The Bay Area is known for its array of fine dining; but finding good barbecue… that's a bit harder. Hit the outdoors and get your finger-licking grub on at any of these tasty locales.
With the motto "If it's smokin', we're open" Pacifica's Gorilla Barbeque is a glorious dedication to the fine art of grilling meat. Chances are good you'll stand in line for 15 minutes before getting to the order counter. Then, you better be fast! Pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, or chicken?! Place your order, and step aside; a whole lotta barbecue is coming your way. Established by two Pacifica natives, the big orange boxcar on Highway 1 has been churning out choice grilled meats since 2006, even landing a spot on the Food Network. You can eat at one of the on-site tables, but we recommend driving a few minutes to an ocean-side park for the feast, followed by a short walk to sweeping Mori Point (the location for the famous car-flies-over-cliff scene in Harold and Maude). Peering down from the cliffs, the Pacific transitions from shallow turquoise to deeper blue to rich navy. Hang out for a while and head back the way you came. Good way to digest the experience.
Gorilla Barbeque, 2145 Coast Hwy. (Hwy. 1), Pacifica; 650-359-RIBS. Open every day except Tuesday from noon until 8 p.m. (or when they sell out). To reach the oceanfront picnic tables and the start of the Mori Point hike: Drive north on Hwy 1. Take the Clarendon Rd./Ocean Blvd. exit. Turn left at Clarendon Rd., and then turn right on Palmetto. Then turn left on Montecito. Drive to the end of the road and turn left on Beach Blvd. Park along this road. To reach Mori Point, hike south from the picnic tables on the dirt road paralleling the coast for .5-mile. Then follow the signs up the wooden stairs to Mori Point. Dog-friendly!
Smack in the middle of Marin County lies the "hidden one," also known as the tiny hamlet of Nicasio. There's a white-steepled church, a schoolhouse, a handful of homes … and one rocking roadhouse. The World War II-era Rancho Nicasio shakes, rattles and rolls most Sunday afternoons with the BBQ on the Lawn concert series. The bar and restaurant's sprawling backyard gets decked out with a dance floor, picnic tables, chairs, and load-em'-up barbecue vendors serving everything from piping-hot corn on the cob to sweet-sauce drenched ribs, thick brisket sandwiches, and plenty of beverages to wash it all down. Bring a blanket, grab some grub, and take in the tunes: bluegrass, country, and even Hawaiian bands are in the lineup.
Rancho Nicasio, 1 Old Rancheria Rd., Nicasio; 415-662-2219. For directions and ticket prices, visit the Web site. Gates open at 3 p.m., and the music starts at 4 p.m. Picnic tables can be reserved for parties of eight or more. Lawn chairs are first come, first served. You may bring a low-backed beach chair or a blanket. Children under 3 admitted for free. No dogs.
Hidden, unassuming, and pleasantly surprising, Ironwood BBQ just might be the best barbecue in San Francisco. And it's at a golf course. Golden Gate Park's beloved nine-hole pitch and putt is a relaxing way to wind down the weekend and recharge for the days ahead, but it's the oak-wood fired barbecue that really gets things swinging. Owner Bruce Olson bought a humdinger Wham Turbo barbecue pit seven years ago, and today churns out some of the tastiest pulled pork sandwiches in the business. Ironwood's sauce, along with the other fixin's, is homemade (one of the secrets is just the right amount of Anchor Steam beer). Get a sandwich "Memphis-style," where coleslaw is smothered in with the meat—sloppy-good. Delicious sides include baked beans and scalloped potatoes. After noshing, grab your clubs (or rent some) and tee-up on the beginner-friendly course. No hole is longer than 200 yards. Fantastic barbecue and a quick game of golf: Fore sure!
Ironwood BBQ and Golden Gate Park golf course, 47th Ave. and Fulton St. inside Golden Gate Park, San Francisco; 415-751-8987. Ironwood BBQ opens around 11:30 a.m. and closes about an hour before sunset. The golf course opens at 7 a.m. It's $13 for nine holes on a weekday, and $19 on the weekend.
She's the southern belle of wine regions and she's ripe for the picking! Scenic and serene Edna Valley—just minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo—is celebrating harvest season with barrels of grape activities this September. Go where the sun shines, the country roads roll, and mom-and-pop wineries happily share their favorite local lore—and delicious vintages. Relax and uncork at Edna Valley Vineyard's 30th anniversary celebration, starring estate-grown chardonnay. Get all dressed up with somewhere to go: Taste of San Luis Obispo in the beautiful Mission Plaza will rock the casbah with live music, epicurean fare and palate-pleasing libations from 60 local restaurants, caterers, wineries, and breweries. And SAVOR the Central Coast as Sunset magazine brings one of the biggest food and wine events to San Luis Obispo, with more than 200 local wineries and 30-plus chefs. There's plenty more food and wine events; print a wine country map, and get the details on 37 centrally located hotels and special wine tour packages. What a crush!
BONUS: Enter for a complimentary two-night stay in San Luis Obispo, and get ready to toast the Central Coast!
Visit sanluisobispovacations.com to find hotels and plan your trip.