I've been to Smoke Justis several times and I have never left disappointed. They have some of the best wings in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. And I think what makes them so good is how unique they are. I have not found another place in this area that prepares wings the way they do at Smoke Justis. Hands down I will keep visiting and keep ordering the wings. read more

I had a great experience at this place after a Reds game. The bartender was attentive and friendly. I ordered the street tacos and went with the pork option. The name is somewhat misleading because there is no way you could eat these on the street. They are sloppy. Like they just dump all of the ingredients onto three taco-sized tortillas. But they are good. Really good. This place has a great atmosphere, good food, and a good beer selection. Great place to catch an Uber home after a Reds game. read more

Smoke Justis - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Ordered two burgers . One for myself and one for a coworker. The Order was put in but the kitchen only made one burger. Server said it would only take a "couple" of minutes to cook the other order. I'm under a time constraint so after 15 more minutes I was about to leave. I was asking the manager to check on my order when the server appeared with my other half of the order. No apology, just attitude! I'm thinking I should be the one with the attitude, not you buddy. The saving grace (and why they get 3 stars instead of 1) is the Federal Burger was damn good! Shame that the bartender/server was rude. read more

Smoke Justis - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food quality was fair. Meat wasn't that flavorful and ribs seemed undercooked. Super Smokey inside the restaurant.

Looked fun. But showed up after driving almost an hour and paying 6 to park to be told they are not sitting tables due to kitchen being backed up... disappointing when you decide to pay to park since you see lots of open tables in the windows when driving by... disappointing. read more

Wonderful neighborhood restaurant, fun drinks and good food. The brisket is smoky and tender; all the food is good, but the brisket is a favorite. read more

I come here for lunch during work just about twice a month. It is delicious every time. Such a great place to go for amazing barbecue. The chicken wings are one of a kind! Food comes out fast too! I'll be going back next week. read more

Smoke Justis - Ordered the nachos with brisket on top. - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Great stop in Covington! Nicer bar vibe in an old brick building. Upstairs has larger tables and booths. We actually went there twice it was so good! Beef brisket cooked perfectly, not dry, ribs even better if that's possible. Cauliflower wings were fabulous. Don't miss out on the cornbread either! Wait staff is very attentive which I don't find often in this setting. Would definitely go back! read more

If your in the mood for some smoked meat then you should check out this place. I love the location of this restaurant! You are within walking distance to the water if you want to check out some views, your near other great restaurants/bars and the parking is easy. This is actually where we have been parking when we want to walk across the river. The restaurant looks like a vibe from the outside and it truly is once you get inside. Your hit with the smell of delicious smoked meats and barbecue as soon as you walk in. They are typically slammed busy because people keep coming back for more. They actually have such a cool bar located in the restaurant, it's like a hidden escape. It has a one of a kind sliding ladder that the bartenders use to get the higher end alcohol that's located on the higher shelves. It made me think of Beauty and the Beast to be honest, I love it and appreciate the rare touch. Smoke Justis is a very refreshing vibe and overall a great place to meet up with friends for some of the best undeniable barbecue. I kept it light and simple when I was there and ordered the Mac and cheese and barbecue. I mean when you are combining pasta and barbecue, it's just going to be a good day. I loved it and honestly think about it when we're near the restaurant and smell the smoked meat in the air. If you ask me, that's saying something. We also tried one of their burgers and it did not disappoint. It was full of flavor and tasted great. The menu has quite the variety of choices, something for everyone I think. We will definitely be returning soon to try something new on the menu and have another great experience. Check it out next time your in the area or just craving some southern smoked barbecue. read more

Love love love this place! Food is always wonderful, great selection. Great service! Never disappointed!

