BURNT ENDS. What can I say about this place?!?!? My husband gets all bummed when the burnt ends are sold out. They are so delicious and it reminds him of some good BBQ we had back in Georgia. The prices are so affordable and the Mac and cheese is delicious. Only sad part is once they forgot to pack the vanilla wafers for the banana pudding and that was for my two year old.... He was not happy but he does love the BBQ meat!!!! :)
(5)
Osbaldo N.
I ordered the BBQ pork sandwich, blueberry cornbread and Mac-n-cheese. Both came to my table cold after waiting for almost 20mins for it. The mac tastes like if it came from the Kraft box. I would not recommend it. I grew up in CM and did not hear about this place until a couple of years ago when it was recommended to me. I gave this place 2 stars bc they have a cool set up outside and they serve Stone IPA on draft :)
(2)
Mike P.
Disappointed. I tried pulled pork and brisket. It came with coleslaw and blueberry cornbread. The sides were good, but I found the meat lacked the low and slow smokey flavor achieved from any decent smoker at a BBQ joint. Staff and service was good.
(2)
Jason L.
Excellent BBQ! Massive mouth watering portions and the friendliest service you can ask for. Come here if you are looking for a messy tasty meal that hits all the intended spots they specialize in! I had their brisket sandwich full of flavor, couldn't be more tender and the house-made bbq sauce was everything you could hope for. Don't forget the cold refreshing beer on tap and rock music for one hell of an american experience. Family friendly environment as well. Had slides and shit for kids. Blueberry lemonade was gloryess as well.
(5)
Scott G.
Great pulled pork and turkey. Brisket is okay. I usually get the sliders so I can get multiple meat options. There's a lot of additional seating in the back outside, which is pretty quiet, and you don't need to worry about being neglected, they check in on us pretty frequently.
(4)
Debbie P.
I nearly forgot to give this place my review. So sorry for the late response. Staff is extremely kind and treats every customer like a family member, food is extremely authentic, and the atmosphere is awesome. If you want real southern BBQ, this is the place to eat.
(5)
Tiffany D.
NO ONE COME HERE.. this is MY special yummy pig out zone. Parking is tight so come early or find streets. Seriously the most delicious ribs.. falling off the bone. The Mac is creamy without that zing of powder cheese other places have....The Jalapeno and Blueberry Cornbread is delicious.. the Coleslaw is SO OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I love this place - located off the beaten path.. but once you find this gem. Good sweet baby lord jebus.. do not let go.
(5)
Jay S.
Great to find a real good barbecue place so close to where I live. The blueberry cornbread is delicious. Their turkey breast was excellent. Pulled pork fantastic. Nice and homely. Felt like I was eating at my grandparents cabin on the lake in upstate New York.
(5)
Estel C.
Best BBQ ribs I've ever had in my life! Soft and tender and the sauce is just awesome!!! Every time I have friends or family from Spain coming to visit me, this is the place they can't miss. I always bring them here!
(5)
Kendall C.
Being from Bakersfield and living in Irvine, I'm always looking for great BBQ food. I went here for the first time this past Saturday and ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of potato salad and it was SO GOOD. The BBQ sauce is delicious and the bread was so soft (not super hard and crisp like other BBQ places). I used to drive all the way to Bad to the Bone BBQ and I'm glad to say I findly found a good BBQ joint closer to Irvine that I'll definitely be going to again! :)
(4)
Christine L.
super over priced. BBQ tends to be that way. the food is good, but this place is always empty, because of the price and the service. $7 for fried pickles? Really? 2 stars because the free banana pudding with a yelp check in was great. Would be a lot more if it wasn't almost $50 for two people to have LUNCH with two domestic beers. You're a tiny hidden shack in a cute little neighborhood. You're not Mastro's, quit charging so much.
(2)
Rob W.
Decided I would stop in and grab a few sandwiches to go. I wanted the sausage and pork sandwich, but they said they were all out of sausage. I then said i'll take the pork sandwich and brisket. Out of brisket too. No turkey either, they just ran out. After I paid the lady at the register said it will be 30 minutes until my order will be ready. Are you kidding me? 30 minutes to make two pork sandwiches? I could not believe it. I waited thirty minutes and took my sandwiches to go. I did get some banana pudding for my check in on Yelp. When I got home of course the sandwiches and sweet potato fries were cold. The best part of the meal was the cold and delicious banana pudding. Needless to say, I won't be going back to this place in the near future.
(2)
Paul D.
One of my favorite lunch spots in the OC. You won't find a better Brisket.
(5)
Jeff M.
Enjoyed the food. I had barbecue turkey with yummy bbq beans and delicious Mac n cheese.
(4)
James B.
Great BBQ food with healthyish options if you are so inclined. Only complaint is they sometimes run out of certain meats at the end of the day but food is great.
(5)
anna b.
Loved the brisket! The pulled pork was so so. It was too salty for me. I just wanted more brisket!! Loved the baked beans and Coleslaw. Can't wait to go back
(4)
Cristy V.
Try the banana pudding! Yummmmmmm Delicious Food -- I had a BBQ pork sandwich with mac 'n cheese and beans. Sooooo good Fun ambiance -- went with a group of about 8 people after a beach day. We sat in the back and it was fun and they were very accomodating Parking -- I was a lucky person and got one of the 4 spots in the lot. There is street parking, though. Wow! GREAT customer service and really good BBQ. The Watermelon drink (maybe a blackberry lemonade?) was really refreshing. Glad I live 10 min away from this place. Mmmmm BBQ
(5)
Lyn F.
The food was just okay, and it was a bit cold when it came out. Portions were kind of slim. Parking was tough, but we happened to squeeze in when someone was leaving. The staff was friendly though.
(3)
christianna b.
Good BBQ food. I recommend the BBQ Beef Brisket plate or sandwhich. Ribs are good too. Good kids menu. *This is a kid friendly BBQ restaurant. Be prepared for kids running everywhere. I dont mind bringing my son and his friends here because they can blend in with all the other kids who are running around being noisy. I hate going there without my kids because basically everyone elses kids are really freakin' loud and annoying the heck out of me. (yes, mine are perfect). the menu is good but so annoying how they change the menu board. Everytime I go in its takes me a while to study the new menu and figure it out. I like that they serve alcohol so you can try to get buzzed and drown out the noise of all the kids.
(4)
Ally H.
Not sure if it was an off day during my visit. I ordered their ribs combo and and the boy had their pulled pork sandwich. The food came out in a timely manner and the service was nice, friendly. The food though, was unmemorable. Although my ribs were tender, there was nothing else that stood out. The flavor was mediocre. There were a few bits of fatty on my ribs so that was unexpected. The ribs came with two sides. I ordered the cole slaw and their sweet potato fires. The sides outshined the ribs. I love the cole slaw, it had a little zing to it in every bite. The sweet potato fires were crispy and nice. I especially liked them because they were not sprinkled with salt or sugar. The sandwich was also unmemorable. The pulled pork did not have as much flavor as I would have liked.
(2)
Russ R.
Like having a BBQ in your neighbors yard. Food varies on quality which is a mystery, but he vibe with kids and family is worth the gamble. Give it a whirl and see whay ya think!
(3)
D. E.
Street Corn is amazing when they have it. Mac and Cheese is a good choice here with the smoked spicy wings! My husband is disappointed they don't have a beef rib. But everything else we have had is :)
(5)
Pete S.
This place brought back some childhood memories and also some memories of another BBQ joint. Overall, it was 3.5 for me. Upon entry, this place had the same layout on the outside as Hot City BBQ, less the children's play area yelp.com/biz/hot-city-bb… And seeing the play area for the kids, I somehow knew this place was focused a bit more on kids. Mac N Cheese: Big shells, the sauce was very creamy. Tasted like cream cheese and velveeta stuck together. It was good, I could eat more but it was very filling. Beans: This had great smokey flavor, it was also my favorite side. It wasn't too sweet or salty. Sweet potato fries: They are cut on horizontal bias, resulting with thinner fries. They are crunchy and served well with the BBQ Pulled pork-A little bland, but with the sauce it tasted good. Good amount of meat served. Brisket-This was really bland for me, not smokey and not juicy. It was a little disappointing but with the sauce it tasted okay. Sauce: So I got my order to go. I believe the sauce they put in was the main one they use. If you eat at the restaurant, you'll see three different ones, including a mustard blend. I have to say, it tasted like KC masterpiece. Nothing wrong with that, and I use it too on my BBQ chix when I make that at home, but it just taste too sweet when the BBQ did not immediately come off the grill. Their home made banana pudding: Wow! I actually kinda digged this. It tasted like something I had back in grade school. Lots of banana flavor and tasted like a broken vanilla wafer all mixed inside a pudding. This is their only dessert here on the menu. It's a little expensive for pudding but do give it a try. The other Yelpers did say the prices here are a little high. I do concur but keep in mind they are in that Costa Mesa/ Newport area. I did arm myself with one of those plum district vouchers. Totally worth it with the voucher. If you have kids, this would be a good place to take them.
(3)
Sarah P.
My husband and I are big BBQ lovers. Im more of the picky one where my husband never complains about food and and just inhales. So when my husband does complain and say he will never eat there again then trust me its bad!!!! First time going was last sat night. We were in the area and my husband had heard of this place not really knowing how good it was we decided to try something new besides going to our to go bbq place Blakes Place. First off if you know whats good dont try to change that lol. It smelled really good walking up. Parking was horrible had to park accross the street in a big shopping center. Walked up saw they had a childs play area which we thought was great being parents. There was a line out the door and pretty busy. Really thought this place would be great. Took forever to place an order. They have one guy at the front who seemed to walk away for minutes at a time while we just stood there waiting to order for 15 min. Finally ordered. I got 2 meat combo of brisket and pulled pork with beans and coleslaw my husband got pulled pork sliders with beans and fries. We got our number walked outside and they have about 6 picnic tables they were all taken There small dining area by the front has 6 small tables and they were all taken. We stood there not knowing were to go until the guy in the front rudely said to us while walking by There's tables in the back. No sign letting people know have no way of knowing that a small back walk way leads to a back patio. We sat down for about 15 min waiting for the food. I decided I wanted green beans since my coleslaw my husband was going to eat so he went to order some as well as banana pudding. After 30 min we finally got our food. Was horrible. Coleslaw in pure vineger. Our food was cold and then on top of that we didnt get our green beans and pudding until 20 min later and the green beans were raw. Might as well of ate them straight from the grocery store!!!! Pudding was just all right. Can make vanilla pudding with bannana and wafers at home. Bbq sauce is like they couldnt decide between carolina and texan sauce so mixed it. So tangy and who puts pickles in baked beans??? Completly ruined them. The cook is also the food runner, feel bad for him!!! Will not be coming back. Def stayinhg with blakes place!!!!!.
(1)
Joan A.
By far the best BBQ ribs I tasted in my life!! Although from outside the place doesn't look as modern and sophisticated, the quality of the menu is sublime. Before coming to USA I never knew about sweet potato fries and by my surprise they are so delicious!! A must visit for anyone fond of great quality BBQ dishes, don't miss it!!
(5)
Gabi M.
I love the food, portions and prices BUT there's this one guy who works the counter who is such a huge DOUCHE! Every time we go there he's been a rude douche-wad! Stop being a douche just stop it!
(4)
Sean S.
I've been looking for some suitable competition for Blake's Place for a while now and Beach Pit has a great reputation, but I was sadly underwhelmed by what they had to offer. I have ordered ribs here on a few occasions due to the convenient location, but the results were very uneven. I found the meat to be overcooked and with not enough smoke flavor. Also, the food is overpriced. You will spend less and get much better que at Blake's Place. I would not come back to Beach Pit again.
(3)
Jessica G.
Had a wonderful experience here with the boyfriend last week. Starving students scraping by need more $20-for-$10 deals!! Which is what brought us here to begin with. But even aside from that slammin' Yelp deal, the food we received here had SOUL. I got a delicious "Salad Wrap" with smoked veggies inside (w/ added cheese)- and it was legit. There was actual creativity and developed flavor profiles, not just your usual half-assed vegetarian option of lettuce & other random-adopted-red-headed-stepchildren ingredients often thrown into a tortila to get passed off as something substantial. Nay, this had personality, character,....and was quite large. Really enjoyed it and would definitely order it again. The boyfriend got some sort of beef brisket sandwich that was served on texas toast. And that too was mighty fine! He said the brisket was tender, flavorful & perfectly cooked. He doused each bite with some of Beach Pit's tasty homemade BBQ sauce, which is conveniently in squirt bottles on each table, and deemed it as "outrageous". Our meal was accompanied by some homemade blueberry lemonade (::cough:: free refills ::cough::), which was perfect in its tart to sweet ratio and just crazy good overall. I actually would like some right now. Shoot. Anywho, the owner of the restaurant completed our meal with a giant banana pudding...on the house! What up! I would've paid for this pudding though. It was soooooooooo good! Topped with Nilla Wafers & Cream, it could not have been harder to stop eating it especially considering I was already at max capacity. Just too good! So there you have it. We found momentary refuge from your everyday brick-in-the-wall chains at this quaint, soulful, white picket fenced bbq joint and will most definitely be visiting again soon.
(5)
Foodking Y.
My prior review disagreed with parking availability. I was informed that there are parking in the rear. My apologies. Thank you Yelp for allowing us to edit our reviews.
(3)
Jose R.
My wife bought a groupon for this place and we thought we would check it out since we just moved to the area. We took our two kids (1 and 3) and i have to tell you we really enjoyed ourselves. The boys played in the kid area for a bit while we ordered, but the food came out so quickly that we had to pull them away so they could eat. Food was good, service was great and everyone had a great time. The only issue was that my kids lost it when we had to leave since they could play anymore.
(4)
Reg C.
Got a groupon and food was good. Brisket and ribs were tasty. Prices are reasonable and will definitely go back.
(4)
Darryl B.
I finally made to this restaurant. Mt first impression was as if im walking into someones home, just where it is located. Upon entering its a small place but was greeted nicely by the young lady behind the counter. I ordered a half slab of pork ribs with fries. The cole slaw came with it and it was soooooo good. The ribs were amazing. when i picked up one bone the meat feel off. NOW THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT. They have a two sauces one milder and one spicy. The spicy one i loved but would like a hotter version of that one. Over all i can say one thing about this place "im for sure coming back". This is one of those places i wold say go out of your way to try. Its low key but the food does al the speaking you need. Gotta bring the wifey back, she will love this place.
(5)
Drew M.
I find most BBQ places to be quite expensive for what you're getting, so I usually have high expectations on a ROI (Return On Investment) of Taste to Payment at a rate of: ROI= (Taste and Happiness Gained - Cost of Food) / Cost of Food For about 20 dollars, I got some fried pickles, a brisket plate with sweet potato fries, and a blueberry lemonade. Fried Pickles: Super salty, yet very delicious and crispy: 8/10 Blueberry Lemonade: Wicked good. A big win for me: 10/10 Sweet Potato Fries: Also amazing. A must have: 9/10 Brisket; The centerpiece of the meal, yet my least favorite. I get that you have great BBQ sauce, but should I really have to douse my meat in it for it to taste good? 4/10 Factor in the price point, and how much food you're getting: 6/10 Atmosphere / Seating / Service: 8/10 Therefore, by my calculations, I'd say my ROI was at about a 7 on a scale of 0 to happy.
(3)
Henry M.
Overall, the food is ok but not great. I brought a group of visitors and Beach Pit let us order one of each plate and then we all shared. The wait staff is helpful and they are trying to do their best. The ribs are ok if you add a lot of sauce, they appear to have been steamed. The brisket was decent and is much better with sauce. The chicken came out of Tutankhamun's tomb and was incredibly dry, sauce is an absolute requirement with this dish. All the various sides are ok, I'd like to believe the cornbread is baked here but I highly doubt it. Apparently they close at 9.00 pm. At 8.50 pm suddenly all the lights went out, and it went absolutely pitch black. My first thought was that we were all going to be shot by the OC Sheriff because the staff left and set the alarm, so we rushed for the exit and in the process on of our guests injured herself on a chair in the dark. We made it to the front door and discovered a member of the staff standing there. I mentioned that it would have been really clever if they simply gave us a head's up it was closing time, but he didn't say a word. This is how you encourage guests to return to your restaurant? It's apparent from the other reviews that the people heaping high praise on this food really haven't had authentic Texas BBQ; good BBQ is a religious experience and none of the items should require sauce, it should be excellent in its own right.
(2)
Austin P.
I went here for my first time a few months ago, I have been there too many times to count now. The first time I went the manager suggested my first meal, which I will suggest to you: Sliders (Chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket) *Eat in that order* , french fries and mac n cheese. It is a chance to get to try everything at once. I have had one of about everything on the menu and never disappoints. It will just put you in a post bliss bbq glazed over awesome feeling. All of these reviews are a testament to how awesome yelp is and how it can lead you to a place you would never find. So go! Sit outside under the stars with some close friends, good barbeque and cold brew! NOW GO!
(5)
Donovan S.
Being that Beach Pit is about a 5 minute ride from my house I really was hoping to fall in love with the place. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. In fact I'm beginning to question if those who rave about its food have ever had genuine BBQ (Kansas City, Texas, or Carolina). Bottom Line: Bellow Average - Not worth $25 for a rib & chicken combo + a draft beer. The quality of meat is poor and it needs to be doused in sauce to have any flavor. 1 .Ribs Test: Shouldn't require anything more than a fork to pull the meat off the bone, the meat flavor should hold its own without sauce, and the meat should be moist, Results - The meat was fatty with no flavor, I had to use a knife to remove it from the bone, and pulled gristle out with every bite. Score - 1 Star (I'm not proud to say it but the truth is that I've gotten better BBQ ribs at the Ralph's deli counter) 3. Sauces Results - Above Average - The mustard sauce was authentic. The basic BBQ sauce was too sweet for my tastes and I would've preferred a version with a bit more heat. 3. Chicken - I got the 1/4 with my rib combo. The pieces were extremely small, greasy, and had no flavor. Score - 1 Star 4. Sides - Coleslaw - Average. Good use of clean, crisp cabbage, and wasn't doused in sauce. - Sweet Potato Fries - Nothing special -Tasted store bought.
(2)
Maddie C.
Wow. DELICIOUS. Came here tonight w/a $20 for $40 Groupon and ordered the Full Rack Spare Ribs, Pulled Pork & Jalapeno Cornbread. Everything was on point, but everyone was using a Groupon so the wait was a bit long (30 minutes). 1. Spare Ribs---I love spare ribs more than baby back ribs because the meat is more tender and when smoked well, the cartilage is delicious and edible. Here, the spare ribs are smoked pink inside with a rich flavor. The sauce is only on the outside and so it is not overly sweet (like say, at Lucilles which is garbage ugh). The meat was literally falling off the bone. No knife needed to separate up the ribs for the family. We've had ribs 3 times in the past month and Beach Pit's has been the best we've had in a long while. 4.5 stars! 2. Pulled pork---it was very very very good. If it was a tad more moist and a bit more seasoned, it would have been perfect. No matter. We got a side of Spicy BBQ sauce for it and made it pretty tasty. 4 stars. 3. Jalapeno Cornbread---very large pieces, 4 for $3.50. Good deal. Generous chunks of jalapeno offsets the very sweet & moist cornbread. I don't like sweet so I thought it was a bit too sweet, but everyone else in the family liked it. 3.5 stars. ***The only hitch we had here tonight was the inconsistent information about the sides. We ordered the meats a la carte but was told that they come w/sides. So we ordered 2 sides (cole slaw & collard greens) but never got them. We didn't notice until we got home. It wasn't a big deal since I used a Groupon and saved alot of money, but I would have been very annoyed if I paid full price. I think the cashier was wrong---I probably wasn't supposed to get sides anyway but it was confusing. Conclusion---According to Groupon, they've sold over 1500 Groupon deals. I hope that their quality stays consistent even though they're now having to fulfill Groupon deals. It sucks when businesses go downhill when they try to fulfill promotions that overwhelm them. We're so glad we tried this place out. We hope the food stays great and we've already made plans to pick up some take out for Thanksgiving!!!
(4)
Suzanne G.
We have been looking for a good take out bbq for the past few months, as we always go to the same places, and wanted something different. The place is adorable. The parking is a challenge. We picked up our food to go. I was not impressed. I started with the fried pickles, which had to much seasoning that reminded me of a dorito flavor. I ordered the 1 meat plate with the two sides. I chose the brisket which was floavorless. It was tender, but it did not seem to be cooked in bbq sauce. My coleslaw was pretty good. The corn bread was bland and the mac and cheese tasted like stouffers. This could have been an off night so I am willing to try again.
(3)
Ben H.
My parents drive out to Costa Mesa from West Covina to visit me every few months or so. I always try to make sure I take them to a unique dining experience when they come out. In addition, my Dad fancies himself a "BBQ Master" learning the skill growing up in Texas. My Dad is always a little bit of a hard nose when it comes to BBQ. I got a little worried when he began "grilling" the owner about whether or not he was qualified to make collard greens (he was just kidding). The owner began giving it back to my Dad just like he was getting it.... it was great. So... we order the Brisket Sandwich... and the owner bought us Collard Greens and Blueberry Cornbread all of which my parents and I absolutely loved. My Dad really enjoyed the feeling that he was just eating BBQ in "someones backyard". Well definitely be back. Great food, great prices... you can't beat that with a bat.
(4)
Dan S.
Just ate their ribs, which were fantastic, meaty, perfectly cooked, a little smokey and just a little bit of BBQ sauce. Wow, wonderful job. The other day also had their pulled pork sandwich, also lots of lean meat, very flavorful and no sauce, so I could add just the right amount to my tastes. Nothing had too much fat, but enough to add flavor. I look forward to going back again and again. Very helpful staff too.
(5)
Brian T.
We Visited Beach Pit today with a Groupon the day before it expired, our mistake. A couple of other people in line had Groupons as well and that did not go over well with the cashier, who turned out to be the store manager. He was very rude and sarcastic to everyone with a groupon. I thought the idea was to get people in your restaurant that would not usually come. If you are going to advertise your restaurant using mass marketing discounts don't be upset when people come in with them. While we enjoyed the food the whole experience will probably keep us from visiting this location again.
(1)
Mark D.
This place deserves a re-review, due primarily to the fact that the management is very responsive to customer complaints on here (which, to me, shows that it actually cares!). First, the food. It's good but not quite great, coming from someone from the South with a discerning bbq palate. The meats themselves, as most here have consistently said, is tender and moist. That's good, but that's not all that makes bbq. What makes it "not quite great" is the fact that it lacks the smoke that the best and most genuine bbq's have (and which I would have expected from "pit" bbq). As evidence of this, I heard the meat sizzling in the kitchen after we ordered our last meal (rather than coming from a smoker, where the cooking should be done). Admittedly, the ONLY place in all of Southern California where I've found that properly smoked bbq is Phil's in San Diego, but you have to stand in line for 3 hours to get a meal there (for good reason). Previously, I had complained about the fact that they did not serve bread with their meals, and the management responded. As noted in their response to this post, they now provide a complimentary piece of toast, upon request. Kudos to the powers-that-be at Beach Pit. One thing I forgot to mention before is that a missing piece of the side-dish puzzle is the lack of mashed potatoes on the menu. Second, the value. Before, I said this place is overpriced. Now, my opinion is that it's actually on par with other bbq places in the area. In truth, part of my previous opinion stemmed from the fact that Johnny Reb's BBQ was similarly priced but offered more meat and free second servings of the side dishes. But Johnny Reb's raised their prices and overhauled the free second servings. True, I'm still used to cheap Southern bbq -- bc at its core, bbq is meant to be an inexpensive, get-your-hands-dirty kind of meal, not the over-glamorized version in Southern Cal (i.e., Lucille's). The playing field seems to have leveled, and Beach Pit is about the same in price as other places, and it feels like they are actually putting slightly more food on the plates now. SUMMARY: 4 stars for relatively good food, great management and consistently good customer service.
(4)
Greer G.
Okay I'm from the south and this is the closest thing to true southern BBQ that I have found. Thank goodness.
(5)
Jon C.
Great food, friendly service, and room for the kids to play. Texas toast every time...
(4)
Nick R.
I am in love with this place already. I had to put down the BBQ to leave this review I was so impressed. Can't wait to bring back friends and drink beer on their patio!
(5)
Gabby A.
My venture here was due to a high recommendation from a friend. I think I should have checked out the Yelp reviews before coming to this place. For starters this place is a rip off!! It's very acceptable to charge over $7 for a GOOD sandwich but not for what we all got. One of my co-workers and I got the tri-tip sandwich. The meat was alright...smokey and tender but the sandwich was smaller than what we were expecting. Not only that but it was very dry...hardly any BBQ sauce. My vegetarian co-worker ordered the smoked veggies sandwich...it too was pretty small and for the price it cost it really should have been loaded with veggies. I was looking forward to this place and was very disappointed. The mac and cheese was gross and bland. It was so runny it looked like macaroni salad and not mac and cheese. We also ordered the basket of fried okra and one of sweet potato fries. We've all had awesome fried okra before so it was very sad when we tried them and they were so boring. The sweet potato fries were about the only decent tasting thing we got. Yes the place is cute and clean but I think they have to put some effort towards the food. Which is what it's all about..right? You disappointed me BPBBQ...you and your lack of quality & quantity at outrageous prices!
(2)
Jana N.
I ordered some food for a small party and was trying to do it online. I was having some issues with it so I called the store directly. John from the restaurant was so helpful! He was patient with me and helped with me how much food feeds how many people, etc. We got the food and it was great... Perfect for what we wanted. Ribs were good, beef brisket, smoked turkey and of course the jalapeno cornbread! I wish the spicy sauce for the meat was spicier, but it still has good flavor. The caesar dressing is a bbq caesar - not really a fan. I was hoping for plain caesar dressing. Hushpuppies are the bomb! Those always bring back good memories. The food was great, we all loved it and I would definitely go back just for the customer service!
(4)
Marc G.
OY VEY, Tried it for a second time.....just as worst , poor try guys. With Scottie's and Dave's ,your in trouble yo think you serve anything call BBQ.
(2)
Natalee L.
Fun outdoor atmosphere! Tasty food and a play-place for the kiddos!
(4)
Jillian F.
The tri-tip is the best I have had. The sweet potato fries were also perfect. I finished it up with the banana pudding dessert which was also very yummy. Service is a bit lacking and their website mentions specials that the cashier said don't exist. I'll go back for the tri-tip....over and over.
(4)
Mark E.
Good food, mid-range prices - [ for carnivores.] Park in the secret back parking lot for easy parking, the front lot is terrible. The food can be hit or miss, but when it is good, it is extremely tasty. The sweet potato fries are very good. The Burnt Ends are better than they sound, but you do need to avoid the fat and just eat the yummy end meat. The prices are a bit high for the food, and the meat really could be trimmed better, but aside from all that it is very tasty.
(4)
Don H.
Decided to give this place a try as I am a bbq lover to the bone and certainly this is my field of expertise. The fact that it was so close to my new home and I have been actively seeking new delicious eateries in the area. This one was a pretty big disappointment, like Stephanie M. says the meat tastes as though it has been unseasoned and boiled. I certainly did not see a grill, or pit as the name implies, and there was not hint of smoke anywhere in the air. I ordered a brisket sandwich, the beans and sweet potato fries. Beans were best part of the meal but were very heavy on the onions, and you got a tiny serving. Sweet potato fries were mushy and lacking in flavor. Sandwich was small considering it was al a carte and 7 bucks. Tried both pulled pork and tri tip from my girlfriend and my daughters plates and both were as equally uninspired as the brisket. The girl working the register knew very little about the food or the cooking process when I asked her about the corn whether it was yellow or white corn, she told me it's not all the way yellow but it's not white, and when asked about the method in which it was cooked I was told I think they cook it in water. If you are not picky about your bbq and will be satisfied with some bland meat with bbq sauce on it, then this will hold you. If you like real bbq with smoke, dry rub and the necessary touches that made bbq authentic you would be better served to go elsewhere..
(2)
Stephanie M.
Have been really wanting to try this place, and based on the reviews it seemed like a good pick. Went on a Tuesday night, which also happens to be kids eat free night, bonus. First bad mark is the extremely small parking lot. Only five spots to park and every spot but one was taken up by huge black SUV's, one of which didn't bother to fix the fact that it had taken up two of the spots. Guess it was Newport mom's meeting night. Walked in to find a counter that you order at, and discover that everything is served ala carte. Huh. What is up with that. Prices seemed a bit steep considering the plates were only the meat portion. Ordered a combo plate with pulled pork, and beef brisket, and another plate with the tri-tip. Side of sweet potato fries, regular fries, and fried okra. When the plates were delivered to the table one look at them and there was more white plate showing then food. Teeny, tiny portions of meat, about 20 or so fries and the same amount of okra. Really .... After paying $34 for two plates of food and some sides because the two kids meals were free, I was disappointed. The food tasted OK, nothing special, almost like boiled unseasoned meat that was topped with some BBQ sauce. Cold fries. Kids meals were sad. We all left still hungry, and I will say I'm not a big eater. Not sure if I am willing to try this place again. Would much rather sit in a homey atmosphere and enjoy a nice meal for that price. Johnny Rebs is a better bet if you are looking for your monies worth.
(2)
Jenni S.
This place is so tasty! If you are craving BBQ, this is the place to go. I use to go here with a group of boys from Missouri and they know BBQ. There is seating inside and out - I recommend out if it is a nice day. They have old school picnic tables that go with the idea of eating BBQ. The pulled pork - amazing. Sweet potato fries - delicious. Blueberry cornbread - died and gone to heaven. Parking is horrible. There is about 5 spaces in front of the restaurant. Ride your bike or be prepared to find parking on the street.
(5)
Aaron W.
I really really like this place. But I like it for what it is. I can't, however, give it more than three stars simply because there is far better quality BBQ food out there. Don't get me wrong, the food here is great but not the best. They recently changed the menu a little bit which disappoints me. I like that I had the choice here between tri tip and brisket but they took tri tip off the menu. They have some creative dishes wich I love. The pulled pork nachos are incredible and they also offer quesadillas and burritos. I love the fusion of mexican and bbq here. Their sides are great too. I would come here just for the sweet potato fries!!! They are seriously addicting. The sliders are awesome too. Overall their prices are a little high for a place like this but its not too bad. This is a great place to stop and grab some good bbq and enjoy a few beers on their front patio. The atmosphere of this place is great and it feels like your in Alabama somewhere. The best part about this place is their service. The people who work here are always so friendly and helpful and it really makes this a great place to go. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone and it is somewhere I like to go at least once a month. If youre looking for traditional bbq there are probably some better options around.
(4)
Christina S.
I have heard of this place yet never been until recently. After a day of thrift shopping I decided to find this place. Only problem is I am not a real BBQ fan. With that in mind I was going to come anyway and try something different. Beach Pit BBQ is in an unassuming location off 17th Street and Tustin. Next to a cat clinic. It looks like an old home that has been converted into a restaurant. I pull in to a quaint little spot that for some odd reason reminded me of the south. It has that rustic country down south vibe to it that could as well as be an old home in the marsh with all of the lush plants, tall grass and trees around. Once again I am not too big on BBQ. So, I went with the BBQ veggies and the MAC & CHEESE! I took a table outside on the patio. The patio is dare I use the word "cute". With streaming strings of clear light bulbs I knew that I would have to return for dinner soon! I like Beach Pit BBQ's version of the McDonald's playground. They have a small play ground for the kids which BTW reminds me of how my back yard used to look when my son was younger with his Little Tikes playground. Like I said it's cute. So, the food. Well, I was not too big on the veggies. The sauce that was on top was a little too rich. It was some buttery based sauce that I was not a fan of. The Mac & Cheese was amazing! I love the baked dried bread crumbs that they sprinkle on top. I am coming back just for the Mac & Cheese! This place is super cute and perhaps next time I will try something more along the lines of BBQ like chicken.
(4)
Christina S.
i'm not a big fan of BBQ... i've had lucielle's and yuck! Beach Pitt is not only the cutest little place to eat- its bomb.com . The tri-tip nachos & pulled pork sandwich are toooooo good!!! for awhile there my boyfriend and i were eating it every sunday! and the fries... my guilty pleasure!! get the SPICY BBQ SAUCE!!!
(5)
Cassie P.
I finally made my way over here tonight with the family after church. A Saturday night at 7 p.m. and the place is crawling with families and small children. There is a playground that kids under the age of 5 love! You order at the counter and they bring the food too ya. Pros- The food was pretty tasty, especially the sweet potato fries The prices are reasonable for the portions you get Cons- The guy at the register was sweating, profusely, and kept wiping his hand with his t-shirt and then his hands. Then he handed us our cups for our drinks. One at a time, holding them at the rim, with his sweaty hand. I almost threw up a little. We waited 25 minutes for our food to come. Too many kids running around, almost like Chuck E. Cheese The bathroom was dirty. Maybe I should rate this at 2 stars......
(3)
Sylvia H.
Try the sliders one of each plus the mac n cheese and potato fries cannot go wrong I must admit this place is a good hang out spot especially to watch the game. If your a bread lover try the blueberry cornbread
(3)
Danielle C.
OK...so BBQ has a lot of competition in general, but not a ton here in Costa Mesa, CA. or in CA period. I've been to Lucille's, Newport Rib Trader, The Rib Trader, etc etc...i like to eat. I've always been pleased with every thing. Pulled Pork Sandwich, sweet potato fries, blueberry cornbread, sliders (choose your meat) beef brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage...try one of each... all i'm saying is.. this place is LEGIT. ALL YOU CAN EAT RIBS WEDNESDAYS for $15.99..let me know if you really get past rack #2... Staff is so friendly i'm always speechless because i often forget what "service with a smile" really is... Large patio for dining outside with lots of heat lamps for when it gets chilly...Not a huge dining area but thats not important..the food is!
(4)
Sharon D.
Beach pit still has tasty food... The best pulled pork and sweet potato fries. The bad lighting at the register gives the atmosphere a strange tinge. It's also a bummer the fire pit is gone. This added a nice ambience. They really need to step back and take a look. When they had a wait staff it was much more friendly.
(4)
Devon B.
Went back here the other night to meet up with a friend. I called ahead again to confirm the free corkage and they guy who answered told me that was only on Thursdays. He was talking to someone in the background and then returned to the phone and I thought he said, "No, it's free tonight." I was stoked so I brought a bottle of cab from Trader Joe's down the street, only to realize when I got there that he must have said, "No, kids eat free tonight." Oh well - corkage was $8. BBQ was still delicious - I had the pulled pork sandwich this time and my friend had the sliders. We had so much fun talking and catching up that we ending up closing the place.
(4)
Ferdinand T.
Simple and to the point. Good BBQ. Nice place to relax and chow down. Never liked cole slaw until i came here...that must mean something
(4)
Jenn M.
I've been to their adorable location several times, but today was the first time I had tried their catered food. One of the agents in the office where I work was nice enough to treat all of the staff members to lunch from Beach Pit BBQ, which was awesome for the obvious reasons (free food, not having to trudge around in the rain), but also because all of the proceeds from the day were donated directly to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Good food for a good cause? How could you say no? As part of the smörgsbord of meaty, stick-to-your-bones goodness we got the pulled pork (tender and melts in your mouth), beef brisket (a tad on the fatty side... to be expected, but a little dry. Best with spicy BBQ sauce), and the chicken (moist and incredibly flavorful... I wanted seconds). For the sides, we were bestowed the best damn beans I have ever had in my life. No kidding, they stole the entire show! Though I'll throw out an honorable mention to the blueberry cornbread. Even if you don't get a free catered lunch (thanks Bob!), definitely try to head out their shantyesque location in East side Costa Mesa. Tucked away just enough from the parking lot to feel private, it's a great place to spend an hour or so noshing away on some great food and relaxing.
(4)
Tina C.
Sliders, sliders, and more sliders! With Sweet Potato Fries and a Coke! Mmmmmmm MMM! And the hospitality was awesome! These young guys were super helpful with the menu for my first time here. We closed the deal on sliders so I could taste the different meat....brisquit, pulled pork, and sausage. The spicy BBQ sauce was perfect! We added some jalapeno cornbread just because I usually can't pass anything up with jalapeno's......THIS was gooooood! I'm usually a straight forward french fries gal, but I agreed to some sweet potato fries (yes, I've had them before and still prefer regular potato fries). THESE fries were outstanding...crisp (which is key) and just the right amount of salt. The ambiance was perfect for a Saturday afternoon BBQ. Not fancy, but comfortable. Feels like home! And I always come back home! ; )
(4)
Alex S.
Cole Slaw was the best ive had. BBQ was solid too.
(3)
Stefanie S.
Tasty, Tasty!!! A friend and I went out to grab a bite to eat on Friday night - started out at YardHouse with over a 30 minute wait and decided to ditch our beeper and try something new. I've been to the Tustin location and loved it, but the Costa Mesa location is more backyard bbq style. Strung lights, picnic tables and heaters on the patio, even a play set for the kiddies. We both ordered the Pulled Pork sandwiches. The sandwich deals are good... sandwich with 2 sides. I ordered coleslaw (not they creamy kind) and blueberry cornbread. My friend ordered the baked beans and fries... next time we're getting the sweet potato fries. Beer special of the month was $2 Coronas... not a bad way to start your Friday evening. Wish the location was closer to work so I can check the out the lunch deals, but will definitely be there for breakfast soon! One little piece of advice Beach Pit, load on a bit more BBQ sauce on the sandwiches!!! I like mine covered in sauce!!
(4)
Heidel D.
Excellent Chicken, shredded pork & Meat BBQ. Love the Mash with garlic & love the Mac n Cheese !! Food was catered.
(4)
Pazzy P.
We have always wanted to try Beach Pit BBQ, since it's in our hood, and I am a big fan of BBQ. I tried one of their pulled pork sands at an Angels game last year, and it was pretty damn good. I had pretty high expectations coming in... I heard it was kid friendly, and sure enough, a bunch of tykes were yelling and screaming in the oh-so-large playpen out on the patio. We decided to pick a spot inside, as it appeared the kids were already hyped up on cake and cokes. Our first time there, we were a little thrown by how to order, as everything was listed as "price of meat", so I went with the 3 meat plate, thinking it was a nice sampler, not noticing each little "sampler' meat was $6.95 apiece. My wife got the Prime Rib sandwich, but more on that later. So when the total was rung up, and the friendly girl behind the counter cashed me out at $40 (my dinner alone was $24!), I was shocked. My puzzled look went unnoticed as I handed over my credit card. I figured this is pretty expensive, but had high hopes it would be worth it, so what the hell. We sit down and after checking my receipt, they charged me extra for the two sides (beans and slaw) I ordered which kind of irked me since for the amount of money I paid, sides should be included, no? Still keeping my hopes up. Our plates arrived moments later...Deflate those hopes. My portions of BBQ were quite meager, I must say. There was a bit of chicken, a bit of tri-tip, and a bit of brisket, but nowhere near worth $22. The meat appeared to have been sitting under a lamp for a while, and not very fresh. Each meat was a bit dry and lukewarm, with a couple spoonfuls of sauce draped across each serving. The sauce was below average, the meat was a little below average, the small cups of sides were average...it was well below my expectations, nowhere near the price they charged. My wife's Prime Rib sandwich (from here out known as the Gristle Missile) had so much fat on it, we just had to laugh. There was so much gristle, that you could have made a bigger sandwich out of the fat than the actual PR. The au jus was cold and tasteless, much like the mac and cheese she ordered with it....well, hell, at least Beach Pit has consistency going for it. Added one star for the friendly folks that work there, but we definitely won't be back.
(2)
Georgette B.
This is a solid "4" if not "4.5" for us... We come every other week... The burnt tips are great -- we always ask for them to be "as unburnt" as you can make them" (try with the Stone IPA and have an awesome dining experience). The ribs are fall-off-the-bone good. And the sauces are great... The front patio is always full of young families, the back is usually adults... Prices are a bit high, but it IS Newport Beach..
(4)
Allison C.
There are not many places that you can go to get great food with great service. The pulled pork is to die for! I run a non-profit program for Parkinson's disease and for two years in a row, the Beach Pit BBQ has graciously donated food for our summer Unity BBQ Picnic. The staff is always friendly and I love how they actively support their community. I would highly recommend them to friends and family.
(5)
Toby B.
We heard great things about this place so decided to check it out. We got there at about 7pm on a Friday...so prime time. We had to park next door as there are only about 5 spots out front. We LOVE fried pickles so decided to start with those and a couple of beers. The pickles were not greasy at all. They were served with a side of ranch dressing which was needed because the pickles were so dry. I'll take dry over greasy, so we were happy. After that we ordered dinner to go...my husband ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs and I ordered the brisket sandwich. We also ordered a side of mac-n-cheese, the wedge salad, banana pudding and a slice of the red velvet cake. Our total was over $60!!! I didn't balk because we hadn't tried the food yet. I did however start to complain when we got home. My husband's 1/2 rack was the smallest portion I have ever seen. The mac-n-cheese was small too, but it was only $.99. The ribs were like $13...not worth it. My brisket sandwich was delish! But REALLY dry. Seriously, it would have cost them a nickle to put just a little more BBQ sauce on it. I ended up putting some of my own sauce on it from home. The banana pudding and cake were extraordinary. We'll probably go back, but just for sandwiches. And we'll order extra sauce for sure. Everything else was over-priced for what you got.
