Passionate pitmasters

In an age when fast means lightning fast and gratification is instant, when it comes to barbecue, perfection can never be rushed. In fact, the process has pretty much stayed the same for centuries. The passionate pitmasters at City BBQ in Medina wouldn’t have it any other way.

The pits are fired up 24/7, coaxing meats to new flavor heights through the time-honored, low-and-slow method over hickory wood.

“Out back our team is tending to the smokers that literally never turn off,” says Market Leader John Yacobozzi. “We make competition-quality, expertly crafted meats that strictly follow the original recipes from our founders Rick and Bonnie Malir, who started City BBQ out of their garage in Columbus. Even the wood matters. We locally source hickory logs to give the meats a distinctive flavor. The end result is so good, we serve it without sauces and provide several as a side option.”

Meats that are available on order and by the pound include 18-Hour Beef Brisket, Hand Pulled Pork, ’Bama Pulled Chicken, Texas-Style Sausage, Turkey Breast and Triple ’Que.

The same amount of meticulous care that goes into the meats is seen in the side dishes, too, with natural barbecue complements like baked beans, collard greens, corn pudding, green beans, mac & cheese, potato salad and slaw. Just like in the South, collard greens are slow simmered with pork stock, bacon and onions, and the potato salad carries a tangy mustard kick.

“All of our sides and desserts are made in-house every day,” says John. “Even as our restaurants expand, our philosophy hasn’t changed. Everything is made from scratch. We stand out by staying true to our process. Our pitmaster undergos training to maintain consistency, because when you’re cooking hundreds of pounds of meat, sometimes 150 racks of ribs for a holiday weekend, there’s no room for shortcuts.”

Party Perfect

If there’s one thing real barbecue is known for, it’s feeding a crowd.

With graduation parties, Memorial Day picnics, family reunions, rustic weddings and summer celebrations on the horizon, their party packs are designed to make hosting effortless and affordable. Party Packs start as low as $10 per person and include meats, sides, buns, sauces and utensils.

“If you opt for full-service catering, we do it all, from delivery and setup to serving, so the hosts can actually enjoy their own party,” he says. “I think people don’t appreciate how much time it takes to create great barbecue. It takes a lot of time, training and consistency.”

One thing that’s been consistent since City BBQ opened in 1999 is its ties to the community. John and his staff partner with local schools, nonprofits and fundraising initiatives across the region. From supporting high school teams to participating in major events like Taste of the Browns and Cleveland Food Bank fundraisers, the team regularly gives back.

Check out the City BBQ rewards program and earn points for every delicious bite. Get $5 for downloading the City BBQ App. And if you’d like to fundraise with City BBQ, pick a date and they will give you 20% of sales back to your group.

City BBQ

• 960 N. Court St., Medina, 330-222-6737
• 2870 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-800-2532
• 17818 Royalton Rd., Strongsville, 440-783-9105
• 35495 Chester Rd., Avon, 440-230-8563
• 24325 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, 216-503-6777
• 6372 SOM Ctr. Rd., Solon, 440-236-0250
  

CityBBQ.com