Rebel SmokeHouse is the premier (and only?) BBQ joint in Mullens. PLUS burgers, pasta, steaks, sandwiches and wings. Now that's a mouthful, literally. Here's what I went with: 1/4 rack St Louis Style Ribs with beer bread, pasta salad & mac & cheese. St. Louis-style ribs are a specific cut of pork ribs. They’re trimmed from spare ribs to create a more rectangular, uniform shape, with the rib tips and cartilage removed. Compared to baby back ribs, St. Louis ribs are typically meatier, have more fat and connective tissue, and often deliver a richer pork flavor. They’re a barbecue favorite because they cook evenly and hold up well to smoking, grilling and saucing. The ribs delivered on a rich, savory flavor and a satisfying bite. Less tender than I'd prefer. The beer bread added a slightly sweet, malty note. The pasta salad provided a cool contrast. The mac & cheese added some creaminess. So it's like we hit all the food groups.

Grade: B

Spencer is home to the Black Walnut Festival and a handful of wonderful local restaurants. One of the newest additions to that lineup is The Hungry Moose, located at 215 Church Street. The Hungry Moose features BBQ, including pulled pork, brisket, chicken leg quarters and sausage. Sides include baked beans, french fries, cole slaw, mac & cheese, red potato salad and "salt potatoes." I went for a chicken leg quarter with sides of mac & cheese, salt potatoes and house BBQ pulled pork. Plus I got one container of each of the BBQ sauces - which is a good variety. The chicken was fine -- cooked well enough, but not especially memorable or juicy enough to stand out. The mac & cheese leaned dry and felt like it needed a little more sauce or creaminess to bring it together. The salt potatoes were literally small potatoes, simple and straightforward, but not much going on beyond that. Grade: B

Buddy’s All American Bar-B-Que is a barbecue restaurant that began in Huntington around 2000 and expanded to Milton. The latter location has since shuttered. But the concept is the same - a focus on smoked meats like pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and wings, paired with sides such as mac and cheese and coleslaw.

I went for the Bootanavan (Boo-tan-a-van), which is a garlic-herb tortilla filled with ground beet, fries, tomatoes, lettuce, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. This one’s messy, filling, and honestly pretty fun to eat. The garlic-herb tortilla gives it a little extra flavor, and the combo of beef and fries makes it super hearty, while the lettuce, tomato, and jalapeños keep it from feeling too heavy. The cheddar and ranch kind of melt everything together into a creamy, slightly over-the-top bite. Grade: B

Almost Heaven Smokehouse is a BBQ trailer that was located in Mill Creek when I visited, but it also travels elsewhere around the state and beyond. They offer up standard BBQ fare like ribs, brisket, pulled pork, wings, burgers, brats, mac & Cheese, cole slaw, baked beans, baked potatoes and more. I enjoyed BBQ pork with mac & cheese and potato salad. They had several BBQ sauces from which to choose. The BBQ pork was tender and lightly smoky. The mac & cheese was creamy and mild, and the potato salad added a cool, tangy contrast to the plate. A straightforward, comforting plate that delivered as expected without any frills. Grade: B

Mo Betta BBQ is barbecue spot located inside The Market in Huntington that has shuttered since from my last visit.

Prior to this location, they had a spot in Winfield, which has also closed.

The menu was fairly unchanged from one location to the other: beef brisket sandwiches, brisket Philly sandwiches and pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, plus sides like mac & cheese.

It was a generous portion of pulled pork sandwich that I received, as well as the macaroni and cheese. The barbecue sauce is flavorful - thick and tangy. Though the pork was a bit fattyand began to lean toward the greasy side.

While the food was average, the service left more to be desired. I had placed an online order, which wasn't even started by the time I arrived and it was supposed to have been finished then. The cook had been in the back playing on their phone while wearing gloves and then didn't change the gloves before preparing my food. Something that was hard for me to swallow. Grade: C

B.C. MaC in Morgantown is a casual barbecue spot located on Pleasant Street that specializes in smoked meats, sandwiches & bowls. B.C. MaC actually began as Big Cock’s BBQ, a boldly named jerk and barbecue spot with a playful rooster logo. The original concept leaned heavily on Jamaican jerk flavors with some barbecue influence. Over time, the restaurant rebranded as B.C. MaC to create a more approachable, family-friendly identity while still nodding to its roots. Decor is minimal, as was the foot traffic. My order for a mac & cheese bowl topped with BBQ pork and crispy onions came out quick. The cheese sauce was creamy but a little one-note, and the pork, while tender, didn’t bring much depth of flavor. The crispy onions helped with texture. Grade: B

The 25th Annual Ribfest in Marmet featured a handful of BBQ vendors. Held at the Ben Morris football stadium, the event also featured live music, food vendors, amusement rides in the Kids Zone, petting zoo & more. It costs $6 (cash) to get in, so I took a loop to see what is all available. There were a few standard, general vendors you see at events like this - the fried foods, the old timey drinks, the old fashioned ice cream. Johnson's BBQ & Cowboys BBQ are two BBQ vendors I've had in past years, so I checked out the other two. Swine BBQ is based out of Medina, Ohio, and features Texas-style smoked meats. I got four rib bones here, which don't come sauced. I made samples of their sweet and golden BBQ sauces to try with the ribs. Overall, these were a bit on the dry side, but I appreciated the lack of fat and still fairly tender. Old Town BBQ is a traveling BBQ team with award-winning ribs. I did a half rack here with baked beans (!) and potato salad. Again, the ribs here were dry. I think I've become spoiled with competition-style BBQ, and these ones are made and put in a warming pan. The potato salad was bangin. The beans reminded me why I don't love baked beans. Or, at least, not these kind. Pop's Snow Palace & Treats Peach lemonade is just one of my favorites. Shrimp Lips The crab mac & cheese wasn't bad, but the mac itself was just too thick and dense.

City Barbeque in Dayton is known for its competition-quality smoked meats served in a fast-casual setting that’s both approachable and consistent. The restaurant has a classic, laid-back BBQ joint feel—clean and welcoming, with counter service and plenty of seating. The pulled pork is tender and flavorful, while the smoked sausage has a satisfying snap and deep, smoky flavor. The soft, buttery bread is a great complement to the meats, and the green beans are seasoned well with a hint of bacon. The corn pudding is sweet, custardy, and a standout side, while the potato salad is cool and tangy with just the right amount of tang. The hushpuppies are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and make a great savory snack to round out the meal. Portions are generous, making it easy to share or take leftovers home. The variety of sauces lets you customize each bite, from sweet and tangy to bold and spicy. Have you been? Grade: B