This spot is legit. My family and I were visiting the Cincinnati area for the first time and came…read moreacross Pendleton Lucius Q as a good BBQ spot recommended by DDD. It was so good the first time, we hit it again this afternoon. Cool, relaxed feel inside, great service and great food. Jameela served us on both visits and she was awesome. Everything we tried was good, but my favorite was the Pendleton Porker and the banana pudding for dessert. If we're ever back in town, Lucius Q is on the top of our list!

Tucked into the heart of Pendleton, Lucius Q is the kind of place that pulls you in before you even…read morereach the door--the irresistible aroma of smoked meat drifting out onto the street is enough to make you stop in your tracks (and immediately start craving barbecue). Every visit feels like a treat, but lately they've taken things up a notch with a lineup of signature cocktails. I tried the espresso martini, and it was outstanding--smooth, balanced, and the perfect complement to the bold, smoky flavors coming out of the kitchen. As for the food, it's consistently excellent. The dry rub wings are my go-to: perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of heat and flavor, and even better when paired with their bama white sauce. If you're leaning sandwich, you can't go wrong with a pulled pork or pulled chicken sammy topped with their Carolina gold sauce--it's tangy, slightly sweet, and completely addictive. And the fries? Thick-cut, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside--exactly what great fries should be. Beyond the food and drinks, Lucius Q really shines as a place to gather. They have a fantastic event space that comfortably holds around 50 people--perfect for parties or private events. It's also one of the rare downtown spots with plenty of TVs, making it a great place to catch a game. Add in live music most Fridays and a great outdoor patio for those perfect Cincinnati weather days, and it's easy to see why this place is always buzzing. Lucius Q is one of those spots I simply can't walk past without slowing down and breathing it in. Whether you're a Pendleton regular or just passing through downtown Cincinnati, it's a must-visit that delivers every single time.

Bee's bbq is a quaint little place. The second you walk in the door you are met with the light…read morearoma of the bbq smoke, It smells wonderful! The bar is to the left and a few booths are to the right. A few more booths are in the back beyond the bar. You go to the bar to place your orders. The food was simple and delicious. We tried the bee sting (specialty pulled pork sandwich) and the sliced brisket sandwich, as well as the fresh bbq beans, light and flaky cornbread muffins, and the crisp sidewinder fries. Everything was wonderful and the beer was ice cold! Additional sauces are on table, enjoy!

Hmmm. First...great location and great bartenders and staff... some of the nicest people I have…read moreever met. They were attentive and all had great energy. The decor and energy in the room was great! The food was slightly above average. My sis had two different types of ribs. My niece had the jack fruit sandwich. I had the brisket Philly. My Philly was okay. There was nothing crazy good about it. I would not go back for it. The ribs were meaty and tasty but, again, not anything to write home about. My niece did not like her sandwich. All in all, I would g g I back to the bar because of the wonderful bartender. But I would order something other than what we ordered. The portions were ample. So that's positive....but I have had better. They get three stars, largely driven by how fun it is and because of the bartenders - not the food.

Today: Epic BBQ ribs... cheesy Jalapeño grits.. & cole slaw…read more I enjoy my time coming here. Everyone is super cool, and are intent on feeding you well. Vinyl playing on the Turntable... Art... Reds memorabilia...

I came on a Sunday around 630 on a cold winter evening, we ordered our food at the counter and then…read moresat down - the food was delivered maybe 10 minutes or so later & it looked and smelled amazing! I got the 2 loaded hot dogs with mac & cheese & mashed potatoes - my meal came to be 14$. The hot dogs were so good - the perfect snap on the meat and the toppings complimented it so well the perfect amount of sweetness and no soggy bun! The mac and cheese is basic in my opinion - nothing to write home about . The mashed potatoes were very good and I like how they finish them off on the grill to give a little cripsy crust. The staff was nice enough and checked on the table often - the place was clean and i like how they still have the record machine to control the music in the dining room. I haven't been here in years and I am honestly not sure why because it was delicious!

So Beard and Bellies moved from its previous location in Wooden Cask-…read more I think they left the flava in the old location I was one of the first customers when they opened for the day and thought I would be treated to only the freshest pulled pork- The pork was so dry I could hardly chew it. I wish I would have tried something else The house pickles and onions are a nice accompaniment- The deviled egg potato salad and broccoli salad were "meh" and the portions are very small. The best part of the meal was the buttered bread- Did like the location change- it was an upgrade from the previous one- I will go back EVENTUALLY- but it's gonna take some time to forget this meal -

Stopped at Beards & Bellies BBQ (inside of the well bar in Covington) and tried what they called a…read moretasting platter -- it was like a full-on smorgasbord of deliciousness! A little bit of everything, and every bite was packed with flavor. It was perfect for sharing and definitely kept us fueled for the day. The variety was awesome, from the smoked meats to the sides -- you really can't go wrong. If you're hungry and want to try it all, the tasting platter is the way to go!

