Eli's BBQ

The ribs were phenomenal! Crispy on the edges and juicy tender meat with fantastic flavor. The cheesy jalapeno grits were fantastic and extra cheesy. The coleslaw is creamy and was decent but not as good as the grits. The pulled pork was on the drier side so don't expect juicy pulled pork but it had good smoked flavor and the sauce was tasty. This is a cool joint near the river and has a great rustic vibe.

Exceptional food, very kind employees, consistently good character. They charge convenient pricing and the food quality is awesome. Great work.

Instead, I ordered the Montreal Meat- smoked corned beef. Got a side of slaw instead of fries. The smoked corn beef was very good. I make my own version of this on my Traeger, which can't be topped, but having someone make it for me was a pleasure. First time I've found smoked corned beef in Cleveland.

What a great stop for lunch- I had the bbq pork sandwich that is a large portion and the bun and pork has a bit of a crunch to it which adds nice character. The two sides I chise were the baked beans and jalapeno cornbread and they were both good.Worth a visit and ill be back soon to try the ribs and wings

Good southern BBQ. I prefer St. Louis and Texas BBQ but the pulled pork and sides were good.

Went on the recommendation of friends. Ordered Pulled Pork no bun with 2 sides-- baked beans and mashed potatoes. They don't have fountain beverages only cans and bottles. They have both indoor and covered outdoor seating. Nothing fancy, but that adds to the BBQ joint vibe. They have music playing from a record player--pretty cool. Pork was really salty but still good. Only one sauce, but that too was good. Sides were fantastic. Service good. Would I drive almost an hour again to go here? Yes. I do want to try their smoked turkey and some of their other sides. This is the original location with another one at Findlay Market and a few out of area Kroger stores.

The place is awesome and broad, the food was delightful and the rates were very reasonable. quick, effective service and very attentive staff members. Highly recommended.

We had the smoked chicken wings and 2 hot dogs and both were delicious. The hot dogs are topped with coleslaw and crispy bbq pieces and they were awesome! The wings were tender and flavorful. They have an outdoor tent like area for seating that is heated in the winter.

Very good bbq. Rib tips and chicken wings are killer crispy and tender. Sides are amazing too. BYOB

great food! Try the hot dogs!!

Great portions of dry-rub barbecue and sides served in a fun setting. They have a great old-school soda selection to choose from that even included Cheerwine (the perfect barbecue pairing). Even on the coldest days, one can enjoy the picnic tables “outside” in a warm pavilion thanks to the installed heaters and plastic walls. What a great experience that I always look forward to when visiting the area.

Great food. Not a huge fan of their mac and cheese though.

The food is fantastic. The menu is pretty brief (pulled pork, ribs, etc.), but what they do, they do extremely well. Prices are reasonable (about $8-$12 for a meal). The only downside is seating is limited and can be a challenge on busy weekend evenings. Arrive early or consider takeout over peak times to avoid that issue.

Eli's is a great place to hang out with some top notch BBQ and sides. My pics show the covered patio and smokers. Order at the inside counter, and they bring it out to you. There's also indoor seating with a cool record player and LPs. Enjoy!

Just got an order from DoorDash. First time having Eli’s. Omg! The ribs were perfection! Slid right off the bone and melted in my mouth! Will definitely being ordering from them again!

two days ago was our first time we went to this restaurant. But It is surely not the last time. We had a good time with the generous service, with the excellent dishes and booze and with the modest cost. We will absolutely go back there in a short time.

Loved the food and socially distanced picnic tables.

I am new to the area and had several people recommend Eli's. I'm a self proclaimed BBQ expert and this place did not disappoint. The sides all looked so good. I loved the cheese grits. The pulled pork was awesome and the sauce was great. I sat outside in the tented area and even on a snowy day it was nice with the heaters and big tables. All around, it lived uo to the hype. I'll be back.

EXCELLENT food! The ribs were so so good!!! And so were the pulled pork! The sides were excellent too. The jalapenos grits needs a special mention!!!

This is a barbecue joint full of character and an old school vibe. Excellent food and great staff. Eli's has quickly become one of my favorite local restaurants.

I LOVE Eli's. Casual and super laid back with an amazing outdoor seating area great for group BYOB. Inside is quiet and cute; even when they have live music, you can still have a conversation. Affordable as you want it to be -- you can get a good meal for $7 - $9, or a large slab of ribs for bigger appetites (and a little more change). HIGHLY recommend the $9 rib tips, and the jalapeno corn bread and the cheddar grits are out of this world good (see picture for all three). I can't eat barbecue anywhere else anymore -- it's all disappointing in comparison.

Eli's is always the best! Everything is excellent but I usually get bones with mac and cheese. They lightly dust the bones with a sweet dry rub before serving. My husband loves the loaded hot dogs, and the Turkey is so tender. You really can't go wrong here. This place is very down to earth so, ladies, leave your high heals at home.

