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| - After so many rave reviews of this place, mine wit be a little more grounded.
I stopped here for lunch to see what City Barbecue was all about. This is not a table service bbq joint. It's BBQ fast casual. You order at the counter, give them your name, go get your drink, silverware, condiments, etc, find a seat and they call your name. You clean up after yourself.
I went with the Pick 2 option with brisket and pulled pork. I added a drink and a side of Mac n cheese. This came to $19.24. Ouch.
The waiting was minimal. Along with everything I ordered, they also gave me 3 side samples of corn casserole, green beans something I couldn't figure or what but it had rice on the bottom.
First off, the side samples were all unappetizing and looked like they were either canned or cooked too long or both. The taste was kind of meh as well. This taste continued with the Mac n cheese. The meats were tender, especially the brisket which is what they apperently shine with. The pork had no real flavor.
I tried 4 of their sauces and all I would consider thick - gravy like thick. I think it was Burnside that I liked the best but I couldn't get over the sweetness and the thickness of all of them.
I can't say I am a fan of this place. But then it's a chain, and not even based in the Carolinas. This is a chain based in Ohio. And that right there explains the blandness and the gravy like sauces.
If you want good bbq, there are plenty of locally owned places around worthy of your $$. Try Midwood Smokehouse, McCoys or Queen City Q. But come here if you want a step up from Other chains like Sonny's. I'm sure all of the above are cheaper as well.
So overall a 2 star place. The brisket was worth the 3rd star.
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