Best BBQ Santa Barbara — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Does Santa Barbara have its own style of bbq like Carolina, Memphis or Texas? If so, that will make more sense of the disaster of an experience I just had.

Disclaimer: this review does not cover the whole menu. Just my experience.

Starting with the service, typical order at the register style and flip the tablet for the tip up front. Left 20% and now regret it. Ambient music is nice, mix of western and country twang. Ordered the beef rib dinner. Now, my expectation was juicy, savory, fall off the bone bbq smoke flavor. Was I wrong to expect that? Yes. Santa Barbara has created their own style. I was served fast, a tray with three large ribs that were looking delicious along with two small sides of potato and macaroni salads. You’re only allowed to choose two out of three side options, even though the menu has about 10. Seemed a bit small, but what the hey. They’re playing second fiddle to their three smoky friends. When I grabbed my plastic cutlery (yes, plastic) to remove the meat from the bone I was met with resistance. Being a young, strong fella I decided to give it more force because I was seated with a lady and didn’t reckon on her mistaking me for a velociraptor. Sadly, the plastic fork and knife were bending like a Christmas tree with a two-ton star atop its boughs. Had to go caveman and attack it with my chompers. With my heart sinking along with my experience and expectations, my incisors were no match for the beefy ribs and intact membrane. The meat had no hope of being separated from its superglued membrane, let along the bone. It was holding on like a German shepherd grips its favorite toy. In the end I was left with three sad, half-eaten ribs. I really wanted that meat, but sans real steel in my hands or Wolverine’s adamantium claws I was just left with sore teeth and a bad attitude. Someone...

This place is great. I did not know we had a BBQ spot in SB after Woody's closed. I took my dog out of town to save money on a CT scan. I was feeling down and wasn't thrilled with the BBQ I ate in San Luis Obispo for lunch that day. When I got home I was sad and was still fiending for some BBQ. I figured I wasn't going to get my wish but just out of curiosity I searched for the nearest BBQ place to Santa Barbara for future reference and found this place... I was shocked. When I woke up from my nap it was close to their closing time so I jumped in the car and rushed over. Got my food to go and they were happy to have a last minute customer. This place satisfied my craving. The food was hot, sauce tasted amazing, and I got way more food for my money than what I got for lunch. I'll be going back to Best BBQ SB weekly. I will resist the urge to walk into the kitchen and hug everyone, but my god these are my people. Sorry no picture... once the box opened, I started eating and crying tears of joy (and the spicy sauce was really spicy to be honest) and I couldn't stop till it was all gone. Time...

With a name like “Best BBQ,” I expected something great but what I got was anything but. I ordered the $30 five-meat plate, and honestly, it was a letdown from start to finish. The beef ribs and tri-tip were so tough they might as well have been jerky. The links tasted more like hot dogs than proper sausage. The chicken? Dry and bland. Everything on the plate was seriously lacking in seasoning. But the worst part, the thing that really pushed me over the edge was the pork ribs. I actually paid for three of those sad, flavorless ribs. The only decent parts of the meal were the rice and the BBQ sauce. That’s it. To make matters worse, my wife was told to “order ahead just in case they run out of items.” So I did. I placed our order two hours in advance. And still, when I showed up, I had to wait... just to be handed this disappointing meal? Definitely not what I expected, and not something I’d...