Salty Oak BBQ — Restaurant in Corpus Christi

Update: restaurant owner/manager reached out to inform me the cigarette smoke is stemming from a game room adjacent to their business. It was being expeditiously addressed. I have have been informed that as of today the only smoke shall be from the BBQ pits. Will have to give them another shot soon.

The Good: food was amazing, brisket simply melted, smoked to perfection with a simple salt and pepper rub. All food/sides were delicious, served hot….no complaints. Server was friendly and great.

The Bad: -dined here on a slow Friday night with a party of 6 with maybe 6 others inside the restaurant. Food took a long while to come out, which seemed a little outside my perceived norm considering it was not busy…I will say food was hot.

The Ugly: -restaurant smelled like cigarette smoke and the smell was more even prevalent in the restrooms with a heavier smell and visible haze of cigarette smoke. Considering restaurants in CCTX and most if not all in Texas have banned indoor smoking in restaurants, this is not acceptable. Came home and clothes smelled equally terrible. And no, it was not BBQ wood smoke.

-probably not a good idea to have your line cook/food prep person vaping at the prep line while clearly visible to the public. And then proceed to choke, hack up a lung and have to leave the line and exit the area to compose themself.

I had high hopes for this establishment. While the food hit the spot, the ugly unfortunately would have me reconsider visiting again, and what’s even worse is the brisket is some of the best in town.

Hoping this was just a one off kinda day, but leaving this establishment smelling like an ashtray is not what a family...

So and the wife been there a few times before nd it WAS AMAZING!! Today though... Was very DISAPPOINTING!! Got there when it was opened at 530 server sat us took our drink order was informed no tea. Someone was getting tea bags. Ok so before placing our order I had to use the mens room... I'm in a wheelchair and had to ask an employee to unlock the disabled stall because it was locked. Went to wash DAMN HANDS and NO soap! An employee used the urinal while I was in the stall and walked out without washing their HANDS! No sanitizer to use if no way to wash their hands! Asked about the brisket told that it ran out because it busy. Honestly was going back for big salty because of the brisket! NO manager came to our table to maybe make a suggestion nor apologize for being out of any items regardless of requested said items. Decided to order a 2 meat plate of ribs and sausage should have left BUT! Had my doubts of being let DOWN! AND BOY was I LET DOWN!! I thought I was eating at Bill Miller's PLACE!! The ribs and sausage must have been IN a microwave FOR 2 minutes TOO LONG!! You had some REAL DEAL BBQ!! From what...

First of all the service was very good. Our server Audrey was the sweetest, great attitude. The only thing I’d critique is just checking back periodically on her tables. Which wouldn’t be extremely necessary had the kitchen not taken so long to get our food out. We ordered a brisket sandwhich, and a brisket & turkey plate with two sides of Mac. It took 34 minutes to come out which is crazy since everything is precooked I’m assuming . The place was not packed AT ALL we came during later lunch hour.

When we got our food .. it didn’t make up for the length it took to get to us. The “bbq sauce” was overpowered by beer, there were no other viable options for those who do not drink beer. The brisket was so tender, that it was mushy, turkey kind of dry ☹️ the bbq sauce overall really disappointed us. The side sausage, mac, and potato salad however was...