My favorite BBQ spot. LOVE their Dino Rib. Their brisket and pulled pork are also consistently excellent.

Pretty solid BBQ spot. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try the beef ribs since they were sold out when I stopped by, but I went with the Smoked Brisket and Smoked Carnitas Tacos with a side of Spicy Cowboy Beans and Cornbread. I'd rate the tacos a 4/5. They were cooked really well, packed with flavor, and the pickled jalapeños added a nice kick. I wasn't a huge fan of the cowboy beans, but the cornbread was good (just needed some honey on top). The meats were definitely the highlight. They were super flavorful and cooked perfectly. I also tried the spicy BBQ sauce and mustard-based sauce, and both were delicious. Definitely recommend trying their sauces and checking this place out if you're craving some good BBQ. read more

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Not too busy on a Sunday lunch. Indoor and outdoor seating both available. Service was super friendly, fast, and hospitable. The 5 of us shared the bacon brisket hash, brisket, pork ribs, mac n cheese, cornbread, and a smoked carnitas taco. My favorites were the brisket, pork ribs, and cornbread. Would probably skip the hash next time because it was on the blander side. Cornbread would've been better warm but definitely still delicious and loved the corn chunks inside. Brisket and pork ribs were both quite tender. Prices are reasonable for the hefty portions. One thing to note is that the bacon brisket hash and the taco both came with cornbread. read more

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I tried Mesquite and Oak for the first time today. I got the Brisket pitmaster with Mac & cheese and the cowboy beans and cornbread. The brisket was tender and cooked well. It really needed the bbq sauce to make it pop. The cornbread was soft from the first bite and had a light, fluffy taste. Unfortunately, the sides were underwhelming. The Mac & cheese tasted bland and didn't feel cheesy --there was a garlic / buttery taste to it. I wouldn't get it again. And the beans lacked flavor, just felt plain. Without the sides, I'd give the meal a 9.3/10. But with the sides, it goes down to a 7.5. This was just a pickup order, but the restaurant itself had a small, casual, bar vibe to it that I liked. The attendant was also friendly. I could see myself dining in in the future. read more

Kick ass pulled pork and corn bread, so super yummy! The pork has a very nice balance of meat and fatness and it goes well with the green beans and carb or just by itself. Corn bread is moist and buttery. Not a fan of their chicken, a bit dry. When we did catering lunch, the 2 trays of pulled pork ran out in just the first round of queue. Their delivery is also good, very on time. read more

Mesquite & Oak - Pulled Pork - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

While in SF we decided to check this place out for lunch. We ended up sharing their 3 meat combo plate. We tried their prime brisket, pulled pork, and smoked links. Also got a side of mac n cheese and coleslaw. It also came with a pickle and a cornbread. All the meats were insanely good. Perfectly seasoned, cooked, and flavorful. The brisket was so moist. The pulled pork was just delicious. And the smoked links were just perfection and one of the best links I've had at a BBQ spot. The mac and cheese and coleslaw were also good and the corn bread was nice. They have two types of BBQ on the side for you as well. I like the creamier one. We paid about $30 for the 3 combo meat plate with 2 sides. It's a spot where you order ahead and pay and they call you once its done. The inside is smaller and simple but they have tables and chairs for you to sit and eat. It was busy when we came for lunch that Thursday but we still manage to find a place to sit fine. And there was just one guy in front of us in line. They have a small lot in the back otherwise you have to find street parking. But well worth it if you are craving BBQ and are in the area. read more

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This is another popular restaurant that I always see when researching new barbecue in San Jose I can try.. I decided to make the trip over to finally see what the hype is about. Staff was helpful giving some recommendations on what sides to try along with the most popular meats. Ambiance is spacious, with long, island like tables in the dining room. The pork ribs were at a good quality, but I've had better in other places, it was missing its tenderness throughout the rib. Brisket was the star of the show for me, I enjoyed every bit of that 1/2lb -- the bark is to die for, amazing blast of flavor with a kick. The cowboy beans were piping hot which I love, but boy were these beans a bland experience. Zero seasoning almost like it was straight from the can. The mac and cheese was seasoned well but barely warm.. the sides could have been a lot bette There wasn't really a sauce bar to help yourself, just a few bottles on the counter. I tried one that was some sort of berry bbq and it paired surprisingly well with the brisket. Overall, worth a visit, expect the normal high San Jose prices, and try the brisket while you're here **If you are coming to try their Dino Beef Ribs, they sell out very quickly so best plan to arrive BEFORE 12:30 (they close at 4) read more

