Eli's is an absolute favorite of mine and I find myself craving it all of the time! The toasted bun with smoked pulled pork, topped with slaw is amazing! I play softball at Schmidt Fields and would frequent Eli's either before or after our game. I hear they might be moving, I can understand why. This location is pretty small and doesn't offer much room for seating. But maybe they're just opening a second location in OTR instead of just their Findlay Market booth. Â Wishful thinking?
I do agree with another poster about their sides. Unfortunately none are to die for and I wish they would offer up a simple side salad or veggy option. The sizes of the sides are pretty small and the mac and cheese is pretty bland and generic. I do really like the jalepeno grits and jalepeno cornbread, but still just wish they would offer side salad or something healthier. All this aside, the sandwiches alone speak for Eli's bbq and they mastered the perfectly slow cooked, smoked, pork sandwich! Now I want one...
CASH ONLY
This wasn't a problem for me luckily, because this was great BBQ. Â I have only eaten outside, the inside seemed a bit cramped. Â There are tables and a grassy park out back that makes a great spot for a meal when the weather is nice. Â Everything I have had has been amazing, it is cheap, and it is BYOB! What more can you ask for? I would definitely recommend this as a great place for a date or group of friends.
Best BBQ I've had in the city way better than Montgomery and whatever ish.The air in Eli's itself is just heavenly that waiting the five minutes for my friend to join me I worked up an appetite. I got the pulled pork sandwich, jalapeno cornbread and mashed potatoes and cannot wait to try everything else that is  on the menu. At some places its better to stick to what you know 'tried and tested' stuff, but around me people had ordered a variety of everything on the menu and it all looked incredibly drool-worthy that if I weren't stuffed, I'd totally have gone for some extra sides or ribs. I do not know of a BBQ place in the city that even remotely compares. Very reasonably price, parking accessible and staff was attentive. I'm happy they are doing well and receiving the recognition they deserve, I will definitely be back.
Review Source:Everything I tried here: the pulled pork, turkey, grits, was great. Â Relatively inexpensive to boot.
The surprise was the hot dogs. Â I bought them for my son. Â At age 3, they fall into one of the 4 foods he will eat consistently. Â Lucky for me, they are served in pairs, and I got to try one, because it totally stole the show. Â The combination of the crispy pork and slaw on the smoked Nathan's hot dog is a real winner.
If we didn't live out in the 'burbs, I'd be hard-pressed not to make this a weekly stop.
Absolutely impeccable - some of the best bbq I've had in my life, and for that matter, the best food. I'm From NYC, and I can't think of a better bbq place there. Eli's is all about the food - the great and friendly service matches the goodness of the food. This place is REAL. Kudos to the owners and staff. You've created a landmark, and helped begin Cincy's renaissance into a culinary hotspot. Eli's, don't change a thing, your set-up is perfection from rib to pulled-pork to smoked turkey, to the matching, amazingly prepared sides (ALL of them).
Review Source:Y'all, I don't even dig on swine, but this place rules. Their East End location is adorable, from the bathtub planters out front to the no-frills record player spinning Blues and Honky Tonk standards and the staff's friendly, laid-back attitude. The prices are reasonable for pulled pork that gets rave reviews. Myself, I like to get a bunch of sides, and build my own little mountain of jalapeno-cheddar cornbread, mac 'n cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw. It's picnic food at its finest and just about the best thing I can think of after a sweaty, rowdy softball game. (Eli's flanks Schmidt Softball Complex.) I love that their BYOB policy lets you pick your poison, and though I've yet to sit barefoot in the designated picnic area, it's only a matter of time before I do, and I bet it'll be great, too. Eli's is good food and good summertime fun. Can't wait to check out the vibe at their new location on Vine St. when it opens!
