I have been here on multiple occasions and I don't think I've ever had something bad....sometimes the meat may be a little dry but I've heard that's just because it may have been smoked a little longer. City Barbecue has a great beef brisket and many great sides. The have fries,collard greens,hush puppies, Mac and Cheese, and even a great salad! New on there menu is a sandwich called more cowbell which is really rich and hard to finish, it's like a Philly cheese steak on Texas toast and with beef brisket, only order if you are really really Hungry, but it's perfect to split if you upgrade to two sides. There desserts are also really good. The triple chocolate cake is one of my favorites and I really loved the peach cobbler(now replaced with cherry). And the service is great and the employees are always nice.
(5)
Amber E.
Somehow this place really nails it! I would've never expected to find good brisket a) in Ohio & b) at a chain restaurant Finally something that reminds me of home in Tennessee!
(4)
Melissa W.
Ate here last night, def not my first time. Food is always delicious. Had to write about the "Cowbell" sandwich! Oh my goodness best sandwich ever!!!! Its brisket, with provolone, green peppers, and onions with horseradish sauce on grilled Texas toast...uh is there anything better?! I can't wait to come back for that sandwich!
(5)
Phil K.
Amazing BBQ. City sampler was a great share between my wife and I. Make sure to grab a cold Shiner Bock as you walk in!
(5)
Tom L.
Average BBQ. Nothing bad. Nothing great. Had the Sampler but they were out of sausage. Bbooooo!!! Tried the green beeans at the recommendation of the cashier. They were bland even though they have bacon in them. Simce everything is better with bacon, they must have been reeeaaalllyy bland beforehand. Did enjoy the sauces though with the Brush Fire Sauce being my favorite. Not too spicy. Just right amount of heat with a bit of sweet.
(3)
Todd W.
Beef brisket was tender and not fatty. Sausage could have been spicer (personal preference). Collard greens were delicious. Cornbread was cold but still good. Relaxed atmosphere and service was great
(4)
Ashley R.
My fiance and I wanted to try something new. We found city bbq was just around the corner and thought we would give it a try. We ordered a half slab of ribs fries salad and banana pudding to go online. They were short of staff when I went to pick up my food... but i did not wait long. They got my order together very quickly. We are very pleased with the food that had ordered. Everything was delicious. We will most definitely be coming back!!! (-:
(5)
Angel H.
This place was better than I anticipated. I had the brisket and it was delicious, tender and moist! I love that they have great sides i.e. Mac n cheese, hush puppies, potato salad, cornbread etc. they're not life changing or anything but they are good!
(4)
Stacy Z.
I really like this place. Solid barbecue and even with takeout it doesn't take too long to get your food.
(4)
Sandy M.
We went to City BBQ for lunch yesterday because, apparently, it's the only BBQ place where they serve spicy sausages (as they do in Texas), which my husband adores. The inside of the restaurant was relatively empty around 11:30 AM so we ordered right away. My husband naturally got the sausage sandwich and we also got the biggest dish available: City BBQ Deluxe (brisket, 1/2slab of ribs, 1/4 chicken, pork, 2 corn breads, 2 texas toasts and 2 sides). Hahaha It was definitely a LOT of food for the two of us but I really wanted to try everything. Everything tasted pretty good. The ribs weren't falling off the bone but it was seasoned very well. The chicken was also really good but the coleslaw and the cornbread were a bit bland. And, our second side, the French Fries were just soggy. However, we had so much food that we ended up bringing the brisket, pork and most of the ribs home. Last night, I heated up the brisket and the pork with some peppers and onions to create a great Mexican dinner. It was still so delicious! The drinks and condiments are all self-serve. It was great being able to try all the different BBQ sauces right at the table for each bite. Of the six sauces availale, my favorite is the Mustard BBQ. It's tangy, sweet with a little bit of spice. The ambiance of the entire affair is so relaxed, which I really liked. Regardles, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. I would definitely go back to this restaurant. It's really a great BBQ joine!
(4)
Ed R.
Service: in a word. Excellent. You walk up to the counter and order, choose your own seat, and the food comes out FAST! They have all the BBQ sauce options on the table already, but you can also get pre-heated sauce from the condiment area instead of just a squeeze bottle. Food: I heart it. I had a half chicken with fries, macaroni and cheese, and garlic bread. I'm not talking some puny Cornish hen style chicken or a little rotisserie one from the Grocery Store... Oh no... I'm talking a gigantic Little Jerry Seinfeld style beast of a chicken. It was fall off the bone amazing. The fries are a 5 guys style pre cut mountain of starchy goodness as well. And the pickle slices... OOHHHHH the pickle slices!! Price: very reasonable. My heap of food only ran me $9.99 + 2.99 for two sides. For my family of four, only $38 total- I can always live with less than $10/person. Place was great, will definitely be back next time in Columbus.
(4)
Steph L.