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The most delicious pulled pork sandwich I've ever had in my entire life! Do not miss this place! read more

Mesquite & Oak - Great bbq sauce! Great place!!!! - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

I am a barbecue aficionado. This place rocks! The best brisket I've ever had. The presentation was perfect. The meat was tender and juicy full of a Mesquite flavor. Served on a light wide bun. The side dishes were excellent. Trust me, this place is the best barbecue you can find and San Jose. read more

Mesquite & Oak - One of the brisket chefs, cutting a brisket freshly out of a smoker that was in for about 10 hours - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Ordered several items for Thanksgiving. 1) Turkey - was moist and good 2) Pork ribs - full rack, moist and okay 3) Dino rib - okay 4) Brisket - bone dry (disappointed) 5) corn bread - good 6) cowboy beans - okay 7) Coleslaw - okay 8) Mac & cheese - okay I was just disappointed the brisket was bone dry, dryer than my dryer. I hope it was just my bad luck. read more

It was our first time here. We mainly came to try the beef dino rib. This place was busy for a late Sunday morning. I really wanted to try the breakfast items but had to stick to the plan lol. The person who helped me was super nice and friendly. He was recommending one of the breakfast items and told me it was guaranteed to put me in a food coma. I told him I'll try it next time. While I was waiting, the place itself was pretty big on the inside. Parking is a little tough. My husband had to look for parking while I went in to place my to go order. The dino rib was delicious and tender. Mac n cheese and potato salad were solid side items. The lady who gave me my order was eh. I kept asking to make sure I had bbq sauce. She was like yes, even the person helping me asked. I walked out one of the bbq sauce fell out. I got home, and all we had was one small container of bbq sauce. That was annoying. I had 2 dino ribs and all she gave me was 2 mini sauce containers. Luckily, the beef rib didn't need it but come on. read more

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Honestly, some pretty good BBQ. The pulled chicken and pulled pork were both amazing; super tender and packed with flavor. The brisket was just as good, juicy with a nice smoky taste. Service was really nice too. The staff was friendly and made us feel welcome from the start. Definitely want to come back and try the dino beef rib next time. Great spot if you're craving solid BBQ. read more

Really great BBQ. The brisket was perfect and the bark was especially tasty. My only gripe is that, because I ordered delivery via grubhub, I didn't see any options to include sauce or pickles so I figured it would have just been included. No luck. I try leaving a note with my order next time. read more

I've seen this place on Yelp for a while now but I've been hesitant to try it because, to be honest, barbecue in the bay area just isn't that good. But today I was craving it, so I gave it a try, and I'm glad I did. for just $21, I got 6 pretty giant pork ribs, which were very flavorful and juicy. I also tried the brisket (roughly $25/lb), which was not as tender or juicy as I'd want but still good. Again, it's not going to be the best barbecue you've ever had if you ever had barbecue in the south, but it definitely hits the spot! read more

Mesquite & Oak - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

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Ate here for lunch. The menu has expanded as was the prices so we went for Sandwiches. It was good but the beans wasn't what I expected for a BBQ lunch. Barbecue beans, but it was a watered beans side dish. Meeh. Sandwich, I recommend to get the brisket. read more

Food: More than enough. As tasty as it could have been close to closing. No issue with the pork ribs nor the brisket. If you don't like peppery bark, then consider other meat options; if you do, you'll appreciate their offerings. I ordered the "two-meat" option: your first meat is of larger quantity/weight than your second meat. One of the better and more consistent BBQ spots in the city. Service: Friendly and courteous. Not pushy and answered questions I had. Checkout was easy. Ambiance: Only one other customer in the place as they were closing soon. (I got my food to go.) Menu was clear and front and center. Food prep was being done in the open. Register was off to the side and checkout was easy. read more

