Mabel’s BBQ
It was worth the wait. Since Michael Symon’s barbecue spot opened on East Fourth Street in April, we can’t get enough of his tasty tribute to Cleveland’s Eastern European heritage. Be sure to douse the slow-cooked meats — beef brisket, lamb ribs, kielbasa — in a tangy barbecue sauce made with Bertman Ballpark Mustard. “I really wanted to do a barbecue place that is inspired by this city that I was raised in,” he says. 2050 E. Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-417-8823, mabelsbbq.com
Proper Pig Smokehouse
It’s all about the rub here. “The sauce is a compliment, not the star of the show,” says co-owner Shane Vidovic. The Texas-style barbecue house takes pride in the bark-like crust that piles high on its smoked meats. Take the brisket. It’s rubbed in a hefty amount of salt and black pepper and then smoked fresh for 12 to 16 hours daily. “You get one bite and you can’t stop eating it,” says Vidovic. 17100 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 440-665-3768, properpigsmokehouse.com
Woodstock BBQ
There is no shortage of flavors or options at this new Lakewood spot. Aside from a few mainstays such as its top-selling brisket and ribs, the menu is constantly changing. Don’t miss out on this month’s pulled pork, dry-rubbed chicken wings or jerk chicken covered with a sauce from Kingston, Jamaica. “We’re getting people that come from the South saying it’s completely solid barbecue,” says owner Robert Togliatti. 13362 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-8828, facebook.com/woodstockbbq