I love Bbq. So I was a little unsure of this place when friends took me here. Since it's a chain like resturant. Anytime I go to a bbq place I get pulled pork. If it's presauced when they serve it to me. You're doing it wrong. I got a sampler from here and can't say enough how good it was. Also the corn pudding is amazing. Taste just like what my mom has always made.
(4)
Whiskey B.
As a BBQ guy, I always test the brisket when I go to a place for the first time. The brisket here was moist, tasty and not oversmoked! The baked beans have good flavor and nice chunks of brisket in them. The service was very fast and the dining area is clean. My only area for improvement is the mac and cheese. It is your basic elbows with cheap cheese. This could use a little elevation. I will definitely be back to try some other menu items!
(4)
Coleigh M.
Go for lunch! Never go for dinner!! Food is prepared in morning. Cold and dry meat by dinner time.
(5)
Shaun H.
I've eaten City BBQ many times but it's always been catered to where I work. And I never thought it was much better than 3 stars each time. I have heard time and time again how great this place is but never really thought it was that great from my experience with the catered food. So I was in the area of a City BBQ one day and decided to give it a try. I thought maybe the catered food just wasn't as good as buying it fresh right from the store and eating it right then. I was right. The food is much, much better going right to the restaurant and getting it there. I ordered the North Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich with green beans (that has bacon in it, woo hoo), mac and cheese and a large drink. The sandwich was top notch, I especially liked the cole slaw on it, which I admit seemed odd at first and I nearly asked them not to put it on there but I tried it and lo and behold, it just works! The sides were incredibly delicious as well, especially the bacon in the green beans. The mac and cheese was very cheesy as well. The restaurant itself is very nice, clean and the people who served me and rung me up were very friendly and professional. The prices are also pretty good especially for the amount of food you get. If you're a normal eater you will have food to take with you. Or if you're like me you can stuff yourself until you feel like you just ate a Thanksgiving dinner, LOL. Either way, the reviewers on here giving out great reviews are right, this place rocks!!
(4)
Kevin F.
Awesome. Just awesome. If you've ever been to Rudy's in Texas and loved it ,this place will satisfy your BBQ craving like nothing I've seen since then. Friendly people, good food and nice atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Aaron G.
I was in town on business, and based on earlier Yelp reviews, decided to give the place a try. Good call by my fellow Yelpers, and I'm going to add an extra star for City's "lunch plate" combo option - a smaller sandwich (half the "normal" portion) and two sides, making for a $10-ish meal (including drink) that doesn't leave you "meat drunk". I had a pulled pork sandwich with fries and green beans, and every element was excellent. The meat was perfectly smoked and seasoned, a good mix of outer and inner bits; the beans were made with bacon and onions, and not overly salty; and lastly the house-cut fries were among the best I've had - perfect crispy/creamy texture, good flavor, and not greasy. I will definitely be back before I leave.
(5)
Jack S.
Outstanding ribs! I'm from Kansas City and was raised on great ribs, so trust me and try the ribs & fries. St. Louis style and exceptionally meaty. I had a short-end half slab and it was killer good. Solid sauce selection, all are mild overall but with unique characteristics in each. Slow smoked with no shortcuts taken, this is seriously good 'cue y'all. Give it a try.
(4)
Kara K.
As good as BBQ in Ohio can be, I suppose. I read all the amazing reviews and decided to go. Decent, but not great. Beans and ribs were delicious. Brisket, pork and chicken were cold and dry. Had to liven them up by drowning them in sauce and then gulping down soda. Maybe the chain BBQ idea has made them drop their quality and focus more on quantity.
(3)
Joel K.
We need one of these franchises in the Mansfield area. The brisket is nicely smoked and very tender. The French fries rival those at 5 Guys which are excellent and the baked beans are tasty as well. Near the Cabela's so worth the trip.
(5)
Regan F.
Da bomb! Loved the City BBQ platter, especially the sweet potato pie casserole side. Smells good and tastes good.
(4)
Elisa R.
I've been here a few times while in town for work. I used to live in the south, so I get super excited when I find a place with good sweet tea. I love that they have a variety of BBQ sauces too. The sweet one is my favorite. The brisket sandwich and corn pudding are yummy! You can order from their lunch menu during dinner hours for smaller portions, but if you are really hungry try the sampler, which includes 3 "sliders" of your choice. The sliders are basically a normal sized sandwich. Also, if it's your first time there they give you a free fountain drink.
(4)
Ryan B.
Super nice group of people working here. I stopped in after work one day and the place was SUPER clean. I would definitely recommend.
(4)
Jim H.
City Barbeque is my "go to place" for BBQ. This is not a fancy sit-down restaurant but serves exceptionally good BBQ. You order at the counter and take your own food to the table. The Carolina Pulled Pork is my favorite but I also like the beef brisket and the ribs. Their gumbo is exceptional and I love the cole slaw. The hand-cut french fries are fantastic; however the hash puppies are only average (full disclosure - I'm not a big hush puppy fan). City Barbeque has a nice selection of bottled beer and pop - as well as fountain beverages. City Barbeque also has a great take-out menu and is one of our favorites for office lunches.
