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    Heads And Tails Barbecue

    3.7 (284 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Heads And Tails Barbecue Takeout or Delivery

    Heads And Tails Barbecue Photos

    HEADS AND TAILS BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Heads And Tails Barbecue

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    Eugene L.

    I have to Admit. I Love BBQ!!! I Am Actually Some What Of A BBQ Snob!!! Brisket is my Favorite!! So when my Associate Icebreaker Ed told me to try Heads and Tails Bbq!!! I heed his advice!! I rolled to H& T Bbq in my G Wagon!!! I found street parking 2 Doors down.. I rolled in and was Greeted and Seated!!! I perused the Menu and ordered a PENA Colada. Then I perused the Food Menu and Ordered the 2 Ways Combination Plate! Brisket Pork Ribs Potato Salad And Pork Ribs A Neighbor at the Bar Gave me 2 of the Cornbread Fritters with the Roulade Sauce!!! They were delicious!!! I also watched the World Cup Game Netherlands and Japan !! The game ended in a tie!!! lol!! My Bbq Platter was delivered to me!!! It was a nice Presentation!!! It was also Delicious and the Brisket was Tender and Peppery !!! Nice Smoke Ring!! The Potato Salad and Mac and Cheese yummy and creamy!!! Ribs had a nice texture and chew to them !! Plenty of Restrooms and Clean!!! Server's are Nice and Friendly!!! This is a Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!! I keep my Pimp Hands Strong!!!! Number 34 out of the Top 50 most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025!!!

    One meat (brisket) and two sides. Plenty of food for one.
    Kimberly B.

    I've been on the hunt for great barbecue in the East Bay for a while now. In my opinion, Everett & Jones has gone downhill, and I still miss the old Flint's, so I was excited to finally try Heads & Tails. My dining companion and I each ordered the one-meat, two-sides combo and shared everything so we could sample a variety of dishes. I chose the half rack of ribs, while he ordered the brisket. We tried the beans, shells and cheese, Brussels sprouts, and potato salad. The biggest positive was the quality of the meat itself. Both the ribs and brisket were excellent cuts, cooked well and tender. That said, neither had the deep smokiness I look for in great barbecue. On our way out, I noticed a table enjoying the Beef ribs, which looked insanely delicious! Falling off the bone and massive. The sides were a mixed bag. The standout for both of us was definitely the beans, which had generous chunks of meat, bits of vegetables, and lots of flavor. The shells and cheese were fine, but a little bland. The potato salad was good enough, just not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the Brussels sprouts were our least favorite. We were really excited to try them, but they didn't taste much like roasted Brussels sprouts at all. They came with a chimichurri sauce and ended up tasting oddly bitter. The biggest disappointment was the barbecue sauce. If there were multiple sauce options, nobody mentioned them to us. The sauce we were given was much too sweet for my taste and didn't complement the meat particularly well. On the plus side, the atmosphere was great. The World Cup was on several large TVs, the place was packed with energy, and the drinks were solid. I had a spiked strawberry lemonade that was delicious, and my friend enjoyed his Arnold Palmer. A special shoutout to our server, Nikki, who was fantastic. She was friendly, honest about the menu, and really added to the experience. Overall, I'd come back for the quality of the meat and the lively atmosphere, but I'd love to see bolder flavors in the sides and more sauce options. Good barbecue can be hard to find, and while Heads & Tails doesn't quite scratch that itch for me yet, it definitely shows promise.

    Chicken tinga taco
    Malik C.

    This rating was based on the overall experience. My brother saw a popular food reviewer post this establishment; I watched it too and thought the vibes and food looked decent. When we walked in, we were seated immediately which was cool but after that, the service was downhill from there. I will give them the benefit of the doubt because it seemed a little busier due to it being trivia night but we still felt pretty forgotten at our table. We first ordered the chicken tinga tacos, those were solid. Next we ordered brisket frito dish and the bbq burnt ends. That order took approximately 20 minutes to come out. We then ordered the main dishes. I ordered the 2 meat 2 side combo (Brisket, Hot Link, Potato Salad and Garlic Roll). Everyone else ordered tri tip and brisket. I was able to try those items myself. The brisket was ok. The tri tip tho? Y'all remember that mid BBQ spot called Dickey's? Yeah that's what the food reminded me of. The tri tip was disappointing and had zero flavor. The hot link was fine. As for the sauces? They have a sweet bbq, a chipotle bbq and a cali gold type of sauce. I'm sure they make all of them in house because the sweet bbq sauce did not taste much like bbq sauce and the chipotle bbq sauce wasn't any better. The sweet bbq just tasted strange and sweet. The yellow cali gold was exceptional. I think my favorite thing probably was the potato salad and the garlic roll. Once it came time to pay, we were given a to-go box as requested by my brother and no tab. So we waited an additional 25 minutes before my brother just got up and stood at the edge of the bar counter to get someone's attention regarding the tab. All in all, it's safe to say for me at least, I'm not in any rush to return.