Tried the pulled pork and coleslaw. Went great with a Dr. Pepper. BBQ sauce was good, slightly sweat with some tanginess. Food was served fast and hot, made for a good quick lunch. I will be back for more.

The place serves big portions and for fair pricing. helpful owner. Fantastic work.

This spot never fails to impress. They have excellent dishes for reasonable pricing, there are no long waits even when the spot is full.

Best BBQ I've had in a long time. I live in North Carolina and we take our BBQ very seriously. 4 people in our group and no one was disappointed. Highly recommend!!

I was kinda amazed by this place, the service was very friendly and quick and it was by far the best pulled pork I have ever had. I loved how homie the building felt and the decorating was kinda odd but cool. 11/10 highly recommend

We are only in town once, maybe twice, a year and we go every time. Always good. Always filling. Sauce is great!

I really enjoyed their dishes. I always get fantastic service there. The place is always clean and the staff members are always helpful. I highly recommend this place.

Fun place, good food. Nice staff.

Certainly a spot worth stopping over, the food is fantastic and fresh, the prices are convenient and it is regularly neat there. Fantastic work.

I had the ribs, jalapeno cornbread, and pickles. The barbecue sauce was sooo good. This was one of the best stops on this trip. I have saved Eli's on my map so i don't miss it when i'm in town next time around.

Whenever I have good friends or business partners come in from out of town...u ways bring them to Eli's. Eli is a good friend of mine and the food has never failed. Time after time they will deliver nothing but the best. Much appreciated guys...well done.

Excellent pork sandwich,. Beans were great also. Very casual, but good value,. I would skip the sides and order a second sandwich next time

Excellent service, very nice. The ribs are great with just the right pull and the smoke flavor was perfect. The restaurant has a great nostalgic feeling. I will return for sure.

Pulled pork was really good. Sandwich was piled high and the sauce was tangy with a little sweetness. Jalapeno cornbread added the little bit of heat I was wanting. Food came fast and outdoor seating had a good atmosphere with music.

This is a neat little BBQ place hidden off the main drag. I would recommend you bring your own beverages alcohol or non alcohol, which you are allowed to do last I checked. They have covered seating outside that is heated and a good amount of parking spots in the front and back. The pulled pork and turkey are very good. If you like BBQ definitely worth a visit.

Food is always great and my order is correct every time. Staff is very friendly.

Always liked the pulled pork. Tried the ribs tonight and was very satisfied. 😋

We like a lot to go out. Yesterday we arrived in this fine restaurant which friends recommended to us. We spent a lovely experience there with superb cooking and a nice stuff and a professional cook. We put this restaurant in our list and we will surely return soon. Highly recommended.

This restaurant is my first choice restaurant. Of all restaurants I know I favor it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to this restaurant. when I want to go to a good supper, this is the place that comes first to my head. superb and diverse food and a rich cuisine.well mannered team, and great vibes. Not less important, the charge is honest. I sent my friends to this restaurant with no doubt.

I love this place, call ahead and place your order for pickup for faster service on busy nights

The BEST barbecue in the Midwest bar none! Not to miss when you come to Cinci. Sit outside in nice weather.

Had Eli's BBQ catered for a couple of corporate events. Enjoyed their BBQ options with pulled pork being my favorite. They strike a good balance between fatty and lean meat. Baked beans and Cole slaw are standard. Their jalapeno grits dish is quite good tho... The grits are pretty creamy and the jalapeno adds a nice kick to it. Overall, a good spot to get BBQ in the cinci area.

Service team very helpful and friendly.Service was quick.Food was fresh and good.Must try the fully loaded beef dogs.

Fabulous food and you can bring a cooler full of your own favorite beverage!

Incredible BBQ! The restaurant has a great atmosphere and plenty of seating outdoors and a handful of tables inside. The food itself was delicious, especially for the price! It's a small menu, but that allows them to really excel at what they offer.

I went there with my wife. Neither of us were impressed, especially after reading the positive reviews. We tried the ribs, pulled pork, jalapeno grits, mac and cheese, and jalapeno cornbread.The ribs were bad: Chewy and flavorless like they sat at the edge of the grill for hours.The pulled pork was average, about like any generic caterer would serve. The sauce is good. My wife didn't like any of the sides. I liked the jalapeno grits best of anything we had. They just needed some salt. The mac and cheese was good, but also a little bland. Overall the meal had way less flavor than I would expect at a BBQ joint. We drove more than an hour based on the reviews and I can't recommend this place for the food, but I did enjoy the atmosphere.I have no interest in returning.

Go here simply for the food. BBQ is good and sides are excellent. Very casual place with limited parking and seating. You can bring your own drinks.

Best ribs I have even eaten in my life! The BBQ sauce is amazing, I also recommend to give a chance to the turkey and the pulled pork, both are great!