Alpha Hino
Despite being a very midwestern city, Cleveland has some excellent BBQ that is worth talking about. It just isn't found at the Proper Pig. Absolutely abysmal food experience. Award winning? Maybe if the award was for how quickly they can have you part ways with your money and be left disappointed. If you hate value for money and love bland offerings then please, come to the proper pig. I expect restaurant BBQ to be expensive. That cost is usually worth it with some combination of portion size and flavorful foods. The Proper Pig is certainly priced at what I come to expect from a homestyle BBQ restaurant. The quality of the food was not. I've had better experiences from chain BBQ places, which is just embarrassing. The portion sizes are just enough to make you angry and be hungry for more food twenty minutes later. A "generous" two ounce scoop of pale, sad, dry pork and a few thin slices of stringy, grey brisket. The beans were merely "okay" and the potato salad tasted like it came from Giant Eagle. Not a drop of sauce in the house either to add some moisture or flavour to the meat. I had to drown my food in Sweet Baby Rays - love Ray, but he needs to be kept for home and not restaurant BBQ! Those boozy shakes must convince people the food is good because even a gardening gummy couldn't. But perhaps the issue is that my expectations are too high having come from parts of the US where we take pride in our BBQ. If this is also you, then pass up on the Proper Pig,