    Pork rib plate
    Adrian L.

    I love barbecue and Heads and Tails has a lot of foodies on instagram posting about it so I had to try. I got the pork rib plate and the meat was very tender. The side of bbq sauce was on the slightly sweet side. The dish came with two sides. At the recommendation of my very knowledgeable server I chose the potato salad and the arroz verde. Great selections. All this for $30. The service was friendly and good. I look forward to returning:)

    Carla L.

    Back at the heads and tails barbecue place in Berkeley. Take out! The service was excellent and fast. The ambiance was great! Food was fantastic as always. The hot links were amazing, so much flavor. Pork ribs were good. The extra barbecue sauce is amazing!! Flavor wise it's delicious. Thank you! Carla l

    Queso fries
    Lisa C.

    Heads & Tails in Berkeley is a fantastic spot to watch the World Cup games. The staff is incredibly accommodating and knowledgeable about the menu. Every dish I tried was absolutely delicious! I visited to watch the Mexico vs. Ecuador match, and the atmosphere was electric. It was a packed house, but in a positive way. The fans were courteous, and despite the drinking, tension, and crowded space, we all managed to get along. They even have their own parking lot across the street. Overall, I can't wait to return to Heads & Tails because our experience was so enjoyable. I'm looking forward to savoring their delicious barbecue food and the friendly wait staff.

    The Dino Rib was decent.
    Chef Omar R.

    I spun the block, back to Heads and Tails. Good food, cool service, cool ambiance is how I describe it today. Came in for Happy Hour, ordered the Garlic Pecorino Wings, Cheddar Link sausage, Fries, and Housemade Lemonade. The wings were delicious. The cheddar Link sausage was also very good. The housemade lemonade was perfect, with a spritz of carbonated bubbles that gave the lemonade a nice kick. A gentleman came by the table and brought over a complimentary cup of beef tallow popcorn that had a nice flavor. Although we didn't get the fries with the order, everything was good.

    Self service in the back
    Sun L.

    Street parking but they made arrangements with a small parking lot next door High ceilings, wide area, spacious, lots of different seatings, multiple TVs, beautiful bar section and a self service bar in the back Service was great, helpful and informative They ran outta the oxtail poutine, too popular, need to come back But food was very good and the sauces was so flavorful Ordered their $15 cocktails and all of them were a hit Amazing spot amazing food

    Ube Horchata
    Melanie J.

    My mom and I wanted to try this place for a while and finally had the opportunity. We got there in the early afternoon on a weekday and there was a good amount of seating options available and wasn't crazy busy. Automatically seemed like a place that would be good to hang out in as they had plenty of TVs and a bar to sit at. The server started out pretty attentive but started to show up less frequently even though it still wasn't too busy. We had questions that, even though the server answered them, she seemed unsure of. We found afterwards from who I believe was the manager that it was her first week after a mix up on part of our order that wasn't added. I ordered an Ube Horchata which was really good but just wish there was more as it was in a small cup with a good amount of ice. As much as I wanted to love the food, I would say it was mid. My mom got brisket which she said was really good; she was hoping to get a choice of fatty vs lean cut but enjoyed it regardless. I ordered the pork rib combo plate with shells and cheese and potato salad. The ribs were alright; they weren't tender and, I'm not sure what BBQ sauce they gave me but it didn't really help much. The potato salad didn't have flavor at all but the shells and cheese were decent. My daughter ordered a chicken tenders and fries from the kids menu and it was a good portion plus she enjoyed it. Upon getting our to go boxes, we waited about 20 minutes for the bill before we decided to get up and request it from our server. It was nice to be able to try the place finally but all in all don't think I'll be coming back as it was pretty pricey as well.

    Amit S.