(4)
Tia P.
Very delicious BBQ and sides worth trying! I love the corn pudding. Items like the city sampler are shareable. This place is good for family dinners! You can order online and pick up later. Try their ice teas! I love this place. Quick and easy ordering.
(4)
Keith B.
For being a chain BBQ joint - it's good. When I really crave BBQ, it's my go to place. And I say that generally, because they're all the same damn place. It's consistent. Even their staff - consistent. I dig it, I return, and it's good.
(4)
Derek N.
Love the brisket. It's moist, cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly. Also love the tea.
(5)
John R.
I was in town just for the day and, as always, went seeking BBQ. This place did NOT disappoint! I had the meat sampler, which they might consider renaming the "Glutton Plate" since it was overflowing with pork, pork, and more pork! All of it was outstanding. They had Lone Star Beer, which is always a indication that quality BBQ is not far away. Sides were all great and I recommend the baked beans, which are pleasantly spiked with hunks of brisket.
(4)
Emily B.
Cater Review, ~35 guests. I usually prefer to cook for my guests (love to cook AND save money), but in planning a big reception for my sons baptism, I had to accept that cooking a full meal for my huge family coming into town was not going to be possible if I wanted to keep my sanity. Or sleep. But I wanted to find something that was delicious enough to pay for, but not going to break the bank. Enter: City Barbeque. Ordering was easy enough, all done through email. I ordered their "traditional BBQ" which included two meats and two sides. I went with the pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac n' cheese, and green beans. (I also provided homemade appetizers and 3 additional homemade sides.) The Great: Prompt service. I received a phone call about 30 minutes prior to delivery, giving me their estimated arrival time, and a friend who met them (it was a reception, I wanted food there when we arrived) said everything went well (except for one issue, which I will get to below). The food was piping hot when we ate (probably ~30 minutes after delivery). The food was spectacular (see other reviews), everyone loved it (!) and most helped themselves to a second plate. Portion wise, it was nearly perfect. We now have some delicious leftovers, but not an obscene amount where you would picture most of it in the trash (we are going to freeze a small amount, hopefully it holds up). We did make three other homemade sides to accompany this meal (corn casserole, cucumber salad, and fruit salad) just to give readers an idea of how things portioned out for 35 people. The not-so-great, but forgivable: If it were an option, I would probably rate it 4.5 stars, but these issues aren't deal breakers, so I rounded up to 5. 1. Delivery issue - like I said, I wasn't there for delivery, but apparently they were expecting sternos to be set up? I had no idea, no one I had communicated with said I should, nor do I get parties catered that often, so I don't know if this the norm? But, instead of leaving the food to get cold, they left the insulated hot-box. I greatly appreciated this, as hot food was most important, but now I am inconvenienced with a trip up to the store to return the box. I just wish this would have been clarified in advance. 2. Just enough BBQ sauce. Their sauce is delicious. But the amount they gave us is not enough for the amount of meat provided. Thankfully we had enough for our guests at the party, but in packing up leftovers, there is really only enough sauce for 1 or 2 more meals for us, while there is enough meat for like 5 meals. A second container, even if smaller, would have been perfect. I would highly highly recommend them for an event, and I hope to use them again in the future.
(5)
Ajit G.
love love the chipotle sauce. Went over there for lunch.. ordered the chicken with chipotle sauce. yummy
(4)
Robert M.
This is some of the best BBQ in Columbus. The Sancus Boulevard location is their newest. I stopped in this trip for my free birthday dessert. The Apple Cobbler with whipped cream was the highlight of my day.
(5)
Bill H.
Great food - very consistent both at this location and other sites I've visited. Wonderful smoked flavor in the ribs, pulled pork, brisket, everything's good including plenty of good sides to choose from. Line up to order, pay, get your food and sit. Nice, casual, relaxing informal feel.
(5)
Justin R.
The food is just okay. My sides were actually almost inedible. I love almost all mac and cheeses, but couldn't even eat a small side of it here. The greens are also canned and nasty. For $11 a combo, should the greens really be saturated in salt/canned? Gross. The sandwich was good, but how can a BBQ place mess up a pulled pork sandwich? It feels like fast food, and isn't worth the money
(2)
Dave H.
If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it! The service is always good, the staff always friendly, and the food always fantastic. Except for the catfish, which I only had once and I did not like at all. The portions are generous and the price is reasonable. If you have never been there, get the beef brisket platter with French Fries and Cole Slaw. The fries can easily feed 2 people. They have seasonal side. If tney have the Sweet Potatoes, get them. Very casual. Just an all-around good place to eat.
(5)
Frank D.
Heavy southern sugary food, but a guilty pleasure from time to time. They have helped by making a smaller lunch portion sandwich
(3)
Melanie B.
