The Proper Pig Smokehouse

bbq and the setting at this location is super good. entered near eleven, it wasn't packed. the staff was very helpful and welcoming. this place has an awesome atmosphere.

Meat was really good. I live brisket and this was one of the best. They ran out of ribs but I had a chance to steal one from my husband . All of the four meats we're awesome. Thanks

I enjoyed our visit to the Proper Pig. My wife and I stopped here for dinner. They have a relatively small dining room and counter service found at most traditional barbecue places. The menu is straightforward - a selection of the standard barbecue meats, plus one or two unique sandwiches. They also have a good selection of beers as well.

I ended up getting the brisket, the pork ribs, and the turkey breast, in addition to potato salad and the smokehouse beans. My wife had the brisket sandwich and cole slaw, both of which she enjoyed. I enjoyed the flavor and bark of the brisket, but I think it might have been cut with the grain, rather than against the grain, which made cutting it somewhat difficult. Otherwise it was good brisket. The pork ribs were fairly simple - I think the rub is mostly salt and pepper and they don’t put any perceptible amount of sauce on them prior to them being served. Instead, a sweet-tangy sauce is available which is quite good. I think the ribs are cooked to the proper amount of tenderness so that they are tender, yet don’t quite fall off the bone. Finally the turkey was very good. Again, it seems like it’s probably a simple salt and pepper rub and the turkey ends up being very peppery. If you like pepper, it’s great, but if not, it won’t be your cup of tea. The turkey is moist and tender.

I liked the smokehouse beans a lot. They had a lot of flavor. I was not as big of a fan of the potato salad, which didn’t really seem like a cohesive dish instead of just some chopped potatoes in dressing.

Overall, I think this is some of the better BBQ in Cleveland. The value is good - we got all of the food pictured for under $40. I’d rate this as better quality than Mabel’s. There are a couple things to improve on (brisket slicing, sides), however I would definitely come here again and would recommend it to BBQ fans.

Great BBQ meats! Quick service in a low-key spot. Great for a fast, but very filling and tasty, bite. One critique: They could up their sides game -- beans and coleslaw are good but I'd love some cornbread and mac n' cheese.