Bo's Barbecue & Catering

Several years ago I use to go to Bo's everytime I was in town. I had high respect for him as a businessman and what he had done with the restaurant. Food was good most of the time. Portion sizes were always small. \r \r About three years ago the place seemed to have changed I don't know if success created the problem. Bo was no longer friendly the good and service was not as good as before.\r \r I now go to Back Forty Texas BBQ in Pleasant Hill. Food is consistently good, not as expensive and the service is with a smile.\r \r Sorry Bo 5 years ago I would have given you the highest rating possible. more

From Texas myself, I've eaten here 3 times. I was shocked at the prices and portions. The first time I went the BB/Q was good. Maybe they just figure everyone in Lafayette has a six-figure salary. the 2nd and 3rd times, they were out of ribs, the food was incredibly bad compared to the first brisket I'd eaten there. -- and the attitude of the staff was shockingly indifferent. When I spend close to $20/person for my dinner, I at least expect the staff to do it with a smile. You know -- if you ask me to bend over, at least have the decency to grease me up with some kindness. Pros: outdoor section Cons: Way overpriced and inconsistent more

Awkward at best, purchase one of there $5 Bass beers and waited for our friends to join us. After their arrival at 7:00 pm we went to order off the board, and found out they were out of ribs. What? No ribs at Bo's BBQ. Sorry Bo we went else where for dinner. Maybe next time.\r Bad karma.\r \r Pros: There was seating. Cons: No ribs more

Give me a break... I love all types of BBQ and this was a total ripoff. I never feel obligated to rate a place but can not help my self. Just paid $18 bucks after tip for a walk up and order brisket meal. Including about 10 ounces of OK brisket with way too much char on it. 1/3 ear of corn, 2 and a half table spoons of potato salad, a lettuce only salad, and a piece of bread. They had no trouble fitting it on a plate, even with the big piece of bread. I asked for water when I ordered, she said it they will bring it out. When i got my small plate I asked for water again, she never came back. Had to walk up and get it....The owner must go home and make fake email address to create 5 star reviews to offset the negative ones. My hope is that he will reform his business plan. Good thing the portions were small, I went looking for a salad for a diet plate. No salads, very few choices, I ended up getting the diet plate without even ordering one. Pros: good sauce too bad it comes in a half full 2 ounce cup Cons: cost, quantity, service more

BO's is the BEST!!!! We had a birthday party for 40 and everyone( and it is a foodie crowd) was very happy with the BBQ.. The Brisket was absolutely yummy, likewise the ribs-glorious and the chicken and links(special!)- very nice!- the potato salad was delicious- not sure why some folks are not fans- we sure are.\r \r Lots of food, we were able to enjoy the next day with some lucky people from the party and it was very tasty- ah the memories!\r \r I took this as a recommendation from this site and what a great one- Try it, you will like it! Pros: Excellent catering assistence with ordering and prompt delivery with all the necessary accessories more

We are a Lafayette family and we picked up $110 worth of Bo's Barbecue meat for a backyard picnic. When we unwrapped the foil (that was wrapped in the restaurant and not unwrapped again until this time), we found 5 flies and multiple piles of eggs on the meat. When we went for a refund, Bo himself, as well as the manager, we very rude. Consider carefully before eating here. more

When you choose to dine to Bo's, you do it on his terms. Phone orders are not taken. Credit cards are not accepted. Bo's has a concise menu yet some items (like chicken or ribs) may not be available by the time you reach the cashier. You must stand in line to order food, and the line can become very long due in part to the presence of a single cashier who also pours wine, which includes opening bottles and standing by while customers dutifully take sips to ensure their selection is acceptable (and who can blame them...the selection of wines is large and it's not easy to find the perfect wine to accompany ribs, links, brisket and/or chicken). The brisket is superb and highly recommended, and some customers may be attracted to the extraordinarily large selection of beer and soft drinks, but everything else on the menu is ordinary. It is obvious that Bo's has become popular among Lamorinda residents, but that doesn't mean its barbecue food is great any more than the crowds at the old Freddie's Pizza meant that their pizza was great. New customers should get in line with the understanding that (1) the food is expensive and in apparently limited supply, (2) the service is minimal, (3) the dining room is noisy (expecially when a band is playing in the main dining area), and (4) the atmosphere is extremely informal. Pros: excellent brisket, informal ambience, large selection of beer and wine Cons: slow moving lines, expensive food, poor service, no phone orders or credit cards accepted more

