Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ
2343 E Sharon Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45241
Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ Menu
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Sandwiches
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Wood Smoked Ribs
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Wood Fired Chicken
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Ribs & Chicken
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Sides & Others
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Additional Sides
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Bbq by the Pint
Healthy Meal suggestions for Jim Dandy’s Family BBQ
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Sandwiches
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Wood Smoked Ribs
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Wood Fired Chicken
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Ribs & Chicken
-
Sides & Others
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Additional Sides
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Bbq by the Pint
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2343 E Sharon Rd
Cincinnati, OH, 45241 - Phone (513) 771-4888
- Website https://www.jimdandybbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Carrie B.
The beef brisket is amazing! Loved the collard greens and mac and cheese as well. The whole place smells delicious. So glad I decided to try this place.
(4)Katrina J.
I was really hoping to love this place. The atmosphere is great as well as the smell. I got the rip tips, collard greens, and mac n cheese. The best item was the collards but they were a bit "stemmy" but a good taste. The mac n cheese lacked taste. Will not get again if I go back. The rip tips were just OK
(3)Rory B.
Generally so so barbecue. The half chicken is probably the best deal on the menu. The cornbread is overcooked to the point of being so dry it's almost sandy. Extra hot barbecue sauce just tastes like black pepper. It's almost inedible. Macaroni was ok, but I expected better. The place just didn't live up to the hype. I will try again on a Thursday, the only day they have brisket. If that fails I'll go over to city barbecue. It's a little better.
(3)Isela M.
This was really good BBQ I got the beef brisket platter with macaroni and potato salad.
(5)Ryan P.
Pulled pork and Chicken were average as with the sauces. The sides and the sausage however were home runs! Bread pudding was incredible and the Kielbasa was perfectly cooked. Price for lunch is not cheap but I will definitely be returning.
(3)Tim H.
Congrats on 11 years Jim. I'm glad I hunted down this gem of a spot. Certainly see this as a "must visit" anytime I'm in town. Owner Jim is very friendly and buts together a wonderful spread. Everything I tried was perfect. The Collard Greens are certainly a must. Look forward to a Thursday visit so I can experience his brisket. Some ribs will be on my plate too, next time I'm back in town.
(5)Mark S.
First time here even though I have lived close by for 2+ years. Had 2 meat platter brisket & sausage along with saratoga chips, slaw and corn bread and my wife had a pulled pork sandwich chips and slaw. Everything was OK no more no less. Saratoga chips are heavily spiced so I would say a like em or not item, cole slaw was creamy which I like, my wife was not a fan of either side. Meats were tender and taste OK but nothing special, other better bbq's close by.
(3)Evan M.
This place is awesome. The food is great! I want to fill a swimming pool with the cornbread and just lie in it and eat until I die. It's sweet and moist and chewy and so, so yummy. The homemade kielbasa is out of this world and great with the Carolina sauce.
(5)Jenny B.
This place never disappoints! Whole chicken is what I get and it comes with all the sides you could eat! Can't beat the price either. Best BBQ around in Cincy!
(5)Tom O.
Not a bad spot for a BBQ lunch. I typically get the pulled pork sandwich with sides (chips and potato salad + the cornbread). Portions on the platters are always more than enough for me at lunch, and service is quick and friendly. The pulled pork is very tender with a good smoky flavor, however I think it just soaks in a pan of juice after coming off the smoker because it can be very watery at times. They offer mild and hot BBQ sauces which are ok. The sides that I have tried are good but the cornbread seems to just crumble apart. I have two pet peeves with Jim Dandy's: 1) If you sit down to eat for 15 minutes, you leave smelling like BBQ smoke and it doesn't go away for the rest of the day. 4 hours later, you can still smell it on your clothes. Just be aware if you have business meetings after lunch. 2) Not sure about the other meats, but with the pork they weigh your portion in a little cup on a scale before putting it on the bun to make sure they aren't giving you too much. I get the whole concept of controlling costs, but weighing the portion for a single pork sandwich just comes off as cheap. Just get a scoop that serves up the same portion every time and ditch the scale.
(3)Annette V.
Fantastic Food! Great for parties as well!
(5)Larry S.
Excellent food but overpriced for the tiny portions they give. 1st warning sign is when they weigh your portion in a too small container. Really? Be prepared to order two of what you want or walk away hungry.
(3)laure s.
Love their sides, love their baby back ribs, but Holy cow their brisket was horrible. They only serve brisket on Thursdays. Since we're in a nearby motel I was anxiously waiting for Brisket Thursday. Won't make that mistake again.
(3)Joe P.
Stopped in for lunch today as I have several times in the past. Not sure I will be back anytime soon. They now only serve brisket on Thursdays which was my favorite meat choice. I went with the 2 meat combo today and got the pork and chicken. Portion size is ridiculously small for the price $12.95 - and no drink included. The pork was soaked in a greasy mess which really took away from the flavor. Chicken was OK. The people serving the food had no personality. I don't even think we got a hello or thank you from any of them. The main issue I had were the gnats. Sat down with my work peer and we spent the entire lunch swatting away gnats so they would not land on our food. The owner was in the restaurant too but I guess he was to busy entertaining other guest to notice the issue. Hopefully he will look at the latest reviews and tighten up operations. This place has really fallen down a notch lately.
(2)Candace M.
Stopped in for a late dinner. We had read some of the lackluster reviews and weren't sure what to expect, despite the 4 stars. It is definitely deserving of its 4 star status! We weren't sure what to get initially. After asking a very friendly staff member, we decided on the chicken (thigh and leg) with mac and cheese, potato salad, and cornbread and the brisket and pulled pork with bread pudding, potato salad, and cornbread. I was really impressed with the chicken. It had a nice flavor that didn't need sauce (though the mild BBQ sauce complemented it nicely) and it literally fell off the bone. That's a big thing for us; sometimes the chicken barely comes off the bone at all and I'm left feeling like I didn't eat most of the chicken. The mac and cheese and potato salad were great, and the cornbread was delicious with margarine on it. The pulled pork was good. It didn't have as nice of a smoky flavor as the brisket, but once you put the sauce on it, it was really good. The carolina sauce was good, a little vinegary but nice when mixed with other flavors. The hot BBQ was good, with a nice bite. If you like hot, you'll love it. If not, you might like it mixed with some other flavors. Bread pudding was good; neither of us had ever really had it and, while it wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing, it was really great with the vanilla sauce. During our meal, the staff checked on us several times, asking how our food was and seeming genuinely happy that we were enjoying it. We were glad we stopped in and we would definitely do so again!
(4)Alyssa K.
