Mesquite and Oak — Restaurant in San Jose

I love BBQ in general, but Texas BBQ holds a special place in my heart. But unfortunately, there hasn't been a BBQ joint that was devoted to Texas BBQ in years in this area, and that place closed almost 30 years ago. Don't get me wrong, there are some great BBQ joints in the area, but Texas BBQ is fairly distinct; especially when it comes to beef, and all of the other places do a mix of Southern styles. To have a restaurant be devoted to Texas BBQ is AMAZING!

I literally accidentally discovered this place a few days ago while I was searching for a place to get lunch. Had I not looked the restaurant's way the time I did, I would've totally missed it and driven by. But greater forces were at work that day and directed my attention. When I saw the name of the restaurant, I just smiled because you don't name a restaurant like that unless you're implying Texas.

So I found some parking and walked in and was greeted by the smell of mesquite smoke (it's very distinctive) wafting through the air. Since it was my first time there, the very nice lady working the register recommended that I order the Pit Master Plate with two meats. I ordered the brisket and the pork ribs. Here's my take:

The Brisket - Absolutely the BEST brisket I've ever had, and I don't say that lightly. The meat is so tender that when it's freshly sliced, it's hard to distinguish between the fat and the meat. It'll break apart in your mouth with your tongue, it's so tender! There's a nice smoke ring, and while there is a smoky flavor, it's not overpowering. As should be with brisket, the meat is star. It is lightly seasoned with salt and coarse black pepper.

Pork Ribs - These are not as tender, and they have a chew. But that's exactly how I like them! Super-tender, fall-apart ribs can be mushy and cloying. Not these. They're perfectly cooked. They're pull-off-the-bone as opposed to fall-off-the-bone. As far as taste is concerned, it's clear they use a more complex rub with the ribs that has a touch of sugar as there is a hint of sweetness, but only a hint, and that's awesome!

Since my first visit, I have returned and got the two-meat Pit Master plate. I got the brisket, but I also tried the pulled pork.

Pulled Pork - The meat is very tender with a nice, light smoky flavor. They serve the pork with a Carolina-style vinegar sauce that's poured over the meat. Very tasty. Personally, I'm not a big fan of pulled pork in general, but this pulled pork ranks up there with some of the best I've had. I've definitely had better, but this is pulled...

#3 review: Man-o-man, fantastic BBQ! For certain, our go to place. I'm always impressed with the quality of their food! I've eaten here, or ordered to-go, to take home to the family a bunch of times since my last review, and I can honestly say, I totally look forward to coming back the next time. They never disappoint, parking is easy, and normally plentiful whenever I've come here. Staff is super friendly, and easy going. Ribs are cooked right, tender, and I love their BBQ sauce. Tangy, and they have a spicy one also. The chicken is cooked well, very tender, and flavorful. Green salad is fresh. My daughter loved her pulled pork, and I tried it and gave it two thumbs up also. I will be back soon. #2 review: Always fantastic. Been here at least 10 times. Always juicy. Garden salad is fresh and crisp, beans are unique in that I can taste the tomato sauce in them (which I like), and they were not overly sweet. Brisket is succulent with a nice smoke ring, but not over smoked. Chicken quarters have best of both worlds, drumsticks & thighs, and they are tender and juicy. My wife and daughter can't get enough of this chicken! Spare ribs fall off the bone, and the fat within is rendered down properly. Potato salad was good. Their spicy tangy BBQ sauce is real fantastic, I absolutely love it! I'm a huge fan Mesquite & Oak! I would recommend you try this place out. #3 review: Wow! I love it! The wife and I came to check it out and have a late lunch, we found street parking right in front, and we were warmly welcomed when we walked in. The vibe was good right off the bat. We both ordered our meals - my wife got the chicken, and I got brisket & ribs. Both meats were smoked right, not too much -- not too little, just right. Tender and juicy. There were several BBQ sauces to choose from. The sides were good. We will be back for sure. Definitely...

This place gets ONE star from us, simply because Google requires at least one. ZERO stars would've been more appropriate. Here's why:

1. The customer service was horrible. The woman at the register was cold and rude when we attempted to order things that were either sold out or not available. When we attempted to order the beer ribs, her response was, "NO, we're out of it." When we attempted to order a fountain drink, she replied "NO...that (the fountain drink machine) is not working...you're only options are here" (as she angrily pointed at the refrigerator with a few canned and bottled drinks in it).
2. As we awaited our order, the service went from BAD to WORSE when we were told that they ran out of pulled pork. Alternatively, I asked for chicken and was told, "we're out of that, too." REALLY?! What kind of BBQ place runs out of pork, chicken AND beef ribs on a SLOW Wednesday?! They're excuse was that they run out of food before closing. BUT - we order our food at 2:26 PM and they close at 4:00 PM. Ninety minutes is hardly close to closing time.
3. Since most of my order included items that were sold out, I settled for a side of steamed jasmine rice. Thankfully, my husband's order was available, BUT the ribs were as tough as leather. You'll note from the attached image that there were lots of scraps because my husband couldn't chew it. Yes, it was THAT tough. And the BBQ sauce bottle at the table was completely empty. NO chicken, no pulled pork, no beef ribs and NO BBQ sauce. WOW!

I'm all about supporting small business, and am leaving this post in hopes that the owners see it and improve in a way that makes them proud to put their name to the food and customer service they offer. Our experience was beyond disappointing. We won't...