2050 E 4th Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
http://www.mabelsbbq.com/
Chef Michael Symon has created a Cleveland-style barbecue restaurant located at the heart of downtown Cleveland. He has incorporated Bertman's Ballpark Mustard into the barbecue sauce and smokes the meats over local fruitwoods for a true Cleveland dining experience. He even uses the space's arched ceilings, industrial lighting and exposed brick as a nod to Cleveland's landmark West Side Market to evoke a local rustic smokehouse.
Mabel's has a mouth watering list of pig part options for appetizers. Here you have the Cracklin' (with Salt and Vinegar & Lawson's Chip Dip), Crispy Tails and Crispy Ears. The Cracklin' was light and airy while the Tails and Ears were well smoked and tender. Great with the dippin' sauce.
While waiting on the dinner to arrive, we sampled their sauces. The traditional sauce was good and thick while the Secret Aardvark was mustard based and spicier with the addition of the habanero peppers.
There wasn't anything on this tray that wasn't above average. The pork ribs were well smoked and done to the southern standard without sauce. A truly welcome surprise in these parts! The Pork Belly was more tender than any pork belly I have ever had. Truly wonderful. The turkey breast had a wonderful cracked pepper shell that only added to the tender meat below. The Brisket was also well smoked and done in true traditional barbecue fashion. The Lamb Ribs were absolutely wonderful and a treat that I did not expect. The sausage was perfectly fine but did not shine the way the rest of the meat did. I was truly impressed with the quality of the meats overall. Very well done Chef Symon.
The sides were also top notch. We had Spaetzle (Spicy Cabbage), Hot Greens, J.W. Potatoes (Mabel's Style), Coleslaw (Poppy Seed & Cilantro), Baked Beans, and Glazed Carrots (Maple, Mustard and BBQ Spices).
There were really only two marks off for Mabel's. They brought out Rye bread to accompany the meat rather than white bread and the dessert. Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafers.
Unfortunately this was not true Banana Pudding as the filling was too processed, the Nilla Wafers were only topping this rather than the base and there is no egg white on top.
The quality of the meal overall was absolutely top notch. At least the important parts were. The meats were succulent and well smoked. The vegetables were of a higher quality than what would be customary at a barbecue joint...this is a Cleveland barbecue restaurant and Chef Michael Symon has done an extremely good job of it. Mabel's should definitely be on your list should you ever find yourself in downtown Cleveland and in need of some good 'cue.