(3)
Greg T.
I'm riding the bike over here next time cuz just like EVERYBODY SAID "PARKING SUCKS!". If the 5-7 parking spaces are gone, you'll have to find some in the "not so happy neighbors" neighborhood which isn't going to be easy because it's a small residential neighborhood. This place is also off the beaten path because it's located off 17th street, and it's recessed back from the side street it's on, so this place is really easily overlooked. I really liked that this place was originally a residence that was somehow re-zoned for business, but that's all I liked. I should have also known I was in for some trouble when I asked the young girls working the cash register what kind of sausage it is, and they answered back with blank stares. I think they said it was "italian freak'n sausage" which is supposed to be "real southern BBQ"? Well, I'd expect hot links or andouille. Another HUGE negative for me is that they f'up'd the fried okra!! Geez, what food distributor are they buying this from cuz it sucked. I'd rather pick up a frozen package at Albertsons for $1.99, and fry up some myself..... I wanted to throw my $4 un-eaten basket back at them. The good side, is this place does try a little. I do see the effort in some of the dishes they do such as the beans and mac'n'cheese, so It's not totally average, and it definitely deserves some acknowledgment. If this was my place i'd be grilling and bbq'n out front, and I'd make sure I blurred the lines between business and residence to milk the fact that this was once a residential home, but this place comes off not so homie. If you were to rate this place in relation to homes styles, It's only a hair above a tract home in regards to their food, but at least they beat out the trailer park ranking.
(3)
Melanie O.
This place is awesome! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is very cool! I felt like I was eating in someone's home as opposed to a random restaurant. It's tucked conveniently off of the main part of 17th street in Costa Mesa.
(5)
James B.
This is as close to home cookin as you can get behind the Orange Curtain. My fav is the smoked turkey. The mac n cheese is good. I make my own pulled pork in my smoker at home so I have not yet eaten theirs. Come early and hungry you wont be disappointed. Its not a quiet romantic place its a very home down family place so dont expect too much ambiance. It fits the food well
(4)
Jackie O.
We love this spot for a yummy easy dinner or weekend lunch. -cheap bear and great happy hour ($2 draft coors light!!) -not cheap but really really filling so it is worth it if you take half home for lunch the next day -yummy side dishes tip: if you dont have a kid, sit in the back. it gets CRAZY with children playing and parents relaxing in the front. the back is way more chill.
(4)
Stephen G.
Really enjoyed this spot. I am familiar with the Beach Pit in Orange, Ca. but this is was a little touch of down home country cooking and living. Because of YELP, I found Beach Pit in Costa Mesa. The manager, Derrick, was very pleasant, helpful, and eager to help. The food? Delicious, as usual. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Carolsue H.
This place is excellent. Service was excellent, food was excellent! Corn rolls were even better. Love the location and its great if you have kids. There's a playground for them to play while you enjoy your meal.
(4)
Zach S.
I love Beach Pit! I've only been to this location but am dying to try the others as well. I must have lived in the South in a past life because I love BBQ and if there's one thing OC is lacking, it's good BBQ. I actually found Beach Pit a few months ago on Yelp and have been back a few times since. If it wasn't for Yelp, I would have never found it because it is hidden from view when driving on 17th street. Def get the spicy BBQ sauce - it's not too hot and gives a nice little kick to your meal.
(5)
Diana M.
Looove this place! I was born in Oklahoma, and it's where my grandparents came to California from, so bbq is taken very seriously in my family. This place won me over with their fried okra, which relatives used to ship to us from Oklahoma. Their meats are wonderfully tender, the sauces are awesome and the setting is great! My kids clean their plates, my husband approves of the potato salad and I love the mac n cheese, sweet potato fries and okra. No where else in the area comes close, it's great all around!
(4)
D'Arcy C.
Just ate here again tonight and YUMMMM! We tried the beef brisket and it was delish, Also had ribs and of course sweet potato french fries which never disappoint. It was so great to have a place for the kids to play right next to the table =)
(5)
Richard S.
I've been on a mission recently... My girlfriend was involved with an internship in Texas for a solid year, and all my life I've heard nothing is better than a real smoke house. These two contributing factors have lead me on this mission. I am in love with smoke houses now! Not the Lucille's type smoke houses, but the real hole in the wall places. For the past few months I've been looking up all of these little places that make me believe that I've found the perfect place. I will conclude my overall results at the end. About the Beach Pit though. I pulled up being absolutely impressed with the 'shanty' like appearance of the building. It really made me feel like I may have found it. There's a playground for the kids and an excellent environment on the patio. The interior is fitting too. I ordered the brisket, with pulled pork, coleslaw and a side creaser salad. Let me start with the salad. At first I asked the employee about what sets it aside, size, and what to expect. The prompt response was "We add BBQ sauce to the dressing." This instantly made me think that they used the wrong name for the salad. Then when I received my $4.00 salad, it was what appeared to be a bowl, more like the size of my large coffee mug than a bowl, and roughly worth 4 bites; yes, that's $1 per bite. It didn't make any sense to me. Romaine lettuce, creaser dressing with BBQ sauce added, and a few small croutons. "This better be a damn good salad" I thought to myself prior to the first bite. Let me just say, that salad is never going to be ordered again by me. It wasn't that bad, it just wasn't a creaser salad. The dressing made me think of a balsamic BBQ dressing. Hey, if it was bigger, with some corn, maybe a side of cornbread on the salad, a different name, or ANYTHING, it would have been worth $4.00. You'll get a better 'starter' salad at Norms, in my humble opinion. Onto the entre and side. I'll start with the coleslaw, just because I love the stuff. It was 'OK'. It was a little fresh for me. It was almost as if the cooks sliced the cabbage that morning, tossing it all in a jar with some vinegar. Again, it wasn't bad, just not my thing. Maybe some raisons would have helped. However, the brisket was just about perfect. I have nothing but great things to say about it and therefore should say nothing. If you order anything there, get that. The pulled pork was 'OK' too. Not bad, but nothing to go crazy over. The thing with pulled pork is that it all comes down to the quality of pork and the way it's prepared. I don't know if they did all of it right then screwed up with letting it dry out or what. However, I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the pork, it was still good. My overall review is that it was good to try and maybe I'll go back. The price was as expected, the environment was great, but the food was overall barely 'ok'. Summing it up, if you're going to spend $20 for one person on lunch, I'd rather go somewhere else. As for desiring BBQ, there're a few other places I would rather eat at.
(2)
Michele B.
What a relaxing little lunch spot right off the hustle and bustle of busy 17th street in Costa Mesa! Went there today for a co-workers lunch and there were quite a few kids. Quickly we surmised that Tuesday is "kids eat free" day. What a great deal! A nice, cozy family spot with a fun "backyard" feel, fire pit included. I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with mild sauce, sweet potato fries and a tall iced tea. A little pricey but I was happy to pay for the sunny atmosphere and the break from work. P.S. I saw several people order the special lunch of the day: Bologna sandwich. While it brought back nostalgic feelings from my childhood of my babysitter making fried Bologna sandwiches, I think I'll stick to the pork.
(3)
Kelly T.
I think Beach Pit is pretty delicious, and the service is really friendly! I have had their wraps, their salads, and the BBQ chicken pizza, and all are great. My favorite would be a Caesar Wrap with chicken and a side of BBQ sauce, with sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread as sides. The cornbread is moist and has blueberries in it, which I had never seen before. The sweet potato fries are some of the best I've had. Usually BBQ sauces don't stand out to me (kinda all tastes the same), but the BBQ sauce at Beach Pit does. And I like that the sides of BBQ sauce are warm. My husband usually orders a tri-tip sandwich or the sliders with 3 different kinds of meat, and he says they are "awesome". If you are trying to eat healthier, be advised that the salads have A LOT of dressing on them. I would ask for the dressing on the side. I went here with my co-workers for my "birthday lunch" a while back, and the guy behind the counter brought us out a few orders of banana pudding to share! How nice :) I deducted 1 star for the following reasons, and really maybe I am just being an asshole: - While I like the idea of sitting outside to eat your food on a nice day, it doesn't work when it's either really hot out, or cold/rainy/windy. But it is really nice when the weather is good, and this is Southern California, so that is almost always. I guess that's not really a thing I would change about Beach Pit, I would just choose not to go there on a day where it's like 90 degrees, or Santa Ana winds are a'blowin'. - It is a little expensive, especially if you make substitutions. The sweet potato fries are REALLY good, but you have to pay $2 more for them. Once you add a drink to your meal, the price could go from the $8-10 range to the $12-15 range. But maybe it says something about how good the food is that I am still willing to pay for substitutions... I just recently found out that they are now serving breakfast and I am dying to try it!
(4)
Stephanie A.
I have been here before and thought it was okay. After an extra long day at the mechanics I thought I would give it a second chance. I love the location. They were pretty busy. I ordered the brisket sandwich and the mac and cheese. The brisket was okay: A 3 stars --- the bread one at best. The side of mac and cheese was luke warm --- and tasted like it had cheese whiz on it --- with butter My son had a sand dollar pulled chicken salad and fries. He eats everything and WOULD not touch the fries. He like the chicken with bbq sauce --- overall it was okay ---- a guest of mine had a side salad --- it was utterly packed with a nice piece of brown lettuce ---- on top -- needless to say it took a lot just to try to eat it. having survived the hit and miss food ----- we loved the soda a FIVE star drink --- On the way out we mentioned something to the servers --- and they were unresponsive -- a little like a manakin ---- and said no one has ever had a concern about any food --- a 2 1/2 star at best but because of attitude I gave it a one -- I gave it a second chance --- I will not be going there again!
(1)
Rayne R.
I wish you didn't change the mac n cheese recipe, however the new kind is okay and I am getting used to it. Your service is amazing, and so is the rest of your food. Thank you for being right down the street from me. I will gain 20 pounds this holiday season thanks to you!
(4)
Brandon S.
*After having a disappointing experience a their Orange location, the owner of Beach Pit BBQ contacted me and assured me that the Costa Mesa location was fantastic. I was very impressed with the owners' professionalism and concern for my bad experience and subsequent bad Yelp review.* REVIEW- 3 of us dined at the Costa Mesa location and had a great meal. The pulled pork was moist and very tender. The brisket was very moist, flavorful, and soft enough to cut with a fork. I did not have to drown any of the meat in sauce.....I was very surprised. My favorite dish is the burnt ends appetizer- small pieces of brisket which theoretically are the trimmings and small bits that fall off the finished brisket. Traditionally they contain the most concentrated bbq'd flavor; anyway, their burnt ends are delicious! We were very happy with the quality and flavor of our meals and will certainly return. As a BBQ lover who appreciates all types, especially Texas and Carolina, I have to say Beach Pit is not the best BBQ I've ever had but it's pretty darn good and satisfies my cravings for nice brisket or pulled pork. There could be improvements but for a small chain I'm happy and will certainly return.
(4)
The F.
Not great. One tip to them - cover your sauces!!! Flies all over them outside. Yuck
(2)
Sonja J.
The meat and the nice man that served us are the only reasons I can give this place any stars at all. The man taking our order seemed kind of annoyed with us as we were trying to decide what to order (maybe because it was a half hour before closing? IDK, but whatever, if you have a problem with it, then close at 7 not 8, if you're open you should be happy to see customers). When we asked for a recommendation on the sides he named off all but one of them, so we went with the Mac n cheese which was the first one he mentioned. $30+ later (we didn't even order drinks) we got ready to enjoy what we were hoping would be an amazing meal (especially for that price). The facility was clean and had a homey vibe to it, and the service was relatively fast- the guy who delivered our order was friendly and suggested his favorite bbq sauce and all, so kudos on the good attitude for him. I got sliders (2 pulled pork and 1 sausage) with a side of mac, my husband got the brisket with coleslaw and mac, and we split a basket of fried pickles. My sliders were really good, the pork was tender and their bbq sauce is decent. The brisket was also really good, tender and juicy. As far as everything else goes though, bleck. The coleslaw was not good, and the mac and cheese tasted like some grainy microwaved stuff (in talking after the meal, we decided maybe he suggested that because it was easy/fast to prepare? idk really...), and the fried pickles were so over-fried that there was no pickle meat in them. literally crunchy coins of deep fried nothing. We really wanted to like this place. Like I said, the meat is really good, and the place is cute and quaint, but unless you hate money and are looking for a good place to get rid of it quick- save yourself the disappointment.
(2)
Ellen L.
My family took me here one summer, and I love it. They have good barbeque stuff and some other good meals, too. They have the best macaroni that I have ever tasted and their fries are pretty good, too. The location actually used to be an old house, and I love how they try to keep it like that. The front of the restaurant is like a little backyard. You can sit inside or outside and either is nice. During Halloween, they stay open to hand out candy (they don't serve food taht late, though). Overall, this is a wonderful restaurant. It's really fun inside.
(5)
David H.
Wow, I don't think I have had any worse BBQ. I came here on Tuesday night with Groupon and ordered a bunch of dishes. We had a half rack, a quarter chicken, beef brisket, pulled pork and sausage with a side of sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread. All BBQ lacks seasoning. None has any char on the outside so all BBQ has no flavor whatsoever. The brisket is way overcooked so the meat is so dried. The sausage tastes like a very low quality meat (hopefully it's meat and not any filler), and the case was not even crisp. The slaw dressing has no creme, just lots of vinegar, to the point that it is inedible. The only thing that might work for me was the blueberry cornbread. Even Lucille BBQ would be a better choice, or I would rather drive down to Phil's in San Diego. I'm very surprised that some fellow Yelpers think their food is delicious. Maybe they or I had a bad night, but i'm sorry to say, their BBQ was so terrible to my taste.
(2)
April T.
I really enjoyed this place. I would give it 5 stars if they had more comfortable seating. I enjoyed their sweet potato fries, mac n cheese was good too. I got the pulled pork and brisket sliders. SO GOOD! Their sauces were really good too. It's hard to find a good BBQ place, and for this price. Hurry up and go already!
(4)
Nicole O.
Who likes this place???? I went here thinking it was going to be good. GROSS!!! The food was cold, which is a health hazard, and was bland to boot!! It has a cute location, but that is it. The food here SUCKS!! BBQ at home and it will taste way better. Lucille's is better than this place and it is a huge chain! Why is it so hard for most restaurants to serve good food? I guess so many crappy places make the few good ones really stand out!!
(1)
Charles O.
Good BBQ spot that I used to take friends too when I had them in town in newport. I recommend the sandwiches and ribs. The pulled pork or brisket are well done and come on delicous bread. The place looks like you are eating at somebody's house. You walk into an actual house and can eat outside in the front yard. Total trip. Their sides taste great too. My favorite are the BBQ beans and the Macaroni and Cheese. Theses are the same guys that are in the Anaheim Angels stadium too. Will always return when I'm in town
(4)
Omrn B.
I was surprisingly disappointing with this place after getting take out with my friend during the evening. We both were in the mood for some good BBQ and we knew it would be difficult to find a place but Beach Pit seemed to fit the bill after finding it on Yelp. When we arrived are expectations grew larger after seeing the humble quaint setting of Beach Pit BBQ. It looked like a family joint that focused on the food service but the food came up way too short. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. My friend ordered the two meat plate with brisket and pulled pork. The cashier was friendly and packed up our big paper bag nicely and off we went back to his apartment. Before I even got in my car I was a little worried based on how light the bag felt with two meals in it. When we got back and I opened my friend's container I immediately knew he would be disappointed with the portion. He of course was and also felt like the meats were dry and flavorless. My sandwhich was also very small and the side of mac and cheese came in a tiny cup that one would normally use for a side of bbq sauce. My sandwich was not good until I drenched it with some of their bbq sauces and the mac and cheese was very good but I finsihed it in three bites. What made matters worse was that they forgot to put coleslaw on my sandwich and they forgot to give my friend his side of coleslaw I was so furious I called them on the phone to tell them and the cashier informed me that for my sandwich if it is take out they don't put it on the sandwich they put it on the side instead but it was not on the side either!! When I asked about my friend's coleslaw he said that you only get a side of coleslaw if you eat in and when I questioned him further on the logic of that he said that it's really not a side of coleslaw its more like a garnish of coleslaw... are you kidding me!!? Bottom line, I paid about $11, he paid about $13 and we were both still hungry after the meal that did not taste very good to begin with. Basically the only good thing about this place is there bbq sauces Will not return
(2)
George U.
Having bad bbq at a bbq place is a sin. This particular place has good bbq, but it was pricey for the amount they gave. The blue berry corn bread and their baked beans were great sides. Can't ever complain about the sweet potato fries, either. The service is kind of there. They had people walking around asking if they can help you, but really, you're on your own (you pay as soon as you order up front). The building is big. Lots of places to sit. The atmosphere is very family oriented and in a tacky way. Nothing new and nothing interesting with the food, with the service, or with the atmosphere.
(2)
Phil D.
1st - order spicy bbq sauce (extra recommended). 2nd - go for dinner plate of spare ribs. Baby backs are good, but these are better IMO. Their smoker does the trick - meat falling from the bone. 3rd - Beans are great, cornbread's good too, but I wish this was warm every time. 4th - Pinot Grigio seems to go well for some reason. Light and crisp in the sun, and somehow it doesn't get stepped on by all the heavy bbq flavors. This might be a faux pas, but it seems to work for me. The food can be heavy, so this eliminates the bloating and space-taking features of beer.
(4)
Brent C.
Couldn't find generic OC BBQ page. Best BBQ in OC (CM/HB/Newport) that I've been able to try (haven't tried Rebs, or Joey's): 1. Blake's Place in odd industrial area of Anaheim, near Placentia. Solid everything. Best beans/brisket. Might be the best beans in the country. Yup--been all over the South, (Dreamland, et. all) and that's my vote. You'll be happy you ate here. As usual, BBQ ain't cheap, but at least you get your money's worth, here. A guy who used to work at Blake's started his own biz up near the South entrance to Yosemite--he's on point, as well. (He was the guy who won the Kraft BBQ sauce contest about 12-yrs ago--and his mug was on a Kraft bottle for about a year.) 1. (tie) I'm cheating here, as this isn't in the OC, but is a worthy stop if in the neighborhood: Jay Bee's in Gardena. Found this place before it was profiled a couple years ago on "Triple D." Solid BBQ. (They'd be tied for #1 if they were in the OC (their menu sides might not fit in around here, since "some" folks don't know how essential collard greens are--with BBQ, etc.)) Quite authentic Southern BBQ, right down to the picnic tables, railroad tracks, and swattin' flies from your food. Owner-lady's bro is of Interstate BBQ-fame. Who cares about the service, btw? Not pilgrimage worthy, but is a solid BBQ - fix. 3. Smokin' Mo's. (Reliable, tasty, reasonable.) Great pulled pork sandwich w/ slaw. Very good ribs. Convenient HB Main St. location. Very well executed sides and sauce. This is not soot - pit bbq, but good, and enjoyable. 4. Beach Pit BBQ in Costa Mesa. (Very good Brisket (perfect sliced meat to bread quotient), pulled pork good as well (not overly generous, but sufficient) Sides were just okay. (slaw, beans.) V. Good sauce. Pricey. Two sandwiches, two reg. sides and $6 side of Okra was over $27. Yikes! I think I have brisket stuck in my throat. . . .No corkage Thurs nights--wish they had "no beer cappage night." Who drinks wine w/ BBQ? Only in LA. . . (My tongue is in my cheek, btw..) 5. Lucille's. I love to hate everything industrial. Therefore, I love to hate Lucille's. I won't put any "hatin' " on them, because they make nice, mildly expensive, bbq. The only exceptional industrial bbq is the County Line chain that is in Texas (baby backs--so good--no sauce required "good.") -------- To digress for the world foodie bbq traveler (sans Memphis--haven't had a reason to visit, yet): 1. Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Ribs. Say no more. . .This is the house of pork love, zingy vinegar sauce, and sopping Kilpatrick's bread loaf. Who cares what the sides are?? They show you the rib. Tender, with just the right amount of "bite." 2. Sonny Bryan's in Dallas, near Love Field. (Original location means a lot.) Sooty, beef brisket perfection, eaten on an old school individual desktop complete with your own little attached table (t.v. tray?). Au de Smoke will be your scent for the rest of the day. YUM. 3. Weird one here, and it's related to BBQ, and one that I can't be remiss in mentioning: South Carolina Hash. Made right, it's dynamite. Look it up on the internet, and you'll get a whole lot of different opinions. This is quite entertaining for the true foodie in you. Don't scoff at it, until you've tried it. It can be that one item you can't quite figure out, but keep going back to for more. Gotta watch the teaser video clip. It's a fast runner: stanwoodward.com/carolin… Enjoy! --TheBC
(3)
Ryan K.
The foods Not to bad... I've had BBQ in Texas, and as a result I just can't give this place to hight of praise. I had the brisket plate. The brisket was a bit dry, and they smothered it with BBQ sause which completly dominated the flavor (i thought i was getting brisket?). It could have been any meat with that much sause. As sides I had mac' n cheese which was bland. And the cornbread which was a little dry. I would say I might go back to try something else but it was just to expensive to me. With a soft drink it cost me $18 which is what I paid for my girlfriend and I in Texas for real BBQ. I never been cheap with food unless the food just is not that great. In short save your money for a plane ticket to the south. I've heard that the BBQ place in Austin's airport is awesome.
(2)
Matthew C.
Bums me to write this but the place is slipping. They do a great job of smoking and the decor is authentic (as is the food outside of the yuppified cloe slaw) BUT they do NOT salt the meat enough before cooking and as a result it is sort of tasteless. Total bummer as if they salted the meat properly it would be awesome bbq.
(3)
Genevieve A.
I tried this on a whim, clad in bathing suit and wet hair. Great food. Really homey. I had a pork sandwich, with sweet potato fries. So yummy. The banana pudding wasn't so hot, but everything else kept me coming back for more. Yay for the Beach Pit. =]
(4)
Tara H.
Delicious, and found the $10 for $20 Yelp deal while trying to find the address. I definitely recommend it!
(4)
Crystal I.
i was craving ribs, so we found these guys on Yelp. I was surprised I hadn't heard of Beach Pit BBQ before. My husband and I loved it. The sweet potatoe fries were really good. However, if you're looking for a mellow evening, beware, there are a lot of children running around and it's really busy during meal hours. Great family spot. We will return soon!
(4)
Jeffrey L.
I was born and raised in Kansas where BBQ is a way of life. BeachPit BBQ is the BEST and ONLY true BBQ place I've found in California in the 24 years I've lived here. I've watched dozens of people walk into this place for the first time and have a religious experience with their meals. They can't leave until they find someone who works there to share their experience. If you want to eat healthy fresh food that doesn't come out of some Costco bag, get to BeachPit BBQ and order anything on the menu.
(4)
Bridget A.
Quick and easy! If BBQ is what your craving then this is the place to go. Theres not very much seating and it can be crowed on the weekends but worth the 5 min wait to get a seat
(4)
Kari O.
I travel a lot and have tried BBQ in lots of different geographic locations. Beach Pit BBQ is very close to me, so I went on Yelp, checked it out, and decided to phone in an order. True to what other reviews said, it is a very small place. Also true to what other reviews said, the service is lacking. I expected better from a phone in/carry out order. Seeing as everyone has raved about the sweet potato fries, I figured I'd buck up the $2 extra and get them as one of the two sides for my pulled pork plate dinner. I guess "Alex" decided tonight should not be my night to try them as potato salad was in my take-out bag instead. Granted, the potato salad is quite good, but I would have rather had what I asked for. And hey -- they could have made $2 extra. This is a Sunday evening and they were definitely not packed. Why they couldn't get the order right over the phone is beyond me. The pulled pork is quite good, as is the BBQ sauce (the regular, not the spicy) - from what little there was on my pork. I'm used to my BBQ (wherever I am) smothered in sauce. And if this is all that's given usually, I would have liked the option to order more. A lot more. I also ordered the coleslaw with my dinner. A word to those who expect coleslaw to be creamy -- this isn't. It's decent coleslaw, but it's more of a sweet vinegar-style slaw. If you prefer the creamy style, consider a different side. All in all, the food is good, albeit a bit overpriced -- especially as the service seems to not entirely be on the ball for a simple, routine order. Next time I get a craving for BBQ, I'll make sure I dine in, or I'll completely inspect my take-out order before I leave. I suggest everyone else do the same.
(3)
April M.
We're from Texas & this lovely little joint was awesome! What a great find!!! Great food, loved the patio too ! Our boys devoured their food & loved the play area too. Will definitely be back & reccomend It to anyone! So glad we stumbled onto this great place!
(5)
Marianne G.
My first review was for the Tustin Garage Beach Pit even though this Beach Pit was the first one I visited. So I guess if I'm missing so more details on the food it is because I yelped on the Tustin one first. Nothing will top the first visit though. This is my favorite location. This location is a wonderful place to have a casual, relaxed dinner outside. When the sun starts go down, the number of kids playing outside starts to diminish and it is a wonderful place to hang out after dinner with some wine in front of the fire pit. The food is delicious. I'm a fan of restaurants who adhere to the sandwich math of soft sandwich filling goes with soft bread. Honestly, the potato bread makes for a delectable pulled pork sandwich. Yum. I liked the blueberry cornbread. I'm not a fan of cornbread per se, but this was pretty good. I kinda like my cornbread mushy and moist and even if this wasn't that - it was still good. I love me some blueberries. I'm also quite the sweet potato fry fanatic - I'll be an extra buck for a plate full of that for sure! The reason for it not being 5 stars remains the same. It isn't price-friendly for it being so casual. But...the food is good and the service is friendly and the patio on a summer night with a glass of wine and good friends is a nice little haven for us busy-on-the-go people.
(4)
Gwen D.
This is one of those places that I've been meaning to go to for literally years and yesterday the stars must have been aligned or something because I finally: 1) was in the mood for barbecue, 2) feeling adventurous enough to try something new and 3) remembered that this place was walking distance from my house. So, yeah, I'm not one of those people who argues about whether Kansas City barbecue is better than Tennessee barbecue or whatever, but I do appreciate a good pulled pork sandwich, and I especially appreciate reasonable prices and a comfortable dining experience. The Beach Pit definitely delivers on those fronts. I showed up on a Sunday afternoon (sort of after lunch but before dinner time period). My boyfriend and I ate at one of the park benches and later moved to the firepit where we enjoyed a few too many (bottles) of wine. It was a really nice experience-- the place is set up so it feels like you're in the yard of a really close friend-- you can saunter inside and grab more food without it being a big ordeal and it's overall just a really relaxed vibe. Later in the evening, the place filed up with young families and lots of kids, but with the lights, food, and little play pen area, it seemed like a party atmosphere. The barbecue was good, but not "life-changing" or anything like that-- quite frankly, I'm not entirely sure what some people are expecting when they go in and write some review where they bitch about the barbecue not being authentically Texas enough (but like I said, I'm not enough of a barbecue aficionado to argue that point)... seems to me though, that if you find a place that has decent food, decent prices, decent wine/beer deals and is overall just a nice place to hang out, it's sort of beside the point to split hairs. Bottom line: If you're a barbecue purist, maybe you'll take issue with the un-special sauce, but if you're just a person who enjoys a barbecue sandwich once in a while, then this is the place for you.
(4)
Jackie D.
Brisket is yummy, cornbread overrated, Overall I like this place, really cute and quaint. Been here twice, each time has been great
(5)
Desiree G.
Amazing food!!! and beer on tap!
(5)
Ruth B.
I went there for dinner the other night....and wow, was I not let down. They have a wide variety of items on the menu, and the prices are extremely reasonable. Where else can you go have a bbq chicken sandwich and a bottle of wine? Beach Pit is where. The blueberry cornbread is to die for, as are the sweet potato fries. I wasn't overly impressed with the potato salad, but then again, no one makes it as good as mom. So it's hard to fairly judge that. The place seems small, but they have indoor and outdoor seating. We chose a table by the kids area out front (uh, I will not be doing that again). Other than the screeching coming from the monster pit, the outdoor area is nice. They also have seating out back away from the ankle bite...er, kids, where you can enjoy your food and beverage as well. The service was quick, the food was great, and overall, it was a fun time!
(5)
Michelle T.
I went with some friends to try this place out. It was just ok for me. The prices were pretty good for BBQ, but the place is too dang small for a BBQ place. there are like 4 tables inside, and about 8 tables total outside. Me and some friends ended up eating around the fire pit (admittedly through our own volition). I got to try the tri tip and the spare ribs. The ribs were just ok for me. nothing special, and i could not get the smoky flavor I was looking for. the tri tip, however, was tender and pretty delicious. Each meal comes with two sides from baked beans, to corn on the cob, to coleslaw to blueberry cornbread to sweet potato fries. I decided to try the sweet potato fries, (which i think is an additional $2) and the blueberry cornbread. the fries were pretty good (but, in my opinion not worth the extra $2) and the cornbread was really disappointing. I think it was because I was expecting it to be a bit sweeter, but it was not. just regular ol cornbread with 2 or 3 cooked blueberries on the bottom. I would try this place again. My other friends got sandwiches which looked pretty good (and probably half the price, around $7.95?). If you decide to get the BBQ, i would try the tri tip. they also serve dessert and beer here too.
(3)
Lauren H.
I have been dying to check this place out for quite some time now! This afternoon, my bf was dying to eat, and quite frankly means for me to find him some delicious food stat. I took the side street off of 17th, and quickly spotted this little house, and I knew that this would be the place where I would eat. I ordered the 3 slider combo: tri tip, chicken, and sausage with corn on the cob and potato salad. Bf got: 3 slider combo with beef, chicken, and tri tip with beans and mac n cheese. we both thought all were top notch except the chicken. not saying it was bad, but it didn't amaze us. we were raving about the food to the guy who took our order when he came back to check on us, so when he came back a second time, he brought out a free banana pudding. OMG yum! it was perfect with bananas cut in it, with a nilla wafers at the bottom, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate. The staff couldn't have been sweeter or nicer to the customers there. This is definitely a place we would come back to time and again with friends. Plus-he told us about 8$ pitcher specials at night during the week. So now here is a place to have fabulous BBQ and beer...can't beat it.
(5)
Kenny B.
So finally, after months of saying I'd come here, I finally did, with my colleagues. Came on a nice sunny Wednesday afternoon before the lunch rush. I had the Big Love sammich. Pulled pork and sausage on a roll. I thought that the bbq sauce was a bit weak (next time I'll order the spicy), but the flavors were pretty good and I liked the variety of sides they had. Sweet potato fries? Yes please! Lunch here will have to be something I do again, that's for sure.
(4)
lawrence l.
The first time I ate here I it was soooo good. I had to come back again for the sweet potato fries and it was just as good as I had remembered. I definitely reccommend this place. It can get pricey but I think it's worth the cost. Outdoor seating is nice when it's not too crowded and there's a playground to throw your little rugrats while you eat.
(5)
Cor V.
As many have pointed out, the menu has, indeed, changed. This place used to be absolutely amazing, and now it's just good. The meat is okay, but the only real flavor comes from the BBQ sauce. The meat itself doesn't taste like it's seasoned - or even smoked. It cost me $10 for a tri-tip sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries. Not a terrible price, but not great. I thought the sandwich was a pretty good size, but I can see how BBQ fans would be disappointed. BBQ is about stuffing your face, and the portions here are basically just enough to fill you up for a little bit. I still went home and had a cookie afterwards, and I don't have the biggest appetite in the world. The place itself is still cute as can be. I love the picnic tables, and watching all the kids play on the little play structure. For some people, that's annoying, but it gives Beach Pit a nice, family-friendly atmosphere. I'll still eat at Beach Pit, but I don't know that it's the kind of place I'd bring my out-of-town friends.
(3)
Rick S.
A great place to take the kids so mom and dad can have a break. They have a fenced-off play area for the little ones and a nice out-door area to relax. Just get a pulled pork sw and a pint and you are good to go for a nice Summer afternoon.
(4)
Travis S.
So incredibly good. I've been coming here for about a year now. I used to frequent more often but started recently getting back into shape and watching what I eat. But I still crave Beach Pit all the time and try to visit about once a month. I love some good bbq... and this place delivers. I try to mix up what I order but usually settle on the pulled pork sandwich North Carolina style (added cole slaw), side of baked beans and mac 'n cheese. The sandwich bun is always soft and fresh... the pulled pork is to die for!! They serve it dry so you can create the ideal taste for yourself. Personally, I drench that thing in bbq sauce before every bite. All the sides are amazing... cornbread, sweet potato fries included. Consistently good service with a hard-working staff. The ambiance is very fun as well... a real backyard setting with plenty of indoor seating as well. If I could eat bbq every day I would!!! And this would be my spot.
(5)
J W.
This place is tucked away just outside of a residential area. I has a children's play area. It's setup like a fast food restaurant with waiters. You order your food and take a number. Choose your seats and they'll bring the food to you. Bbq chicken was perfectly cooked; unlike other places which tends to overcook the chicken. It would be even better if they marinated the chicken. Ribs were nice but didn't taste any smoke flavor. Beef brisket melts in your mouth. I wasn't crazy about the sauce though.
(3)
Aaron C.
This is one of the places that you wouldn't know to go to unless a friend tells you. A friend of mine took me here and I had the tri-tip sandwich. It was SO good that I had to come back again with my co-workers that week and get more lunch. Now it's a frequent lunch spot for us. Everyone I bring always comments on what a cute place it is. It looks like a house and if you didn't know any better you might think it was a house and not a restaurant. I like to sit out back on the covered patio.
(5)
Carter S.
This place, I don't know. It is set back hard to see and only has about 6 spaces plus one handicap space to park in. It is a unique, cool and comfortable looking place. I tried the spare rib lunch plate $12.95 comes with 2 sides. The ribs, 2 large ribs about 9"x1.5"x1.5". Included the rib cartilage tips with lots of meat on it. One rib had about the same amount of meat that 3 spare ribs from The Outdoor Grill in Culver City had. Served covered in choice of hot or mild sauce. I choose mild. It was mild, good but nothing special. I had the coleslaw which was colorful and had a vinegary sauce which I didn't care for myself but if that's how you like your slaw well there you go. I had the blueberry cornbread...OHHH was that goooood! That with the serve yourself drinks and this place is AOK.
(4)
Mario F.
When it comes to BBQ in Orange County, I have always been at a big loss as to where to go. Lucille's doesn't impress me much. Beach Pit impresses me much. Beach Pit impresses me VERY much. What are the results of getting a spicy (not really spicy at all) slow cooked beef brisket sandwich on delicious french roll with blueberry cornbread, baked beans and a Pabst blue-ribbon to chase it down? Mind blowing. It's guaranteed. I could probably eat here every day. The pricing is reasonable. The aforementioned meal will run you about $12. It is more than enough to fill me up and I usually end up taking half of the sandwich home. Everyone is pretty friendly. They have seating inside and picnic tables outside. Oh yeah and they have this little plastic playhouse for the kiddos.
(5)
Thomas D.
Alright well here it goes. THis place is either hit or miss. 50% of the time you get what you pay for. It may seem pricey, but half of the times I've been they have given me a lot of food and it was good. Pulled pork is a must. Baked beans are the best side. Mac and cheese is aight and blueberry cornbread can be hit or miss. If they actually put effort into it and it comes out warm then it is amazing. But I've had times where the cornbread was super dry. Tri tip and brisket are also decent. Many times I've been, they haven't been up to standard and the price you pay doesn't justify the amount or quality of food you get. I'll keep coming here because it does occassionally hit the spot, but in order for me to be a regular they need to either decrease prices because its super expensive, or increase the amount of food dramatically.
(4)
Jessica W.
I feel like the quality of the food has declined over the years. When Beach Pit first opened it was really good and good value too. Now it is full of screaming children and bland tasting meat. The sides are good, can't go wrong with the blueberry cornbread and sweet potato fries. I also don't like that you order your meat and have to pay for your sides now instead of it all being included in a meal deal. The spicy BBQ sauce is not spicy enough. I doubt I will be coming back here much more, the portions have decreased, as has the taste and quality of the meat and the prices have increased. Time to look for a new BBQ joint!
(3)
Sylvie C.
I love their ribs, excellent. super tender, not overly sweet. delicious.
(5)
Sean F.
The best barbecue you're likely to have in Orange County, the Beach Pit cooks up meat at least good enough to remind you of what you're missing from "real" smokers in Texas and North Carolina. Tucked quietly down the way from the intersection of 17th and Tustin in Costa Mesa / Newport, you almost need a word-of-mouth recommendation to find this place, which adds a bit to its charm. And while they've done a passable job of dressing the place down to look like an authentic barbecue shack (for better or for worse), the real star here is the food. BIG points not only for smoking their own meats around back, but also for doing it right -- the brisket (my usual barbecue test) is so tender that you can, no joke, slice through it easily with a plastic butter knife -- and the flavor, while not as explosively smoky as the fare you'll find tucked off of country roads in the deep south, is still substantial. Also, more points for serving sweet potato fries, which they cook up just right (not too crispy, not too soggy) and serve with a side of ranch. The staff also kicks things up a notch with its friendliness and enthusiasm. There's a quasi-cult like cheer about the place -- which is fine by me. I'm more than happy to eat someplace where the help is "bought in" especially in perpetually unimpressed Orange County. All in all, a great place for an afternoon lunch -- grab a sandwich and a Red Stripe and you're in heaven. The dings: the food, especially for casual barbecue, is a little pricey. You're not getting out of here for less than $10 / person, even with a lunch special. Parking is also a bit of a pain. Topping it off: beware the kids. The Beach Pit is a VERY family friendly restaurant, with a fenced in plastic playground right in the front. If you want to eat your meal among adults, I recommend the covered patio section around back. If, however, you're a mom & dad looking for someplace where the kids can actually burn off some of those calories they've just ingested while you sit and relax, this is a major bonus, I imagine.
(4)
Jack O.
If Tim Burton opened a BBQ joint or featured one in a movie set, this would be the place. Hence the suburban Astro Turf....this was my first impression. The food is realy good and I'll go back without hesitation. but I have a couple bones to pick. It's BBQ, big slabs of smoked meat, it doesn't cost shit to make so offer smaller plates. I think to justify charging $9-10 for the average visit they offer only one serving size. The menu is subdivided into a sandwich or dinner plate. It's not the money, rather it's that the servings are big. Sometimes that fits the bill, but I don't like to feel stuffed, and I don't like to leave food on the plate....I'll have to ask for a smaller portion but then who knows how small? there is no set standard. My other bone is the BBQ sauce is real typical. It's good, but nothing new. Beach Pit could offer a wide spectrum of sauces...say one with lots of vinegar, North Carolina style. This just may be the irony of BBQ, keep the regions divided and battle out who has the best BBQ, when in the end it's all about the love. "Subdivisions, in the high school halls, in the shopping malls....conform or be cast out". They do have Paulaner Hefe on tap and that alone should get them an E ticket into heaven.
(3)
angie c.
So yummy...this is great if you like the ketchup based bbq sauce. I got the sliders and was able to try the pulled pork, chicken and tri-tip. All 3 were very moist and oh so tasty. Great place for lunch.
(4)
David H.
I love bbq. I can't say I prefer any one style more than any other, but there is one thing all good bbq needs--high quality meat smoked just right. If you start with crap, you end up with crap. I've had the spareribs and the beef brisket and both were very good. The ribs were meaty and expertly smoked. The brisket was tender to the point of falling apart. They use high quality meat and they cook it with care. I like the fact that their sauce is served on the side--while the meat itself is tender and tasty, their mild and spicy bbq sauces leave something to be desired. The sauces are nothing special, somewhat generic. With a dinner plate you get your choice of two sides. I would recommend that no matter what you order, get the slaw. It is one of the best cole slaws I have ever had. The vinegar based dressing is flavorful but not overpowering. It has a bit of spice to it which is nice. I've had the bbq beans and again they are nothing to write home about, pretty average. The location is just off 17th Street in a converted house. The front yard has been made into a dining patio and child play area. It's a clean and comfortable location. I wavered between 3 and 4 starts. The meat and slaw warrant 5 stars. They lose a star on the mediocrity of their sauces and bbq beans. They almost lost a star on their prices....a bit steep for what you get but they are using good meats which is expensive. I just think they could be a little more generous with the sides for the price. I'll be back to try more of the menu. The pulled pork sandwich looks promising......
(4)
Eric S.
I have to put in my 2 cents for Beach Pit. I came here with my brother and his family a few weeks ago. We met another family there and ended up ordering one of literally everything on the menu. The meat is very good, we had chicken, tri-tip, ribs, sausage which I assumed to be linguica nd pulled pork. All very juicy and not too doused in sauce. Good portions for just a tad too much money. The coleslaw is dynamite, vinegar-centered with no mayonnaise. Nice feeling abstaining from mayo when you just ate 4 grams of pure cholesterol. The beans were very good, a few kidneys mixed with the pintos, nice touch. Blueberry cornbread=amazing. The sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had (n=3) and came with RANCH!! They have a few wines and beers including PABST tall boys!! Perfect to wash down the juicy BBQ and zippy sides. The place has a nice little patio out back where the young adults hang and out front.... Well, out front is like a friggin' daycare center! This is the only place keeping my rating down. LOTS and I mean LOTS of screaming kids, climbing all over the plastic playhouse and just BEGGING for a broken arm or chin laceration (one particular little bugger spiraled off the roof and smacked his face straight on the ground. I laughed. Then the kid ran over to his parents' table to eat some sausage). If you have kids, come here. If you don't, come here anyway, just eat out back. They have happy hour and a "no corkage fee" night too, which is sweet. The service was good, you walk up and order then they bring it out, and they were very attentive, but maybe because we kept walking up to order more dishes...
