeta" - however, my boyfriend really liked it because of that! We both loved the baked beans, had a little kick and very flavorful. I don't think we'd come back just the 2 of us, but would be an option for an easy group meal for sure. read more

AlwYs amazing perfect lunch tasty and fulfilling all the sides are amazing ..... fast affordable and good indoor outdoor seating read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Turkey with 2 sides - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food is excellent but my service experience was horrendous. I ordered online and when I went in to pickup, the person at the counter was on the phone. Totally normal. I waited patiently for a few minutes and he was still on the phone. He grabbed the manager to help with the phone call. When she came to the counter she didn't acknowledge me or ask if I needed help. She simply told the employee in an angry voice that she didn't want to deal with the customer on the phone anymore. After waiting a few more minutes, I noticed my to-go order on a shelf by the door. I grabbed my order and as I was approaching the door the same manager shouted from the kitchen "SIR, SIR, I NEED TO CHECK THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE" and while she was looking at my receipt I said "do you need to see my ID or something?" She said "it's fine for now but you need to ask someone for help and not just grab the bag." This was at 4:30. There were only 2 other customers. If you don't want customers grabbing their own order, why don't you put it behind the counter and not next to the door? And then you get mad at me for grabbing it after you ignored me? I expected better from Eli's. I'll just go to City BBQ from now on rather than making the long drive here. read more

Every time I drive through Cincinnati I go out of my way to stop here. Me and my boyfriend are obsessed. Best bbq ever.

The ribs are amazing. Sat outside and brought our own wine. Bring cups with you too, they done have any. Very fun local place.

My husband and I are on our way back to Michigan from vacation with our pup so we wanted to stop somewhere that was dog friendly. This place popped up on as having over 1,000 reviews so I figured it had to be worth at least a try. I can honestly say that I don't know if it was worth the stop. That's based off of just my very own personal experience and not my husband's experience. My husband ordered the smoked turkey sandwich with coleslaw and mac & cheese. He knew that's what he wanted instantly. I asked the girl at the counter what she would recommend and she told me to get the pulled pork sandwich. I ordered the sandwich with a side of jalapeño cornbread and mac & cheese. I got 2 rib bones for my husband and I to try since the ribs are so expensive lol. The smoked turkey sandwich was a hit for my husband. He loved it and he loved the mac & cheese. I had a bite and if you like turkey I recommend you ordering it. I thought it was good for being turkey since I'm not a turkey fan lol. I personally thought the mac & cheese was good, but it's so thick and rich I mixed in some bbq sauce to break it up a bit. The coleslaw wasn't good in our opinion. My husband loves coleslaw and if he doesn't think it's good enough to eat, it's sayin somethin lol. It's tangy and not our cup of tea. The biggest let down for us was the pulled pork sandwich. I don't know if it was just my luck or a fluke thing, but it's the absolute worst pulled pork we have EVER had in our lives and we have it A LOT back home. Maybe it was the bottom corner of the pan or that's how y'all like it down here. If you like dry, flavorless, and crusty pork, then you should order it lol. My dog was happy about it cuz he got it with his dinner haha. The cornbread. Meh. Not bad. Not great. It's cornbread. Now the ribs. BOMB. I should've just ordered 6 bones and had that. It's expensive tho. That's why we didn't order more than 2 bones. The rub they have on it is literally soooo good. I highly recommend spending your money on the ribs over anything else. The outdoor area is decent sized. We didn't stay and eat outside tho because there were bees swarming everywhere you turned. We were waiting for our food and had bees all over us. Everyone was swatting bees away trying to eat. It just isn't ideal. If you don't mind bees, then you won't mind this place. The inside is small, but there is seating. It looked clean and felt good in there since it was so hot outside. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Pulled pork that's dry - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Hey, pictures don't lie. Eli's is one of, if not, the best BBQ in all of Cincinnati. Whether it's pulled pork or smoked turkey, you'll love their treatment of the meats. The dry rub seasoning recipe they apply to their ribs is crazy delicious. Don't forget your side of Mac & Cheese. Awesome. Lastly, give the dogs a shot. They come with a helping of chipped pork and Cole slaw on top. Also, delicious. I give the dogs an A++. read more

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Loving this little joint! It's located in a weird industrial type area and is easy to miss. Look for the pig on their signage! Parking is just fine as we found a spot right in front. We came just past 1 on a Tuesday and there were two others eating here, probably on their lunch break. You walk through the front room to a smaller room where you place your order. They've upped prices as I noticed that some of the menus here on Yelp are outdated. 2 sides adds $4 to your bill. My two friends and I all got pulled pork sandwiches with some of the same or different sides. We got different mixes of baked beans, cornbread, slaw, and cheesy grits. Food came fast! Soooooo good. Seasoned well and sauced well. Wow! The beans and cornbread also had some heat but were still soooo good! My friend didn't love the grits. They were much cheesier than she anticipated. They butter the bread which made it really appetizing to eat even on its own! Warning though, they don't have tap water here. You'd have to buy bottled water or perhaps bring your own. The guy said he discourages tap because it's gotta come from either the bathroom or the mop sink. Gross! Probably the area of town that they're located in that doesn't allow for clean water to drink? The front room felt a little cold. Not sure if they just didn't have the heat on but i was shivering! Wear your jacket! read more

