First Look: Joe's Barbecue's New Brick-and-Mortar Home, Opening in Brimfield Next Week

Northeast Ohio barbecue aficionados know that tiny Brimfield Township in Portage County is home to one of the legends of the game. That’s where Joe Menendez has been holding court, dishing up unmatched brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey and more, which are smoked low and slow in a 1,000-gallon wood-fueled smoker.

Since launching his business in 2017 with little more than a small smoker and pop-up tent – erected on a gravel lot at a busy intersection – Menendez has upgraded to larger smokers, built a trailer to house them, and installed a food truck to serve as a makeshift carryout restaurant.

For nearly as long as he’s been slinging meat, Menedez has been focused on a larger prize: opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant on the same parcel of land. Now, after nine years of consistent results, those plans are nearing fruition. Next week, Menedez will welcome guests to his new, proper restaurant.

“We’re excited,” says Menedez.

The new structure has allowed Menedez to once again up his game. He has added a second 1000-gallon offset smoker as well as a wood-fired rotisserie smoker that he will use for ribs, chicken and other quicker-cooking foods like his special brisket burgers.

In addition to the smoked meats, customers can look forward to a wider selection of sides, desserts and other items. The regular lineup will include smoked mac and cheese, buttermilk bacon potato salad, charro beans, Oreo pudding and bourbon banana pudding. Pastrami lovers know to show up on Saturdays.

The new Joe’s Barbecue is a fast-casual setup with indoor and outdoor seating. However, Menedez says that he will hold off on the indoor seating until things even out, but once they do, there will be room for about 80 guests in the spacious dining room.

To start, Joe’s will be open Fridays through Sundays only – until sold out – with more hours and days added when he “irons out the kinks,” he says.