Memphis Minnie's stands out as a weird spot for a BBQ joint. In a residential neighborhood of drab gray and cream coloured, densely packed housing, here's this bright red 'Bar-B-Que joint'. But even more, Haight Street is famous for it's hippies and vegan food culture. Good thing for me, that Haight Street is a mile or two up the road. The is lower Haight, low low lower Haight. And this is meat!

Inside the eye catching red is a meat factory of the highest order. Memphis Minnie's has been in San Francisco for decades, written up all the time in the SF Chronicle mag and various other article about the other San Francsico treat: BBQ.

The meat here is simple, yet effective. The meat seems a little thin on the bone, but makes up for this in flavor. The smoke comes through clean and smooth, like a fine shot of Johnnie Walker Blue. I do like the fact that they offer classic BBQ sides: Collard Greens, Slaw, Fries and Mac and Cheese head the menu. Various other side are offered, but why?

You're encouraged to eat on-site as this allows you to hand pick your sauces. Again, I like starting off with straight meat, and then work my way up the sauce chain. The Mustard and Texas Red were good choices. The Vinegar, not really my style, but not bad. The Beelzebob Breath is a jalapeno infused, and is more hot than flavorful. it detracts more than enhances. But it is fun with friends seeing who can put the most on the their meat.

The fun of the shop are the old school self promotion walls. This was all the rage back in the day, pictures, posters, magazine articles and City Hall certificates take up what ever space is not already filled with various t-shirts. Some are actual souvenir shirts, others just funny stuff from over the years, joined by a huge Memphis Minnie piggy picture. Good fun spot.

Memphis Minnie's BBQ Joint and Smokehouse

576 Haight St,
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 864-7675

Smokestack Barbecue, which resides in the Magnolia Brewing Company building brings together my two favorite things: Beer and BBQ. Walking in you just know this is going to be a memorable spot. The place is done up in an old San Francisco warehouse. Full-on 1920s exposed mortar, aged support stacks that are holding up the 30 foot ceiling above us.

Bleached faded benches from a 1950s yard sale that were left out in the rain, the place oozes character and charm. It's total retro throwback to a backyard garage, rusted and stained from years of good ole backyard BBQ use.

The bar is an interesting and fascinating set up. A mix between pre-prohibition saloon and an absinthe haberdashery, it is flooded with light from huge factory windows that are not at all conducive to nursing a hangover the next morning. This leans towards that comment about the shabby nobility in being drunk by mid afternoon.

As I've mentioned before, unfortunately, the food did not live up to the expectation. Although the menu is extensive, a little to foodie for barbecue spot in my opinion, my spare ribs seem to Dryden and on the verge of jerky. Granted this was one single visit in the middle the day in the middle of the week, so of course I must do right by them and visit again. Consider the arm twisted.

But as always in these matters, it's the beer that saved the day. They've got a great menu, and my Midtown Amber Ale worked out just perfectly for this...meal. this was a launch as I would never combined barbecue and work for lunch. So next time I'm in San Francisco on oh cool spring evening, Smokehouse BBQ, here I come.