Firstly, I found out about this place because of their cheesecakes, which are at several grocery stores in the East Bay. Fucking delicious. I found out they also do latkes(?!) and BBQ on their instagram and have had a crazy craving for latkes so I figured I'd stop by to grab some. Yo.... best latkes I've ever had on this coast. Genuinely ridiculously good. Don't tell my bubbe because I'd get in trouble for saying they're better than hers, but they were SO crispy and delicious. Arnold palmer was amazing too, not too sweet and really tasty and fresh. Pic is busted because I was too busy shoveling them into my face to be a food blogger. I'll definitely be back to try their BBQ, but I can't recommend their cheesecake and latkes enough! read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Latkes with sour cream and apple sauce - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

The customer service here is unacceptable. I came to pick up an order that was already paid for and stood in line for about six minutes while the owner stopped helping customers so he could chat with a friend. Meanwhile, I was standing there waiting for my order. It was unprofessional and showed a complete lack of respect for customers' time. Even more concerning, it appeared that the owner treated white customers noticeably better than customers of other races. The experience gave the impression that service and even the food you receive through third-party pickup apps may depend on your race or appearance. That kind of behavior is extremely disappointing and should not happen in any business. read more

Silly me, got too excited to eat and forgot to take a photo of the actual food! Ordered the brisket with cornbread and collard greens per the chefs recommendation, and latkes. Also had some agua fresca mixed with lemonade and tea. Absolutely delicious food for very reasonable price. My friend and I weren't starving so the one item plate and two latkes were more than enough for us. Brisket is super smoky, more than other bbq spots, and you can choose lean or juicy (juicy is obviously the way to go). Comes with bbq sauce and habanero. Corn bread was a giant slab with butter and honey. Collard greens were very flavorful. Latkes were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. Also got a bunch of their cheesecakes (6 for $30 minis) which were so creamy and delicious! Casual dining, good vibes, great flavors. read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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Finally a new BBQ spot in Oakland. Super comfort hit the spot food with nice people running the place. Tried the Brisket combo with Mac n cheese and beans. Flavor bomb in every bite. Had to try the cheesecake of course. Not a huge cheesecake fan but I really liked the choices offered and it was quite delicious read more

I LOVE bbq of all types--American, Japanese, Korean. Despite living in a food Mecca, we do not have a selection of decent American bbq options in the bay. They range from complete doo-doo (dry AND flavorless) to mediocre (dry OR flavorless) or overpriced (Fikscue). Still, nothing comes remotely close to Texas BBQ, like Goldee's and Hutchins, and that makes me really sad. But the fatty brisket from this place? It's up there. Fatty brisket 9/10: MUST GET. This scratched my itch for great bbq. It looked like it would be the real deal, and thankfully it was. It's the best brisket that I've had in the bay. Tons of flavor in the bark. Tender and moist. Not insanely salty. It's the star of the show. Lean brisket 4/10: A well-cooked and high-quality lean cut of brisket should still retain enough moisture and tenderness to fall apart easily. Here, that is not the case. Unpleasant to eat due to its dryness and chewiness. Pass. Beef rib 5/10: good flavor again, but the texture is inconsistent throughout the rib. Half was really tender and yummy. The other half was hard as a rock. I also got more bark and bone than meat. If I could only eat a small part of it, then I'm not getting my moneys worth. Pass. Maybe the Dino rib would be a better option (note: Dino ribs are only available on the weekend, and beef ribs are available everyday). Bbq sauce was really good. Habanero bbq had same base but with added spice and it really does have a kick that builds up as you eat more of it. Mac and cheese 6/10: looks really good and tastes average. Cheese hardens up very quickly before I could get halfway through the meal. Coleslaw 4/10: I didn't look at pictures of it before and there wasn't a description on the menu so I thought it'd be regular creamy coleslaw but it's actual pickled vegetables. Too heavy on the vinegar. Since the bbq comes with pickled radish and pickles already, it was overkill to get the slaw too. They're all of the same flavor profile--acidic and sour. Would have been better to opt for a more mellow side to balance out the strong flavors. Ube, pistachio, blueberry cheesecake: 8/10. No pistachio taste--overshadowed by the stronger flavors of Ube and blueberry. Still, the Ube and blueberry worked well together! Blueberries helped cut through the richness of it all. Half of a mini was enough for me. Henny praline 2/10: ordered this for someone else. I tried a bite and nope. But to be fair, I hate the flavor of alcohol so I'm biased. Berryade 7/10 They ask whether you would like fatty, lean, or half and half brisket. Get the fatty. Can choose to order meats by weight. Prices listed by pound but can choose to order by the half pound as well. (Probably even a 1/4 but I didn't try). Staff was nice. It's self service. You go back up to the counter to get your food when they call your number. You get your own water, utensils, and you return the used trays and throw away your trash when you're done. No line when we went around 3pm on a Sunday. Good amount of seating. Clean with nice artwork inside Would return for their fatty brisket and to try their other cuts, sides, cheesecakes, and their latkes! Glad to have a bbq joint in the bay with fatty brisket of this caliber read more