Review Source:Delish! After reading many reviews, I thought that it might be too hyped up and not as good as I had imagined. Much to my surprise, it was all that! Went late on a Sunday night, and it was dark and quaint and not very busy. I ordered takeout and the young lady who waited on my was very friendly and attentive. Food came out hot and fast. Mashed potatos are okay (I would pick a different side next time I go) and cornbread (good, but would also venture out next time to try another one of their sides).
Try it out. Great little spot to hang out and enjoy some great food!
Really cool atmosphere. Â We got it to go the first time we ate it and we really wish we stayed! Â The staff is really nice. Â Now on to the most important part....the food! Â We had the pulled pork sandwich with mac & cheese plus the jalepeno cornbread. Â The BBQ is phenomenal, but for a southerner just doesnt equal up to the best NC BBQ I've grown up on. Â But for the midwest, as good as it gets. Â If you live in Cincy, definitely find a night to eat in at this local place!
Review Source:This place seems like its been listed as a local legend. I have been planning to go here since some time. Its just 3 miles from where i live, so its a mystery how i did not go there till now.
Place is very cheap, in about $15 i got myself a delectable feast to-go. $5 for a sandwich and $8 for a sandwich and 2 sides. I got cornbread and baked beans as sides then pulled pork sandwich and ribs. Cornbread has a bite of jalapenos, and beans were buttery sweet.
Since i tasted bbq first in Texas i have been a fan of ribs. I was looking forward to having ribs here. But.. I did not like the ribs here. They were "not falling off the bone" as advertised. They were kinda dry. It had a new taste which i liked, but i miss the wetter, ribs which fall off the bone.
Eli's was a spiritual experience for me and my friends. We were all nearly in tears over how happy this food made us. Comment from one in my group as we took a moment to stop eating to breathe: "This is the best moment of my entire life." Absolutely life-changing.
The buns: toasted and buttery. The BBQ: perfectly seasoned. The cornbread: invaded with a delectable amount of jalapenos. The mashed potatoes: FRIED?! I have no idea how you mastered that one, Eli's.
Not only was the food the best I've ever had (really, not exaggerating), the atmosphere was so much fun. Record player with a large amount of vinyls let customers create their own ambiance. Tons of picnic tables outside offer loads of seating in an otherwise crowded spot.
I'm entirely sure that next time I visit Cincinnati, this will be the first place I stop. Just remember to bring cash. And BYOB.
Good Afternoon - Â So we just finished eating food from Eli's BBQ and we couldn't be more pleased! Â The wifey had the turkey sandwich, jalapeno grits and mac n cheese. Â I had a couple ribs, grits and mashed potatoes. Â The only negative was that I only got a couple ribs! Â Them sons a bitches are GOOD! Â I must add all that food was only 16 bucks... Â I am more of a eater than a writer so take my word for it and eat at Eli's! Â Seriously, go there, eat there and I bet you will be happy.
Review Source:Had Eli's BBQ for the first time Sunday night at the 4EG Employee Party and wow! Even when this BBQ is catered it still tastes amazing. The BBQ was not too sweet, not to tangy....just right and the pulled pork was 100 times better than Montgomery Inn or any other BBQ known in this area (that I've had thus far). Moving forward, the mac & cheese was nice and creamy with lots of flavor.
I must admit, I am not a huge fan of grits but I decided to give their jalapeno cheddar grits a shot and they were made perfectly. Most grits I have seen always look runny and have an oatmeal consistency, but not these!
All in all, I see myself visiting their restaurant and bringing friends in the very near future!
Southern food isn't a particularly hard cuisine to master, but Eli's still needs help. The pulled pork BBQ sandwich was good, if a touch on the dry side. The mac & cheese was particularly bad, which had the consistency and taste of Velveeta. The mashed potatoes clearly came out of a box of ready-made flakes.
The atmosphere redeemed partially redeemed the bad food. The small dining room is cozy and the play-it-yourself record collection is a nice touch. Also the BYOB policy makes Eli's a nice place to really enjoy yourself while you eat.
CASH ONLY. CASH ONLY. CASH ONLY.
