Macks BBQ - San Carlos

Few things say summer like BBQ. Good BBQ can make summer better, and is the perfect cure for winter blues!

Macks BBQ is a shining example of good BBQ, great BBQ, in fact. Closer to the Redwood City end of San Carlos, this place is a gem. The perfectly smoked meat is sure to delight even the fussiest connoisseur.

What sets them apart, for me personally, is their BBQ sauce. The balance of acid, sweetness, and spice make it the perfect accompaniment to the meats. If you are ordering ribs, be sure to let them know you want the sauce on the side if you prefer it that way, otherwise your ribs will come slathered with the sauce. Yummy, and messy, the only way to eat ribs if you ask me.

If you are a fan of the ribs though, be sure to get there early -- they sell out quick. They do smoke another batch that is ready around 3 o'clock, so that is definitely an option.

The pulled pork is fabulous too, but their sandwiches are huge. 2 of us ended up sharing it, with a side of their baked beans, and we were full! The baked beans are a must have, unlike their canned cousins, the beans are not sweet or tomatoey, but instead a flavorful side to go with your meats.

Macks BBQ
(Clockwise from Top Right: Ribs, 1/2 a Pulled Pork

Sandwich with Baked Beans, Bundaberg Ginger Beer)

The corn bread got rave reviews from our gropu Despite all the bread in our sadnwiches, everyone really enjoyed it.

If all you get is corn bread with a side of the beans, while waiting for the 3 PM batch of ribs to get ready, I would call it a successful trip, and there is plenty of interesting and funny wall art to keep you entertained while you wait.

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - No

Woodchuck BBQ - Redwood City

BBQ. Not to be confused with grilling, it is a more leisurely approach to perfectly cooked meats. Everything is cooked at a low temperature for what seems like an eternity, the result is tender meat.

Woodchuck BBQ was started by two colleagues that were passionate about BBQ, and it shows. Why else would  they have 5 sauces to complement their meats! The sauces range anywhere from the sweet Sugar sauce to the spicy enough that they had to warn you about it in the name You Betta Not or You'll be Sorry sauce. With that range of flavors, the experience is part meal, and part chemistry experiment.

We had the ribs, both St Loius style, and the baby back. Personally, I enjoyed the baby back more. The meat was seasoned perfectly, and fall off the bone tender. The St Louis was good, but took more work to get cleanly off the bone. The BBQ chicken was moist and flavorful. The brisket and pulled pork were good too, but unlike many other places, these folks do not sauce their pulled pork. There you go - chemistry experiment!

Every meal comes with 2 sides. The potato salad was ok, the beans with burnt ends was really good, but the creamed corn really creamed the competition,. The cole slaw is unlike anything I have had before, instead of mayo, it has salt, pepper and vinegar, which works well with the meats.

Their style is described as a hybrid, drawing inspiration from Texas, North Carolina and many other famous areas on the BBQ belt. And the apple wood they use to smoke the meat imparts a distinct flavor.

Vegetarians if your carnivore friends want to go here, don't worry, they also have a veggie burger on the menu.

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes