Archive for July, 2025

Pig Candy BBQ
Friday, July 18th, 2025 No Comments Food & Drink

There are many BBQ restaurants in the Cincinnati area, and Pig Candy BBQ is near the top of my list. Located in the California neighborhood, out by Riverbend Music Center, sits this cozy restaurant that occupies a former jail. All meats are smoked on site and served fresh with a wonderful selection of sides and some fun specialty items like a waffle sandwich or quesadilla.

Inside

Inside

I think their Bama Turkey sandwich is top of the menu for me. It combines thick-sliced turkey, layered with tomato, onion, and dill pickles, with white sauce on the side ($10). The turkey is really good, and I like having some additional toppings on the sandwich rather than just coleslaw. Sides can be added for $4 and include the pickled onion and peppers, which are awesome.

Bama Turkey

Bama Turkey

Another unique item is the Pig Mac Bowl, a bowl of mac and cheese, topped with pulled pork, red sauce, and slaw ($10). This is a full meal in a bowl, and there is no need to add a side to it. It’s a really good option.

Pig Mac Bowl

Pig Mac Bowl

The pulled pork sandwich is topped with white and gold sauces plus slaw on the side ($8). Plenty of meat is piled high on the butter toasted bun, and it’s full of smoke plus very tender.

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Pulled Pork Sandwich

A full kids’ menu is available, plus local craft beer, hard seltzers, wine, and mimosas. It’s a wonderful place to stop before a concert or even for Sunday brunch.

Parkside
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 No Comments Food & Drink

Parkside came to our neighborhood a couple of years ago and has quickly become our go-to spot in Hyde Park Square. It has it all: reasonably priced food, kids’ menu, great draft beer, cocktails, a nice patio, and wonderful staff. If you’ve been to their sister restaurant, Delwood, expect pretty much the same experience here, but with a completely different menu, which is great!

Dip Duo

Dip Duo

For starters, we almost always order the dip duo, which includes both their guacamole and pimento cheese dip, served with corn tortilla chips ($12). I love the pimento cheese dip and could order that alone ($10), but for $2 more, throw in the guacamole too! Another great appetizer is the Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls, featuring pulled chicken, mozzarella, pepperoni, zucchini, Crystal Hot Sauce, and blue cheese crumble ($6 each). Also, the Parkside chopped salad is nice to split as either an appetizer or a side. It combines romaine, tomato, red onion, avocado, roasted chickpeas, goat cheese, and honey dijon vinaigrette ($7 half).

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

There are three items on the main menu that I rotate between. The grilled chicken sandwich is a Peruvian marinated chargrilled chicken breast topped with roasted garlic aioli, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onion ($15). This is probably my most ordered. I also really like the veggie burger, which is a falafel patty topped the same as the chicken sandwich ($13). If you like falafel, definitely give this a try. I also order the boneless wings from time to time, which is a rather large portion of hand-battered chicken ($15). Don’t forget to wash it all down with a Three Floyds Zombie Dust pale ale, which is always on tap ($7).