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…