I write this three times, because they lost a star for this. Not for BEING cash only, but for not making it clear.
This is the best BBQ in Cincinnati, by far. I am from Alabama so I have authority to make these types of pronouncements. I'll get to the food in a minute, but I need to say again CASH ONLY.
When I went, I was in a huge hurry, I was picking up lunch for the crew at a photo shoot and before I left I had searched the website AND the facebook page for hours and prices. Nothing said they were cash only. We are in a postmodern world, people--if you are cash only then you need to let people know. Who carries cash anymore? Not me. So I had to place my order, drive a couple miles away to an ATM, and then come back. Not good, and incredibly frustrating.
Now to the food:
Well--it's amazing. NO ONE frustrates me as much as I was on this day, and still gets four stars. No one, but Eli's, that is. I haven't even been able to venture into the land of ribs, which is one of my favorite lands...because I'm stuck on the pulled pork sandwich. It comes with slaw, which you MUST get. Listen to me: I HATE coleslaw. Never eat it. Would NEVER order it. But I'm telling you, you must get the coleslaw on your sandwich. Not on the side...ON the sandwich. And you will be transported, afterwards, to heaven. Bliss.
I have heard they are moving to OTR in a permanent location (not only in Findlay Market), and that will be absolutely amazing. I can't wait. Until then, Riverside Drive isn't too far.
But for the love of God, bring cash!
Went back to Eli's this weekend, and even though it was crowded on a Friday night, it was still awesome. This time, I went for the turkey bbq and the jalapeno cheddar grits and was not disappointed. I had never had turkey bbq before and will definitely be getting it again! I may like it even more than the pulled pork. The jalapeno cheddar grits were a better choice than the mac n' cheese, IMHO. And, of course, I got an Ale 81 soda.
I have some family coming in town this weekend and am thinking Eli's is the perfect place to bring them for a meal.
Yum! As a non-pork eater, I approach BBQ spots with a bit of skepticism. I devoured an amazing Hickory Smoked Turkey Sandwich and loved sitting outside on a picnic bench with our dog. Â Pork-eaters rejoiced with the pulled pork and ribs.
The sides were good, not great... I was hoping for more with the Mac & Cheese.
OMG I love Eli's. I thought my husband was being bowled over by their hipster decor, but their food is actually really good. I grew up eating a lot of barbeque, and this stacks up. Their pulled pork sandwiches are AMAZING. The ribs are good. The sides are hit and miss. The mac and cheese is gross (seriously, how do people like it? It's like processed cheese and soft noodles) but their jalapeno cheddar grits are good, and I'm down with pretty much any cornbread if I can smother it in honey and butter. All in all, a great spot.
Review Source:Not just Eli's BBQ, but Eli's Yummy BBQ.
DO:
-Ribs ($5 for 2, $10 for 4, $15 for 6)
-Mac & Cheese
DON'T:
-N/A
PARKING:
-Lot in the back
Ribs are amazing at Eli's. It's a dry rub and I believe it is smoked. It's so damn tender it makes you wonder how a human being can create such a wonderful dish. It's very likely that they sprinkle the ribs with either crack cocaine or fairy dust powder. Of course I haven't tried either of these rather hardcore substances, but you just need to trust me. It's so good it reminds me of the feeling that I get when I walk into the break room at work on a Friday afternoon to find leftover pizza from a meeting. You see, I absolutely love pizza, especially free pizza, on Fridays. So yea, the pizza it's delicious, I mean the ribs, wait, what?
Eli's BBQ is a wonder. Simply put, this is one of, if not the, best sandwiches I have ever eaten. I can't go to Findlay Market on a weekend without getting a sandwich, and their permanent location has even more to offer. The tender, hickory-smoked pulled pork is served drizzled with a fantastic sauce, under a pile of delicious (and I believe homemade) cole slaw, all on a toasted bun. Its vintage-rustic aesthetic, complete with vinyl record player, completes the experience. With a sandwich for only $5 and a plate (with two sides) for just $8, the value is incredible. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Oh, and they cater too. My wife and I love it so much we chose it for our rehearsal dinner.
