Black Star BBQ — Restaurant in Richmond

Discovered this recently from an article online and decided to try it, mainly for the atmosphere. The environment is unique, a bit of an adventure getting to, and exactly what I hoped for. From the East Bay side, I took the last exit before the Carquinez bridge onto Stenmark drive, a two lane road which soon becomes one lane, requiring attention. The GPS advised that a portion of the road is unpaved, which is misleading: only the parking lot at the very end is packed dirt, close to the water. The small marina has nice looking houseboats, and very interesting sculptures with clever lighting powered by small solar panels, which would make a night visit rather interesting if it were possible. We got to Black Star Pirate BBQ early-ish, at 10:30 am on a Friday, half an hour before they opened. There already was a line of about ten people or so. We tried four cuts of meat, and four sides, which came to about $95 before tip. Beef briskets (my favorite) rotisserie lamb (a new favorite), pulled chicken and pork. All of it served warm and with a light drizzle of BBQ sauce. The leftovers lasted us almost three days. The service is prompt and helpful and completely unpretentious. Sitting at a table a little further out from the outdoor patio, we listened to chatter and water lapping at the rocks below. This is a calm atmosphere with caveats. I'd read reviews complaining of how loud the music was, and I can imagine that if they have live music, it could be. On the other hand, music can also be a good distraction from the popping sound of gunfire from the range over the hill. That sound, while not loud, might be unsettling to some. But it's not an ordinary place: out of the way, on the water, with nature and those odd art works, and people who care about their place, the quality of the food and customers. As said above, being this close to the water is a calming experience. The sounds from the range? Hey. It's Black Star Pirate BBQ, after all. I would have loved this as a kid, and I loved remembering that. Of course, we'll go back. Early,...

They call this a "BBQ" place but there is no wood used to BBQ the meats. All meats are placed in an upright stainless steel warmer that looks like a refrigerator. Three of us participated in ordering different cuts of meat and about 10 sides. Best meats: (keep in mind there is no smoke flavoring in any of the meats and bar b que sauce is lightly poured on meats and obviously from a jar!)- brisket burnt ends. Full of beef flavor, fat and melt in your mouth texture. Turkey breast - bland, no seasonings, moist and tender. Brisket and ribs- so tough you could NOT chew the meat! Let alone swallow it. We returned the brisket in exchange for burnt ends. Pulled pork- bland, dry and not passable. Sides- there are about 15 or so sides: -Mac n cheese- was cold, dry, and we thought they forgot to add the cheese. -Mushrooms and onions- terrible combination! All you tasted were the lightly sauted hard onions. Greens- soggy, overcooked and bland, cold. Cowboy beans- mediocre, then we saw kitchen staff throwing away large empty cans w/label that read 'cowboy beans'.. Cornbread was cold, bland andchad a metal taste. No butter offered. Jalapeno cornbread was a bit spicy, cold and had the strange metal taste to it. French fries are big and greasy. No ketchup offered. Most our sides we returned to get warmed. But that did not make the food any tastier. Best item: cold chocolate cake. Delicious. And delivered not made on premises. We think most of the sides were from a container, and left over from previous days. Food is expensive: we each paid about $55.00 for our meal. We took no leftovers home. Friends had beer and gave it a thumbs up. They have a good selection of wine and beer. If you do go to eat here, take your own condiments, good sturdy silverware (plastic knife broke trying to cut the brisket) and an open mind about overpaying for...

In an adventurous mood, we set out for the day, intending to find and visit, Black Star Pirate BBQ. Not really knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful and vast views on the drive in. Since it's located a bit off the beaten path, I would recommend visiting for the first time when you aren't in a rush. The parking area is mostly dirt, so it becomes muddy during the wet season. Wearing the right kind of shoes will allow you the best opportunity to explore unencumbered. The area surrounding the parking has numerous large and oversized metal and mixed media sculptures. Kids love to explore these and potentially see some local goats as well. The restaurant itself is easy to find since it frequently features live music. The decor is rustic and sort of mismatched in a pleasantly inviting way. You are greeted at the entrance by a host who answers questions and takes your order. The seating is open, and both kid and dog friendly. At times, the larger tables can also be communal if all parties are open to that. The central covered patio also has outdoor heaters for nights and cooler days. Overall, Black Star provides a friendly and welcoming environment. Imagine a large BBQ party at relative's that you haven't seen in a while. The portions were good and the food was very tasty. We tried three meats: ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. We would order all three again, but my favorite was the brisket-- something worth fighting over the last bite! Even in sub 50-degree weather, we enjoyed the food, music, and outdoor settings until after the sun went down. We are sure to return...