Ray Ray's Hog Pit Westerville — Restaurant in Genoa Township

Wanted to Love Ray Ray's, but Meh. I love BBQ. All BBQ from any area of the country BBQ. I even bought my husband a smoker for some kickin' home made BBQ. We were running errands and we decided to grab dinner on the way home. I have heard raves about Ray Ray's BBQ for years, so I suggested that we get in line in the drive through. It took about 20 minutes to inch our way up to the window where you place your order and receive your food. Once we were committed in the drive through, we saw a walk up window on the other side of the building. Not entirely sure if that was for pick-up orders only or order/pick up. Check it out as it seems to provide quicker service.

We each ordered an $11 Beef Brisket sandwich (served on a standard 6"? flat sub bun). I had the sweet BBQ. We threw in a small, individual size order of mac and cheese, and the same of corn pudding, plus a 3-bone order of ribs (with sweet bbq) to try. Overall, we both were disappointed with our meals.

The beef brisket had a mild and pleasant hardwood smoky flavor, with appropriate pink smoke "rings". The sweet BBQ sauce was not overly sweet, and had a very nice flavor, similar to the "Sweet Baby Ray's" that we purchase from GFS, but I believe with a bit less chile spice/peppery "after bite". Maybe a bit too tame for those that are more spice adventurous, but I gave the sweet BBQ sauce a thumbs up!

The ribs were relatively meaty with a nice hardwood smokiness. However, like the beef brisket sandwiches, the meat was tender enough, but it was dry, dry, dry, like need a glass of water to get it down your throat, dry. The beef sandwiches were not the nice, moist slices of beef like I see in pictures of other reviews, but randomly sized sticks of dry beef that seemed to have been the last dried pieces left on the board after carving the brisket. Neither the ribs nor the brisket sandwiches suffered from an overabundance of sauce- the lack of adequate sauce perhaps accounting for the dryness (although it should not).

The mac and cheese was oddly colored, flavored, and lacked adequate cheese "sauce". It was inedible to my husband due to the strong, overpowering smoky flavor, and to me because I prefer my mac and cheese sans brown sugar. Why would anyone smoke mac and cheese?

The corn pudding tasted exactly like GFS brand, but it, too, was inexplicably dry! We spent around $40 for the meal, and ended up tossing both the mac and cheese and corn pudding. We NEVER throw restaurant food out after one taste, but the mac and cheese tasted horrible. I stopped eating my beef brisket and saved it for another day.

The beef brisket reheated nicely and had retained its smoky flavor. I did have to add some of my own BBQ sauce to the mix. The sandwich was much better as a leftover with more sauce, nothwitstanding the insane dryness of the beef brisket sticks.

Overall, that dinner was an expensive loser. It felt like we were last in line at a large buffet and served the trail end of food pans that had sat on a food warmer too long. I enjoyed the sweet BBQ sauce and the ribs were good. If I ever return, I will avoid the beef brisket, mac and cheese and corn...

Update: it has become even more hit or miss in regards to quality. Sometimes excellent and sometimes almost inedibly dry. Pricing has almost doubled over the last few years. What used to be a $7 pulled pork sandwich is now $12.50. When it is good, it is almost worth the new price. Unfortunately, almost a third of the time, it is not. They have added roasted fingerling potatoes, which are very good, especially with their accompanying sauce.

Previous review: Good pulled pork. Not the best I've ever had, but better than other BBQ joints in the area. The brisket is hit or miss, unless you love fat. Sometimes it is half fat, other times it is trimmed perfectly. The staff is very accommodating and will trim the fat if you wish. If you order with sauce on the side, it is easy enough to trim yourself. I am partial to Kansas City style and their regular sweet BBQ sauce fits the bill. But they have other sauces if you prefer. The amount of meat per sandwich is huge, a half pound per pulled pork sandwich. The jerk chicken is quite spicy, just how I like it. A few times the meat has been dried out. Sides are just okay. The home made tasting roll for the sandwiches is amazing -- if you are lucky enough that it is in stock. Be aware that they are closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Also, get there early if you have your heart set on a specific meal. Sometimes they...

Best BBQ I've had in Columbus, yet! Meat was well cooked, sides were flavorful and delicious. Will definitely return!

Ordered the Meat Sweats, comes with pulled pork, beef brisket, jerk chicken, a hot sausage link, and 3 ribs.

Pulled pork was on point, great smoke ring, great dry rub, and nice and smokey and tender- not dry at all!

Beef brisket had a great smoke ring, dry rub was good, flavor was alright, but I'm not a huge fan of beef brisket. It's tough to find a good one that isn't dry.

Jerk chicken was extremely flavorful and not dry. Great flavor, fantastic seasoning, and was the first thing I devoured!

Hot sausage link contained cheese, I'm not a fan of sausage with cheese anyhow. But this was good, well cooked, just not something I would want if I ordered the Meat Sweats again.

Lastly, the ribs had a good amount of meat on them. The dry rub was fantastic, and the meat was juicy and well smoked.

Tried the Carolina, Sweet and Habanero sauces were all delicious!

I would definitely recommend the corn pudding, greens and baked beans as a side!

One of the best meals I've paid for and not been mad about the cost!...