The concept of Smoke Justis is really cool. In fact I had really high hopes for this place. Self serve beer? Bourbon bar? Arcade games? Best smoked wings in the city? Sounds like a really fun place, right? The entire experience fell flat for us. No, that doesn't accurately explain it: they straight dropped the ball. We started at the bourbon bar, where the service was prompt but we felt unwelcome. We moved to the basement to try the self-serve taps. It's a cool concept, but we found out that of the 20 beers on tap, 6 are blown kegs and the options are pretty limited. We left money on our beer card because I simply couldn't stomach the remaining beer options. We then went upstairs and figured we'd at least try the wings before leaving, since we had heard so much about them. The single order of wings took about 20 min, at which point our waitress asked "how'd you guys like the wings", when we still had never received our food. She assured us a new order would be put in, but we waited another 20 minutes. Long story short: wings were good, atmosphere is cool, but that's where it ends. The rest of the place is lackluster at best. I wouldn't recommend until some serious changes are made. read more

We had a grad party here, and our server Evan and manager Demian were the best! Extra-tasty smoked wings, brisket & sides. The service was flawless, and we had a great time outside. You HAVE to try Smoke Justis! read more

Food was good, service was awful. Waited 25 min for a table and it wasn't even crowded. That should have been the first red flag. Beer I wanted on tap was out. Waited 30-35 more minutes for our food after ordering. My son and husband got their dinner, but the server walked away without saying anything about mine (and she had several plates on her tray to still deliver). Five minutes later she comes back to ask if I got a burger. Uh, no. Turns out it was my chicken sandwich she had in her hand after all. What?? Didn't come back to refill water until we were basically done. Again, food was good, but wouldn't go back due to bad service. read more

So, the gentleman that greeted us upon arrival was very nice however, we were taken upstairs where there is no air circulation whatsoever. The waiter gave us mediocre service...I was literally crunching the ice in my cup before she realized that I needed more water. I've been here several times and I love the wings but the service is a hit or miss. read more

Skip this place! We were starving and had seen good reviews. I ordered baby back ribs with beans and onion straws I think they gave me baby back jerky instead. When they arrived they looked so dry but I thought surely they would not serve me something like that. Unfortunately I was wrong The beans were really good When they brought my food out with the onion straws she said that they were making more and that they would bring them to me fresh. The ones that were on my plate were ice cold. We finished our meal paid the bill and still the onion straws we're not done. We just told them forget it by then. When your specialty is supposed to be the meat you serve and you serve it in in an edible way it doesn't say a lot about taking pride in your product. read more

We really enjoyed our food the first time. Loaded fries and grilled cheese brisket sandwich. The second time we went, it took almost an hour to get our food. The wings were worth the wait though! read more

Smoke Justis - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Great Smokey flavored meats. Very friendly staff that spoke to everyone. They provided quick service, with a enjoyable atmosphere.

This is our favorite hangout. Great smoked meats (try the brisket or wings as a starter). Great bourbon lounge. read more

Smoke Justis - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Used to be my favorite place. Called ahead during wing week to ask about outdoor seating because we have a dog. They said they had outdoor seating and heaters. Upon arrival we learned the heaters were not working even though I had called just an hour or so earlier. This was fine with us and we agreed to go sit outside as they said they would send a server out immediately. We waited about 20+ minutes before going back in to ask. To their credit a server did come out at that point. Then he took the (empty) propane tanks and did not return. After about another 15 minutes we left. read more

I love this restaurant so much. Tandy was the best server we could've asked for. We had a large group (12-15) and she accommodated us perfectly. 10/10 for food AND service. Would highly recommend read more

Best bartenders in Covington. Fast, friendly, engaging, always love bartenders who quickly remember you and your drinking preferences. As someone in the industry, always impressed with the way they manage the service well, bar guests and to go orders. Not as easy as it sounds, but they make it incredibly fluid. Well done. read more

Awesome environment! Tons of bourbon and arcade games. Bartender and manager were both very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended! read more

Smoke Justis - Basement Arcade! - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Large bbq joint offering good drinks, food and vibes. Had the brisket plate with fries and Cole slaw...great! Only negative is it can get quite noisy. read more

The food smelled great but again the service wasn't asking if I want to order anything! I was dressed up for the occasion! Wanted to have a nice night with daughter In law and have a nice night out but they didn't give me the sense that they cared. read more

