Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q

Not for me. We were hungry for ribs and checked the reviews, so decided to visit Burbanks. We eat out almost every day and are usually happy . I really like ribs, but was very disappointed. The outside was tough, had to peel to get to the meat, and the meat was too tough. Couldn't finish my meal. The waitress was helpful and attentive and the cornbread was good, but not enough for us to come back.…

Best "Q" this side of Memphis!. I've sampled every bbq joint in Cincinnati, and I keep coming back to Burbank's. The pork is always tender and flavorful; delicious even without sauce. Speaking of sauces, there's something for every taste, from the sweet-ish red to (my fave!) the mustard-based hot southern tang. The side dishes are authentic southern cookin'; the sweet potato casserole is sweet, sure, but still tastes like sweet potatoes. The collard greens have just the right tang of vinegar. The Burgoo is a great, thick soup to start off with... I rarely order it, though, 'cause I just can't wait to get to the smoked pig-meat!

Service is generally prompt, friendly and courteous, and the bar is stocked with a good variety of beers. Live Blues 3 nights a week, too!

The true aficionados would tell you that there are wig shops in Memphis that serve better BBQ....which may be so, but we're a long way from Memphis! About 500 miles, I believe, which is a heck of a drive for a pulled pork sandwich.…

yum. This is barbecue- smoky, fall apart tender ribs- cooked on-site, great tangy (not yicky sweet) mustardy sauce, delicious side dishes- the fried green tomatoes were delectable, greens and sweet potatoes great. The only thing I didn't care much for was the "famous" cornbread- sweet and cake-y, rather than my preferred eggy and no sweetener. Ambience is wholly missing- but, hey, this is a barbecue joint- who the heck needs ambience, especially once the blues start up. Why Cincinnati flocks to "that other place" is beyond me- but they can keep going there- then there's no three hour line at Burbanks! I'll be back- gotta try the brisket...…

I must answer the critics. It is very easy to be on the outside, looking in and make comments about things you know so little about....but I would like to take a moment to defend myself....First off, I spend 75 hours a week at Burbank's trying to make sure that we serve quality, Memphis style barbecue at a reasonable price, in a clean, friendly environment. True, the place has gone through many owners and the direction has not always been right, but over the last three years we have tried very hard to return to what makes Burbank's the best place for barbecue. We smoke our products every day, we have won awards at the Taste of Cincinnati the last two years, including the best "damn" dish in 2006. I read a comment on here that the place is dirty. This is not true. I have a cleaning service that cleans every day, the carpets are steam cleaned every month, and I also go through Board of Health inspections regularly, and I can say that this place is not dirty.

As far as the sign not working, I will tell you that the cost to fix the sign was $10,000. The cost to replace the sign was $15,000. I have less than a year left on my lease and may be moving this to another location. It did not make sense for me to spend that money to fix a sign for such a short period of time, because it might not be possible to move it at a later date.

We still give cornbread out with every entree purchased, but could no longer afford to give out endless baskets at no charge. I am not in business to have people fill up on free cornbread and purchase very little. A basket of cornbread costs me $1.00 to make not including the labor, and I sell it for $1.75, not really a money maker, but no longer a money loser....Lastly I would like to say, that at any time, if we do not live up to your expectations, all you need to do is ask for myself or a manager and we will do everything in our power to rectify any problem, but you give me no chance to do this by coming on here and posting negative comments. Peter Zimmer…