Yummmmm. I really enjoyed City Barbeque! The plan was to get high-end Indian food at Bayleaf tonight (I was SO excited about Bayleaf that I thought about pre-yelping it - but make no mistake, that review will appear next week!), but we overshot our time and ended up, tummys rumbling, at Bayleaf right in the middle of the restaurant being closed between lunch and dinner... so what else could satisfy the boy and I, when we hadn't eaten all day in order to sample multiple Indian dishes? BARBEQUE!! I have wanted to go to City Barbeque forever, but have only been to Hoggy's (which is awesome, btw)... and finalllllly, I was really very pleased with my City BBQ experience! The boy and I split a dinner, as we tend to do with BBQ because it's always huge. I sort of don't believe the staff at both City and Hoggy's when they say that people eat entire BBQ platters themselves, because we always share and are always plenty full with our meal - and hardly ever finish it. Tonight, we ordered some sort of sampler platter, which came with pulled pork, braised beef, ribs, and chicken, as well as two sides, cornbread, and Texas toast - see? How the H does anyone finish that, individually?? The two of us put a good dent in our meal, but also threw a lot away, which made me feel kinda guilty. : / I really liked the chicken, while the boy insisted that the ribs were the best. I was very excited about the corn "pudding" we chose as a side, and of course the traditional mac n cheese. Although I don't drink pop, the boy insisted that I try some old-timey rootbeer, which was good (though I prefer water, coffee, beer and/or whiskey to drink!), and a nice touch to the meal. I honestly think the meat here is better than at Hoggy's, but at the same time, I don't think these two places are going for the same feel. I liked how City's meat was really smokey tasting. I'd definitely like to try one of the other locations that's not near that yuppie wonderland, Polaris. The only reason we were out there was to go to Bayleaf ( cannot.wait.to .try). I recommend City BBQ for sure - but just keep in mind that you might want to share food, because as with most BBQ, the portions are monstrous. Yummm.
(4)
Paul F.
I decided to try a different location to see if there was any difference in the food. There isn't. lol I had a brisket sandwich, baked beans and greens. And pickles. Great meal for less than $10.
(4)
Minh D.
Excellent chain restaurant bbq. You find real bbq here folks, slow smoked to tender. Everything is A+. When Eating BBQ, I go for ribs, not so much the pull pork and briskets! I rate the BBQ mainly on the ribs and the sauce. I have eaten at many City BBQ joints in both Cincinati and Columbus.... same excellent quality found every time I dine at one of these joints. I hope they will expand to the Chicago area and compete with Sweet Baby Rays. Also they don't have baby back ribs here, at least the ones I visited. They only sell spare ribs, no baby back ribs :(. All the sides are great, my fav. are the the gumbo and banana pudding. Great selection of quality sauces. I like their pot warmed sauce more than the ones found at the tables. The food quality here is pretty comparable to Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ found mostly in FL/Orlando, but City BBQ is much better managed and operated!
(4)
Alex K.
So I'm in Columbus for a while and this is near where I live. I went a couple of times and always there is something not right. One time we went and it was like an hour before closing. People behind the counter were friendly but it was obvious they were closing the place down as smell of cleaner was in the air and behind the counter a guy was pouring a bucket of soapy water. Which then leaked all the way to the bathroom.... and I had to jump over a puddle to get to the bathroom. The ribs were pretty good, meaty and large portions. They tasted smoked and sauces were good. I went another time and couldn't quite figure out where they were pulling the ribs out of. The rack came out of saran wrap and was put into butcher paper and given to me. It was warm, not very hot. So they smoke and cook their ribs and then keep them warm in saran wrap some place? The ribs were meaty but kinda dry, probably from being kept warm someplace. The bark on them was delicious though. The cole slaw was good as well. I wish there was more sauce on the ribs but I guess that would be hard to do if they are kept in saran wrap....
(3)
Keith W.
Ok I keep going back, same results, it sucks. I really want it to be good; I need a BBQ place in Columbus, but no luck here. And for the advertisement on 610 about people from Kansas City in town and they loved City BBQ Those people must be idiots with no taste buds For starters when I went into the Polaris location they had just opened, I ordered, they pulled the meat out storage and it was wrapped in saran wrap. Are you kidding, Gates and Sons or any of the other KC places would never serve anything other then right off the smoker. An I would like to end this with a tip for who ever owns this craptastic place. Pick a Sauce, just one, and make it right.
(1)
Jeff D.
For service, got my food right away 4 out 5. For food, some of the best BBQ I have ever had 4 out of 5. Overall 4 out of 5.
(4)
Kyle S.
Yum yum. Good fries, great sandwiches, with surprisingly good corn pudding and hushpuppies. For desert, I would definitely recommend the banana pudding. Things could get a little messy, but it is well worth it. Just grab a small stack of napkins while you're at the counter, and save yourself an extra trip. There are many different BBQ sauce choices that can really top off the meal. My personal favorite is the brushfire BBQ sauce well known for it's extra zesty kick on top of the pulled pork sandwich. Hope this helped!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Christian H.