(4)
Jessica K.
Add Beach Pit to the list of places I have driven by but never gone to in all of my years in Costa Mesa. In fact, the hubs used to live directly across the street from it...AS IT WAS BEING BUILT and we never went. Then we would drive by and say "We need to try that place...", but then we would just skip dinner and go to A-Cup instead. Well, we finally tried it, and now we are kicking ourselves. I'm not a big meat girl, but I LOVE BBQ chicken sandwiches. Theirs was great...especially the roll. Very soft and tasty. Hubs had the brisket and finished every scrap on his plate. The beans were VERY flavorful...a highlight to this meal, for sure. We went on Thursday, which was their wine special night. 25% off of their (already reasonably priced) glasses of wine, and no corkage fee, so there were lots of people who brought their own bottles. That would have been a fun option had we known about it in advance. The set-up of the place is awesome. I loved the firepit area in front and the large picnic-style tables. Totally conducive to relaxing and enjoying yourself...no feeling of being rushed in and out like you get elsewhere. Once again, I'm pissed I haven't been going here longer. Super yummy food...another Eastside gem.
(4)
Helen P.
Great to bring kids but the food is a bit tasteless and overpriced. Good atmosphere though.
(3)
Cynthia B.
A cute establishment with a fun outdoor area for kids. Why does BBQ ribs always have to be so expensive! The food is yummy.
(3)
Allison P.
Yeah! I thought this place was just OK. I have been to this location four times, two times i had a coupon. The service is ok, it is self-serve. My boyfriend and I have come during dinner hours only. We have had, the Chicken Sandwich ($9.95), Chicken BBQ Plate ($14.95), Sausage Plate ($14.95), and Baby Back Ribs Plate ($25.95) Ouch! It seems to be quite over priced being that it is self-serve. The sides that We've had are bbq beans, coleslaw, mac 'n' cheese and sweet potato fries ($2.00 extra).
(3)
Mike I.
Nice servers. Ribs were gross and not that good. Some lady commando-ed her way into the womens bathroom and puked in there. Luckily I had the best seat in the house to observe this all.
(2)
James M.
Wow what a total disappointment. Overpriced skimpy portions. Good thing I am on a diet, you get more food from a lean cuisine entre. The only thing that was passable was the hot BBQ sauce. Do yourself a favor, go to Newport Rib Company. Better food, larger portions and the price is right in line.
(1)
Alex F.
this place has amazing BBBQ sandwiches, wraps and sides. The Tri tip, pulled pork and brisket sandwich is the best ive had in socal area., even better than luciles. The macaroni cheese, bbq bean and the corn bread is like no other place. I have taken so many people there for different occasions and they all think its horrible when they see it fom the outside but once they try the food they cant stop bragging about how good it is....this place is the perfect example of dont judge te book by its cover :-) prices are very reasonable for the amount of food u get....for under 10$ u get a great meaty sandwich with 2 sides...cant beat that
(4)
Shawn B.
Mediocre at best. Service was slow, food came out at different times. Too bad, because the location is super cozy.
(2)
Zav Y.
Beach Pit used to be fairly good BBQ. Now, they've sold out to the Eastside family crowd. It's better than the chains out there, but they lost something from when they first started. If it wasn't for their sauces, it would taste blah. But that is the sign of good BBQ. Order without sauce and tast the meat. It should have flavor, it should have smokiness. BPBBQ lost it - it used to have it. I was there once and the baby backs still had the "skin" on the back of the ribs - amateur move. That being said, their beans are killer!!! The sweet potato fries are awesome.
(3)
Jason Y.
I saw that the LA BBQ Festival was coming back into town at Santa Monica, so I had a craving for bbq. Found the Beach Pit close by, it's located on Tustin Ave, next to the Cat Clinic. Ordered the Sandwich, Fries, and Soda lunch special, which around $9.25 and then I upgraded to the Big Love sandwich which is half pork half sausage. The sandwich was ok, I only detected a little bit of smokiness and the sausage wasn't the kind I usually associate with BBQ. The service was friendly and the place is pretty quiet on a weekday lunch. I would try again if I was in the mood for bbq.
(3)
Jake S.
Good intentions....Poor execution.... I'm so sad to write this review. I have been to other Beach Pit BBQ's and they have been pretty good. The one closest to me..... Not so much. To start with, I ordered online for pickup and when I got there they realized that there was not paper in the printer so they hadn't received it. After a 10-15 minute wait I received my food and was on my way. I ordered the Texas Toast sandwich, but discovered upon arrival home that they had forgot to put the cole slaw in the sandwich as stated in the description. That was a real bummer. The toast also had almost no flavor, so it may as well have been white bread on the sandwich. What is the point of a Texas Toast sandwich without good classic Texas Toast (which should have garlic, cheese, etc.). The Jalapeno Cheddar cornbread was flavorful, but COLD. Whoever was putting together the order put the butter pad in with the sandwich too, so by the time i got home it had just melted all over the bottom of the styrofoam container. I had a side order of mac n' cheese, which was ok, but they forgot to put in a fork to eat it with. Not the biggest deal in the world, but come on.... The sweet potato fries were pretty good, but again they were on the cold side. All in all, the food was decent, but it had the opportunity to be great with just some basic execution. Serve it hot, serve it correct to order, and serve it in a timely fashion.
(2)
Laura B.
This place is a hidden gem in Costa Mesa that has great BBQ and a really cool ambiance. The only down side is the limited seating.
(5)
Mai N.
i am yet to find a place that can do BBQ like Texas... First off, one star for being such a cute little set up. reminds me of homey backyard BBQs in the summer time. second off, no more stars...why? because the ran out ribs at 8pm. how the hell can a BBQ joint run of of ribs? WTF? Thats like in&out running of ummm burger patties!! Ordered the alabama slammer ($20) which consisted of three meat choices and two sides. since there were no ribs left, we got sausage (trader joes has better do it yourself sausage), pulled pork, and beef brisket with coleslaw and sweet potato fries ($2.00 extra). WTF is up with the extra charge?? nothing was satisfying and everything tasted like a microwave dinner. Sweet potatoefries were greasy like left over grease in a pan. do yourself a favor and head over to Veggie Grill or sweet poatoe fries. At least there, you wont have a guilty conscious dipping it into sauce. BBQ sauces tasted like your average market brand sauce. all in all nothing spectacular here. save your money for else where
(1)
Kathryn G.
I lived in Costa Mesa for close to two years before I even heard about this little gem. Just off 17th street, it's tucked away on a residential street and I only see the sign if I actively look for it. Now - I've only ever had bbq in the South once and that was in Florida on a river boat cruise so I can't vouch for the Beach Pit's authenticity to Southern bbq - but it's as close as I've gotten since moving to California. Their pulled pork is delicious. And make sure you order their sweet potato fries. Crispy, hot and served with a side of ranch - perfect. And while their beer and wine selection may be a bit modest, you'll find something to go with your meal. Beach Pit is a great place to eat, whether you're grabbing lunch during the week with co-workers or taking the family out for dinner. There's a fenced off area that parents can put their kids in so they can run around like maniacs while their parents enjoy their meal. Not a fan of kids? Luckily, there's a nice covered patio behind the restaurant set up with picnic tables.
(4)
Brian P.
This place has gone down hill... no off a cliff. Used to be nice but now not worth the time to eat it. My NC style pulled pork sandwich tonight was dry pork on a dry bun - nothing else, I threw it away instead of eating it. The rest of the family's food was poor to moderate as they forgot several side dishes and sauces. We live near by and will not go back. Do yourself a favor and drive to Lucelle's they aint great but much better than this slop.
(1)
Andrew D.
Went here upon recommendation of a coworker. Got there and had to wait 5 minutes for someone to even take my order (to-go). The place was dead so it wasn't like they were to busy. Ordered two pulled pork sandwich plates. They ended up giving us pulled pork plates (no bun), and got one of the orders wrong. Didn't include utensils or napkins on my To-Go order (I shouldn't have to ask or get them myself when I order something to-go). The food was good, but nothing better then I have had other places. Price was a little high for the amount of food and quality of it. I think the appeal is that BBQ places like this are far and few between in Orange County. Much like people love Olive Garden when they have really never been to a lot of good Italian places. Would have probably gave them a 3 or 4 if it wasn't for the poor spotty service and overall ruining of my lunch.
(2)
samurai s.
Pretty good food, Fabulous atmosphere at night, Horrendous service and slightly on the pricey side. This place is pretty small and the seating is first come first served. Sucks when its crowded because then you either have to hover around people to get a table, or risk someone who came after you getting a table before you. Makes you also feel bad to just hang out and shoot the breeze after your meal. The atmosphere is very nice and backyard-ish like others have mentioned. It totally makes you forget where you are. Service was taken care of by a bunch of adolescent boys who were not the brightest, unless they are just trying to keep up the stereotype of southern folks. Anyway, the kid that took our order was an absolute mess. Asked me if I wanted the lunch or dinner sized baby back ribs. I asked whats the difference. He had no clue and went to the back to find out. 6 ribs vs. 12, and a 9 dollar difference in case you are wondering. I ended up ordering the dinner size, only to find out after we paid that they only had a lunch size left. They offered to give me 6 spare ribs to make up for it, but spare ribs are cheaper. I opted to get the difference refunded. Ends up the lunch size portion made my stomach reach maximum distention anyway, so it was perfect. Then we wanted to order a bottle of wine. There are 2 types of pinot noir and we asked him what the difference between the 2. He started to tell us, well we have some red and some white...Uh dude, stop right there. Pinot Noir is a red, you have 2 bottles of it. What is the price of each. Kid says let me find out. Cashier next to him says, we only have one of the Pinots left. Ok so we ask how much that is. The kid says I'll just ring it up to see. Takes him literally 2 minutes before someone punched it in for him. Finally the good news at the end is that the bottle of wine was only $16 bucks. What a steal! Then after he gets us the wine he takes 2 more minutes to get the foil seal off the wine bottle, but sends us away with a wine opener to uncork it ourselves. In that 2 minutes to get the foil off i could have had it opened. Thanks for the help but no thanks. Then he has us sign our bill but never gave us a receipt. Upon asking for one, he digs through the trash frantically looking for one and tries to give us the wrong one. After a few more minutes of looking he says he'll just reprint a copy. Tries that for a few more minutes and was unsuccessful. Good thing we ordered a bottle of wine... The down side is that the food is expensive. You get 2 sides with your meal, however if you want regular fries, $1 extra, or sweet potato fries, then $2 dollars extra. sheesh. The sweet potato fries were good and the corn bread is really good. The baby back ribs were big and meaty. The meat was a little more dry than what i am used to and a bit spicier, but was still delicious. The ribs still had the membrane or sheet of tough connective tissue on both sides of the ribs which detracts a bit from the pleasure of sinking your teeth into some meaty ribs. Friend got the BBQ chicken pizza and said it was not very good but the pulled pork sandwich was decent. Good place to kick back on a warm evening (they have plenty of heaters in case its cold) and have a relaxing backyard bbq atmosphere without doing your own cooking. Beach Pit, take the time to pull off that connective tissue PLEASE! and train your employees a little better and I may consider giving you one more star.
(4)
Alex B.
Pretty damn good BBQ. Went with two other friends and we all got something different. I got the brisket, and they got the pulled pork and tri-tip. They were all really good. Be sure to order the sauce on the side and dip accordingly, otherwise they smother it in sauce and its hard to taste just the bbq. The best side of the ones we tried were the bbq beans, trust me, they are not your typical sweet bbq beans. They're delicious. Will i ever go back, for sure, atmosphere is really cool, staff is a handful of hot chics and they serve beer
(4)
Rich L.
Atmosphere is fun. Food is just o.k.. Not a fan of cooked meat with bbq sauce added after the fact. the sides are all pretty good, prices are fair & the service is good.
(3)
steve d.
This place is ok, there aren't very many places in the area for bbq that I know of, so your kind of stuck with it. The decor is lame, unless you have kids.(there is a little play area outside) I just really wish the food was better since its so close.
(2)
David R.
We love this place! The parking SUCKS but the food and the atmosphere is AWESOME!! If you have not yet been here before you need to make it happen. Bring the kids and have a great time. I love the pulled chicken but everything is great!!
(5)
Justin W.
Recently tried this place out after having walked by it so many times. Definitely tucked away from the hustle and bustle of 17th street but still only a couple feet away. The outdoor seating is great as we came on a Friday night and sat around the fire ring. It was really as if you were eating BBQ in your own backyard. The landscaping was also a very nice change of pace from the standard fast food-esque planting in most of OC. The food was good but not the best BBQ I've had. I detected only a bit of "smoky" flavor in the pulled pork I had but the BBQ sauce was very good and ultimately made it very enjoyable. I had the spicy BBQ beans but they were not that spicy. The potato salad was very good but I will have to agree that the portions of both were much too small for the price. A typical dinner plate is $13 which I felt was a little steep for the amount of food you get and the general feel of the restaurant. I would come here much more frequently if it was in the $10 range. They do have six or so beers on tap with even Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale as one of the choices. $5/pint for the name brand stuff again seemed rather high and there was no discount on a pitcher. The staff was also VERY friendly and the manager even came out near the end of the night to see how everything was. Definitely not your typical jaded high school kid staff. Lower the prices or upsize the sides and this place would garner another star in my book.
(3)
Fresh I.
Hard to find but once you do...Great pulled pork sandwiches, chicken plates, breakfast burritos and sides ect! They serve pbr tall boys and have other beers on tap and can. Service is cool be patient with the young ones (some kids first jobs I think).
(4)
Aimee G.
The family and I are HUGE BBQ freaks and we love it Texan style...smoky, sauce-less, and fork-tender. Beach Pit BBQ came close to all of these but it wasn't a home-run. The meat was a tad dry and it was hard to detect the smoke flavor. My guess is that they use a gas-powered flame to heat up wood chips for flavor (rather than using wood for the fire). The sides were average, at best., although we all agreed that that the sweet potato fries were awesome. That said, we still definitely enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. BPQ is cute, kid-friendly, has an awesome tin-roof, and a cozy patio area with a fire pit and play-yard for the kiddies. Also, the service was friendly, which I always appreciate. It might not be five-star BBQ, but I'll come back again.
(3)
Arnold W.
I found this place online. I was looking for Southern/Soul/BBQ food, so I decided to check it out. The place is really nice. It's almost cute. The restaurant is basically a house and the front lawn. The food was good too. I had the pulled pork and beef brisket and sweet potato fries. The meat is moist and the bbq sauce fits well. The spicy has a kick, but isn't too spicy which was great for me. The waiters were really nice. The wait is kind of long because the place is very small. It's worth the wait, sitting around the fire pit. It's very unique. I'd go again and recommend you go, but keep it a secret because it's not meant for a lot of people to know and go.
(5)
Mike L.
The BBQ is very tasty, and they definitely smoke their own meats. I've tried the chicken, the pulled pork, and the brisket, and all were good. The baked beans are a deliciously smoky side order, as is the blueberry cornbread. The home made lemonade is nectar compared to the Minute Maid and Country Time slop one is usually served at the OC's finer BBQ establishments. However, in the year or so since they opened, some things have slipped. TBut, prices have risen and portions seem to have shrunk. he cheese-filled hot sausages that were so good on previous visits have been replaced with the ordinary non-cheesy variety -- I want my cheese! And, the last time we visited for dinner, we had to order at the counter. Maybe they're trying for a more-authentic Southern BBQ experience. We'll keep going, for the tasy food and the outside dining patio, but our expectations are now lowered.
(3)
Kyle J.
Food was OK but waaaaay over-priced. I will never come back, unless someone else buys.
(3)
Marissa C.
I drive by this place multiple times a day because it is in my neighborhood literally a stones throw from my place. Oh OK, a baseballs throw! Today I went for the first time and was pleasantly surprised! I ordered the salad chicken wrap with Spicy BBQ Sauce, BBQ Beans, and the BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD (Ahhh, I have a new addiction!). I tried the sweet potato fries too-they are the best I've ever had! No complaints on the food. It did take awhile to get our food, but it was worth the wait! I saw some other people with salads-they are enormous and topped with lots of meat! I think I'm going to get one next time-with the blueberry cornbread, of course. The guy who took our order was a stocky Asian guy with the happiest face. He was the smiliest, sweetest, silliest counter person I have ever come across. They must put something "special" in their BBQ Sauce. Whatever it is, I like it and I liked him! The patio is really cute and they have large tables with comfy booths. There are a lot of kids running around because of the the kids play area. If I was a kid, I would freakin love this place! But I'm not, so I just freakin Like this place.
(4)
brandon h.
in third grade i would ride my skateboard to the comic book shop that used to occupy this location. it was legit. beach pit, on the other hand, not-so-much. i mean, the setting and atmosphere are awesome. the employees have always been nice and whatnot. but i simply cannot understand why their food isn't awesome? with a pro-baseball player as an owner, you'd figure he'd server legitimate and authentic southern bbq? i dunno man...my parents go to this place all the time, i just don't get it.
(2)
DJ Adjective ..
I've been reading the reviews and it seems the main complaint is the lack of smokiness, well all I can say about that is try the prime rib dinner. Every once in awhile they have a special of smoked prime rib. It's a bit pricey but it comes with cooked carrots (yuck) and mashed potatoes (yum) so it's worth it. The spicy sauce is spicy and is great in the baked beans. Also the blueberry cornebread is great (although it's been less blueberryish lately). Most everything I've tried here has been good. I wasn't a fan of the sausage platter and you have to ask for extra sauce for the sandwiches, but the ribs are tender and the brisket is flavorful. I'm tempted to give this place only 4 stars, mostly because of the dismal parking arrangements, but the really cool kid-friendly patio with fire pit balances that out and the fact that it's definitely the best bbq around Costa Mesa seals the deal.
(5)
Marcie T.
I've been here only once (so far) but the food was pretty tasty. And if you've got little kids, the play area is a winner. Note to all: keep your kids in check though as the non-kid-toting customers might not think they are as cool as you do. (Apparently I gather from reading the other reviews here).
(3)
Ryan S.
I loved this place. Went here for lunch. Real Meat Smoker, Great Pulled Pork. Park in the back and eat out front. The prices were a little high for lunch, but good BBQ is worth it.
(4)
Gershon A.
Great southern food with a great family atmosphere. Nothing beats pulled pork, sweet potato fries, a cold beer while your kids can play in their own play area. More restaurants need to learn from Beach Pit.
(5)
Jody V.
They cook it low and slow and put the sauce on the side. The pulled pork is pretty damn good, but if you're there on a night they have prime rib get it. They cook it for a long time and you can cut it with a fork. Also, don't forget the sweet potato fries. Parking sucks hard, even with the overflow at the painting place. That's what kept them from 5 stars.
(4)
Tom h.
Very tasty BBQ. The cole slaw is a must have, and the beans are spicy and a perfect side as well. I would pass on the corn bread, as it was a bit dry. The sweet potato fries looked good, but I did not try any, maybe next time. Good selection of beer and wine to go with any food choice. Happy hour would be an ideal time to go. 1/2 price on drinks and a few food specials. The pulled pork was great with a little extra BBQ sauce. Can get busy on Tues since it is kids eat free night. Relaxing outdoor seating area with a fire pit give it a real comfortable feel. Friendly service, too.
(4)
Tim S.
When I first saw this place it was from the street. My heart sored! I thought for sure there would be an old black man serving up the finest food ever, and right here in OC! Then I went inside for some grub. I'ts basically a house that has been gutted and turned into a corporate feeling rib joint. I was a little let down. Then I tried the sweet potato fries! MMM!! The puled pork sandwich is amazing and there's plenty of outside seating. Dogs aren't aloud to sit wih you on the patio and that's a drag. I would probably give this place 5 stars if I had kids. They have a little play area that just screams family. ;)
(4)
Steve C.
With its corrugated metal roof, secluded location, and lush tropical landscaping, this place reminded me a little of an out of the way Hawaiian eatery. The menu is great, with sandwiches and plates featuring pulled pork, chicken, brisket, sausage, tri-tip etc. Sandwiches are served with two sides. The potato salad was excellent, with a creamy dressing different from the usual mayonnaise. The cole slaw had a sesame dressing, but familiar cole slaw ingredients, not the weird yucky "Asian slaw" that many places seem to serve for some reason. I liked it. My only complaint was the sides were served in tiny ramekins, just a couple mouthfuls really. I hope larger portions are served with the plates. My brisket sandwich was good, the meat was tender and juicy, but surprisingly didn't have much smoky bbq flavor. It was served with a spicy bbq sauce that was good, but I had to ask for extra, it would be nice if it were out and available. One more nitpick, I thought $2 was very high for self-serve soft drinks. Overall I liked the food, and will probably try it again someday, but between the lack of true bbq flavor, skimpy sides, and fairly high prices, I'm not yet a convert.
(3)
Isabel S.
the salads and wraps are my favorite. the first time i tasted this was at the angel stadium however going to the costa mesa location took the cake ! it is 5x better at a sit down locale than just at a crowded stadium.
(4)
David B.
great casual place for super bbq. - The Salad - 5 - Wine - 5 - Pulled pork sand - 5 - Chicken plane - 4
(5)
jana a.
interesting atmosphere. i think that is what draws most people, myself included. but, the food is solid and would recommend it to anyone wanting bbq.
(3)
Rick P.
this is one of those rare eateries in OC, in a land of chain restaurants and typical sterile strip malls, that stands out from the rest. tucked away between commecial and residental space, this quaint bbq outfit is a place where you want to just kick back, relax, and take in some good food. and with its hidden quiet location, away from the hustle of the costa mesa traffic, and the outdoor patio surrounded by soothing landscape, you definitely can. this place features typical southern favorites like pulled pork, brisket and ribs. on this visit i got a pulled chicken sandwich (i know i know, should have gotten pulled pork but i was trying to watch my diet). the sandwich comes with a choice of two sides, of which i picked the blueberry cornbread and baked beans. the chicken was extremely tender, with what they called 'spicy' bbq sauce (i found the bbq beans more spicy). i loved the bun it was served on, light and soft, but just hardy enough to hold up to the saucing. the blueberry cornbread was good, but sweet and dense, almost dessert like (more similar to the mexican corn cakes than cornbread). the only thing keeping me from handing out 5 stars was the lack of smoke flavor in the meat (both in my chicken and in my friends pulled pork). nada.. none which i could detect. this is bbq right? that aside, this place is charming enough to want to come back and try some of the other dishes.
(4)
Ai M.
Banana pudding (they only had the 5 oz. so they gave us two). Blueberry cornbread was good with butter but I didn't think the berries contributed much. Brisket needed sauce. Chicken was almost dry -- I had to keep saucing it for flavor. Decent collard greens. Drumsticks were sold instead of red velvet cake today. I liked the smoked sausage. I've had better macaroni and cheese elsewhere [this one was missing breadcrumb and was a little wetter than usual]. I should have ordered hush puppies but the menu described it as just fried cornmeal batter. Iced tea is sweet, better than the blueberry lemonade. Jalapeno cornbread was spicy and sweet but easy to handle. My cousin said his baked beans were great. Pulled pork was served cold. Sweet potato fries were good. The fried okra was okay with ranch dressing.
(4)
Morgan T.
I had the beef sandwich, baked beans, and fries. The beans were unique and the best part of the meal. The beef was moist but lacked the smoke flavor of really good barbeque. The sauce tended to over power any flavor the meat might of had. However, this place is much better than Wood Ranch.
(3)
Meredith W.
We came, we tried. We weren't too impressed. I hate giving bad reviews, but also my commitment to giving yelp reviews includes being honest about my experiences. These days wallets are tight for people, might as well get their monies worth. I had the pulled pork sandwich - it comes with the choice of one side - I choose coleslaw. The pork, though very succulent was virtually flavorless. After taking my bite I realized I didn't smell BBQ cooking there. The business says they use an indirect heat method for cooking - maybe thats the problem? My hubby got the beef brisket plate and had the same complaint, bland.... we both concluded it felt like the meat was missing salt. my coleslaw was the vinegar kind vs creamy. Im partial to creamy - I think it goes better with BBQ. The tart taste is too healthy for a BBQ meal. Also they don't serve iced tea here. News flash, there is no reason to reinvent BBQ people! there is no reason to talk the salt out of the meat, the cream out of the slaw, and the tea out of the mix. They advertised $5 pints of beer! is that a deal??? the one thing i loved about this place was the outdoor seating and kids playground. They allow dogs and its a pretty relaxing environment. If this place slummed up their food a bit - add a little grease and sweat, i think it could do better.
(2)
David C.
Barbecue is far from the best I've had but is steady and reasonably priced. Dog friendly patio is a plus.
(3)
Christina R.
We found this place as we were trying to kill time before checking into our hotel. We had our dogs with us so we needed a pet friendly place. You could easily miss this restaurant as it is well hidden in a neighborhood. It felt like being in someone's back yard. So quaint and cute! I'm glad it wasn't busy because there is not much parking. The picnic tables outside was a perfect touch. We ordered pulled pork sandwiches even though it was not on the menu. The sauce was really yummy! This was the first time we ordered and the sauce was on the side, so that surprised us a bit. The sweet potato fries and potato salad were ok, but not something I would order again.
(4)
Alan A.
Been here once, and once is not enough to really fairly rate any location. We had heard from a few people about this place. You know what was most attractive? The fact that there is a small kids playground out front. With three kids, any place with this feature is appealing. Ok, so we went on a week night with our three offspring. First of all, it was not busy so that was nice. We got an outside table, turned the kids loose on the playground, and went to the counter to order. We stood there for about five minutes before someone came out to help us. Unacceptable due to the fact that there were probably 5 customers in the entire place. Don't think 5 minutes is long at a non-busy place? Tell you what, right now go and stand at your kitchen sink. Got your watch? Go. Stand there for five minutes, I'll wait. Back? See what I mean? Long time. Ok, so we finally order. We both got the Texas toast sandwiches on the recommendation of the girl taking our order. I got the pulled pork, wifey got the brisket. I don't personally know any of the four and five star raters of this place. If I did, I would probably tell them they were out of their minds. One thing is clear, those people have not had good 'cue before. Bland, dry, not enough smokiness, not enough spice. Even the sauce they place on the tables is blah, but I used it hoping blah plus blah would equal something better. Alas, it did not...and never does, silly me. Other items we tried were the Mac and cheese - pretty good. Like I said, one time is not enough to get a good read on a place. They do have reasonable prices, but If you are looking for good, solid, tasty 'cue...you could do better.
(2)
Elaine C.
So yummy. I went there and thought we were walking into a preschool because the front yard of the place looks like a preschool. No kids around though - we went pretty late at night. I got the nachos and it was sooo yummy. The owner was really nice and gave me a blueberry cornbread. Also really yummy; especially if you slather it with some delicious fatty butter. My friends are all from Texas and they said that this place was better than Lucile's (?). I love how the meat just falls apart in my mouth. Like buttery meaty goodness. I jokingly call this place the "Texas bbq place that looks like a preschool" but yeah, the food is delicious. We are definitely going back.
(5)
Ken E.
The closest one may get to true Texas BBQ... great food, friendly staff, fast service. Hard to find, but worth the effort. A true gem in the OC!!!
(4)
Miss D.
Had a yelp coupon for half off so had to try. Was a little hard to find - parking was a tiny space for 5 (?) cars so we parked on the street. The play area everyone talked of was full of kids (yes, they were screaming & acting like children) which made the front look like a regular house. The portion for the half rack rib plus chicken combo was tiny. It came with a side (mac n' cheese, fries, etc) plus coleslaw, which I don't like but the man with me "loved" it even though he doesn't like coleslaw either. Can't describe the bbq half rack of ribs...it seemed...like it lacked something like smokiness or bbq-ness or something. But it tasted real soft. Chicken was just alright, nothing spectacular. Service was pretty good as we were checked on every once in a while. The cup of banana pudding was the best part of the meal...it was in a tiny cup and a bit sweet but it was cold & I licked every bit of it off. Would only return with a coupon.
(3)
Mika H.
I had discount deals for this and several other local bbq places. Each one is different and I love them all. Beach Pit, Famous Dave's, Johnny Reb's and Texas Pit all offer creditable bbq of the smokey-steamy-oven tender type. This time the deal was sufficient to get a full rack and a chicken as well. The meat was super-soft, to the point that the bones were falling out of the ribs instead of the meat falling off the bones! A lot of juice drained out into the take-home containers, which I poured back over in hopes that it would re-absorb. The pork was sort of like a pot roast, easier to eat with a fork.I do prefer a little firmer. The chicken pieces were on the small side but made up for by the really massive serving of ribs. When we ate, the flavor was really good, especially the chicken! There was mild but definite smoke, sauce on the meat and more on the side. I like the sides here - beans had two varieties (although I think canned) with good things added, sauteed onions and peppers. Thin fries were excellent, still crisp when they got to our house. About the parking - the lot you see in front is totally inadequate. There is a big lot around the back, with elaborate directions on whose driveway you use to get to it, etc. on the wall inside, which you can read once you park on the street and walk in. You can then go out and re-park in the back after reading. I guess only a first-timer will experience this.
(3)
Jane C.
I had a groupon for this place. First of all the cashier was very rude to us and the other customers in line. The waiter was very nice to us, but service was kind of slow. When the food was brought to us it was already cold. We also found a mysterious short piece of hair in our nachos which was kinda nasty. Overall, the food was just mediocre at best, probably would not go out of my way to come to this place
(2)
Tracey A.
Nothing's much more inviting than the front yard seating at Beach Pit BBQ on a warm summer evening, even if all you're doing is sitting beside a parking lot across the street from a strip mall on a suburban side street. And there's not a lot of places you can say that about! I'm not a big carnivore, but those teenagers are, and they really like this joint, and what makes them happy makes me happy. Sometimes. The teen sensations opt for the pulled pork. Granny goes for the brisket sandwich. I opt for some big salad with BBQ chicken and Ranch dressing, and top that off with sweet potato fries. Everyone happpy? Check. You will be, too. Very kid-friendly, 'cept for the prices.
(3)
Sergio M.
I just came from this place for a 12:15ish lunch.... not very many people at all - which was great since we were on limited time.... This place is more of a 3.50 - 3.75 stars! - I would have given it 4 if our Mac and cheese wouldnt have been a bit on the cold side (maybe lukewarm at best)... Portions are decent and the price is "ok" - I'm very undecided on this place right now... We had the half rack of ribs w/mac and cheese and the sliders (Pulled pork, brisket and tri-tip) also with mac and cheese They were all very good... BBQ sauce is decent (personally i wish the spicy BBQ was actually spicy) Over all a good experience; I will try it again and see what I think.
(3)
Ace Q.
Went to this place twice now and have almost nothing nice to say, so I'll be concise. To be generic, the food does not appear fresh and doesn't scream quality bbq either, and the service is average at best, and pathetic at worst. To be fair, the outdoor seating is a nice offering right in costa mesa and feels distant from the area its in. To be specific, I came in a second time at the request of a friend so a buddy and I split an order and a few sides. There was a combo that offered "sides" and we asked what sides were available as we were scanning the menu. The too-cool-in-my-affliction-shirt guy said we could get burnt ends as a side, and we asked specifically in disbelief that it could be a side of the combo, and he said yeah, it's a side option. Of course, we miscommunicated somehow and were duly charged the full price for the burnt ends, all the while actually losing a side off our combo plate. We had an $80 tab so didn't notice until cash was already in their drawer and we had just sat down. A question to the manager about it and an inquiry to cancel the "side" was refused because the brunt ends were already being prepared (read: microwaved?) I wanted to like the place, especially after going back twice for a second shot, but the value isn't there at all, and the service killed it. To be fair, the manager was nice and diplomatic, but the end result wasn't for me
(2)
Chris C.
Simple straight up BBQ! I would eat there again. The staff was very friendly and accommodating too.
(3)
Anthony T.
I must say when my wife took me to beach pit barbecue I was really excited because I like some good barbecue. To my dismay, when ordering the girl at the cashier station seemed to give us a hard time about our groupon and even initially mischarged us. Once that was settled out my wife noticed upon checking in with yelp that she was entitled to a free banana pudding. When she went to redeem her banana pudding the same girl gave her a hard time about that and didn't want to give it to my wife. After some lengthy conversation my wife was able to get the banana pudding which she said wasn't that great. Now as far as my meal goes, I'm sad to say that it wasn't all that, just mediocre. I had order the barbecue beef brisket and my wife some barbecue nachos. Neither of us were impress. I guess this place is like some local attraction because overall I didn't think this place was special and the chances of me coming back are slim to none. If the customer service was a little better I would consider giving it another try because everyone has a bad day. That girl left a real bad taste in my mouth. I'm done.
(2)
Doug J.
I've eaten at some really fantastic BBQ places on my trips across the country on my motorcycle including Texas, Memphis and North Carolina. I must admit that I rank this place in my top 5... I just finished eating the burnt ends and can't believe how good they were. The sweet potato fries were outstanding,and the BBQ sauce was the perfect blend of sweet and spicey. I wish I could give them 6 stars.
This location should close just like the other locations. The people working here are miserable and should quit serving the public. I went in today for lunch and was treated like a disease. My food was delivered and tossed on to my table by a guy who said nothing when he literally tossed it on the table. DOUCHE! It was so cold INSIDE my food was cold by the third bite. Thus making the entire experience crap! I told my wife the last time we came here I wouldn't be back, but today I was craving BBQ. Good news Beach Pit BBQ, I won't darken your door again. Service: crap Food: cold Flavor: less than good Cost: $$$$ over priced! Do yourself a favor, skip this joint and find some where else.
(1)
Aaron L.
Unfortunately, my first yelp review is not overly positive. I went to lunch at BPBBQ with two friends who had been there a number of months before, and were excited to be going again. However, they were thrown off (if not disappointed) almost immediately when they realized the menu had since changed. According to them, the prices had gone up, and main course items (sandwiches, etc) used to come with a side, but no longer did. They said that BPBBQ also used to have lunch specials or combos, and that they were reasonably priced. I did my best to not let these mentioned facts cloud my judgment and go into the experience with an open mind. I ordered a prime rib sandwich a la carte, a side of sweet potato fries, and a glass of water. My total was around $13; a bit more than I wanted to spend for lunch, especially when you add a tip (you order at a counter, but then someone brings it out to you), but maybe I'd get what I paid for. I sat outside with my friends on a picnic bench. The atmosphere inside and out was nice and homey, and clean for a BBQ joint. Our food came very quickly. Other than that there was nothing exceptional worth mentioning about the service. One girl takes your order at a counter, another brings it out to you. The portions were rather average in size. I kind of expect to have leftovers or at least be full from a $13 lunch. I was satisfied, but had I not added the side item, I don't think I would have been. Quality wise, the sandwich was okay, but nothing to write home about. The fries on the other hand were heavily seasoned, tasty, and somewhat unique because you can't get sweet potato fries just anywhere. Overall, I don't believe what I got was worth what I paid. The food and service was passable enough to where I would be back if it were a few dollars cheaper, but it's not.
(2)
Reggy S.
I came here on a cold, rainy Saturday night to use my groupon. I ordered the half rack and sausage. Well, the ribs I make at home is the greatest I've ever had so restaurant ribs have always disappointed me. These ribs were just "ok". Parts of it was fall off the bone, but most was not and some parts were rough and chewy. How can anyone say these ate the best they ever had? The sausage almost seemed like it was not fresh, like it was re-heated. The potato salad was bland, flavorless. Surprisingly, the best thing I ate was the coleslaw! It was actually the best I've ever had! But, unfortunately I won't be coming back just to eat coleslaw.
(2)
Joel L.
The food is very good. The pulled pork and brisket are very tender. Slap some BBQ on it and my plate is licked clean. Their sides are very good as well. I liked their mac n cheese and coleslaw. The only problem you may have is parking. But their food is well worth it.
(4)
Cherice M.
Great little spot tucked away off 17th. Feels like you are literally in someones backyard. We had a gift card so tried it out and were happy with the food and atmosphere.
(4)
Mary N.
Parking was pretty small. Good amount of indoor and outdoors seating. The offerings were good but don't come here expecting Lucille's size portions they're a bit smaller.
(3)
Hien V.
This is an order at the counter then sit down kind of restaurant. Very casual and lacks a warm atmosphere compared to Lucille's or any of the comparable BBQ joints. In front of the restaurant, there is a kid's play area equipped with plastic houses, slides and other toys to entertain your little ones. I felt like I was eating in someone's backyard. The buns on the sliders were pretty good, soft and not dry. The meat and BBQ sauce however was only mediocre. We ordered spicy and it was far from it. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy, probably one of the best in the area. The blueberry cornbread that other yelpers raved about didn't live up to all the hype. It was just regular cornbread with a few specs of blueberries at the bottom. For the price and quality of the meal, I would probably skip the Beach BBQ Pit and endure the wait at Lucille's; it lacks a wow factor. Spicy pulled pork sliders (3) - $7.95 Sides: sweet potato fries - $1.50 Corn on the cob - $1.50 Blueberry Cornbread - $0.99
(2)
Lisa H.
Purchased a Group-on for the Beach Pit. Good food, nothing extraordinary special but good none the less. What makes this place special is its atmosphere. Great family dining and cute play area for children. Is dog friendly and the white sting-up lights in outside eating area give a romantic, rustic down home feel to the place. Overall Beach Pit is yummy and fun.
(3)
G T.
The ribs are fine and even better when you get a groupon (when they are available). Also, they ran a special for a Bacon Cheeseburger for $7.99 which was great but they don't offer that all the time. Worth a visit especially if you live close by but if you are judging just the ribs standalone, there are better rib joints to visit. Also, blueberry corn bread and banana pudding are yummy.
(4)
Jane A.
Great food. Average size portions (small for BBQ). Service really varies. I've had great, cheerful service and I've had a grumpy servers. I'd still come here again. The food is consistant and leaner that most other BBQ places, which I like.
(3)
Jason M.
We recently visited this place because I found a $10 off coupon if you spend $20 or more. I felt that this was a really generous deal so I took the family there. I went there a couple times last year and it was an okay meal. My kids enjoy playing in there outside play area and the outside seating on a summer night can be enjoyable with an ice cold beer. That being said, I was completely turned off due to my past visit and will never go back there. We sat outside and there were flies everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. I ordered the 2 meat combo with pulled pork and brisket. I have friends and family that can vouch for me when I say I cook better pulled pork on my smoker at home than the dried out shit they put on my plate. It was bland and stringy and beyond dissapointing. I had to drown that crap in bbq sauce just to get it into my stomach. I think the owners need to re-assess how to properly cook pork or just remove it from the menu so they don't pollute more stomachs. What a goddamn shame this place turned in to.
(2)
Meg R.
Ehhhh. it was decent bbq. I'm comparing it to the awesomeness in TX and the midwest though so for california it's not bad, but not great. Good ribs, good bbq sauce (not too sweet or too spicy, coulda used a lil more tang to it tho). Not a ton of meat on the bones of the ribs, and it was kinda dried out. boo. My partner in crime was all up on the pulled pork plate, same complain that the meat was a lil dried out though. We did get there just before they closed though so maybe its better earlier. They do have some fantastic hush puppies though. I would definitely order them with whatever else you get. They made me want to kick up my feet and sip sweet tea. Its a nice down-home kinda location. Made me feel a lil like I was near a swamp in Louisiana with the structure of the building and the benches around picnic tables out front with heavily faded checker print table cloths. It was like pulling up to your local hangout down south. Overall? Decent, willing to go back but not actively seeking them out.
(3)
R M.
Way overpriced. Small portions and the playground is full of obnoxious kids screaming while you eat. Felt like we were eating in a grade school cafeteria between the quality, quantity, and environment. Don't waste your money!
(1)
Brinda J.
I think the 3 and a half stars are the right rating. Had to the beef brisket sandwich with the mac and cheese side. The bbq sauce is really yummy, but the brisket leaves much to be desired...it's ok....it fills the tummy... but doesn't satisfy the tummy. The mac and cheese was sad and pathetic. Very sad really. I've had better mac and cheese at Promelis quite frankly. I guess it holds the bbq craving maybe. But seriously, I might drive all the way to Orange for better.
(3)
jonathan s.
GREAT service - girl server was awesome. now for the rest........im on a bad streak lately. came here for all you can eat spare ribs. how misleading. 1. spare ribs they were offering were beef. 2. they were not good. 3. we sat in the back by the bathroom and a girl puked everywhere inside the bathroom. 4. i dont like coming here normally because its a little too expensive for what it is but this seemed like a good deal. who doesnt like PORK spare ribs? 5. i blame myself. 6. i have now tried pulled pork, breakfast burrito, beef spare ribs. all par or below. over this place forever and i mean it this time.