Mesquite & Oak - Two-meat "combo": brisket on top, pork ribs under. Sides are Cowboy Beans, Potato Salad, and Cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Got a takeout order at lunchtime on a Saturday. This place has lots of options, including breakfast tacos, which are pretty hard to find outside of Texas (I'll have to try theirs next time I visit). Great: Brisket - visually nothing special, with no smoke ring or charred bark on the exterior. Super tender and even the lean pieces have a tenderness to them that you wouldn't guess from their look. Seasoned well, too! I'd venture to say these don't need sauce. Pulled Pork - lots of fatty bits mixed in to keep it moist, which I find wanting in other BBQ spots here in the Bay. Also seasoned expertly and doesn't need sauce, although it can't hurt if you like the sauced flavor. Cornbread - muffin style. Moist with a tender crumb, and not too sweet. Well done! Mac and cheese - super simple, cheesy with a very tender macaroni, which I am a fan of. Good: Potato salad - solid potato salad, although I think potatoes are easily left underseasoned. This one could use a touch more vinegar or mustard and black pepper to bump up its score. It was, however, cooked very well and had good herbs to add some color. This is arguably the best BBQ I've had in the Bay Area, at least thus far. Prices are super reasonable, on par and in some cases lower than some of its local competitors for meat by the pound. I will certainly be returning! read more

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5 times here and never disappointed. The pulled pork here absolutely delivers -- super tender with that perfect balance of meat and fat, so every bite hits. It pairs great with the green beans or any of the carb sides, but honestly it's flavorful enough to eat on its own. The cornbread is moist, buttery, and just rounds everything out.The pulled pork here absolutely delivers -- super tender with that perfect balance of meat and fat, so every bite hits. It pairs great with the green beans or any of the carb sides, but honestly it's flavorful enough to eat on its own. The cornbread is moist, buttery, and just rounds everything out. read more

My friend has been wanting to go to Mesquite & Oak for some barbecue, so we went for lunch. I ordered the combo with pork spare ribs, hot link, Mac & cheese, potato salad and cornbread. Everything but the Mac & Cheese tasted good. Ribs and link was cooked perfectly. My scoop of the Mac & Cheese must have been in the last in the pan because one of my friend's Mac was much more creamier, because mine was not. Potato Salad here is a must get. Cornbread was good as well. Parking sucks here however. I had to park three blocks away. Just the way it goes with places in downtown. read more

Mesquite & Oak - Combo: Spare Pork Ribs, Smoked Link, Mac&Cheese, Potato Salad & Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Hands down, the best BBQ spot around! The brisket is incredibly tender, juicy, and absolutely delicious. The hot links are also fantastic, and the combination plates are the way to go if you want to try a bit of everything. The cornbread on the side is a must-have--it's simply amazing. Not shown in the picture, but their Mac n cheese is just as good. I used to live by Japantown and visited often, but even though I'm now a bit farther away, I'll still make the drive just to grab some of their BBQ. It's that good. The only downside is that parking can be a bit tricky, but it's totally worth it. Highly recommend! read more

Mesquite & Oak - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Had the Texas breakfast sandwich to go. Wow, what a feast. Big on flavor. Doesn't have as much brisket but has a big portion of scrambled eggs. Brisket was smoky and tender. It's a messy sandwich but who cares when it's this tasty. Will be back. read more

One day I was craving bbq and I haven't had any good ones so I never really bothered trying to find it. However today I was close to settling for famous Dave's but I decided to look it up to see if there was anything new. I happened to find two near work. Jon Jon's and mesquite & oak. Since the combo for Jon Jon's don't let you substitute out the sides I went here instead. The place is nice and clean and everyone there was nice. They seen me looking at the togo bbq sauce and asked if I wanted to try different ones. I got the brisket, pork ribs, and Dino beef rib because that's the first time seeing it at a bbq joint. The brisket was good and the Dino rib was huge and juicy. The pork ribs was okay to me but that's just me because my coworker liked it. The Mac and cheese side was really good and the corn bread had real corn in it! I forgot my sauce and the cook ran out to hand it to me. Good customer service. read more

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Good authentic BBQ. Meaty Dino ribs, spicy hot links as they should be. They're Carolina gold sauce is fantastic mix with their mac n cheese with pulled pork and you wont be disappointed read more

