4505 Burgers & BBQ - Review - Nopa - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"The BBQ scene in this city leaves a lot to be desired, and while 4505 Burgers & BBQ in NoPa won’t have you texting all your contacts to fly out to SF, it’ll satisfy your BBQ craving until you can at least make it over to the East Bay (Fikscue, anyone?) or somewhere with much better barbecue (booking our flights to Austin now). Still, these meats are approaching the best you’re going to get within the friendly confines of the city. But the real draw of 4505 isn’t the food—it’s their big heated patio that works best with sunshine, beer, and a big group. The patio that overlooks Divisadero is the only seating option, but we don’t mind because the people-watching is unparalleled. You’ll have a front row seat to the dog baby stroller apocalypse happening on the sidewalks while sipping on a surprisingly strong peach hard lemonade. Even when it’s pouring and miserable outside, 4505 remains a beacon of warmth thanks to its stronger-than-the-sun heaters that manage to make the covered patio as warm as the apartment of that one friend whose heating is included in their rent. And on Tuesday, they have an all-day happy hour with $2 off draft pints and $10 off draft pitchers. This is simply a top-tier day-drinking experience, even though the food is simply passable. photo credit: Krescent Carasso photo credit: Emma Shepler But of course you unfortunately can’t subsist on pitchers of pilsner alone, so you’re going to need some of this totally workable BBQ. The sandwiches are what you should focus on, especially the pulled pork, which has that right balance of smokiness and tenderness. The plates on the other hand showcase the flaws with these meats. The brisket is coated in the right amount of seasoning, although it’s a bit on the dry side, and the ribs could use a dowsing of sauce—at least there are four options available on the side (we like the Carolina mustard and vinegar the best). On Tuesdays, during that all-day happy hour, you'll find a series of BBQ tacos with fillings like pulled pork, brisket, and burnt ends that are actually coated in sauce and make for surprisingly great bites. And if you’re wondering about the "Best Damn Cheeseburger," sadly it doesn't really live up to what the name promises: it’s a big hunk of meat, but it needs a lot more cheese and sauce to make it worth joining the list of the best burgers in the city. So the next time the sun is shining and you have an unshakeable craving for BBQ, text your 15-person group chat and ask to convene at 4505 as soon as possible. Because sometimes spending the day outside with some drinks is exactly what you need—especially if it’s been foggy for 25 days straight. Food Rundown Pulled Pork Sandwich The best thing on the menu. Ths pulled pork is tender, juicy, and has a good layer of coleslaw and pickles on top. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Brisket Sandwich Not as tender as the pulled pork, but definitely on the smokier side. This is where we start to see the possibility of drier meats, but in the sandwich it still works. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Smoked Rib Plate Disappointingly dry, but with a good smoky flavor. Douse them in your BBQ sauce of choice. We like the Carolina mustard and the Alabama white sauce for their tanginess. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Best Damn Grass Fed Cheeseburger We really wanted to love this cheeseburger, but it’s hyped up too much by their own branding. You’re better off sticking to the sandwiches (or the tacos on Tuesday). photo credit: Krescent Carasso Frankaroni A fried square of mac and cheese with hot dog bits inside. Unless the sound of that thrills you as much as it would to a five-year-old, skip. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Sides The coleslaw works well on the sandwiches, but skip the side portion. The beans are unfortunately drenched in grease." - Ricky Rodriguez