This is such a hidden gem- I considered "gate keeping"-…read more We went on a Thursday evening and despite a small crowd it took a "hot honey minute" to get a cold drink. - They had live entertainment, but we left before the music- This place is very skillfully designed. The decor is dark and rich. Perfect for a "bourbon bar." They have curated the most comprehensive bourbon collection I've seen in a long time- Debbie recommended the Nashville Outlaw Hot honey Sandwich- it was smoking and paired well w/pepper jack cheese- I consider myself a coleslaw aficionado and theirs was some of the creamiest-I could tell it was made fresh daily- Fries were lukewarm-but still okay-

Ordered the Smoked Meat Plate (double) with Pulled Chicken and Turkey. It's served with cornbread…read moreand two sides. I selected Mac & Cheese and a side salad. The food wasn't bad, it just didn't leave a lasting impression. The meat was dry. I'm not sure what I expected to taste, but I was under impressed. Mac & Cheese was bland. Our server at the bar was fantastic! *Sidenote: my travel partner suggested the restaurant and LOVES it. We just have different taste buds. Parking: Street parking is hard to find. Spaces are extremely close to each other. Price: $20 - $30

I made my first visit to Lucius Q thanks to Chili Week. I had the brisket three way and the brisket…read morechili. Delicious. Perfect!!!! My favorite sauce was the Carolina Gold. It was the best I have tasted in a long time. I will be back!!!

lucius q never misses. i got the burnt ends smoked turkey greens and mac and cheese and every…read moresingle thing was incredible. the burnt ends are my all time favorite here, absolutely crispy juicy and cooked to perfection. the sauce is already perfect but i always double dip in the carolina gold, it gives that smokey vinegary kick that just makes it even better. the greens are some of the best ive ever had, almost like my grandma used to make, full of flavor and cooked just right. the mac and cheese hits too, creamy with that extra little bonus flavor and crunch from the cheez it crumbs on top. its unique and it works so well. i love this place and i highly recommend it to anyone craving great bbq or those unique soul food flavors that stick with you. five stars every time

We came on a Sunday to grab some BBQ before the football games. We ordered ribs and wings,…read moreunfortunately they were already out of brisket. The wings itself were very small. The ribs were a little dried out and tough to eat. I have been here more than once and had a better experience our first time. I do love to eat local and hope the next time we come we get a better experience. The dry rub flavor on the wings were sweeter than I thought it would be and tasted like Grippos seasoning. Hopefully I will be back soon to try again.

Everything about this place was lovely. The person that served us, the positive messaging and of…read morecourse the food! We loved it all - the tangy Cole slaw, the tasty greens and the delicious baked beans. I didn't have room to even taste the Mac and cheese because my ribs were calling me too loudly! I answered with eating almost all. It was easy to do so because they were falling off the bone. By all accounts my husband and son enjoyed it because they didn't have leftovers! Go check this place out!

Wow what a gem!! Perfect brisket melts in your mouth and pulled pork very good I had sweet…read morepotato and coleslaw a delicious meal My sister had loaded baked potato cornbread and smoked wings She loved the wings Service was quick and dependable A great place for a family dinner

We decided to try out this little bbq joint Fort Wright. They had lots of the bbq favourites such…read moreas smoked turkey, sausages, ribs, and more. I went with the smoked wings with hot bbq sauce (you could get regular bbq or just dry as well). They were huge wings and absolutely delicious. They smoked them to perfection and the bbq sauce was hearty and flavourful. I got a baked potato with cheese as a side and I really liked it as well. My wife got smoked turkey and sausage and really enjoyed that. The service was excellent and the restaurant really looked and smelled awesome. This was an excellent lunch and we will definitely be back.

I got 6 wings of their dillonator & 6 of their g-funk wings. They know exactly what they are doing…read morehere with their BBQ. I also got some baked beans and a corn muffin. I wish I ordered 5 instead of 1. I can eat those all day long. Never have I ever had cornbread that bomb in my life. Come get you some! The lovely lady upfront with the red curly hair was nice and helpful. The other cashier which was a young boy also seemed pretty nice! If you're craving BBQ, ya'll gotta come try this spot out. It's right off the freeway. Nice building with a good amount of seating.

