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Weho, weho it's off to Baby Blues BBQ We Go

 

The bright blue lights of Baby Blues BBQ caught the attention of my friend and I as we were looking for some good eats while driving down Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. We valet park because of course the street parking is non-existent even on a Sunday night.  As we enter the sounds of Johnny Cash plays in the background.  The place is packed.  I spot two seats at the counter which faces the open line grille. Yes, you can watch all the barbeque action unfold before your very eyes. What caught my eye were the butterfly shrimp cooking on the grille.  Then upon completion they are drizzled with a honey mustard sauce. I am not the biggest shrimp fan but I found myself  fixating on the shrimp and I knew I had to have it. 

 

The service was impeccable. The manager was very attentive to us. He offered us samplings of the beef brisket, pulled pork and the hush puppies. Both the brisket and pulled pork are flavorful; however, I expected there to be a heavier sauce for the brisket. The manager pours an apple cider vinegar concoction over the meat to enhance the flavor. It only drowns the flavor. It is better with out it.  The hush puppies are accompanied with honey butter. The hush puppies stand on their own pretty well embodying mild sweetness but the honey butter is a fantastic pairing if one wants to up the anty of sweetness. The appetizer of choice was the XXX wings meaning it supposed to be so hot that your server will warn you. My friend and I have a high tolerance for heat so the heat level of the wings did not take us aback. Although, this does not mean that the wings are not good. Actually they are tender and brimming with flavor. 

 

The platters at Baby Blues BBQ easily serve two to three people. We shared an order of the Blue Devil platter which come with three sides and cornbread. The cornbread is dark and dense as if cooked in a pan. My friend thought that the cornbread portion was small considering that the platters are typically shared. The sides chosen were collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes and macaroni & cheese. If you are from the south and could care less about pork in your greens then this is bowl of greens you want to have. The collards are cooked with bacon and would please your great grandma. The mashed sweet potatoes were good. The side dish did not wow me. The macaroni & cheese looks and tastes like it came out of a casserole pan. This is a good thing. Many restaurants offer a creamy take on macaroni & cheese but Baby Blues BBQ really strives for an authentic southern take on cuisine. 

 

Baby Blues BBQ is also located in Venice and San Francisco. The West Hollywood location is relatively new. This is a place that I can see coming back to again and again, if not just to try the fried green tomatoes.   

 

For more information: Baby Blues BBQ, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 656-1277.