First, I wish to point out that contrary to what Yelp is stating, I AM NOT from San Francisco. I live in Gainesville. Don't know why Yelp is adding that...
Recently received a large postcard from David's BBQ with some coupons. I thought it notable that unlike all the other coupons that show up in the mail, David's had them printed opposite each other so if one chose one side, they lost the coupon on the opposite side.
Nevertheless, since I live relatively near the 23rd Ave. location, it was a good opportunity to try their lunch/dinner plate, as the coupon was a bogo. (buy one, get one)
I went with their sliced pork plate ($12.00), and the smoked brisket ($16,00), which I would not otherwise do since that's a lot of $$ for a lunch, at least on my budget.
So everything seems fine at the store, the service was quick even though there was only a mother and daughter team working; Mom is the kitchen and the daughter at the front counter. Having arrived prior to their lunch rush, there were only two people at tables inside, and one guy (who they apparently knew) also ordering at the front counter.
When I got home with the food and opened the container with the brisket, I was rather put off by all the thoroughly black (that is burned) parts of the brisket. Knowing that burned meat is highly carcinogenic, I personally will not eat it. I start cutting away the burned parts only to discover that a great deal of it is just fat and very fatty tissue. By the time I'm done, the amount of burnt fat pushed aside amounts to what I would estimate to be 40% of the brisket part of the plate! (see photo)
In my opinion, given the kitchen was under NO pressure, this was very unlikely to have been an oversight on the "Mom's" part. Considering the price of $16 for their brisket plate, I just felt it entirely unreasonable that so much of the brisket was inedible. I cannot help but wonder if the fact that I was using a bogo coupon, AND that I ask for take-out, was the motivation for the substandard cuts I was given, in that it may have been assumed I would be far away upon discovering all the burnt fat...
Fortunately I live in the neighborhood and took the plate back to register my complaint. By then there were quite a few more people in the place, and two more staff were on duty. The Mom saw me and came up almost right away; as if she knew why I was there. When I showed her what I had cut away and that it was all burned fatty tissue, she took the container to the back. A minute later she brought it back with approximately the same volume of newly sliced beef, still with some burnt ends ( as is to be expected with BBQ ) but clearly meat and not fatty tissue. She hardly spoke a word, no comment, no explanation, no apology; she just wanted me to see that it was actually edible beef this time. I must also note that the brisket was still rather underwhelming. In this case, it somehow managed to be both kind of dry and greasy at the same time.
So I would warn anyone going to David's BBQ on 23rd; if you order take-out, BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR FOOD BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PREMISES! At least the meat they give you, especially if you are using one of their bogo coupon! In all fairness, the baked beans (though a small portion), the cole slaw, and corn bread that accompanied the brisket was very good. Would I spend $16 for their brisket plate again - not a chance. read more