(2)
Katherine L.
My husband is from Costa Mesa and when he told me about this place I was hoping it'd be as good as back home in SC, but I was a little disappointed. It's still pretty good for CA, but I can only comment on the pulled pork sandwich and three sides. PROS: Blueberry cornbread was sweet and moist. Sweet potato fries were a nice change from what I'm use to, and the pulled pork was tender. The atmosphere was nice. Sort of reminded of home because the best bbq places aren't anything fancy. CONS: Mustard base sauce is popular in SC and my favorite on a pulled pork sandwich. Their mustard sauce wasn't good. Glad I tried it before just putting it on my sandwich. They should definitely look into changing that. By itself, there wasn't much flavor to the pork. I wasn't impressed with the potato salad either. Which normally is my favorite side. With that said I do like this place and would eat here again. If they change the mustard sauce to taste like what you'd find in SC and improve the potato salad I'd be thrilled!
(3)
Aarron W.
I would have to say this place is OK. Place was a little difficult to locate and there wasnt much parking available, but managed to make it. I do like the atmosphere, its quiet there and the staff was friendly enough. Wife and I ordered the slamma with 3 items for 20 bucks, so we chose chicken, pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork and brisket tasted very good, I would definitely get this again. The chicken wasnt all that good, I can tell it was smoked or something, but It didnt taste right to me. The mac and cheese was awful, no seasoning and the sauce was runny. Blueberry cornbread is ok. I also have to say that this place is a bit pricey for what we got. I expected a little bit more food and 3 bucks for a soda is ridiculous. My advice-- Order the meat to go and skip the rest.
(3)
Carrie B.
I used to like Beach Pit a lot, especially because it is kid friendly and they have a nice outside patio. I went here last Thursday with my sister and my two daughters, ages 4 and 6. My kids have grown since my last visit so a little too big to play on the plastic slide, although they still played on it. The food was not very good and it was expensive for what you get. I ordered the blue cheese wedge salad, the dressing tasted like the dressing from a pizza delivery place and there was hardly any blue cheese. My kids ordered the chicken bites and they were way over cooked and the fries were nil. Maybe stick with the BBQ if you eat here.
(2)
Jennelle W.
Great experience! We used a Groupon we purchased and ordered a full-rack of St. Louis Spare Ribs to-go. The meat was so delicious, it was literally falling off the bone. So yummy! As someone who rarely eats meat, I need my few "cheat" moments to count and this certainly did! The restaurant looks very cute too, although we didn't eat there. We are looking forward to dining here again in the future.
(5)
Tony Y.
Tasty BBQ at a reasonable (lunch special) price. I always order the Big Love, which i associated with the HBO show because its a a sandwich with multiple meats. Love the sauce and the sweet potato fries. The atmosphere has a quaint backyard BBQ style which is great for groups who want to eat and down a few brewskis. If you want some BBQ but don't want to spend 20 bucks for it, this is a good place to go.
(4)
Josh S.
This place has potential and I'll give it another try or two but it seems a little expensive for what it is. I had a combo of smoked brisket and pulled pork. Two BBQ staples. I love that they actually smoke their meats but I could have used more sauce and the parking/dining area could be bigger. Next time, I'll do take out and hopefully have a better review. I do love the idea and the location and look forward to eating there again but its not quite a top BBQ location yet. -------------------------- Update 5/25 Went back for lunch with a buddy and much happier. 1. Prices have been adjusted. Now they have lunch prices for the meats. 2. I had a Tri-tip sandwich special that was really good. 3. I discovered they have double the parking (on the back) and a large back patio as well. (not sure how I missed this before). 4. I'd still say even the mild BBQ sauce is a little spicy but this place is climbing the ladder. Keep it up! Gained a star!
(4)
Kevin P.
I was not that impressed with the food. I tried the sliders, one pork, one chicken, and one brisket. Not so great. The bbq sauce and sweet potato fries were good though.
(3)
Emily P.
This place was merely okay. The bf and I got the meat plates, pulled pork for him, and sausage for me. And they were just, plain bland. Not smoked or flavorful at all. I liked the spicy bbq sauce though. That helped. On a better note, the mac and cheese was great. But that was as far is it went.
(2)
Ryan O.
The parking lot is usually full, the BBQ is terrible, and the customer service is certainly lacking. Just bad overall
(1)
Jennifer E.
This place is so delicious I can't stand it! Everything is good. Really. Everything. Their blueberry cornbread is legit. They have a cute little outdoor playground to entertain the kids too.
(5)
Greg M.
This place is soooooooo good!! Their pork and sausage sandwich....cant remember what it's called....was amazing and stuffed with meat!! Their BBQ sauces are on point and the mac and cheese is great. Just a chill place to come for lunch. Only problem is a small lot with the spaces pointing the opposite direction of the driveway....lol. but that's a small price to pay
(5)
Tara S.
When I am in the mood for BBQ (which isn't often) this is the place to go. I usually opt for the three sliders served on the Hawaiian rolls and comes with choice of side. They put so much meat on these that it is nearly impossible for me to finish my meal. BBQ isn't my favorite but this place is by far the best I've had. It is in a great part of town and they have a large patio that is really nice and has that family run feeling. Highly recommend for those in the area
(4)
Joel A.
My wow and I have been coming here for at least 3 years and we love it! We usually get the sliders but we have tried the burnt ends and they ate all great. The pulled pork is my favorite but I can't say the I haven't liked everything I've had. Today we went after a little kayaking in the back Bay and my wife tried their new chicken pot pie. She said it was good. The crust is like a biscuit a very flaky. I had tyke usual, 2 pulled pork and 1 brisket slider with naked beans. Oh and I topped it off with a Kona Big Wave. If you like BBQ and you find yourself in Costa Mesa I highly recommend it!
If you want real bbq go somewhere else Had a pullpork sandwich it was horrible Fat everywhere *Potato Salad was well It has no favor to it,Very cold , large chunks of onions and red potato were hard. It had a bite to it . It Should be soft and flavorful. *Mac n chesese. Was awful Taste like they mixed a cream sauce and thru it on pasta. *Sausage came out pink and brown I don't know what's up with this placel Everything was bland. No salt or pepper Chef rudely confronted me when I brought my food back. I don't think he's a real chef or has any culinary experience.
(1)
Jared E.
Well back in town and we had to come back to the best BBQ....Always a must when we are in town...
(5)
Doug A.
Not a big fan. Service was low-end. Self serve mostly. Picnic tables outside. Below average, dry BBQ. Parking available. A bit pricey.
(2)
Jason J.
We went there on a Monday night for our first. And this will most likely be our last visit. The cashier who appears to be the manager or owner didn't give a crap about service and would barely look at us. The guy that severed our food was quality, real nice and helpful. The brisket was dry and bland. Even the bbq didn't liven it up. The wife needed bbq sauce in order to choke down the dry chicken. We gave it 2 stars because of server. Also 2 stars because of that lame ass cashier.
(2)
Ulysses M.
This place is great! All the food we had there was excellent. I had the pulled-pork sandwich and fried pickles. Friends had sliders and mac and cheese. Everything was amazing. We will make the hour drive to get there! OMG! I am excited just thinking about it!
(5)
Dan R.
Most times this place is tasty and quick. I ordered the ribs and expected fall-off the bone deliciousness. I've never had the ribs here however; they were undercooked which made for a semi- gross experience.
(3)
J L.
Great BBQ. Food is cooked to perfection. Coleslaw, baked beans, and blueberry are some of my fav sides. Brisket is delicious!!
(4)
Tara T.
This is a great spot. Delicious, affordable food, low key and casual atmosphere. Friendly service. Great outside seating. Classic BBQ. Mac n cheese, sweet potato fries, and chicken... Love it! Not too busy or hectic.
(4)
Lisa S.
Always friendly service, good food and great atmosphere. My husband and I come here every time we are in California and we will continue to come back. The owner is very friendly and recommends the best food. You won't be disappointed!!
(5)
Tom P.
This place never disappoints. My wife and I shared the three plate dinner this last time (turkey, pulled pork, & beef brisket). All were delicious. We had baked beans and blueberry cornbread as sides, both phenomenal. The beans had chili beans mixed in, they were outstanding. Price is a little on the pricey side but bbq usually is. The meal above with a drink was $26. But loved it.
(4)
Angela P.
This use to be an amazing place. A while back they treated me badly so I stopped going but a friend wanted to go so I tried one more time. The service improved some but the food has went downhill :( It tastes good but The Salad which use to be $9.99 is now $11.99 and basically a bowl of lettuce with a sprinkling of corn, beans, jicama & pulled pork very sad :( use to be an amazing place. I won't return again.
(1)
Christopher C.
As a boy from South Carolina, a Grillmaster and BBQ lover... this place is doing it right. 100% Proper BBQ. If you disagree thats fine, but this is on-point.
(5)
Scott G.
I never do bad reviews. In fact I hope to delete this review and replace it with a 5 star review because the food is great! But the only problem is that the big garbage dumpster is to close to the tables where you eat and its smells like you are eating at a landfill. It really is unpleasant. I would totally come back because all our friends want to eat there all the time and the food is great. But I just cant handle the smell of the dumpster when I eat. My wife and I were just talking about where we wanted to have dinner tonight. She mentioned the BBQ Beach Pit and I said "No I cant eat at a landfill" The dumpster should be moved to the first parking spot hear the road. That would put it far enough away that you wouldn't be able to smell it and the current location of the dumpster could become a parking spot. Every time I go I smell the dumpster. Owner, message me if some regulation doesn't let you have the dumpster in any other place then where it is. I would be more then happy to remove this review. If that's the case. But If you are able to move it but you choose not to you should rethink that. If you aren't able to move the dumpster you should get a smaller dumpster and increase the number of pickups each week.
(2)
Kirsten F.
We had the pulled pork plate with mac n' cheese and collard greens; North Carolina style sandwich with sausage and a side of baked beans. We also ordered the hot wings. ALL of the meats were awesome, with the sausage being the fave. The sides were good, not great.
(4)
Lisa A.
We come here every chance we get when we're in the area. The BBQ is tasty even before you put Any sauce on it. Burnt ends are yummy. Today I tried the pot pie special. It was good but I wish the top biscuit was a little easier to cut apart. But good all the same.
(4)
Christina B.
5 stars goes to food quality and comfy outdoor seating! The playground was taken out so that makes me want to go more often knowing there's a lesser chance of screaming children. Food was just wonderful, I had bbq chicken, mac n cheese , & BLUEBERRY cornbread ! Staff was also very friendly and helpful
(5)
J K.
Such great BBQ I tried had the Texas toast and washed it down with a solid IPA. Couldn't have been happier. Also had a 1/2 rack of ribs and they were fall off the bone tender. Had some kale on the side which was surprisingly good as well. I will for sure be headed back there.
(5)
Steve M.
In my opinion the beach pit isn't really worth the money. I didn't get the bang for the $16 dollars that I paid for a two item combo (Beef Brisket & BBQ Chicken) With a side of BBQ Beans & Potato Salad. The meat was dry and the portions were small. In my opinion Famous Dave's BBQ offers a way better meal for your money. Beach Pit is way to hit or miss and it is expensive. Beach Pit also has terrible parking and its hard to find. The location is cool except for the parking. They have a nice front picnic area and a cool beer garden in the back. A hole in the wall BBQ restaurant should also offer something cool or different and Beach Pit drops the ball. I hope that they try harder and turn this place around it has so much potential.
(3)
John B.
I've had the pulled pork and brisket plates. Both were great especially with the BBQ sauce they give you. Gotta try the sweet potato fries as well! Service could use some improvement, but overall food is great!
(4)
Anthony B.
I have been here twice and I feel like the ribs were boiled instead of smoked. The sides are ok and it's great to see a BBQ joint in Costa Mesa.
(2)
Dana S.
Ordered two full racks of ribs and a whole chicken. Everything was delicious! It's only a 4 because it isn't the very best I've had. I'll definitely be coming back!
(4)
Renee G.
They catered a party for us and the food and service was spectacular. Tons of food left over and it was nice to send guests home with good food. They especially loved the ribs and beans. My personal favorite was the mac and cheese. We had two servers stay for the event and that was well worth the cost. Highly recommended for your next event.
(5)
Melissa O.
Delicious food. We went for lunch and were hungry. We ordered the shredded pork sliders. It comes with one side. I ordered the sweet potato fries and my daughter got the Mac n cheese. Both were tasty. We also tried the cornbread and the banana pudding. The cornbread was okay, but the pudding was great. Also we had the blueberry lemonade which was a treat. We left very full and satisfied. We sat outside and enjoyed the atmosphere.
(5)
Julian D.
I would suggest the pulled pork sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries, macaroni and cheese, and obesity.
(4)
Andrew W.
Regular lunch spot for me. Good food, decent prices, great ambiance. Love the patio.
(5)
Brian W.
I found this place completely by mistake. I made a wrong turn off of 17th St. and noticed this place sitting way back from the street. With its metal corrugated roof and outdoor seating, it looked like it belonged in Florida or Georgia.I decided I had to come back and try their dinner. The owner greeted us warmly. He's a nice guy. Very laid-back. After brief discussion, our group decided on the short ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We also had to try a side of the fried pickles. Everything was homemade and delicious. They don't drench the smoked meat in barbecue sauce like some places. But there's plenty of extra sauce on the side, in case you like it that way. It's a perfect place to relax outside with friends, have a beer, and eat dinner. It's a blue jeans and flip-flops kind of place. The owner checked on us a couple of times to make sure we were happy. I will certainly be back.
(5)
Monica R.
Great BBQ place in Costa Mesa. Brisket is really good must try the burnt ends if available.
(4)
Thomas W.
Came here after work for some barbeque. I fancy myself somewhat of a barbeque expert at this point, and generally know good barbeque. I hadn't eaten here before, in fact I didn't even know it existed (hole in the wall barely visible from the st). Walking in I wasnt sir if they were open or not, as the gates (similar to those you'd see in someone's backyard) were closed. I wasnt greeted warmly, but who cares really. I want barbeque. Its not like im walking into Fleming's. I ordered a 2 plate combo, pulled pork and beef brisket. They were both tasty and the brisket had a perfect amount of marbling. I wasnt a huge fan of their sauce selection, but sauce doesn't make barbeque. You should be able to eat it without any type of sauce, and this meat you could! Parking and location are really my only gripe. Great food!!!
(4)
Eva A.
Fall off the bone ribs were ahhhmazing. The quality of the food is top notch. I also liked that they serve a handful of the local brews. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side but they do have inside and outside seating. I can't wait to go back. The only critique I have is that I wish they had potato salad on the menu.
(5)
Clarissa V.
Another hidden gem of Costa Mesa. The food is really delicious, I just wish the portions were bigger for the sides! I had a pulled pork sandwich which was tasty and then my roommate got the half rack of ribs which was also really good. The mac & cheese was pretty good and so was the corn bread. I like sweets so I tried the banana pudding too. I enjoyed the little vanilla cookies on top! WELL BE BACK!
(4)
Janae L.
Order the Texas toast sandwich and their house fries! You can't go wrong! Tips and ends? Yes please! Fried pickles? Yes! The BBQ sauce is so good you should grab a bottle to go! I've also got a big love for The Salad! Love this place !
(5)
Kailey T.
We had a great experience at Beach Pit BBQ! The food is amazing here! Not a fancy place, but if you are looking for good BBQ, this is the right place to go! Make sure you try the brisket and pulled pork!!
(5)
Brenton E.
I've been here 4 times over the past 8 months or so. Everything I've gotten has been really good. The burnt ends are always perfect; the blueberry cornbread, pulled pork, texas toast sandwich, fried okra...all good. I can confidently say this is the best BBQ I've had in Orange County. If I made more money and lived a more active lifestyle, I'd eat here once a week.
(5)
Eric R.
Good food, pulled pork sandwich and Mac and cheese. Use the spicy bbq sauce on the table, because the regular doesn't have enough kick.
(3)
Michelle A.
Back at it again.. this is probably gonna b one of my weekly rituals.. it's that good... and the owner is sooo sweet.. absolutely recommend this to any and everyone that luvs bbq.
(5)
Marla M.
We ordered the party pack to go for our small company Christmas party and everything was perfect! John was so helpful and he went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of. The food earned rave reviews from everyone at the party, and best of all there were leftovers for us all to take some home. We had ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork and sausage. It was all tender and flavorful. Cornbread, mac and cheese, cole slaw, baked beans and green salad with house made ranch were all delicious and the bbq sauce was some of the best I've tried. Food was ready when we arrived to pick it up, so we were in and out quick. We definitely recommend Beach Pit BBQ!
(5)
Gerardo M.
First time going to this place after finding it on yelp. Called a few times to ask some questions. Girl answering my questions made a comment as she was hanging up niot knowing i heard her. For this reason i took off one star. People should be friendly when talking to customers on the phone or at least fake it. Now the food. Spare ribs were delicious!! Tasted fresh and not too much sauce. The sauce was on the side and you could add as much as you would like. The fries were excellent! The beans were ok. Defenitly going back in a few weeks. This time i'll know exactly what i want so i dont have to upset the girl taking the orders.
(4)
Sherry K.
No brisket. At 6:30 pm on a Wednesday night. The lines were hopping, but they ran out of the one thing I was really there for. Frustrating, to say the least. Cashier, order taker, server, and busser - these were all the roles that Gretchen fulfilled that night, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, albeit one with a pleasant demeanor and a smile despite the circumstances. Boyfriend ordered the Big Love sammich, which arrived with pulled pork and sausage on a toasted bun and a side of potato salad. According to him, he might have enjoyed it had there been any sauce. My pulled chicken nachos arrived, and we realized that his chili cheese fries had been forgotten. They also did not have sweet tea available, unfortunately. The nachos looked good, but the chicken was pretty dry and the cheese appeared to have sat under a heat lamp for quite some time. The one plus for me was that instead of refried beans, BBQ baked beans were tastily substituted. Otherwise, they were pretty disappointing. After Boyfriend reordered the chili cheese fries, they came out pretty quickly. Shoestring fries covered in dry, bland chili and cheese and green onions greeted us. Sad. In retrospect, we ought to have tried the sauce slathered ribs, or even the sliders, but dammit, I was thrown by the lack of brisket. With check in, a single serving of banana pudding was available, and that was pretty good, just like at the Tustin Roadhouse. Beach Pit BBQ, you guys could really take a lesson from the TRH business model...
(2)
Aprelle B.
Great place! Love the pulled pork salad and the fried pickles! Good place to take your Kids.
(4)
Lisa K.
Have I just found BBQ heaven? I think so... First of all, I am always (and I mean ALWAYS) on the hunt for a darn good BBQ joint. Unfortunately, there really aren't enough around the area and I'm always left wanting more. But that, my BBQ lover friends, has all changed. I needed to find a place that served Mac n cheese since my niece was coming over and that's practically all she eats and yelp led me to this place. It's a quaint restaurant set in the back of a narrow driveway. You enter through the picket fence door and instantly see diners enjoying their food outside. Super cute! The food - pure awesomeness. I ordered the beef brisket, smoked chicken, Mac n cheese, jalapeño Chedder cornbread, green beans, cole slaw and BBQ beans. Everything...yes, everything...was delicious. The guy who took my order was very friendly and helpful and my to go order was ready in 10 minutes ( I hadn't even gone through my entire Instagram feed). Within 15 minutes, I had walked in, ordered, and was on my way out with my big bag of food! Lots of sauces were provided on the side and all were very tasty! This place is good. Real good. Go there!
(5)
DS M.
Loved the food. Brisket sandwich was great. Only real complaint was on the size of the side orders. Sides of beans and Mac-n-cheese were pretty tiny.
(4)
Ryan F.
I think for Costa Mesa this is the best barbecue that you can get. They do not advertise it but all of the meat is actually grass fed! Which is sort of the reason why it's a little bit expensive. Parking is really small but it's never really packed, so that's not really a big deal. The scenery is nice and the people are great. All-around great place to eat in Costa Mesa and relatively healthy.
(5)
Kym L.
Food Five Stars. This place makes to die for BBQ and the fried pickles are out of this world!!! I grew up in the southeast where the BBQ is down and dirty so I know a thing or two about pulled pork. These guys must have grown up in the south too. Unfortunately atmosphere gets two stars. Every parent in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach brings all of their screaming children to run around this place while they sit there and drink beer and sip wine. So the place is LOUD. Its not the place to go if you want a nice quiet BBQ dinner. Several times the hubby and I have wanted Beach Pit food and decided not to go because of the screaming kids. But I guess if you're taking your kids, the neighbors kids, your sisters kids and the lost and found kids from Target you are going to spend a lot of money and that's what they want.... People to spend money. All in all .... Give the place a shot it's totally worth it!! Take your earplugs though.
(4)
Gabe W.
I was all ready to give this place a 5 star from walking in! Great feel and atmosphere! It looks and feels awesome! Maybe my standards are higher from Texas BBQ.. I have yet to find a delicious BBQ in the hb, Costa Mesa area.. The brisket and sausage was just ok.. Oven baked and no smoke feel.. But hey! Your in So Cal! You can fool anyone that's not from Texas, the south, Missouri and the Carolina's! So it gets a 3 star! I'll come back for the beer and sliders !
(3)
Hanna P.
Quaint little BBQ spot with rugged character. For our large party we all sat outside enjoying the perfect weather. I split the 1/2 rack of ribs and 1/4 chicken and it came with coleslaw and Mac and cheese. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread based off yelp recommendations and ended with a banana pudding yelp check in dessert. Ribs: all right. It was tender and off the bone but pretty sweet. The spicy BBQ tastes better than the regular. Chicken: not memorable at all. Coleslaw: again..too sweet Mac and cheese: big chunky noodles with tons of cheese. It was all right Sweet potato fries: pretty good. Especially liked the dipping sauce Blueberry cornbread: really disappointed...didn't taste fresh. Fried okra: tasted a few of these and it tastes like fried zucchini with seedy texture on the inside Banana pudding: good. A place I was really hoping to like but didn't quite hit the spot for me.
(2)
Ron E.
First time trying Beach Pit BBQ for lunch this weekend. As a big BBQ fan and someone who has experienced BBQ all over the country, I was very much looking forward to this meal. Ordered the two meat plate (smoked chicken and beef brisket) with mac and cheese and coleslaw sides and a piece of jalapeno cornbread. For details, read on: The Good: -Cool atmosphere, with friendly service. -Great outdoor seating for beautiful days. - Jalapeno cornbread was warm, moist and full of flavor. Decent sized portion for $1.50. -Vinegar based coleslaw was a bit runny, but had good flavor. The Bad: - The chicken, while moist, had absolutely no smoky flavor. It tasted like pulled chicken that you can get at your neighborhood grocery store from a $4 roasted chicken. - The beef brisket was lukewarm and also relatively uneventful. I got a bit of smokiness from the brisket, but very underwhelming flavors overall. It was also very close to being too dry. Temperature was an issue as well. - Mac and cheese was also lukewarm. Temperature seems to be an issue here, perhaps a bigger issue during the slower lunch hour. Nothing unique about the mac and cheese, it seems pretty standard. Verdict: I really wanted to like this place, but was disappointed overall in the quality of the food. If the meat doesn't stack up, not sure how you can rate a BBQ place highly. 2 stars out of 5 for the couple decent sides and decent service.
(2)
Kimber M.
Go no further ~ the "burnt ends" are the only way to go!! But be quick they sell out early!!
(5)
Anthony C.
Oh man that's good BBQ! And bonus points for the craft beer. Pretty hidden spot in Costa Mesa, you could drive right past since it looks like a little shack house tucked in the back of a lot. The outdoor patio is a nice environment, kind of like a summer block party. It's got gas heaters for cold weather.
(5)
Paul C.
Usually i love this place, but this week I ended up going, and the food was sub par to say the least. The chicken on my wife's chicken sandwich was undercooked, and my big love sandwich was cold. The service from the bus boy was amazing as he walked around trying to make sure we were completely comfortable, but the food quality has gone way down since they have opened. Maybe it was an off night, but it will be a while before I go back there again.
(2)
Johnny W.
GEM. I found a GEM. Went hiking around the area with friends and we decided on looking for a BBQ place to have lunch. Stumbled upon this location and totally enjoyed it. The three of us shared: devil eggs, pulled pork nachos, dinner salad, fries, mac and cheese, beef brisket and tri-tip. Not sure if the hike just made us hungry or not but everything tasted so good. The mac and cheese was delicious and the tri-tip was so moist and tender. Different BBQ sauces was table side for you to add to your liking. Must get the blueberry lemonade to wash everything down with delight.
(4)
Travis H.
Excellent food AND service. Friendly staff and prepared food well and quickly. Best BBQ in town! Wife had the chicken salad, which was large and fresh. I had the sliders which were all excellent. BBQ sauce is very good with a spicy and regular version. Not the best I've ever had, but very good. Will be back again, soon.
(5)
Chelsea V.
I guess the price reflects the fact that this place is in Costa Mesa and is one of the few BBQ joints. Great food, loved the brisket, but was overpriced in my opinion. $14 for a meal & a drink. Casual, family atmosphere.
(3)
Alex B.
Super yummy barbecue. Great family friendly restaurant. If you have little ones, I highly recommend this place. They have a great kids area so your kids can run around and you can enjoy some wine or beer with your husband. The food was great, took some time but totally worth the wait. Corkage fee is only $8 too!
(4)
Heather H.
So good!! We discovered this place last night from small business Saturday. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bbq sauce was delicious, a lot different than I was used to though because it wasn't really bold and so it didn't overpower the bun. The bun was phenomenal, by the way, I don't even know how to describe it besides that. The fries were good but a bit too spicy for me and the bbq beans were good, too. My husband got the bbq nachos and thought they were good but not amazing (because there want enough cheese). I loved the restaurant, it is a house that has been made into a restaurant, they even have a little playground outside. I will definitely be back soon!!
(5)
Danielle H.
I was very impressed! bbq sauce They keep the bbq sauces on the table which is perfect b/c I like to add lots esp since they don't put any bbq on the meats so your gona want to add it. I liked n added all 3 sauces - one is mustard based picnic tables + heaters - great outdoor area what I tried: -big timer sandwich - pulled pork & sausage, I added cheese/slaw (amazing) -cole slaw - not my fav ever, vinegar based and a bit dry, but not bad -jalapeno corn bread, delicious I must try the blueberry one next -mac & cheese, creamy & perfect I ate all my bf's yummmmmmmm -sweet pototo fries - A+ -I got a free banana bread pudding, something I wouldn't usually order and it was pretty tasty!! Yes I was sooooo full from all the food I tried but it was soo good I couldn't stop - I'm already planning what I'll order next time!!!
(4)
Matt B.
Got the half rack ribs and 1/4 chicken for $18. Portion size was good but the ribs were way to fatty. They were tasty though. The chicken was a little strange tasting. The sauce was good but the bbq beans were not. The corn bread and banana pudding was excellent! For the price, I'll stick with lucilles!
(2)
Tucker M.
Honestly, this is my single favorite BBQ join in Orange County. I came here once several years ago, while in college. Back then, they had a neat fire pit outside, hence the name Beach "Pit", but they have since had to get rid of it due to code regulations and neighbor complaints. It's a bummer because it added such a neat ambiance to the setting. I ordered the sliders (Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, and Chicken). All were good, but honestly, skip the others and go straight for the Pulled Pork - Very Good! However, I have to say, the Onion Rings were the highlight of my experience. They were the BEST I've ever had. By a long shot! I got the opportunity to meet the owner while there. He's a super nice guy and he really appreciates compliments, so if you like the food, let him know! I could see the pride in his eyes when I told him that they do a great job! Come here with some friends, buy a few of everything and share - that's the way to do it! LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)
Chris P.
Normally a good experience but when I see the hours say till 9 and then I come into the restaurant at 8:25 and am told it's to go only, I'm already a little bummed. Then as I order the guy walks to the kitchen then comes back and tells me they closed the kitchen early. 35 minutes early. What's the point of having hours till 9 if you just turn customers away. Terrible. They obviously need management.
(1)
Kayla R.
Love this place! Let me just say that my hubs and I are HUGE bbq people, and extremely picky ones at that. We love sitting outside at the picnic tables under the twinkle lights. Although I no longer live near by, my husband and I are always sure to stop by when we're in town :] We always share the two meet combo with two sides and it's always more than enough food. All I can say is Yum! ps The costumer service deserves 5 stars all on their own!
(5)
Abel M.
Come here twice a month every thing on the menu hasn't let me down :) and i've almost tried it all.
(5)
John L.
Good food great staff and always friendly . Great for take out also. Pulled pork with chicken sandwich is great
(5)
Ethan B.
A wonderful slice of the south right here in the OC. Even the location on the edge of a residential neighborhood makes it feel just right. Super family friendly, they have a little playground for the little ones. The BBQ Bahia are a great are to share with a date and you will both be fully satisfied, but some potato salad and some blueberry corn bread won't hurt. :) If you want great BBQ this is your place. Just be aware that thy close pretty early. It's a bummer when you show up at 7:30 and they are about to close
(5)
Lauren M.
Amazing BBQ!!! i wish I lived next door.
(5)
Jesse D.
Good BBQ is tough to do. Really good BBQ is really tough to do. Unfortunately Beach Pit, for me, didn't reach either one of those benchmarks. Smoking meat is difficult. It takes a skillful pitmaster to do it well enough to impart flavor without drying out the meat. The only saving grace was the bottles of sauces that are readily available to smother the pile of seeming dry kindling between bread. It is also a counter-service style place with little or no waitstaff. So, any time you need anything, you're forced to get up from your seat and trudge up to the counter. You want another beer? Get up and go order another one and put another miniscule charge on your card. It's a bummer! Sadly, Beach Pit BBQ has been permanently scratched from an already too short list of BBQ places I am able to frequent here in Orange County!
(2)
Jacqui S.
I just moved here from North Carolina and was worried I wouldn't have good bbq ever again, but this place definitely hit the spot. Absolutely delicious and the bbq sauce is just hot enough. Its a super relaxed place with very good customer service, needless to say I will definitely be coming back!!!
(5)
Mike A.
Excellent BBQ. Go to the side tables if you want to have an adult dinner without the kids running around the play ground. If you have kid and want to let them run around, you are in luck.
(4)
Brandon C.
Wow! So surprised by my experience at beach pit bbq today. I haven't been here for at least a year and this place has really gone down hill in my opinion. Today I ordered a breakfast burrito for $8.99. The eggs were overcooked. Way too many onions and bell peppers and I like those vegetables in a breakfast burrito. So many veggies that a waterfall was coming out the bottom of my burrito each time I took a bite. They put literally a couple little pieces of pulled pork inside that lacked any flavor. Not worth what I paid. Also their best dish was the tri tip sandwich, but they don't sell tri tip anymore. Sorry to see a great place ruined. I will not be back again.
(2)
Stephanie S.
Came on Saturday afternoon. Super mellow atmosphere, great food. Pulled pork sandwich, greatness made into a sandwich
(5)
Rocky N.
Excellent Visit to a great California BBQ Place. Best Smoked Chicken Wings of all time! I dont know what the spice rub is.. but, it matches well with the smoke!! I love the vinegar coleslaw and the Mac and Cheese. The Grilled Green Beans are out of this world and maybe the best way to prepare them. Service was really good. the owner was super attentive to my needs. I tried to order online and couldnt.. so I made a phone order.. he gave me a Free bottle of their BBQ sauce for the trouble. (Which it wasnt) This is on my Top 3 List off BBQ in California.
(4)
Matt T.
Everything we ordered was great and the Texas Toast Sandwich was Awesome. Even my little kids liked everything. They also had fun on the little backyard style playground. I will definitely go again.
(5)
Anh N.
FASTREVIEW: nothing particularly spectacular. simple bbq items that can be had anywhere. *pros: no surprises, food is exactly as you'd imagine it to taste. *cons: no surprises, food is exactly as you'd imagine it to taste. plus seating is extremely limited we had a groupon and on this particular evening they were sold out of every meat except chicken wings and pork. this review will be about those 2 meats then... lol i had the texas toast pork sandwich and frankly, i expected texas toast to be soft, lightly toasted and deliciously buttery. much like texas toast ive had for a lobster roll from the lobster truck but really it just tasted like white bread, cut in thick slices. this sandwich is as boring as it gets so i guess my pros and cons are a bit off. it did not taste as i imagined, but it wasn't bad. it simply wasn't tasty. we had the hot wings, which were flavorful, piping hot and plentiful. these tasted normal. if you're looking for normal, here it is! the venue is quite small, as a friend of mine reviewed about. there are 5-6 tables inside, half of which can hold a party of 4 the other half, parties of 2. picnic seating outside is plentiful but on a cold night near the coast, it isn't the best place to sit. we californians have no tolerance for cold. so this place is not one id come back to because it doesnt offer anything that couldnt be had closer to my house.
(3)
Nikki W.
BBQ was good! The wait wasn't long at all. I didn't give them 5 stars because they forgot my Mac n cheese made it all the way home and it wasn't in my bag. With what I pay for BBQ food I do expect everything I pay for to be there
(4)
Daniel Z.
Had to come here for a birthday party. The servers were not polite, they tried to lie about their hours. I understand closing early if it's slow. But talking about the party they need to go to and saying "oh our website isn't up to date." I'm pretty sure their website isn't yelp, google and plenty of other sites. Just be straight up. Customer service is crucial and this place has none. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. No matter how good their food may be. (Mixed veggies are decent)
(1)
Cory S.
Food: 1.5/5 Value: 1/5 Overall 1/5 I just don't get it. NONE of the BBQ was good, fries and the kid's grilled cheese were the best part! Chicken=bland, tri-tip=dry, pulled pork = better but would not eat it again, ribs = okay with lots of sauce. When Costco ribs are WAY better, that's when you know you are not a great BBQ spot. Family of four shared a rib/chicken plate, 3-item combo (chicken, tri-tip, veggies), and kids grilled cheese, no drinks... $55. Too much for mediocre food.
(1)
Adam U.
Excellent take out spot for BBQ, we had a big group over and got a big order, on time and food was great. Ribs fantastic, chicken was pretty good, excellent sides, blueberry cornbread an absolute must, salad great, will definitely do it again.
(4)
Jaclyn L.
I want to love this place, but I cannot. I have visited Beach Pit a number of times since it opened. My husband (from Memphis) and I were hoping it could be our go-to BBQ place. We've been to many of the BBQ joints featured in the photos on their walls. We are pleased to find that Beach Pit, like them, knows what real BBQ is: smoked meat. All in all, the food is fair to the tradition. It's the service that is the problem. On multiple visits across multiple years with multiple types of orders (large ones for parties and brief visits for lunch), service has been a problem. It feels like the management doesn't even want you there. A few times I walked up to the counter just to watch the staff walking around. The last time it was the manager that was doing this: no "hello," no hollering out for anyone to help us up front ... just walking around slowly clearing a table. It was awkward. We came in jolly; we left annoyed. The tipping point was when I called recently to confirm the details of a large pick-up order. The first call: voicemail. The second: a hang up. The third: busy. The last: a snippy man named John (possibly the owner) who said that he had other orders to fill before getting to my own. Okay then ... This place could stand a chance if management changes. Until then, I won't be inconveniencing Beach Pit any more with my business.
(1)
Eden O.
Picked up some takeout for dinner, order was ready within 10 minutes on a Sat night at 7pm. The restaurant is in a cute little house tucked off 17th, I never knew it existed before. I ordered the fried pickles, one meat plate of pulled pork with mac and cheese (as my choice side) and the complimentary coleslaw. I also used the Yelp check in offer and got a free cup of banana pudding. The fried pickles were a bit disappointing, they use the pre-sliced jarred pickles, the batter was more like a breading and not that appetizing. Serving size was a huge basket, unfortunately ended up wasting a lot. The pulled pork was a bit dry and didn't really have any flavor unless I dunked it in their BBQ sauce (choice of three). However, they give you a generous serving. I ate half for dinner and saved the rest for lunch the next day. The mac and cheese was one of my favorite parts of this meal, wish they had given me slightly more. The coleslaw was tangy? . . . they apparently use a non-mayo recipe to help us with our waistlines. My favorite part of the meal was the banana pudding, I would go back to this place just for that. Even better I got it for free! Prices were fair considering the portion sizes, but overall was not that enthused with taste.
(2)
Bridgette B.
We had them cater lunch today and everyone raved. We are already talking about when we can bring them back.!
(5)
Drew S.
Love this place. Blueberry cornbread completes me! Great for my quick fix bbq urges. The reason I didnt give it the full 5 stars is because I have had some misses on the meat..... A few times it has been overly dry, or my food has come out more then chilled.... But the service is always amazing!
(4)
Miss J.
Good food. Brisket slider was awesome and so were the beans. Only problem was I told them I was allergic to chicken, ordered pork and brisket was given chicken and brisket and when I expressed concern that it was indeed chicken, I was assured that it was pork. Like an idiot I took a bite and immediately regretted it. Not cool to not pay ANY attention to their customers allergies. Especially when I asked multiple times. I finally got my correct order but by that time I couldn't eat it. Next time I'm going to order only brisket so there can be NO confusion. The beans were pretty good.
(2)
V Z.
Tucked away off Tustin you will find Beach Pit. The building looks as if I were in the deep south, say Memphis, TN or Clarksdale, MS (Morgan Freeman home town.) Inside the place is spotless and neat. Walk up to the counter make an order of smoke pork, brisket, chicken, turkey and we are in Orange County so smoked veggies as well. Great sandwiches and salads too. The list of sides is deep including my favorite collard greens and Mac-n-cheese. While I didn't go with the special Texas toast sandwich there were 4-5 folks who did. The way they talked about the sandwich made me think I might have missed the specialty of the house but my 2 meat plate was sublime. I had the pork and brisket with side of collards. Delicious and would certainly have this same meal again. The price is right do he quality meats as portion size.
(4)
Venibabe C.
This place is over rated. Everything was boiled instead of smoked. BBQ sauce was not good. Pulled pork was bland and just boiled pork.... Not much flavor. Needless to say, I was disappointed. The cashier was rude and ignored us when we walked in. Instead of attending to us and taking our orders, she started talking to another customer asking if she was depressed and just bs talking! WTH!!! This place needs to be more attentive to their customers. Not coming back to place at all!!!
(1)
Toni L.
My coworkers and I probably ate every last thing on the menu so I think I can adequately summarize what this place is all about: QUANTITY. Food: Ribs, pulled pork, mac and cheese, beans, this place has it all and plenty of it. We ordered multiple single meals in addition to the $80 family deal which includes a rack of St. Louis Spare Ribs, two other kinds of meat (I think we got the pulled pork and beef brisket), and three quarts of sides. Yes, quarts! Also, you get sauce. Buckets and buckets of sauce. We had so much sauce left over that you could probably fill a kiddie pool with it. Ok, not that much, but it was way more than any one human should ever ingest. For sides, we tried almost every single thing on the menu including the fried okra ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), mac and cheese ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), sweet potato fries ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), a full tray of salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), greens, BBQ beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and corn bread. The sides were impressive. People were fighting over the mac and cheese towards the end and I especially appreciated the fried okra. Also the bean sauce is pretty superb. However, I found the meat sort of dry and tasteless. I'd probably go to Lucille's over Beach Pit if the decision were made solely on food alone. Atmosphere: This place definitely excels in creating a friendly dining environment. Strands of tiny lights hang above the outdoor seating like fireflies. Since most of the restaurant is actually a patio, they have an insane number of heat lamps for outdoor face stuffing and tons of long benches. I felt like a kid at a picnic. Seating is somewhat limited in the front of the restaurant but there is a bit of space inside and a section in the back. The heat lamps in the back are more scarce so beware if you are cold-blooded. Service: It took a lot of effort to order, but it probably had something to do with the 20 or so people at our table rather than their staff. Synopsis: Fun times here, but I can't excuse the dry meat. Come if you love to drown everything in delicious sauce.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Keoammara C.
BURNT ENDS. What can I say about this place?!?!? My husband gets all bummed when the burnt ends are sold out. They are so delicious and it reminds him of some good BBQ we had back in Georgia. The prices are so affordable and the Mac and cheese is delicious. Only sad part is once they forgot to pack the vanilla wafers for the banana pudding and that was for my two year old.... He was not happy but he does love the BBQ meat!!!! :)
(5)Osbaldo N.
I ordered the BBQ pork sandwich, blueberry cornbread and Mac-n-cheese. Both came to my table cold after waiting for almost 20mins for it. The mac tastes like if it came from the Kraft box. I would not recommend it. I grew up in CM and did not hear about this place until a couple of years ago when it was recommended to me. I gave this place 2 stars bc they have a cool set up outside and they serve Stone IPA on draft :)
(2)Mike P.
Disappointed. I tried pulled pork and brisket. It came with coleslaw and blueberry cornbread. The sides were good, but I found the meat lacked the low and slow smokey flavor achieved from any decent smoker at a BBQ joint. Staff and service was good.
(2)Jason L.
