Slow Hand BBQ

Slow Hand BBQ is everything a great barbecue joint should be and then some. Founded in 2010 on two Weber grills at the Brentwood Farmers Market by a pitmaster with a serious commitment to doing things right, this family-owned East Bay institution grew from farmers markets and a mobile operation into one of the most beloved brick-and-mortar BBQ restaurants in Contra Costa County. The Pleasant Hill location on Oak Park Boulevard is the flagship, and everything coming out of the kitchen is smoked low and slow over California White Oak in custom brick pits with no gas, no electricity, and no shortcuts. Beef brisket, smoked corned beef, baby back and St. Louis pork ribs, chopped pork, chicken, tri tip, hot links, and pit burgers are all served family style on butcher paper trays alongside scratch-made sauces and house sides. The restaurant carries craft beers including Blind Pig IPA and Pliny the Elder, and the full bar adds a dimension that most BBQ spots never bother with. Live music is a regular part of the programming at both the Pleasant Hill and Martinez locations, with acts booking on select weekday evenings and weekends in a casual, welcoming setting that pairs a cold drink and a plate of smoked brisket with whatever the band is laying down that night. The vibe is unpretentious, family-friendly, and exactly what the name suggests.