Barrel & Ashes

I keep going back to Barrel and Ashes! Loved the service. Loved how fast our food came out. The hoe cake is one of the best things I have ever had. Also, you have to try the shell Mac n cheese, hush puppies, brisket and spare ribs. Yum!!! See you soon B&A!

Complete disappointment.
My first and only visit to try the brisket that’s supposed to be their specialty. And… Awful! Gross. Ripoff.
At $ 32.00/lb. — And that’s with NO SIDES — it was HALF FAT. Sides, BTW, like baked beans… $ 7.00. For BAKED BEANS. Seriously.
So for my $ 16.00 ½ lb. lunch portion, HALF of that was $ 8.00 of FAT. And the brisket is apparently brined which makes no sense, making it MUSHY and more like over-​cooked POT ROAST than respectable Texas brisket.
When I point out the fat to the waitress, she says «Yup, brisket’s a fatty meat». Thanks. But not at a decent restaurant it isn’t. I’ll stick with Dr. H-W’s or the Swingin’ Door.

Let me start off by saying, I LOVE CONDIMENTS!
Mustard, mayo, ketchup, horseradish, Tabasco, Sriracha any spread, dip, rub, salsa, you name it, I like it. I use condiments on almost everything including Cocoa Puffs.
That being said, I ordered the Cheeseburger here today for lunch. It came to me perfectly proportioned both vertically and horizontally. It was really beautiful. As good as it looked, it smelled even better. So, before I could ask our waiter for mayo, mustard or anything else my whacked mind could think of, I took a bite. Low and behold this little gem didn’t need a lick of anything. I was in shock! It was really scrumptious just the way it was. So I ate it like it was. It was really really (1) really (2) really (3) good! The meat had just the right amount of fat. Cooked «On The Money» medium rare, it was beyond tasty. The caramelized onions added just the right amount of sweetness and the bacon was not too salty for a real good balance. The pickle was so New York, I loved it.
The tater fries were also very good, but I went for the ketchup here. The service was great and the ambiance was warm and comfortable and the bar makes a wicked Arnold Palmer. What else could you ask for?
I had a Very nice lunch in a Very nice restaurant. Like our retired Govenator used to say — I’ll Be Back!

We recently hired Barrel & Ashes to cater our small wedding reception with pulled pork, hoe cakes, shells & cheese, and Caesar salad. Wow, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
Anyway, the whole experience was a simple and stress-free…and delicious.
Matt was extremely helpful in walking us through the whole process and recommending proper portioning to mitigate leftovers.
We also hired Abraham and Jillian from B&A as chef and bartender, and they were efficient, courteous, and professional throughout the evening.
I wholeheartedly recommend B&A, whether you need catering or you’re just dining out.
Incidentally, they also have a terrific brunch.

Southern boy here, Southern Cali that is .
Had a memorable lunch here and will definitely be back soon as I only got to try three items .
Came here on Sunday around 2 before brunch was done as I was fiending the ho cakes I saw on the food network from here. They had a ho cake and fried chicken special and I added a sweet potato for good measure to get in touch with my southern Cali roots .
Fried chicken: 4.5 out of 5. Almost mind blowing as the batter was spiced with some familiar bbq smoke flavor and was perfectly crunchy and tender. The breast was impressively cooked to perfection
Ho cake: 4 out of 5. Deliciously buttery and tasted even more decadent with my added side of butter. There was some heat to this wish mixed well with the chicken and syrup. Perfect combo, gotta say it beats chic and waffles anyday .
Sweet potatoe: 3.5 out of 5. Cooked well, was pre buttered which was nice. Could have used some more herbal accents to sparked this up, but it was pretty basic and tasty .
Overall I’m excited to return and try there chicken sandwich and actual bbq !

Best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. Also drinks are great. Service really good also. Will Coke back.