Excellent BBQ! Massive mouth watering portions and the friendliest service you can ask for. Come here if you are looking for a messy tasty meal that hits all the intended spots they specialize in! I had their brisket sandwich full of flavor, couldn't be more tender and the house-made bbq sauce was everything you could hope for. Don't forget the cold refreshing beer on tap and rock music for one hell of an american experience. Family friendly environment as well. Had slides and shit for kids. Blueberry lemonade was gloryess as well.
(5)Scott G.
Great pulled pork and turkey. Brisket is okay. I usually get the sliders so I can get multiple meat options. There's a lot of additional seating in the back outside, which is pretty quiet, and you don't need to worry about being neglected, they check in on us pretty frequently.
(4)Debbie P.
I nearly forgot to give this place my review. So sorry for the late response. Staff is extremely kind and treats every customer like a family member, food is extremely authentic, and the atmosphere is awesome. If you want real southern BBQ, this is the place to eat.
(5)Tiffany D.
NO ONE COME HERE.. this is MY special yummy pig out zone. Parking is tight so come early or find streets. Seriously the most delicious ribs.. falling off the bone. The Mac is creamy without that zing of powder cheese other places have....The Jalapeno and Blueberry Cornbread is delicious.. the Coleslaw is SO OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I love this place - located off the beaten path.. but once you find this gem. Good sweet baby lord jebus.. do not let go.
(5)Jay S.
Great to find a real good barbecue place so close to where I live. The blueberry cornbread is delicious. Their turkey breast was excellent. Pulled pork fantastic. Nice and homely. Felt like I was eating at my grandparents cabin on the lake in upstate New York.
(5)Estel C.
Best BBQ ribs I've ever had in my life! Soft and tender and the sauce is just awesome!!! Every time I have friends or family from Spain coming to visit me, this is the place they can't miss. I always bring them here!
(5)Kendall C.
Being from Bakersfield and living in Irvine, I'm always looking for great BBQ food. I went here for the first time this past Saturday and ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of potato salad and it was SO GOOD. The BBQ sauce is delicious and the bread was so soft (not super hard and crisp like other BBQ places). I used to drive all the way to Bad to the Bone BBQ and I'm glad to say I findly found a good BBQ joint closer to Irvine that I'll definitely be going to again! :)
(4)Christine L.
super over priced. BBQ tends to be that way. the food is good, but this place is always empty, because of the price and the service. $7 for fried pickles? Really? 2 stars because the free banana pudding with a yelp check in was great. Would be a lot more if it wasn't almost $50 for two people to have LUNCH with two domestic beers. You're a tiny hidden shack in a cute little neighborhood. You're not Mastro's, quit charging so much.
(2)Rob W.
Decided I would stop in and grab a few sandwiches to go. I wanted the sausage and pork sandwich, but they said they were all out of sausage. I then said i'll take the pork sandwich and brisket. Out of brisket too. No turkey either, they just ran out. After I paid the lady at the register said it will be 30 minutes until my order will be ready. Are you kidding me? 30 minutes to make two pork sandwiches? I could not believe it. I waited thirty minutes and took my sandwiches to go. I did get some banana pudding for my check in on Yelp. When I got home of course the sandwiches and sweet potato fries were cold. The best part of the meal was the cold and delicious banana pudding. Needless to say, I won't be going back to this place in the near future.
(2)Paul D.
One of my favorite lunch spots in the OC. You won't find a better Brisket.
(5)Jeff M.
Enjoyed the food. I had barbecue turkey with yummy bbq beans and delicious Mac n cheese.
(4)James B.
Great BBQ food with healthyish options if you are so inclined. Only complaint is they sometimes run out of certain meats at the end of the day but food is great.
(5)anna b.
Loved the brisket! The pulled pork was so so. It was too salty for me. I just wanted more brisket!! Loved the baked beans and Coleslaw. Can't wait to go back
(4)Cristy V.
Try the banana pudding! Yummmmmmm Delicious Food -- I had a BBQ pork sandwich with mac 'n cheese and beans. Sooooo good Fun ambiance -- went with a group of about 8 people after a beach day. We sat in the back and it was fun and they were very accomodating Parking -- I was a lucky person and got one of the 4 spots in the lot. There is street parking, though. Wow! GREAT customer service and really good BBQ. The Watermelon drink (maybe a blackberry lemonade?) was really refreshing. Glad I live 10 min away from this place. Mmmmm BBQ
(5)Lyn F.
The food was just okay, and it was a bit cold when it came out. Portions were kind of slim. Parking was tough, but we happened to squeeze in when someone was leaving. The staff was friendly though.
(3)christianna b.
Good BBQ food. I recommend the BBQ Beef Brisket plate or sandwhich. Ribs are good too. Good kids menu. *This is a kid friendly BBQ restaurant. Be prepared for kids running everywhere. I dont mind bringing my son and his friends here because they can blend in with all the other kids who are running around being noisy. I hate going there without my kids because basically everyone elses kids are really freakin' loud and annoying the heck out of me. (yes, mine are perfect). the menu is good but so annoying how they change the menu board. Everytime I go in its takes me a while to study the new menu and figure it out. I like that they serve alcohol so you can try to get buzzed and drown out the noise of all the kids.
(4)Ally H.
Not sure if it was an off day during my visit. I ordered their ribs combo and and the boy had their pulled pork sandwich. The food came out in a timely manner and the service was nice, friendly. The food though, was unmemorable. Although my ribs were tender, there was nothing else that stood out. The flavor was mediocre. There were a few bits of fatty on my ribs so that was unexpected. The ribs came with two sides. I ordered the cole slaw and their sweet potato fires. The sides outshined the ribs. I love the cole slaw, it had a little zing to it in every bite. The sweet potato fires were crispy and nice. I especially liked them because they were not sprinkled with salt or sugar. The sandwich was also unmemorable. The pulled pork did not have as much flavor as I would have liked.
(2)Russ R.
Like having a BBQ in your neighbors yard. Food varies on quality which is a mystery, but he vibe with kids and family is worth the gamble. Give it a whirl and see whay ya think!
(3)D. E.
Street Corn is amazing when they have it. Mac and Cheese is a good choice here with the smoked spicy wings! My husband is disappointed they don't have a beef rib. But everything else we have had is :)
(5)Pete S.
This place brought back some childhood memories and also some memories of another BBQ joint. Overall, it was 3.5 for me. Upon entry, this place had the same layout on the outside as Hot City BBQ, less the children's play area yelp.com/biz/hot-city-bb… And seeing the play area for the kids, I somehow knew this place was focused a bit more on kids. Mac N Cheese: Big shells, the sauce was very creamy. Tasted like cream cheese and velveeta stuck together. It was good, I could eat more but it was very filling. Beans: This had great smokey flavor, it was also my favorite side. It wasn't too sweet or salty. Sweet potato fries: They are cut on horizontal bias, resulting with thinner fries. They are crunchy and served well with the BBQ Pulled pork-A little bland, but with the sauce it tasted good. Good amount of meat served. Brisket-This was really bland for me, not smokey and not juicy. It was a little disappointing but with the sauce it tasted okay. Sauce: So I got my order to go. I believe the sauce they put in was the main one they use. If you eat at the restaurant, you'll see three different ones, including a mustard blend. I have to say, it tasted like KC masterpiece. Nothing wrong with that, and I use it too on my BBQ chix when I make that at home, but it just taste too sweet when the BBQ did not immediately come off the grill. Their home made banana pudding: Wow! I actually kinda digged this. It tasted like something I had back in grade school. Lots of banana flavor and tasted like a broken vanilla wafer all mixed inside a pudding. This is their only dessert here on the menu. It's a little expensive for pudding but do give it a try. The other Yelpers did say the prices here are a little high. I do concur but keep in mind they are in that Costa Mesa/ Newport area. I did arm myself with one of those plum district vouchers. Totally worth it with the voucher. If you have kids, this would be a good place to take them.
(3)Sarah P.
My husband and I are big BBQ lovers. Im more of the picky one where my husband never complains about food and and just inhales. So when my husband does complain and say he will never eat there again then trust me its bad!!!! First time going was last sat night. We were in the area and my husband had heard of this place not really knowing how good it was we decided to try something new besides going to our to go bbq place Blakes Place. First off if you know whats good dont try to change that lol. It smelled really good walking up. Parking was horrible had to park accross the street in a big shopping center. Walked up saw they had a childs play area which we thought was great being parents. There was a line out the door and pretty busy. Really thought this place would be great. Took forever to place an order. They have one guy at the front who seemed to walk away for minutes at a time while we just stood there waiting to order for 15 min. Finally ordered. I got 2 meat combo of brisket and pulled pork with beans and coleslaw my husband got pulled pork sliders with beans and fries. We got our number walked outside and they have about 6 picnic tables they were all taken There small dining area by the front has 6 small tables and they were all taken. We stood there not knowing were to go until the guy in the front rudely said to us while walking by There's tables in the back. No sign letting people know have no way of knowing that a small back walk way leads to a back patio. We sat down for about 15 min waiting for the food. I decided I wanted green beans since my coleslaw my husband was going to eat so he went to order some as well as banana pudding. After 30 min we finally got our food. Was horrible. Coleslaw in pure vineger. Our food was cold and then on top of that we didnt get our green beans and pudding until 20 min later and the green beans were raw. Might as well of ate them straight from the grocery store!!!! Pudding was just all right. Can make vanilla pudding with bannana and wafers at home. Bbq sauce is like they couldnt decide between carolina and texan sauce so mixed it. So tangy and who puts pickles in baked beans??? Completly ruined them. The cook is also the food runner, feel bad for him!!! Will not be coming back. Def stayinhg with blakes place!!!!!.
(1)Joan A.
By far the best BBQ ribs I tasted in my life!! Although from outside the place doesn't look as modern and sophisticated, the quality of the menu is sublime. Before coming to USA I never knew about sweet potato fries and by my surprise they are so delicious!! A must visit for anyone fond of great quality BBQ dishes, don't miss it!!
(5)Gabi M.
I love the food, portions and prices BUT there's this one guy who works the counter who is such a huge DOUCHE! Every time we go there he's been a rude douche-wad! Stop being a douche just stop it!
(4)Sean S.
I've been looking for some suitable competition for Blake's Place for a while now and Beach Pit has a great reputation, but I was sadly underwhelmed by what they had to offer. I have ordered ribs here on a few occasions due to the convenient location, but the results were very uneven. I found the meat to be overcooked and with not enough smoke flavor. Also, the food is overpriced. You will spend less and get much better que at Blake's Place. I would not come back to Beach Pit again.
(3)Jessica G.
Had a wonderful experience here with the boyfriend last week. Starving students scraping by need more $20-for-$10 deals!! Which is what brought us here to begin with. But even aside from that slammin' Yelp deal, the food we received here had SOUL. I got a delicious "Salad Wrap" with smoked veggies inside (w/ added cheese)- and it was legit. There was actual creativity and developed flavor profiles, not just your usual half-assed vegetarian option of lettuce & other random-adopted-red-headed-stepchildren ingredients often thrown into a tortila to get passed off as something substantial. Nay, this had personality, character,....and was quite large. Really enjoyed it and would definitely order it again. The boyfriend got some sort of beef brisket sandwich that was served on texas toast. And that too was mighty fine! He said the brisket was tender, flavorful & perfectly cooked. He doused each bite with some of Beach Pit's tasty homemade BBQ sauce, which is conveniently in squirt bottles on each table, and deemed it as "outrageous". Our meal was accompanied by some homemade blueberry lemonade (::cough:: free refills ::cough::), which was perfect in its tart to sweet ratio and just crazy good overall. I actually would like some right now. Shoot. Anywho, the owner of the restaurant completed our meal with a giant banana pudding...on the house! What up! I would've paid for this pudding though. It was soooooooooo good! Topped with Nilla Wafers & Cream, it could not have been harder to stop eating it especially considering I was already at max capacity. Just too good! So there you have it. We found momentary refuge from your everyday brick-in-the-wall chains at this quaint, soulful, white picket fenced bbq joint and will most definitely be visiting again soon.
(5)Foodking Y.
My prior review disagreed with parking availability. I was informed that there are parking in the rear. My apologies. Thank you Yelp for allowing us to edit our reviews.
(3)Jose R.
My wife bought a groupon for this place and we thought we would check it out since we just moved to the area. We took our two kids (1 and 3) and i have to tell you we really enjoyed ourselves. The boys played in the kid area for a bit while we ordered, but the food came out so quickly that we had to pull them away so they could eat. Food was good, service was great and everyone had a great time. The only issue was that my kids lost it when we had to leave since they could play anymore.
(4)Reg C.
Got a groupon and food was good. Brisket and ribs were tasty. Prices are reasonable and will definitely go back.
(4)Darryl B.
I finally made to this restaurant. Mt first impression was as if im walking into someones home, just where it is located. Upon entering its a small place but was greeted nicely by the young lady behind the counter. I ordered a half slab of pork ribs with fries. The cole slaw came with it and it was soooooo good. The ribs were amazing. when i picked up one bone the meat feel off. NOW THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT. They have a two sauces one milder and one spicy. The spicy one i loved but would like a hotter version of that one. Over all i can say one thing about this place "im for sure coming back". This is one of those places i wold say go out of your way to try. Its low key but the food does al the speaking you need. Gotta bring the wifey back, she will love this place.
(5)Drew M.
I find most BBQ places to be quite expensive for what you're getting, so I usually have high expectations on a ROI (Return On Investment) of Taste to Payment at a rate of: ROI= (Taste and Happiness Gained - Cost of Food) / Cost of Food For about 20 dollars, I got some fried pickles, a brisket plate with sweet potato fries, and a blueberry lemonade. Fried Pickles: Super salty, yet very delicious and crispy: 8/10 Blueberry Lemonade: Wicked good. A big win for me: 10/10 Sweet Potato Fries: Also amazing. A must have: 9/10 Brisket; The centerpiece of the meal, yet my least favorite. I get that you have great BBQ sauce, but should I really have to douse my meat in it for it to taste good? 4/10 Factor in the price point, and how much food you're getting: 6/10 Atmosphere / Seating / Service: 8/10 Therefore, by my calculations, I'd say my ROI was at about a 7 on a scale of 0 to happy.
(3)Henry M.
Overall, the food is ok but not great. I brought a group of visitors and Beach Pit let us order one of each plate and then we all shared. The wait staff is helpful and they are trying to do their best. The ribs are ok if you add a lot of sauce, they appear to have been steamed. The brisket was decent and is much better with sauce. The chicken came out of Tutankhamun's tomb and was incredibly dry, sauce is an absolute requirement with this dish. All the various sides are ok, I'd like to believe the cornbread is baked here but I highly doubt it. Apparently they close at 9.00 pm. At 8.50 pm suddenly all the lights went out, and it went absolutely pitch black. My first thought was that we were all going to be shot by the OC Sheriff because the staff left and set the alarm, so we rushed for the exit and in the process on of our guests injured herself on a chair in the dark. We made it to the front door and discovered a member of the staff standing there. I mentioned that it would have been really clever if they simply gave us a head's up it was closing time, but he didn't say a word. This is how you encourage guests to return to your restaurant? It's apparent from the other reviews that the people heaping high praise on this food really haven't had authentic Texas BBQ; good BBQ is a religious experience and none of the items should require sauce, it should be excellent in its own right.
(2)Austin P.
I went here for my first time a few months ago, I have been there too many times to count now. The first time I went the manager suggested my first meal, which I will suggest to you: Sliders (Chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket) *Eat in that order* , french fries and mac n cheese. It is a chance to get to try everything at once. I have had one of about everything on the menu and never disappoints. It will just put you in a post bliss bbq glazed over awesome feeling. All of these reviews are a testament to how awesome yelp is and how it can lead you to a place you would never find. So go! Sit outside under the stars with some close friends, good barbeque and cold brew! NOW GO!
(5)Donovan S.
Being that Beach Pit is about a 5 minute ride from my house I really was hoping to fall in love with the place. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. In fact I'm beginning to question if those who rave about its food have ever had genuine BBQ (Kansas City, Texas, or Carolina). Bottom Line: Bellow Average - Not worth $25 for a rib & chicken combo + a draft beer. The quality of meat is poor and it needs to be doused in sauce to have any flavor. 1 .Ribs Test: Shouldn't require anything more than a fork to pull the meat off the bone, the meat flavor should hold its own without sauce, and the meat should be moist, Results - The meat was fatty with no flavor, I had to use a knife to remove it from the bone, and pulled gristle out with every bite. Score - 1 Star (I'm not proud to say it but the truth is that I've gotten better BBQ ribs at the Ralph's deli counter) 3. Sauces Results - Above Average - The mustard sauce was authentic. The basic BBQ sauce was too sweet for my tastes and I would've preferred a version with a bit more heat. 3. Chicken - I got the 1/4 with my rib combo. The pieces were extremely small, greasy, and had no flavor. Score - 1 Star 4. Sides - Coleslaw - Average. Good use of clean, crisp cabbage, and wasn't doused in sauce. - Sweet Potato Fries - Nothing special -Tasted store bought.
(2)Maddie C.
Wow. DELICIOUS. Came here tonight w/a $20 for $40 Groupon and ordered the Full Rack Spare Ribs, Pulled Pork & Jalapeno Cornbread. Everything was on point, but everyone was using a Groupon so the wait was a bit long (30 minutes). 1. Spare Ribs---I love spare ribs more than baby back ribs because the meat is more tender and when smoked well, the cartilage is delicious and edible. Here, the spare ribs are smoked pink inside with a rich flavor. The sauce is only on the outside and so it is not overly sweet (like say, at Lucilles which is garbage ugh). The meat was literally falling off the bone. No knife needed to separate up the ribs for the family. We've had ribs 3 times in the past month and Beach Pit's has been the best we've had in a long while. 4.5 stars! 2. Pulled pork---it was very very very good. If it was a tad more moist and a bit more seasoned, it would have been perfect. No matter. We got a side of Spicy BBQ sauce for it and made it pretty tasty. 4 stars. 3. Jalapeno Cornbread---very large pieces, 4 for $3.50. Good deal. Generous chunks of jalapeno offsets the very sweet & moist cornbread. I don't like sweet so I thought it was a bit too sweet, but everyone else in the family liked it. 3.5 stars. ***The only hitch we had here tonight was the inconsistent information about the sides. We ordered the meats a la carte but was told that they come w/sides. So we ordered 2 sides (cole slaw & collard greens) but never got them. We didn't notice until we got home. It wasn't a big deal since I used a Groupon and saved alot of money, but I would have been very annoyed if I paid full price. I think the cashier was wrong---I probably wasn't supposed to get sides anyway but it was confusing. Conclusion---According to Groupon, they've sold over 1500 Groupon deals. I hope that their quality stays consistent even though they're now having to fulfill Groupon deals. It sucks when businesses go downhill when they try to fulfill promotions that overwhelm them. We're so glad we tried this place out. We hope the food stays great and we've already made plans to pick up some take out for Thanksgiving!!!
(4)Suzanne G.
We have been looking for a good take out bbq for the past few months, as we always go to the same places, and wanted something different. The place is adorable. The parking is a challenge. We picked up our food to go. I was not impressed. I started with the fried pickles, which had to much seasoning that reminded me of a dorito flavor. I ordered the 1 meat plate with the two sides. I chose the brisket which was floavorless. It was tender, but it did not seem to be cooked in bbq sauce. My coleslaw was pretty good. The corn bread was bland and the mac and cheese tasted like stouffers. This could have been an off night so I am willing to try again.
(3)Ben H.
My parents drive out to Costa Mesa from West Covina to visit me every few months or so. I always try to make sure I take them to a unique dining experience when they come out. In addition, my Dad fancies himself a "BBQ Master" learning the skill growing up in Texas. My Dad is always a little bit of a hard nose when it comes to BBQ. I got a little worried when he began "grilling" the owner about whether or not he was qualified to make collard greens (he was just kidding). The owner began giving it back to my Dad just like he was getting it.... it was great. So... we order the Brisket Sandwich... and the owner bought us Collard Greens and Blueberry Cornbread all of which my parents and I absolutely loved. My Dad really enjoyed the feeling that he was just eating BBQ in "someones backyard". Well definitely be back. Great food, great prices... you can't beat that with a bat.
(4)Dan S.
Just ate their ribs, which were fantastic, meaty, perfectly cooked, a little smokey and just a little bit of BBQ sauce. Wow, wonderful job. The other day also had their pulled pork sandwich, also lots of lean meat, very flavorful and no sauce, so I could add just the right amount to my tastes. Nothing had too much fat, but enough to add flavor. I look forward to going back again and again. Very helpful staff too.
(5)Brian T.
We Visited Beach Pit today with a Groupon the day before it expired, our mistake. A couple of other people in line had Groupons as well and that did not go over well with the cashier, who turned out to be the store manager. He was very rude and sarcastic to everyone with a groupon. I thought the idea was to get people in your restaurant that would not usually come. If you are going to advertise your restaurant using mass marketing discounts don't be upset when people come in with them. While we enjoyed the food the whole experience will probably keep us from visiting this location again.
(1)Mark D.
This place deserves a re-review, due primarily to the fact that the management is very responsive to customer complaints on here (which, to me, shows that it actually cares!). First, the food. It's good but not quite great, coming from someone from the South with a discerning bbq palate. The meats themselves, as most here have consistently said, is tender and moist. That's good, but that's not all that makes bbq. What makes it "not quite great" is the fact that it lacks the smoke that the best and most genuine bbq's have (and which I would have expected from "pit" bbq). As evidence of this, I heard the meat sizzling in the kitchen after we ordered our last meal (rather than coming from a smoker, where the cooking should be done). Admittedly, the ONLY place in all of Southern California where I've found that properly smoked bbq is Phil's in San Diego, but you have to stand in line for 3 hours to get a meal there (for good reason). Previously, I had complained about the fact that they did not serve bread with their meals, and the management responded. As noted in their response to this post, they now provide a complimentary piece of toast, upon request. Kudos to the powers-that-be at Beach Pit. One thing I forgot to mention before is that a missing piece of the side-dish puzzle is the lack of mashed potatoes on the menu. Second, the value. Before, I said this place is overpriced. Now, my opinion is that it's actually on par with other bbq places in the area. In truth, part of my previous opinion stemmed from the fact that Johnny Reb's BBQ was similarly priced but offered more meat and free second servings of the side dishes. But Johnny Reb's raised their prices and overhauled the free second servings. True, I'm still used to cheap Southern bbq -- bc at its core, bbq is meant to be an inexpensive, get-your-hands-dirty kind of meal, not the over-glamorized version in Southern Cal (i.e., Lucille's). The playing field seems to have leveled, and Beach Pit is about the same in price as other places, and it feels like they are actually putting slightly more food on the plates now. SUMMARY: 4 stars for relatively good food, great management and consistently good customer service.
(4)Greer G.
Okay I'm from the south and this is the closest thing to true southern BBQ that I have found. Thank goodness.
(5)Jon C.
Great food, friendly service, and room for the kids to play. Texas toast every time...
(4)Nick R.
I am in love with this place already. I had to put down the BBQ to leave this review I was so impressed. Can't wait to bring back friends and drink beer on their patio!
(5)Gabby A.
My venture here was due to a high recommendation from a friend. I think I should have checked out the Yelp reviews before coming to this place. For starters this place is a rip off!! It's very acceptable to charge over $7 for a GOOD sandwich but not for what we all got. One of my co-workers and I got the tri-tip sandwich. The meat was alright...smokey and tender but the sandwich was smaller than what we were expecting. Not only that but it was very dry...hardly any BBQ sauce. My vegetarian co-worker ordered the smoked veggies sandwich...it too was pretty small and for the price it cost it really should have been loaded with veggies. I was looking forward to this place and was very disappointed. The mac and cheese was gross and bland. It was so runny it looked like macaroni salad and not mac and cheese. We also ordered the basket of fried okra and one of sweet potato fries. We've all had awesome fried okra before so it was very sad when we tried them and they were so boring. The sweet potato fries were about the only decent tasting thing we got. Yes the place is cute and clean but I think they have to put some effort towards the food. Which is what it's all about..right? You disappointed me BPBBQ...you and your lack of quality & quantity at outrageous prices!
(2)Jana N.
I ordered some food for a small party and was trying to do it online. I was having some issues with it so I called the store directly. John from the restaurant was so helpful! He was patient with me and helped with me how much food feeds how many people, etc. We got the food and it was great... Perfect for what we wanted. Ribs were good, beef brisket, smoked turkey and of course the jalapeno cornbread! I wish the spicy sauce for the meat was spicier, but it still has good flavor. The caesar dressing is a bbq caesar - not really a fan. I was hoping for plain caesar dressing. Hushpuppies are the bomb! Those always bring back good memories. The food was great, we all loved it and I would definitely go back just for the customer service!
(4)Marc G.
OY VEY, Tried it for a second time.....just as worst , poor try guys. With Scottie's and Dave's ,your in trouble yo think you serve anything call BBQ.
(2)Natalee L.
Fun outdoor atmosphere! Tasty food and a play-place for the kiddos!
(4)Jillian F.
The tri-tip is the best I have had. The sweet potato fries were also perfect. I finished it up with the banana pudding dessert which was also very yummy. Service is a bit lacking and their website mentions specials that the cashier said don't exist. I'll go back for the tri-tip....over and over.
(4)Mark E.
Good food, mid-range prices - [ for carnivores.] Park in the secret back parking lot for easy parking, the front lot is terrible. The food can be hit or miss, but when it is good, it is extremely tasty. The sweet potato fries are very good. The Burnt Ends are better than they sound, but you do need to avoid the fat and just eat the yummy end meat. The prices are a bit high for the food, and the meat really could be trimmed better, but aside from all that it is very tasty.
(4)Don H.
Decided to give this place a try as I am a bbq lover to the bone and certainly this is my field of expertise. The fact that it was so close to my new home and I have been actively seeking new delicious eateries in the area. This one was a pretty big disappointment, like Stephanie M. says the meat tastes as though it has been unseasoned and boiled. I certainly did not see a grill, or pit as the name implies, and there was not hint of smoke anywhere in the air. I ordered a brisket sandwich, the beans and sweet potato fries. Beans were best part of the meal but were very heavy on the onions, and you got a tiny serving. Sweet potato fries were mushy and lacking in flavor. Sandwich was small considering it was al a carte and 7 bucks. Tried both pulled pork and tri tip from my girlfriend and my daughters plates and both were as equally uninspired as the brisket. The girl working the register knew very little about the food or the cooking process when I asked her about the corn whether it was yellow or white corn, she told me it's not all the way yellow but it's not white, and when asked about the method in which it was cooked I was told I think they cook it in water. If you are not picky about your bbq and will be satisfied with some bland meat with bbq sauce on it, then this will hold you. If you like real bbq with smoke, dry rub and the necessary touches that made bbq authentic you would be better served to go elsewhere..
(2)Stephanie M.
Have been really wanting to try this place, and based on the reviews it seemed like a good pick. Went on a Tuesday night, which also happens to be kids eat free night, bonus. First bad mark is the extremely small parking lot. Only five spots to park and every spot but one was taken up by huge black SUV's, one of which didn't bother to fix the fact that it had taken up two of the spots. Guess it was Newport mom's meeting night. Walked in to find a counter that you order at, and discover that everything is served ala carte. Huh. What is up with that. Prices seemed a bit steep considering the plates were only the meat portion. Ordered a combo plate with pulled pork, and beef brisket, and another plate with the tri-tip. Side of sweet potato fries, regular fries, and fried okra. When the plates were delivered to the table one look at them and there was more white plate showing then food. Teeny, tiny portions of meat, about 20 or so fries and the same amount of okra. Really .... After paying $34 for two plates of food and some sides because the two kids meals were free, I was disappointed. The food tasted OK, nothing special, almost like boiled unseasoned meat that was topped with some BBQ sauce. Cold fries. Kids meals were sad. We all left still hungry, and I will say I'm not a big eater. Not sure if I am willing to try this place again. Would much rather sit in a homey atmosphere and enjoy a nice meal for that price. Johnny Rebs is a better bet if you are looking for your monies worth.
(2)Jenni S.
This place is so tasty! If you are craving BBQ, this is the place to go. I use to go here with a group of boys from Missouri and they know BBQ. There is seating inside and out - I recommend out if it is a nice day. They have old school picnic tables that go with the idea of eating BBQ. The pulled pork - amazing. Sweet potato fries - delicious. Blueberry cornbread - died and gone to heaven. Parking is horrible. There is about 5 spaces in front of the restaurant. Ride your bike or be prepared to find parking on the street.
(5)Aaron W.
I really really like this place. But I like it for what it is. I can't, however, give it more than three stars simply because there is far better quality BBQ food out there. Don't get me wrong, the food here is great but not the best. They recently changed the menu a little bit which disappoints me. I like that I had the choice here between tri tip and brisket but they took tri tip off the menu. They have some creative dishes wich I love. The pulled pork nachos are incredible and they also offer quesadillas and burritos. I love the fusion of mexican and bbq here. Their sides are great too. I would come here just for the sweet potato fries!!! They are seriously addicting. The sliders are awesome too. Overall their prices are a little high for a place like this but its not too bad. This is a great place to stop and grab some good bbq and enjoy a few beers on their front patio. The atmosphere of this place is great and it feels like your in Alabama somewhere. The best part about this place is their service. The people who work here are always so friendly and helpful and it really makes this a great place to go. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone and it is somewhere I like to go at least once a month. If youre looking for traditional bbq there are probably some better options around.
(4)Christina S.
I have heard of this place yet never been until recently. After a day of thrift shopping I decided to find this place. Only problem is I am not a real BBQ fan. With that in mind I was going to come anyway and try something different. Beach Pit BBQ is in an unassuming location off 17th Street and Tustin. Next to a cat clinic. It looks like an old home that has been converted into a restaurant. I pull in to a quaint little spot that for some odd reason reminded me of the south. It has that rustic country down south vibe to it that could as well as be an old home in the marsh with all of the lush plants, tall grass and trees around. Once again I am not too big on BBQ. So, I went with the BBQ veggies and the MAC & CHEESE! I took a table outside on the patio. The patio is dare I use the word "cute". With streaming strings of clear light bulbs I knew that I would have to return for dinner soon! I like Beach Pit BBQ's version of the McDonald's playground. They have a small play ground for the kids which BTW reminds me of how my back yard used to look when my son was younger with his Little Tikes playground. Like I said it's cute. So, the food. Well, I was not too big on the veggies. The sauce that was on top was a little too rich. It was some buttery based sauce that I was not a fan of. The Mac & Cheese was amazing! I love the baked dried bread crumbs that they sprinkle on top. I am coming back just for the Mac & Cheese! This place is super cute and perhaps next time I will try something more along the lines of BBQ like chicken.
(4)Christina S.
i'm not a big fan of BBQ... i've had lucielle's and yuck! Beach Pitt is not only the cutest little place to eat- its bomb.com . The tri-tip nachos & pulled pork sandwich are toooooo good!!! for awhile there my boyfriend and i were eating it every sunday! and the fries... my guilty pleasure!! get the SPICY BBQ SAUCE!!!
(5)Cassie P.
I finally made my way over here tonight with the family after church. A Saturday night at 7 p.m. and the place is crawling with families and small children. There is a playground that kids under the age of 5 love! You order at the counter and they bring the food too ya. Pros- The food was pretty tasty, especially the sweet potato fries The prices are reasonable for the portions you get Cons- The guy at the register was sweating, profusely, and kept wiping his hand with his t-shirt and then his hands. Then he handed us our cups for our drinks. One at a time, holding them at the rim, with his sweaty hand. I almost threw up a little. We waited 25 minutes for our food to come. Too many kids running around, almost like Chuck E. Cheese The bathroom was dirty. Maybe I should rate this at 2 stars......
(3)Sylvia H.
Try the sliders one of each plus the mac n cheese and potato fries cannot go wrong I must admit this place is a good hang out spot especially to watch the game. If your a bread lover try the blueberry cornbread
(3)Danielle C.
OK...so BBQ has a lot of competition in general, but not a ton here in Costa Mesa, CA. or in CA period. I've been to Lucille's, Newport Rib Trader, The Rib Trader, etc etc...i like to eat. I've always been pleased with every thing. Pulled Pork Sandwich, sweet potato fries, blueberry cornbread, sliders (choose your meat) beef brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage...try one of each... all i'm saying is.. this place is LEGIT. ALL YOU CAN EAT RIBS WEDNESDAYS for $15.99..let me know if you really get past rack #2... Staff is so friendly i'm always speechless because i often forget what "service with a smile" really is... Large patio for dining outside with lots of heat lamps for when it gets chilly...Not a huge dining area but thats not important..the food is!
(4)Sharon D.
Beach pit still has tasty food... The best pulled pork and sweet potato fries. The bad lighting at the register gives the atmosphere a strange tinge. It's also a bummer the fire pit is gone. This added a nice ambience. They really need to step back and take a look. When they had a wait staff it was much more friendly.
(4)Devon B.
Went back here the other night to meet up with a friend. I called ahead again to confirm the free corkage and they guy who answered told me that was only on Thursdays. He was talking to someone in the background and then returned to the phone and I thought he said, "No, it's free tonight." I was stoked so I brought a bottle of cab from Trader Joe's down the street, only to realize when I got there that he must have said, "No, kids eat free tonight." Oh well - corkage was $8. BBQ was still delicious - I had the pulled pork sandwich this time and my friend had the sliders. We had so much fun talking and catching up that we ending up closing the place.
(4)Ferdinand T.
Simple and to the point. Good BBQ. Nice place to relax and chow down. Never liked cole slaw until i came here...that must mean something
(4)Jenn M.
I've been to their adorable location several times, but today was the first time I had tried their catered food. One of the agents in the office where I work was nice enough to treat all of the staff members to lunch from Beach Pit BBQ, which was awesome for the obvious reasons (free food, not having to trudge around in the rain), but also because all of the proceeds from the day were donated directly to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Good food for a good cause? How could you say no? As part of the smörgsbord of meaty, stick-to-your-bones goodness we got the pulled pork (tender and melts in your mouth), beef brisket (a tad on the fatty side... to be expected, but a little dry. Best with spicy BBQ sauce), and the chicken (moist and incredibly flavorful... I wanted seconds). For the sides, we were bestowed the best damn beans I have ever had in my life. No kidding, they stole the entire show! Though I'll throw out an honorable mention to the blueberry cornbread. Even if you don't get a free catered lunch (thanks Bob!), definitely try to head out their shantyesque location in East side Costa Mesa. Tucked away just enough from the parking lot to feel private, it's a great place to spend an hour or so noshing away on some great food and relaxing.
(4)Tina C.
Sliders, sliders, and more sliders! With Sweet Potato Fries and a Coke! Mmmmmmm MMM! And the hospitality was awesome! These young guys were super helpful with the menu for my first time here. We closed the deal on sliders so I could taste the different meat....brisquit, pulled pork, and sausage. The spicy BBQ sauce was perfect! We added some jalapeno cornbread just because I usually can't pass anything up with jalapeno's......THIS was gooooood! I'm usually a straight forward french fries gal, but I agreed to some sweet potato fries (yes, I've had them before and still prefer regular potato fries). THESE fries were outstanding...crisp (which is key) and just the right amount of salt. The ambiance was perfect for a Saturday afternoon BBQ. Not fancy, but comfortable. Feels like home! And I always come back home! ; )
(4)Alex S.
Cole Slaw was the best ive had. BBQ was solid too.
(3)Stefanie S.
Tasty, Tasty!!! A friend and I went out to grab a bite to eat on Friday night - started out at YardHouse with over a 30 minute wait and decided to ditch our beeper and try something new. I've been to the Tustin location and loved it, but the Costa Mesa location is more backyard bbq style. Strung lights, picnic tables and heaters on the patio, even a play set for the kiddies. We both ordered the Pulled Pork sandwiches. The sandwich deals are good... sandwich with 2 sides. I ordered coleslaw (not they creamy kind) and blueberry cornbread. My friend ordered the baked beans and fries... next time we're getting the sweet potato fries. Beer special of the month was $2 Coronas... not a bad way to start your Friday evening. Wish the location was closer to work so I can check the out the lunch deals, but will definitely be there for breakfast soon! One little piece of advice Beach Pit, load on a bit more BBQ sauce on the sandwiches!!! I like mine covered in sauce!!
(4)Heidel D.
Excellent Chicken, shredded pork & Meat BBQ. Love the Mash with garlic & love the Mac n Cheese !! Food was catered.
(4)Pazzy P.
We have always wanted to try Beach Pit BBQ, since it's in our hood, and I am a big fan of BBQ. I tried one of their pulled pork sands at an Angels game last year, and it was pretty damn good. I had pretty high expectations coming in... I heard it was kid friendly, and sure enough, a bunch of tykes were yelling and screaming in the oh-so-large playpen out on the patio. We decided to pick a spot inside, as it appeared the kids were already hyped up on cake and cokes. Our first time there, we were a little thrown by how to order, as everything was listed as "price of meat", so I went with the 3 meat plate, thinking it was a nice sampler, not noticing each little "sampler' meat was $6.95 apiece. My wife got the Prime Rib sandwich, but more on that later. So when the total was rung up, and the friendly girl behind the counter cashed me out at $40 (my dinner alone was $24!), I was shocked. My puzzled look went unnoticed as I handed over my credit card. I figured this is pretty expensive, but had high hopes it would be worth it, so what the hell. We sit down and after checking my receipt, they charged me extra for the two sides (beans and slaw) I ordered which kind of irked me since for the amount of money I paid, sides should be included, no? Still keeping my hopes up. Our plates arrived moments later...Deflate those hopes. My portions of BBQ were quite meager, I must say. There was a bit of chicken, a bit of tri-tip, and a bit of brisket, but nowhere near worth $22. The meat appeared to have been sitting under a lamp for a while, and not very fresh. Each meat was a bit dry and lukewarm, with a couple spoonfuls of sauce draped across each serving. The sauce was below average, the meat was a little below average, the small cups of sides were average...it was well below my expectations, nowhere near the price they charged. My wife's Prime Rib sandwich (from here out known as the Gristle Missile) had so much fat on it, we just had to laugh. There was so much gristle, that you could have made a bigger sandwich out of the fat than the actual PR. The au jus was cold and tasteless, much like the mac and cheese she ordered with it....well, hell, at least Beach Pit has consistency going for it. Added one star for the friendly folks that work there, but we definitely won't be back.
(2)Georgette B.
This is a solid "4" if not "4.5" for us... We come every other week... The burnt tips are great -- we always ask for them to be "as unburnt" as you can make them" (try with the Stone IPA and have an awesome dining experience). The ribs are fall-off-the-bone good. And the sauces are great... The front patio is always full of young families, the back is usually adults... Prices are a bit high, but it IS Newport Beach..
(4)Allison C.
There are not many places that you can go to get great food with great service. The pulled pork is to die for! I run a non-profit program for Parkinson's disease and for two years in a row, the Beach Pit BBQ has graciously donated food for our summer Unity BBQ Picnic. The staff is always friendly and I love how they actively support their community. I would highly recommend them to friends and family.
(5)Toby B.
We heard great things about this place so decided to check it out. We got there at about 7pm on a Friday...so prime time. We had to park next door as there are only about 5 spots out front. We LOVE fried pickles so decided to start with those and a couple of beers. The pickles were not greasy at all. They were served with a side of ranch dressing which was needed because the pickles were so dry. I'll take dry over greasy, so we were happy. After that we ordered dinner to go...my husband ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs and I ordered the brisket sandwich. We also ordered a side of mac-n-cheese, the wedge salad, banana pudding and a slice of the red velvet cake. Our total was over $60!!! I didn't balk because we hadn't tried the food yet. I did however start to complain when we got home. My husband's 1/2 rack was the smallest portion I have ever seen. The mac-n-cheese was small too, but it was only $.99. The ribs were like $13...not worth it. My brisket sandwich was delish! But REALLY dry. Seriously, it would have cost them a nickle to put just a little more BBQ sauce on it. I ended up putting some of my own sauce on it from home. The banana pudding and cake were extraordinary. We'll probably go back, but just for sandwiches. And we'll order extra sauce for sure. Everything else was over-priced for what you got.
(3)Greg T.
I'm riding the bike over here next time cuz just like EVERYBODY SAID "PARKING SUCKS!". If the 5-7 parking spaces are gone, you'll have to find some in the "not so happy neighbors" neighborhood which isn't going to be easy because it's a small residential neighborhood. This place is also off the beaten path because it's located off 17th street, and it's recessed back from the side street it's on, so this place is really easily overlooked. I really liked that this place was originally a residence that was somehow re-zoned for business, but that's all I liked. I should have also known I was in for some trouble when I asked the young girls working the cash register what kind of sausage it is, and they answered back with blank stares. I think they said it was "italian freak'n sausage" which is supposed to be "real southern BBQ"? Well, I'd expect hot links or andouille. Another HUGE negative for me is that they f'up'd the fried okra!! Geez, what food distributor are they buying this from cuz it sucked. I'd rather pick up a frozen package at Albertsons for $1.99, and fry up some myself..... I wanted to throw my $4 un-eaten basket back at them. The good side, is this place does try a little. I do see the effort in some of the dishes they do such as the beans and mac'n'cheese, so It's not totally average, and it definitely deserves some acknowledgment. If this was my place i'd be grilling and bbq'n out front, and I'd make sure I blurred the lines between business and residence to milk the fact that this was once a residential home, but this place comes off not so homie. If you were to rate this place in relation to homes styles, It's only a hair above a tract home in regards to their food, but at least they beat out the trailer park ranking.
