We are big BBQ fans and are always happy to hear that a new BBQ restaurant has opened in The Bay Area. We were particularly interested when we were told that Chef-Restaurateur TanyaHolland, from the very popular Brown Sugar Kitchen www.BrownSugarKitchen.com in West Oakland, had recently opened a sister restaurant on San Pablo Avenue called B SIDE BBQ. Tanya has impressive credentials as she studied cooking at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris, France then honed her culinary skills working with many celebrated chefs in both Europe and the USA including Bobby Flay. She is also the author of several cookbooks and is a TV personality.

B SIDE BBQ is a small restaurant with a fun vibe, artistic decor and a cool bar. They have a few individual tables and also offer high top seating along a dining bar. The walls are filled with commissioned Artwork that honors African American Cowboys by April Banks. The cuisine is Wood Fired BBQ made with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients including Niman and Prather Ranch Meats and Mary’s Organic Chicken.

We started out with a few of their new specialty Cocktails made with Tanya’s hand crafted drink syrups. We enjoyed the Harlem Rides the Range made with Tequila, Mezcal, ginger syrup, citrus, and hellfire bitters served in a tall fancy glass and the South of the Border Lemonade made with basil vodka, mescal, cilantro, agave and lemon served in a mason jar. These were great cocktails! Then we began to check out the focused menu.

Riblets

We found the Rib Ends Appetizer a great way to get your taste buds in gear! We loved everything that we tasted including the Dark & Stormy St. Louis Ribs, Jerk Spiced Baby Back Ribs, Smoked Hot Links which are 50% pork and 50% beef. Our absolute favorite was the Brown Sugar Rubbed Brisket which was super lean, flavorful and juicy and definitely the best we’ve ever had! We didn’t try it, but our neighbors raved about the BBQ Glazed Salmon. The Sides that we enjoyed included tasty BBQ Baked Beans, Buttermilk Cornbread, Macaroni and Cheese and Pickled Vegetables. We finished our meal with an excellent dessert, the Corn Bread Pudding which is a “must have”!

BBQ Sampler

B Side BBQ serves excellent “Oakland Style” BBQ and has a Full Bar. There is Dine in or Take Out and they are now open 11 AM – 10 PM Tuesday-Saturday and offer Happy Hour Drink and Appetizer Specials. We really enjoyed both the BBQ and chatting with our neighbors at the next table! The B Side is a reference to the B side of a single “record”. Famous B sides include Hound Dog by Elvis and I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Don’t be surprised when the B SIDE BBQ is as popular as their “A Side” Brown Sugar Kitchen.

 

 

By Carol & Joe Davis

 

 

B SIDE BBQ

3303 San Pablo Avenue

Oakland, CA 94608

510-595-0227

www.Bsidebbq.com