We REALLY liked this place. My husband and I got a full rack of baby back ribs (platter) and a 1/2 pint side of the brisket and it turned out to be way too much food. I'll get to the food in a bit but first the restaurant itself has a really great relaxed homey vibe and seems good for groups! They have a big covered patio and I can't wait to go back and eat outside when the weather is better. First, about the meat... When my husband and I lived in San Diego we were so in love with a place called Phil's BBQ that we had them at our wedding and Jim Dandy's ribs powned Phil's upon first bite. The ribs have SO much meat attached to them and the meat is soft, lean, and just slides off the bone. You can tell by the red smoke ring around the rib meat that they were properly smoked and there was a distinct smokey flavor. They're ribs are prepared with a dry rub and they have tons of sauces to put on your ribs. I actually liked this a lot better becuase I didn't have to get the sauce all over my fingers (I dipped the meat into the sauce) and I could try the meat with different sauces. Onto the sides... first of all they give you huge portions of sides. It might have been because we got a platter, I'm not sure how big the sides are when you order differently, but each side portion was 1/2 a pint. With our platter we got 2 sides: mac & cheese & baked beans and 2 squares of corn bread. The corn bread was like cake - it was so good! The mac and cheese was good but it needed a little bit more seasoning. It was really cheese but a little bland. And I won't comment on the baked beans because I'm not a fan of them to begin with so I can't give an accurate review. Loved the warm homey vibe at this restaurant and we can't wait to come back with more friends!
(5)Bob P.
So after reading other reviews was cautious about eating here but gave it a try and I'm glad I did! Had a half slab platter with Mac and cheese corn bread and bread pudding with the vanilla sauce. Must have the sauce it's very good. The ribs jumped off the bone and were delicious add a Boston lager and you got a great meal.
(4)Mark M.
I eat here often but still prefer City Barbq over Jims. Would have given 4 stars but the portions of meats and sides are shrinking steadily. I do like how they give a 5 percent discount for paying with cash. Gets busy during lunch hour so try and get there a little early.
(3)Andy P.
Delicious pulled pork, but tiny portions. The Dandy is the largest and still a small amount. Brisket only on Thursdays!?!?! I'd have given it more stars if it wasn't for the portions and small selection. Get two sandwiches if you want to leave full.
(3)Ted M.
Had the beef brisket sandwich and it was outstanding. Sauces were also great along with sides. Excellent BBQ this side of the Mississippi. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Zach W.
Compared to other local BBQ joints, the portions are smaller and prices are higher. Thats my biggest gripe. Also, not a lot of variety with sides and those are also smaller. I had a combo with a brisket sandwich and 2 sides but left not stuffed like I typically am at BBQ places.
(2)Ray B.
Ordered 1/2 slab of St. Louis Ribs with 2 sides (mac & cheese and backed beans) with 1/2 pint of pulled pork sandwich. Overall I would say the food was OK to say the least. It wasn't bad and it wasn't good but it wasn't a place that I would say i have to go to again. The rib was plain and had no flavor to it. It did fall right off the bone though. But I like seasoned meet. To give you guys context I prefer barbecue like Goodies that was in College Hill before they went out of business. I should have none something was wrong when the parking lot was empty at 5pm on a saturday. I was the only person in the store/lot. LOL.....
(3)Konstantin A.
Best BBQ and sides in Cincinnati, enough said. Just go here and try it. They do serve beer, so no BYOB. Tip: bring cash and you get 5% off.
(5)Jason G.
My favorite barbecue restaurant in Cincinnati. I grabbed dinner here and got a sampling of various meats - ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, along with their tasty chips. The meat has a great smoky flavor and is tender.
(4)Jerome B.
Stopped at Jim Dandy's on our way to Florida as we were craving BBQ food. Great place, my wife had the 1/2 slab platter, and as many other people mentioned it before, it definitely falls off the bone. I had the pulled pork sandwich platter and this was equally good, it was swallowed in no time! Really good corn bread and my side of apple sauce was tasty. Only suggestion would be for them to use cute re-usable dishes for the sides as opposed to the styrofoam dishes. Nicer and better for the environment.
(5)Jim M.
Stopped in for lunch on a recommendation while I was in town. Casual down-home atmosphere: very welcoming and genuinely friendly! Genuine also describes their approach to bbq: fresh meats smoked over seasoned hardwoods, so it tastes like bbq even before the sauce! That's not to sell the sauce short, because it is great. I went with the Mini Jimmy Pulled Pork Sandwich platter - that comes with 2 sides + cornbread - with the red beans & rice and cole slaw. I'll go with the regular size sandwich next time because it was that good! I liked the atmosphere and the friendly service, and I really liked the pulled pork. Good bbq!
(4)Mike V.
Very good BBQ! Wood cooked and delicious! Be careful the yellow cap is extra hot The seating area can get a little smokey but it's nothing too crazy. Good stuff!
(4)Jim B.
I travel a lot for work and get BBQ everywhere to compare. This place is really high on charts for me right now.
(5)Lisa L.
Wow, Mr. Dandy, this wasn't what I expected, I have pondered reading all these reviews and finally I'm back in town and said what the heck I will try it. Well folks, TO BE HONEST, this isn't real BBQ! I make better pulled pork with wonderful flavors and it doesn't have to be thrown in juice to keep it tender! my bun was completely soggy, apparently you don't give a crap, cause I believe that's a big complaint here, and your so called collard greens yup straight out of a can folks! not one bit of uniqueness going on here not even a sliver of the tasteless pork! no onions NOTHING, mac and cheese meh nothing to brag about I can get a box of thick and creamy mac and cheese and make it taste better! the only thing I can say anything good about, is the cornbread but it was a little soggy it actually had flavor. I went through the drive thru and your employee was less than pleasant. I would really check my recipes and alter them and maybe wrap your buns in something like saran wrap to keep from the juices making the bun completely worthless! forget it i knocked down a star cause the price surely does not equal the food quality nor the taste WAS WORTH 12,00 AND SKIMPY PORTIONS !!!!!! BIG EPIC FAIL~! GO DOWN THE FREEWAY TO A REAL SOUTHERN BBQ THAT HAS FLAVOR SAVE YOUR MONEY PEOPLE!
(1)Tim L.
Great little independently owned BBQ joint. I was here on work and ate here twice. Piles of wood outback and the smell greeted me when I got out of my car. When I walked in the door the smell alone was worth the stop. Ive eaten BBQ all over the U.S. And have had some horrible attempts at real BBQ. The St. Louis ribs were perfectly done. The dry rub was great, pulled chicken could've been smokier but still good. Collards, cornbread, beans were all good but the bread pudding was awesome, make sure you get the vanilla sauce! Brisket is only available on Thursday, not cool but I never left hungry and no complaints.
(4)Les G.
I give the BBQ a 5. I give the sides a 4 for flavor and a 1 portion size. Two people liked the food but left hungry after paying 27.00 for two quarter dark meals with a drink. If the portions were larger this place would be a five.
(3)Mike B.
Small portions and mediocre bar b q they should be ashamed to call this bar b q.I would never eat here again the cashier was rude.
(1)Sobe D.
Poorly trained staff ruined my visit to this resturant. I asked for something and was told "No.", seriously. I wanted rib ends and brisket on the two meat combo and was told, no. The correct response should have been, there is an extra charge for that. Or even let me talk to my manager, but to just tell me, "No", was pretty messed up. I won't be back.
(2)Darb N.
I had the sampler with baby back ribs etc. I loved it. They showed me the smoker out back. Great people working here. Very friendly as I was an out of towner.
(5)Chad S.