(3)Melanie O.
This place is awesome! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is very cool! I felt like I was eating in someone's home as opposed to a random restaurant. It's tucked conveniently off of the main part of 17th street in Costa Mesa.
(5)James B.
This is as close to home cookin as you can get behind the Orange Curtain. My fav is the smoked turkey. The mac n cheese is good. I make my own pulled pork in my smoker at home so I have not yet eaten theirs. Come early and hungry you wont be disappointed. Its not a quiet romantic place its a very home down family place so dont expect too much ambiance. It fits the food well
(4)Jackie O.
We love this spot for a yummy easy dinner or weekend lunch. -cheap bear and great happy hour ($2 draft coors light!!) -not cheap but really really filling so it is worth it if you take half home for lunch the next day -yummy side dishes tip: if you dont have a kid, sit in the back. it gets CRAZY with children playing and parents relaxing in the front. the back is way more chill.
(4)Stephen G.
Really enjoyed this spot. I am familiar with the Beach Pit in Orange, Ca. but this is was a little touch of down home country cooking and living. Because of YELP, I found Beach Pit in Costa Mesa. The manager, Derrick, was very pleasant, helpful, and eager to help. The food? Delicious, as usual. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Carolsue H.
This place is excellent. Service was excellent, food was excellent! Corn rolls were even better. Love the location and its great if you have kids. There's a playground for them to play while you enjoy your meal.
(4)Zach S.
I love Beach Pit! I've only been to this location but am dying to try the others as well. I must have lived in the South in a past life because I love BBQ and if there's one thing OC is lacking, it's good BBQ. I actually found Beach Pit a few months ago on Yelp and have been back a few times since. If it wasn't for Yelp, I would have never found it because it is hidden from view when driving on 17th street. Def get the spicy BBQ sauce - it's not too hot and gives a nice little kick to your meal.
(5)Diana M.
Looove this place! I was born in Oklahoma, and it's where my grandparents came to California from, so bbq is taken very seriously in my family. This place won me over with their fried okra, which relatives used to ship to us from Oklahoma. Their meats are wonderfully tender, the sauces are awesome and the setting is great! My kids clean their plates, my husband approves of the potato salad and I love the mac n cheese, sweet potato fries and okra. No where else in the area comes close, it's great all around!
(4)D'Arcy C.
Just ate here again tonight and YUMMMM! We tried the beef brisket and it was delish, Also had ribs and of course sweet potato french fries which never disappoint. It was so great to have a place for the kids to play right next to the table =)
(5)Richard S.
I've been on a mission recently... My girlfriend was involved with an internship in Texas for a solid year, and all my life I've heard nothing is better than a real smoke house. These two contributing factors have lead me on this mission. I am in love with smoke houses now! Not the Lucille's type smoke houses, but the real hole in the wall places. For the past few months I've been looking up all of these little places that make me believe that I've found the perfect place. I will conclude my overall results at the end. About the Beach Pit though. I pulled up being absolutely impressed with the 'shanty' like appearance of the building. It really made me feel like I may have found it. There's a playground for the kids and an excellent environment on the patio. The interior is fitting too. I ordered the brisket, with pulled pork, coleslaw and a side creaser salad. Let me start with the salad. At first I asked the employee about what sets it aside, size, and what to expect. The prompt response was "We add BBQ sauce to the dressing." This instantly made me think that they used the wrong name for the salad. Then when I received my $4.00 salad, it was what appeared to be a bowl, more like the size of my large coffee mug than a bowl, and roughly worth 4 bites; yes, that's $1 per bite. It didn't make any sense to me. Romaine lettuce, creaser dressing with BBQ sauce added, and a few small croutons. "This better be a damn good salad" I thought to myself prior to the first bite. Let me just say, that salad is never going to be ordered again by me. It wasn't that bad, it just wasn't a creaser salad. The dressing made me think of a balsamic BBQ dressing. Hey, if it was bigger, with some corn, maybe a side of cornbread on the salad, a different name, or ANYTHING, it would have been worth $4.00. You'll get a better 'starter' salad at Norms, in my humble opinion. Onto the entre and side. I'll start with the coleslaw, just because I love the stuff. It was 'OK'. It was a little fresh for me. It was almost as if the cooks sliced the cabbage that morning, tossing it all in a jar with some vinegar. Again, it wasn't bad, just not my thing. Maybe some raisons would have helped. However, the brisket was just about perfect. I have nothing but great things to say about it and therefore should say nothing. If you order anything there, get that. The pulled pork was 'OK' too. Not bad, but nothing to go crazy over. The thing with pulled pork is that it all comes down to the quality of pork and the way it's prepared. I don't know if they did all of it right then screwed up with letting it dry out or what. However, I wasn't completely dissatisfied with the pork, it was still good. My overall review is that it was good to try and maybe I'll go back. The price was as expected, the environment was great, but the food was overall barely 'ok'. Summing it up, if you're going to spend $20 for one person on lunch, I'd rather go somewhere else. As for desiring BBQ, there're a few other places I would rather eat at.
(2)Michele B.
What a relaxing little lunch spot right off the hustle and bustle of busy 17th street in Costa Mesa! Went there today for a co-workers lunch and there were quite a few kids. Quickly we surmised that Tuesday is "kids eat free" day. What a great deal! A nice, cozy family spot with a fun "backyard" feel, fire pit included. I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with mild sauce, sweet potato fries and a tall iced tea. A little pricey but I was happy to pay for the sunny atmosphere and the break from work. P.S. I saw several people order the special lunch of the day: Bologna sandwich. While it brought back nostalgic feelings from my childhood of my babysitter making fried Bologna sandwiches, I think I'll stick to the pork.
(3)Kelly T.
I think Beach Pit is pretty delicious, and the service is really friendly! I have had their wraps, their salads, and the BBQ chicken pizza, and all are great. My favorite would be a Caesar Wrap with chicken and a side of BBQ sauce, with sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread as sides. The cornbread is moist and has blueberries in it, which I had never seen before. The sweet potato fries are some of the best I've had. Usually BBQ sauces don't stand out to me (kinda all tastes the same), but the BBQ sauce at Beach Pit does. And I like that the sides of BBQ sauce are warm. My husband usually orders a tri-tip sandwich or the sliders with 3 different kinds of meat, and he says they are "awesome". If you are trying to eat healthier, be advised that the salads have A LOT of dressing on them. I would ask for the dressing on the side. I went here with my co-workers for my "birthday lunch" a while back, and the guy behind the counter brought us out a few orders of banana pudding to share! How nice :) I deducted 1 star for the following reasons, and really maybe I am just being an asshole: - While I like the idea of sitting outside to eat your food on a nice day, it doesn't work when it's either really hot out, or cold/rainy/windy. But it is really nice when the weather is good, and this is Southern California, so that is almost always. I guess that's not really a thing I would change about Beach Pit, I would just choose not to go there on a day where it's like 90 degrees, or Santa Ana winds are a'blowin'. - It is a little expensive, especially if you make substitutions. The sweet potato fries are REALLY good, but you have to pay $2 more for them. Once you add a drink to your meal, the price could go from the $8-10 range to the $12-15 range. But maybe it says something about how good the food is that I am still willing to pay for substitutions... I just recently found out that they are now serving breakfast and I am dying to try it!
(4)Stephanie A.
I have been here before and thought it was okay. After an extra long day at the mechanics I thought I would give it a second chance. I love the location. They were pretty busy. I ordered the brisket sandwich and the mac and cheese. The brisket was okay: A 3 stars --- the bread one at best. The side of mac and cheese was luke warm --- and tasted like it had cheese whiz on it --- with butter My son had a sand dollar pulled chicken salad and fries. He eats everything and WOULD not touch the fries. He like the chicken with bbq sauce --- overall it was okay ---- a guest of mine had a side salad --- it was utterly packed with a nice piece of brown lettuce ---- on top -- needless to say it took a lot just to try to eat it. having survived the hit and miss food ----- we loved the soda a FIVE star drink --- On the way out we mentioned something to the servers --- and they were unresponsive -- a little like a manakin ---- and said no one has ever had a concern about any food --- a 2 1/2 star at best but because of attitude I gave it a one -- I gave it a second chance --- I will not be going there again!
(1)Rayne R.
I wish you didn't change the mac n cheese recipe, however the new kind is okay and I am getting used to it. Your service is amazing, and so is the rest of your food. Thank you for being right down the street from me. I will gain 20 pounds this holiday season thanks to you!
(4)Brandon S.
*After having a disappointing experience a their Orange location, the owner of Beach Pit BBQ contacted me and assured me that the Costa Mesa location was fantastic. I was very impressed with the owners' professionalism and concern for my bad experience and subsequent bad Yelp review.* REVIEW- 3 of us dined at the Costa Mesa location and had a great meal. The pulled pork was moist and very tender. The brisket was very moist, flavorful, and soft enough to cut with a fork. I did not have to drown any of the meat in sauce.....I was very surprised. My favorite dish is the burnt ends appetizer- small pieces of brisket which theoretically are the trimmings and small bits that fall off the finished brisket. Traditionally they contain the most concentrated bbq'd flavor; anyway, their burnt ends are delicious! We were very happy with the quality and flavor of our meals and will certainly return. As a BBQ lover who appreciates all types, especially Texas and Carolina, I have to say Beach Pit is not the best BBQ I've ever had but it's pretty darn good and satisfies my cravings for nice brisket or pulled pork. There could be improvements but for a small chain I'm happy and will certainly return.
(4)The F.
Not great. One tip to them - cover your sauces!!! Flies all over them outside. Yuck
(2)Sonja J.
The meat and the nice man that served us are the only reasons I can give this place any stars at all. The man taking our order seemed kind of annoyed with us as we were trying to decide what to order (maybe because it was a half hour before closing? IDK, but whatever, if you have a problem with it, then close at 7 not 8, if you're open you should be happy to see customers). When we asked for a recommendation on the sides he named off all but one of them, so we went with the Mac n cheese which was the first one he mentioned. $30+ later (we didn't even order drinks) we got ready to enjoy what we were hoping would be an amazing meal (especially for that price). The facility was clean and had a homey vibe to it, and the service was relatively fast- the guy who delivered our order was friendly and suggested his favorite bbq sauce and all, so kudos on the good attitude for him. I got sliders (2 pulled pork and 1 sausage) with a side of mac, my husband got the brisket with coleslaw and mac, and we split a basket of fried pickles. My sliders were really good, the pork was tender and their bbq sauce is decent. The brisket was also really good, tender and juicy. As far as everything else goes though, bleck. The coleslaw was not good, and the mac and cheese tasted like some grainy microwaved stuff (in talking after the meal, we decided maybe he suggested that because it was easy/fast to prepare? idk really...), and the fried pickles were so over-fried that there was no pickle meat in them. literally crunchy coins of deep fried nothing. We really wanted to like this place. Like I said, the meat is really good, and the place is cute and quaint, but unless you hate money and are looking for a good place to get rid of it quick- save yourself the disappointment.
(2)Ellen L.
My family took me here one summer, and I love it. They have good barbeque stuff and some other good meals, too. They have the best macaroni that I have ever tasted and their fries are pretty good, too. The location actually used to be an old house, and I love how they try to keep it like that. The front of the restaurant is like a little backyard. You can sit inside or outside and either is nice. During Halloween, they stay open to hand out candy (they don't serve food taht late, though). Overall, this is a wonderful restaurant. It's really fun inside.
(5)David H.
Wow, I don't think I have had any worse BBQ. I came here on Tuesday night with Groupon and ordered a bunch of dishes. We had a half rack, a quarter chicken, beef brisket, pulled pork and sausage with a side of sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread. All BBQ lacks seasoning. None has any char on the outside so all BBQ has no flavor whatsoever. The brisket is way overcooked so the meat is so dried. The sausage tastes like a very low quality meat (hopefully it's meat and not any filler), and the case was not even crisp. The slaw dressing has no creme, just lots of vinegar, to the point that it is inedible. The only thing that might work for me was the blueberry cornbread. Even Lucille BBQ would be a better choice, or I would rather drive down to Phil's in San Diego. I'm very surprised that some fellow Yelpers think their food is delicious. Maybe they or I had a bad night, but i'm sorry to say, their BBQ was so terrible to my taste.
(2)April T.
I really enjoyed this place. I would give it 5 stars if they had more comfortable seating. I enjoyed their sweet potato fries, mac n cheese was good too. I got the pulled pork and brisket sliders. SO GOOD! Their sauces were really good too. It's hard to find a good BBQ place, and for this price. Hurry up and go already!
(4)Nicole O.
Who likes this place???? I went here thinking it was going to be good. GROSS!!! The food was cold, which is a health hazard, and was bland to boot!! It has a cute location, but that is it. The food here SUCKS!! BBQ at home and it will taste way better. Lucille's is better than this place and it is a huge chain! Why is it so hard for most restaurants to serve good food? I guess so many crappy places make the few good ones really stand out!!
(1)Charles O.
Good BBQ spot that I used to take friends too when I had them in town in newport. I recommend the sandwiches and ribs. The pulled pork or brisket are well done and come on delicous bread. The place looks like you are eating at somebody's house. You walk into an actual house and can eat outside in the front yard. Total trip. Their sides taste great too. My favorite are the BBQ beans and the Macaroni and Cheese. Theses are the same guys that are in the Anaheim Angels stadium too. Will always return when I'm in town
(4)Omrn B.
I was surprisingly disappointing with this place after getting take out with my friend during the evening. We both were in the mood for some good BBQ and we knew it would be difficult to find a place but Beach Pit seemed to fit the bill after finding it on Yelp. When we arrived are expectations grew larger after seeing the humble quaint setting of Beach Pit BBQ. It looked like a family joint that focused on the food service but the food came up way too short. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. My friend ordered the two meat plate with brisket and pulled pork. The cashier was friendly and packed up our big paper bag nicely and off we went back to his apartment. Before I even got in my car I was a little worried based on how light the bag felt with two meals in it. When we got back and I opened my friend's container I immediately knew he would be disappointed with the portion. He of course was and also felt like the meats were dry and flavorless. My sandwhich was also very small and the side of mac and cheese came in a tiny cup that one would normally use for a side of bbq sauce. My sandwich was not good until I drenched it with some of their bbq sauces and the mac and cheese was very good but I finsihed it in three bites. What made matters worse was that they forgot to put coleslaw on my sandwich and they forgot to give my friend his side of coleslaw I was so furious I called them on the phone to tell them and the cashier informed me that for my sandwich if it is take out they don't put it on the sandwich they put it on the side instead but it was not on the side either!! When I asked about my friend's coleslaw he said that you only get a side of coleslaw if you eat in and when I questioned him further on the logic of that he said that it's really not a side of coleslaw its more like a garnish of coleslaw... are you kidding me!!? Bottom line, I paid about $11, he paid about $13 and we were both still hungry after the meal that did not taste very good to begin with. Basically the only good thing about this place is there bbq sauces Will not return
(2)George U.
Having bad bbq at a bbq place is a sin. This particular place has good bbq, but it was pricey for the amount they gave. The blue berry corn bread and their baked beans were great sides. Can't ever complain about the sweet potato fries, either. The service is kind of there. They had people walking around asking if they can help you, but really, you're on your own (you pay as soon as you order up front). The building is big. Lots of places to sit. The atmosphere is very family oriented and in a tacky way. Nothing new and nothing interesting with the food, with the service, or with the atmosphere.
(2)Phil D.
1st - order spicy bbq sauce (extra recommended). 2nd - go for dinner plate of spare ribs. Baby backs are good, but these are better IMO. Their smoker does the trick - meat falling from the bone. 3rd - Beans are great, cornbread's good too, but I wish this was warm every time. 4th - Pinot Grigio seems to go well for some reason. Light and crisp in the sun, and somehow it doesn't get stepped on by all the heavy bbq flavors. This might be a faux pas, but it seems to work for me. The food can be heavy, so this eliminates the bloating and space-taking features of beer.
(4)Brent C.
Couldn't find generic OC BBQ page. Best BBQ in OC (CM/HB/Newport) that I've been able to try (haven't tried Rebs, or Joey's): 1. Blake's Place in odd industrial area of Anaheim, near Placentia. Solid everything. Best beans/brisket. Might be the best beans in the country. Yup--been all over the South, (Dreamland, et. all) and that's my vote. You'll be happy you ate here. As usual, BBQ ain't cheap, but at least you get your money's worth, here. A guy who used to work at Blake's started his own biz up near the South entrance to Yosemite--he's on point, as well. (He was the guy who won the Kraft BBQ sauce contest about 12-yrs ago--and his mug was on a Kraft bottle for about a year.) 1. (tie) I'm cheating here, as this isn't in the OC, but is a worthy stop if in the neighborhood: Jay Bee's in Gardena. Found this place before it was profiled a couple years ago on "Triple D." Solid BBQ. (They'd be tied for #1 if they were in the OC (their menu sides might not fit in around here, since "some" folks don't know how essential collard greens are--with BBQ, etc.)) Quite authentic Southern BBQ, right down to the picnic tables, railroad tracks, and swattin' flies from your food. Owner-lady's bro is of Interstate BBQ-fame. Who cares about the service, btw? Not pilgrimage worthy, but is a solid BBQ - fix. 3. Smokin' Mo's. (Reliable, tasty, reasonable.) Great pulled pork sandwich w/ slaw. Very good ribs. Convenient HB Main St. location. Very well executed sides and sauce. This is not soot - pit bbq, but good, and enjoyable. 4. Beach Pit BBQ in Costa Mesa. (Very good Brisket (perfect sliced meat to bread quotient), pulled pork good as well (not overly generous, but sufficient) Sides were just okay. (slaw, beans.) V. Good sauce. Pricey. Two sandwiches, two reg. sides and $6 side of Okra was over $27. Yikes! I think I have brisket stuck in my throat. . . .No corkage Thurs nights--wish they had "no beer cappage night." Who drinks wine w/ BBQ? Only in LA. . . (My tongue is in my cheek, btw..) 5. Lucille's. I love to hate everything industrial. Therefore, I love to hate Lucille's. I won't put any "hatin' " on them, because they make nice, mildly expensive, bbq. The only exceptional industrial bbq is the County Line chain that is in Texas (baby backs--so good--no sauce required "good.") -------- To digress for the world foodie bbq traveler (sans Memphis--haven't had a reason to visit, yet): 1. Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Ribs. Say no more. . .This is the house of pork love, zingy vinegar sauce, and sopping Kilpatrick's bread loaf. Who cares what the sides are?? They show you the rib. Tender, with just the right amount of "bite." 2. Sonny Bryan's in Dallas, near Love Field. (Original location means a lot.) Sooty, beef brisket perfection, eaten on an old school individual desktop complete with your own little attached table (t.v. tray?). Au de Smoke will be your scent for the rest of the day. YUM. 3. Weird one here, and it's related to BBQ, and one that I can't be remiss in mentioning: South Carolina Hash. Made right, it's dynamite. Look it up on the internet, and you'll get a whole lot of different opinions. This is quite entertaining for the true foodie in you. Don't scoff at it, until you've tried it. It can be that one item you can't quite figure out, but keep going back to for more. Gotta watch the teaser video clip. It's a fast runner: stanwoodward.com/carolin… Enjoy! --TheBC
(3)Ryan K.
The foods Not to bad... I've had BBQ in Texas, and as a result I just can't give this place to hight of praise. I had the brisket plate. The brisket was a bit dry, and they smothered it with BBQ sause which completly dominated the flavor (i thought i was getting brisket?). It could have been any meat with that much sause. As sides I had mac' n cheese which was bland. And the cornbread which was a little dry. I would say I might go back to try something else but it was just to expensive to me. With a soft drink it cost me $18 which is what I paid for my girlfriend and I in Texas for real BBQ. I never been cheap with food unless the food just is not that great. In short save your money for a plane ticket to the south. I've heard that the BBQ place in Austin's airport is awesome.
(2)Matthew C.
Bums me to write this but the place is slipping. They do a great job of smoking and the decor is authentic (as is the food outside of the yuppified cloe slaw) BUT they do NOT salt the meat enough before cooking and as a result it is sort of tasteless. Total bummer as if they salted the meat properly it would be awesome bbq.
(3)Genevieve A.
I tried this on a whim, clad in bathing suit and wet hair. Great food. Really homey. I had a pork sandwich, with sweet potato fries. So yummy. The banana pudding wasn't so hot, but everything else kept me coming back for more. Yay for the Beach Pit. =]
(4)Tara H.
Delicious, and found the $10 for $20 Yelp deal while trying to find the address. I definitely recommend it!
(4)Crystal I.
i was craving ribs, so we found these guys on Yelp. I was surprised I hadn't heard of Beach Pit BBQ before. My husband and I loved it. The sweet potatoe fries were really good. However, if you're looking for a mellow evening, beware, there are a lot of children running around and it's really busy during meal hours. Great family spot. We will return soon!
(4)Jeffrey L.
I was born and raised in Kansas where BBQ is a way of life. BeachPit BBQ is the BEST and ONLY true BBQ place I've found in California in the 24 years I've lived here. I've watched dozens of people walk into this place for the first time and have a religious experience with their meals. They can't leave until they find someone who works there to share their experience. If you want to eat healthy fresh food that doesn't come out of some Costco bag, get to BeachPit BBQ and order anything on the menu.
(4)Bridget A.
Quick and easy! If BBQ is what your craving then this is the place to go. Theres not very much seating and it can be crowed on the weekends but worth the 5 min wait to get a seat
(4)Kari O.
I travel a lot and have tried BBQ in lots of different geographic locations. Beach Pit BBQ is very close to me, so I went on Yelp, checked it out, and decided to phone in an order. True to what other reviews said, it is a very small place. Also true to what other reviews said, the service is lacking. I expected better from a phone in/carry out order. Seeing as everyone has raved about the sweet potato fries, I figured I'd buck up the $2 extra and get them as one of the two sides for my pulled pork plate dinner. I guess "Alex" decided tonight should not be my night to try them as potato salad was in my take-out bag instead. Granted, the potato salad is quite good, but I would have rather had what I asked for. And hey -- they could have made $2 extra. This is a Sunday evening and they were definitely not packed. Why they couldn't get the order right over the phone is beyond me. The pulled pork is quite good, as is the BBQ sauce (the regular, not the spicy) - from what little there was on my pork. I'm used to my BBQ (wherever I am) smothered in sauce. And if this is all that's given usually, I would have liked the option to order more. A lot more. I also ordered the coleslaw with my dinner. A word to those who expect coleslaw to be creamy -- this isn't. It's decent coleslaw, but it's more of a sweet vinegar-style slaw. If you prefer the creamy style, consider a different side. All in all, the food is good, albeit a bit overpriced -- especially as the service seems to not entirely be on the ball for a simple, routine order. Next time I get a craving for BBQ, I'll make sure I dine in, or I'll completely inspect my take-out order before I leave. I suggest everyone else do the same.
(3)April M.
We're from Texas & this lovely little joint was awesome! What a great find!!! Great food, loved the patio too ! Our boys devoured their food & loved the play area too. Will definitely be back & reccomend It to anyone! So glad we stumbled onto this great place!
(5)Marianne G.
My first review was for the Tustin Garage Beach Pit even though this Beach Pit was the first one I visited. So I guess if I'm missing so more details on the food it is because I yelped on the Tustin one first. Nothing will top the first visit though. This is my favorite location. This location is a wonderful place to have a casual, relaxed dinner outside. When the sun starts go down, the number of kids playing outside starts to diminish and it is a wonderful place to hang out after dinner with some wine in front of the fire pit. The food is delicious. I'm a fan of restaurants who adhere to the sandwich math of soft sandwich filling goes with soft bread. Honestly, the potato bread makes for a delectable pulled pork sandwich. Yum. I liked the blueberry cornbread. I'm not a fan of cornbread per se, but this was pretty good. I kinda like my cornbread mushy and moist and even if this wasn't that - it was still good. I love me some blueberries. I'm also quite the sweet potato fry fanatic - I'll be an extra buck for a plate full of that for sure! The reason for it not being 5 stars remains the same. It isn't price-friendly for it being so casual. But...the food is good and the service is friendly and the patio on a summer night with a glass of wine and good friends is a nice little haven for us busy-on-the-go people.
(4)Gwen D.
This is one of those places that I've been meaning to go to for literally years and yesterday the stars must have been aligned or something because I finally: 1) was in the mood for barbecue, 2) feeling adventurous enough to try something new and 3) remembered that this place was walking distance from my house. So, yeah, I'm not one of those people who argues about whether Kansas City barbecue is better than Tennessee barbecue or whatever, but I do appreciate a good pulled pork sandwich, and I especially appreciate reasonable prices and a comfortable dining experience. The Beach Pit definitely delivers on those fronts. I showed up on a Sunday afternoon (sort of after lunch but before dinner time period). My boyfriend and I ate at one of the park benches and later moved to the firepit where we enjoyed a few too many (bottles) of wine. It was a really nice experience-- the place is set up so it feels like you're in the yard of a really close friend-- you can saunter inside and grab more food without it being a big ordeal and it's overall just a really relaxed vibe. Later in the evening, the place filed up with young families and lots of kids, but with the lights, food, and little play pen area, it seemed like a party atmosphere. The barbecue was good, but not "life-changing" or anything like that-- quite frankly, I'm not entirely sure what some people are expecting when they go in and write some review where they bitch about the barbecue not being authentically Texas enough (but like I said, I'm not enough of a barbecue aficionado to argue that point)... seems to me though, that if you find a place that has decent food, decent prices, decent wine/beer deals and is overall just a nice place to hang out, it's sort of beside the point to split hairs. Bottom line: If you're a barbecue purist, maybe you'll take issue with the un-special sauce, but if you're just a person who enjoys a barbecue sandwich once in a while, then this is the place for you.
(4)Jackie D.
Brisket is yummy, cornbread overrated, Overall I like this place, really cute and quaint. Been here twice, each time has been great
(5)Desiree G.
Amazing food!!! and beer on tap!
(5)Ruth B.
I went there for dinner the other night....and wow, was I not let down. They have a wide variety of items on the menu, and the prices are extremely reasonable. Where else can you go have a bbq chicken sandwich and a bottle of wine? Beach Pit is where. The blueberry cornbread is to die for, as are the sweet potato fries. I wasn't overly impressed with the potato salad, but then again, no one makes it as good as mom. So it's hard to fairly judge that. The place seems small, but they have indoor and outdoor seating. We chose a table by the kids area out front (uh, I will not be doing that again). Other than the screeching coming from the monster pit, the outdoor area is nice. They also have seating out back away from the ankle bite...er, kids, where you can enjoy your food and beverage as well. The service was quick, the food was great, and overall, it was a fun time!
(5)Michelle T.
I went with some friends to try this place out. It was just ok for me. The prices were pretty good for BBQ, but the place is too dang small for a BBQ place. there are like 4 tables inside, and about 8 tables total outside. Me and some friends ended up eating around the fire pit (admittedly through our own volition). I got to try the tri tip and the spare ribs. The ribs were just ok for me. nothing special, and i could not get the smoky flavor I was looking for. the tri tip, however, was tender and pretty delicious. Each meal comes with two sides from baked beans, to corn on the cob, to coleslaw to blueberry cornbread to sweet potato fries. I decided to try the sweet potato fries, (which i think is an additional $2) and the blueberry cornbread. the fries were pretty good (but, in my opinion not worth the extra $2) and the cornbread was really disappointing. I think it was because I was expecting it to be a bit sweeter, but it was not. just regular ol cornbread with 2 or 3 cooked blueberries on the bottom. I would try this place again. My other friends got sandwiches which looked pretty good (and probably half the price, around $7.95?). If you decide to get the BBQ, i would try the tri tip. they also serve dessert and beer here too.
(3)Lauren H.
I have been dying to check this place out for quite some time now! This afternoon, my bf was dying to eat, and quite frankly means for me to find him some delicious food stat. I took the side street off of 17th, and quickly spotted this little house, and I knew that this would be the place where I would eat. I ordered the 3 slider combo: tri tip, chicken, and sausage with corn on the cob and potato salad. Bf got: 3 slider combo with beef, chicken, and tri tip with beans and mac n cheese. we both thought all were top notch except the chicken. not saying it was bad, but it didn't amaze us. we were raving about the food to the guy who took our order when he came back to check on us, so when he came back a second time, he brought out a free banana pudding. OMG yum! it was perfect with bananas cut in it, with a nilla wafers at the bottom, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate. The staff couldn't have been sweeter or nicer to the customers there. This is definitely a place we would come back to time and again with friends. Plus-he told us about 8$ pitcher specials at night during the week. So now here is a place to have fabulous BBQ and beer...can't beat it.
(5)Kenny B.
So finally, after months of saying I'd come here, I finally did, with my colleagues. Came on a nice sunny Wednesday afternoon before the lunch rush. I had the Big Love sammich. Pulled pork and sausage on a roll. I thought that the bbq sauce was a bit weak (next time I'll order the spicy), but the flavors were pretty good and I liked the variety of sides they had. Sweet potato fries? Yes please! Lunch here will have to be something I do again, that's for sure.
(4)lawrence l.
The first time I ate here I it was soooo good. I had to come back again for the sweet potato fries and it was just as good as I had remembered. I definitely reccommend this place. It can get pricey but I think it's worth the cost. Outdoor seating is nice when it's not too crowded and there's a playground to throw your little rugrats while you eat.
(5)Cor V.
As many have pointed out, the menu has, indeed, changed. This place used to be absolutely amazing, and now it's just good. The meat is okay, but the only real flavor comes from the BBQ sauce. The meat itself doesn't taste like it's seasoned - or even smoked. It cost me $10 for a tri-tip sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries. Not a terrible price, but not great. I thought the sandwich was a pretty good size, but I can see how BBQ fans would be disappointed. BBQ is about stuffing your face, and the portions here are basically just enough to fill you up for a little bit. I still went home and had a cookie afterwards, and I don't have the biggest appetite in the world. The place itself is still cute as can be. I love the picnic tables, and watching all the kids play on the little play structure. For some people, that's annoying, but it gives Beach Pit a nice, family-friendly atmosphere. I'll still eat at Beach Pit, but I don't know that it's the kind of place I'd bring my out-of-town friends.
(3)Rick S.
A great place to take the kids so mom and dad can have a break. They have a fenced-off play area for the little ones and a nice out-door area to relax. Just get a pulled pork sw and a pint and you are good to go for a nice Summer afternoon.
(4)Travis S.
So incredibly good. I've been coming here for about a year now. I used to frequent more often but started recently getting back into shape and watching what I eat. But I still crave Beach Pit all the time and try to visit about once a month. I love some good bbq... and this place delivers. I try to mix up what I order but usually settle on the pulled pork sandwich North Carolina style (added cole slaw), side of baked beans and mac 'n cheese. The sandwich bun is always soft and fresh... the pulled pork is to die for!! They serve it dry so you can create the ideal taste for yourself. Personally, I drench that thing in bbq sauce before every bite. All the sides are amazing... cornbread, sweet potato fries included. Consistently good service with a hard-working staff. The ambiance is very fun as well... a real backyard setting with plenty of indoor seating as well. If I could eat bbq every day I would!!! And this would be my spot.
(5)J W.
This place is tucked away just outside of a residential area. I has a children's play area. It's setup like a fast food restaurant with waiters. You order your food and take a number. Choose your seats and they'll bring the food to you. Bbq chicken was perfectly cooked; unlike other places which tends to overcook the chicken. It would be even better if they marinated the chicken. Ribs were nice but didn't taste any smoke flavor. Beef brisket melts in your mouth. I wasn't crazy about the sauce though.
(3)Aaron C.
This is one of the places that you wouldn't know to go to unless a friend tells you. A friend of mine took me here and I had the tri-tip sandwich. It was SO good that I had to come back again with my co-workers that week and get more lunch. Now it's a frequent lunch spot for us. Everyone I bring always comments on what a cute place it is. It looks like a house and if you didn't know any better you might think it was a house and not a restaurant. I like to sit out back on the covered patio.
(5)Carter S.
This place, I don't know. It is set back hard to see and only has about 6 spaces plus one handicap space to park in. It is a unique, cool and comfortable looking place. I tried the spare rib lunch plate $12.95 comes with 2 sides. The ribs, 2 large ribs about 9"x1.5"x1.5". Included the rib cartilage tips with lots of meat on it. One rib had about the same amount of meat that 3 spare ribs from The Outdoor Grill in Culver City had. Served covered in choice of hot or mild sauce. I choose mild. It was mild, good but nothing special. I had the coleslaw which was colorful and had a vinegary sauce which I didn't care for myself but if that's how you like your slaw well there you go. I had the blueberry cornbread...OHHH was that goooood! That with the serve yourself drinks and this place is AOK.
(4)Mario F.
When it comes to BBQ in Orange County, I have always been at a big loss as to where to go. Lucille's doesn't impress me much. Beach Pit impresses me much. Beach Pit impresses me VERY much. What are the results of getting a spicy (not really spicy at all) slow cooked beef brisket sandwich on delicious french roll with blueberry cornbread, baked beans and a Pabst blue-ribbon to chase it down? Mind blowing. It's guaranteed. I could probably eat here every day. The pricing is reasonable. The aforementioned meal will run you about $12. It is more than enough to fill me up and I usually end up taking half of the sandwich home. Everyone is pretty friendly. They have seating inside and picnic tables outside. Oh yeah and they have this little plastic playhouse for the kiddos.
(5)Thomas D.
Alright well here it goes. THis place is either hit or miss. 50% of the time you get what you pay for. It may seem pricey, but half of the times I've been they have given me a lot of food and it was good. Pulled pork is a must. Baked beans are the best side. Mac and cheese is aight and blueberry cornbread can be hit or miss. If they actually put effort into it and it comes out warm then it is amazing. But I've had times where the cornbread was super dry. Tri tip and brisket are also decent. Many times I've been, they haven't been up to standard and the price you pay doesn't justify the amount or quality of food you get. I'll keep coming here because it does occassionally hit the spot, but in order for me to be a regular they need to either decrease prices because its super expensive, or increase the amount of food dramatically.
(4)Jessica W.
I feel like the quality of the food has declined over the years. When Beach Pit first opened it was really good and good value too. Now it is full of screaming children and bland tasting meat. The sides are good, can't go wrong with the blueberry cornbread and sweet potato fries. I also don't like that you order your meat and have to pay for your sides now instead of it all being included in a meal deal. The spicy BBQ sauce is not spicy enough. I doubt I will be coming back here much more, the portions have decreased, as has the taste and quality of the meat and the prices have increased. Time to look for a new BBQ joint!
(3)Sylvie C.
I love their ribs, excellent. super tender, not overly sweet. delicious.
(5)Sean F.
The best barbecue you're likely to have in Orange County, the Beach Pit cooks up meat at least good enough to remind you of what you're missing from "real" smokers in Texas and North Carolina. Tucked quietly down the way from the intersection of 17th and Tustin in Costa Mesa / Newport, you almost need a word-of-mouth recommendation to find this place, which adds a bit to its charm. And while they've done a passable job of dressing the place down to look like an authentic barbecue shack (for better or for worse), the real star here is the food. BIG points not only for smoking their own meats around back, but also for doing it right -- the brisket (my usual barbecue test) is so tender that you can, no joke, slice through it easily with a plastic butter knife -- and the flavor, while not as explosively smoky as the fare you'll find tucked off of country roads in the deep south, is still substantial. Also, more points for serving sweet potato fries, which they cook up just right (not too crispy, not too soggy) and serve with a side of ranch. The staff also kicks things up a notch with its friendliness and enthusiasm. There's a quasi-cult like cheer about the place -- which is fine by me. I'm more than happy to eat someplace where the help is "bought in" especially in perpetually unimpressed Orange County. All in all, a great place for an afternoon lunch -- grab a sandwich and a Red Stripe and you're in heaven. The dings: the food, especially for casual barbecue, is a little pricey. You're not getting out of here for less than $10 / person, even with a lunch special. Parking is also a bit of a pain. Topping it off: beware the kids. The Beach Pit is a VERY family friendly restaurant, with a fenced in plastic playground right in the front. If you want to eat your meal among adults, I recommend the covered patio section around back. If, however, you're a mom & dad looking for someplace where the kids can actually burn off some of those calories they've just ingested while you sit and relax, this is a major bonus, I imagine.
(4)Jack O.
If Tim Burton opened a BBQ joint or featured one in a movie set, this would be the place. Hence the suburban Astro Turf....this was my first impression. The food is realy good and I'll go back without hesitation. but I have a couple bones to pick. It's BBQ, big slabs of smoked meat, it doesn't cost shit to make so offer smaller plates. I think to justify charging $9-10 for the average visit they offer only one serving size. The menu is subdivided into a sandwich or dinner plate. It's not the money, rather it's that the servings are big. Sometimes that fits the bill, but I don't like to feel stuffed, and I don't like to leave food on the plate....I'll have to ask for a smaller portion but then who knows how small? there is no set standard. My other bone is the BBQ sauce is real typical. It's good, but nothing new. Beach Pit could offer a wide spectrum of sauces...say one with lots of vinegar, North Carolina style. This just may be the irony of BBQ, keep the regions divided and battle out who has the best BBQ, when in the end it's all about the love. "Subdivisions, in the high school halls, in the shopping malls....conform or be cast out". They do have Paulaner Hefe on tap and that alone should get them an E ticket into heaven.
(3)angie c.
So yummy...this is great if you like the ketchup based bbq sauce. I got the sliders and was able to try the pulled pork, chicken and tri-tip. All 3 were very moist and oh so tasty. Great place for lunch.
(4)David H.
I love bbq. I can't say I prefer any one style more than any other, but there is one thing all good bbq needs--high quality meat smoked just right. If you start with crap, you end up with crap. I've had the spareribs and the beef brisket and both were very good. The ribs were meaty and expertly smoked. The brisket was tender to the point of falling apart. They use high quality meat and they cook it with care. I like the fact that their sauce is served on the side--while the meat itself is tender and tasty, their mild and spicy bbq sauces leave something to be desired. The sauces are nothing special, somewhat generic. With a dinner plate you get your choice of two sides. I would recommend that no matter what you order, get the slaw. It is one of the best cole slaws I have ever had. The vinegar based dressing is flavorful but not overpowering. It has a bit of spice to it which is nice. I've had the bbq beans and again they are nothing to write home about, pretty average. The location is just off 17th Street in a converted house. The front yard has been made into a dining patio and child play area. It's a clean and comfortable location. I wavered between 3 and 4 starts. The meat and slaw warrant 5 stars. They lose a star on the mediocrity of their sauces and bbq beans. They almost lost a star on their prices....a bit steep for what you get but they are using good meats which is expensive. I just think they could be a little more generous with the sides for the price. I'll be back to try more of the menu. The pulled pork sandwich looks promising......
(4)Eric S.
I have to put in my 2 cents for Beach Pit. I came here with my brother and his family a few weeks ago. We met another family there and ended up ordering one of literally everything on the menu. The meat is very good, we had chicken, tri-tip, ribs, sausage which I assumed to be linguica nd pulled pork. All very juicy and not too doused in sauce. Good portions for just a tad too much money. The coleslaw is dynamite, vinegar-centered with no mayonnaise. Nice feeling abstaining from mayo when you just ate 4 grams of pure cholesterol. The beans were very good, a few kidneys mixed with the pintos, nice touch. Blueberry cornbread=amazing. The sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had (n=3) and came with RANCH!! They have a few wines and beers including PABST tall boys!! Perfect to wash down the juicy BBQ and zippy sides. The place has a nice little patio out back where the young adults hang and out front.... Well, out front is like a friggin' daycare center! This is the only place keeping my rating down. LOTS and I mean LOTS of screaming kids, climbing all over the plastic playhouse and just BEGGING for a broken arm or chin laceration (one particular little bugger spiraled off the roof and smacked his face straight on the ground. I laughed. Then the kid ran over to his parents' table to eat some sausage). If you have kids, come here. If you don't, come here anyway, just eat out back. They have happy hour and a "no corkage fee" night too, which is sweet. The service was good, you walk up and order then they bring it out, and they were very attentive, but maybe because we kept walking up to order more dishes...
(4)Jessica K.
Add Beach Pit to the list of places I have driven by but never gone to in all of my years in Costa Mesa. In fact, the hubs used to live directly across the street from it...AS IT WAS BEING BUILT and we never went. Then we would drive by and say "We need to try that place...", but then we would just skip dinner and go to A-Cup instead. Well, we finally tried it, and now we are kicking ourselves. I'm not a big meat girl, but I LOVE BBQ chicken sandwiches. Theirs was great...especially the roll. Very soft and tasty. Hubs had the brisket and finished every scrap on his plate. The beans were VERY flavorful...a highlight to this meal, for sure. We went on Thursday, which was their wine special night. 25% off of their (already reasonably priced) glasses of wine, and no corkage fee, so there were lots of people who brought their own bottles. That would have been a fun option had we known about it in advance. The set-up of the place is awesome. I loved the firepit area in front and the large picnic-style tables. Totally conducive to relaxing and enjoying yourself...no feeling of being rushed in and out like you get elsewhere. Once again, I'm pissed I haven't been going here longer. Super yummy food...another Eastside gem.