I have been here on multiple occasions and I don't think I've ever had something bad....sometimes the meat may be a little dry but I've heard that's just because it may have been smoked a little longer. City Barbecue has a great beef brisket and many great sides. The have fries,collard greens,hush puppies, Mac and Cheese, and even a great salad! New on there menu is a sandwich called more cowbell which is really rich and hard to finish, it's like a Philly cheese steak on Texas toast and with beef brisket, only order if you are really really Hungry, but it's perfect to split if you upgrade to two sides. There desserts are also really good. The triple chocolate cake is one of my favorites and I really loved the peach cobbler(now replaced with cherry). And the service is great and the employees are always nice.
(5)Amber E.
Somehow this place really nails it! I would've never expected to find good brisket a) in Ohio & b) at a chain restaurant Finally something that reminds me of home in Tennessee!
(4)Melissa W.
Ate here last night, def not my first time. Food is always delicious. Had to write about the "Cowbell" sandwich! Oh my goodness best sandwich ever!!!! Its brisket, with provolone, green peppers, and onions with horseradish sauce on grilled Texas toast...uh is there anything better?! I can't wait to come back for that sandwich!
(5)Phil K.
Amazing BBQ. City sampler was a great share between my wife and I. Make sure to grab a cold Shiner Bock as you walk in!
(5)Tom L.
Average BBQ. Nothing bad. Nothing great. Had the Sampler but they were out of sausage. Bbooooo!!! Tried the green beeans at the recommendation of the cashier. They were bland even though they have bacon in them. Simce everything is better with bacon, they must have been reeeaaalllyy bland beforehand. Did enjoy the sauces though with the Brush Fire Sauce being my favorite. Not too spicy. Just right amount of heat with a bit of sweet.
(3)Todd W.
Beef brisket was tender and not fatty. Sausage could have been spicer (personal preference). Collard greens were delicious. Cornbread was cold but still good. Relaxed atmosphere and service was great
(4)Ashley R.
My fiance and I wanted to try something new. We found city bbq was just around the corner and thought we would give it a try. We ordered a half slab of ribs fries salad and banana pudding to go online. They were short of staff when I went to pick up my food... but i did not wait long. They got my order together very quickly. We are very pleased with the food that had ordered. Everything was delicious. We will most definitely be coming back!!! (-:
(5)Angel H.
This place was better than I anticipated. I had the brisket and it was delicious, tender and moist! I love that they have great sides i.e. Mac n cheese, hush puppies, potato salad, cornbread etc. they're not life changing or anything but they are good!
(4)Stacy Z.
I really like this place. Solid barbecue and even with takeout it doesn't take too long to get your food.
(4)Sandy M.
We went to City BBQ for lunch yesterday because, apparently, it's the only BBQ place where they serve spicy sausages (as they do in Texas), which my husband adores. The inside of the restaurant was relatively empty around 11:30 AM so we ordered right away. My husband naturally got the sausage sandwich and we also got the biggest dish available: City BBQ Deluxe (brisket, 1/2slab of ribs, 1/4 chicken, pork, 2 corn breads, 2 texas toasts and 2 sides). Hahaha It was definitely a LOT of food for the two of us but I really wanted to try everything. Everything tasted pretty good. The ribs weren't falling off the bone but it was seasoned very well. The chicken was also really good but the coleslaw and the cornbread were a bit bland. And, our second side, the French Fries were just soggy. However, we had so much food that we ended up bringing the brisket, pork and most of the ribs home. Last night, I heated up the brisket and the pork with some peppers and onions to create a great Mexican dinner. It was still so delicious! The drinks and condiments are all self-serve. It was great being able to try all the different BBQ sauces right at the table for each bite. Of the six sauces availale, my favorite is the Mustard BBQ. It's tangy, sweet with a little bit of spice. The ambiance of the entire affair is so relaxed, which I really liked. Regardles, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. I would definitely go back to this restaurant. It's really a great BBQ joine!
(4)Ed R.
Service: in a word. Excellent. You walk up to the counter and order, choose your own seat, and the food comes out FAST! They have all the BBQ sauce options on the table already, but you can also get pre-heated sauce from the condiment area instead of just a squeeze bottle. Food: I heart it. I had a half chicken with fries, macaroni and cheese, and garlic bread. I'm not talking some puny Cornish hen style chicken or a little rotisserie one from the Grocery Store... Oh no... I'm talking a gigantic Little Jerry Seinfeld style beast of a chicken. It was fall off the bone amazing. The fries are a 5 guys style pre cut mountain of starchy goodness as well. And the pickle slices... OOHHHHH the pickle slices!! Price: very reasonable. My heap of food only ran me $9.99 + 2.99 for two sides. For my family of four, only $38 total- I can always live with less than $10/person. Place was great, will definitely be back next time in Columbus.
(4)Steph L.