Let's start with the $2.75 price for a 12oz can of diet coke. Are you kidding me? We had to go back to the cashier to make sure it wasn't a mistake. My husband and I both had ribs plates - long ones and short ones making the total for our Lunch $35. They were OK, nothing outstanding. As many of the other reviews stated - the ribs were fatty and tough but flavorful. The small side of potato salad, piece of french bread and half corn cob were uneventful. You order at the counter which was fine and then someone brings your food out. We had to go back to the counter to ask for a glass of ice for the overpriced soda, then for water, and then for additional sauce. So with the marginal ribs, uninspired side dishes, lack of service, and high prices...I would not recommend this place. Back 40 in Pleasant Hill has them beat in every catagory! Cons: Price, Quality, Service more

What a lot of hype for such a disappointment! Let's start with the ""service,"" stand in line to order a $20 lunch? The best part of my meal was the bottle of lime ade from the self serve cooler as I waited to place my order! The ribs I got were fatty and full of gristle, there was no bread or corn on one of the platters even though 3 of us had ordered the same thing. A request for the bread was ignored. I did like the sauce served on the side. When the bus person stopped by to clear our plates, she stacked all the dirty dishes with the required mountain of soiled napkins in front of me and my mother in law, clanging and scraping to accomodate a single run to the kitchen. Boo for Bo's. Better service, food and atmosphere at Back 40. Pros: Lime Ade. Try it from the cooler Cons: Fatty ribs, poor service more

My company chose Bo's to cater a company picnic, April 2008 at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek. Bo's served great ribs, BBQ chicken, and Brisket. They were prompt, friendly, and helped to make our picnic memorable. Pros: They also have a great selection of beers at their restaurant more

The place for barbecue in Lafayette? It used to be. now the beef brisquet was dry, the sides consisted of cold potato salad was non a non starter, and there was nothing else in the bag when we brought the take out home after we could not stand the clatter in the dining room. It was not always like this. Although Bo's was not always the ""normal' Lafayette restaurant , the food was really good, Bo appeared to take an interest in the place and it was fun to hear the jazz bands he brought into the East Bay. The last couple of times I have been there, the food was mediocure, the portions marginal, and not well prepared. Tonight they were out of Chicken, and the beef was so dry, it was almost inedible. Too bad for what was a very nice place to stop on the way home from tough day at work. A while ago, it appeared Bo wanted to make it happen. Pros: good idea Cons: he forgot what he wanted to do, once he became sucessful more

The famous brisket was good, although a bit dry, but the beef ribs were very greasy, fatty, and gristly. The pork ribs were small. All I wanted was some salt and pepper for my dry slab of corn on the cob but I was told they do not ""offer"" salt and pepper. They did bring finally me a pat of butter after asking 2 waiters for it. It also took 2 requests just to get water since they also did not ""offer"" any diet drinks. Make sure you bring cash cuz they don't take credit cards either. This place is for the birds. The dollop of potato salad was pretty much bird size too. They obviously don't have a Back Forty near Lafayette or they would be out of business. Pros: greens with your meal, price Cons: everything else more

Bo McSwine makes the best brisket in the galaxy. But he does it with real Bay Area foodie style. Slow smoked for 24 hours, it is moist, flavorful and has delectable ""burnt ends."" I've also not had better house made links anywhere else. Bo doesn't need to drench his ribs with sauce because he wants you to taste the meat! And his dry rub brings out all the natural flavor. The sauce (on the side) is great too.\r \r Such world class BBQ comes with real San Francisco style bread - leave the white bread for ordinary ""Que."" And his succulent yams, home made potato salad and fresh mixed baby greens reminds you that you are in the birthplace of California Cuisine. Such fine fixings call for the best of microbrewery beers, California wines and eclectic soft drinks that the world has to offer. And Bo delivers it all with a smile.\r \r All of this fantastic fare is served nightly with a (free) side of live top flight jazz. Bo gives back much to the local community and charitable causes. Even the local student musicians get a chance to play at Bo's BBQ.\r \r So, don't let those other sour-grape reviews from writers with inflexible preconceptions dissuade you. Bo's is for real. Go eat at Bo's and you'll be happy you did. Pros: Brisket, links and beer selection. Cons: Chalk board menu is hard to read more

There seems to be a lot of criticism of Bo's not conforming to a ""Southern"" or ""Texas"" standard as far as side dishes are concerned. To these critics I say go find your beans and corn bread in the south or Texas if you're so rigid in your expectations. Leave us Californians enjoying California BBQ be, you're crowding us-we don't need your kind taking up what little sitting space there is at Bo's. more

