I'm from Kansas City and grew up with great BBQ. I've also traveled quite extensively throughout North America. Guess what, I've had awesome BBQ in many different places. However, finding good BBQ is not easy. I've yet to find a place in the Indianapolis metro area that is what I would call good. The reviews for this place had my hopes up so I gave it a shot. The people running this place are very nice and deserve a star added to the rating as a result.
I ordered the following:
1/2 lb. rib tips, sauce on side - they were dry, old and not very BBQesque
Pork on bun, sauce on side - again dry and not very tasty
BBQ, Sweet & Hot mixed - This sauce was actually pretty good
French fries - cooked to perfection with a nice seasoning (this was as good as it gets)
Mac & Cheese - seemed OK at first although all the noodles were overcooked and smashed into pieces like they had been stirred an awful lot. They were served in a styrofoam container and apparently had been sitting in this container while being kept hot. The container had begun to breakdown and attach itself to the food. That correct, I had been eating very little pieces of styrofoam with my Mac & Cheese!
I teeter on the edge of one star vs. two and decided to go with two only because they were so nice. If you want poor food served to you very politely, this place is certainly capable of accomplishing your desires. Or, you could simply order the french fries and have an all around delightful experience.
Some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Â However I ordered rib tips with hot bbq suace to go. Â The sauce was really good and was actually hot. Â However the rib tips not so much. Â The were dry, chewy and tasted like they were at least a couple of days old. Â I only say that because there were two rib tips in the entire box that were tender and tasted fresh. Â I've been here a few times because they are right down the street from my house and I like to support local businesses but I am afraid I am going to have to pass this place up the next time I'm in the mood for some bbq.
Review Source:I live in the neighborhood and have seen the restaurant for many years but had never went in. Â However, I decided I was going to check it out and I am glad I did. Â I had the baked chicken with mac and cheese, greens, sweet potatoes and the hot water corn bread. Â Every thing I had was delicious and having southern roots, I know good southern cooking when I taste it. Â The hot water cornbread reminded me of my mothers' and grandmothers'....yummy. Â I like the ambience of the place, makes me feel like I am in my grandma's kitchen. Â The Mom/Daughter owners are incredibly attentive. Â I am going back today with my 20 year old son in tow, he is going to enjoy himself as much as I did.
Try it and you will be back again and again.
We tried a barbecue pork sandwich and a barbecue beef sandwich. Both were large, tasty and a bargain at $4.75. Hot water cornbread was first-rate; however the mac & cheese was pretty bad. At first  I gave it two stars because the sandwiches were tasty however  I remembered the wonderful  cornbread and threw in the extra star.maybe I should have tried this place a few years earlier. The only sides this place had were mac & cheese, potato salad which they were out of and sweet potatoes. Greens would've been perfect.
Review Source:It's pretty much perfect. The help is friendly in a down-home way, the old television has a questionable picture but blares loud enough to make up for it, and the food is delicious. I've had the tips, ribs, catfish, perch, and chicken. It's all spectacular. The sides are just as good, too. Living in the south for three years, I always go for collard greens, yams, etc. Â Sooooooo good!
Even though I have the menu at my house, I always wait to order there just so I can hang out and see what's happening with some of the friendliest folks in town. The spicy sauce is pretty spicy to my taste, but isn't that how it should be?
It's definitely more of a carry-out place, but you'll be having so much fun you just might decide to hang out and eat there anyway.
The D of Dee's stands for Delivering Dreams to the Doorsteps of Indy.
Dreams come true here. Like the one I had for lunch today... "I am dreaming of a place in my part of town that would deliver some BBQ!" And... poof! There is Dee's... Â
I've lived in many, many cities and I don't think I've ever found BBQ delivery.
I have no idea what their menu is like... nor prices... it doesn't really matter though... it's barbeque! The kind woman on the phone just started rattling off all the options: slabs are sold out, gotta wait for those, got all sizes of rib tips, catfish and walleye, pork on bun, chicken on bun pork chops small and large.
However awesome it was to hear "pork on bun," I went Rib Tips with two sides: greens & mac 'n cheese.
White or Wheat bread? Ummmmm... isn't it downright blasphemous to not get white bread with BBQ?
The tips were a bit fatty & boney... but that's tips for ya.
The delivery was within 20 minutes.
Indy doesn't have many delivery choices... but here's Dee's delivering mighty 'que right to my doorstep.
What a place! Â The ladies that run it could not be nicer. Now when you walk in watch out for the alarm buzz but don't worry. It will stop once you close the door. May only be on at night since we went for dinner. Â I highly recommend the ribs! They are fork tender and fall off the bone. Mac and cheese and baked beans are real good too. Rib tips are so tasty but a little tougher. It's all home cooked and the hospitality is awesome. It's definately a dive but worth the trip. If your experience is anything like ours you will come back for more and tell your frends.
Review Source:I agree that it's sort of a "hole-in-the-wall", but it's definitely not a dive. Â It was very clean and presentable. Â It's not "fine dining", but it's what you'd expect from a professional and sincere BBQ/Soul restaurant in this neighborhood.
I'll agree on the greens too. Â Very good, with bits of pork for flavoring. Â I had a 1/2 chicken, and it was plenty enough for my big appetite. Â Cooked very tender, but not overcooked. Â I ordered the 'mild' version (you have a choice of mild/hot/sweet), and it still had some kick to it.
The service was excellent and down home.
According to their menu, they deliver to businesses only, with a minimum of 3 orders.  Delivery boundaries are: North: 76th St.  East: Emerson Ave. South: 21st  St.  West: Michigan Rd. Â
They take Visa/MC/Discover.
They serve BBQ Beef, Pork, Chicken, Ribs, wings, chops, Fish (Whiting, Perch, Catfish).
Truth be told, this is a place that got 5 stars as soon as I saw it. Sure, if there was something wrong, I could have deducted something. But the fact of the matter is that this place just exudes "OMG! This is exactly the kind of hole-in-the-wall find that I just WANT to love!" And when the actual meal came, my initial enthusiasm was confirmed, not dampened.
Dee's is a great find, and completely worth the effort of finding it. It is, I must say, a dive -- and maybe divey enough that it's not really for the faint of heart. But if you're looking for cheap/good eats more than ambiance, or if you're the type for whom character, hospitality and charm cover over the cracks in pavement, then I highly recommend a visit.
I had the rib tips with a side of greens. Dee herself had told me that the greens were a house favorite, and I can see why.
Whatever the case, I'll be coming again to sample the rest of the menu.