Been wanting to try this place for a while… And I did. Nothing special.
Draft beer costs $ 9. Didn’t know I was at a «$$$$» restaurant. Yeesh.
Smoked Chicken breast had a weird taste. Didn’t even eat it.
Coleslaw was atrocious. Who puts paprika and celery in coleslaw? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it folks.
Tri tip was really good but fatty and took forever to chew through.
Music was way too loud. I get they want a «bar vibe» but at least change your hours to close till after 10pm. If not, then lower the volume to a regular dining establishment so people can at least have conversations without screaming.
Great tater tots and I’d come back simply for the hoe cake.
Server was really nice.
Extremely uncomfortable to sit on the outside seats at the common tables. Huge table legs don’t give any knee room especially for ladies who are taller and like to cross their legs.
Wouldn’t return. Maybe if I crave the 2000 calorie hoe cake one day but that’s all.

My friend saw this place on the food network. Hoe cake is amazing!!! Is a great barbecue Texas style joint. I will definitely come back to try the brunch here.

Okay, I am little late in posting this but I must say that the food is GREAT! And the service is fantastic too!
I came here a while back with my cousin and we had never been here before, so we were encouraged to sit at the kitchen counter. GOOD CHOICE! It’s a little smokey, but you get to see all of the food as it comes out. And when the cooks have a little extra, the pass it your way!
We had the brisket, hush puppies, the hoe cake (A MUST!), shells and cheese, jalapeño sausage, and the smoked chicken. ALL WAS SO GOOD!!! Then we finished it off with the banana pudding… YES PLEASE!!!
We also got a chance to talk to Kenny, the manager (I think) and he was super cool to talk to!
We will definitely go back! You should try this place! Its AMAZING!!!

A little after a year since my first experience here we decided to go back for dinner. I called for a reservation for 4 at 8:00 and the lady said the only reservation available was 8:30 after giving me a hard time for a few minutes. ok fine. We get there and it’s not crowded. Probably less than half the restaurant is occupied, which made me think why they gave me hard time on the phone. Then they seat us at the communal high top table right next to the door and I ask if we could sit at another private table for 4 and the host replies «we book the whole restaurant».
Look at the menu and don’t see the chicken sandwich. I ask and was told it’s not on the menu because it’s the 26^th and yesterday was Christmas which doesn’t make any sense as if fried chicken breast isn’t available after Christmas?
After 10 – 15 minutes at the communal table we are freezing as a huge draft comes in each time the front door opens. I look around and the restaurant is still half empty and the nice little table for 4 that I wanted is still available. At this point I’m annoyed and more assertively asked to me moved. They kinda ignored me, but began moving things over. This type of poor service already had me annoyed but I was hoping the food would make up for it.
Fast forward to the food. The brisket was RUBBER. The ribs were tough on the outside and slimy on the inside. The salads were awful. The only things that were edible were the hoe cake and the tater tots.
We ended up paying $ 240 for rude service and awful food. Really ruined my initial experience and needless to say I’m never going back.

