Everett & Jones has never been very good with their customer service but it seems like lately e just don't care about even attempting to train their employees on what it takes to be courteous to their potential customers. That added with the fact that they don't take phone orders during a pandemic just goes to show that it's their way or the highway. Well I guess I'll take the highway. I just got done working a 12 hour day cleaning houses and all I wanted to do was call in a hot link dinner and get home and take a shower. I called in and asked for a pick up order and the guy on the other end said in a condescending tone "We don't take call in orders, you have to come in and order it." Then hung up. I wonder how much business they're losing because people don't have 20-30 minutes to wait for their food after they walk in and order. I only do call in orders because I wanna get home ASAP without having to wait for my food to be prepared. I used to order from them about 4-5 times a month but since the pandemic started in March I ordered 1 time when I actually had time to wait. Sometimes they'll take call in orders, some times they won't. I gotta tell you since they raised their prices by $5 on average per plate and the downslope of customer service, followed by the insensitivity to people trying to social distance from people as much as possible, I think they finally have turned me off to them completely going forward. Too bad too because I've been a loyal customer for the last 25 years. read more

Ok, I always told ppl to come here and eat real BBQ = low and slow! When I lived in Berkeley, This place was the Shit! you'd see ppl trading a 20 sack for a combo plate! Now you know that shit is good if you're willing to part w/ your supply for killer grinds! you get a couple slices of wonderbread w/ 'tato salad, they wrapped it up in foil and throw it in a brown bag. IThey've kept high standards for 7yrs. (the entire time I lived in Berkeley) but ... all things must come to an end ... sigh ... I recently went back and got the rib and links combo w/ their Hot Sauce. Pork ribs: Use to be meaty and very moist! This was not the case, wtf! They pulled this shit from the smoker about 2 hrs. too early because it was still tough and on top of that, it was dry and tough! It's almost impossible for it to be tough, wtf did they do? did I mention it was tough! Hot Links: hot links were ok, but they were on the dryer side. No real complaints because it doesn't take much skill to cook links Beef Brisket: They were out ... I've never witnessed this but there is a first time for everything. Oh, to top everything off, their Hot sauce was not hot anymore, thanks for nerfing it for the weak masses! It is now known as Weaksauce! To tell you the truth, I gave it one star because the street salesman showed up and sold some an item that made my meal interesting. I'm sorry to say this but how does the best bbq turn to the worst bbq in a year? it pains me oh so much, but I have to speak my mind ... I will not come back since it seems like the ppl that did the cooking all the years I've lived there have left!!! read more

Ribs: good, a bit burnt Sides: suck Service: TERRIBLE! No smile, really slow, automatically put my change into the tip jar!?! Decent barbeque but I would not come back to this place again because of the horrible service. read more

Beans to hard,chicken to dry,beef brusque to tuff, what happen to the original fruitvale cook. One star for the wheat bread!! read more

Everett & Jones - Chicken bbq tooo dry beans are hard - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's a good rib... I'm not going to lie. If you order the "hot" sauce, make sure you like HOT. It doesn't mess around. Having said that, make sure you try the chicken too. Lot's of extra napkins. read more

Best BarBQ period!!! Get the medium sauce. This place is a treasure! I also like their funny sticker collection! Next door there's a great 99 cent store! What more can you ask for! read more

As someone born and raised in Oakland, and who has lived here for over 40 years, I remember a time when Everett and Jones was a consistently reliable place to get decent bbq. It was never great, but it was good and they operated like a place that actually wanted business. Now it is a place to be avoided at all costs. I don't know if the family has adjusted to many of the newer residents in the East Bay expectations of an African American owned business, or if they simply have stopped caring about the restaurants that bear their name. But this location, the location in Berkeley and the location in Hayward are just simply horrible. It starts with the hours. To quote the owners, "you don't hav ta open on time when you own the business." After not only opening later than their stated hours, but 30 minutes after their hand written notes posted on their doors said they were likely to open. The service is impersonal and bordering on hostile as if you are bothering them by trying to purchase food from them. While I wasn't expecting a smile, but I don't think it's too much to ask for an even rude "what you want". On three separate occasions all I got was a stare. The food is just not good. I had the brisket and links at all three locations. The brisket was very dry. The sauce that was good, but you can't hide poor bbq with good sauce. The links were very good. I guess next time I want bbq I'll need to breakout my smoker. read more