Smoke Justis - Bourbon and a rum drink - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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Great food ! Large beer selection, attentive service , within walking distance from the hotel

Food was All Amazing. Brisket definite five star. Brisket grilled cheese out of this world. Fry box with chicken outstanding. It is a rare occasion when I read about food this much this place is a must try. Can't wait to go back read more

After reading the mixed reviews and then visiting I think people should understand it's a sports bar that specializes in BBQ. Being a bar it WILL be loud & crowded, plus understand you're in a college town area, so there will be 20 somethings there. Understanding all that and knowing what to expect only review based on its merits not what you want it to be. The owners have their vision and fit into a niche. LOL You will need to seat yourself, and smile at the servers to indicate you're new and looking to order. Once I did my server was attentive and handling 5/6 tables total. I ordered the smoked wings to start they were amazing. Meaty, Juicy and full of flavor. The rub was awesome. I had 3 sauces on my table: Original BBQ, Bourbon BBQ and BBQ Mustard. I used a combo of the original house sauce and bourbon, which was delicious! I also order THE PACKER brisket sandwich with their hand cut fries. The sandwich is plain, so I ordered a side of the hot Kentucky slaw (it's not spicy it's a vinegar slaw with crispy bacon in it severed warm). I put the slaw on my sammy along with some lettuce, tomato mayo and my combo BBQ sauce. It was really good! I ended up taking off the bun half way through and just putting the meat and slaw and sauce on my fries and eating it with a fork, OMG! Yum to the O! It was a good experience all around, if you're up for the college to middle age sports bar environment and want some great wings, brisket, fries and slaw. Stop in! read more

I like the building? That's sort of it. We went there on a march madness day and it was super loud and super packed. Found a seat in the basement and waited at our table for 10 minutes for someone to come around...nothing. We asked the table next to us where the server was and were informed there was an 'order station' out by the stairs we came down. Good thing we asked, I guess! Placed our order, it came fairly fast which was nice, but the server fled instantly. Left no silverware, no napkins, no ketchup, and NO BBQ SAUCE...AT A BBQ PLACE. Couldn't find a waiter, so had to hunt down our own squirt bottle of bbq sauce, ketchup, napkins and plasticwear (no silverwear) at the order station. I ordered the smoked brisket sandwich which was fine, nothing great, just 'pretty good'. There was only one BBQ sauce...Bourbon BBQ. Unfortunately, it was nothing special, couldn't taste the bourbon at all and it had an odd flavor. Fries were good, the smoked wings were fair. If you're a BBQ place, you'd think you would have sauces to choose from and your sauce would be really special, but this one was not. Oh, and to buy beer, you have to buy a 'beer card' which you put money into and swipe it at a self-serve beer station. If you don't use all the money on the card, you're out the cash! Hooray for rip offs! This is a place for 20-somethings who like the loud environment, the do-it-yourself service, and have no idea what good BBQ is supposed to taste like. For me it was a miss. Average/below average food, ridiculously loud environment, and almost no table service, I doubt I will go back. read more

We came for lunch during the workday and I was pleasantly surprised! The food was good, I got the quarter-pound of smoked chicken with mac and cheese and a side salad. The mac and cheese wasn't anything special, it is similar to what you would see on the kids menu at BDubs. The side salad was what you would expect from a BBQ joint. The chicken flavor was wonderful; it had the right amount of kick and there were multiple sauces you could choose from. Service was great, they got us in and out in a good amount of time, especially during the workday! read more

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS SPACE! I love the industrial look of this place. It is glorious. Another thing I love here... their wings! Big, tender, great flavor - I'm a big fan. I got a side house salad that was HUGE too. Other people I went with got some sliders and things. You can skip the crab cake - nothing great. They have plenty of tv's for watching games and a wide selection of alcohol for your after work buzz. The service needs some work, but they're relatively new I think so that will come with time. I think it's worth giving it a shot. read more

Rapidly becoming a regular spot for me. Not only for the hipsters, there are real men mixed with the hipsters at this joint. Food is awesome. The basement lets you play endless old school video games. Try to beat my score on street Fighter. I dare you. I learned about Humpty Badel tonight and feel like a better person because of it. read more

Had the "before noon" brunch special on Sunday before the Bengal game. Ordered the Walt. It was delicious. Plus all items on the special menu are only $6. read more

Loved this place great food and great selection of bourbon. Chicken wings were great. Three meat platter was excellent.