I love a lot of things about Jim Dandy's- the atmosphere is what a bbq place should be. Mr. Jim Dandy himself is often seen helping in the kitchen or bussing tables. Once when he was cleaning tables, I told him that my meal was great, and his response was, "Thank you so much for telling me- and I also want you to tell me if it ever isn't." The brisket is incredible- the mac and cheese and green beans are good too. I like the selection of hot sauces, and the place is always filled with activity it seems. My only complaint would be that the portions seem a little small to me for the price that's charged. If I'm spending $10-12 for lunch, I expect to leave full, and sometimes I don't.
(3)Gary R.
In the land of Montgomery Inn, this little hole in the wall is a Dandy, Jim Dandy to be exact! Locally owned, and not a chain. The venue is a revamped restaurant tailored to host many folks looking for some down home smokin' Bar-B-Q. The air is filled with smoked hickory as you pull up. They offer ribs, chicken, pork and a host of sides. My favorite here is the pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked beans and corn bread. The pulled pork is absolutely amazing! So sweet, savory, moist an packed with ribbons of smokiness. Whenever I find myself in Cincinnati I make a pit stop here!
(4)Caroline C.
How I wish I liked Jim Dandy's more... Given all the positive reviews, there has to be something I'm missing. Right? RIGHT?!?! The pulled pork tasted bland. The red beans and rice was probably the worst I've ever eaten. So sad. Mushy rice, really sour taste. I know you can do better than this! A few bright spots were the Hot BBQ sauce. And I will give props to the 'mini' sandwich option. The bread pudding was alright. I will try it if our paths cross again, but for now, disappointing.
(2)Josh B.
I ordered the two meat platter with brisket and pulled pork, red beans and rice and baked beans. The meat portions were the smallest I've ever been served, anywhere. The platter was $12.59 without a drink. That is ridiculous, I asked the cashier if that was the portion size for the platter. When I was told it was I replied that it was the smallest portion I've ever been served at a restaurant. He let me know he didn't make those decisions. Definitely did not live up to the other reviews.
(1)Stephen W.
After being told several times by co-workers that I should try this place, and reading the other Yelp reviews, I can only come to one logical conclusion: Nobody in this city knows what good BBQ is! :( I don't understand the fawning over this place and other, worse places like Montgomery Inn and City BBQ. Having traveled to BBQ Mecca (Memphis) recently, I've had some incredible flavors. The only place in Cincinnati I've had that can compare is Eli's. Actually, Eli's beats every place I tried in Memphis. Don't get me wrong, I think Jim Dandy's is OK, and I'd put it slightly higher than City BBQ. It's just not as great as some of the other Yelp reviews make it out to be. On this visit, I had the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese and red beans and rice. First the pulled pork: It was smokey, but that's it. There were no other flavors at all. No crispy bark on anything, but that's probably because the pork is kept for service in a steam table and was dripping wet when served. I was offered two sauce choices - hot or mild. I opted for hot. The sauce was pretty good. A little on the sweet side for me perhaps, but really no faults at all on the sauce end of things. Now the sides are really poor to mediocre. The mac and cheese tasted like regular macaroni with lots of thinned out melted velveeta on top. Not the worst thing in the world, just really boring and it could be better. The red beans and rice tasted like beans, rice, and canned tomatoes with "cajun" spice sprinkled on top, all cooked until it was mush. It was not good at all. The cornbread was moist and corny, which I like. My only issue with it was that was cold. Overall, it was OK for a quick lunch since I work nearby. I'm sure I'll be back. Edit 5/6/2013: I went back for lunch and got the brisket this time. Much better than the pulled pork! Nice and smokey, just how I like it. The collard greens were pretty good too. Negatives? The baked beans. They tasted like warmed up VanDeCamp's from a can. Upping my rating by a star. Should maybe be a star and a half, but I can't do that. TLDR; Jim Dandy's is just "Dandy". Stick with the brisket. Sides seem to be hit or miss, but try the greens.
(3)Abby E.
This place was adorable and the girls at the counter were super friendly. The food was delicious and you can't beat the smell of the smoker as soon as you pull into the parking lot. Their pulled pork, macaroni, baked beans and corn bread were superb! Check this place out if you're in the area!!!
(5)Alexis D.
I stopped at Jim Dandy's randomly - I am in town for work and my hotel was around the corner. I had seen this off the 75 several times but had not reason to ever be off the freeway at Sharonville until today. I now have a reason to stop again in the future. I only ordered three things - babyback ribs, mac and cheese and baked beans. The babyback ribs may have been the best ribs I have ever eaten (and I have tried many, many ribs). Aside from the meat falling off the bone, which is a prerequisite at a good BBQ place, the meat was smokey and lean. It was incredibly delicious. I had the spicy sauce with the ribs... it was also delicious. It had a great tang to it. The baked beans were also good. While I won't claim they are the best I have ever had, I would order them again. I wasn't hugely impressed with the mac and cheese. It was fine, but I will try other sides the next time.
(5)Cliff K.
It's a steal DO: -Rib tips DON'T: -The hot BBQ sauce is, well, hot. Stick with the mild and then add the hot as needed -All of the sides are just OK. Nothing stands out. PARKING: -Parking spots around the building. For about $10 you can get a lot of food. More specifically a meat and two sides. Although the pulled pork/chicken sandwiches are popular here, if you want a good ol' meat-on-bone type of dish rib tips is the way to go (ribs are too expensive for lunch). You can really taste the smokiness of the BBQ and it's so darn juicy. But the best part is that they give you a lot, I mean a ton of rib tips. It's a steal. I wish the sides were better tho :(
(4)Mrno B.
Must have been an off day last Sunday. It was DEAD and all three employees were sitting in a booth on their cell phones when we (family of 5) walked in. Sorry to interrupt you...:( Meat (brisket) was average, i think it was older or had been sitting there for a while. The sauce they put on was different than that in the squeeze bottles. It tasted burnt and old. The chicken was ok after I drained the cup of fluid it was sitting in (glad the don't charge by weight). Cornbread is good as always (we got a whole sheet pan to go). Red beans were not as good as I've had there before and the collard green my wife had seemed a little blah! In between us getting our food and leaving, they all 3 sat back down and were on their phones again. Which is odd considering the FILTH and week old film we had on our outside table. I wiped down with a few napkins and it was BLACK. I feel they could spend less time getting paid to be on FaceTube and do some ACTUAL work to better the customer experience.
(2)Ghost R.
This place smells so freakin' good..and the guys behind the counter are quick to greet you with a smile. The pulled pork and beef brisket is very tender..very tasty..and wood smoked. The Hot BBQ Sauce is a big plus. The applesauce wasn't too bad..but I have to say I am not a fan of their version of red beans and rice...but that is not going to stop me from sliding in there and grabbing the pork and brisket. I hear the ribs are pretty damn good as well.
(4)Rob J.
In town on biz and always looking for local eats. This is one I will recommend for both good food and service. I am very picky on my BBQ and this one is a keeper.
(4)John P.