Mesquite & Oak - Dino rib after 2 big bites, bone pulled out easy and clean - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

This place is soo damn good. My wife and I stopped by yesterday and got the 2 meat combo (Brisket and the Dino Rib) with potato salad and mac and cheese. We also go the brisket tacos and they were definitely life changing. Everything came out hot and fresh and it was plenty of food. Service was great ans we will definitely be coming back soon! read more

Mesquite & Oak - 2 meat combo (Brisket and Dino Rib) with potato salad, mac and cheese and cornbread. Brisket taco was ordered separately - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

A nice little joints to grab a bite. The lady taking the orders was a bit stand offish, as if you just disturbed her from something important. Wasn't rude, just not welcoming. Any who, the portions of meat were in sink with cost. The ribs were a hit 5/5. The CORNBREAD was delicious 6/5. The 1st time that I ever had actual corn in my cornbread. The Brisket was just a tiny bit over cooked. Don't get me wrong, it was good just a bit over cooked 4/5. The mac&cheese was like a soup. Taste was good but I was just throwed off by the consistency 3/5. The potato salad lacked all types of flavor 2/5. That was the only real disappointment I had. On a positive not the potatoes were not undercooked. The portions on sides were a bit small. But hey I can't really complain since I don't have a large appetite. Overall the place is worth the drive. A different day may yield better results read more

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The people here are really nice. It's a hole in wall kinda bbq place. The food is pretty solid. The bbq is great, it's fatty and juicy. The sides are amazing. I love the coleslaw, mac n cheese is solid, and I also really liked the potato salad. It's typically not the busy either and I would definitely come here again and support :00 NOTE: There's parking around the corner and street parking as well. read more

Mesquite & Oak - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

They have the best seasoning here. Forms a formidable bark with a little tiny bit of spice. Theres some tejano fusion going on which is very welcome since I used to live in Austin for a few months and its become integrated into bbq and austonian culture in general (the official breakfast is literally tacos). Fantastic whole corn kernel cornbreads. We ordered all the meat options. Chicken isnt an afterthought you could eat it here every single day! Prices are super super reasonable. Ordering everything on the menu including an actual dino beef rib is sub 100 here which is plenty for 3-4 people. Beer selection is great as it needs to be for bbq. They have an actual dining room unlike some places. Im crowning this place the best in San Jose. My briskets were a touch unrendered but briskets just like that since no two cook the same sometimes. I can tell other pieces were spot on. Flavor is incredible and its not at all sooty and theres only clean smoke being cooked with. Id love to find out the smoke blend and what goes into their seasoning read more

I relied on my co-workers nearby to take me to lunch and Mesquite & Oak was a bit of a ways from the office but I was mostly there for a social visit so it wasn't that big of a deal that we took a longer lunch than normal. If I didn't have a local as a guide I might have missed it. I don't think I would have noticed the seafoam green storefront across from a church. We got there a little before 1130 so it wasn't super busy and it allowed me to sit back and look at their menu. While I was tempted by their breakfast options I decided to go with their brisket plate. They do a modified Texas style for bbq, where they carve it up for you. I was asked if I like burnt ends and so they gave me an extra bit of that charred goodness along with the Cowboy beans and potato salad. I was hesitant about the beans but I was told they were good and they didn't disappoint. The brisket was cut pretty thickly and it was like if KC burnt ends and Texas brisket had a genius baby, no need for sauce but plenty of the tasty seasoned bark. I left happy and satisfied, the best business lunch I had this trip. read more

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The true quality of a restaurant is consistency. I highly recommend this BBQ. After several years I always have a good experience. The staff and owner are authentic and the food delicious. Prices are fair to low. ENJOY! read more

