Hubby and I visited this place since we had a gift certificate. It was a Tuesday night so we were…read moreseated right away. Cameron was our server and he did an excellent job. I ordered the brisket tacos and hubby got the 3 meat platter with ribs, brisket and chopped pork. The brisket was very good, but I suspect we received brisket from 2 different batches because one of my tacos was salty and the other two were fine. Hubby said ribs were a bit overcooked and a tad dry. My tacos came with one side so I chose broccoli salad. However it arrived with coleslaw instead. Upon mentioning it to Cameron he apologized and brought the correct side. Was planning to order bread pudding for dessert but was completely stuffed after our meals. Considering it was a Tuesday, the place was hopping. Servers were moving around at a brisk pace. We will return again!

From the moment you step inside, the aroma hits first: a deep, hickory-laced perfume that signals…read morehours of slow devotion rather than shortcuts. This is barbecue that announces itself honestly. No gimmicks, no pretension--just meat treated with respect. We started off with the Texas Sausage Sampler which includes 3 Sausages. Jalapeno Cheddar, Hickory Smoke and Original Old Fashioned. Served with Carolina Gold Sauce, Mustard and Horseradish. The sauce is outstanding. Smoking J's Rib House in Ashland, Kentucky, is the kind of place that reminds you why barbecue isn't just food--it's culture, patience, and pride rendered in smoke and fire. The ribs are the undisputed star. Thick-cut, generously portioned, and lacquered with a bark that balances sweetness, smoke, and spice, they arrive with that elusive perfection every pitmaster chases. The meat pulls cleanly from the bone without collapsing into mush, proof of disciplined temperature control and timing. Each bite delivers layers: smoke up front, pork richness at the core, and a restrained tang from the sauce that enhances rather than smothers. Brisket lovers will find plenty to admire. The slices boast a pronounced smoke ring and a pepper-forward crust, with fat rendered to a buttery softness that melts on the tongue. It's assertive, confident barbecue--unapologetically Southern, yet precise enough to impress even seasoned purists. The sides refuse to play second fiddle. Mac and cheese was amazing, creamy with a baked top that adds texture, while the baked beans carry a subtle smokiness that echoes the pit rather than competing with it. Coleslaw provides a crisp, cooling contrast, cutting through the richness exactly as it should. What truly elevates Smoking J's, though, is its sense of place. This isn't barbecue chasing trends or Instagram aesthetics. It's barbecue rooted in community--food that feels earned, familiar, and deeply satisfying. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, the kind where regulars are greeted like family and newcomers are quickly converted. Smoking J's Rib House doesn't just serve great barbecue--it reinforces why Ashland deserves a seat at the table in Kentucky's smokehouse conversation. It's a destination for locals, a worthy stop for travelers, and a reminder that when barbecue is done right, it doesn't need to shout. The smoke speaks for itself.

Darren and the gang at the Scioto Ribber aren't running a restaurant. They're preserving a national…read moretreasure with a smoker attached. I'll give you 20 top reasons this is why I believe this is Ohios best steak house : 1. Darren welcomes you with such casual hospitality that five minutes after sitting down you start wondering if you've accidentally been adopted. 2. The Scioto Ribber is so unpretentious that if a New York food critic walked in wearing a $3,000 suit, the steak would still be the most impressive thing in the room. 3. Some steakhouses sell atmosphere. The Ribber sells steak and lets the atmosphere happen naturally. 4. The menu has less ego than most restaurant owners. 5. The steak arrives looking like it just won a bar fight and a beauty contest on the same day. 6. Every bite tastes like somebody figured out how to barbecue a memory. 7. The char-smoked flavor is so unique that if you served it blindfolded, half the table would think they were eating at a ranch in Montana and the other half would think they died and went to beef heaven. 8. Fancy steakhouses spend millions trying to create authenticity. The Ribber accidentally has it. 9. The wait staff are professionals disguised as neighbors. 10. The service is so genuine that when they ask how you're doing, it feels like they actually want the answer. 11. Other restaurants train employees. The Ribber seems to raise them correctly. 12. The place has more Ohio character than a Reds game, a church festival, and a Fourth of July parade combined. 13. Some restaurants are experiences. The Ribber is an institution with mashed potatoes. 14. You don't leave feeling like a customer. You leave feeling like you attended a family reunion where everybody liked you. 15. The steaks aren't cooked. They're respectfully introduced to fire. 16. The outdoor wood-fired grill does things to beef that should probably require a permit. 17. If a steak could earn a blue-collar PhD, this would be it. 18. The flavor isn't subtle. It walks up, shakes your hand, and tells you exactly where it came from. 19. Most restaurants want to impress you. The Ribber doesn't care. That's why it does. 20. The value is so good that halfway through dinner you start looking around for hidden cameras because surely somebody forgot to charge enough. Bonus Five : 21. Darren runs the place with such affection and quiet pride that you get the feeling he'd rather lose money than let a guest have a mediocre meal. 22. In an era where every restaurant wants to reinvent dining, the Scioto Ribber has spent decades perfecting the radical idea of serving great food by great people. 23. The steaks have more smoke than a political debate but leave a far better taste in your mouth. 24. This isn't just Portsmouth history. It's Ohio history with a baked potato. 25. The Scioto Ribber proves that you don't need valet parking, mood lighting, imported marble, or a sommelier named Sebastian. Sometimes all you need is wood fire, great beef, hardworking people, and an owner who treats guests like family. The two blonds behind the bar are so sharp that hemophiliacs have to file a restraining order The Scioto Ribber is what happens when Americana, hospitality, common sense, and a wood-fired grill get together and decide to show the rest of the restaurant industry how it's done.