(4)Helen P.
Great to bring kids but the food is a bit tasteless and overpriced. Good atmosphere though.
(3)Cynthia B.
A cute establishment with a fun outdoor area for kids. Why does BBQ ribs always have to be so expensive! The food is yummy.
(3)Allison P.
Yeah! I thought this place was just OK. I have been to this location four times, two times i had a coupon. The service is ok, it is self-serve. My boyfriend and I have come during dinner hours only. We have had, the Chicken Sandwich ($9.95), Chicken BBQ Plate ($14.95), Sausage Plate ($14.95), and Baby Back Ribs Plate ($25.95) Ouch! It seems to be quite over priced being that it is self-serve. The sides that We've had are bbq beans, coleslaw, mac 'n' cheese and sweet potato fries ($2.00 extra).
(3)Mike I.
Nice servers. Ribs were gross and not that good. Some lady commando-ed her way into the womens bathroom and puked in there. Luckily I had the best seat in the house to observe this all.
(2)James M.
Wow what a total disappointment. Overpriced skimpy portions. Good thing I am on a diet, you get more food from a lean cuisine entre. The only thing that was passable was the hot BBQ sauce. Do yourself a favor, go to Newport Rib Company. Better food, larger portions and the price is right in line.
(1)Alex F.
this place has amazing BBBQ sandwiches, wraps and sides. The Tri tip, pulled pork and brisket sandwich is the best ive had in socal area., even better than luciles. The macaroni cheese, bbq bean and the corn bread is like no other place. I have taken so many people there for different occasions and they all think its horrible when they see it fom the outside but once they try the food they cant stop bragging about how good it is....this place is the perfect example of dont judge te book by its cover :-) prices are very reasonable for the amount of food u get....for under 10$ u get a great meaty sandwich with 2 sides...cant beat that
(4)Shawn B.
Mediocre at best. Service was slow, food came out at different times. Too bad, because the location is super cozy.
(2)Zav Y.
Beach Pit used to be fairly good BBQ. Now, they've sold out to the Eastside family crowd. It's better than the chains out there, but they lost something from when they first started. If it wasn't for their sauces, it would taste blah. But that is the sign of good BBQ. Order without sauce and tast the meat. It should have flavor, it should have smokiness. BPBBQ lost it - it used to have it. I was there once and the baby backs still had the "skin" on the back of the ribs - amateur move. That being said, their beans are killer!!! The sweet potato fries are awesome.
(3)Jason Y.
I saw that the LA BBQ Festival was coming back into town at Santa Monica, so I had a craving for bbq. Found the Beach Pit close by, it's located on Tustin Ave, next to the Cat Clinic. Ordered the Sandwich, Fries, and Soda lunch special, which around $9.25 and then I upgraded to the Big Love sandwich which is half pork half sausage. The sandwich was ok, I only detected a little bit of smokiness and the sausage wasn't the kind I usually associate with BBQ. The service was friendly and the place is pretty quiet on a weekday lunch. I would try again if I was in the mood for bbq.
(3)Jake S.
Good intentions....Poor execution.... I'm so sad to write this review. I have been to other Beach Pit BBQ's and they have been pretty good. The one closest to me..... Not so much. To start with, I ordered online for pickup and when I got there they realized that there was not paper in the printer so they hadn't received it. After a 10-15 minute wait I received my food and was on my way. I ordered the Texas Toast sandwich, but discovered upon arrival home that they had forgot to put the cole slaw in the sandwich as stated in the description. That was a real bummer. The toast also had almost no flavor, so it may as well have been white bread on the sandwich. What is the point of a Texas Toast sandwich without good classic Texas Toast (which should have garlic, cheese, etc.). The Jalapeno Cheddar cornbread was flavorful, but COLD. Whoever was putting together the order put the butter pad in with the sandwich too, so by the time i got home it had just melted all over the bottom of the styrofoam container. I had a side order of mac n' cheese, which was ok, but they forgot to put in a fork to eat it with. Not the biggest deal in the world, but come on.... The sweet potato fries were pretty good, but again they were on the cold side. All in all, the food was decent, but it had the opportunity to be great with just some basic execution. Serve it hot, serve it correct to order, and serve it in a timely fashion.
(2)Laura B.
This place is a hidden gem in Costa Mesa that has great BBQ and a really cool ambiance. The only down side is the limited seating.
(5)Mai N.
i am yet to find a place that can do BBQ like Texas... First off, one star for being such a cute little set up. reminds me of homey backyard BBQs in the summer time. second off, no more stars...why? because the ran out ribs at 8pm. how the hell can a BBQ joint run of of ribs? WTF? Thats like in&out running of ummm burger patties!! Ordered the alabama slammer ($20) which consisted of three meat choices and two sides. since there were no ribs left, we got sausage (trader joes has better do it yourself sausage), pulled pork, and beef brisket with coleslaw and sweet potato fries ($2.00 extra). WTF is up with the extra charge?? nothing was satisfying and everything tasted like a microwave dinner. Sweet potatoefries were greasy like left over grease in a pan. do yourself a favor and head over to Veggie Grill or sweet poatoe fries. At least there, you wont have a guilty conscious dipping it into sauce. BBQ sauces tasted like your average market brand sauce. all in all nothing spectacular here. save your money for else where
(1)Kathryn G.
I lived in Costa Mesa for close to two years before I even heard about this little gem. Just off 17th street, it's tucked away on a residential street and I only see the sign if I actively look for it. Now - I've only ever had bbq in the South once and that was in Florida on a river boat cruise so I can't vouch for the Beach Pit's authenticity to Southern bbq - but it's as close as I've gotten since moving to California. Their pulled pork is delicious. And make sure you order their sweet potato fries. Crispy, hot and served with a side of ranch - perfect. And while their beer and wine selection may be a bit modest, you'll find something to go with your meal. Beach Pit is a great place to eat, whether you're grabbing lunch during the week with co-workers or taking the family out for dinner. There's a fenced off area that parents can put their kids in so they can run around like maniacs while their parents enjoy their meal. Not a fan of kids? Luckily, there's a nice covered patio behind the restaurant set up with picnic tables.
(4)Brian P.
This place has gone down hill... no off a cliff. Used to be nice but now not worth the time to eat it. My NC style pulled pork sandwich tonight was dry pork on a dry bun - nothing else, I threw it away instead of eating it. The rest of the family's food was poor to moderate as they forgot several side dishes and sauces. We live near by and will not go back. Do yourself a favor and drive to Lucelle's they aint great but much better than this slop.
(1)Andrew D.
Went here upon recommendation of a coworker. Got there and had to wait 5 minutes for someone to even take my order (to-go). The place was dead so it wasn't like they were to busy. Ordered two pulled pork sandwich plates. They ended up giving us pulled pork plates (no bun), and got one of the orders wrong. Didn't include utensils or napkins on my To-Go order (I shouldn't have to ask or get them myself when I order something to-go). The food was good, but nothing better then I have had other places. Price was a little high for the amount of food and quality of it. I think the appeal is that BBQ places like this are far and few between in Orange County. Much like people love Olive Garden when they have really never been to a lot of good Italian places. Would have probably gave them a 3 or 4 if it wasn't for the poor spotty service and overall ruining of my lunch.
(2)samurai s.
Pretty good food, Fabulous atmosphere at night, Horrendous service and slightly on the pricey side. This place is pretty small and the seating is first come first served. Sucks when its crowded because then you either have to hover around people to get a table, or risk someone who came after you getting a table before you. Makes you also feel bad to just hang out and shoot the breeze after your meal. The atmosphere is very nice and backyard-ish like others have mentioned. It totally makes you forget where you are. Service was taken care of by a bunch of adolescent boys who were not the brightest, unless they are just trying to keep up the stereotype of southern folks. Anyway, the kid that took our order was an absolute mess. Asked me if I wanted the lunch or dinner sized baby back ribs. I asked whats the difference. He had no clue and went to the back to find out. 6 ribs vs. 12, and a 9 dollar difference in case you are wondering. I ended up ordering the dinner size, only to find out after we paid that they only had a lunch size left. They offered to give me 6 spare ribs to make up for it, but spare ribs are cheaper. I opted to get the difference refunded. Ends up the lunch size portion made my stomach reach maximum distention anyway, so it was perfect. Then we wanted to order a bottle of wine. There are 2 types of pinot noir and we asked him what the difference between the 2. He started to tell us, well we have some red and some white...Uh dude, stop right there. Pinot Noir is a red, you have 2 bottles of it. What is the price of each. Kid says let me find out. Cashier next to him says, we only have one of the Pinots left. Ok so we ask how much that is. The kid says I'll just ring it up to see. Takes him literally 2 minutes before someone punched it in for him. Finally the good news at the end is that the bottle of wine was only $16 bucks. What a steal! Then after he gets us the wine he takes 2 more minutes to get the foil seal off the wine bottle, but sends us away with a wine opener to uncork it ourselves. In that 2 minutes to get the foil off i could have had it opened. Thanks for the help but no thanks. Then he has us sign our bill but never gave us a receipt. Upon asking for one, he digs through the trash frantically looking for one and tries to give us the wrong one. After a few more minutes of looking he says he'll just reprint a copy. Tries that for a few more minutes and was unsuccessful. Good thing we ordered a bottle of wine... The down side is that the food is expensive. You get 2 sides with your meal, however if you want regular fries, $1 extra, or sweet potato fries, then $2 dollars extra. sheesh. The sweet potato fries were good and the corn bread is really good. The baby back ribs were big and meaty. The meat was a little more dry than what i am used to and a bit spicier, but was still delicious. The ribs still had the membrane or sheet of tough connective tissue on both sides of the ribs which detracts a bit from the pleasure of sinking your teeth into some meaty ribs. Friend got the BBQ chicken pizza and said it was not very good but the pulled pork sandwich was decent. Good place to kick back on a warm evening (they have plenty of heaters in case its cold) and have a relaxing backyard bbq atmosphere without doing your own cooking. Beach Pit, take the time to pull off that connective tissue PLEASE! and train your employees a little better and I may consider giving you one more star.
(4)Alex B.
Pretty damn good BBQ. Went with two other friends and we all got something different. I got the brisket, and they got the pulled pork and tri-tip. They were all really good. Be sure to order the sauce on the side and dip accordingly, otherwise they smother it in sauce and its hard to taste just the bbq. The best side of the ones we tried were the bbq beans, trust me, they are not your typical sweet bbq beans. They're delicious. Will i ever go back, for sure, atmosphere is really cool, staff is a handful of hot chics and they serve beer
(4)Rich L.
Atmosphere is fun. Food is just o.k.. Not a fan of cooked meat with bbq sauce added after the fact. the sides are all pretty good, prices are fair & the service is good.
(3)steve d.
This place is ok, there aren't very many places in the area for bbq that I know of, so your kind of stuck with it. The decor is lame, unless you have kids.(there is a little play area outside) I just really wish the food was better since its so close.
(2)David R.
We love this place! The parking SUCKS but the food and the atmosphere is AWESOME!! If you have not yet been here before you need to make it happen. Bring the kids and have a great time. I love the pulled chicken but everything is great!!
(5)Justin W.
Recently tried this place out after having walked by it so many times. Definitely tucked away from the hustle and bustle of 17th street but still only a couple feet away. The outdoor seating is great as we came on a Friday night and sat around the fire ring. It was really as if you were eating BBQ in your own backyard. The landscaping was also a very nice change of pace from the standard fast food-esque planting in most of OC. The food was good but not the best BBQ I've had. I detected only a bit of "smoky" flavor in the pulled pork I had but the BBQ sauce was very good and ultimately made it very enjoyable. I had the spicy BBQ beans but they were not that spicy. The potato salad was very good but I will have to agree that the portions of both were much too small for the price. A typical dinner plate is $13 which I felt was a little steep for the amount of food you get and the general feel of the restaurant. I would come here much more frequently if it was in the $10 range. They do have six or so beers on tap with even Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale as one of the choices. $5/pint for the name brand stuff again seemed rather high and there was no discount on a pitcher. The staff was also VERY friendly and the manager even came out near the end of the night to see how everything was. Definitely not your typical jaded high school kid staff. Lower the prices or upsize the sides and this place would garner another star in my book.
(3)Fresh I.
Hard to find but once you do...Great pulled pork sandwiches, chicken plates, breakfast burritos and sides ect! They serve pbr tall boys and have other beers on tap and can. Service is cool be patient with the young ones (some kids first jobs I think).
(4)Aimee G.
The family and I are HUGE BBQ freaks and we love it Texan style...smoky, sauce-less, and fork-tender. Beach Pit BBQ came close to all of these but it wasn't a home-run. The meat was a tad dry and it was hard to detect the smoke flavor. My guess is that they use a gas-powered flame to heat up wood chips for flavor (rather than using wood for the fire). The sides were average, at best., although we all agreed that that the sweet potato fries were awesome. That said, we still definitely enjoyed our meal and the ambiance. BPQ is cute, kid-friendly, has an awesome tin-roof, and a cozy patio area with a fire pit and play-yard for the kiddies. Also, the service was friendly, which I always appreciate. It might not be five-star BBQ, but I'll come back again.
(3)Arnold W.
I found this place online. I was looking for Southern/Soul/BBQ food, so I decided to check it out. The place is really nice. It's almost cute. The restaurant is basically a house and the front lawn. The food was good too. I had the pulled pork and beef brisket and sweet potato fries. The meat is moist and the bbq sauce fits well. The spicy has a kick, but isn't too spicy which was great for me. The waiters were really nice. The wait is kind of long because the place is very small. It's worth the wait, sitting around the fire pit. It's very unique. I'd go again and recommend you go, but keep it a secret because it's not meant for a lot of people to know and go.
(5)Mike L.
The BBQ is very tasty, and they definitely smoke their own meats. I've tried the chicken, the pulled pork, and the brisket, and all were good. The baked beans are a deliciously smoky side order, as is the blueberry cornbread. The home made lemonade is nectar compared to the Minute Maid and Country Time slop one is usually served at the OC's finer BBQ establishments. However, in the year or so since they opened, some things have slipped. TBut, prices have risen and portions seem to have shrunk. he cheese-filled hot sausages that were so good on previous visits have been replaced with the ordinary non-cheesy variety -- I want my cheese! And, the last time we visited for dinner, we had to order at the counter. Maybe they're trying for a more-authentic Southern BBQ experience. We'll keep going, for the tasy food and the outside dining patio, but our expectations are now lowered.
(3)Kyle J.
Food was OK but waaaaay over-priced. I will never come back, unless someone else buys.
(3)Marissa C.
I drive by this place multiple times a day because it is in my neighborhood literally a stones throw from my place. Oh OK, a baseballs throw! Today I went for the first time and was pleasantly surprised! I ordered the salad chicken wrap with Spicy BBQ Sauce, BBQ Beans, and the BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD (Ahhh, I have a new addiction!). I tried the sweet potato fries too-they are the best I've ever had! No complaints on the food. It did take awhile to get our food, but it was worth the wait! I saw some other people with salads-they are enormous and topped with lots of meat! I think I'm going to get one next time-with the blueberry cornbread, of course. The guy who took our order was a stocky Asian guy with the happiest face. He was the smiliest, sweetest, silliest counter person I have ever come across. They must put something "special" in their BBQ Sauce. Whatever it is, I like it and I liked him! The patio is really cute and they have large tables with comfy booths. There are a lot of kids running around because of the the kids play area. If I was a kid, I would freakin love this place! But I'm not, so I just freakin Like this place.
(4)brandon h.
in third grade i would ride my skateboard to the comic book shop that used to occupy this location. it was legit. beach pit, on the other hand, not-so-much. i mean, the setting and atmosphere are awesome. the employees have always been nice and whatnot. but i simply cannot understand why their food isn't awesome? with a pro-baseball player as an owner, you'd figure he'd server legitimate and authentic southern bbq? i dunno man...my parents go to this place all the time, i just don't get it.
(2)DJ Adjective ..
I've been reading the reviews and it seems the main complaint is the lack of smokiness, well all I can say about that is try the prime rib dinner. Every once in awhile they have a special of smoked prime rib. It's a bit pricey but it comes with cooked carrots (yuck) and mashed potatoes (yum) so it's worth it. The spicy sauce is spicy and is great in the baked beans. Also the blueberry cornebread is great (although it's been less blueberryish lately). Most everything I've tried here has been good. I wasn't a fan of the sausage platter and you have to ask for extra sauce for the sandwiches, but the ribs are tender and the brisket is flavorful. I'm tempted to give this place only 4 stars, mostly because of the dismal parking arrangements, but the really cool kid-friendly patio with fire pit balances that out and the fact that it's definitely the best bbq around Costa Mesa seals the deal.
(5)Marcie T.
I've been here only once (so far) but the food was pretty tasty. And if you've got little kids, the play area is a winner. Note to all: keep your kids in check though as the non-kid-toting customers might not think they are as cool as you do. (Apparently I gather from reading the other reviews here).
(3)Ryan S.
I loved this place. Went here for lunch. Real Meat Smoker, Great Pulled Pork. Park in the back and eat out front. The prices were a little high for lunch, but good BBQ is worth it.
(4)Gershon A.
Great southern food with a great family atmosphere. Nothing beats pulled pork, sweet potato fries, a cold beer while your kids can play in their own play area. More restaurants need to learn from Beach Pit.
(5)Jody V.
They cook it low and slow and put the sauce on the side. The pulled pork is pretty damn good, but if you're there on a night they have prime rib get it. They cook it for a long time and you can cut it with a fork. Also, don't forget the sweet potato fries. Parking sucks hard, even with the overflow at the painting place. That's what kept them from 5 stars.
(4)Tom h.
Very tasty BBQ. The cole slaw is a must have, and the beans are spicy and a perfect side as well. I would pass on the corn bread, as it was a bit dry. The sweet potato fries looked good, but I did not try any, maybe next time. Good selection of beer and wine to go with any food choice. Happy hour would be an ideal time to go. 1/2 price on drinks and a few food specials. The pulled pork was great with a little extra BBQ sauce. Can get busy on Tues since it is kids eat free night. Relaxing outdoor seating area with a fire pit give it a real comfortable feel. Friendly service, too.
(4)Tim S.
When I first saw this place it was from the street. My heart sored! I thought for sure there would be an old black man serving up the finest food ever, and right here in OC! Then I went inside for some grub. I'ts basically a house that has been gutted and turned into a corporate feeling rib joint. I was a little let down. Then I tried the sweet potato fries! MMM!! The puled pork sandwich is amazing and there's plenty of outside seating. Dogs aren't aloud to sit wih you on the patio and that's a drag. I would probably give this place 5 stars if I had kids. They have a little play area that just screams family. ;)
(4)Steve C.
With its corrugated metal roof, secluded location, and lush tropical landscaping, this place reminded me a little of an out of the way Hawaiian eatery. The menu is great, with sandwiches and plates featuring pulled pork, chicken, brisket, sausage, tri-tip etc. Sandwiches are served with two sides. The potato salad was excellent, with a creamy dressing different from the usual mayonnaise. The cole slaw had a sesame dressing, but familiar cole slaw ingredients, not the weird yucky "Asian slaw" that many places seem to serve for some reason. I liked it. My only complaint was the sides were served in tiny ramekins, just a couple mouthfuls really. I hope larger portions are served with the plates. My brisket sandwich was good, the meat was tender and juicy, but surprisingly didn't have much smoky bbq flavor. It was served with a spicy bbq sauce that was good, but I had to ask for extra, it would be nice if it were out and available. One more nitpick, I thought $2 was very high for self-serve soft drinks. Overall I liked the food, and will probably try it again someday, but between the lack of true bbq flavor, skimpy sides, and fairly high prices, I'm not yet a convert.
(3)Isabel S.
the salads and wraps are my favorite. the first time i tasted this was at the angel stadium however going to the costa mesa location took the cake ! it is 5x better at a sit down locale than just at a crowded stadium.
(4)David B.
great casual place for super bbq. - The Salad - 5 - Wine - 5 - Pulled pork sand - 5 - Chicken plane - 4
(5)jana a.
interesting atmosphere. i think that is what draws most people, myself included. but, the food is solid and would recommend it to anyone wanting bbq.
(3)Rick P.
this is one of those rare eateries in OC, in a land of chain restaurants and typical sterile strip malls, that stands out from the rest. tucked away between commecial and residental space, this quaint bbq outfit is a place where you want to just kick back, relax, and take in some good food. and with its hidden quiet location, away from the hustle of the costa mesa traffic, and the outdoor patio surrounded by soothing landscape, you definitely can. this place features typical southern favorites like pulled pork, brisket and ribs. on this visit i got a pulled chicken sandwich (i know i know, should have gotten pulled pork but i was trying to watch my diet). the sandwich comes with a choice of two sides, of which i picked the blueberry cornbread and baked beans. the chicken was extremely tender, with what they called 'spicy' bbq sauce (i found the bbq beans more spicy). i loved the bun it was served on, light and soft, but just hardy enough to hold up to the saucing. the blueberry cornbread was good, but sweet and dense, almost dessert like (more similar to the mexican corn cakes than cornbread). the only thing keeping me from handing out 5 stars was the lack of smoke flavor in the meat (both in my chicken and in my friends pulled pork). nada.. none which i could detect. this is bbq right? that aside, this place is charming enough to want to come back and try some of the other dishes.
(4)Ai M.
Banana pudding (they only had the 5 oz. so they gave us two). Blueberry cornbread was good with butter but I didn't think the berries contributed much. Brisket needed sauce. Chicken was almost dry -- I had to keep saucing it for flavor. Decent collard greens. Drumsticks were sold instead of red velvet cake today. I liked the smoked sausage. I've had better macaroni and cheese elsewhere [this one was missing breadcrumb and was a little wetter than usual]. I should have ordered hush puppies but the menu described it as just fried cornmeal batter. Iced tea is sweet, better than the blueberry lemonade. Jalapeno cornbread was spicy and sweet but easy to handle. My cousin said his baked beans were great. Pulled pork was served cold. Sweet potato fries were good. The fried okra was okay with ranch dressing.
(4)Morgan T.
I had the beef sandwich, baked beans, and fries. The beans were unique and the best part of the meal. The beef was moist but lacked the smoke flavor of really good barbeque. The sauce tended to over power any flavor the meat might of had. However, this place is much better than Wood Ranch.
(3)Meredith W.
We came, we tried. We weren't too impressed. I hate giving bad reviews, but also my commitment to giving yelp reviews includes being honest about my experiences. These days wallets are tight for people, might as well get their monies worth. I had the pulled pork sandwich - it comes with the choice of one side - I choose coleslaw. The pork, though very succulent was virtually flavorless. After taking my bite I realized I didn't smell BBQ cooking there. The business says they use an indirect heat method for cooking - maybe thats the problem? My hubby got the beef brisket plate and had the same complaint, bland.... we both concluded it felt like the meat was missing salt. my coleslaw was the vinegar kind vs creamy. Im partial to creamy - I think it goes better with BBQ. The tart taste is too healthy for a BBQ meal. Also they don't serve iced tea here. News flash, there is no reason to reinvent BBQ people! there is no reason to talk the salt out of the meat, the cream out of the slaw, and the tea out of the mix. They advertised $5 pints of beer! is that a deal??? the one thing i loved about this place was the outdoor seating and kids playground. They allow dogs and its a pretty relaxing environment. If this place slummed up their food a bit - add a little grease and sweat, i think it could do better.
(2)David C.
Barbecue is far from the best I've had but is steady and reasonably priced. Dog friendly patio is a plus.
(3)Christina R.
We found this place as we were trying to kill time before checking into our hotel. We had our dogs with us so we needed a pet friendly place. You could easily miss this restaurant as it is well hidden in a neighborhood. It felt like being in someone's back yard. So quaint and cute! I'm glad it wasn't busy because there is not much parking. The picnic tables outside was a perfect touch. We ordered pulled pork sandwiches even though it was not on the menu. The sauce was really yummy! This was the first time we ordered and the sauce was on the side, so that surprised us a bit. The sweet potato fries and potato salad were ok, but not something I would order again.
(4)Alan A.
Been here once, and once is not enough to really fairly rate any location. We had heard from a few people about this place. You know what was most attractive? The fact that there is a small kids playground out front. With three kids, any place with this feature is appealing. Ok, so we went on a week night with our three offspring. First of all, it was not busy so that was nice. We got an outside table, turned the kids loose on the playground, and went to the counter to order. We stood there for about five minutes before someone came out to help us. Unacceptable due to the fact that there were probably 5 customers in the entire place. Don't think 5 minutes is long at a non-busy place? Tell you what, right now go and stand at your kitchen sink. Got your watch? Go. Stand there for five minutes, I'll wait. Back? See what I mean? Long time. Ok, so we finally order. We both got the Texas toast sandwiches on the recommendation of the girl taking our order. I got the pulled pork, wifey got the brisket. I don't personally know any of the four and five star raters of this place. If I did, I would probably tell them they were out of their minds. One thing is clear, those people have not had good 'cue before. Bland, dry, not enough smokiness, not enough spice. Even the sauce they place on the tables is blah, but I used it hoping blah plus blah would equal something better. Alas, it did not...and never does, silly me. Other items we tried were the Mac and cheese - pretty good. Like I said, one time is not enough to get a good read on a place. They do have reasonable prices, but If you are looking for good, solid, tasty 'cue...you could do better.
(2)Elaine C.
So yummy. I went there and thought we were walking into a preschool because the front yard of the place looks like a preschool. No kids around though - we went pretty late at night. I got the nachos and it was sooo yummy. The owner was really nice and gave me a blueberry cornbread. Also really yummy; especially if you slather it with some delicious fatty butter. My friends are all from Texas and they said that this place was better than Lucile's (?). I love how the meat just falls apart in my mouth. Like buttery meaty goodness. I jokingly call this place the "Texas bbq place that looks like a preschool" but yeah, the food is delicious. We are definitely going back.
(5)Ken E.
The closest one may get to true Texas BBQ... great food, friendly staff, fast service. Hard to find, but worth the effort. A true gem in the OC!!!
(4)Miss D.
Had a yelp coupon for half off so had to try. Was a little hard to find - parking was a tiny space for 5 (?) cars so we parked on the street. The play area everyone talked of was full of kids (yes, they were screaming & acting like children) which made the front look like a regular house. The portion for the half rack rib plus chicken combo was tiny. It came with a side (mac n' cheese, fries, etc) plus coleslaw, which I don't like but the man with me "loved" it even though he doesn't like coleslaw either. Can't describe the bbq half rack of ribs...it seemed...like it lacked something like smokiness or bbq-ness or something. But it tasted real soft. Chicken was just alright, nothing spectacular. Service was pretty good as we were checked on every once in a while. The cup of banana pudding was the best part of the meal...it was in a tiny cup and a bit sweet but it was cold & I licked every bit of it off. Would only return with a coupon.
(3)Mika H.
I had discount deals for this and several other local bbq places. Each one is different and I love them all. Beach Pit, Famous Dave's, Johnny Reb's and Texas Pit all offer creditable bbq of the smokey-steamy-oven tender type. This time the deal was sufficient to get a full rack and a chicken as well. The meat was super-soft, to the point that the bones were falling out of the ribs instead of the meat falling off the bones! A lot of juice drained out into the take-home containers, which I poured back over in hopes that it would re-absorb. The pork was sort of like a pot roast, easier to eat with a fork.I do prefer a little firmer. The chicken pieces were on the small side but made up for by the really massive serving of ribs. When we ate, the flavor was really good, especially the chicken! There was mild but definite smoke, sauce on the meat and more on the side. I like the sides here - beans had two varieties (although I think canned) with good things added, sauteed onions and peppers. Thin fries were excellent, still crisp when they got to our house. About the parking - the lot you see in front is totally inadequate. There is a big lot around the back, with elaborate directions on whose driveway you use to get to it, etc. on the wall inside, which you can read once you park on the street and walk in. You can then go out and re-park in the back after reading. I guess only a first-timer will experience this.
(3)Jane C.
I had a groupon for this place. First of all the cashier was very rude to us and the other customers in line. The waiter was very nice to us, but service was kind of slow. When the food was brought to us it was already cold. We also found a mysterious short piece of hair in our nachos which was kinda nasty. Overall, the food was just mediocre at best, probably would not go out of my way to come to this place
(2)Tracey A.
Nothing's much more inviting than the front yard seating at Beach Pit BBQ on a warm summer evening, even if all you're doing is sitting beside a parking lot across the street from a strip mall on a suburban side street. And there's not a lot of places you can say that about! I'm not a big carnivore, but those teenagers are, and they really like this joint, and what makes them happy makes me happy. Sometimes. The teen sensations opt for the pulled pork. Granny goes for the brisket sandwich. I opt for some big salad with BBQ chicken and Ranch dressing, and top that off with sweet potato fries. Everyone happpy? Check. You will be, too. Very kid-friendly, 'cept for the prices.
(3)Sergio M.
I just came from this place for a 12:15ish lunch.... not very many people at all - which was great since we were on limited time.... This place is more of a 3.50 - 3.75 stars! - I would have given it 4 if our Mac and cheese wouldnt have been a bit on the cold side (maybe lukewarm at best)... Portions are decent and the price is "ok" - I'm very undecided on this place right now... We had the half rack of ribs w/mac and cheese and the sliders (Pulled pork, brisket and tri-tip) also with mac and cheese They were all very good... BBQ sauce is decent (personally i wish the spicy BBQ was actually spicy) Over all a good experience; I will try it again and see what I think.
(3)Ace Q.
Went to this place twice now and have almost nothing nice to say, so I'll be concise. To be generic, the food does not appear fresh and doesn't scream quality bbq either, and the service is average at best, and pathetic at worst. To be fair, the outdoor seating is a nice offering right in costa mesa and feels distant from the area its in. To be specific, I came in a second time at the request of a friend so a buddy and I split an order and a few sides. There was a combo that offered "sides" and we asked what sides were available as we were scanning the menu. The too-cool-in-my-affliction-shirt guy said we could get burnt ends as a side, and we asked specifically in disbelief that it could be a side of the combo, and he said yeah, it's a side option. Of course, we miscommunicated somehow and were duly charged the full price for the burnt ends, all the while actually losing a side off our combo plate. We had an $80 tab so didn't notice until cash was already in their drawer and we had just sat down. A question to the manager about it and an inquiry to cancel the "side" was refused because the brunt ends were already being prepared (read: microwaved?) I wanted to like the place, especially after going back twice for a second shot, but the value isn't there at all, and the service killed it. To be fair, the manager was nice and diplomatic, but the end result wasn't for me
(2)Chris C.
Simple straight up BBQ! I would eat there again. The staff was very friendly and accommodating too.
(3)Anthony T.
I must say when my wife took me to beach pit barbecue I was really excited because I like some good barbecue. To my dismay, when ordering the girl at the cashier station seemed to give us a hard time about our groupon and even initially mischarged us. Once that was settled out my wife noticed upon checking in with yelp that she was entitled to a free banana pudding. When she went to redeem her banana pudding the same girl gave her a hard time about that and didn't want to give it to my wife. After some lengthy conversation my wife was able to get the banana pudding which she said wasn't that great. Now as far as my meal goes, I'm sad to say that it wasn't all that, just mediocre. I had order the barbecue beef brisket and my wife some barbecue nachos. Neither of us were impress. I guess this place is like some local attraction because overall I didn't think this place was special and the chances of me coming back are slim to none. If the customer service was a little better I would consider giving it another try because everyone has a bad day. That girl left a real bad taste in my mouth. I'm done.
(2)Doug J.
I've eaten at some really fantastic BBQ places on my trips across the country on my motorcycle including Texas, Memphis and North Carolina. I must admit that I rank this place in my top 5... I just finished eating the burnt ends and can't believe how good they were. The sweet potato fries were outstanding,and the BBQ sauce was the perfect blend of sweet and spicey. I wish I could give them 6 stars.
(5)Vivi V.
This place is really cute and quaint . It's like walking up to someones home and eating in their front/backyard. My fiancé ordered the three meat combo with pulled pork, pulled chicken, and sausage (they were out of tri-tip...sad face cause we really wanted to try it). I got the half rack. I tried all the meats we ordered but was disappointed because they all were dry and flavorless- true bbq lets the meat do the talkin! The only reason there was flavor was due to the bbq sauce (their spicy bbq is pretty good)...I only ate one rib and a few bites of my side :( Potato salad didn't have much flavor either (Where were the mashed potatoes in the menu?). I did enjoy the Mac & cheese and coleslaw. This won't be my go-to place for bbq but I would come back to try one of their salads or burritos.
(3)Brian G.
This location should close just like the other locations. The people working here are miserable and should quit serving the public. I went in today for lunch and was treated like a disease. My food was delivered and tossed on to my table by a guy who said nothing when he literally tossed it on the table. DOUCHE! It was so cold INSIDE my food was cold by the third bite. Thus making the entire experience crap! I told my wife the last time we came here I wouldn't be back, but today I was craving BBQ. Good news Beach Pit BBQ, I won't darken your door again. Service: crap Food: cold Flavor: less than good Cost: $$$$ over priced! Do yourself a favor, skip this joint and find some where else.
(1)Aaron L.
Unfortunately, my first yelp review is not overly positive. I went to lunch at BPBBQ with two friends who had been there a number of months before, and were excited to be going again. However, they were thrown off (if not disappointed) almost immediately when they realized the menu had since changed. According to them, the prices had gone up, and main course items (sandwiches, etc) used to come with a side, but no longer did. They said that BPBBQ also used to have lunch specials or combos, and that they were reasonably priced. I did my best to not let these mentioned facts cloud my judgment and go into the experience with an open mind. I ordered a prime rib sandwich a la carte, a side of sweet potato fries, and a glass of water. My total was around $13; a bit more than I wanted to spend for lunch, especially when you add a tip (you order at a counter, but then someone brings it out to you), but maybe I'd get what I paid for. I sat outside with my friends on a picnic bench. The atmosphere inside and out was nice and homey, and clean for a BBQ joint. Our food came very quickly. Other than that there was nothing exceptional worth mentioning about the service. One girl takes your order at a counter, another brings it out to you. The portions were rather average in size. I kind of expect to have leftovers or at least be full from a $13 lunch. I was satisfied, but had I not added the side item, I don't think I would have been. Quality wise, the sandwich was okay, but nothing to write home about. The fries on the other hand were heavily seasoned, tasty, and somewhat unique because you can't get sweet potato fries just anywhere. Overall, I don't believe what I got was worth what I paid. The food and service was passable enough to where I would be back if it were a few dollars cheaper, but it's not.
(2)Reggy S.
I came here on a cold, rainy Saturday night to use my groupon. I ordered the half rack and sausage. Well, the ribs I make at home is the greatest I've ever had so restaurant ribs have always disappointed me. These ribs were just "ok". Parts of it was fall off the bone, but most was not and some parts were rough and chewy. How can anyone say these ate the best they ever had? The sausage almost seemed like it was not fresh, like it was re-heated. The potato salad was bland, flavorless. Surprisingly, the best thing I ate was the coleslaw! It was actually the best I've ever had! But, unfortunately I won't be coming back just to eat coleslaw.
(2)Joel L.
The food is very good. The pulled pork and brisket are very tender. Slap some BBQ on it and my plate is licked clean. Their sides are very good as well. I liked their mac n cheese and coleslaw. The only problem you may have is parking. But their food is well worth it.
(4)Cherice M.
Great little spot tucked away off 17th. Feels like you are literally in someones backyard. We had a gift card so tried it out and were happy with the food and atmosphere.
(4)Mary N.
Parking was pretty small. Good amount of indoor and outdoors seating. The offerings were good but don't come here expecting Lucille's size portions they're a bit smaller.
(3)Hien V.
This is an order at the counter then sit down kind of restaurant. Very casual and lacks a warm atmosphere compared to Lucille's or any of the comparable BBQ joints. In front of the restaurant, there is a kid's play area equipped with plastic houses, slides and other toys to entertain your little ones. I felt like I was eating in someone's backyard. The buns on the sliders were pretty good, soft and not dry. The meat and BBQ sauce however was only mediocre. We ordered spicy and it was far from it. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy, probably one of the best in the area. The blueberry cornbread that other yelpers raved about didn't live up to all the hype. It was just regular cornbread with a few specs of blueberries at the bottom. For the price and quality of the meal, I would probably skip the Beach BBQ Pit and endure the wait at Lucille's; it lacks a wow factor. Spicy pulled pork sliders (3) - $7.95 Sides: sweet potato fries - $1.50 Corn on the cob - $1.50 Blueberry Cornbread - $0.99
(2)Lisa H.
Purchased a Group-on for the Beach Pit. Good food, nothing extraordinary special but good none the less. What makes this place special is its atmosphere. Great family dining and cute play area for children. Is dog friendly and the white sting-up lights in outside eating area give a romantic, rustic down home feel to the place. Overall Beach Pit is yummy and fun.
(3)G T.
The ribs are fine and even better when you get a groupon (when they are available). Also, they ran a special for a Bacon Cheeseburger for $7.99 which was great but they don't offer that all the time. Worth a visit especially if you live close by but if you are judging just the ribs standalone, there are better rib joints to visit. Also, blueberry corn bread and banana pudding are yummy.
(4)Jane A.
Great food. Average size portions (small for BBQ). Service really varies. I've had great, cheerful service and I've had a grumpy servers. I'd still come here again. The food is consistant and leaner that most other BBQ places, which I like.
(3)Jason M.
We recently visited this place because I found a $10 off coupon if you spend $20 or more. I felt that this was a really generous deal so I took the family there. I went there a couple times last year and it was an okay meal. My kids enjoy playing in there outside play area and the outside seating on a summer night can be enjoyable with an ice cold beer. That being said, I was completely turned off due to my past visit and will never go back there. We sat outside and there were flies everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. I ordered the 2 meat combo with pulled pork and brisket. I have friends and family that can vouch for me when I say I cook better pulled pork on my smoker at home than the dried out shit they put on my plate. It was bland and stringy and beyond dissapointing. I had to drown that crap in bbq sauce just to get it into my stomach. I think the owners need to re-assess how to properly cook pork or just remove it from the menu so they don't pollute more stomachs. What a goddamn shame this place turned in to.
(2)Meg R.
Ehhhh. it was decent bbq. I'm comparing it to the awesomeness in TX and the midwest though so for california it's not bad, but not great. Good ribs, good bbq sauce (not too sweet or too spicy, coulda used a lil more tang to it tho). Not a ton of meat on the bones of the ribs, and it was kinda dried out. boo. My partner in crime was all up on the pulled pork plate, same complain that the meat was a lil dried out though. We did get there just before they closed though so maybe its better earlier. They do have some fantastic hush puppies though. I would definitely order them with whatever else you get. They made me want to kick up my feet and sip sweet tea. Its a nice down-home kinda location. Made me feel a lil like I was near a swamp in Louisiana with the structure of the building and the benches around picnic tables out front with heavily faded checker print table cloths. It was like pulling up to your local hangout down south. Overall? Decent, willing to go back but not actively seeking them out.
(3)R M.
Way overpriced. Small portions and the playground is full of obnoxious kids screaming while you eat. Felt like we were eating in a grade school cafeteria between the quality, quantity, and environment. Don't waste your money!
(1)Brinda J.
I think the 3 and a half stars are the right rating. Had to the beef brisket sandwich with the mac and cheese side. The bbq sauce is really yummy, but the brisket leaves much to be desired...it's ok....it fills the tummy... but doesn't satisfy the tummy. The mac and cheese was sad and pathetic. Very sad really. I've had better mac and cheese at Promelis quite frankly. I guess it holds the bbq craving maybe. But seriously, I might drive all the way to Orange for better.
(3)jonathan s.
GREAT service - girl server was awesome. now for the rest........im on a bad streak lately. came here for all you can eat spare ribs. how misleading. 1. spare ribs they were offering were beef. 2. they were not good. 3. we sat in the back by the bathroom and a girl puked everywhere inside the bathroom. 4. i dont like coming here normally because its a little too expensive for what it is but this seemed like a good deal. who doesnt like PORK spare ribs? 5. i blame myself. 6. i have now tried pulled pork, breakfast burrito, beef spare ribs. all par or below. over this place forever and i mean it this time.
(2)Katherine L.
My husband is from Costa Mesa and when he told me about this place I was hoping it'd be as good as back home in SC, but I was a little disappointed. It's still pretty good for CA, but I can only comment on the pulled pork sandwich and three sides. PROS: Blueberry cornbread was sweet and moist. Sweet potato fries were a nice change from what I'm use to, and the pulled pork was tender. The atmosphere was nice. Sort of reminded of home because the best bbq places aren't anything fancy. CONS: Mustard base sauce is popular in SC and my favorite on a pulled pork sandwich. Their mustard sauce wasn't good. Glad I tried it before just putting it on my sandwich. They should definitely look into changing that. By itself, there wasn't much flavor to the pork. I wasn't impressed with the potato salad either. Which normally is my favorite side. With that said I do like this place and would eat here again. If they change the mustard sauce to taste like what you'd find in SC and improve the potato salad I'd be thrilled!
