City Barbeque — Restaurant in Springfield Township

I tried City Barbeque for the first time tonight, and overall, the experience was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some things really impressed me, while others fell surprisingly flat. Starting with the sides.. Unfortunately, they left much to be desired. The mac and cheese was a big letdown. While the noodles were cooked perfectly with a nice texture, the flavor just wasn’t there. It was watery, underseasoned, and oddly lacking any cheesy richness, which made it feel more like a filler than a feature. The banana pudding had a similar issue. Visually, it looked promising, and the online description made it sound like a nostalgic treat. But taste-wise, it missed the mark. The whipped cream and the crumbly topping added some texture and buttery sweetness, but the pudding itself was bland, just a one-note vanilla flavor. Even with fresh banana slices, there was barely any real banana taste, which made it oddly forgettable for a dessert that should be comforting and bold.

The hush puppies had potential too because they had a decent flavor on the inside, but they spent just a bit too long in the fryer. The result was a tough, overly crunchy exterior that bordered on burnt. A few seconds less in the oil, and they might’ve been a win. Now onto the highlight: the meats. This is where City Barbeque really shines. We tried the Triple Q meats, which was a standout. It brought together a variety of meats with smoky depth and rich barbecue flavor. Every bite had a satisfying mix of textures and seasoning.

The smoked turkey deserves special mention. It was incredibly tender, juicy, and carried a subtle but distinct smoked flavor. Turkey is notoriously easy to dry out, but this was perfectly moist and practically melted in your mouth. We also ordered the pulled pork and pulled chicken, and both were equally impressive. The meats were well-seasoned, still juicy, and packed with flavor with no need to drown them in sauce (though the sauces they offer do pair nicely if you want the extra punch).

Another fun touch is their selection of glass-bottled sugar cane sodas. They’re a bit on the pricey side, but it’s a cool throwback vibe and a tasty alternative to fountain drinks. All in all, if you’re heading to City Barbeque, the meats are absolutely worth the trip with being flavorful, well-cooked, and satisfying. Just skip the sides unless they’ve made some major improvements. It’s not a cheap spot, so your money’s best spent on what they clearly do best:...

Update… I finally went back tonight and they were able to get worse than my last visit. There won’t be another. Garbage cans over flowing. Dirty dish holders packed full of dirty dishes. No silverware. Empty towel holders on the tables. All of the bbq sauce containers were empty. Only a few customers. I told the lady behind the counter and she eventually sent someone out to empty trash. I would recommend that everyone steers clear and let this location just put itself under. The ownership apparently could care less about service so I won’t spend any more money trying to help this terrible business. (Have added pictures from tonight’s visit) I This place started with great folks and great service. Unfortunately the service has dropped drastically. I ordered the city sampler and had to explain why the board said was in it to the cashier. Then I asked for corn bread and she said it was included but charged me $3.19 for it (the board says 2.99 and my sampler said 2 sides. She then made us pick 2 other sides and upsized them for an additional 5.00(didn’t really want that). The food was really good but bad service is what chases your...

We placed our order online to be picked up at the Brentwood (Finneytown) location. My daughter said her chicken was fine. I ordered two bones and a smoked sausage link with peppers and onions, Texas toast on the side. That's exactly the way the receipt reads. I get almost to Fairfield when my daughter separates the order and we realize not only do I have a thimble of cole slaw instead of peppers and onions, but it's all on the Texas toast...making the toast soggy. The two rib bones were just that...bones. With barely any meat, the bones were prime for sucking...that's all! I called them to issue a complaint. Since I was in another county and wasn't going back then, I was told they had no way of noting my name for me to come in the next day for a complimentary resolve. I was told they would return the 'reward' points to my daughter's account as remedy. Guess what....that doesn't apply as you get the $3 off daily for the month of September anyway. I didn't even mention the 'attitude' that the young lady had when she brought the order out to us. Needless to say we won't be going back to that location. By the way, what's the $.25...