Checked out the BBQ Festival at the Santa Monica Pier, an event by Drink, Eat, Play. This event was held in the very beautiful blacktop of the north parking lot at the Santa Monica pier. Upon arriving, the entrance was a bit disorganized, people trying to enter in the same spot people were trying to leave. (I saw a few people sneaking in) The inside was a zoo. Lines going everywhere, even lines for the Bristol Farms BBQ tent. We made our way around, checking out what each BBQ vendor had to offer. Also eying which one had the shorter lines. The lines were massive, 20, 30, 40, 100 people deep.
I heard someone was waiting over 1 hr for the L.C’s BBQ from Kansas City. We grabbed some ribs for ten bucks from Bandana’s in St Louis. Then we got in the massive line for a drink. One drink tent for all these people, unbelievable. But it’s a brilliant business plan by the event planners. Sell as many cheap tickets as you can, then once people see how long the lines are, they will want to upgrade to the VIP passes for $50. (Which gets you front of the line for each vendor.) Good thing the lines were so long, because there were no seats available, so we just stood in the next line as we ate our food. Good times.
The ribs were good, but just 5 small ribs and a side of beans for ten bucks. After waiting 30 min to get a drink, we made our way over to the Southside Market stand and got some tasty Hot Sausage and Smoked Beef Brisket, another one of the shorter lines. Even the lines for local BBQ joints were annoyingly long. I’m not gonna wait for 30 min, pay ten bucks for a side of BBQ’d meat, when I can drive down the street to Baby Blues BBQ. I heard that people were complaining on Sunday about vendors running out of food. I would rather pay more, have fewer people allowed in the event, and not have to pay extra for food. Don’t think I will be checking out anymore of these Drink, Eat, Wait events anytime soon.
One line for beer, soda and water.
People were camping out at tables while friends waited in line for BBQ.
People in the beer line got front row access to the good music.
Was it worth the one hour wait? I'll never know.
Southside had one of the shorter lines.
The Southside Market mobile BBQ truck.
The $10 plate of food, sausage and brisket from Southside Market.
I hear ya, dude. But, as a bbq freak I went both days and got to pretty much everything. And LC’s was indeed a highlight. My report if ur curious — http://www.eatdrinkordie.com/blog/posts/3319
I . Told. You. So.
yo Matt, come to Compton to have some ghetto ‘Cue w/ me.
You told me what? Im down for ghetto Q
I went Saturday and headed straight for LC’s. My wait was 45 minutes, and I was early-ish. But given I would never make it to Kansas City, it was worth the wait for those delicious smoky pink, flavorful, spicy spare ribs. The line at Southside was much shorter. I would have liked more of the tender and juicy brisket, but the sausage was good.
Next year, a VIP pass for me, plus can we get reps from Memphis and other points south? Maybe LC’s needs a second line, or a second KC joint to come.
I agree needing better local reps, although Baby Blues certainly belonged. I hope the organizers read your blog for next year.