Butchers Block BBQ — Restaurant in Burnaby

We've driven past this place numerous times on our way to Cioffi's. My craving for melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket compelled me to try this place. We ordered Beef Brisket and rack of ribs, sausage dog, corn bread, potato salad and slaw. The first surprise was that the beef brisket came covered in BBQ sauce. Yuk! Once the sauce was scrapped off, I discovered that the grain of the meat was along the length of the brisket – I expected the grain to go the other way. The beef was never fatty to begin with, and I thought they made a mistake and served pulled pork without pulling the pork. It was the driest piece of beef I've ever tasted – not the melt-in-your-mouth brisket I've been craving. This is not Texas BBQ. I left it. The rack of ribs was OK, but no big deal. I don't know what I expected for the potato salad, something creamy perhaps, with sieglinde potato, but I did not expect barely cooked powdery potato, skin on. I did not finish the slaw either. The sausage was nice and spicy, based on what you get, it is one pricy sausage on a – and this is the first time I've complained about value in a review. Summary of rating: 3 for the rack of ribs, 3 for the sausage, 1 for beef brisket, 3 for the corn bread, 1 for potato salad, 1 for slaw, 1 for beans. Oh well,...

UPDATE: not too sure what’s changed within a month, but something has gone wrong here. The difference in the ribs was the most shocking of all- they went from meaty, tender, fall off the bone …. To dry, tough, and barely any meat. They looked somewhat similar to, dare I say, frozen ribs? I’m sorry. This also applies to the chicken and brisket. Lacking flavour, very dry, and much smaller portions! This meal didn’t have that “made with love” feel, so if this is due to new owners.. then they’re struggling to keep up with that passion that was present before. Completely different experience, lacking that southern hospitality and authentic vibe that we got the first time around.

—————— original review below —————

WOW. Out for a fun little Saturday with my bae, and we come across this GEM. Super friendly and smiley staff, absolutely incredible food, and honourable mention to a childhood classic … the Arnold Palmer. A man who, I’m assuming is the owner or manager?, even gifted us with a sampler of the pork belly! Stop reading and go with a friend and 2 empty stomachs. This was exactly what I wanted, and more...

The Butchers Block, in all of its iterations (Burgers Etc circa 2005) has been a staple for the best BBQ joint in Vancouver. Their new owner took over in January 2020, and despite the ordeals of starting a business at that time, has consistently improved the quality of everything on the menu from a standard rarely matched.

For instance, the beans changed early 2021. I'm not sure if the supplier changed or they updated the recipe, but they started adding small chunks of their house smoked beef brisket, and I'll tell you... I ALWAYS choose a beans side. But they've also subtly changed the entire menu in similar ways. The extra notes greatly improve an already amazing experience.

Top recommendation: 2 meat platter with brisket and ribs with beans, 'slaw and corn bread on the side. I'm not sure I've ordered anything else in over a year. Partially because they're my favorites. Partially because I can save the rib bones for broth. Partially because my partner will order 2 other meats and we'll share.

If you enjoy BBQ meats, The Butchers Block is my top recommendation...