During this cold weather I was craving something comforting and filling. My friend had mentioned Barrel before as he said they had real good ribs. I’m not one to jump on bbq but for some reason it sounded like it would hit the spot. Parking is valet. The inside is cozy and warming. I liked the interior, a bit southern with modern and rustic. The kitchen is open so you can see them making the goods.
We ordered a drink that was a special of the night. I don’t remember the name but I think it had tequila and jalapeño. At first sip it was spicy and really had that kick lingering in your taste bud, but after a couple of sips it grows on you and I actually found it refreshing.
_​Hush Puppies ($ 4) Honey butter. Comes in 3 medium sized balls. Our waiter mentioned he dropped one on the way so he brought back a new one that was way smaller than the other 2. The inside was warm and tasty and the outside was nicely fried. Served with honey butter that was not necessary as it had no taste and just seemed like fat. The hush puppies were great on its own.
_​The Best Damn Chick’n Sandwich ($ 9) Coleslaw, jalapeño, pimento cheese, milk roll. The pictures looked great and the name said it. However it was one of my least chicken sandwich ever. The chicken was cooked well and the crust outside was nicely crisp but needed more flavor as it was a tad bland. Which is where the sandwich as a whole should come together but that’s where it was all downhill. The bread did not do anything but just get soggy, the coleslaw could have been added more as well as more flavor on the coleslaw, and the pimento cheese was lost and not necessary. The sauce which I’m not sure what it was it was dragged the whole sandwich down. I only ate half and just the chicken at that. Comes with a side of bite sized hash browns that were good but nothing amazing.
_​Brisket (¼lb $ 12 /​/​½lb $ 19 /​/​1lb $ 31) Greater Omaha C.A.B. The brisket was pretty good. My friend said they have great brisket, but last time he came said it was dry so inconsistent as you can say. But we gave it a try and this time it was fresh and perfectly smoked. So juicy and perfectly sliced this would have went well with some greens.
_​Spare Ribs (Half rack $ 19 /​/​Full Rack $ 37) Salmon Creek farms. We got half rack. And it was enough for 2, maybe even 3 since we got other dishes. Good amount of bbq sauce, the beef fell off the bone as you chewed into it.
_​Hoe Cake ($ 6) Maple butter. They said it’s kind of like a corn bread but no, I would say more like a pancake. Either way it was great! Served on a hot skillet. You can see the butter bubbling on the side. I would say good to share with 3 people. This would be perfect if their was corn inside but still good to eat on it’s own and the beef. I definitely wish I got some greens because after everything was getting real rich.
Service was great. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. Gratuity is already included in the check at 18%.

Read below about the gratuity issue… I do have a problem with it, but the rating here is mostly because the food is just so-​so and this place is very, very noisy with uncomfortable seats. We’re not from the south but lived there for 5 years and the food here could not hold a candle to southern comfort food, if that’s what they’re going for. It’s confusing, and not worth the money or the calories, in my opinion. The spare ribs were okay, but not very tender. The shells and cheese tasted bland and the sauce was a bit gritty. The pear and endive salad was not very tasty. And the pulled pork was just okay, too.
The menu is just one sheet with items only on the front (see front and back photos). I like that the menu is limited so they can focus on their specialty, but there really aren’t enough decent vegetable choices. We asked about vegetable side dishes, but the only one they have that’s green and leafy is collard greens with bacon. Only two salads on the menu, too, and one isn’t great (pear/​endive) so hope their twist on the Caesar is okay.
Also annoyed by the whole 18% included gratuity. With good service (and they had really good service) we usually tip 20% but who likes to be told what to do? Also, it feels a bit dishonest… like if they don’t draw attention to it they might get double tipped. I think it’s wrong. They should hang signs that tip is included and make that focal point of their branding, if they feel so strongly about it. Make sure it doesn’t slip through the cracks. If someone accidentally adds tip, they should make sure the server points out that service fee is included and ask if they intended to leave extra tip.
I’ve attached a menu where you can see the statement they put on the back of the menu: «…we have included an 18% service charge in lieu of gratuity.» When we received the bill, it included the service fee and they had hand-​stamped «Service Charge Included No Tip Required» in light pink at the very bottom. I don’t think that’s enough of an effort to make me believe they want customers to know because it doesn’t really stand out even though it’s pink. When they brought our card back with the receipts to sign, there was no mention that gratuity was included on those receipts, and there was still a line to add tip (see photo).
Although they are very close to us, I doubt we will return. Just feels like they were trying to pull one over on us. Yuck.

Sometimes our friends disappoint us. While I still think that the brisket at B&A is second only to Bludso’s, and that their hoe cake and burger are heavenly, today I understood why Unilocalers don’t give B&A more stars.
My disappointment can be summed up in two words: brisket fritters. Sounds tasty, yes? Well it did to me. I asked my server what was a brisket fritter exactly? It was described as «a hush puppy wrapped around brisket.» Sounds better than tasty — sounds mighty tasty, so order the brisket fritters I did.
What I got was more akin to a hush puppy than «a hush puppy wrapped around brisket.» In fact, take a look at my photos and see if you can spot the brisket. Upon dissection I found specks of brisket, but nothing more than specks. Certainly no piece (or, wishful thinking, pieces) I could sink my teeth into.
When I called my server over to complain, the response was basically, «oh, well.»
I’ve docked one star for a lousy dish, and one star for a lousy server.