Was initially disappointed by the restaurant offering in the area but decided to try Jim Dandy's. The food was excellent, everything you should expect from a local BBQ establishment. Price was decent and the roasted chicken was some of the best I have ever had. The side of chips was also a nice surprise.
(5)Larry W.
The greatest...stumbled across JD's enroute to Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. Super baby back ribs...great selection of sauces...definitely worth s visit.
(5)Evan B.
Cincinnati, not exactly the land of great BBQ. But I'm here to tell you that after my experience at Jim Dandy's, there is hope for BBQ north of the Mason Dixon! Jim Dandy's is a classic BBQ experience. You walk up to the counter to order and all your food is piled up in front of you. Given the option of wet or dry, I always opt to go dry and add my sauce later, if the meat needs it. No waiters. No waitresses. This place is all about the meat...so much so that the huge smokers are sitting out front almost flagging down passing motorists. Since I don't have the opportunity to travel up to Cincy all that often, I wanted to sample as much as I could, so I ordered a half rack of baby backs and some brisket with corn bread, green beans, and mac n' cheese. My wife got pulled pork with apple sauce and slaw. The meat is heavily smoked at Jim Dandy's. If you aren't into smokey BBQ, keep on driving. The rub wasn't very flavorful, but the sauces were. Jim Dandy's offers three sauces: mild, hot, and extra hot, each of which are very tasty and full of flavor. The sides were delicious as well. My wife loved the apple sauce. The green beans had a nice meaty flavor. The mac n' cheese was very cheesy. My biggest complaint is the sweet tea. They use one of those Gold Peak machines that dispense sweet, un-sweet, and a few flavored ice teas. I would have liked to have seen some good southern sweet tea.
(4)Daniel S.
Sad BBQ. Pulled pork was flavorless and kept in water at room temp. Side dishes were of cafeteria mass produced quality. Would not seek this place out a second time. The smoke in the air is for show only not flavor.
(1)Nick B.
The food was really great, the only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because they were so incredibly stingy with the portions. My beef brisket sandwich was 75% bread and 15% meat and 10% sauce. The sides they gave me could have been served in a thimble they were so meager. Now if this were a French restaurant I'd say, "right on! 5 stars!" but at a bbq place? So in sum, great food, with great taste but served with the generosity of a fancy French restaurant.
(4)Wayne S.
Trust in the Yelp... the BBQ is seriously good. I had the St. Louis ribs, naked, and the smoky goodness and mild rub were wonderful. Plenty of sauces in squeeze bottles were available and the flavor of each wasn't bad. I tried the red beans and rice and clearly these boys have never been to New Orleans for the real deal. Diced tomatoes in red beans? To be fair, one must remember that this area is famous for serving spagetti noodles underneath their "chile". So maybe the locals like this oddity. Anyway, the meat is good and worth the trip.
(4)Kristal B.
We really liked this place. As advertised, the meat speaks for itself! The pulled pork was exquisite! The smoked flavor was so good and there was no crazy fatty parts. I added some vinegar to the mild sauce and was in heaven! We had the baked beans and the green beans, as well and both were great. We'll definitely try this place again when we're in Cincinnati. Good barbeque!
(4)Denver L.
Just driving by and that intoxicating smell of a kettle style wood smoker perfuming the air is enough to drive you insane, So of course i had to pull in! They offer a wide variety of meats from pork, ribs, chicken brisket, sausage. My favorite so far has to be the pulled pork sandwich. The meals come in 2 ways, sandwich with saritoga chips or a sandwich 2 sides and cornbread. You can also get it by the pound, whole turkeys if you pre order. Today I tried the pulled chicken with green beans and mac and cheese. Not sure what it is about BBQ sauce and mac and cheese that just take me to that happy place. The pulled chicken had a seasoning, but didnt have much smoke flavor in it. For those of you who know i always look for a good smoke ring. Ken got the brisket and the smoke ring was nice, but the meat didnt have any bark. I think they used the texas crutch. My only complaint is that they dont toast the bread and the meat is so juicy that if you dont east fast enough, you end up with a mess on your hands. About half way through you just have to give it and not put the sandwich down till your done. You could get a fork and cheat, but hey its bbq, this is a hands on sport :) The meals are nice sized portions, i always have leftovers. They have there own parking lot but it can pull up so show up early for the lunch crowd. The blues music and decor reminds me of some of the dives i've gone to in KC or Texas.
(4)Jeremy O.
Living in Northern Cincinnati can make finding a good, non-chain restaurant, close to home a very challenging task. However, until I am able to move to a little bit farther into the city, I have to make do with what I have. It should come as no surprise then, just how excited I was when I finally gave Jim Dandy's a shot. To put it simply, this place is amazing. Having been here a few times now, I feel confident in saying that Jim Dandy's has to be one of the best barbeque places in the entire city. On both of my visits I have ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich meal, which comes with two sides and a piece of corn bread. Coupled with a soft drink, you're looking at about $11 for lunch. While some may consider this expensive, I thoroughly believe it is worth every penny. The pulled pork is full of flavor, and the sauces are excellent as well. Plus, the mac and cheese isn't too shabby either! As far as the building itself is concerned, I must admit that the dining area doesn't seem very big, and it can get crowded fast. However, Jim Dandy's does offer outdoor seating as well, which I fully plan on utilizing once the weather changes back for the better. Plus, there is even a drive thru window. How many barbeque joints do you know offer that? If you live in Northern Cincinnati, or heck, anywhere remotely close to any part of Cincinnati, you owe it to yourself to check Jim Dandy's out! Oh, and don't bother wearing a nice shirt, unless you want it covered in sauce!
(4)Liz H.
I feel like I have to let you know that I am not a huge barbecue person. I grew up in the Northeast U.S., and I don't eat a lot of pig and cow. I like BBQ when it is good, but I avoid it when it isn't -- 'eh' barbecue isn't really what I am ever in the mood for. With this said, I think this place is better than good. I would eat here whenever I am in the mood for comfort food. I do like some good chicken, and that is exactly what I got here. it was moist and flavorful. I had a pulled chicken sandwich with two sides, macaroni and cheese and beans and rice. They were all wonderful. I like their sauces, mild and hot, and i mix 'em together so I get a Goldilocks' level of heat: just right. The meal, I think, was listed at about 9.50, and it was far more than I could have eaten in one sitting. I had a bit of the beans and rice. I ate all of the mac and cheese, and ate most of the sandwich, but when i started to get full I tore the sandwich apart and ate the meat and sauce with a fork to make sure i got all of it. My only complaint--and the reason that I don't mind tearing the sandwich apart--is that they must store the meat in some liquid because both times i have been there, the bread gets really soft and soggy. I think this is especially true because the buns they use are so fresh. By the time I get 1/2 way through the sandwich I don't really want to touch that bottom piece of bread anymore. I can be such a diva sometimes. When I enter this place from the road, I always drive in on the wrong side of the one-way, which could cause an accident but it hasn't either time i have been here. Hopefully, I will learn to enter on the side closest to the highway, but until then, I get to enter on the side with their magnificent smokers and all the wood. You can see they go through a lot of it. You know it is the real deal. I really recommend this place. I can't compare it to other barbecue around, but I can say that I think it is good enough to not have to bother trying something else.