Look, as the winner of the 1992 Barbecue Competition, with Gary Burbank as judge, I'm basically the…read moreLeBron James of ribs. I've eaten my way through every smokehouse in Cincinnati, so when I say Midwest Best BBQ is the real deal, believe me. My arteries are practically Yelp-certified. The team of servers and cooks seems like they recruited an entire football team of young men from the University of Cincinnati; service so fast you'd think they were running a two-minute drill, attentive enough to make your mom jealous, and coordinated like they're protecting the quarterback only this time, the quarterback is your pulled-pork sandwich. Their wings, rubs, and sauces? Every single flavor profile was so good I nearly proposed to the coleslaw. And don't get me started on the G-Funk wings. They're delightful, though naming wings after a rap genre means you half expect Dr. Dre to hand you wet wipes. And let's talk about the smoking schedule. They've got a night smoker and a day smoker, which sounds less like a BBQ setup and more like a buddy-cop movie: "Day Smoker plays by the rules, Night Smoker breaks 'em, but together they deliver justice... in the form of brisket." Mark, one of the owners, literally smokes meat during a half-day shift with the love and passion of a Michelin-star chef who moonlights as Cupid. This guy makes ribs like he's serenading them. If Hallmark made a "Brisket Romance" channel, Mark would star in every single movie. I bought several pounds of meat to take home. Not "a pound." Several. Because nothing says "self-control" like hiding a bag of smoked chicken behind your kale in the fridge. Exclamation point. Period. Now, location... ...here's the kicker. They're hidden off the road over a hundred yards. That's right, it's the Area 51 of BBQ. You basically need Google Maps, a Sherpa, and divine intervention to find them. Yet, somehow, when you do, it feels like stumbling upon the Ark of the Covenant... ...only tastier, and fewer Nazis melting. Inside? Casual. TVs locked on Bengals or Reds games, so you can watch disappointment while you eat happiness. Patio? Shaded. Perfect for when you want to sweat from the hot sauce, not the sun. The sides? Top echelon. Beans, slaw, cornbread, each one a little sidekick to the main meat superhero. And for the low-carb crowd, this place is a protein paradise. Keto bros rejoice: you can bench-press your brisket guilt-free. Bottom line: Midwest Best BBQ doesn't just feed you, it baptizes you in smoke, sauce, and joy. And if you're not leaving with meat sweats, did you even go?

I just held a private event for my family's annual reunion, bringing in people from all over the…read moreUnited States at one of the private rooms at the Boathouse. The food was amazing at the buffet with phenomenal service from start to finish. The servers were personable, attentive and went way beyond to make this an amazing experience. We were served our salads, with our choice of homemade salad dressings, seated at table-clothed tables. Drinks were brought to us as we entered our room. Ribs and chicken plus the sides, were served to us as we went through the line; more than enough food for our hungry eaters. When we finished and held our annual business meeting, our wonderful servers asked how we would like our remaining food to be packaged and then created carry-out packages for everything that was left. I don't know where in Cincinnati you could get that kind of service coupled with excellent food and a facility with the character and ambiance of the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. It gave our guests a true flavor of, and for, our wonderful city. The event manager was absolutely the best to arrange this event so that it met our needs, and worked with me to the night before, to make it become the best reunion facility ever. And last but not least, the food was perfect! Thank you for the experience Montgomery Inn Boathouse and Tonya!

Have you ever been away from someone or some place for a while and when you return you can pick up…read morewhere you left off? Well, the Montgomery in Boathouse is that place and always a must stop when I'm in town because the ribs are always cooked to perfection and the staff is always on point. On this night, I ordered a slab of ribs, Saratoga chips, and a salad. No surprises there. Not much has changed in almost 40 years of coming to The Boathouse, just the hours and maybe the bibs. Ties are not as common nowadays. I also like the distance between the new stadium and the Boathouse. I was able to park under the stadium walk to the Montgomery Inn and back to the stadium for a matchup against the Royals. Great parking, great seats, great ribs, great walk, great night and for under $150 with generous tip, which spectacular deal. $52 Reds, $30 parking, $66 meal and tip. :) I admit I have only tried their ribs and they're always amazing!! Fun fact, I also had 30 slabs shipped back to Denver for a party and they cooked up perfectly and the sauce was delectable! Everyone loved them! People still ask me about the epic rib party I held! If you are in Cincinnati and looking for an amazing night out with an after dinner walk, concert, ballgame, or even to enjoy the view be sure to stop by The Boathouse and make it a night to remember.