Blue Oak BBQ is now open in Huntsville’s MidCity District at 1000 Mid City Drive.

Blue Oak BBQ co-owners, Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley, opened the original Blue Oak in 2012 in their hometown of New Orleans when they began smoking meats in a small pop-up inside of the Uptown dive bar, Grits.

Four years and thousands of pounds of meat later, the duo graduated to their own brick-and-mortar location in 2016 at 900 N. Carrollton Ave in Mid-City NOLA, where you can find them today.

Fortunately for Huntsville residents, Blue Oak selected the Rocket City for their first restaurant opening outside of their hometown.

The diversity, creativity, and worldliness that are trademarks of the culture of New Orleans show up in a big way in the unique flavors at Blue Oak.

On a recent weekday at lunchtime, I enlisted two fellow foodies to join me as I tried out Blue Oak BBQ for the first time. In the name of solid research practices, we tried it all!

For me, the sides at a barbeque joint are just as important as the main event and, here, Blue Oak stands out.

The red-skinned potato salad has a hit of acidity that really brightens up the dish. The molasses baked beans have a great depth of flavor that feels familiar without being boring. Tater tots are deep-fried in beef fat and emerge perfectly crispy. Blue Oak’s slaw is flavored with ginger and, for us, this unexpected combination was a homerun.

While diners can choose from “fatty” or “lean” cuts of brisket, the consensus at our table was that the fatty brisket was more flavorful and tender than its lean counterpart. Bottles of Jerk, House, and Spicy Carolina barbeque sauces are available at each table.

“The Jerk sauce is very good and peppery, as it should be,” said a fellow foodie. “A lot of black pepper and molasses-y flavor.”

The Spicy Carolina sauce is a thinner sauce, with a vinegar base. The House sauce strikes the perfect balance, right in between the Jerk and Spicy Carolina sauces in terms of both sweetness and pepper seasoning.

The Blue Oak salad is a great option for diners who want to experience the flavors of the barbeque, while still getting their greens in for the day. I got mine topped with sweet roasted Brussels and pulled pork. While the tarragon and dill ranch and the Creole mustard vinaigrette are both solid dressing options, the unique herbs incorporated into the classic flavor of ranch was a major win for me.

The Spring Fling cocktail is sure to tempt some at the end of a long workday. Glass bottle Cokes made with real cane sugar, as well as fountain drinks, are available for folks who are still on the clock.

The architectural lines inside Big Oak are clean, with an elevated ceiling. The wall decor looks like a New Orleans girl and a Huntsville guy combined households — with concert posters for Allen Toussaint and other jazz greats sharing space with a Trash Pandas flag and Alabama sports pennants.

The music cycled through reggae, jazz, and soul while we were there. It was festive without being too loud to hold a conversation.

Feel free to skip the banana pudding. If you’re lucky enough to be from around here, your Nana’s is better!

Guests to Blue Oak can enjoy a spacious patio with outdoor seating, more than a dozen TVs, lawn games, and a large walk-up bar area.

Guests order at the counter and servers bring the food to the table. The cost for our lunch was $95 for three adults, after tip.

Blue Oak is currently open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will soon be open seven days a week.

Visit Blue Oak online at blueoakbbq.com or follow them @blueoakbbq on Instagram, X and Facebook.