Review Source:LOVE THE RIBS HERE!!! Smoky. Sweet. Meaty. The atmosphere is fun and they have bottles of coke. They also have really good mac n cheese. The place is BYOB so that is always a favorite. It is cash only so be prepared. It is also really popular so you may have to wait but it is worth it. SO DARN GOOD!!
We got takeout with the kids one night and it was great too.
ENJOY!
Yum Yum Yum Pulled Pork in my tum!
I tried Eli's for the first time at Midpoint Music Festival, so I didn't actually go to the restaurant - I tried one of the sandwiches at their little food truck station. That being said, I feel like I can't fully review how delicious the food could possibly be, having only had the sandwich. The sandwich in and of itself was very deserving of 4.5 stars, I'd give it 5 but I wish mine had a little bit more meat on it (but maybe they were being kind of scrimpy because of location and limited supply?) Anywho, definitely plan on visiting the restaurant. Rumor has it that they're opening a location downtown soon-ish!! Yay for cheap, delicious, expanded workday lunch options!
There is something to be said about a restaurant that is confident enough of its standing in the community that the sign out front does not display the name.
If I told you that the sign hanging over the front door is simply a yellow outline drawing of a pig on a dark brown background, would you know the place?
In this inconspicuous place, tucked away on Riverside Drive, just west of Delta Ave in the Columbia-Tusculum area is Eli's BBQ, touted as the best barbeque in the city and I am not here to argue. Â Don't come here expecting table linens or a drive through. Â Bring an appetite and bring cash; credit cards are not accepted.
The menu is simple, sandwiches are $5, sides are $2, or you can order the Plate for $8, which includes a sandwich and 2 sides. Â Sandwich offerings are Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Beef Hot Dogs (2) or Smoked Ribs (2 bones) and sides consist of Cheese Macaroni, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Jalapeno Cheddar Grits and Jalapeno Corn Bread.
I have made two visits to Eli's and to be honest, I have not been able to convince myself to order anything other than the Pulled Pork. Â A co-worker offers rave reviews of the Turkey and the Hot Dogs, but I cannot report on them myself. Â On my first visit I had the Cheese Macaroni and the Jalapeno Corn Bread. Â The Mac & Cheese was good, having experienced a homemade baked, Southern heart attack in shells and cheese form, all other Mac & Cheese dishes tend to pale in comparison. I also thought the corn bread lacked a little, I expected more "zip". Â
On the other hand, the Jalapeno Cheddar Grits were fabulous; creamy and with just enough bite to give me a little scalp sweat. Â The mashed potatoes appear to be pan seared, producing a very light crust, very good as well. Â The main attraction however is the sandwich. A very generous helping of smoked, pulled pork topped with barbeque sauce and a spoonful of coleslaw. Â You can request it without, but to get the full effect, I recommend the coleslaw topping. Â There is more barbeque sauce and plenty of napkins at each of the tables and believe me, you will need the napkins.
It will be a hardship, for sure, but I am going to force myself to keep going back until I have tried all the main entrees and I will report back.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May through October Eli's is also available at Findlay Market. Â Either location, you can't go wrong.
My husband and I went here for a lunch date but I will come back with our toddler soon. They have an outdoor eating area with plenty of space for little ones to roam, scream, throw a ball, whatever.
The turkey sandwich was good but I had a bite of my husbands pork bbq and I think I'll get that next time. Nothing remarkable about the mac n cheese, but its still yummy. They also have glass bottles for coke, which is always fun.
And as you leave, don't forget to drop that bottle into the clearly marked recycling bin.