I love Bbq. So I was a little unsure of this place when friends took me here. Since it's a chain like resturant. Anytime I go to a bbq place I get pulled pork. If it's presauced when they serve it to me. You're doing it wrong. I got a sampler from here and can't say enough how good it was. Also the corn pudding is amazing. Taste just like what my mom has always made.
(4)Whiskey B.
As a BBQ guy, I always test the brisket when I go to a place for the first time. The brisket here was moist, tasty and not oversmoked! The baked beans have good flavor and nice chunks of brisket in them. The service was very fast and the dining area is clean. My only area for improvement is the mac and cheese. It is your basic elbows with cheap cheese. This could use a little elevation. I will definitely be back to try some other menu items!
(4)Coleigh M.
Go for lunch! Never go for dinner!! Food is prepared in morning. Cold and dry meat by dinner time.
(5)Shaun H.
I've eaten City BBQ many times but it's always been catered to where I work. And I never thought it was much better than 3 stars each time. I have heard time and time again how great this place is but never really thought it was that great from my experience with the catered food. So I was in the area of a City BBQ one day and decided to give it a try. I thought maybe the catered food just wasn't as good as buying it fresh right from the store and eating it right then. I was right. The food is much, much better going right to the restaurant and getting it there. I ordered the North Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich with green beans (that has bacon in it, woo hoo), mac and cheese and a large drink. The sandwich was top notch, I especially liked the cole slaw on it, which I admit seemed odd at first and I nearly asked them not to put it on there but I tried it and lo and behold, it just works! The sides were incredibly delicious as well, especially the bacon in the green beans. The mac and cheese was very cheesy as well. The restaurant itself is very nice, clean and the people who served me and rung me up were very friendly and professional. The prices are also pretty good especially for the amount of food you get. If you're a normal eater you will have food to take with you. Or if you're like me you can stuff yourself until you feel like you just ate a Thanksgiving dinner, LOL. Either way, the reviewers on here giving out great reviews are right, this place rocks!!
(4)Kevin F.
Awesome. Just awesome. If you've ever been to Rudy's in Texas and loved it ,this place will satisfy your BBQ craving like nothing I've seen since then. Friendly people, good food and nice atmosphere. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Aaron G.
I was in town on business, and based on earlier Yelp reviews, decided to give the place a try. Good call by my fellow Yelpers, and I'm going to add an extra star for City's "lunch plate" combo option - a smaller sandwich (half the "normal" portion) and two sides, making for a $10-ish meal (including drink) that doesn't leave you "meat drunk". I had a pulled pork sandwich with fries and green beans, and every element was excellent. The meat was perfectly smoked and seasoned, a good mix of outer and inner bits; the beans were made with bacon and onions, and not overly salty; and lastly the house-cut fries were among the best I've had - perfect crispy/creamy texture, good flavor, and not greasy. I will definitely be back before I leave.
(5)Jack S.
Outstanding ribs! I'm from Kansas City and was raised on great ribs, so trust me and try the ribs & fries. St. Louis style and exceptionally meaty. I had a short-end half slab and it was killer good. Solid sauce selection, all are mild overall but with unique characteristics in each. Slow smoked with no shortcuts taken, this is seriously good 'cue y'all. Give it a try.
(4)Kara K.
As good as BBQ in Ohio can be, I suppose. I read all the amazing reviews and decided to go. Decent, but not great. Beans and ribs were delicious. Brisket, pork and chicken were cold and dry. Had to liven them up by drowning them in sauce and then gulping down soda. Maybe the chain BBQ idea has made them drop their quality and focus more on quantity.
(3)Joel K.
We need one of these franchises in the Mansfield area. The brisket is nicely smoked and very tender. The French fries rival those at 5 Guys which are excellent and the baked beans are tasty as well. Near the Cabela's so worth the trip.
(5)Regan F.
Da bomb! Loved the City BBQ platter, especially the sweet potato pie casserole side. Smells good and tastes good.
(4)Elisa R.
I've been here a few times while in town for work. I used to live in the south, so I get super excited when I find a place with good sweet tea. I love that they have a variety of BBQ sauces too. The sweet one is my favorite. The brisket sandwich and corn pudding are yummy! You can order from their lunch menu during dinner hours for smaller portions, but if you are really hungry try the sampler, which includes 3 "sliders" of your choice. The sliders are basically a normal sized sandwich. Also, if it's your first time there they give you a free fountain drink.
(4)Ryan B.
Super nice group of people working here. I stopped in after work one day and the place was SUPER clean. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Jim H.
City Barbeque is my "go to place" for BBQ. This is not a fancy sit-down restaurant but serves exceptionally good BBQ. You order at the counter and take your own food to the table. The Carolina Pulled Pork is my favorite but I also like the beef brisket and the ribs. Their gumbo is exceptional and I love the cole slaw. The hand-cut french fries are fantastic; however the hash puppies are only average (full disclosure - I'm not a big hush puppy fan). City Barbeque has a nice selection of bottled beer and pop - as well as fountain beverages. City Barbeque also has a great take-out menu and is one of our favorites for office lunches.
