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Kennedy's B.B.Q.

1420 7th St. NW, Canton, OH - (330) 454-0193
Posted By Michael Stern on 6/16/2010 5:37:00 AM
Whichever barbecued meat you get in your sandwich at Kennedy's, you must get it topped with cabbage relish. Vaguely similar to the sort of slaw that goes into a pig sandwich in the South, but more pickly than sweet, it is bright and refreshing, an especially good partner for pork. And oh, what lovely pork this is: butter-tender with occasional chewy shreds, it is piled so high and huge in a bun that well over half the sandwich must be eaten with a fork or fingers. That much tumbles out if you try to lift it by hand. While barbecue sauce is available, the meats are served without it. Relish is the only essential condiment.

Other pit-cooked meat choices are ham (fabulous), beef (yet to be tried) and turkey (not impressive). The rest of the menu is chili and bean soup. Plus cornbread and Amish pies. That's the extent of it. The connoisseur's choice, other than a sandwich, is a bowl of bean soup loaded with chunks of pit ham and crowned with crumbled corn bread.

A Canton landmark since 1922, when it opened as Spiker's, the miniscule eatery was bought and renamed in 1960 by Jack Kennedy, who ran it 49 years. After Mr. Kennedy died in 2009, it was taken over by Ernie Schott, proprietor of Taggart's Ice Cream Parlor, another Canton landmark. Mr. Schott extended the lunch hour to 5pm but otherwise made no changes in the time-honored formula.

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Scorecard

5 - Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Pork Sandwich
Corn Bread
Bean Soup (bowl)
Troyer's Pie
Chili (cup)
Turkey Sandwich
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Pork piled high and crowned with relish is Kennedy's finest sandwich. It comes with a fork, which is necessary unless you are happier picking shreds and nuggets of the tender meat off the plate with your fingers.
"Pork piled high and crowned with relish is Kennedy's finest sandwich. It comes with a fork, which is necessary unless you are happier picking shreds and nuggets of the tender meat off the plate with your fingers."
Michael Stern





No cheese, no chopped onions, no sour cream. Kennedy's chili is elemental stuff, served with nothing other than a couple of packs of saltines. Cornbread makes a good companion for this thick Midwestern bowl of meat and beans.
"No cheese, no chopped onions, no sour cream. Kennedy's chili is elemental stuff, served with nothing other than a couple of packs of saltines. Cornbread makes a good companion for this thick Midwestern bowl of meat and beans."
Michael Stern


Kennedy's secret weapon: cabbage relish. When asked what exactly was in it, Jack Kennedy once responded, 'That recipe comes with the keys to the front door.' When Ernie Schott took over the business in 2009, he got the recipe.
"Kennedy's secret weapon: cabbage relish. When asked what exactly was in it, Jack Kennedy once responded, 'That recipe comes with the keys to the front door.' When Ernie Schott took over the business in 2009, he got the recipe."
Michael Stern


Kennedy's is minuscule. Seating includes a few counter stools, tables and booths.
"Kennedy's is minuscule. Seating includes a few counter stools, tables and booths."
Michael Stern


Adjoining the little restaurant is the smoke house where meat is cooked.
"Adjoining the little restaurant is the smoke house where meat is cooked."
Michael Stern


Turkey is generously portioned out, but doesn't pack the savory goodness of Kennedy's ham and pork.
"Turkey is generously portioned out, but doesn't pack the savory goodness of Kennedy's ham and pork."
Michael Stern



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