(3)Aarron W.
I would have to say this place is OK. Place was a little difficult to locate and there wasnt much parking available, but managed to make it. I do like the atmosphere, its quiet there and the staff was friendly enough. Wife and I ordered the slamma with 3 items for 20 bucks, so we chose chicken, pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork and brisket tasted very good, I would definitely get this again. The chicken wasnt all that good, I can tell it was smoked or something, but It didnt taste right to me. The mac and cheese was awful, no seasoning and the sauce was runny. Blueberry cornbread is ok. I also have to say that this place is a bit pricey for what we got. I expected a little bit more food and 3 bucks for a soda is ridiculous. My advice-- Order the meat to go and skip the rest.
(3)Carrie B.
I used to like Beach Pit a lot, especially because it is kid friendly and they have a nice outside patio. I went here last Thursday with my sister and my two daughters, ages 4 and 6. My kids have grown since my last visit so a little too big to play on the plastic slide, although they still played on it. The food was not very good and it was expensive for what you get. I ordered the blue cheese wedge salad, the dressing tasted like the dressing from a pizza delivery place and there was hardly any blue cheese. My kids ordered the chicken bites and they were way over cooked and the fries were nil. Maybe stick with the BBQ if you eat here.
(2)Jennelle W.
Great experience! We used a Groupon we purchased and ordered a full-rack of St. Louis Spare Ribs to-go. The meat was so delicious, it was literally falling off the bone. So yummy! As someone who rarely eats meat, I need my few "cheat" moments to count and this certainly did! The restaurant looks very cute too, although we didn't eat there. We are looking forward to dining here again in the future.
(5)Tony Y.
Tasty BBQ at a reasonable (lunch special) price. I always order the Big Love, which i associated with the HBO show because its a a sandwich with multiple meats. Love the sauce and the sweet potato fries. The atmosphere has a quaint backyard BBQ style which is great for groups who want to eat and down a few brewskis. If you want some BBQ but don't want to spend 20 bucks for it, this is a good place to go.
(4)Josh S.
This place has potential and I'll give it another try or two but it seems a little expensive for what it is. I had a combo of smoked brisket and pulled pork. Two BBQ staples. I love that they actually smoke their meats but I could have used more sauce and the parking/dining area could be bigger. Next time, I'll do take out and hopefully have a better review. I do love the idea and the location and look forward to eating there again but its not quite a top BBQ location yet. -------------------------- Update 5/25 Went back for lunch with a buddy and much happier. 1. Prices have been adjusted. Now they have lunch prices for the meats. 2. I had a Tri-tip sandwich special that was really good. 3. I discovered they have double the parking (on the back) and a large back patio as well. (not sure how I missed this before). 4. I'd still say even the mild BBQ sauce is a little spicy but this place is climbing the ladder. Keep it up! Gained a star!
(4)Kevin P.
I was not that impressed with the food. I tried the sliders, one pork, one chicken, and one brisket. Not so great. The bbq sauce and sweet potato fries were good though.
(3)Emily P.
This place was merely okay. The bf and I got the meat plates, pulled pork for him, and sausage for me. And they were just, plain bland. Not smoked or flavorful at all. I liked the spicy bbq sauce though. That helped. On a better note, the mac and cheese was great. But that was as far is it went.
(2)Ryan O.
The parking lot is usually full, the BBQ is terrible, and the customer service is certainly lacking. Just bad overall
(1)Jennifer E.
This place is so delicious I can't stand it! Everything is good. Really. Everything. Their blueberry cornbread is legit. They have a cute little outdoor playground to entertain the kids too.
(5)Greg M.
This place is soooooooo good!! Their pork and sausage sandwich....cant remember what it's called....was amazing and stuffed with meat!! Their BBQ sauces are on point and the mac and cheese is great. Just a chill place to come for lunch. Only problem is a small lot with the spaces pointing the opposite direction of the driveway....lol. but that's a small price to pay
(5)Tara S.
When I am in the mood for BBQ (which isn't often) this is the place to go. I usually opt for the three sliders served on the Hawaiian rolls and comes with choice of side. They put so much meat on these that it is nearly impossible for me to finish my meal. BBQ isn't my favorite but this place is by far the best I've had. It is in a great part of town and they have a large patio that is really nice and has that family run feeling. Highly recommend for those in the area
(4)Joel A.
My wow and I have been coming here for at least 3 years and we love it! We usually get the sliders but we have tried the burnt ends and they ate all great. The pulled pork is my favorite but I can't say the I haven't liked everything I've had. Today we went after a little kayaking in the back Bay and my wife tried their new chicken pot pie. She said it was good. The crust is like a biscuit a very flaky. I had tyke usual, 2 pulled pork and 1 brisket slider with naked beans. Oh and I topped it off with a Kona Big Wave. If you like BBQ and you find yourself in Costa Mesa I highly recommend it!
(5)Aaron E.
Beach Pit will work in the event you are fiending barbecue in south Costa Mesa, but true aficionados will leave disappointed. As great as the Hispanic and Asian cuisine can be in Orange County, barbecue has always been a point of frustration for us down here in the orange curtain (well, SoCal as a whole really... less Bludo's). Beach Pit has aimed to change that for years now and although I applaud their effort, OC isn't going to be confused with KC, Memphis or even St. Louis anytime soon. The restaurant is a retrofitted home right off of 17th and that gives the joint a quirky feel but at the expense of little parking and somewhat cramped eating quarters. The employees are all jovial and willing to please and the format is your standard fast casual. The prices could be argued as high, but that is sadly the case with almost all Barbecue regardless of where you are. Expect to spend about $20.00 a head to really get the experience along with a beer. The Pièce De Résistance for lunch would have to be the North Carolina Style Beef Brisket which features a hefty helping of their slow smoked brisket along with a scoop of homemade cole slaw on top served on a large hoagie style roll. The smoke flavor is well balanced but less pronounced than I hoped for and I will admit it was rather dry. Complaints aside, it was still real deal barbecue and smoky enough to quell the yearnings until the next time I make it out east. I have also tried their St. Louis Spare Rib and at $15.99 for a half rack, it is not cheap but they do a decent job paying homage to the 'Lou. The meat took on a nice about of smoke and you can distinguish the bark as soon as you cut off a piece. My ribs suffered from a bit of dryness and Beach Pit's own Barbecue sauce needed to be employed which is something I hate doing but again, it saved me a trip to Compton so I will take it for now. The Blueberry Cornbread and Mac 'N Cheese sides both served purpose but lacked and flair while doing so and the Mexican dishes they dare to churn out are an abomination. The thought of them as menu items left me perplexed as I tried to figure out who would be interested in a Burrito from a Barbecue joint in the first place. Add to the fact you are trying to compete with Mexican in a city named Costa Mesa and my only advice is to stick with Barbecue and focus on perfecting it before taking on an entirely different genre. Face palm material at best. Beach Pit is hardly something I would bring company from out of state to try. Hell, with Santa Maria's barbecue I wouldn't bring people from California there to show off. That said, it is an option in an arena with few contenders (the superior Famous Dave's and overly expensive Lucille's are on the short list) so I have to grade on a curve here and give Beach Pit the benefit of a 3 star rating.
(3)R H.
If you want real bbq go somewhere else Had a pullpork sandwich it was horrible Fat everywhere *Potato Salad was well It has no favor to it,Very cold , large chunks of onions and red potato were hard. It had a bite to it . It Should be soft and flavorful. *Mac n chesese. Was awful Taste like they mixed a cream sauce and thru it on pasta. *Sausage came out pink and brown I don't know what's up with this placel Everything was bland. No salt or pepper Chef rudely confronted me when I brought my food back. I don't think he's a real chef or has any culinary experience.
(1)Jared E.
Well back in town and we had to come back to the best BBQ....Always a must when we are in town...
(5)Doug A.
Not a big fan. Service was low-end. Self serve mostly. Picnic tables outside. Below average, dry BBQ. Parking available. A bit pricey.
(2)Jason J.
We went there on a Monday night for our first. And this will most likely be our last visit. The cashier who appears to be the manager or owner didn't give a crap about service and would barely look at us. The guy that severed our food was quality, real nice and helpful. The brisket was dry and bland. Even the bbq didn't liven it up. The wife needed bbq sauce in order to choke down the dry chicken. We gave it 2 stars because of server. Also 2 stars because of that lame ass cashier.
(2)Ulysses M.
This place is great! All the food we had there was excellent. I had the pulled-pork sandwich and fried pickles. Friends had sliders and mac and cheese. Everything was amazing. We will make the hour drive to get there! OMG! I am excited just thinking about it!
(5)Dan R.
Most times this place is tasty and quick. I ordered the ribs and expected fall-off the bone deliciousness. I've never had the ribs here however; they were undercooked which made for a semi- gross experience.
(3)J L.
Great BBQ. Food is cooked to perfection. Coleslaw, baked beans, and blueberry are some of my fav sides. Brisket is delicious!!
(4)Tara T.
This is a great spot. Delicious, affordable food, low key and casual atmosphere. Friendly service. Great outside seating. Classic BBQ. Mac n cheese, sweet potato fries, and chicken... Love it! Not too busy or hectic.
(4)Lisa S.
Always friendly service, good food and great atmosphere. My husband and I come here every time we are in California and we will continue to come back. The owner is very friendly and recommends the best food. You won't be disappointed!!
(5)Tom P.
This place never disappoints. My wife and I shared the three plate dinner this last time (turkey, pulled pork, & beef brisket). All were delicious. We had baked beans and blueberry cornbread as sides, both phenomenal. The beans had chili beans mixed in, they were outstanding. Price is a little on the pricey side but bbq usually is. The meal above with a drink was $26. But loved it.
(4)Angela P.
This use to be an amazing place. A while back they treated me badly so I stopped going but a friend wanted to go so I tried one more time. The service improved some but the food has went downhill :( It tastes good but The Salad which use to be $9.99 is now $11.99 and basically a bowl of lettuce with a sprinkling of corn, beans, jicama & pulled pork very sad :( use to be an amazing place. I won't return again.
(1)Christopher C.
As a boy from South Carolina, a Grillmaster and BBQ lover... this place is doing it right. 100% Proper BBQ. If you disagree thats fine, but this is on-point.
(5)Scott G.
I never do bad reviews. In fact I hope to delete this review and replace it with a 5 star review because the food is great! But the only problem is that the big garbage dumpster is to close to the tables where you eat and its smells like you are eating at a landfill. It really is unpleasant. I would totally come back because all our friends want to eat there all the time and the food is great. But I just cant handle the smell of the dumpster when I eat. My wife and I were just talking about where we wanted to have dinner tonight. She mentioned the BBQ Beach Pit and I said "No I cant eat at a landfill" The dumpster should be moved to the first parking spot hear the road. That would put it far enough away that you wouldn't be able to smell it and the current location of the dumpster could become a parking spot. Every time I go I smell the dumpster. Owner, message me if some regulation doesn't let you have the dumpster in any other place then where it is. I would be more then happy to remove this review. If that's the case. But If you are able to move it but you choose not to you should rethink that. If you aren't able to move the dumpster you should get a smaller dumpster and increase the number of pickups each week.
(2)Kirsten F.
We had the pulled pork plate with mac n' cheese and collard greens; North Carolina style sandwich with sausage and a side of baked beans. We also ordered the hot wings. ALL of the meats were awesome, with the sausage being the fave. The sides were good, not great.
(4)Lisa A.
We come here every chance we get when we're in the area. The BBQ is tasty even before you put Any sauce on it. Burnt ends are yummy. Today I tried the pot pie special. It was good but I wish the top biscuit was a little easier to cut apart. But good all the same.
(4)Christina B.
5 stars goes to food quality and comfy outdoor seating! The playground was taken out so that makes me want to go more often knowing there's a lesser chance of screaming children. Food was just wonderful, I had bbq chicken, mac n cheese , & BLUEBERRY cornbread ! Staff was also very friendly and helpful
(5)J K.
Such great BBQ I tried had the Texas toast and washed it down with a solid IPA. Couldn't have been happier. Also had a 1/2 rack of ribs and they were fall off the bone tender. Had some kale on the side which was surprisingly good as well. I will for sure be headed back there.
(5)Steve M.
In my opinion the beach pit isn't really worth the money. I didn't get the bang for the $16 dollars that I paid for a two item combo (Beef Brisket & BBQ Chicken) With a side of BBQ Beans & Potato Salad. The meat was dry and the portions were small. In my opinion Famous Dave's BBQ offers a way better meal for your money. Beach Pit is way to hit or miss and it is expensive. Beach Pit also has terrible parking and its hard to find. The location is cool except for the parking. They have a nice front picnic area and a cool beer garden in the back. A hole in the wall BBQ restaurant should also offer something cool or different and Beach Pit drops the ball. I hope that they try harder and turn this place around it has so much potential.
(3)John B.
I've had the pulled pork and brisket plates. Both were great especially with the BBQ sauce they give you. Gotta try the sweet potato fries as well! Service could use some improvement, but overall food is great!
(4)Anthony B.
I have been here twice and I feel like the ribs were boiled instead of smoked. The sides are ok and it's great to see a BBQ joint in Costa Mesa.
(2)Dana S.
Ordered two full racks of ribs and a whole chicken. Everything was delicious! It's only a 4 because it isn't the very best I've had. I'll definitely be coming back!
(4)Renee G.
They catered a party for us and the food and service was spectacular. Tons of food left over and it was nice to send guests home with good food. They especially loved the ribs and beans. My personal favorite was the mac and cheese. We had two servers stay for the event and that was well worth the cost. Highly recommended for your next event.
(5)Melissa O.
Delicious food. We went for lunch and were hungry. We ordered the shredded pork sliders. It comes with one side. I ordered the sweet potato fries and my daughter got the Mac n cheese. Both were tasty. We also tried the cornbread and the banana pudding. The cornbread was okay, but the pudding was great. Also we had the blueberry lemonade which was a treat. We left very full and satisfied. We sat outside and enjoyed the atmosphere.
(5)Julian D.
I would suggest the pulled pork sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries, macaroni and cheese, and obesity.
(4)Andrew W.
Regular lunch spot for me. Good food, decent prices, great ambiance. Love the patio.
(5)Brian W.
I found this place completely by mistake. I made a wrong turn off of 17th St. and noticed this place sitting way back from the street. With its metal corrugated roof and outdoor seating, it looked like it belonged in Florida or Georgia.I decided I had to come back and try their dinner. The owner greeted us warmly. He's a nice guy. Very laid-back. After brief discussion, our group decided on the short ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We also had to try a side of the fried pickles. Everything was homemade and delicious. They don't drench the smoked meat in barbecue sauce like some places. But there's plenty of extra sauce on the side, in case you like it that way. It's a perfect place to relax outside with friends, have a beer, and eat dinner. It's a blue jeans and flip-flops kind of place. The owner checked on us a couple of times to make sure we were happy. I will certainly be back.
(5)Monica R.
Great BBQ place in Costa Mesa. Brisket is really good must try the burnt ends if available.
(4)Thomas W.
Came here after work for some barbeque. I fancy myself somewhat of a barbeque expert at this point, and generally know good barbeque. I hadn't eaten here before, in fact I didn't even know it existed (hole in the wall barely visible from the st). Walking in I wasnt sir if they were open or not, as the gates (similar to those you'd see in someone's backyard) were closed. I wasnt greeted warmly, but who cares really. I want barbeque. Its not like im walking into Fleming's. I ordered a 2 plate combo, pulled pork and beef brisket. They were both tasty and the brisket had a perfect amount of marbling. I wasnt a huge fan of their sauce selection, but sauce doesn't make barbeque. You should be able to eat it without any type of sauce, and this meat you could! Parking and location are really my only gripe. Great food!!!
(4)Eva A.
Fall off the bone ribs were ahhhmazing. The quality of the food is top notch. I also liked that they serve a handful of the local brews. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side but they do have inside and outside seating. I can't wait to go back. The only critique I have is that I wish they had potato salad on the menu.
(5)Clarissa V.
Another hidden gem of Costa Mesa. The food is really delicious, I just wish the portions were bigger for the sides! I had a pulled pork sandwich which was tasty and then my roommate got the half rack of ribs which was also really good. The mac & cheese was pretty good and so was the corn bread. I like sweets so I tried the banana pudding too. I enjoyed the little vanilla cookies on top! WELL BE BACK!
(4)Janae L.
Order the Texas toast sandwich and their house fries! You can't go wrong! Tips and ends? Yes please! Fried pickles? Yes! The BBQ sauce is so good you should grab a bottle to go! I've also got a big love for The Salad! Love this place !
(5)Kailey T.
We had a great experience at Beach Pit BBQ! The food is amazing here! Not a fancy place, but if you are looking for good BBQ, this is the right place to go! Make sure you try the brisket and pulled pork!!
(5)Brenton E.
I've been here 4 times over the past 8 months or so. Everything I've gotten has been really good. The burnt ends are always perfect; the blueberry cornbread, pulled pork, texas toast sandwich, fried okra...all good. I can confidently say this is the best BBQ I've had in Orange County. If I made more money and lived a more active lifestyle, I'd eat here once a week.
(5)Eric R.
Good food, pulled pork sandwich and Mac and cheese. Use the spicy bbq sauce on the table, because the regular doesn't have enough kick.
(3)Michelle A.
Back at it again.. this is probably gonna b one of my weekly rituals.. it's that good... and the owner is sooo sweet.. absolutely recommend this to any and everyone that luvs bbq.
(5)Marla M.
We ordered the party pack to go for our small company Christmas party and everything was perfect! John was so helpful and he went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of. The food earned rave reviews from everyone at the party, and best of all there were leftovers for us all to take some home. We had ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork and sausage. It was all tender and flavorful. Cornbread, mac and cheese, cole slaw, baked beans and green salad with house made ranch were all delicious and the bbq sauce was some of the best I've tried. Food was ready when we arrived to pick it up, so we were in and out quick. We definitely recommend Beach Pit BBQ!
(5)Gerardo M.
First time going to this place after finding it on yelp. Called a few times to ask some questions. Girl answering my questions made a comment as she was hanging up niot knowing i heard her. For this reason i took off one star. People should be friendly when talking to customers on the phone or at least fake it. Now the food. Spare ribs were delicious!! Tasted fresh and not too much sauce. The sauce was on the side and you could add as much as you would like. The fries were excellent! The beans were ok. Defenitly going back in a few weeks. This time i'll know exactly what i want so i dont have to upset the girl taking the orders.
(4)Sherry K.
No brisket. At 6:30 pm on a Wednesday night. The lines were hopping, but they ran out of the one thing I was really there for. Frustrating, to say the least. Cashier, order taker, server, and busser - these were all the roles that Gretchen fulfilled that night, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, albeit one with a pleasant demeanor and a smile despite the circumstances. Boyfriend ordered the Big Love sammich, which arrived with pulled pork and sausage on a toasted bun and a side of potato salad. According to him, he might have enjoyed it had there been any sauce. My pulled chicken nachos arrived, and we realized that his chili cheese fries had been forgotten. They also did not have sweet tea available, unfortunately. The nachos looked good, but the chicken was pretty dry and the cheese appeared to have sat under a heat lamp for quite some time. The one plus for me was that instead of refried beans, BBQ baked beans were tastily substituted. Otherwise, they were pretty disappointing. After Boyfriend reordered the chili cheese fries, they came out pretty quickly. Shoestring fries covered in dry, bland chili and cheese and green onions greeted us. Sad. In retrospect, we ought to have tried the sauce slathered ribs, or even the sliders, but dammit, I was thrown by the lack of brisket. With check in, a single serving of banana pudding was available, and that was pretty good, just like at the Tustin Roadhouse. Beach Pit BBQ, you guys could really take a lesson from the TRH business model...
(2)Aprelle B.
Great place! Love the pulled pork salad and the fried pickles! Good place to take your Kids.
(4)Lisa K.
Have I just found BBQ heaven? I think so... First of all, I am always (and I mean ALWAYS) on the hunt for a darn good BBQ joint. Unfortunately, there really aren't enough around the area and I'm always left wanting more. But that, my BBQ lover friends, has all changed. I needed to find a place that served Mac n cheese since my niece was coming over and that's practically all she eats and yelp led me to this place. It's a quaint restaurant set in the back of a narrow driveway. You enter through the picket fence door and instantly see diners enjoying their food outside. Super cute! The food - pure awesomeness. I ordered the beef brisket, smoked chicken, Mac n cheese, jalapeño Chedder cornbread, green beans, cole slaw and BBQ beans. Everything...yes, everything...was delicious. The guy who took my order was very friendly and helpful and my to go order was ready in 10 minutes ( I hadn't even gone through my entire Instagram feed). Within 15 minutes, I had walked in, ordered, and was on my way out with my big bag of food! Lots of sauces were provided on the side and all were very tasty! This place is good. Real good. Go there!
(5)DS M.
Loved the food. Brisket sandwich was great. Only real complaint was on the size of the side orders. Sides of beans and Mac-n-cheese were pretty tiny.
(4)Ryan F.
I think for Costa Mesa this is the best barbecue that you can get. They do not advertise it but all of the meat is actually grass fed! Which is sort of the reason why it's a little bit expensive. Parking is really small but it's never really packed, so that's not really a big deal. The scenery is nice and the people are great. All-around great place to eat in Costa Mesa and relatively healthy.
(5)Kym L.
Food Five Stars. This place makes to die for BBQ and the fried pickles are out of this world!!! I grew up in the southeast where the BBQ is down and dirty so I know a thing or two about pulled pork. These guys must have grown up in the south too. Unfortunately atmosphere gets two stars. Every parent in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach brings all of their screaming children to run around this place while they sit there and drink beer and sip wine. So the place is LOUD. Its not the place to go if you want a nice quiet BBQ dinner. Several times the hubby and I have wanted Beach Pit food and decided not to go because of the screaming kids. But I guess if you're taking your kids, the neighbors kids, your sisters kids and the lost and found kids from Target you are going to spend a lot of money and that's what they want.... People to spend money. All in all .... Give the place a shot it's totally worth it!! Take your earplugs though.
(4)Gabe W.
I was all ready to give this place a 5 star from walking in! Great feel and atmosphere! It looks and feels awesome! Maybe my standards are higher from Texas BBQ.. I have yet to find a delicious BBQ in the hb, Costa Mesa area.. The brisket and sausage was just ok.. Oven baked and no smoke feel.. But hey! Your in So Cal! You can fool anyone that's not from Texas, the south, Missouri and the Carolina's! So it gets a 3 star! I'll come back for the beer and sliders !
(3)Hanna P.
Quaint little BBQ spot with rugged character. For our large party we all sat outside enjoying the perfect weather. I split the 1/2 rack of ribs and 1/4 chicken and it came with coleslaw and Mac and cheese. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries and blueberry cornbread based off yelp recommendations and ended with a banana pudding yelp check in dessert. Ribs: all right. It was tender and off the bone but pretty sweet. The spicy BBQ tastes better than the regular. Chicken: not memorable at all. Coleslaw: again..too sweet Mac and cheese: big chunky noodles with tons of cheese. It was all right Sweet potato fries: pretty good. Especially liked the dipping sauce Blueberry cornbread: really disappointed...didn't taste fresh. Fried okra: tasted a few of these and it tastes like fried zucchini with seedy texture on the inside Banana pudding: good. A place I was really hoping to like but didn't quite hit the spot for me.
(2)Ron E.
First time trying Beach Pit BBQ for lunch this weekend. As a big BBQ fan and someone who has experienced BBQ all over the country, I was very much looking forward to this meal. Ordered the two meat plate (smoked chicken and beef brisket) with mac and cheese and coleslaw sides and a piece of jalapeno cornbread. For details, read on: The Good: -Cool atmosphere, with friendly service. -Great outdoor seating for beautiful days. - Jalapeno cornbread was warm, moist and full of flavor. Decent sized portion for $1.50. -Vinegar based coleslaw was a bit runny, but had good flavor. The Bad: - The chicken, while moist, had absolutely no smoky flavor. It tasted like pulled chicken that you can get at your neighborhood grocery store from a $4 roasted chicken. - The beef brisket was lukewarm and also relatively uneventful. I got a bit of smokiness from the brisket, but very underwhelming flavors overall. It was also very close to being too dry. Temperature was an issue as well. - Mac and cheese was also lukewarm. Temperature seems to be an issue here, perhaps a bigger issue during the slower lunch hour. Nothing unique about the mac and cheese, it seems pretty standard. Verdict: I really wanted to like this place, but was disappointed overall in the quality of the food. If the meat doesn't stack up, not sure how you can rate a BBQ place highly. 2 stars out of 5 for the couple decent sides and decent service.
(2)Kimber M.
Go no further ~ the "burnt ends" are the only way to go!! But be quick they sell out early!!
(5)Anthony C.
Oh man that's good BBQ! And bonus points for the craft beer. Pretty hidden spot in Costa Mesa, you could drive right past since it looks like a little shack house tucked in the back of a lot. The outdoor patio is a nice environment, kind of like a summer block party. It's got gas heaters for cold weather.
(5)Paul C.
Usually i love this place, but this week I ended up going, and the food was sub par to say the least. The chicken on my wife's chicken sandwich was undercooked, and my big love sandwich was cold. The service from the bus boy was amazing as he walked around trying to make sure we were completely comfortable, but the food quality has gone way down since they have opened. Maybe it was an off night, but it will be a while before I go back there again.
(2)Johnny W.
GEM. I found a GEM. Went hiking around the area with friends and we decided on looking for a BBQ place to have lunch. Stumbled upon this location and totally enjoyed it. The three of us shared: devil eggs, pulled pork nachos, dinner salad, fries, mac and cheese, beef brisket and tri-tip. Not sure if the hike just made us hungry or not but everything tasted so good. The mac and cheese was delicious and the tri-tip was so moist and tender. Different BBQ sauces was table side for you to add to your liking. Must get the blueberry lemonade to wash everything down with delight.
(4)Travis H.
Excellent food AND service. Friendly staff and prepared food well and quickly. Best BBQ in town! Wife had the chicken salad, which was large and fresh. I had the sliders which were all excellent. BBQ sauce is very good with a spicy and regular version. Not the best I've ever had, but very good. Will be back again, soon.
(5)Chelsea V.
I guess the price reflects the fact that this place is in Costa Mesa and is one of the few BBQ joints. Great food, loved the brisket, but was overpriced in my opinion. $14 for a meal & a drink. Casual, family atmosphere.
(3)Alex B.
Super yummy barbecue. Great family friendly restaurant. If you have little ones, I highly recommend this place. They have a great kids area so your kids can run around and you can enjoy some wine or beer with your husband. The food was great, took some time but totally worth the wait. Corkage fee is only $8 too!
(4)Heather H.
So good!! We discovered this place last night from small business Saturday. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bbq sauce was delicious, a lot different than I was used to though because it wasn't really bold and so it didn't overpower the bun. The bun was phenomenal, by the way, I don't even know how to describe it besides that. The fries were good but a bit too spicy for me and the bbq beans were good, too. My husband got the bbq nachos and thought they were good but not amazing (because there want enough cheese). I loved the restaurant, it is a house that has been made into a restaurant, they even have a little playground outside. I will definitely be back soon!!
(5)Danielle H.
I was very impressed! bbq sauce They keep the bbq sauces on the table which is perfect b/c I like to add lots esp since they don't put any bbq on the meats so your gona want to add it. I liked n added all 3 sauces - one is mustard based picnic tables + heaters - great outdoor area what I tried: -big timer sandwich - pulled pork & sausage, I added cheese/slaw (amazing) -cole slaw - not my fav ever, vinegar based and a bit dry, but not bad -jalapeno corn bread, delicious I must try the blueberry one next -mac & cheese, creamy & perfect I ate all my bf's yummmmmmmm -sweet pototo fries - A+ -I got a free banana bread pudding, something I wouldn't usually order and it was pretty tasty!! Yes I was sooooo full from all the food I tried but it was soo good I couldn't stop - I'm already planning what I'll order next time!!!
(4)Matt B.
Got the half rack ribs and 1/4 chicken for $18. Portion size was good but the ribs were way to fatty. They were tasty though. The chicken was a little strange tasting. The sauce was good but the bbq beans were not. The corn bread and banana pudding was excellent! For the price, I'll stick with lucilles!
(2)Tucker M.
Honestly, this is my single favorite BBQ join in Orange County. I came here once several years ago, while in college. Back then, they had a neat fire pit outside, hence the name Beach "Pit", but they have since had to get rid of it due to code regulations and neighbor complaints. It's a bummer because it added such a neat ambiance to the setting. I ordered the sliders (Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, and Chicken). All were good, but honestly, skip the others and go straight for the Pulled Pork - Very Good! However, I have to say, the Onion Rings were the highlight of my experience. They were the BEST I've ever had. By a long shot! I got the opportunity to meet the owner while there. He's a super nice guy and he really appreciates compliments, so if you like the food, let him know! I could see the pride in his eyes when I told him that they do a great job! Come here with some friends, buy a few of everything and share - that's the way to do it! LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)Chris P.
Normally a good experience but when I see the hours say till 9 and then I come into the restaurant at 8:25 and am told it's to go only, I'm already a little bummed. Then as I order the guy walks to the kitchen then comes back and tells me they closed the kitchen early. 35 minutes early. What's the point of having hours till 9 if you just turn customers away. Terrible. They obviously need management.
(1)Kayla R.
Love this place! Let me just say that my hubs and I are HUGE bbq people, and extremely picky ones at that. We love sitting outside at the picnic tables under the twinkle lights. Although I no longer live near by, my husband and I are always sure to stop by when we're in town :] We always share the two meet combo with two sides and it's always more than enough food. All I can say is Yum! ps The costumer service deserves 5 stars all on their own!
(5)Abel M.
Come here twice a month every thing on the menu hasn't let me down :) and i've almost tried it all.
(5)John L.
Good food great staff and always friendly . Great for take out also. Pulled pork with chicken sandwich is great
(5)Ethan B.
A wonderful slice of the south right here in the OC. Even the location on the edge of a residential neighborhood makes it feel just right. Super family friendly, they have a little playground for the little ones. The BBQ Bahia are a great are to share with a date and you will both be fully satisfied, but some potato salad and some blueberry corn bread won't hurt. :) If you want great BBQ this is your place. Just be aware that thy close pretty early. It's a bummer when you show up at 7:30 and they are about to close
(5)Lauren M.
Amazing BBQ!!! i wish I lived next door.
(5)Jesse D.
Good BBQ is tough to do. Really good BBQ is really tough to do. Unfortunately Beach Pit, for me, didn't reach either one of those benchmarks. Smoking meat is difficult. It takes a skillful pitmaster to do it well enough to impart flavor without drying out the meat. The only saving grace was the bottles of sauces that are readily available to smother the pile of seeming dry kindling between bread. It is also a counter-service style place with little or no waitstaff. So, any time you need anything, you're forced to get up from your seat and trudge up to the counter. You want another beer? Get up and go order another one and put another miniscule charge on your card. It's a bummer! Sadly, Beach Pit BBQ has been permanently scratched from an already too short list of BBQ places I am able to frequent here in Orange County!
(2)Jacqui S.
I just moved here from North Carolina and was worried I wouldn't have good bbq ever again, but this place definitely hit the spot. Absolutely delicious and the bbq sauce is just hot enough. Its a super relaxed place with very good customer service, needless to say I will definitely be coming back!!!
(5)Mike A.
Excellent BBQ. Go to the side tables if you want to have an adult dinner without the kids running around the play ground. If you have kid and want to let them run around, you are in luck.
(4)Brandon C.
Wow! So surprised by my experience at beach pit bbq today. I haven't been here for at least a year and this place has really gone down hill in my opinion. Today I ordered a breakfast burrito for $8.99. The eggs were overcooked. Way too many onions and bell peppers and I like those vegetables in a breakfast burrito. So many veggies that a waterfall was coming out the bottom of my burrito each time I took a bite. They put literally a couple little pieces of pulled pork inside that lacked any flavor. Not worth what I paid. Also their best dish was the tri tip sandwich, but they don't sell tri tip anymore. Sorry to see a great place ruined. I will not be back again.
(2)Stephanie S.
Came on Saturday afternoon. Super mellow atmosphere, great food. Pulled pork sandwich, greatness made into a sandwich
(5)Rocky N.
Excellent Visit to a great California BBQ Place. Best Smoked Chicken Wings of all time! I dont know what the spice rub is.. but, it matches well with the smoke!! I love the vinegar coleslaw and the Mac and Cheese. The Grilled Green Beans are out of this world and maybe the best way to prepare them. Service was really good. the owner was super attentive to my needs. I tried to order online and couldnt.. so I made a phone order.. he gave me a Free bottle of their BBQ sauce for the trouble. (Which it wasnt) This is on my Top 3 List off BBQ in California.
(4)Matt T.
Everything we ordered was great and the Texas Toast Sandwich was Awesome. Even my little kids liked everything. They also had fun on the little backyard style playground. I will definitely go again.
(5)Anh N.
FASTREVIEW: nothing particularly spectacular. simple bbq items that can be had anywhere. *pros: no surprises, food is exactly as you'd imagine it to taste. *cons: no surprises, food is exactly as you'd imagine it to taste. plus seating is extremely limited we had a groupon and on this particular evening they were sold out of every meat except chicken wings and pork. this review will be about those 2 meats then... lol i had the texas toast pork sandwich and frankly, i expected texas toast to be soft, lightly toasted and deliciously buttery. much like texas toast ive had for a lobster roll from the lobster truck but really it just tasted like white bread, cut in thick slices. this sandwich is as boring as it gets so i guess my pros and cons are a bit off. it did not taste as i imagined, but it wasn't bad. it simply wasn't tasty. we had the hot wings, which were flavorful, piping hot and plentiful. these tasted normal. if you're looking for normal, here it is! the venue is quite small, as a friend of mine reviewed about. there are 5-6 tables inside, half of which can hold a party of 4 the other half, parties of 2. picnic seating outside is plentiful but on a cold night near the coast, it isn't the best place to sit. we californians have no tolerance for cold. so this place is not one id come back to because it doesnt offer anything that couldnt be had closer to my house.
(3)Nikki W.
BBQ was good! The wait wasn't long at all. I didn't give them 5 stars because they forgot my Mac n cheese made it all the way home and it wasn't in my bag. With what I pay for BBQ food I do expect everything I pay for to be there
(4)Daniel Z.
Had to come here for a birthday party. The servers were not polite, they tried to lie about their hours. I understand closing early if it's slow. But talking about the party they need to go to and saying "oh our website isn't up to date." I'm pretty sure their website isn't yelp, google and plenty of other sites. Just be straight up. Customer service is crucial and this place has none. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. No matter how good their food may be. (Mixed veggies are decent)
(1)Cory S.
Food: 1.5/5 Value: 1/5 Overall 1/5 I just don't get it. NONE of the BBQ was good, fries and the kid's grilled cheese were the best part! Chicken=bland, tri-tip=dry, pulled pork = better but would not eat it again, ribs = okay with lots of sauce. When Costco ribs are WAY better, that's when you know you are not a great BBQ spot. Family of four shared a rib/chicken plate, 3-item combo (chicken, tri-tip, veggies), and kids grilled cheese, no drinks... $55. Too much for mediocre food.
(1)Adam U.
Excellent take out spot for BBQ, we had a big group over and got a big order, on time and food was great. Ribs fantastic, chicken was pretty good, excellent sides, blueberry cornbread an absolute must, salad great, will definitely do it again.
(4)Jaclyn L.
I want to love this place, but I cannot. I have visited Beach Pit a number of times since it opened. My husband (from Memphis) and I were hoping it could be our go-to BBQ place. We've been to many of the BBQ joints featured in the photos on their walls. We are pleased to find that Beach Pit, like them, knows what real BBQ is: smoked meat. All in all, the food is fair to the tradition. It's the service that is the problem. On multiple visits across multiple years with multiple types of orders (large ones for parties and brief visits for lunch), service has been a problem. It feels like the management doesn't even want you there. A few times I walked up to the counter just to watch the staff walking around. The last time it was the manager that was doing this: no "hello," no hollering out for anyone to help us up front ... just walking around slowly clearing a table. It was awkward. We came in jolly; we left annoyed. The tipping point was when I called recently to confirm the details of a large pick-up order. The first call: voicemail. The second: a hang up. The third: busy. The last: a snippy man named John (possibly the owner) who said that he had other orders to fill before getting to my own. Okay then ... This place could stand a chance if management changes. Until then, I won't be inconveniencing Beach Pit any more with my business.
(1)Eden O.
Picked up some takeout for dinner, order was ready within 10 minutes on a Sat night at 7pm. The restaurant is in a cute little house tucked off 17th, I never knew it existed before. I ordered the fried pickles, one meat plate of pulled pork with mac and cheese (as my choice side) and the complimentary coleslaw. I also used the Yelp check in offer and got a free cup of banana pudding. The fried pickles were a bit disappointing, they use the pre-sliced jarred pickles, the batter was more like a breading and not that appetizing. Serving size was a huge basket, unfortunately ended up wasting a lot. The pulled pork was a bit dry and didn't really have any flavor unless I dunked it in their BBQ sauce (choice of three). However, they give you a generous serving. I ate half for dinner and saved the rest for lunch the next day. The mac and cheese was one of my favorite parts of this meal, wish they had given me slightly more. The coleslaw was tangy? . . . they apparently use a non-mayo recipe to help us with our waistlines. My favorite part of the meal was the banana pudding, I would go back to this place just for that. Even better I got it for free! Prices were fair considering the portion sizes, but overall was not that enthused with taste.
(2)Bridgette B.
We had them cater lunch today and everyone raved. We are already talking about when we can bring them back.!
(5)Drew S.
Love this place. Blueberry cornbread completes me! Great for my quick fix bbq urges. The reason I didnt give it the full 5 stars is because I have had some misses on the meat..... A few times it has been overly dry, or my food has come out more then chilled.... But the service is always amazing!
(4)Miss J.
Good food. Brisket slider was awesome and so were the beans. Only problem was I told them I was allergic to chicken, ordered pork and brisket was given chicken and brisket and when I expressed concern that it was indeed chicken, I was assured that it was pork. Like an idiot I took a bite and immediately regretted it. Not cool to not pay ANY attention to their customers allergies. Especially when I asked multiple times. I finally got my correct order but by that time I couldn't eat it. Next time I'm going to order only brisket so there can be NO confusion. The beans were pretty good.
(2)V Z.
Tucked away off Tustin you will find Beach Pit. The building looks as if I were in the deep south, say Memphis, TN or Clarksdale, MS (Morgan Freeman home town.) Inside the place is spotless and neat. Walk up to the counter make an order of smoke pork, brisket, chicken, turkey and we are in Orange County so smoked veggies as well. Great sandwiches and salads too. The list of sides is deep including my favorite collard greens and Mac-n-cheese. While I didn't go with the special Texas toast sandwich there were 4-5 folks who did. The way they talked about the sandwich made me think I might have missed the specialty of the house but my 2 meat plate was sublime. I had the pork and brisket with side of collards. Delicious and would certainly have this same meal again. The price is right do he quality meats as portion size.
(4)Venibabe C.
This place is over rated. Everything was boiled instead of smoked. BBQ sauce was not good. Pulled pork was bland and just boiled pork.... Not much flavor. Needless to say, I was disappointed. The cashier was rude and ignored us when we walked in. Instead of attending to us and taking our orders, she started talking to another customer asking if she was depressed and just bs talking! WTH!!! This place needs to be more attentive to their customers. Not coming back to place at all!!!
(1)Toni L.
My coworkers and I probably ate every last thing on the menu so I think I can adequately summarize what this place is all about: QUANTITY. Food: Ribs, pulled pork, mac and cheese, beans, this place has it all and plenty of it. We ordered multiple single meals in addition to the $80 family deal which includes a rack of St. Louis Spare Ribs, two other kinds of meat (I think we got the pulled pork and beef brisket), and three quarts of sides. Yes, quarts! Also, you get sauce. Buckets and buckets of sauce. We had so much sauce left over that you could probably fill a kiddie pool with it. Ok, not that much, but it was way more than any one human should ever ingest. For sides, we tried almost every single thing on the menu including the fried okra ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), mac and cheese ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), sweet potato fries ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), a full tray of salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/DIm4… ), greens, BBQ beans, coleslaw, potato salad, and corn bread. The sides were impressive. People were fighting over the mac and cheese towards the end and I especially appreciated the fried okra. Also the bean sauce is pretty superb. However, I found the meat sort of dry and tasteless. I'd probably go to Lucille's over Beach Pit if the decision were made solely on food alone. Atmosphere: This place definitely excels in creating a friendly dining environment. Strands of tiny lights hang above the outdoor seating like fireflies. Since most of the restaurant is actually a patio, they have an insane number of heat lamps for outdoor face stuffing and tons of long benches. I felt like a kid at a picnic. Seating is somewhat limited in the front of the restaurant but there is a bit of space inside and a section in the back. The heat lamps in the back are more scarce so beware if you are cold-blooded. Service: It took a lot of effort to order, but it probably had something to do with the 20 or so people at our table rather than their staff. Synopsis: Fun times here, but I can't excuse the dry meat. Come if you love to drown everything in delicious sauce.
(3)