Bray Butcher Block and Bistro: Kick-Ass BBQ in the South (Bay)

Amy and I had been to Bray Butcher Block and Bistro about a year ago, and although I enjoyed the experience, I only got to try one of their sandwiches and don't feel like I got the full experience. Well, we decided to visit again, this time with the goal of trying a variety of their menu items (the lone exception being a rather tasty Mission Hefeweizen I picked up at Market Beer Co). I'm not sure if our first impression was off-base, or they've just upped their game, but everything we ordered was super good. I ordered the Tri-Tip sandwich and was blown away by the fatty, juicy goodness of this sandwich. The Tri-Tip had a little bit of char and was tender with a bit of pink, but not bloody. Their house BBQ sauce was a revelation with it's tang and a bit of spice and when you take all of that, add some cheese, crispy bacon and put it on an toasted onion bun, well … it was perfect. Amy ordered the Ribs, as she is inclined to do when someplace interesting has them on the menu, and she was not disappointed. The Roasted Strawberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce was very different from the house sauce, but equally tasty with just the right amount of heat. Messy, tasty, juicy and addictive. Yep, the ribs were good.

For our boys, we ordered the Mac N' Cheese, which we know they love, and as a side, Amy and I shared a piece of the Roasted Corn with Spicy Cotija and Lime Rub. Oh Sh!t … was that good! It takes a lot for a cob of corn to stand out on my plate, but the Corn was perfectly cooked and the Spicy Cotija was so delicious, I wished we had ordered more. To round out the meal, we also ordered a Salad with Fresh Arugula, Onion, Rasberries, Walnuts, Feta and a fresh vinaigrette. It was very good actually, especially when you consider everything we had on our table. But, if we're being honest, you don't go to a place like this for a salad, do you?

Grilled Corn with Spicy Cotija and Lime Rub

Tri-Tip Sandwich with Bacon, Cheese and House BBQ Sauce

St. Louis Ribs with Roasted Strawberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce

The upsides to someplace like Bray Butcher Block and Bistro are numerous, but I'll give the highlights. A friendly staff, preparing some damn good BBQ, with quality ingredients (including grass-fed beef) and an open environment were you can get a beer at one of the bars, or anything else you desire. This is officially one of my new favorite spots in the entire south bay. I cannot wait to go back and get that sandwich again. Check them out, and reply in the comments with your thoughts.

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