Barrel & Boar BBQ Gastropub

We are a local restaurant specializing in Ohio BBQ paired with local craft beers and spirits. Creating finely crafted smoked meats in downtown Newark since 2015. Scratch kitchen, Craft Bar, and BBQ.

Barrel & Boar began as Yoho’s Catering in 1983, founded by Art Yoho after his father began distributing the first Southern Pride smokers in Ohio. Yoho’s became one of the first commercial BBQ restaurant and caterers in Columbus. The Yoho’s developed a passion for smoked meats becoming well known for smoking brisket and locally raised whole pigs. The restaurant was located on Westerville Rd. in the old Dog and Suds building the family ran in the 60’s and 70’s.

In 1993 Stan Riley joined Yoho’s as a high school student to be the evening dishwasher and help with catering events. Riley picked up the Yoho’s passion for the BBQ business and stayed with the company through college and other food related jobs. After 7 years in the business, Yoho gave Riley an opportunity to share in ownership and they formed a partnership that helped the business continue into its twentieth year. In 2005 with the economy declining and the neighborhood changing they decided to close the Westerville Rd. location for retail sales and continue catering. Shortly after Riley purchased the food side of the business and Yoho continued the Southern Pride distributorship.

The business was re-branded as Holy Smoke BBQ and a new era began for the long standing company. Riley continued the successful catering enterprise while looking for a new retail outlet. The North Market was interested in a BBQ restaurant for the space, and Holy Smoke BBQ became the right fit. With the opening of the North Market Holy Smoke BBQ began selling their own BBQ sauce and re-imagined the brand for the current food environment, serving fresh cooked brisket and pulling pork off the shoulder to order. After the first year the north market location began to rapidly expand and Holy Smoke started looking for a new commissary that would support retail sales.

Holy Smoke BBQ opened its second retail operation at the edge of Gahanna and New Albany in 2011. The concept underwent several major overhauls during the first 4 years from quick service to a full service restaurant serving all Ohio craft beers and craft cocktails. The final design change brought in a new menu with evolved dishes featuring the smoked meats and a distinctly southern flair. With this concept Riley brought together the passion and craftsmanship passed down by the Yoho’s together with the scratch recipes from the south and local ingredients. With this evolution the restaurant received its second facelift with reclaimed wood giving it a rustic comfortable environment. Plans for expansion of this evolved business brought about the need for a new brand. Riley wanted to capture the look, feel, and focus of the new space in a new logo and name. Barrel & Boar was chosen as the new name and brand to begin the next 30 years of this Columbus original.

Throughout this evolution the foundation has remained the same. Use passion, craftsmanship, and love to create the finest smoked meats and an exceptional customer experience. This vision paired with a new focus on craft beer, cocktails and a southern menu creates a wonderful conduit to bring the old in to the new.

Barrel & Boar BBQ Gastropub is a casual place for family and friends to enjoy finely crafted smoked meats, and southern Cuisine in a warm rustic setting. Barrel & Boar features a collection of low country flavors designed with local craft beers and finely crafted cocktails. The restaurant has a rustic design using metal, reclaimed barn wood, and antique lighting.