70 Days Across America
Everett and Jones Berkeley and Everett and Jones Oakland are famous for Alabama style barbecue. The menu runs from sliced beef brisket, smoked chicken, homemade links, and smoked pork ribs to sides, salads, and decadent desserts. But which outlet is better?
In This Post
Why I’m Here …
So what am I doing in Berkeley?
Berkeley was a key stop on the Northern California leg of my epic journey, 70 Days Across America.
In fact, I ended up spending about two weeks there because of a very cool cultural centre across the street from my motel. But that will be the subject of another post.
My previous stops included San Francisco, Los Altos, Napa Valley, Concord, Oakland, the Tri-Valley Area, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento.
Arrival in Berkeley
After checking out of my hotel in Sacramento, I called Grab and headed to the train station. I had a simple lunch at Starbucks before boarding a train to Berkeley. And the trip took me through some breathtaking scenery.
Upon arrival in Berkeley, I decided to walk from the Berkeley Amtrak Station to my motel on San Pablo Avenue. And I passed Everett and Jones at about the two-thirds point.
Actually, the aroma attracted my attention before I had even seen the sign. And when I saw the place, I thought, “I know what I’m having for dinner tonight!”
After unpacking and settling in, I decided to walk back and get some takeout.
Everett & Jones – Berkeley
Put your diet on hold and order some Q at this East Bay institution. I’m talking Comfort food with a capital C!
Surveying the options, I settled on a Pork Ribs Dinner, which came with a choice of two sides.
I chose BBQ beans and potato salad. Of the three sauces (mild, medium, and hot) I chose hot. And I asked for “extra sauce”.
Not sure if you can make it out in the picture. But there was sauce EVERYWHERE!!!
Not only was the very generous portion of meaty ribs swimming in sauce. Also, there was even sauce surrounding the potato salad and under the beans.
Love that special requests are treated with such R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!
It came to US$15.95 plus tax And there was enough for two dinners – tonight and tomorrow night.
For the record, the meats are barbecued ON SITE and removed from the oven just minutes before you arrive. Then they are allowed to rest.
And they are only carved AFTER you place your order.
This is SOUL food at its soulful best.
Repeat Visit?
I told my long lost cousins about the place. And I must have made a convincing case.
Originally, we were going to eat dinner at their upscale yacht club. But I got a call at the last minute, with a suggested change in plans.
“Meet us in front of Everett & Jones,” my cousin said.
“If you order, I’ll pay. Then we’ll take you over to our place, where we can crack open a nice bottle of wine.”
Dinner at Cousins House
All I can say is, the Q was a big hit. In fact, my cousins had a house guest from North Carolina. And this was his comment:
“I’m from North Carolina, which is famous for barbecue. But this is TWICE as good as anything I’ve had in North Carolina.”
Not faint praise!
Following dinner, my cousin asked if I really wanted to be driven back to my motel.
“You can sleep on the sofa,” he suggested. “And we can finish up the leftovers for lunch!”
And I said sure, as long as we could crack open another bottle of that fabulous wine (which was their own label).
As for lunch, well, there wasn’t much meat left. But there was LOTS of sauce!
So we dipped some of that crusty sourdough French bread that the San Francisco Bay Area is justifiably famous for in the leftover sauce.
If I remember correctly, my cousin made a nice salad to go with it.
And I was then driven back to my motel on San Pablo Avenue.
Everette & Jones – Downtown Oakland
Sidewalk seating at Everett and Jones in downtown Oakland. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.
There is another E&J outlet near Jack London Square in downtown Oakland, which is much classier and much more famous.
In fact, that is where I had lunch with an old friend from my Merritt College days, whom I hadn’t seen in decades.
And what a pleasure it was reminiscing about the good old day before setting out on a Grand Tour of my hometown – that post is coming.
As for the food, well, it was very good. But the one in Berkeley was better, much better (as much as it hurts my Oaktown pride to concede that).
In fact, I would have to say that the three meals I enjoyed at Everett and Jones in Berkeley were HANDS DOWN the BEST meals I had on my epic journey, 70 Days Across America.
Where
There are three Everett and Jones outlets, one in Berkeley and two in Oakland.
- Berkeley Everett and Jones – 1955 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, California (near University Avenue).
- Jack London Square Everett and Jones – 126 Broadway, Oakland, California (near Jack London Square).
- East Oakland Everett and Jones – 4245 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, California.
This post is part of a series on my epic journey, 70 Days Across America. It contains affiliate links.