WARNING! The Ribs you order appear bigger in real life. First time here and with all the reviews I went out of my way to try a great BBQ spot. I ordered the rib thinking 6-8 ribs would be a good snack. OMG and the ribs big and meaty. A very tasty dry rub comes on the order and I added the house BBQ sauce. Absolutely perfect. But due to the size 3-4 is a good meal. I took the rest with me to the hotel and finished them off later. I had the bake beans and slaw with the meal and each was just the way I like it. Staff was helpful and it was a nice change driving through. I will be back when in the area. read more

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

This place was awesome. If the weather is nice, they have a spacious, community style seating, outdoor patio. There's not a lot on the menu, but everything I tried was delicious. Keep it simple stupid! Their BBQ sauce was the perfect amount of sweet and the pulled pork was juicy and extremely flavorful. You have to put this on your summer to-do list if you haven't been! I do wish they had fries but the Dirty Mac was a good stand in. You can make anything "dirty" which is when they add pork crispin's to any item on the menu. I suggest giving that a try. Heads up, they don't do fountain drinks. They have a cooler of old school bottles of beverages (I don't think I saw any alcohol). I brought my own big Yeti of water. read more

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

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I was in Cincinnati downtown area and found this BBQ place and decided to give it a try. The restaurant is small. I ordered the following : Food: BBQ Pork Sandwich Sides: Macaroni Cheese, Mashed Potatoes The BBQ pork meat was too salty. The meat portion was smaller than the other BBQ sandwiches offered by other BBQ restaurants. The mashed potatoes was pretty good. Macaroni cheese was too thick and way too cheesy. BBQ sauce was very common and nothing special. Overall, a 2 star restaurant and food. read more

Food is great. It's just always so packed and takes forever to get your food. Online never gives you options to place order now. It's always the next day. read more

Eli's BBQ is a must have when in Cincinnati. Their food is to die for. They have a great location with a cute seating area on picnic tables with fun lights strung across! It is such an experience. I love the BYOB!! Also I am a sucker for Coca-Cola's in the bottle so that was perfect. This place is great to go on a summer night with your family or friends. Even if it's raining - they have covered options so you can still sit outside and enjoy your food! read more

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

I will keep this short. DELICIOUS! Drop the fork! And now they sell their food and sauces at Kroger. read more

Excellent BBQ and an excellent vibe. My boyfriend took me here for dinner in February so we ate inside. The inside is relatively small but so adorable. You walk up and order, are given a table marker and your food is delivered to your table. Also, BYOB is encouraged here as they do not serve alcohol. They also do not have cups aside from their sauce cups so plan accordingly. He ordered the ribs with jalapeño cornbread and jalapeño cheese grits. I'm not a big fan of grits in general, but he really liked them. The cornbread had chunks of jalapeño inside that were pretty incredible. The ribs were out of this world though! Fantastic seasoning. I ordered pulled pork with macaroni and cheese as well as mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are served almost like a potatoe pancake but pretty decent. The pulled pork was tender and very good. I will be back, especially once it warms up, they have a ton of outdoor seating. read more

Eli's BBQ - Riverside - Pulled pork, mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Absolutely delicious food! If you are in the area you should swing by Eli's. Seating inside is limited, but the outdoor seating is plentiful. The employees always do a great job with the food! read more

Probably my favorite ribs and chicken wings in Cincinnati. Very good portions and juicy meat. Just make sure you head over before you are hungry because they are usually very busy. read more

These ribs were the best ribs I tasted ever They well seasoned so well they were just amazing!!! read more

It was good. Not the best, but good. Decided to try it when I was in Cincinnati and it definitely filled me up. I would of liked to been able to get drink refills, but this place sells drinks in cans/glass bottles and up charges on the glass bottles when all you got was an aluminum can of Diet Pepsi and not a glass bottle of diet Pepsi. Is that me being salty about being over charged 20¢? Yes.... Yes, it is. Won't be here ever again and I can't really compare it to other BBQ joints in the area since this was my first time having local Cincinnati BBQ. read more

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TLDR: An adventure in BBQ. ____ Took a bit of a drive to get here - but so worth it. Thankful to my amazing friends for playing host (thanks again Cindy and Justin!). This was an incredible lunch. Pulled pork - the bead was buttered and toasted. DROOL. Amazing Mac and geese was so creamy. I concentrated my efforts on this dish in particular. Baked beans delicious as well. Sweet. Grits - we added some cracklings and it was more of a dust - was hoping for chunks. Still good. BYOB - brought a ton of beers and took a seat at the picnic tables on what seemed to be the most perfect weather day ever. Chowed down and chugged some ice cold craft beers. It was hard to get back on with the day after this. read more

Stopped by while visiting and was surprised to find a well-reviewed BBQ. I had the pulled pork sandwich and mac and cheese side. I also had some brisket which was pretty good. It might be my own preference, but I felt the mac and cheese had a almost like kraft easy mac flavor which is good, but not what I would expect from bbq place. I loved the small shop feel and outdoor seating near the river though. read more

Customer service: I had the worst customer experience, in my life, at the riverside location in Jan for a take out order. Same unreal experience happened to my wife this week. It's a young African American lady who is rude, unprofessional, and short temped. To the management team: this staff needs to be fired. You know who am I talking about. Food is always top notch! read more

Great bbq, the ribs are the best! Sides are all good but no standouts, go for the bbq.