So I was born in Berkeley raised in Oakland, move to Los Angeles in 1997. Anywho, since moving to Los Angeles when I come back to visit my hometown this place is a MUST. I always get the beef links dinner. ( 3 sauces to choose from mild, medium and spicy) This owner was at the business when me and a few of my friends was there catching up, and let me tell you....she (the owner) was the most nicest person I have meet to allow us to hang out and catch up on life. read more

Everett & Jones - Beef Links dinner (mild sauce) - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is one of the great BBQ joints in California and the Bay Area. In particular, the ribs and the links are the very, very best. I normally order them with medium hot sauce, which is my favorite. The potato salad, which is cold and creamy, is a nice offset to the spicy tangy bbq sauce. To those that havent been here before: The mild sauce is good, but the hot is, for me, simply too hot. I think the chicken and brisket they serve are both good, but the ribs and links are great, so I stick to them. The other E&J's, like the one in downtown Oakland's Jack London Sq., are not nearly as good as this one, which uses a real wood fired oven to bbq and roast its meat. It may not be good for your heart, but it's definately good for your soul. This place is the greatest! Enjoy. read more

It's the BBQ sauce. I love this place. Keep doing your thing Everett & Jones.

Back in the days this was the spot to hit after work or just because you wanted you bbq. I was quite shock at how bad the quality of was food, it was bad. I order ribs and links combo tow of them with potato salad as the side dish, one peach cobbler and german chocolate cake. It comes to 55.00, buck, wow this should be heck of good. I text my husband, I I got us BBQ for dinner, my text back was yummy! lol, I get home and I should took a picture of the food, I had about 4 ribs and a whole link, with sauce, meat was tender and season well. But the potato sales was horrible, dry NO seasoning at all, with the skin left on still. I deal with that, but dry as heck. We both threw that out to the dog. The dessert cake was dry, my husband said it had to be sitting out for a few days, for it was so dry. My peach cobbler has no juice and but lots of crust, bottom-line we will not go back. read more

AHHHH still great place. The one in Jack London is for tourist.:(~~~. Cannot wait till Fruitvale is open thats the best. They moved and are remodeling read more

I only ordered the beef brisket which was pretty good. Probably would never come back to this establishment because the food was not good enough to deal with the abrupt and poor customer service. The young lady taking the orders answered any question posed to her as if she was in the biggest rush ever and rattled off options las if we were regulars the place is Cash Only although I saw. O sign that stated that (maybe I missed it) for my beef brisket sandwich it was $12 with taxes and I ordered a side of mac and cheese for $3. Don't know if the price mat he'd the quality but I did get quite an bit of meat.This location is pretty much standing room only ( and barely that) there is a bar section with approx 6 chairs crowded next to each other so grab and go! I wonder if the ppl giving the 5stars are regulars read more

i like this place a lot better than the restaurant. I tried the rib lunch here. their bbq sauce is pretty awesome so is the potato salad. you must try it at least once! you can judge for yourself :) read more

This is what I think of when I think BBQ. (Actually, the long since closed Doug's is what I think when I think BBQ, but no use reviewing a dead restaurant). E&J on San Pablo is a gritty experience long on flavor and short on fluff. This here is Oakland Style Barbecue. That means the people behind the counter are descended from folks who came out from Texas and Oklahoma, and so it's basically Texas style BBQ. The meat gets a spice rub before it goes into the oven. The sauce is sweet, spicy and tomato-based. Kind of like Kansas City style, maybe with more molasses. But if you're looking for a pork-only, Carolina style vinegar or mustard sauce, this isn't the place for you. There's always going to be at least a few people in line ahead of you, which gives you enough time to decide between sandwich and dinner, and whether or not you want some sort of combo. Whether it's ribs, brisket, hot links or chicken, it's hard to go wrong. Me? I always go for a brisket sandwich. The meat is always perfectly cooked-never dry. I can almost always talk them into putting a mix of medium and hot sauce on the meat. For me, that's the right amount of heat, and I'm psyched that they're willing to do it. If you're really hungry, or if you really like sides, you should try the dinner at least once. I don't like sides, so sandwich it is. While you wait for your order to be called, it's fun to read the massive amount of politcally incorrect bumper stickers plastered over every possible surface. Once your order is called, you can sit at the concrete picnic table and watch the human tableaux walk by. Or you can hightail it off to a more peaceful setting. It's all good. read more