A small little house on the side of the road in residential Cincinnati, you'd miss Eli's if you weren't looking closely (I missed it the first time). You walk in and there are a few tables inside, and a few outside, near where they do the cooking. It's very quaint and small, and they have an old school record player and a rather large record collection that people can browse through and choose music they like. Very cool.
Best pulled pork I've ever had...Just a delicious sandwich. Their sauce is unreal, the bun is good, and the pork is just perfect. I also had a side of the jalapeno cornbread, which was really good as well, and I grabbed an orange crush from the cooler by the register. For the sandwich, cornbread and drink it was only $9! Cheaper than any other meal I ate on the trip, and arguably the best food.
The pork was the star, but I looked around and everyone else's food looked great too. In hindsight I should have just been a glutton and ordered something else...Maybe next time.
It's in a random area in Cincinnati, but if you're ever around that area, I highly recommend Eli's.
Simply the best BBQ you will find in Cincinnati. I first tried Eli's at their booth at Findlay Market. Shortly after, their restaurant opened up in the East End. The storefront is easy to miss, especially if you're driving after dark. It's a small, simple place amongst rows of houses. The parking lot is a gravel pit accessible from a side road. Don't try to turn in from the street; its blocked off by a fence and railroad ties.
Once inside, you'll be greeted by a warm country feel of hardwood, old nostalgia hanging on the walls, and a record player where you can pick your own tunes. Up at the counter, a chalk board gives your four choices of dinners as well as a list of sides. The pulled pork sandwich is the flagship item; a must for anyone visiting for the first time. Looking for something different? Try the BBQ dogs: two beef franks with BBQ sauce and coleslaw. For sides, the jalepeno cornbread will light your tastebuds on fire, and the mac n' cheese is full of down-home goodness.
Pricing is simple: $5.00 for mains, $2.00 for sides and drinks. Build your own order.
During our visit, we had a group of 13 which means we filled up half of the tiny dining room. Kiri, our server, went above and beyond to accommodate us. She let us push the tables together, gave us cups for our wine (Eli's is BYOB), and delivered all of our orders promptly and piping hot. She even smiled as our friends played DJ and sifted through record after record on the turn table.
If you're in the mood for some tender, juicy pork, skip the big name chain and chow down at Eli's.
Price per person: $10.00
CASH ONLY.
After not being able to find a place to agree on in downtown Cincy. Graham D. found the "best bbq" in Cincy on yelp. Even thought I'm not the biggest bbq fan, I said sure. We were easily a half mile away and we could smell it. I knew this was a great sign.
We both got a pulled pork sandwich, me with cornbread & mac & cheese. Â The food itself was pretty good. The sandwich especially. The mac & cheese was a bit of let down, it was kinda better velveeta, but the sandwich and ambiance made up for it.
Elis is set in such a cool little neighborhood. It has a park and picnic tables surrounding it with what looked like a community garden. They encourage guests to byob picnic right outside and I thought that was really cool. Â Inside they've got a record player for you to put on any old classic they've got. Â I loved the vibe, and for that alone you should check it out.
Cash only though*
I heard about this place on Yelp a while ago and have been jones-ing for it for quite some time. I was in the Columbia Tusculum area today playing a little golf when my friend and I wanted a bite to eat. We Yelped the area and his phone showed Eli's where apparently his friend was having a going away party. And as I have wanted to go for a while, this was too perfect to miss.
This is unlike any other restaurant I have reviewed in Cincinnati. Often when you go to a restaurant, you may ask about the dining experience; was it casual or formal, did it have a theme like a sports bar or Italian joint. This is nothing like I have ever had before.
I don't know if it's because he was having a get together there, but it seemed like a cookout with some of the best bbq I have ever had. We walked up and the restaurant is surrounded by green space and picnic tables, with people eating at the tables, surrounding the smoker and it's intoxicating aroma, and even playing beersbee right next to the restaurant. My friends friend told us to put an order inside and come back out so we did.
