Blue Oak BBQ — Restaurant in New Orleans

Going to a restaurant on a recommendation from someone you don't know can be dicey. Especially BBQ. Depending on where you're from and your flavor profile you're positive that your hometown bbq was amazing and everything else is dog food in comparison. We're visiting new Orleans though and I just want good food so it can't be that bad, can it? Turns out blue oak BBQ is legit. I tried the spicy chicken sandwich that was dripping sauce but on a bun strong enough to absorb it without being too bread-y and it didn't fall apart. It had a nice balance of heat that gave you some warmth but also had some nice flavor as well. We sampled the sides including the Brussel sprouts which had been cooked perfectly. Too many times when ordering them from other restaurants you end up eating a lot of burnt leaves. Not a single burnt leaf on them. Coleslaw was passable but I prefer a more vinegar tasting coleslaw. Potato salad was also ok. My wife really liked their greens. Not too bitter. For fun and gluttony we also got nachos which were delicious. It comes with the meat of the day on it which today was pulled pork. Their pulled pork was delicious and not dry at all and full of a smokey and a little sweet flavor. Finally we also tried the cracklins. They come in two seasonings, ranch or szechuan. We went with the szechuan and were not disappointed. They were so warm, crunchy and delicious that I gorged myself on more of those than I probably should have. Service was fine, you order at the counter and they bring it to you and you bus your own table. That's pretty common in Portland so nothing surprising there. It was affordable, inside seating was limited so we ate outside under a covered patio. Most of those seats were taken so we had to sit by the side towards the end if the covered patio while it was raining. So I got some splash back while also trying to guard the food from some flies that were buzzing around. So because of the seating situation I had to take off a star. I highly recommend the food but I'm some stranger from the internet and your hometown BBQ is better...

Ok, so heres the deal. Been going to The Joint on Mazant for years now. thats been my go-to and i decided to try this place out due to recommendations. First impressions: its very "classy" feeling -- unlike what usual bbq places look like, but ok. I take a look at the menu and immediatly am shocked for the lack of southern bbq classic options. wheres the cornbread? coleslaw? proper mac and cheese? but ok, no worries once again. I decide to get the double meat (both brisket) and the side of mac and cheese and tater tots. food came out INSTANTLY. ohkaaaay, honestly kind of a red flag why it came out SO FAST, but alright. first bite. disgusting. the brisket is like a brick. i put their 'house bbq" sauce to make the brisket more plateable. as for the portion, i got 3 brisket slices? how is that evenly split in 2? you expect me to believe a single serving is 1 and a half slices? thats downright criminal. as for the mac and cheese, there was a nice spice, but im a firm believer mac and cheese shouldnt be spiral. its definitly lacking, but flavor is "ok" at best. the tots were actually really nice, probably being fried in the beef fat gives it a really nice crispy crunch which i enjoy. In conclusion, the price/person is criminal. the brisket (the supposed star of the show) is vile. the worst brisket ive ever had (yes, worse than the brisket from the cold section of sams club). why is the brisket like a brick?? i was struggling to cut it. meanwhile every proper brisket is juicy and tender to the point i can cut it with relative ease with my fork. i NEEDED a knife for this one. oh, and i did try the potato salad from my buddys plate. undercooked potatoes with what looked like white goop on top. i dont think these people know what bbq is or how to cook. only reason anyone should ever go here is because The Joint is closed on sundays, but this place should close for a year to learn how to...

Changing my review to a 1 star. If I could give this place MINUS-5 stars I would My last review was based on price vs quantity/quality and service. Well since then prices have gone UP MORE. Food quality has gone DOWN. Get ready to pay close to $40 per plate to get full, and have a cold one to wash down the dry meat. This place is another 'revolving door" of workers, every time I go there are new people with the same overwhelmed tired expression. After you come back to see if your order is ready they'll inform you of the items they are out of.

But hey no problem, I'm "parked" next door hanging with the regulars, so I'm never in a hurry when I go to Blu Oak. I'm always in a good mood because I have my Tavern to pass time while I wait for BBQ place to get my order right.

I really, really really wish I had found out that Blue Oak owners are trying to take over the WHOLE block for their overpriced, average tasting BBQ before spending money there. In fact I found out after coming back to "the Tavern" to finish my drink complaining about being stupid to order food next door when the bartender explained to me that our neighborhood bar got bought out by the greedy owners of Blue Oak. Mid City is about "co-exist" and diversity. Having different options and businesses working together to benefit from each other. Much of the business Blue Oak received was because of the patrons of Parkview.

Blue Oak would make the WHOLE of Mid City a giant smoke house and an even BIGGER Parking Lot to accommodate their clientele if they could! Maybe they could make the current Parkview lot a giant parking garage to park the huge crowds driving to their establishment....

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