Oaks Open Pit Bbq

This is a local’s place. We discovered it on our first trip to Siesta Key 10 years ago and stopped by because the parking lot was full of blue collar vehicles at lunch time. Always a good sign. We were not disappointed. Friendly service and good bbq at a good price. Is it the best bbq you’ve ever had? No. But, we’d come back.

Been going to The Oak’s on and off for about 25-​years and just about every time I come in for a BBQ pork sandwich, I end up with the damn special, whatever it may be!
Had the Cheeseburger with pepper jack cheese and fried Jalapeños last night and finally thought I should leave a review, even though my food has always been delicious there. The burger was cooked perfect. got med rare — as usual — and was delicious yet again! One day I’ll figure out why the special is $.75 more expensive than the cheeseburger yet only comes with one side?
Either way, one of the best burgers in town, tasty fresh lemonade, always friendly service.
See ya’ next time.

Food was luke warm and two people in my party were sick all night long with food poisoning. Pretty sure they cook the food one day and reheat it the rest of the week.

Best just to skip it. Tried it and have been sorry ever since. What they serve here has nothing to do with BBQ. The ribs were dried out and tough, not the juicy, falling-​off-​the bone ribs that one would expect. The cole slaw was just awful and the greens medicinal-​tasting.

Best ever. BBQ pork with spicy sauce. The best. Don’t miss this gem. All home cooked meals and nothing like anywhere else. Sauce is the best! HUGE fries too…

Let me start of with saying our waitress was fantastic and the place was clean. Sigh… now for the bad. I hate to give any restaurant a single star, but this place was very disappointing!
I ordered the BBQ turkey sandwich with mac and cheese and coleslaw as a side. The turkey sandwich was good, but the meat needed better seasoning. The coleslaw was very sweet but was tolerable. The mac and cheese was horrible… it was dry and tasted like it came straight from the box. They allowed me to exchange my mac and cheese for baked beans.
My husband order the fish and chicken combo with baked beans and coleslaw. The meat had almost no seasoning. The chicken did not have the smokie grill taste and was dry. The beans were good but he hated the sweet coleslaw and the pickle relish in it. He was exchanged his coleslaw for french fries. The fries were obviously refried as they were dark, burnt, crunchy and extremely greasy… they were horrible. When the waitress saw the fries she commented that they didn’t look appetizing and «sometimes customers come in ask for fresh french fries and she will make a specific request to the chef.» Are you kidding me. I didn’t realize I had to make a specific request for my food the be fresh!
Did I mention that the house BBQ sauce was very ketchup-​ie? On the bright side they have a hot, mild and honey BBQ sauce to chose from.
The waitress did a wonderful job changing our sides out and trying to make us happy. Howrver, at the end of the day the food was not good and I feel like we wasted our money.

Hadn’t eaten here in years. Wonderful smokey smell in parking lot did not translate to the ribs. Large meaty tender but little smokiness. Carolina style sauce very good

On vaca and decided to bring kiddos here and check this out. AMAZING! Will return again before we go home! Huge portions, even the kids meals were delish!!!

Were vacationing in Sarasota last week. Ate Sunday lunch there because we saw the «Sundays kids eat free sign.» (We have 4 kids). We did not know what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised. The BBQ was excellent. The server was pleasant and attentive. The place was packed by the time we finished eating (we got there right at noon when they opened on Sunday). The prices were very reasonable and kids meals were good sized portions. The place is nothing fancy, but the atmosphere and food are just the way a BBQ place should be.

Only went there once, and we were the ONLY ones in the joint, which scared us a bit, but I thought pork, and accompanying sauces were outstanding, but being from Brooklyn, well, what do I know?
Anyway, I was afraid to try brisket of beef, as it’s always hit or miss, I don’t care where you’re from– either fabulous, or tasteless. Maybe next time. Sides mediocre at best, obviously CANNED green beans, slaw not memorable, fries were of frozen steak variety, eh, etc.
Waitresses were polite, but how about that «free refill» you never got around to serving me– after all, we were the ONLY ones in the place, ya know? Look alive, you broads, or next time you get tipped like a native Floridian (stack of about seven quarters seems to be the norm) instead of a New Yorker.
WARNING: There’s an old adage that if a restaurant’s toilets are dirty, don’t stop to look over the menu– run! After all, the owners KNOW the customers can SEE a filthy restroom, so imagine what the kitchen (a place where the customers CAN’T see) must look like. Oooffaa! Urinal, which is just inches from tiny sink, hasn’t been scrubbed since Reagan was in office.
Still, I WILL go back, and maybe bring friends. Will give update on my experience when that occurs. In the meantime, YOU, my dear reader, may exhale…
OK, ready?
I DID go back a second time, for lunch the other day, and ordered brisket of beef, figuring it may be fresh that time of day– wrong! No way in hell was this dried out tasteless crap made that day, or even the day before, and no matter how many BBQ sauces I added, it did NOTHING to make it edible.
Dining mate’s food just as bad, and she’s still complaining. We both left the place starving.
Wouldn’t go back if they gave the food away, and that’s not a figure of speech.

