Lem's Bar-B-Q

Family-run South Side barbecue institution since 1954.

Our editorial score, based on who owns the business. The community verdict below is separate and never changes it. It is our read of ownership, not a legal or factual ruling.

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Why this score

A multi-generation, family-operated barbecue spot with deep Chatham roots. Independent and historic.

Ownership read: Family-Run · Confidence: High

The Slop Score weighs ownership structure hardest: private-equity and roll-up ownership caps the score, while independent and family-run businesses with real neighborhood roots score higher. It is a read of who profits and how a place is financed, not a judgment of any individual and not a finding about a business's labor practices.

Slop Score ratings are our editorial opinion, based on our published methodology and public sources available at the time of review. They are not statements of fact about any business, and they may be revised as new information emerges. Spot an error? Request a correction.