OH EM GEEEEEE!! Why? First off, let me start by telling you I took a friend that has a palate for good BBQ, being from the South and an amazing cook she can spot faux bbq and a nose sniffs pace. We entered this bomb place and the smell smacks you in the face ever so gently, enough to make you interested.... The menu, simple pick your meat, your sides and your drink. They also have breakfast options, sandos, tacos and kid options. She went for the chicken, she was sure she was gonna either love or hate, her chicken is juicy and crisp so she knows a good cook on chicken, she chose the slaw and Mac and cheese and I chose the brisket sandwich. The journey began.... She and I were silent enjoying the flavors and her comment was this place is it...this side of Texas, she loved the slaw, the cornbread and the Mac and cheese. My brisket sando was heaven on earth in my mouth, juicy and flavorful with onions and peppers and my Mac and cheese was yumm. Then the staff, the ladies at the counter, the gentlemen on the line and serving us were so nice and kind, the icing on this bbq cake were the 3 sauces, spicy, mild and mustard flavor explosion, we named it that cuz she and I couldn't put it down. We will return again and again. Parking is a bear but park and walk, you'll need to after.... The have in and outdoor seating. Do your palate a favor and come try this SJ gem out! read more

We got a Dino rib and beef brisket , some chicken and several side dishes . great reviews from everyone at our table and I also really enjoyed the cornbread. I'm generally not one for barbecues. I don't seek out barbecue places but I was told this place is really good and it did live up to expectations. Because I always have to be real I have to say I hate paying two dollars for a can of soda though so maybe try their lemonade or something else. read more

Mesquite & Oak - Beef - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

I ordered delivery from this place via Uber Eats and let's just say the results were not great. I'll start from worst to best. By far the biggest disappointment was the brisket. It was overcooked, dry, stringy, no smoke ring, minimal smoke flavor, and slopped in a too-big container so it had gotten a bit broken up. Really unfortunate because brisket is my favorite, and at places like BBQ 152 in Gilroy and Capelo's BBQ in Redwood City they make it just like you'd want it to be - smokey, moist, rich. This was just very blah, like something you'd get at a supermarket. And not a fancy supermarket, like a Safeway. Next, the pulled pork sandwich. Pulled pork is supposed to be moist! This pork was so incredibly dry, it was hard to swallow. I was forced to use the included barbecue sauce, which is it's own disappointment as this is no better than jarred. And it's so, so sweet - like you could top vanilla ice cream with it in a pinch. The potato salad was decent so there's that. The mac and cheese was fine. I think it would have been better warmer, but that's not the restaurant's fault. It wasn't the most flavorful but it was nice and gooey. Not sure why it has chicken stock in it though, I've made mac and cheese plenty of times and I can't figure out what step chicken stock would make sense for. Anyway, it's decent. As for the only thing I liked - the ribs. Ribs are my 2nd favorite after brisket, and above pulled pork (4th place is sausage). The ribs were big, fatty, crispy-skinned, actually smelled and tasted like smoke, tender. Texturally they were nicely balanced between "fall off the bone" and "chewy". There was some chew, but not like it was overcooked, just that there was something to bite into. And you couldn't pull the bone out of the meat, which is too much like braised meat for me, but you could easily work the meat off to leave a clean bone if you want. So for nearly $80 delivered, I was pretty disappointed. Acceptable potato salad, decent mac and cheese, and good ribs do not make up for bad brisket and pulled pork and generic store barbecue sauce. If you're going to get ribs here, great - get that and nothing else. Otherwise there are better options. read more

Ordered online thinking I ordered from the Winchester location but they were closed. Make a note... Winchester closed Mondays. I double checked address and found myself down town San Jose. The food was excellent quality as it always is at Back a yard Grill. I love their fried plantains. Tonight's chicken had plenty of their jerk sauce on it and the rice with red beans was wonderful as always. Their jerk salmon sandwich is a huge hit around here as is the jerk pork. Everyone is always smiling after we eat here. All in all the food is consistent and delicious. This new location (to us) didn't let us down! Yum and yum and yum again! Enjoy read more

Nothing here was memorable. I was very disappointed in the Dino rib and and potato salad. What's customer service? This place needs to brush up on it. read more

I love supporting women-owned businesses, so I love going here. The cook of the meats is spot on, and the flavors are great. Unfortunately, they seem to be suffering from shrinkflation. The portion sizes are nowhere near where they used to be five years ago. That makes this place a special occasion now instead of every couple of weeks. I miss gettin' that q. Tip: There's a little parking lot behind the building off the side street. ;^) read more