    Finally made my way to head and tails bbq. Street parking only so be advised of that. This place is clean, spacious, inviting and family friendly. Got sat almost immediately without a wait. Explored the menu with a variety of bbq items to choose from. Ended up going with the combo plate. 3 meats and 2 sides. Went with tri-tip, ribs and smoked sausage with side of coleslaw and shells and cheese (mac n cheese) and they threw in house pickles. And for starters got the trio of salsa with home made chicharonnes. Warm queso, guacamole and salsa. Bbq was good. Flavorful, seasons and the sauce was chefs kiss. The chicharrones were fresh, crispy and had that hint of spice. They also have a full bar, tv's all around, some small arcade games. Overall a good spot to bring friends and family of all ages for good food, good vibes and a good time.

    Side salad
    Hillari A.

    Great spot for comfort while watching a game, just chatting/eating with friends, whatever. My Dad called to have lunch and asked if I'd been here before, yes! They're great! So we went. It was a nice weekday, off-hour time, so we were there with little competition. After my Dad reviewed the menu, he decided on Chix wings with dry rub and a Caesar salad. I opted for the brisket sammie with a small salad. We enjoyed everything. Although my Dad would have preferred less dressing on his salad, mine as served with it on the side (better). The service was also nice, not interrupting, but attentive. I'll def return -yet again!

    Olga R.

    The heads and tails is the perfect place to go eat good bbq, have some drinks and watch a good game! However the lights are very deem you can't barely see the menu lol, we went at night. The bbq meat was delicious!!! However the sides were bland except the vaquero beans those were tasty! Customer service was very good , I didn't get a chance to know the girls name.

    1 meat 2 sides
    Eizabeth M.

    I loved this place! The food was amazing and the customer service was also on point. They are very attentive and check in on you to make sure you're doing good! The brisket was so good! My absolute favorite was their garlic bread roll! The Ube Horchata drink was also very good not too sweet and not to strong of an alcohol taste. Will 100% be coming back! My husband also got the brisket sandwich and he absolutely loved it!

    2 meat combo

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Heads And Tails Barbecue

    How's the parking is it just street parking or a parking lot?

    There's a dedicated lot. If you are looking at the building, it is to your right. Make a right on the… 

    Are you now able to eat there and not just take out food?

    Yes! Bar and dining room are open! 11am-12pm every day!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Eureka!

    Eureka!

    3.8(2.4k reviews)
    1.2 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$
    Casual dining
    Full bar

    Straight up incredible. It was like an explosion of flavors. Went to Eureka on a Monday and loved…read moreevery bit of it. It was happy hour, so all their martinis were $10, a steal for the SF area. The espresso martini was delicious, but the lychee martini was the star of the show. The fries with Korean beef... please, I'll take ten. So good. The jalapeño burger with an egg on top was cooked perfectly, and I swapped the fries for green beans. Not to be dramatic, but those might be the best green beans I've ever had. Service was great too, zero complaints. I went with a local who loves this place, and I completely see why.

    The manager (orange colored hair) on duty, Alexi at 6:17pm 08/05/26, is the reason for the poor…read morereview. I have been ordering the Wednesday smash burger special to-go for months, with zero issues. Today I was told it's policy for it not to be taken to-go. Nowhere is this stated online, the menu or the numerous staff members who have rung me up while on my lunch break. If this is in fact the policy, it needs to be communicated to ALL staff. Interesting enough my server Katie who I ordered the food, as well as to-go boxes, asked if I wanted them to-go. Make it make sense. Poor leadership, is the reason why I will no longer patronize this location or recommend to others. After briefly overheating Katie's interactions with others while waiting for my food, it's clear she is personable, kind, and capable of doing her job. Maybe she could be a better fit for leadership here. Lastly, the newly hired hostess who claimed it was her first day, and had to call "management" over upon my entry, was too busy on her phone to even acknowledge a customer leaving. Shame Eureka!

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    Eureka!
    Eureka!
    Eureka!