The inside looked cozy and nice, but it was not meant for us. We walked through the dining area and placed an order for a $5 Pulled Pork Sandwich, a $2 side of mashed potatoes, and a $2 Crush soda. 9 bucks (in cash btw) is one of the best deals I've paid for a meal like this.
The pulled pork was INCREDIBLE. Hands down the best I've had. It was not overly saucy, but rather relied more on it's natural flavor and spices instead of gollops of heavy sauce. It also had a wonderful crispness to it, almost like gristle, and I suspect they throw it on a flat top. That was amazing. They also added cole slaw to it to finish it off; excellent! And the mashed potatoes were incredible. Wonderfully seasoned and they too were finished on a flat top to give it a potato-pancake feel, but it was just a crust, giving you multiple textures in one bite. Brilliant.
So really I just had a fantastic time. I was given a beer by the guy going away and enjoyed my food, had some conversation and sat and relaxed in the grass. It was one of the best culinary experiences I've ever had in Cincinnati, and I highly, highly recommend it for fans of pulled pork.
Eli's is my new favorite BBQ joint. The pulled pork is amazing, as are the beans, as is the cornbread, as is the sauce, and so on like that. It's also very affordable and served fast.
A couple of caveats: the indoor seating (which features local artwork and a working phonograph) is limited, but there's plenty of benches and even a grassy picnic area outside. Also, they only accept cash, which could be a real bummer if you only have plastic.
Go get some.
My love for food has its costs. I now shop at the Big and Tall store (p.s. I'm not tall), I spend an inordinate amount of money on eating out, and I like my BBQ sauce by the pint with a straw in it. Yes, it's true, I love BBQ. And lucky for me, southern-style BBQ is infiltrating every city in the United States. Here in Cincinnati we are blessed with a near perfect pit BBQ joint in Columbia-Tusculum by the name of Eli's BBQ.
This place is all kinds of money. $5 gets you a bombass pulled pork or smoked turkey sandwich on a toasted bun with or without coleslaw (don't hate on cabbage, get the slaw!). $3 more gets you two side dishes which are all ridiculously ridiculous. The mac and cheese is gooey and angelic, the jalapeno cornbread is a fiery delight, and the baked beans are the best I've had in my life (I think I tasted chili powder, bourbon, and Tinkerbell's fairy dust in them... they were that good).
The ambiance is awesome, you can eat outside on a picnic bench or sit inside their cozy indoor seating area and fill your audible senses with the amazing sounds of vinyl records from the 60s and 70s. The staff is fun and upbeat, and honestly there is nothing negative I can say about this place (except that they didn't open their restaurant across the street from my place).
If your idea of BBQ is dipping a McNugget into a BBQ sauce packet then expand your horizons and treat yourself to a culinary orgasm at Eli's BBQ. And if you're already a lover of smoked meats and great homemade southern fare, then make your way to Columbia-Tusculum and bask in the blissfulness that is Eli's BBQ.
I had the immense pleasure of having Eli's before I moved to Texas. I've yet to find a single pulled pork sandwich, smoked brisket or rack of ribs better than I had at one visit to Eli's.
If I was Shel Silverstein, I would've written a song about this place and sent it to Johnny Cash.
But essentially this place has all of the qualities you're looking for in a restaurant. It's really amazing food, made apparent by the external smokers tacked to the side of the building, and the crew of happily bearded workers visually pouring love and craft into each cut of meat. The price is too little, and the servings are just right.
And a lot of you are probably familiar with the the stand they had in Findlay Market. It's surprising that moving to a physical location hasn't really made them lose that feel. You'll probably miss the parking, and the place is awkwardly arranged to not make it too obvious you're in a house. Regardless, it's amazing food.
You can take kids, you can take your girlfriend (I did!) and you can avoid having to avoid each other in lieu of TVs and gimmicks. This is the kind of place that the community needs to foster.
So go there. It's as simple as that. You need a place to eat, and everyone likes good BBQ.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,607 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,970 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,306 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,904 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,983 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