(4)Margie L.
So a friend and I were in Sharonville yesterday and looking for a good place for lunch. Quick search came up with Jim Dandy's. The parking lot smells amazing...heavy on the wood smoke. I had a half slab of baby backs, she had a pulled pork sandwich. The ribs were absolutely amazing. I didn't think that I was hungry, but I think I cleaned the bones in about 5 minutes. Her sandwich was good, but I agree with some prior comments, I missed the bark. Cole slaw was fresh and tasty. Homemade chips were really good. I am actually sorry that I didn't get a full slab for the ride home.
(4)Ross W.
FYI I'm from Lockhart, TX the BBQ Capitol of Texas, so I've grown up eating great BBQ. Jim Dandy's is very good BBQ. Trust me, getting that out of me about any BBQ place outside of Texas is a big statement. First and foremost for any Texan is the meat. It was smoked sufficiently, not quite smoky enough for me but smoky. That's the first test of good BBQ. Beef is my first love for BBQ so going to a place that serves pork as its staple was different but still very good. The sides really steal the show here. Every side I've tried has been awesome and the bread pudding for dessert is a must. Having grown up eating in the cathedrals of Texas BBQ (Kreuz's, Smitty's, Black's, Luling City Market, etc.) Jim Dandy's is a fine substitution since I'll be living in Ohio for the foreseeable future.
(4)Michael H.
Skip that Montgomery Inn, par boiled before smoking nonsense. This is REAL BBQ by a guy who started the place as a roadside stand across from the Ford plant down the road. It doesn't get any more authentic than this. Jim Dandy's is bar none, the best BBQ and THE BEST RIBS in Cincinnati. Period. Now Walt's is decent and I've always been a fan of Goody's. City BBQ... meh, not impressed with the stainless steel smokers with wood chips. If you're going to BBQ, do it on a rotisserie smoker like real men do. Jim Dandy's has them all beat. Okay, the brisket is... well, it's just okay. But we're not in Texas, and up here, BBQ means PORK. But I'll let you in on a little secret from a hardcore, competition-grade BBQ aficionado - in my opinion, Jim Dandy's very best is the chicken! BBQ smoking poultry is very difficult to do well because the meat tends to absorb far too much of the smoke flavor. But he knows exactly how to do it - and does it quite well. I seriously think it's the best meat on the menu. But the ribs and pulled pork are way up there. His sauces are really good. Two choices, sweet and hot. Hot is pretty warm - but not blazing scorch. It tends to creep up on you. I generally mix the two for something in the middle that I can slurp down non-stop without taking a break for a drink. These are the kinds of things we consider when eating messy BBQ... because we've gotta' wipe our hands and such to handle cups. Best to just dive in and make it happen. Wash it down with a beverage after you're done. The sides are really good too. I tend to evaluate a restaurant by how much effort is put into the sides, and I can say that Jim Dandy's does SERIOUS collard greens. Not too tangy, not too bitter. Perfect balance. Mac and cheese is a good spin, although I tend to like my mac a little more al dente - but that's the Italian in me demanding that all pasta stuffs be a little more firm. But it's good stuff. The red beans and rice are decent, not spectacular, but good as a filler. Certainly not Zatarain box swill as it has previously been made out to be. A nice twist to try out is the smoked Italian sausage. It's EXCELLENT - but it's definately a bit of a splurge. I don't think it's necessarily worth the menu price per se, but maybe he grinds and stuffs it himself. I've never asked. It is good though. I can't really say anything about the desserts - there's never any room for those. Who goes to a BBQ place for dessert anyway? Meat. That is the whole point. The decor is very rustic, get em' in and out fast. The place is usually pressed for places to sit at lunchtime - but I don't think I've actually ever had to wait. I've spent serious money with Jim Dandy's for catering as well. Wasn't disappointed either. My father-in-law's 50th birthday party was a smash hit because of the food. Okay, now I am craving good BBQ. See you there for lunch!
(5)Marley G.
Really enjoyed the food here. Very satisfying. Quick service. Nice sauces to choose from. A little pricey and I don't know if I'd go out of my way to go back there, but it was a nice place to stumble upon on our travels that was a chain fast food place. Nice, clean restaurant with drink refills.
(3)S W.
The real deal, a great casual BBQ place. The pulled pork sandwich was easily one of the best I've ever had. The sides are average, beans and rice were just ok.
(4)Ben B.
Restroom: Very Clean (new) Viewable Smoke: 2, one in front one in the rear Total Bill: $11 w/o tips. Jim Dandy's BBQ is located directly off of I-75 in Sharonville and easily accessible. I think that you can even smell the BBQ on the interstate. As we pulled in to the parking lot a few things are very noticeable. First and foremost, there are 2, count them, TWO, Kettle style smokers. One in the front, and one in the back. Andrew and I joked about parking our car next to one of them to marinate the vehicle in hickory. The second thing you notice is that this building is pretty new. I'm not sure of it's exact date, but it's safe to say w/in 2 years this building was built. According to Andrew Jim Dandy used to operate out of a Kroger's parking lot in a trailer, and had them lined up around the lot for years before he decided to step it up and build his own facility. The building looks like something out of the Texas Roadhouse chain, only lighter wood style. It is important to note that there is a functioning drive thru at Jim Dandy's for those BBQ fans in a hurry. We walked up to the building, past the outdoor dining area and into the fast food / amusement park style line. There were a few people ahead of us which gave us ample time to go over the menu on the wall. Now, I learned my lesson the other day with the brisket, and heard Aaron and Dave talking about getting brisket, so I opted to go for the Ribs. They have both baby back and St. Louis style ribs, appropriately priced at $10.50 for a half slab, and $18.50 for a full rack. I went with the Baby Back. Now after you make your choice, you approach the counter much like you did in High School, as where the first thing you get is your entree and your choice of sauce (hot or mild, I chose hot) at which point the tray is passed down the line and the next guy asks your side items. I went for the usual (for review purposes) of red beans and rice as well as the collard greens. They had the normal other sides such as baked beans and cole slaw, but I'm working on consistency here folks. I was rather happy to see that I also received a corner piece of cornbread with my 2 side items as Andrew chose cornbread as 1 of his sides and it was just a tad bigger than mine. Definitely a clutch move on the guy giving out the cornbread's part. We opted to sit inside (not sure how this happened, we are outdoor dining people) and had a large table towards the rear of the building. Right above us was a huge wooden pig that proudly proclaimed "Spiced and Smoked, not Boiled and Soaked". The pig looks rather happy, I guess he didn't know about the smoking that was in his future. I sat down and was rather excited about my ribs covered in Hot BBQ sauce, and dug in. The outside texture was just as expected, a little tough (due to the smoking) with a nice dry rub that was throughout the outer skin. The sauce wasn't overly hot, so most people should be OK with it, I'm glad I chose it over the mild, as I'm not a mild kinda guy. The ribs themselves were a little tougher than most, and I encountered alot of char, but the smoke flavor was abundant which of course rocks. The portion was pretty decent, I definitely didn't need any more and was rather happy with the size. Overall, maybe they shouldn't have been in the smoker for as long as they were just a tad too tough for my likin's. The side items so far have my vote for "Best in Cincy" as they were Uber Yummy. The Red beans and rice were more of a jambalaya with smoked kilbasa throughout. I can't place the flavor on the collard greens, but it was rather impressive. The portions were about the size of a small cup of ice cream, I wanted more, but hey, can't have everything. Aaron and David's brisket (from what I hear) was rather disappointing. They were served on a what appeared to be a klosterman-esque bun, also with two sides. They had the Mac N Cheese, which wasn't up to their standards of BBQ Revue in Madisonville. Overall, Jim Dandy's was pretty good. I certainly don't think it's the best Q in Cincinnati, but if your'e in that neck of the woods and hungry, it's definitely one of the best offerings in Sharonville.