(4)Tia P.
Very delicious BBQ and sides worth trying! I love the corn pudding. Items like the city sampler are shareable. This place is good for family dinners! You can order online and pick up later. Try their ice teas! I love this place. Quick and easy ordering.
(4)Keith B.
For being a chain BBQ joint - it's good. When I really crave BBQ, it's my go to place. And I say that generally, because they're all the same damn place. It's consistent. Even their staff - consistent. I dig it, I return, and it's good.
(4)Derek N.
Love the brisket. It's moist, cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly. Also love the tea.
(5)John R.
I was in town just for the day and, as always, went seeking BBQ. This place did NOT disappoint! I had the meat sampler, which they might consider renaming the "Glutton Plate" since it was overflowing with pork, pork, and more pork! All of it was outstanding. They had Lone Star Beer, which is always a indication that quality BBQ is not far away. Sides were all great and I recommend the baked beans, which are pleasantly spiked with hunks of brisket.
(4)Emily B.
Cater Review, ~35 guests. I usually prefer to cook for my guests (love to cook AND save money), but in planning a big reception for my sons baptism, I had to accept that cooking a full meal for my huge family coming into town was not going to be possible if I wanted to keep my sanity. Or sleep. But I wanted to find something that was delicious enough to pay for, but not going to break the bank. Enter: City Barbeque. Ordering was easy enough, all done through email. I ordered their "traditional BBQ" which included two meats and two sides. I went with the pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac n' cheese, and green beans. (I also provided homemade appetizers and 3 additional homemade sides.) The Great: Prompt service. I received a phone call about 30 minutes prior to delivery, giving me their estimated arrival time, and a friend who met them (it was a reception, I wanted food there when we arrived) said everything went well (except for one issue, which I will get to below). The food was piping hot when we ate (probably ~30 minutes after delivery). The food was spectacular (see other reviews), everyone loved it (!) and most helped themselves to a second plate. Portion wise, it was nearly perfect. We now have some delicious leftovers, but not an obscene amount where you would picture most of it in the trash (we are going to freeze a small amount, hopefully it holds up). We did make three other homemade sides to accompany this meal (corn casserole, cucumber salad, and fruit salad) just to give readers an idea of how things portioned out for 35 people. The not-so-great, but forgivable: If it were an option, I would probably rate it 4.5 stars, but these issues aren't deal breakers, so I rounded up to 5. 1. Delivery issue - like I said, I wasn't there for delivery, but apparently they were expecting sternos to be set up? I had no idea, no one I had communicated with said I should, nor do I get parties catered that often, so I don't know if this the norm? But, instead of leaving the food to get cold, they left the insulated hot-box. I greatly appreciated this, as hot food was most important, but now I am inconvenienced with a trip up to the store to return the box. I just wish this would have been clarified in advance. 2. Just enough BBQ sauce. Their sauce is delicious. But the amount they gave us is not enough for the amount of meat provided. Thankfully we had enough for our guests at the party, but in packing up leftovers, there is really only enough sauce for 1 or 2 more meals for us, while there is enough meat for like 5 meals. A second container, even if smaller, would have been perfect. I would highly highly recommend them for an event, and I hope to use them again in the future.
(5)Ajit G.
love love the chipotle sauce. Went over there for lunch.. ordered the chicken with chipotle sauce. yummy
(4)Robert M.
This is some of the best BBQ in Columbus. The Sancus Boulevard location is their newest. I stopped in this trip for my free birthday dessert. The Apple Cobbler with whipped cream was the highlight of my day.
(5)Bill H.
Great food - very consistent both at this location and other sites I've visited. Wonderful smoked flavor in the ribs, pulled pork, brisket, everything's good including plenty of good sides to choose from. Line up to order, pay, get your food and sit. Nice, casual, relaxing informal feel.
(5)Justin R.
The food is just okay. My sides were actually almost inedible. I love almost all mac and cheeses, but couldn't even eat a small side of it here. The greens are also canned and nasty. For $11 a combo, should the greens really be saturated in salt/canned? Gross. The sandwich was good, but how can a BBQ place mess up a pulled pork sandwich? It feels like fast food, and isn't worth the money
(2)Dave H.
If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it! The service is always good, the staff always friendly, and the food always fantastic. Except for the catfish, which I only had once and I did not like at all. The portions are generous and the price is reasonable. If you have never been there, get the beef brisket platter with French Fries and Cole Slaw. The fries can easily feed 2 people. They have seasonal side. If tney have the Sweet Potatoes, get them. Very casual. Just an all-around good place to eat.
(5)Frank D.
Heavy southern sugary food, but a guilty pleasure from time to time. They have helped by making a smaller lunch portion sandwich
(3)Melanie B.