Everett & Jones Barbeque is the one institution I miss the most, having moved away from my beloved Bay Area. Saddest part, I moved to the South and still have not found a BBQ joint that I love more that E&J!! I've been to all their locations except Alameda (so Jack London, other Oakland, & Hayward), but before I moved I was frequenting the Berkeley one more because of its location. E&J BBQ IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS!! The hot links with mild sauce (I'm a wussy) and the potato salad and the sliced bread together are a delicious trio! Recalling the taste makes me want to hop on a plane heading straight towards Oakland right now! This location you can either eat on a counter style table inside or if it's nice enough outside they have bench tables. Either way, I love the authenticity and the family business feel to the place. It definitely reminds me of home! I wish their prices were a little cheaper, but in this case money buys happiness and I'm willing to pay for it in the form of a hot link platter! I'm going to have my mom send me a jar of their sauce and see how that compares. I'm not going to have any shame taking it into a restaurant here and slabbin' it onto my meat. Sorry NOLA, Everett & Jones and the Bay Area will always have my BBQ heart. HANDS DOWN! read more

Given, I've had 2.5 glasses of wine... but I can't come up with a place that's more overrated! The only reason it has a second star is for the somewhat amusing literature pasted all OVER this place! The stuff we had really wasn't that great-- certainly nothing better than what I've had off my own grill. No service with a smile, crappy potato salad... I dunno. I just really don't get it. I miss Texas BBQ. No, I REALLY miss Texas BBQ.... read more

Check your healthy conscience hesitations at the parking lot and come right on in to BBQ Bliss! Everett & Jones has super yummy BBQ plates and decent prices (take this as what I consider: not cheap). Their "sandwich" plates are a good portion and comes with potato salad, bread, as well as your choice of meat and heat. I went with the pork ribs with medium heat and it was the perfect lunch portion. The beverage choices here are a can of soda or a can of soda...perhaps a bottle of water if you look closely enough. The outside benches are nice, but it's seems like the kind of place you pick up food to go rather than sit there and eat. read more

The ribs and beef brisket are the best. They have a good smokey flavor and are both tender and juicy. Sometimes I think that the best thing about this place is the whole experience of it all though. The bumper stickers posted everywhere are hilarious. And it just feels like good 'ole Southern BBQ. A must for those in the Berkeley area. read more

I have being going to this spot since 95/96 and have enjoy ever since. I gone to 3 of their locations. This place is my favorite of the 3. More for a To Go place. The BBQ is off the hook I cant lie I go with the mild and a side of the hot. I think sometimes the hot sauce takes away from the Q. IMO. But always good never fails. read more

Wow. Okay, where do I start? We walked in looking for some grub and all I knew was that I was going for barbeque. None of us had been here before, but when we walked in and saw the place was filled with smoke, we realized we were in for a treat. We got the chicken, brisket, and ribs for a little bit of variety. Everyone should know a few things though: 2 orders are enough for 3 and 3 enough for 5. We had way more than we could possibly eat. Each order comes with a scoop of "potato salad" (honestly, I think they ran out of potato salad, because this was just mashed potatoes), and 2 slices of wheat bread (wonderbread, honestly). The low-quality bread was meh, but it was perfect to slop up all of the delicious barbeque sauce. Speaking of sauce: the hot bbq sauce was kick ass... it really was incredible. Just hot enough that your eyes and nose water, but it doesn't overpower the food. The chicken was awesome, the ribs were the best, but unfortunately the brisket was a little stringy and tough. I think a lot of people rate this down because 1) it doesn't have a lot of space, 2) parking on San Pablo can be shitty, 3) the prices are high, but not really. But if you just keep those things in mind before you go, you're in for a delicious treat. I haven't been able to find decent barbeque so close to my house until now... I'll be coming back for sure. read more

Hmm... makes me wonder what kind of 'tude ya'll walkin' in with - the cashier is always friendly to us. As for the E&J's BBQ - love it.. My family has enjoyed E&J since the late 70's. Ate there last night - the brisket and chicken was perfect and the sauce yummy (as usually). Maybe I don't know what "real" BBQ is but I know what I like and I like E&J. Don't much care for those other styles of BBQ. I guess, different strokes for different folks. As for the only sides being potato salad & bread - that's all you need. Don't need a bunch of "sides" messin' up my meal. The way I see it if ya gotta how a mess of sides - must be hiding something. read more