Scioto Ribber is definitely good for the area. Friendly service, huge portions, and the kind of…read moreplace where your plate arrives looking like it's preparing for winter. I've heard people call it "the best steak I've ever had," which mostly made me wonder... where else have y'all been eating steak? Feels like the philosophy here is: "Why focus on quality when we can simply give you enough meat to feed a youth baseball team?" That said -- the service is great, the atmosphere is classic local favorite energy, and you will absolutely not leave hungry. Cheers to you, want rush back-but may find myself here again.

Excellent! I had the brisket burnt ends, Mac and cheese, and greens and loved it all. The brisket…read morewas tender and BBQ sauce was the best I ever had!

I love the atmosphere and food! If you want to have a fun evening and enjoy some good southern BBQ…read moreand sides then this is the place to go! The owners are very nice too!

We were here on a Friday night and the place was empty. What???? If I lived in the area I'd be…read morethere all the time. The food was fantastic. We both had Street Tacos and the taste was 9.5 out of 10. They were playing music from a local band called Badness that will be there live tomorrow. I wish we could stay another night to see them. Look, I'm not sure what you're hungry for, what kind of atmosphere you like or what you like to do but you can't go wrong with Thatcher Barbecue Company. I give it 5 stars based on everything, food, ambience and did I mention the food? By the way the bartender was a great guy. Appalachian hospitality at its finest!!! We're from Colorado so I doubt that we will be back soon. If you're a local or passing through like we were you need to check it out.

Go hungry, the portions are very generous. Thankfully we got to the area on a Sunday and after…read morechecking out a couple of trails walked in at a great time. We ordered pulled chicken with white sauce, hashbrown casserole & green beans for me and a rack of ribs, coleslaw and baked beans for my husband. Everything was great! The chicken was delicious, hashbrown casserole was great and the green beans were seasoned perfectly. My husband was stunned by the portions. The ribs were fall of the bone tender and were smoked to perfection. His sides were good, but he was determined to finish the ribs, so didn't eat all the sides. Two days later he said he was still waking off the ribs!

All of the 5 star reviews should tell you everything you need to know!…read more My husband and I stopped in and we needed to pick up some take out to feed 5 adults. The guy in the back offered to sell us meat by the pound rather than getting the combo platters so that's what we did. We got a pound of each: brisket, pulled pork, and pulled chicken. We got 2 sides of Mac n cheese and 2 sides of the loaded potato salad. Everything was excellent and top notch!! I'm really picky about Mac n cheese and Mo Betta's was some of the best I've ever had. We also brought both of their bbq sauces home and they were both delicious. The place was clean and the service was super friendly! I'd definitely go back!!

Best barbecue I have had in a long time. I couldn't stop eating it. I recommend at least trying it…read moreif you love barbecue cooking

We have been passing Pop's on our way to our cabin near Cave Run lake but it is either closed for…read morethe season, or not open on the days we pass by. ( currently open Thu - Sun) but check because those times are subject to change. Finally last week, on our way back home, it was open. It was a good stop, I enjoyed the chicken wings with hot sauce and good IPA cold beer. The staff was really friendly, they even gave us a small bowl with cold water for our dog. We hope to be able to stop more times on our way to/from the cabin.

This is the closest place to get something to eat to the Twin Knobs campground so my review is…read moreslightly slanted in their favor. There is shaded and sunny seating areas outside and table service once you have made up your mind. They brought out water for the pups which was nice. We shared a 3 meat platter for the very reasonable price of $18. The brisket was tasty but cut strangely. The pulled pork was good and a huge portion, and the baby backs were the best thing I tried. They had a sweet sticky sauce and came off the bone nicely. The rest of the sides were also good. Nothing spectacular but I have nothing negative to say. We came here after the summer boating season was over so the ice cream pickings were limited. Our server was Lexie and she was sweet. Another employee also tended to us a bit and he was very helpful. So if you are in the area and need a sturdy meal, stop in.

The waitresses were very nice and friendly. I noticed the place must attract a lot of locals,…read morebecause I heard many were called by name, or the conversations referred to past visits. The place was clean. I ordered traditional hot wings and onion rings. I wish I had ordered the wing sauce on the side. They were like being smothered in soup. But, otherwise, good! I will probably be back when in the area.