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    Tap in lounge - POPCORN CHICKEN, VEGGIE SAMOSAS, chicken tikka masala flatbread, TIKKA SAUCE

    Tap in lounge

    3.9(79 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown Berkeley
    Kitchen open late
    Takes reservations

    I stumbled upon this cute bar on TikTok a while back and had it saved in my folder because I knew I…read morehad to go!! Like a cute bar and speakeasy in the back with self serve beer, hello?? It wasn't as busy when me and my friend came, so there was no wait time. We got sat immediately and the customer service was awesome! When first going in, the bar/restaurant area is pretty small and intimate. I didnt know how to get into the speakeasy area, so I just asked the lady politely and she was super helpful and excited to help me! I wish I had got her name bc she was super attentive once me and my friend were inside the speakeasy. Also there was a man that was really attentive to us, I would say customer service in general was awesome and were happy to help! When inside the speakeasy, there's a good amount of tables to sit at and the self-serve pour of your choice of beer is a pretty cool concept. Then you're just charged on how much you pour. (So you can literally pour a small amount and only get charged a couple cents lol). They had some really yummy food/ beer options. I do wish they had more IPA options tho. For food, we ordered the pizza with 3 kinds of meat. For drinks, we ordered 2 tequila shots, and had 4 beers. I wish I had gotten more videos/ photos of this place, but I was too in the moment. Overall, I would LOVE to come again bc this was such a cool concept and who doesn't love beer??!

    The Place has not changed, too loud Inside and outside. Food…read moreDepends on what you like, I did not eat. Had a drink and left, to go accross street. Something about the air inside, its was filled with cooking odours, Hard to breath inside. Noticed people were outside mostly, and not inside. More people were outside, than inside.

    Photos
    Tap in lounge
    Tap in lounge
    Tap in lounge

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    Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen - Warrior's playoffs!

    Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen

    3.9(43 reviews)
    1.8 miTelegraph Ave
    Sports on TV
    Private events

    It seems the World Cup hangover is still present this week with the sports world preparing for…read moreFootball and Basketball in the Fall which is usually for professional or collegiate sports. Some sports bars have descent food along with the good drink varieties on the menu. What really makes a good sports bar is the space and atmosphere along with the party people. There is one sports bar which serves foods like cheesy smash burgers along with fries. You can also find cheesy pizza along with pasta with angel hair. It's located on Telegraph in Berkeley and it's called Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen. On a Summer stroll on a sunny day on Telegraph in Berkeley I landed at Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen for another drinking binge. Inside there are lots televisions mounted on the wall along of seating. I was thirsty and I order a refreshing drink. I also ordered the smash burger and it was a bit cheesy like some on my social media feed and the buns were soft. The fries were crispy and not too salty like some on my social media feed. This is also a night club at night and there are plenty of adult beverages to be consumed. A good place to watch a game this Fall. Go on a journey along with the clouds and sun in the "skies"and enjoy a pleasant "surprise"where you can get a cheesy smash burger with pointy "fries"and wash it down with some "Mai Tais" Go on Summer stroll because in 2026 because we are in the " half " so grab a beer on "draft" or a beer that is "craft" at Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen on "Telegraph"

    Super fun on game days! It was easy to make a reservation and we had our own table downstairs in…read morethe club room. You order at the counter and food came out quick. We liked the chicken tenders, pepperoni pizza, and the Cali burger (best thing on the menu). Note it gets LOUD on game days.

    Photos
    Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen - Warrior's Playoffs!

    Warrior's Playoffs!

    Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen
    Cali's Sports Bar & Kitchen - Have the bar to myself.

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    Have the bar to myself.

    Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Snacks from our last visit: Soft Pretzel and Mac N' Cheese Bites

    Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music

    3.6(464 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$

    My after work watering hole, and sometimes during work nudge nudge, wink wink say no more!…read moreGreat selection of tap beers and a full bar. Decent food menu, even have a decent veggie burger. They've got some nice veggie appetizers, cauliflower, fake chicken tender thingies, and a nice pretzel. Probably the best pretzel I've ever had. Pay the little extra for the cheese dip. Me likes the cheese bites. And I love the shishito peppers. Lotsa interesting folks come up in here, and there's some daily regulars, a real mixed bag , fun people. I met a couple people that turned out to be my good friends for the last few years. Attached is a concert hall that has some pretty interesting live music acts and very diverse from hip hop to jazz to funk to rock and roll and that dark sider stuff, heavy metal, etc. They rent the whole joint out if you have a party or they rent sections as well. Great spot for wedding rehearsal dinners, high school reunions, company parties, etc. Stimulating conversation abounds and a lot of laughter bouncing off the walls. A great place to see sporting events, especially the Warriors. Very nice patio as well with big umbrellas and fire pit. There is an odd set up as you have to go to the bar to get your drinks each time you want something. The downside could be long lines as they don't have table service but they bring you stuff. They don't take orders from the table. Some kind of crowd control thing? Or mis management or local rules? At any rate, it is a fun hang out with killer bartenders and servers. Great spot, get over here and enjoy yourself! Time to leave your crib, get off the sofa, turn off Netflix. And remember, social media is not! Let's go, get out and make Berkeley great again! Tip well the service is great!