(4)Andrew L.
I happened across Jim Dandy's on my way home from work one evening. 75-S was clogged and I was taking an alternate route. I just looked up and there it was!!! So, quite instinctively, I took an immediate right into the Jim Dandy's lot. Apparently, I am incapable of bypassing an unfamiliar bbq joint without stopping in for a taste. As it turned out, my instincts served me well ...a fact of which I was well aware before I ever walked in the door. The smell emanating from the wood burning smoker behind the building told me everything I needed to know...The smell rarely lies. I was confident that some great bbq awaited me inside. I decided to start out with a basic pulled pork sandwich for my maiden voyage at Jim Dandy's. Now, I don't know the ins and outs of smoking meat. I'm sure there are all kinds of different techniques and approaches that I have no concept of.... but I knows what I likes!!!.... and Jim Dandy's nails it! The pork is tender, the sauces are delicious and smoky (I go for the spicy), and the sides are great! The mac n cheese is super creamy and the potato salad is a solid choice. If you want something sweet, the bread pudding with vanilla sauce and raisins is really, really good. I have yet to try the greens, but they are on my list for next time...and the cornbread is moist, yet still nice and crumbly. A lot of reviews have knocked the beans and rice. While the texture is rather pasty, I definitely wouldn't call them bland. I find them to have a decent kick to them, and I like how they have little slices of sausage in em. I do understand the criticism, though. The texture is not the best, but I wouldn't call them a "disaster". Since my first visit, I have had the St Louis style ribs, the baby back ribs, the rib tips, the brisket, and the sausage... all of which are top-notch. Is it the best I have ever had? Well... not quite. The bbq I had in KC last summer was absolutely unbelievable and reigns supreme so far, but Jim Dandy's is hands down the best I have found in Cincinnati. bbq lovers, don't snooze on this place!
(5)Maggie P.
This place is pretty fab. This is the joint I went to when, after being a vegetarian for 1.5 years, a pregnant me needed to stock up on my protein to keep my fluids up. Yes, I broke my fast here. I ate like the pig on their sign, I'm happy to say. We frequented this place when it was just a catering truck on the corner of Sharon Rd and Crescentville. And, it's still the bomb-diggity. If you hanker for fish, you can get it. If you want your baby back ribs, they're delish. The chicken is a mouthful, maybe a little mesquit-ish, but overall downright good. Stick with the locals for the best BBQ in town.
(5)Steve S.
I stayef at a Hotel close to here and after smelling the smokers decided to stop in. I had the beef brisquit meal and will say this is the best BBQ ever. I will be back. Awsome.
(5)Brad B.
The food here is mouth wateringly delicious!!!!
(5)Steve S.
Smoker right out front. Great BBQ, great price. I had chicken and ribs. Beer and wine only. Highly recommend - good food and value. Cafeteria style and pickup and self seat.
(4)Robert M.
Wow can't beileve I have not done a review here. Some of the best in the city. Be sure to try the ribs!
(5)Dave A.
While visiting Ohio I found Jim Dandy's on Yelp, and it souded pretty good from the reviews. We drove there and got a little of everything and headed back to the digs for a feast. We got a Pint each of the pulled chicken and the pulled pork. (picked up some buns on the way home.) Got one rib tips dinner plus a pint each of all of the sides. They are: cole slaw, mac and cheese, greens, red beans and rice, and green beans, plus a bunch of corn bread. This was a LOT of food and fed six hungry adults with scads left over for later. The pulled meats are very nice and their homemade sauces were excellent (you might want to ask for a little extra as they are packing up your order so you have enough.) The hot sneaks up on you a little but it is not at all too hot. The rib tips were fattier than I am used to, but others of the group loved them. My favorites: Cole slaw was creamy and not too "mayonaisey" like some are. Maybe could have been a little crisper, but on the whole very good. I thought the red beans and rice was very nice, contrary to what others have said here. Had a decent amount of heat that tasted like Louisiana hot sauce. Not too hot, just nice. The mac and cheese was good. Not baked to death, not too heavy on the cheese, and the macaroni was not all mushy. Just right. Yum. Had to have seconds on the baked beans also, though a bit plain (they could have been souped a little more) they were still good. Not so much: I like green beans in a BBQ joint to be cooked until they are almost falling apart, and these had a ways to go. My weird preference. The greens looked good, but already had vinegar put on them. Yuk, though again others in my group loved them. AND the CORNBREAD was a STAR! Warm, moist, and mildly sweet, it is a winner. Take how much you would normally get and double it cause people will love it and you're going to want some for later. I will definitely be eating at Jim Dandy's again next time I'm in the area!
(4)Jessica G.
Stumbled across this place while on an adventure with my boyfriend and our three kids (ages 10, 10 and 9). The smoker outside of the place lulls you in..it smells so good! We all had the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, with the exception of our daughter who still thinks chicken nuggets are the only thing in the world to eat. My boyfriend and sons had the mild BBQ sauce while I opted for the hot. The mild was nice and tangy. The hot had a nice little kick to it. Nobody said a word while we were eating, which is odd because they always have something to say. The meal was damn good! The BBQ was perfect! The cornbread was DELICIOUS! I wish we lived closer....but we will definitely make the 30 mile trek again! Much better than any of the BBQ we have found over here in NKY by far.....AND they have a drive thru - SCORE!!
(5)Amanda O.
Food was cold. Sides were not homemade. Chicken had no flavor at all. Will not be returning.
(1)Wendy G.
I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed after reading all of the great reviews and eating here. This may have been due to high expectations though. I was looking for good Southern pit BBQ like I used to have before moving here. The pulled pork tasted too much like smoke and the Saratoga Chips were very disappointing. Some were so overly seasoned that I could not eat them and others were not even fully cooked. Sadly, my search for good BBQ continues...
(2)Ben N.
