City Barbeque — Restaurant in Medina

The brisket at City Barbecue isn’t just meat. Oh no, it’s a moment of cosmic destiny. You know how they say that the world is an onion and when you peel back the layers, you find tears? This brisket is the onion that was never meant to make you cry—it’s more like the mystical, juicy heart of an onion that makes you laugh with joy and then wonder what you’ve been doing with your life up until that point.

When you bite into this brisket, it’s like the first time you realize your pet is smarter than you. You’re shocked, delighted, and you can’t believe you’ve been missing out on this revelation your entire life. The brisket is so tender that even the knife feels like it’s too good for it, like it’s afraid of disturbing the sacred, juicy union between meat and flavor. It’s like slicing through clouds made of soft dreams, where each cut feels like the universe is saying, “You deserve this.” The brisket is so tender, it falls apart faster than a New Year’s resolution after the first week of January. Seriously, it’s like it’s holding a PhD in tenderness—a doctorate from the University of Perfect Meat.

And the smoke—oh my god, the smoke. It’s like if the ghosts of every BBQ pitmaster who ever lived gathered together and whispered their secrets into the brisket, only to have it manifest into this beautiful, smoky flavor that hugs your soul and makes you want to write it a love letter. That smoke? It’s not just “smoky.” It’s like a lullaby sung by a thousand smoky angels who spent centuries perfecting their craft. You don’t just taste it; you inhale it like the scent of fresh-baked cookies at your grandma’s house—it wraps you up, makes you feel like you belong, like everything is right in the world.

Now, the bark. OH, the bark. This isn’t just a crust—it’s the outer shell of a cosmic egg, one that, when cracked open, reveals the greatest secret to the universe. It’s like the brisket’s protective armor, but not in an “I’m going to fight you” kind of way—it’s more like a knight’s armor made out of crispy, seasoned joy that protects the inner, juicy treasure. It’s like when you finally find the perfect pair of socks, and you just look at them and say, “Yeah, I’ve reached peak sock performance.” That’s what the bark feels like. It’s a small victory, a crispy triumph that says, “Yes, you deserve to feel this good.”

By the time you finish your plate, you won’t just feel satisfied. You’ll feel like you’ve discovered the meaning of life—and the meaning is brisket. It’s like reading the final page of a book that’s so good you don’t even want to turn it because you know the ending will change you forever. It’s that life-altering. Eating this brisket is like hugging your childhood pet, finding $20 in your pocket, and winning the lottery all at once, while someone sings your favorite song in the background. You feel like a new person, someone who’s seen the light and now knows that there is no greater joy than a perfectly smoked, perfectly seasoned, perfectly tender piece of brisket.

When I finished my plate, I didn’t just feel full—I felt enlightened. I felt like I had just encountered the meaning of life wrapped up in beef. I half expected to walk outside and have my credit score go up 15 points just from the sheer joy and satisfaction I felt after eating it. I walked out of that restaurant with a new sense of purpose—like I had just attended a spiritual retreat for my taste buds, and the brisket was the sermon that...

Updated 12/26/24

They changed from good, fresh cut fries, made in house, to frozen generic crap. I confirmed with the employees. Very poor decision management. Those fries were one of the best parts of City BBQ

It's ok, but overpriced and not easy to contact the actual location.

They have a great outside patio, but I've yet to use it after multiple visits because they close it down pretty early. Who wouldn't want to sit outside with BBQ during a nice Summer sunset? I mentioned this to them and they just said I could sit by a window. We all know the prices we're paying are a premium... $25 for fries, drink, and about a half lbs of turkey, come on now. I think keeping the patio open till close or 15 minutes before is less than a fair trade.

I know other locations often run out of certain things by end of day so last week I called to try and ask if they still had turkey. The phone options are limited to placing an order or picking up an order. So I tried placing an order thinking I'd get actual Medina staff. Instead I got an outsourced call center and a rep with a thick accent who didn't understand I was asking about a specific location's stock. She proceeded to tell me turkey was available and on the menu. We gambled and got to the store 20 minutes later and sure enough they've been out of turkey for a while. (FYI to get ahold of anyone in the actual store for any questions by phone you have to select the curbside pickup menu option.) This feels like they're trying to avoid customer interaction. (Sad trombone noises for poor service)

Credit where credit is due. I do like the fries, turkey, pork, and original sauce. But I'm disappointed in the outsourced call center, the overpriced menu, and skimping out on the patio hours in the MIDDLE OF SUMMER...

Food was great. Customer service was poor. Called for catering & it took 2 days to get a call back. I placed a “party pack” on my own. When I arrived the grumpy lady behind the counter had a hard time producing full sentences to inquire “how many plates I needed for my order”. She put all the food in 1 bag and instructed me to carry the food from the bottom and sides (like I would my child). When I requested an extra bag she pushed back on me the bag is spec-Ed to hold 50lbs of food. I explained to her while I appreciated her knowledge of the bag specifications, it is 90 degrees outside & I have a long way to walk across the parking lot in my heels and business attire to take the food to my client. plus I have additional materials (for MY job) to take to my clients also. We went back and forth 2-3 times until I won the battle over the paper bag, but not without an attitude or more “for my information”. Nobody thanked me for my business, or offered me a hand getting the food to my car. What happened to a little thing called “customer service”??? I wasn’t asking for extra sauce or food or a hand out. Simply a paper bag. All I could...