Had been wanting to go to Barrel & Ashes for sometime. Was so very excited when my husband suggested it today.
As we walked in I realized it was much smaller than I had thought. We chose to sit at the table that sits right n front of the kitchen. Was able to see a lit of the items before placing our order.
Ordered the Frito Pie which was good but not great.
The Original Hoe Cake which was one of the best things I have ever had. The ribs which were spectacular and the Best Damn Chicken Sandwich which was very good. Also ordered the Irish Coffee which was both beautiful to look at and delicious to drink.
Atmosphere B+
Service B+
Food A+

First of all Unilocalers double check the bill before you leave a tip as they may have already added an 18% «service fee» to your bill, A sneaky way of hiding a tip in your bill. Somebody told me this was their policy.
So other then not being up front about the «service fee» on a party of 4, the experience was excellent, but not excellent enough to double tip.
So what to get? Our group tried a bunch of stuff and all the food was solid. I especially liked the watermelon salad and brisket.
3 stars as the waiter failed to mention the 18% service fee included in our bill. This could have easily been a 5 star review. That crappy built in service fee policy will cost them a 2 star minimum.

I am a fan of Barrel and Ashes. I absolutely love all their sides (hoe cake in particular). And the frito pie, yum! The pulled pork is my favorite of all their bbq. The brisket can be hit or miss but the smoked sausage is yummy. Is it the best BBQ in Los Angeles? No. But is it one of the best bbq experiences, yes! Great original cocktails. Awesome desserts. Overall they deliver a really fun and flavorful eating experience.
I also hear they make a mean fried chicken sandwich and burger (the burger is only on the lunch menu). I’ve been here twice and I will go back.

This review is ONLY for the hoe cake. I didn’t get a chance to try their infamous BBQ food, so my review isn’t based on their food but their dessert.
I came here one evening with other Unilocalers and we came here just for their hoe cake. I know you’re probably asking me what is a hoe cake? It’s a southern dessert and it’s basically a pancake and a corn beard combined. It was served in a skillet and it was sizzling with green onions on top. A dessert should NEVER have green onions. That’s just weird! The dessert was gritty and it was lacking something and it just didn’t taste right. It was probably the green onions. HA! It’s safe to say that I may never try a hoe cake again, if all hoe cakes taste like that. Our server Ava was awesome. She provided excellent customer service.
The parking here was terrible. I literally circled for 10 minutes looking for parking. There was absolutely no street parking and all the parking meters were taken, so I decided to suck it up and get my car valet, which I’m not a fan of because I’ve seen how valet drivers drive. I may give this place another try, but only for their BBQ food.

Loosen those belt buckles, kids! This is Southern down-​home cooking with a pricey twist. From hoe cakes to Frito pies, this place has every gut-​busting belly bomb you could ask for, and then some. Take a look at the pictures, and you’ll be hard-​pressed not to find something your fatty sensibilities don’t crave.
The booze menu is pretty extensive and have a great selection of cocktails, craft beers, & bitters to satisfy any alcohol connoisseur. Even the coffee lovers have something to rejoice over with a java-​inspired liquor drink involving Irish whiskey, coffee liqueur, Verve coffee, whipped cream, & cinnamon. But for $ 12 a pop, you may just want to order regular coffee.
The food is where it’s at, here. Yes, it’s super heavy, but you may not find anything like it around. The uniqueness and scrumptiousness alone is worth spending your cheat day here. For the full experience I suggest bringing someone with you and sharing some of the more popular dishes.
The Best Damn Chick’n Sandwich Ya Ever had is a clear winner; super savory, made with fried chicken, pimento cheese, & a savory slaw to give it a bit of a sour kick, all served on a brioche bun. As a side, I would suggest a hoe cake– which is basically a corn pancake served on a skillet– made with maple butter & chives, or with all the fixin’s. There are a couple to choose from– both sweet & savory– so it comes down to your tastes. If you’re eating more, I think the regular that comes with the maple butter & chives is perfect.
Some other favorites are the smoked fried chicken, the Frito pie– which you may or may not love, depending on where you’re from– and, of course, the brisket. I mean, who ever heard of down-​home cooking without BBQ & brisket?
The desserts in a place like this are expected to be decadent & ridiculous. They don’t disappoint. They sometimes have unique items on their menu– when I was here, it was a perfectly-​balanced Pineapple Habanero ice cream– but the most popular seems to be the Banana Pudding. It’s a beast of a pudding which comes in a small mason jar with some toasted marshmallow on top & real banana slices mixed in-​between. It’s the perfect way to end that button-​bursting feast you just indulged in. But hey, at least your wallets will be lighter.