Highly recommend you check this place out. I went last night for "Wing Wednesdays" and was impressed by the food, bar, and the specials. And trust me, I'm not one to be impressed by sports bars. For their wings special you get 1 pound (8 wings for us) for half price, typically they are $11. And you can choose how you want them done. They were smoky, crispy, and delicious, and very big. We also got one of their Fry Boxes which was $5 for their HH special. And it was a TON of food and delicious. We ordered one with brisket on it and their brisket was amazing. Their steamed vegetables were a real let down, but I get that's not their specialty. All together me and my companion had two bears each (4 total), two pounds of big wings, fry box with brisket, and steamed vegetables for under $40. I'll for sure be going back in the near future. read more

I feel like Smoke Justis is still a hidden gem in the city of Covington that if you haven't discovered, PLEASE DO! I made my first visit to Smoke Justis for a company outing and we were given the entire lower level to our office and I was immediately taken aback by the environment. Please know going into this review it will strictly be on the space for I have yet to try their BBQ but will most definitely be back to try it soon so I can update my review. The current area surrounding Smoke Justis is under construction so do next let that take away from their interior space. Nestled in the same strip as Keystone Covington it is in a great location for parking and easy access. The top floor of this biz is packed with plenty a seating, a large bar and a HUGE wall of televisions. I would best describe this a BBQ sports bar. Walk down to the lower level and you are taken to a self-serve beer tap and a ton of vintage arcade games. Using real money to play, there is everything from pinball to Pacman to Xmen. To make a comparison it is like Eli's and 16-bit merged into one space in NKY and had a baby, it would be Smoke Justis. This was such a fun space for a company gathering and I CANNOT wait to make my own return trip with friends. I could see us all coming out for a game, hanging out and watching while we played some games, enjoyed some BBQ and put back some beers. If you haven't checked out this biz, add it to your bookmarks and go! read more

The ribs & brisket were good, not great but good. The sides we got with our meals were awful. My husband and I both got the Mac & Cheese. Not sure how one can get Mac & Cheese wrong but this restaurant did. I don't think we will go back. read more

The flavor of the smoked wings were very delicious. Hand cut fries were THE BOMB. Our crab cake was decent. The sliders were yummy but I would skip on the brisket. It was very dry. It's pretty cool that you could pick 3 different sliders if you wanted to try other ones. They were out of the two signature cocktails I wanted to try. Our server was very busy but he kept checking up on our table and always made an effort to get everything we needed in a timely manner. Overall a pretty balanced experience, would try it again. Or at least come back for the fries! read more

Smoke Justis - Bars Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Smoke Justis is sooooooo yummy!!!! The wings are an absolute must! They were so crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. The restaurant had a really cool vibe to it as well. Downstairs has an arcade which is cool for the kids! read more

We had a big family group meet here for lunch on Saturday and it was our first time. Luckily, we got there early enough to get a table for all of us because it filled up quickly! They had football games on every tv and it did get very loud, so having a conversation with a large group didn't go so well. Other than that, the service was great, menu was good, and food came out hot and tasty. I would go back! read more

BBQ, local craft beer, and your own personal taproom with games downstairs?! Where do I sign up?! If you haven't checked out Smoke Justis yet, you aren't living your life right!! The sandwiches are absolutely amazing and the fries taste hand cut. They have a few great sauces to choose from as well. The service was great, multiple servers always checking on the tables. There is a taproom downstairs that you pay for on a card, almost like a video game. You can try all of the draft beers that your little heart desires. They have an arcade, pool and an amazing air hockey table. Each game is about $2. The building is absolutely gorgeous as well! We had an absolute blast and great evening. read more