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
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