Oak’d BBQ opens today, bringing uncommonly good BBQ to Dallas’ core neighborhoods

We got a VIPeek of new OAK’D BBQ, which debuts today in Dallas near the Central Market store on Greenville Ave. and liked what we saw. Very much.

Queue up in the cafeteria-style line, order your Central Texas-style smoked meats (brisket, pork, sausage, ribs) directly from the meat cutters, then make your way down the line for excellent sides, salads, even from-scratch pies and biscuits. We love that the meats are all USDA Prime or Rosewood Ranch wagyu and an in-house pastry chef, Cessie Mendoza, a Nobu veteran, makes the desserts. We also love that they’re buying produce from Jeff Bednar’s Profound Microfarms and sandwich buns from Signature Baking.

There’s a terrific patio (adjacent to oak trees and three Oak-fueled Oyler smokers) where you can eat – and order a bottle of fancy Pahlmeyer, Caymus or Silver Oak wine with your $10 BBQ sandwich.

Owner Clint Norton and his investors (which include radio personality Kellie Evans Rasberry) have big plans, too: The menu will soon broaden beyond barbecue to include smoked and grilled oysters, fish, pork chops, cakes and pastries from a full-service bakery, and catering operations. A second location is already in the works (but we agreed to a code of silence…for now).

And here’s our insider’s tip: The entire menu is available to you if you sit at a leather-upholstered chair at the bar. You also get a dedicated server, a nice place setting, good silver and attentive service – and it’s a secret way to avoid the queue.