We’re getting more and more spoiled when it comes to good barbecue in Columbus, from the long-running Smokehouse Brewing to the always-fantastic Ray Ray’s (which now has three locations!). Now we’re being treated to newcomers like Smoked on High, a barbecue joint in the Brewery District helmed by Max McGarity. Max has a long history with serving barbecue around Ohio, and with Smoked on High he’s settled into some historic digs. He was kind enough to invite us in to give the place a try!
The restaurant is situated in an old Victorian house – one that thankfully wasn’t bulldozed over the years. It sits between an Aveda salon and a Local Cantina. They’ve done a complete renovation, so now the front yard is a stone patio with picnic tables, and the old living room spaces are dining rooms.
Once you walk through the front doors, head straight to the back of the house.
A menu hangs on the wall, so you can plan your meal. It’s pretty focused: brisket, shredded pork, spare ribs, chicken drumsticks. They’ve been running weekend specials like beef ribs as well.
When items sell out, they’re pretty good at keeping customers updated through social media.
Once you go over the menu, head through the doorway to the ordering counter.
They’ll help you select your meal + sides and drinks. Max hauled out a new brisket for us and sliced it up.
After you settle up, grab your tray and find a seat.
There were no bad tastes in the meal, although the highlight for me was for the brisket: thick-sliced, wonderfully tender, and a little fatty.
Solid work on the pork spare ribs, too. Good seasoning, and the meat pulled right off the bones.
And it’s hard to go wrong with properly done shredded pork. Nice crust to it.
The platters come with pickled veggies, and you can select some house-made sauces at the table. Kudos to the sides as well: mac and cheese, corn bread, cole slaw.
Add Smoked on High to your list of new restaurants to try! It’s great to see more quality barbecue in the city, to see such an historic building revitalized, and to have more solid dining options in the Brewery District.
Smoked on High BBQ
755 S. High St. (map it!)
Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 754-9711
Open Wed-Sun, 11a-8p (or whenever they run out)
Find them on Facebook, Twitter (@smokedonhighbbq), and Instagram (@smokedonhighbbq)
Disclaimer: this meal was comped by Smoked on High. Photos and opinions are my own.