5 stars Here's the reason - San Jose is an utter wasteland of terrible BBQ places. They start out good and slowly degrade so that one day you take a bite of your brisket sandwich and get a mouthful of days old meat, a.k.a wood chips. Of my 75 reviews, the WORST one to date is of a BBQ place that should've known better *cough* Dickey's COUGH* So, on to Mesquite and Oak: Atmosphere The look of an aesthetic BBQ spot, with a light, sweet, smoky essence hanging in the air, I felt like I was at a friend's cookout. The two ladies at the front were very welcoming and helpful. Decor Small intimate setting but enough if you come with a coworker or small group. I recommend eating there while the food is still hot. Very nice appealing decor for such a small space. FOOD I ordered the brisket sandwich. Came with very little BBQ sauce which was noticed. This means the pit master is proud of his seasoning and flavor. I was sorely tempted to ask for a side of sauce but after each bite I would remember I didn't need it! The meat surface .. oh that surface. Perfect amount of fat and seasoning (see my photos if you don't believe me, you doubting Thomas!). And the bread was so fresh and soft. It really came together like a non-Hollywood marriage. read more

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Was really looking forward to finally having good American bbq in the Bay after reading all the reviews. Brisket had way too much black pepper and not much of any other seasoning. It was also tender, but still dry and left a cotton mouth feel when eaten. The ribs were juicy, but too meaty for me and definitely needed more flavor. Several of the ribs served in my group seemed leftover from last night/batch and were super dry/stringy. The potato salad was average and the mac and cheese's cheesy sauce was more watery than cheesy. The BBQ sauces were not nearly as tangy as my group prefers and it lacked flavor in general. At least the cornbread was really enjoyable texture and flavorwise. read more

Mesquite & Oak - 2 meat bbq combo plate with brisket and ribs - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California

Visited many years back and remembered the food being really good, but was disappointed this time. Not sure if my BBQ standards have gone up or they regressed or a bit of both. I got the pork rib plate with coleslaw, cowboy beans, cornbread, and brisket add on for $22.50. Takeout. I pre-ordered the day before via their website since they do sell out and sometimes close early. Ribs: decent. Just the right chew, texture, seasoning; but didn't wow me Brisket: decent. A bit tough. In between fatty and lean. Nicely seasoned Coleslaw: pretty good. Not too creamy Cowboy beans: excessively salty to the point it was not edible Cornbread: decent. Nothing special Portions and prices were good. For the same amount of food, it'd be around $30 at most other places One improvement from my first visit is that they now have 8-10 rotating craft beers on tap. And they have beer Fridays and Sundays where all beers are $5. Can't beat that. Tip: you can order pints of draft beers to go They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Parking is free and not too difficult. You may have to park in the residential areas. read more

Overall 4 stars Now let's break it down. I parked down the street and the smell of smoke wafted through the air. That is ALWAYS a good sign. Upon walking in, the ONLY reason Mesquite & Oak didn't get 5 stars is because of the customer service. Upon walking in, I was not greeted, as the customer, I had to greet the lady at the register taking orders. Working in the service industry for over 20 years, the very basic and most important part of any business is acknowledging your customers. **Mesquite & Oak, please expect more from her, teach her how to be inviting & personable, she is doing your business a disservice. Even if she is an introvert, she can do it, I promise.** The lady behind the counter gave me a big warm smile, one of the chefs brought my to go order to where I was sitting, rather than calling my number, the youngest in the crew was also smiling and kind. The rest of the staff is friendly. I ordered the brisket meal with extra brisket, potato salad, Mac n cheese, & it also comes with corn bread. Corn bread is good & sweet Potato salad is good, no onions which is the only reason I ordered it, and it has fresh dill in it, which is a plus. Flavorful and didn't need salt. The Mac n cheese was also very good and flavorful. Now let's get in to the main attraction...the brisket. I got this flimsy utensil kit in my to go bag and audibly said, "they must be real confident if they're giving these out." And that brisket was fork tender, seasoned all the way through, you could taste the smoke, and it doesn't NEED sauce. However, the sauce is very good. Definitely give this place a try. read more

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Went to Mesquite and Oak today for lunch with a few coworkers... As soon as I got out of the car, I knew we were going to be eating good from the smell of the smokers... The food and the service did not disappoint! read more

Mesquite & Oak - Barbeque Near Me - San Jose, California