DISCLAIMER: I have had really good BBQ and I have made really good BBQ…read more Have you ever really wanted something so bad but what you got was so disappointing that you still wanted what you wanted in the first place? Well, that is the feeling you will have if you want BBQ and you come here. The customer waiting motioned to me and said, "what ever you do, don't get the mashed potatoes, they are too salty to even eat". Then I told the waitress I was struggling between the pulled pork and chicken which she replied with "if you are going to get any of the meat, the brisket is the only thing worth eating". That was a story made up, the lukewarm to cold brisket was fatty and flavorless...no smoke ring, no crisp, no flavor...gummy and tasteless. My son had their mixture of with a split with pork, chicken, sausage, and mac and cheese. He asked for no slaw and extra mac and cheese instead. The kitchen person came out yelling over to the waitress "did anyone tell them it is just a spoonful so there is no "extra" for not getting it (with air quotes) for her emphasis...we are sitting up front and can hear and see it all. Rude service free of charge. The baked beans were average for canned baked beans microwaved, as we heard the microwave go off and then our food came out. The Mac and cheese was even rejected by our 3 year old granddaughter, so that should be alarming by itself. The potato salad was much like what is in the buckets from Sam's Club. So overall, disappointing would be an improvement. The team was lacklusting, the food would be more satisfying if we chewed on napkins and plates. The service rude at best. The pricing was overreaching. Save your tastebuds, save your money. If this is your last option, it is a good time to start fasting instead of punishing yourself.

I recently got to try Buck's through a catered lunch at work, and I was pleasantly surprised…read more The food was delivered hot and made the meeting room smell delicious. I got a tray with a pulled pork sandwich, cowboy beans, and coleslaw. The pork was very flavorful with just enough smoke for my tastes, and it went well with the barbecue sauce it came with. I was also impressed with the cowboy beans. Typically, I do not care for beans cooked with beef, but these had a good balance between the two. It also had different varieties of beans that I appreciated. It was savory and filled me up. Lastly, the coleslaw was also good but nothing to write home about. My lunch left me satisfied without being stuffed, which is often an issue I have with barbecue. The only complaint I could see with this meal is portion sizes. While it was a comfortable serving size for myself, I could see others finding the amount of meat given too little for their money and stomachs. Even with the sides, I considered this meal to be lighter than most barbecue I have had. After this experience, I cannot wait for a chance to have a meal at the actual restaurant.

I loved this spot! We stopped for a lovely lunch. The menu hangs on the wall and you place your…read moreorder. You get a number, find your table. Our drinks came to the table, as we chatted. We laughed at an adorable cat, that has been hanging around the restaurant. A group of young guys were loving on the cat. It was nice to see. They gently shooed him off the table when their food arrived. Our food arrived and wow! The brisket was moist and tasty. Great fried green tomatoes and the grits were yummy. My mother's ribs were delish. She raved about the slaw and the greens. We intend to support this excellent mom and pop establishment. The folks there know what they are doing, and they do it with a smile and a heart!

The barbecue is just perfect Fall off the bone and the smoke along with their sauce makes it melt…read morein your mouth. Potato salad the best i have had and the Alasking white fish is like you get in english pubs The service was attentive and polte .Frequent check backs to ensure everyone one was ok. Overall a great experience. My new favorite place

The Armory Smokehouse is a good experience…read more The food tastes good and is well prepared There is plenty of room to move about and ample seating. The bar has a good selection. And the tap is bottom filled to reduce foam.

Dining here is always 10/10, best food in the RRG and would hold its own with any BBQ joint in the…read morecity. Wanted to give a special shoutout to our server Mandy who was delightful and always right on top of things even in the midst of a Saturday evening rush!

A BBQ restaurant that is about a mile down a gravel road makes my mouth water the closer the GPS…read morecounts down to 0.0 miles. Perched high atop the hill, those diners sitting outside have an amazing view of the trees and the sky while seated comfortably in the shade. Servers are quick to come around and take your order.. mine being beef brisket, Mac and Beans (Mac and cheese with baked beans on top) vinegar slaw and squash. Also on special was asparagus on the late-May evening that I stopped in. I'm a beef brisket snob. I like it lean and well smoked without the need for heavy bbq sauces. My opinion is that the more sauce you have to use, the worse off the meat. Having traveled all over, including a heavy concentration in the south sampling beef brisket, I can attest to the deliciousness of Red Point's brisket. A nice mix of fat, the brisket was tender and juicy and I could cut it with my fork. The side of bbq sauce complimented it rather than overpowering it, which is what it should do. The Mac and cheese baked beans was something I have never seen on a menu before. Mac and cheese on the bottom and baked beans on top.. I'm a fan. I'm also a fan of the bacon on top of it! The squash was so/so.. a little overcooked to me and the balsamic didn't really do anything for me. I would have liked some garlic and onion seasoning on it instead. The vinegar slaw was also a bit of a miss for me, but no one has been able to beat a local place in Thorntown, Indiana's vinegar cole slaw for me. The most important item.. the beef brisket.. was a solid 9.5 for me. I'm sure if I'm in the area again, my mouth will start watering thinking about it!