    I was an insane person and went to go see 4 concerts in 1 week, all at different venues and I have…read moreto say that this one is my favorite. I went to see the visual kei, Japanese rock band, JILUKA, here with my boyfriend and we lined up beforehand for VIP. The staff walked out, showed us the rules for the VIP that was printed on a piece of paper and explained it to us too, they walked down the line to scan us in as well. Venue itself is pretty neat. The front part is a bar area with lots of tables and seating and outdoor seating as well. Since it was before the concert, we were able to enjoy some food and drinks from the bar and kitchen. It was also during their Happy Hour too which was great. My boyfriend got a drink (not sure what it was, but it was refreshing and citrus tasting?) and we shared a Bavarian soft pretzel with mustard and we got the white cheddar dipping sauce added on for a nominal fee. One of the best pretzels that I've ever had! Deliciously soft interior, nice chew to the texture of the exterior. Comes out hot, warm and delicious. Great on it's own, but great with the sauces too. Perfect dash of the coarse salts on it. I'd get this again for sure and would like to one day order more from their menu. The live house music area is in the back in a separate room. Restrooms were clean too. Enough space for the bands to sell their merch and do a meet and greet. Wasn't a huge venue and insane turn out, but it fit the crowd and I liked how intimate setting was. I was around 3-4 rows from the front and even with a mosh pit and wall of death, I was able to shift around and see the band more clearly. Easy visibility no matter where I was shifted around. Lighting was pretty good and made it easy to take pictures and video. I think the vocals were a bit more muffled than the rest of the band members playing, but that might just be the set up more than anything. Of all the venues I stopped by for the week, this had the most approachable and friendly staff. Greeted going and as we were leaving too. I didn't overheat at this one either, so the AC was A+!! There's paid parking nearby but if you read the signs and go around, you can get free street parking too. Bring more J-rock/over seas acts here, it was so good!

    Photos
    Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - IG : LEGITPIQ

    IG : LEGITPIQ

    Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Louisiana sausage board with Barely Buzzed Cheddar

    Louisiana sausage board with Barely Buzzed Cheddar

    Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music - Drink special spicy tequila cocktail

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    Drink special spicy tequila cocktail

    Spats - Come have a brew and play a game or two.

    Spats

    3.5(308 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$

    Great place to come eat a bite, drink a bear, and sing a karaoke song!…read more I came here with some friends on a week night. It was pretty empty and had two nice pool tables. There's a food guy in the back that serves Japanese food (pretty good!). The karaoke sound system is pretty janky but functional and the DJ is very nice.

    Boy, this place takes me back. Way back. Way, way, way back. When I was a puppyish sophomore still…read moretrying to figure out my major, I remember coming here with my similarly awkward dorm mates for what would be the beginning of a lifetime of cocktail debauchery. I remember when it had a tiki vibe, and we shared a ridiculously potent concoction called the Borneo Fogcutter. I don't remember much after I passed out. Good times. Now it's a hundred years later, and it was my first time back. Seriously. I probably thought how could they could top the Borneo Fogcutter? They don't try. The tiki decor has clearly been long gone, and it's just a standard brick-laden bar with a more East Coast vibe and extra space for tables, banquettes, and a pool table. None of the extra space was being used when Jamie W and I paid a visit, though the bar itself was fairly packed. The bartender was friendly and made a solid $11 Rum Punch since we were in the mood for something tropical given my checkered past here (Photo 5). On a subsequent visit, we took advantage of Happy Hour and went with the $6 Tequila Sunrises which had a surprising kick (Photo 8). DRINKS - 4 stars...no Borneo Fogcutters but their drinks have punch AMBIANCE - 3 stars...showing its age SERVICE - 3.5 stars...bartenders are different each visit TOTAL - 4 stars...Spats has matured and so have I (hypothetically) RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

    Photos
    Spats - Photo 3: Pool table

    Photo 3: Pool table

    Spats - The original Spats button.

    The original Spats button.

    Spats - Inside playing anime on the TV

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    Inside playing anime on the TV

    Heads And Tails Barbecue - bbq - Updated September 2026

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