I’m a local, there are not to many BBQ places in town, I have eaten at The Oaks in the past, decided to stop in for lunch. The food is very good, very tasty, I’ll say the best in the Sarasota area! The best BBQ in Sarasota. Southern style chopped pork, beef, ham and other meats, xxcellent ribs and chicken. Several sides to pick from. The baked beans and cole slaw. I love them! Also is you like really sweet tea, this is the place, delivered in large glasses!
If you are hungry, this is the place with the all you can eat platters, You can sample plenty of the meats and all of the sides.
I love this place, it’s clean, service is good, staff is friendly, and the tea is sweet! I will always go back. Enjoy!

First off the 1 star is for the service and the quantity not quality. Had the recommended pork. Not very good. And the ribs. Ok not fall off the bone. The Mac and cheese tasted like it was from a box and the slaw was just ok. They only have one BBQ sauce and it is nothing special. I almost got the brisket but chose against it. Price is right if you will eat anything. BBQ is an art and they are not artists.

The Oaks has survived longer than any other bbq joint in Sarasota adn for good reason. They used to be a little further south at US 41 & Clark Road. If you’re looking for large great smoked ribs do what we do during the work week and drive by all the other bbq places to go here. If you’re looking for great atmosphere this is not the best choice. The ribs are the largest around and the flavor is so good I can enjoy them without sauce which is unheard of for me. However, there sauces are great too. The meats are all very good and the atmosphere is average (needing some serious updating) so I give them a «very good». Wait until you see the ribs come out, you will laugh at how much bigger they are than anyone elses in the area.
Enjoy.

Not sure about Kendall’s taste buds! Despite the staff’s friendliness and courtesy, the food is not really good ;(
I really wanted to like it, but I think I could make better BBQ which is super sad.
The only way this place stays open is with loyal locals and that’s good for them ;)
If you’re looking for all you can eat BBQ and you’re all about quantity vs. quality, then this is the place for you.

If you are looking for really great BBQ, this isn’t it! If you are looking for mediocre, this isn’t it! If you have never had BBQ, do yourself a favor and do NOT eat here, otherwise you will never know what you will be missing, you will just assume all BBQ must really suck and will probably never want to try it again!

You can get better barbecue in a gas station and that’s just sad.

What a BBQ joint should be. Small, cozy. Friendly staff who call you «Hon», «sweetie», «babe». Properly smoked, tender meats, generous portions, cold beer & sweet tea. Awesome!

A little old mom and pop looking BBQ joint that serves all-​you-​can-​eat ribs, how could you possibly go wrong… Well apearantly you can.
FOOD: Let me just say that I have certain (I would says obvious) expectations when I order ribs. I expect them to be falling off the bone, or if not, smoked to deliciousness. What I don’t expect is ribs so dry, chewy and bland, It makes Sonny’s seem like a 5-​star steakhouse. Well what about the sides you ask? Well the Coleslaw sucks! IT SUCKS… How do you possibly screw that up?! Now the french fries were good, I’ll give them that, but whoopity-​doo!
SERVICE: We showed up at 7:30 (1 hour before they close) and ordered the all-​you-​can-​eat ribs. If you show up at that time don’t even bother with all-​you-​can-​eat because YOU WON“T GET IT! Our waitress (who was nice to a point) kept telling us that the kitchen was closing and we had to get our second (and final) order in because the kitchen was closing. She asked us if we wanted more right after she had brought out our first plate! She kept reminding us that they were closing, and let’s face it, they wanted to get the hell out of their. Wow what a good way to to make your costumers feel welcome.
To sum it up: It sucks!

Only 2 stars b/​c I liked the waitress. Food was not good. It wasn’t awful or toxic or anything like that. My co-​eater compared it to the dining hall at university. It just was not quality barbeque. Cheap, though. However, I would take the Dollar Menu at McD over a return trip to this place.

Let’s face it, the BEST BBQ in Sarasota is always served my a couple guys that set up a smoker in a gas station parking lot (I recommend the guys that set up outside the Banana Factory in Bradenton… you can’t beat their $ 2 smoked mullet and their ribs are fantastic)
Anyways, back to the Oaks. I really like this place. I usually get their $ 10 all you can eat on my way home from rugby practice or after a long day at work. It always hits the spot. For the all you can eat, you can choose from pork ribs, pulled/​chopped pork, chicken, and fried fish. You choose 2 and can change your pick when you reorder. My favorites are the ribs and chopped pork. All of the meat is served with sauce on the side, which is perfect for guys like me that don’t enjoy the sugary sauce that some places smother their meat in. The chicken is tasty and the fried pollock also hits the spot. The breading is tasty and the fish is sustainable, which makes me happy.
My favorite side is the turnip greens… and the fries are tasty as well.
This place reminds me of Merlotte’s from True Blood. Animal heads on the walls and around the restaurant including taxidermied bears and swamp monkeys. Haha. The staff is really friendly and personable, one of my favorite things about the Oaks.
Don’t pass on the fried pickles, either.