As a native Georgian who's sampled his fair share of Southern BBQ from Texas to North Carolina, I don't put much stock in Cinci-area BBQ. The locals rave about places like City BBQ, Montgomery Inn, and BBQ Revue, but those places range from pretty terrible (MI) to mediocre for me. Jim Dandy's is a rare exception. (I say this without having been to some of the (North) West Side BBQ joints like Walt's, Big Art's, and Pit-to-Plate.) Having grown up down South, I reflexively gravitate towards pulled pork when I think of BBQ (sorry, Texas). And Mr. Dandy knows what he's doing with his pork shoulder. You've got a pretty good idea that you're in for a treat when you roll up Sharon Road towards Jim Dandy's and catch a whiff of the hickory (or some other wood?) smoke wafting towards the interstate. The pulled pork is robust and smoky, with multiple layers of flavor, and you get the tender meat vs. crispy bark contrast in textures that enhances really good BBQ. Sauces are nicely balanced and applied sensibly, in contrast to the syrupy sweet goo that some Cinci BBQ joints douse their meat with. We also observed some fantastic-looking chickens being pulled from the smoker. I don't usually associate chicken with BBQ, but given the delectable appearance of these birds (and the knowledgeable Michael H.'s strong endorsement of them), the chicken will be a must-try in the future. Some of the sides are quite good as well: baked beans, cole slaw, and especially the collard greens. There are some distinct negatives, though (which I post with mild trepidation because a little bird told me Mr. Dandy don't like to be criticised): --The red beans and rice, as others say here, is pretty much a disaster; they are a bland, pasty mash with little discernable flavor other than salt. --For somebody from the Deep South, a BBQ place serving iced tea made from some powder mix , as Jim Dandy's does, is borderline sacrilege. --Cornbread, while pretty good, was served almost cold. --And this is just me, but I believe in the concept of Separation of Church and Restaurant. Mr. Dandy likes to proselytize with various Bible verses and Bible-study announcements plastered all over the place. (And on one visit, some mawkish Christian pop pablum was dribbling from the restaurant's loudspeakers.) Obviously, it's his restaurant and his freedom to do what the heck he wants with it, but as a customer I find it off-putting. Overall, though, the excellent BBQ makes it worthwile: 3.75 stars.
(4)Paul K.
I have nothing much to say about this place. I had not been a fan of Ribs, but this place made me become one. The sides (green beens and baked beans) were excellent, too. I tried pulled chicken and ribs, both were delicious. Next time when I go back, I want to try their brisket!!
(5)Alan G.
The brisket and pulled pork was good. The sauce had a good taste with a hint of vinegar flavor. I didn't think it was the best BBQ that I've had and I felt it was a bit expensive for the amount of food you received.
(3)Dan C.
I like everything about this place - the food, the environment, the staff, and the prices. Tonight I took my wife and son (and the baby inside my wife) to Jim Dandy's for dinner. When you pull into the parking lot you see the all-wood facility, the wood smokers, and the piles of wood for smoking set out. The parking lot and building have a smell of smoked food that really gets my appetite ready. The food is what you'd expect from a regional BBQ joint like this. Pulled meats, platters, sandwiches, beans, and great cornbread. Service is fast and friendly, and the prices are very affordable, even for a self-employed family like ours. I always get the pulled chicken platter with beans, chips, and cornbread. The BBQ sauce is at each table, hot and mild, and you squirt on your desired amount of goodness. I've never walked away still hungry :) Portions are fair, but not gluttony. The only thing I'd like to see more of is a wider selection of sides, but there's something to be said about a small place like this really just honing in on a small menu and doing it really, REALLY well. Stop in for a meal - I've been here for lunch and dinner. Food is always great.
(5)Steve M.
I like the fact that they have their own ambulance, which they decorated themselves!
(4)Tom F.
Well I have to admit that I was near despair at finding Burbank's closed when staying in town again after a couple of years. Remembering that I passed Jim Dandy's on the way to find the closed Burbank's, I gave it a shot as a viable substitute based on the other reviews here. The pulled pork was good, but a little over the top in smokiness for my taste. The bread pudding was fantastic (thanks, Arthur). WARNING: You order at the counter and schelp your own stuff to your table. I also give them mega-props for having a Burbank's memorial on the wall. There were also signs that they have live blues on Saturday nights. All in all definitely on my list when I pass through again.
(4)John H.
It's not Burbank's, but the food was very good. This is a great place to get a BBQ meal. I'll come back when I'm in the area.
(3)David S.
I eat here for lunch when I work at Ford. I rarely eat meat at home, but when I am in Cincy, I always have lunch here. all the sides are great and the pulled pork sandwich is awesome. My only complaint is the buns get really soggy because they are just cheap white bread buns. Super casual, super yummy.
(5)Joe M.
One of my 2 favorite BBQ joints in town. Not fancy but everything I've had here is delicious!
(5)Arthur O.
My favorite BBQ hands down. I've loved everything I've had at Jim Dandys. I mainly get the regular pulled pork bbq with the hot sauce, but the medium is excellent as well.The sides are really great too. They don't just focus on getting the bbq right. Great cornbread and legendary bread pudding. If you want BBQ in Cincinnati, this is it. I wouldn't go anywhere else.
(5)Frank S.
The best BBQ I've ever had and the service was great too.
(5)Sam Z.
2nd visit today....I went in this time and did not do the drive thru to see what was going on inside. I ordered the same chicken platter only did the red beans and rice in place of the baked beans. First up the pulled chicken sandwich....now I know why the bun was wet...the chicken is actually in a hot plate and in liquid...assuming to keep it moist? They pick it up with tongs and try to shake off the liquid....getting the bun all wet...yuk...not my best pulled chicken experience. Red beans were better than the baked...small slices of sausage were in it as well. Bread pudding with vanilla sauce....awesome! As I said in my first post...I would give it another shot...I did and the experience not much better. I will return for bread pudding only...and take home to my wife who is always searching for a good one! First visit: First let me say that I really wanted to love this place...I work really close by and not there is not much of a non chain restaurant selection...and I love BBQ! I did visit a while ago and thought it was average...so I tried it again as I had a BBQ craving. I did the drive thru...very convenient...ordered pulled chicken sandwich platter. The gentlemen said keep level as there are a lot of beans in there...cool. When I got back to my office I opened up the carton and it looked really good. Sandwich, beans, bread pudding and corn bread for $9.50...not bad. I tasted the beans first...tasty but absolutely no meat in them at all...you would think they would throw some of the scraps in for flavor? I then went in for the kill on the sandwich..to my huge disappointment I could not even pick it up...the bottom of the sandwich was soggy to the point that it just fell apart...not cool. I went for the knife and fork route...chicken tasted good...soggy bread average...not a lot of chicken. Maybe that's why they gave me more beans? I enjoyed what I had ok...just not the experience I was hoping for. The bread pudding was very very good...I could recommend going there just for that! Maybe I hit an off day...or a day where they ran out of chicken...or a day where the buns got wet from the rain? Still rated a 3 as the taste was pretty good. I will try one more time but if the experience is not complete I may have to make the trek up to West Chester for BBQ...to City... consistent experience there. If the owners or managers read the post please take note...a little adjustment and you would have a loyal patron.
(2)Chris K.
This is the real deal. You just have to drive within a mile and you'll be hooked by the smell of meat smoking over hickory wood (no gas or charcoal) in the parking lot of Jim Dandy's BBQ. Parking can be hard to come by. The lines move pretty fast and the prices are reasonable (around $10 for a decent lunch). I'd stick to the pulled pork as the brisket is just OK and slightly more expensive. The sauces are available to either drown your meat in or use sparingly. I get the saratoga chips simply to serve as a sauce delivery system to my mouth! The bread pudding is a must! I love the "BBQ Ambulance" out front!
