Pit to Plate BBQ & Saloon - Cincinnati

Fall off the bone rib tips. Just had a serving of rib tips at the street food festival, and it was well worth the $6. The mustard based sauce was well above average. If you see this truck, run it down!

Besides having some of the best barbecue in the Cinci area (more on that later , I sometimes really, really like an unusual dining experience: On the Saturday night we were there, Pit to Plate gave us a bit of the unusual, or even surreal, as follows: A surprisingly competent, country ish bar band, made up of some older white guys and a young attractive frontwoman, was wailing away as we walked in at the relatively early time of 6:45 pm Later, with the band shifting nicely, a seemingly authentic local black bluesman got up on stage with the band for a spell, belted out some good vocals, and tore it up on the harmonica During our visit Mayor Mark Mallory and a young associate quietly entered and enjoyed some barbecue, and the mayor waved goodbye to his subjects upon his exit Amidst this clamor, our hostess, apparently an owner, appeared out of nowhere in a pink pig costume to present a regular customer with a slice of birthday cake, resulting in an momentary celebration from the entire restaurant and the band onstage The location is itself kinda surreal: From the outside, Pit to Plate looks like a fast food joint gone to seed. Inside, it feels like a bizarre combination of a rustic western steakhouse (loads of wood and cramped, dark honky tonk or urban blues club. Although it's been at this location for just a few years, it feels like it's decades old. The crowd seemed to be a good mix, largely working class and apparently local, that befits the atmosphere. So just on atmospherics alone, Pit to Plate crushes rest of the local BBQ competition. Food wise, it's got just about all of the competition beat, too. Pulled pork and brisket were about the best I've had around here, even if that isn't saying all that much. Both were very tender and had loads of full, smoky flavor, although I'd have been happier if the pork had a little more bark y texture. (And both were a little heavy on the fat and grease. Good sauces are served on the side instead of slathered all over the meat before arrival at your table. Overall, a little better than Jim Dandy's, which I like, and a far cry better than the likes of City BBQ and BBQ Revue and Montgomery Inn. Sides, especially the excellent collard greens and jalepeno corn bread, are also a plus. Although the band added to the good ambience, it's also the main reason Pit to Plate doesn't get to five stars. The volume was such that conversation was virtually impossible, and the band's presence seemed to deter the staff from getting to our table very often. Service was very, very slow, and the staff would disappear from the restaurant floor for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. I'm pretty sure the mayor got better service than we did. Overall, though, really liked it. Just gotta get back on a quieter evening.

I decided to do a little Cincinnati Bar-B-Quest to see if we have anything noteworthy in this town on the BBQ scene. Pulled Pork Sammich: pork had obviously been soaking in broth for a looong time, and even though I could probably win speed eating contests, my bottom bun had turned to paste by about the 3rd bite (as the pork hadn 't been drained), it was also more shredded than pulled . Bun: probably out of a bag you can get at any store. Sides: BBQ Beans: very watery, lacking any distinctive BBQ flavor. Mac&Cheese: decent enough, 5/10. Really quite surprised at the high rankings on here, though I lived in the Carolinas for 5 years and know good BBQ. The place was decorated with many quaint BBQ themed types of things. Lots of pigs and cows and funny down home sayings on signs, wagon wheel table backs, etc. It 's folksy cuteness aside, the product just didn 't deliver in my opinion. Probably won 't be back as I had to drive all the way across town specifically for it, but wouldn 't say I wouldn 't go back, either, if I was there and someone (else) suggested it.

Best bbq in Cincy, and in my top 4 for ohio (K.C's smoked bbq near Mansfield, Citty bbq in Cbus and Smokin bbq in Dayton being the other two). The place is super friendly, the inside is kitschy but appropriate and the booth size works for larger groups. We tried the brisket and pulled pork and both were super moist and flavorful. The sides didn't really stand out as awesome but the corn bread was very good. BBQ sauce selection was robust and i enjoyed all the ones i tried. The texas chilli blew my mind. Get it. Oh, also the hours are wrong, they are totally open on Sundays as you can see on the hours printed on the menu!

Virginia was a great server! Very welcoming and attentive. Food was delicious. Best mac and cheese I've had in a long time! I got the brisket sandwich. It was really good, but could have been smokier, for my taste. Will definitely be back to try some of their other meat and sides!