Yummmmm. I really enjoyed City Barbeque! The plan was to get high-end Indian food at Bayleaf tonight (I was SO excited about Bayleaf that I thought about pre-yelping it - but make no mistake, that review will appear next week!), but we overshot our time and ended up, tummys rumbling, at Bayleaf right in the middle of the restaurant being closed between lunch and dinner... so what else could satisfy the boy and I, when we hadn't eaten all day in order to sample multiple Indian dishes? BARBEQUE!! I have wanted to go to City Barbeque forever, but have only been to Hoggy's (which is awesome, btw)... and finalllllly, I was really very pleased with my City BBQ experience! The boy and I split a dinner, as we tend to do with BBQ because it's always huge. I sort of don't believe the staff at both City and Hoggy's when they say that people eat entire BBQ platters themselves, because we always share and are always plenty full with our meal - and hardly ever finish it. Tonight, we ordered some sort of sampler platter, which came with pulled pork, braised beef, ribs, and chicken, as well as two sides, cornbread, and Texas toast - see? How the H does anyone finish that, individually?? The two of us put a good dent in our meal, but also threw a lot away, which made me feel kinda guilty. : / I really liked the chicken, while the boy insisted that the ribs were the best. I was very excited about the corn "pudding" we chose as a side, and of course the traditional mac n cheese. Although I don't drink pop, the boy insisted that I try some old-timey rootbeer, which was good (though I prefer water, coffee, beer and/or whiskey to drink!), and a nice touch to the meal. I honestly think the meat here is better than at Hoggy's, but at the same time, I don't think these two places are going for the same feel. I liked how City's meat was really smokey tasting. I'd definitely like to try one of the other locations that's not near that yuppie wonderland, Polaris. The only reason we were out there was to go to Bayleaf ( cannot.wait.to .try). I recommend City BBQ for sure - but just keep in mind that you might want to share food, because as with most BBQ, the portions are monstrous. Yummm.
(4)Paul F.
I decided to try a different location to see if there was any difference in the food. There isn't. lol I had a brisket sandwich, baked beans and greens. And pickles. Great meal for less than $10.
(4)Minh D.
Excellent chain restaurant bbq. You find real bbq here folks, slow smoked to tender. Everything is A+. When Eating BBQ, I go for ribs, not so much the pull pork and briskets! I rate the BBQ mainly on the ribs and the sauce. I have eaten at many City BBQ joints in both Cincinati and Columbus.... same excellent quality found every time I dine at one of these joints. I hope they will expand to the Chicago area and compete with Sweet Baby Rays. Also they don't have baby back ribs here, at least the ones I visited. They only sell spare ribs, no baby back ribs :(. All the sides are great, my fav. are the the gumbo and banana pudding. Great selection of quality sauces. I like their pot warmed sauce more than the ones found at the tables. The food quality here is pretty comparable to Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ found mostly in FL/Orlando, but City BBQ is much better managed and operated!
(4)Alex K.
So I'm in Columbus for a while and this is near where I live. I went a couple of times and always there is something not right. One time we went and it was like an hour before closing. People behind the counter were friendly but it was obvious they were closing the place down as smell of cleaner was in the air and behind the counter a guy was pouring a bucket of soapy water. Which then leaked all the way to the bathroom.... and I had to jump over a puddle to get to the bathroom. The ribs were pretty good, meaty and large portions. They tasted smoked and sauces were good. I went another time and couldn't quite figure out where they were pulling the ribs out of. The rack came out of saran wrap and was put into butcher paper and given to me. It was warm, not very hot. So they smoke and cook their ribs and then keep them warm in saran wrap some place? The ribs were meaty but kinda dry, probably from being kept warm someplace. The bark on them was delicious though. The cole slaw was good as well. I wish there was more sauce on the ribs but I guess that would be hard to do if they are kept in saran wrap....
(3)Keith W.
Ok I keep going back, same results, it sucks. I really want it to be good; I need a BBQ place in Columbus, but no luck here. And for the advertisement on 610 about people from Kansas City in town and they loved City BBQ Those people must be idiots with no taste buds For starters when I went into the Polaris location they had just opened, I ordered, they pulled the meat out storage and it was wrapped in saran wrap. Are you kidding, Gates and Sons or any of the other KC places would never serve anything other then right off the smoker. An I would like to end this with a tip for who ever owns this craptastic place. Pick a Sauce, just one, and make it right.
(1)Jeff D.
For service, got my food right away 4 out 5. For food, some of the best BBQ I have ever had 4 out of 5. Overall 4 out of 5.
(4)Kyle S.
Yum yum. Good fries, great sandwiches, with surprisingly good corn pudding and hushpuppies. For desert, I would definitely recommend the banana pudding. Things could get a little messy, but it is well worth it. Just grab a small stack of napkins while you're at the counter, and save yourself an extra trip. There are many different BBQ sauce choices that can really top off the meal. My personal favorite is the brushfire BBQ sauce well known for it's extra zesty kick on top of the pulled pork sandwich. Hope this helped!
(5)Jeffrey B.
Loved it! Great NC style BBQ.
(5)