A buddy of mine has been asking me to dine here with him for the longest time and we were able to finally try it out last Thursday before flying out to Miami. We were able to make reservations a few weeks out (highly recommended) but had to make a quick change to the number in our party which they were able to accomodate.
Note be careful as to where you park and make sure to read the signs as meter maids are always on the lookout for expired meters and other violations on Ventura.
We were lucky that it wasn’t too hot on Thursday night so sitting outside on the bench wasn’t uncomfortable given we were having a heat wave.
As the waiter was going over the menu and listing off a few recommendations, we ordered a few beers along with the Frito Pie. Now I’ve had this before and though it’s just simply chili and cheese on top of some Fritos, their chili is pretty damn tasty. Definitely a great way to start off your meal with a cold beer.
We decided on ordering a pound of both the brisket and also of the pork roast and a full rack of the spare ribs. The meat along with the 4 sides was plenty of food for 5 of us. The brisket was tender, tasty and had a nice smoke ring. The pork shoulder was also tender and tasty as well. The ribs were ok as well though if going back again I’d stick with the brisket as that was my favorite smoked meat for the night. We ordered the miners potatoes which were basically just rough chopped fries which were perfectly fried to a golden crisp. The shells and cheese were a hit and as tasty as some of the best mac n cheeses out there. Not a big pork and beans type of guy so I can’t comment on that but the grilled corn salad was tasty as well.
Overall, a pretty tasty restaurant located on a busy Ventura Blvd street. Prices were a tad high in my opinion but still worth checking them out.

Unapologetic for the calorie count and the use of cream and butter, Barrel and Ashes has some great comfort food with a Southern BBQ twist. When we showed up around 6pm on a Thursday, the place was already packed! There was even a line of cars waiting to pull up to the valet. Thankfully we had a reservation so we were seated immediately!
The menu here is filled with comfort food favorites like pulled-​pork, wings, chicken, and plenty of beef. They even have the quintessential sides like coleslaw, greens, and even hush puppies! To get things started we got one Frito pie (with chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onion) which came classically served still in the bag. Along with the pie we got the grilled blue prawns (with chili, cilantro, and lime) which were great. The prawns were cooked so the shell basically fell off in one piece!
For my main course I got what only seemed fitting — «The Best Damn Chick’n Sandwich Ya Ever Had» (with coleslaw, jalapeño, and pimento cheese, on a toasted bun). And yes, that’s actually the name it has on the menu! The chicken was fried perfectly and had a nice crunch on the outside while staying juicy on the inside.
To share among the table, we got sides of miner’s potatoes, shells and cheese, and kale caesar salad. The potatoes were crispy and the kale salad was amazing, but the shells (mac) and cheese was the highlight. Incredibly rich and creamy, it was served in a piping hot skillet with some toasted breadcrumbs on top!
Instead of getting a traditional dessert to wrap up the meal, we instead got the hoe cake from the «sides» section of the menu. This round cake was basically fluffy cornbread soaked in syrup. While not rich like a chocolate cake, it had just the right level of sugariness to satisfy.
Barrel and Ashes is a great newcomer to this ever-​changing strip of Ventura Blvd. The later you arrive, the louder the dining room will be (especially if there’s construction upstairs like when we were there), but the food is fantastic so the noise didn’t matter much. Simply put, Barrel and Ashes is not for the diet conscious, but if you’re looking for rich comfort food, this is the spot for you!