I had a craving for BBQ, and I've tried KC down the street and decided to give this place a try. FOOD: I ordered the two way combo (pork ribs, beef links, potato salad and bread for ~$19) with the hot bbq sauce on the side. First, the ribs were very, Very dry but had a good smokey taste (I like to get the sauce on the side so I can actually taste the meat). I love spicy food, but I made a big mistake getting the hot bbq sauce because it was all heat and very little flavor. Other yelpers have praised their bbq sauce, so maybe the medium or mild are very good. The positives were the links and the potato salad. the potato salad was fresh and a great contrast to the meal. The links were soft and had lots of flavor. It was a good amount of food, I was definitely full, but it was a bit too expensive for what it was. SERVICE: The service wasn't really bad, but it was just cold. The guy was far from friendly and didn't say much. Also, why have a phone number if you don't take phone orders? It didn't end up mattering because it only took about 5 minutes for me to get my food (it was all pre-made and just sitting there - probably why it was so dry). Finally, since I got the sauce on the side, all I got was a little 3 oz cup of sauce. I asked for extra and it was $1 for another little 3oz cup. The service was a big reason for my low rating. If you can do it, you should probably go to the Jack London Square location instead of this one. They actually have other sides you can choose from and I heard the food and service is better. If i go to E&J again it'll be there, definitely not to this location again. read more

Recently ate here with a few friends before Cal stomped Oregon, I'm giving it four stars because the meat (hot links) was damn fine and the sauce (medium) was smoky, not overly sweet like most places serve. I had more than enough sauce to soak up with bread, if I was by myself I would've licked it off the paper plate it was that good. I went with hot links to avoid the messiness of ribs, but they looked really, really good. I completely agree with Mitchell C: "The leaky to-go plates, bumper stickers, lingering sause/smoke smell and general vibe are all part of the experience, which is what you are in for every time you eat the food." One of my friends said that this is the best E&J location, I'm taking his word for it and I'll definitely return some day when I'm in Berkelely and eager for a 4-way orgy of meat..... read more

I'll tell you what, this place smells fantastic. I didn't know anything about this place, but I followed my nose to find it. I got the beef brisket and was very happy with it. My mother got the chicken and she was happy with it as well. The second time I came I got the Beef links and I wasn't really a fan, the links themselves were basically flavorless and the only saving grace was the sauce. As the other reviews say, the staff is pretty dry. They move slowly and are a little terse, but don't come off as rude. read more

ALL I GOT TA SAY IS: *~*~*THA BIZNESS!!!*~*~* I drive all the way from Oakland, in traffic if I have to, to get this BBQ. BEST in the ENTIRE Bay hands down!!!!!!!!! Their desserts are good too, they have screaming mini sweet potato pies, and to die for peach cobbler!! Also, the attitudes of everybody who works there is down home, friendly, real and warm. Worth my money EVERYTIME!!! read more

It is what it is... If you're from any of the great BBQ capitals of the US (you know- KC, Texas, NC, Memphis, Chicago, St. Louis, etc.) then you'll really not like this version. But if you don't know any better then this version is just fine. read more

I tried their beef brisket dinner a couple of weeks ago and I wasn't very impressed with what I got. The meat was stringy, chewy, and far from being tender. It's too bad, since their sauce had a really good kick to it, and the place is conveniently located right next to an AC Transit #51 bus stop. I might be back to try their other meats, but it won't be for a while. read more

Great BBQ! Great People... Amazing desserts!! What more could you ask for?!? They my be a little pricey but I think they are way better then the BBQ Hut.... read more

Everett & Jones - Two way... Brisket and beef link - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is three stars if you are going for a random place to eat with no particular cravings. I'd bump it up to four stars if you have to have BBQ and white bread (Hey it happens, and you don't have to be pregnant to have such cravings). The place is simple, not the friendliest bunch of folks, but they do give you food when you give them money, so hey it works. The food itself is about average and it is not "cheap eats" Watch out for the spicy, as it is quite hot. read more

Very good!!! Tried it for the first time, and I think I will def. go back for more. Got the four way combo with briskets, links, ribs, and chicken. Got the medium spicy. Meats were overall very tender and flavorful! Chicken and ribs were my favorite. Links were pretty spicy and they get addicting! Also love the potato salad on the side. Shared between two girls and with bowls of rice, it was a very satisfying and filling meal. Oh, it's a bit pricey but I think the portion is also pretty big, so no complaint. read more