(4)Norb B.
just back from Vegas, and was looking forward to eating good ribs. Went with 5 other people. Ribs overdone. Bones fell right out of meat. We like Memphis style ribs that you have to chew off. Last year was there 3-4 times and was a lot better. Perhaps this time ribs just sitting there too long or overcooked. We will give it one more try in near future
(3)Keith W.
OK thank god I have finely found a BBQ joint in Ohio, OK its no Gates or Oklahoma Joes but damn good que. I was very pleased when I drove around the lot and there was wood stacked everywhere, hot damn they actually smoke their meat. When I got out of the van you were overwhelmed by the smoker, I love that smell. A man was pulling chicken off of the smoker when we walked in so that made my first choice easy. I had a combo, pulled chicken and beef brisket, OK they did have the meat sitting in what looked like water, a big no no for me, but it worked for them. A side of mac and cheese and potato salad finished off the meal. First I used the hot sauce, I'm a Kansas City boy so sauce on everything, to my surprise I had never had anything like it. My favorite sauce in KC uses black pepper for the kick, this had almost a hot pepper punch to it, very good. The chicken and beef had a great natural smoke to it, not a refined subtle smoke like you will get at Arthur Bryants but at least natural not liquid smoke. The only downfall I could see was the sitting everything in water waiting to be served. It worked this time because I think they were busy enough that the meat didn't sit there long. But when you go to a BBQ joint in KC, Memphis, Texas etc you will notice them pulling the slab and cutting it to order. Sitting it in water like that over time will kill the smoke taste so I would suggest going during a busy time. Very good food though so I will be back
(4)Sam 'Wags' W.
It's Jim-dandy delicious.
(3)Mark C.
Good, tender meat (rib tips and pulled chicken and pork). Great Value. Did not dine in, but took out. Would go back if in the neighborhood.
(3)John H.
Great southern-style smokehouse, reminiscent of Tennessee. It was reasonably priced for the quantity of food. I had the ribs which were flavorful and smokey (didn't need the accompanying sauce, but blending the hot and mild gave me just enough heat) though a bit drier than I like. I recommend on the bread pudding, great flavor though could have used some crunchiness and more raisins.
(4)Mike P.
I travel to Texas a lot and learned to love that style of BBQ so much I went out and bought a huge Texas-style smoker so I can make my own. I had a meeting at a big plant nearby and took a couple of customers out to lunch and they recommended Jim Dandy's. I was very pleasantly surprised, their BBQ is as good as many of the Texas joints I've been to. I had some pulled pork and brisket and they were excellent. Good sides and cornbread too. At the risk of appearing immodest, I have to say that I make the best babyback ribs I've ever had, fall off the bone tender but never mushy (I don't believe in parboiling them, it takes 6 hours on the smoker at about 200 degrees). I have another meeting there this week and I plan to stop in to see how Jim Dandy's ribs stack up to mine.
(4)Liz A.
despite the fact that i just blogged about it yesterday, emma's birthday was at the end of april and i hadn't seen her in a while as of last week. so we decided to meet up for dinner tonight. emma suggested jim dandy's family bbq, a place that her mom had been raving about. of course i am always up for a new restaurant adventure so i was happy to check it out. jim dandy's is right off exit 15 on 75, so it's a bit of a hike for me and probably many of you. but let me tell you it is damn worth it. jim dandy (well let's just pretend that's his name since i don't really know for sure) believes in smoking meats, and not just any old smoking. straight up hardwood smoking. no gas, not even any charcoal. just smoke. the food was... well... smoky. but it was delicious. i had to try everything so i got the half slab of baby back ribs with a quarter chicken (dark meat) and then sweet talked jim dandy (i think it was him anyway) into giving me a free sample of the pulled pork. emma got the half slab of baby backs and aaron got the pulled chicken sandwich. a moment of silence for aaron, fastidious kosher keeper and poor deprived pork abstinent soul. and jews don't even have heaven as payoff. for sides, i got baked beans and bread pudding. emma got collard greens and macaroni and cheese. aaron got applesauce and saratoga chips. we all got cornbread. the pulled pork was absolutely delicious. juicy, flavorful, smoky but not too smoky, and just fatty enough to give it that porktasticness to which all pulled pork aspires. yum. the ribs were good, but not as good as sam's in my opinion. emma however loved the ribs and was sucking bits of meat off of them even after she finished. they were very smoky, i think a little too smoky for me, but it depends on what you like. maybe i am just not used to eating smoked meats. i didn't try the pulled chicken because aaron inhaled it too fast so i am assuming it was good. the chicken quarter was good, nice and juicy and smoky (of course) but it didn't blow me away. the pulled pork was by far my favorite. we all pretty much had a consensus on the sides: * excellent: collard greens, bread pudding, cornbread * good: baked beans, macaroni and cheese, saratoga chips * fair: applesauce (aaron said it tasted "kind of canned") * poor: none jim dandy (if that was him) told us that the red beans and rice are a very popular side. none of us was really feeling it but i would try it the next time i am there. jim dandy said to avoid the coleslaw. we appreciated his honesty. there are 2 kinds of bbq sauce... mild and hot. we all had hot and forgot to try the mild. it was dark, sweet, and spicy. i could actually have done hotter but i think it is a good hot for most people. you order your food at the counter and then sit down. it feels like you're inside a log cabin. jim dandy told us that he had been open for four years, which may explain why those of us living closer to downtown have never heard of it. there is a huge smoker out front, and some seating out near the smoker (but it smells super smoky out there so it's not for everyone). prices were fair i thought. for my ribs, chicken, two sides, and cornbread (and free pulled pork sample), i paid $18. i have enough food left over for another meal so that was fine for me. however, to be fair, i am a bbq glutton and could actually have eaten it all. i just decided to stop so i could have lunch tomorrow. aaron and emma's meals were cheaper, i think around $12. head out to jim dandy's if you are a fan of smoked meats. you will not be disappointed.
(4)J. W.
Staying at Hilton Garden Inn, this restaurant was about a 1 minute drive. I'm a fan of smoked bbq so I was excited to try Jim Dandy's. I ordered a 1/2 rack St. Louis ribs and 1/4 dark meat chicken meal with redbeans and rice and bread pudding for $18. (I'm a real health nut) The chicken was incredibly tender but overly smoked. Since chicken is a more delicate meat, I prefer a shorter smoke with a light wood, like apple vs. mesquite. I got the impression that Jim Dandy's uses the same wood and amount of smoke for both pork and chicken. The pork ribs were meaty and had a good flavor - no complaints there. The redbeans and rice were not very good, pretty mushy and blah. The bread pudding was very moist and tasty, but very short on rasins, I think there were a total of 2. The corn bread was very moist and the bbq sauce was good, I mixed the hot and mild and got just the right amount of heat. So, to summarize, the meal wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I'd probably go back, especially since this area seems surrounded by chain restaurants.
(3)