I gotta tell ya, Bo's a congenial, great guy (and Bo was originally his son and not the owner), but the food does nothing for me. Ribs were flavorless, potato salad too sweet, sauce is good, salad dressing was good, french bread!?! come on, Bo!! It's BBQ! Where's the white bread, cornbread or hot rolls? I ate there about 3 weeks ago - how I long for some really good BBQ!!\r \r Every beer you can imagine except Yellow Rose Bubba Dog or Buffalo Butt - all it's cracked up to be! But why not have just some simple Bud, Miller, Coors, Anchor steam! Opus 1 with BBQ?!?! You Californians slay me!! Go down to TJ's and grab a bottle of Two Buck Chuck, stuff a hundred back in your wallet.\r \r Originally from Texas and eat BBQ in every city I visit just because I love it!! I'm an ol' dog and smoked plenty of bones myself. I've been to every major BBQ city in the US and had BBQ. The only REGION worse than California for BBQ is North Carolina. Bo, I know you've done extremely well and I'm happy for you, but don't try to do this in Texas or Memphis!! You might lose your 750i. Pros: Bo's a Good Guy Cons: Nothing Else is very Good except the Sauce more

once you look beyond the ""bandwagon"", you will realize that despite the fact that this place is packed- it truly is not that good.\r \r over-priced\r cheap-meats\r bad service\r \r They are so arrogant there that they won't even give you salt and pepper. What a joke! Shouldn't a restaurant be about the CUSTOMER??? Pros: good ambience Cons: bad food/overpriced more

I ate at Bo's on Feb 17. It was warm for a winter night (70 degrees that day) so sitting outside was not too terrible. The inside was packed and a bit loud with the band playing. The line was a bit long and there are no menus to look at while waiting. However, the food was excellent. I have tried many BBQ restaurants in the Bay Area and have consistently been disappointed. I'm happy to have found a good one with Bo's. The brisket was excellent-tender and flavoful. The ribs were very tender as well. more

Don't go here if you are a homesick Southerner, craving southern-style bbq with a southern atmosphere, complete with all of the southern fixings. This joint is Bo's interpretation of bbq, done California style. Acme bread and light green salad replace the collard greens and cornbread. The brisket is melt-in-your-mouth amazing. On Saturday nights when the weather is nice, sit outside and dig the music while you chow down on gourmet bbq. And one more thing: the beer. From trappist ales to Jamaican brew, Bo's offers a killer selection of beers to please even the pickiest. Pros: Killer beer selection, very good bbq Cons: Order first, then seat yourself more

Bo himself is a delightful gentleman and he has created a wonderful atmosphere. Family and friends have been going there for several years. Everything is so good on the menu that it took me a while to finally order the brisket because it has never been good anywhere else that Ive tried it, including my own kitchen. The brisket has been so stellar that it is the only thing I order now and it has been consistently delicious. Not sure what the other reviewers are complaining about, BBQ is a regional cuisine and Bos interpretation is spectacular, just because it isnt what they are used to having in BBQ is no reason to not enjoy another, delicious, variation.\r \r There is only one down side to the restaurant and it has nothing to do with the food, but rather with a certain type of customer. On occasion we have dined earlier than usual and people have brought in their children, definitely old enough to know better, who are apparently completely unfamiliar with rudimentary table manners and lack the ability to be pleasant and behave in a restaurant. Bos is not a restaurant that is geared towards children who are uneducated in social skills and unless they enjoy being in the company of adults and know how to eat with utensils this probably isnt a place you would want to bring your children. Pros: Easy parking, wonderful al fresco dining, views of Mt. Diablo Cons: occasional badly behaved children more

I agree with the previous review that the food is marginal at best.\r My wife and I went there last Friday for our first time, being that this was known as one of the top BBQ joints in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, it did not come close. The ribs were dry, basically it tasted it like they smoked/cooked the ribs very early and the day and then left it on the heat lamp. The servings for a full slab were not as large a portion as one would expect. The dressing on the side salad was the only thing that impressed us. Potato salad was ok and the slice of italian bread was dry as well.\r You can tell they are rather stingy on their sauce since they put it in a little cup instead of pouring it on the meat. We've been to Everett and Jones in Jack London Square, Oakland and the portions, side dishes, and sauce is much better, it's worth the trip through the tunnel. I gather that people rave about Bo's since it's the only BBQ place in the suburbs of the East Bay besides Tony Roma's and Claim Jumper. \r more