The chicken here ususally rocks. It's slow cooked to death, so the skin is carmelized with good smokey flavor. In fact, this place is so smokey, OSHA should shut it down. The medium sauce is just right. But it IS a little overpriced and the portions range from adequate to generous, depending on the night. And the beef is inconsistent--sometimes good and sometimes not. The sides are, well, potato salad or nothin' at all. And the potato salad is nothing to brag about. I really think a proper BBQ place out to serve some kind of beans snd greens. My 16 year-old cat Minnie also agrees. She can smell the chicken from miles away and always begs for some. She seems to like the medium hot sauce just fine, and doesn't mind eating the unidentifiable pieces of the bird! I'm up for finding a better BBQ place, but I don't want to drive to Memphis or Austin or Kansas City to do it. E&J is just 5 blocks from my house. read more

Yeah I have to admit these people are rude! I'll be going to Looney's from now on!! Went in here yesterday for ribs. They are excellent. I miss Doug's because it was closer to my house, (and gave larger portions) but I realize now these folks have always known how to produce really good smoky ribs and beef. You can memorize the menu in 3 minutes, they have what I believe to be the largest collection of joke bumper stickers in the area, and on Friday afternoon it was busy but they kept the line moving. I was toying with the idea of trying either Looney's or TRex for the first time, but I haven't received my economic stimulus money yet. Yeah it would be nice if E and J's would add a few more things to the menu (and get rid of that store-bought bread) but they do what they do very well. Parking isn't that tough either. read more

Best BBQ in the bay maybe in the country. Make sure u get at least a two way. Thats two kinds of meat or a double order, that way you will be full. When u burp 6 hours later no lie u can still taste the BBQ thats how good it is. I love BBQ. Everett and Jones do it the best read more

Everett & Jones - 2 way links n chicken... o boy - Barbeque Near Me - Berkeley, California

So far so good. What called me to this place was the intoxicatin smell as I was driving by. I ordered the BBQ pork ribs which where delicious, and BBQ brisket they both come with a side of beans and potato salad. Everything was so good delish and flavorful and the portions were good size. And for dessert peach cobbler ahhhh(mouth watering like Homer Simpson) I'll come back to this place for sure read more

Ugh. Whenever I come here, pull into the 99 c/ parking lot, the first smell that hits me is the smokey BBQ. Do you know that feeling you get when the little things in life make you happy? Well for me, this is one of them. I've gotten the brisket and pork rib dinners and omg, the sauce. It's simply the perfect balance of honey, spice, and BBQ sauce. Pretty decent portions, but a little pricy for what it is... you get two slices of bread, and sides of mashed potatoes and beans. For $15 ish. Makes me feel like Frank Underwood coming here. read more

This location has been around for years. One of the best bbq joints around. They now take credit cards. Plenty of parking. Ribs have the smoke flavor and just good. The staff always nice and friendly. It sometimes reminds me of a old school barbershop , because the staff knows a lot of people and the older staff has watched kids grow into adults. So come on down and order the ribs and links. read more

Food is generally very good. The ribs and chicken are consistently on-point. As a spicy food lover, I really appreciate having the option to get a sauce that really makes you sweat. However like others have said, the brisket can be hit or miss. The prices have just gotten too high for me to come back regularly though. A one-meat plate with potato salad and bread will run about $9-10, and usually isn't enough to satisfy me. Then I'm left with the option of 2 meats for $17, or 3 meats for $20. I feel the 2 meats is bad value, and then I end up spending 20 bucks! Great food, but hard to justify the price. read more

I keep coming here, because I've had good meat before, but even that's going downhill The good: actually smoked, the sauce is 3 stars The bad: everything else. The sides are the worst ever! 'Potato salad" is warm to hot, and basically flavorless mashed potatoes. Mac n cheese is flavorless mush. Gluey, not gooey. Baked beans are ok. But no greens? Really? I live in Oakland, very close to the Jls ej's but gave up on that location years ago. Drive all the way to north Berkeley, because they still did it best. No more. read more

Staff members were highly rude while taking orders over the phone. Seems Like the woman that took my order did not want to be at work that day she was rushing me off the phone and I asked her what sides do they have she ran through the sides really fast and I could barely hear what she was even saying I ordered a plate and she kept asking me what else do you want what else do you want with a nasty attitude rushing me off the phone so I called about 10 minutes later to cancel my order because I felt I didn't need to spend my money at this place because this is not the first time that a staff member has been rude to me and when they were actually open before Covid staff members were really rude and I'm obnoxious taking orders really fast and had a bad attitude so I called to cancel my order and I got another rude encounter from the guy who answered the phone I said I would like to cancel my order I gave him my name and he hung up the phone. Don't eat here staff is very rude read more