The much-anticipated return of barbecue to the Fillmore has arrived with the opening of Black Bark BBQ.
Black Bark comes to us from the same husband-and-wife team behind 1300 On Fillmore — conveniently located across the street — Chef David Lawrence and Fillmore native Monetta White. And it wasn't easy. For months, the two focused their energy on the permitting issues that come with installing an indoor meat smoker.
Despite the difficulty San Francisco restaurateurs — and home renovators, store owners, and just about everyone else — face with trying to build stuff out, the city was very much behind Lawrence and White's mission, which was evident when Mayor Ed Lee himself arrived to cut the ribbon on the Fillmore's first barbecue restaurant in 15 years.
The Texas-inspired menu includes Chef Lawrence's famous ribs, hot links, bourbon mac 'n' cheese with cornbread crust, sweet potato casserole, and a genuine sweet tea. Insider tip: Order both the sweet tea and the lemonade, then mix them together to make a killer Arnold Palmer — but do it subtly because that's a strange thing to do in a restaurant. Or maybe you can be a normal person and just ask them to do it for you. Either way, totally worth it. The BBQ was excellent — inventive without deviating from what makes barbecue barbecue —and even enjoyable to my vegetarian sister, who I snuck in (but probably didn't need to; why am I being so shady?).
But Black Bark is more than just an eatery. As a 1300 On Fillmore fan, I couldn't miss the opening, which included the chance to hear Mayor Lee abbreviate the name of the restaurant to "BB BBQ," despite it being the same number of syllables as the actual name.
Their commitment to the community is just as remarkable as the food. As White said, "We're both heavily involved in the community and want to see it grow and develop while simultaneously paying homage to its past as a place people used to come to for this kind of food." It was clear she meant it, since a large portion of their staff lives in the surrounding neighborhood.
Black Bark's interior is industrial and clean, but organized in such a way that it would be easy to strike up a conversation with a new friend. We especially enjoyed the deeply relatable slogans on the wall, including "Every butt loves a rub," and "We love big butts."
As a BBQ lover and a big-butt-haver, I am excited about this new addition to the city.
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