Sammy Sue's BBQ - Dover, Ohio

Chris C.

A Mixed Bag at This Hole-in-the-Wall BBQ Joint

I love discovering hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints, and this one had promise, but my experience left me with mixed feelings.

First, let’s talk about the highlight: the sweet coleslaw. It was the perfect balance of creamy and tangy with just the right amount of sweetness—a side dish I would gladly come back for. I also enjoyed the ribs. Tender and tasty. Unfortunately, the brisket didn’t hit the same high notes. It was somewhat tender, but lacked the smoky depth and flavor punch I was hoping for. In a BBQ spot, that’s kind of a letdown.

Now for the pricing: I wasn’t thrilled about being charged $1.25 for an extra (tiny!) portion of BBQ sauce. The portions felt stingy for the price, and at nearly $30, the sampler platter was a tough sell. While the platter gave me a chance to try a bit of everything, it just didn’t deliver enough value for the cost.

The place itself had the classic hole-in-the-wall charm: mismatched chairs, paper towel rolls on the table, and the faint aroma of smoked meat in the air. The staff was friendly enough, but it didn’t quite make up for the pricing and the underwhelming brisket.

Overall, it’s a decent spot if you’re in the area and craving sweet coleslaw and a casual vibe, but I’d think twice if your looking for that special place that is too good to pass up.

Liz L.

I’m torn about my review. We thought almost all of the food was really good. We ordered almost every smoked item and many sides! 🤣 The salmon, or maybe the wings, were my favorite. I’m not a brisket fan but my hubs liked it. He did wish the pulled pork came on, or with, a small bun. The ribs came out ice cold. They did rectified that, however, by reheating them. The cole slaw was sweet like my grandma would make, the baked beans were loaded with meats, and the red potato salad was really good. The onion rings were crispy and came with a good sauce. Neither of us were a fan of the Mac n cheese as it was gummy and not very flavorful. I would definitely describe the place as a bbq shack as it seemed quite well-worn. Maybe it adds charm though. The restrooms did look recently updated and were clean. They charge more to pay with a credit card.

Dustin S.

Honestly a great place to eat with a few friends or the family. The staff is always so helpful and polite and the home style BBQ food is killer. I could live off the friggin coleslaw here!

Highly recommend it!

Kiltman1960

This was my first time dining here. My son had been here once before and chose it for his annual birthday dinner. Some of his coworkers who live in the New Philadelphia area recommend it. Our experience was very good overall. This place is definitely a casual dining experience. (My preference)

He had the marinated chicken again (enjoyed it both times) and added the three bones of ribs, which he hadn't the last time. I had the smoked half chicken with an add-on of three bones of ribs. All of the food was well prepared and tasted good.

The smoked flavor on the chicken was a little stronger than my preference but not overpowering, and the seasoning was good.

I went simple on the sides and got Tater-tots and greenbeans. Both were good.

I definitely recommend this place and will eat there again.

We got there around 8pm, so I don't know how crowded or noisy it is during the dinner rush.

Arlen M.

Incredible boneless wings. Some of the best my son and I ever experienced. Recommended: Golden BBQ (left). Spicy Garlic (middle). Spicy Blue Cheese (right).

Kellie W.

BBQ was good. A little too sweet for me but add one of the sauces offered and good to go. Was there on a Friday evening, so I was busy, as expected. It was very loud in there as it was a small place but still a good atmosphere.

Tiray R.

I really enjoyed my meal here. The staff was extremely friendly and service was great. My whole meal was great. Seems like a nice local spot for families. My only con was the restroom. The first thing I did when I went was wash my hands and I was pretty disgusted by it. The food could’ve been great but if the restroom was nasty and the customers can see it, how does the kitchen look? The one place we should feel comfortable that was CAN NOT see. So after washing my hands, I was basically turned off. Thank you for a great service though, I really did enjoy my night there.

Stephanie S.

Service was great, the waitress was very on top of things and welcoming.
The place was dimly lit with some areas much darker than others. To me, it had an odd smell, so I didn't really eat, and it could use some TLC.