I recently tried out Crazy Block Cheesecakes after running some errands and man I was not disappointed! I had passed by the brick and mortar once and immediately was intrigued by a spot that sold a fusion of Jewish food and BBQ. I knew I'd check it out eventually and finally got the chance. As soon I walked in I was greeted by the owner behind the food counter who told us a bit about the menu and the food items. I ended up grabbing the Chiblam combo which came with 3 meat options (lamb, brisket, and chicken) as well as two sides. I also of course had to grab some Latkes to see what was going on. When ordering, they'll ask you if you want lean or fattier portions of the brisket which is nice. I ended going with a mix since I sometimes like fattier brisket. In terms of food quality, I have to say that the star of the show was the lamb. It was tender, tasty, and paired really well with the chiblam sauce that came with the combo. I also enjoyed the brisket which had a nice bark on the edges and solid flavor. I thought the chicken was probably my least favorite item since it was noting to write home about. The greens were solid and had turkey meat in them which is always a nice touch. I personally would've preferred the baked beans to be sweeter. Seems like they try to lean in a more savory direction with the beans here, but I wish they fully committed and gave them a saltier/smokier vibe. Finally, the Latkes were awesome. Dense, crispy on the outside, and served with sour cream and applesauce (classic). I could probably eat the Latkes and lamb all day. Overall I really enjoyed the vibe of this place. I also heard that they sold out of the salmon and dino ribs that day, so I'll have to return to try those out. Crazy Block had a nice family-friendly casual ambiance and great food. The staff were kind and helpful and even gave out Pokemon cards to the kids. I'll definitely be coming back here to try those dino ribs and fill up on more Latkes. Check em out during your next Lakeshore crawl. read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Combo with lamb, chicken, brisket. Grabbed two Latkes as well. - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is a casual, stop by anytime kind of place. You get in line, place your order, and find a table. They call your number when your food is ready. My first observation was that the owner has a booming voice! However, don't fear, he was friendly with good energy. We ordered the "Chiblamb" (a combo of chicken, brisket, and lamb), which is just fun to say, and was very good! The brisket was my favorite but all three are worth getting depending on your bbq preferences. You didn't need a knife for the brisket, so tender, it just fell off with a fork. I liked the BBQ sauce. Was a pretty big plate so glad we decided to share - it seemed ample for two people if you have regular appetites. It came with a choice of two sides and pickles. We got the collard greens and yams. The collard greens were delicious. We didn't like the sweet yams - they had a flavor that I wasn't into. I'll pick another option next time. Also got an order of latkes. I'm not an expert in them but they were crispy and flavorful. Since the place is named for their cheesecakes, we got a mini one to try even though we were full. Picked the ube cheesecake and glad we did. Don't forget to scrape the crust from the bottom as you finish it up. Will definitely go back and take our kids - think they would enjoy the BBQ. read more

Everything about this place is great! Super genuine and friendly chef...homey flavors and awesome atmosphere

I'm from Kansas City and have eaten a lot of bomb bbq. This is the best barbecue I've had in California, and it's not even close. The brisket Philly cheesesteak will change your life. Trust me. read more

Great homemade spot! We tried the ribs, brisket, lamb, and chicken, with Mac and cheese, yams, a sweet coleslaw and cheesy cornbread. It was served with in-house pickled onions and a dill spear. Omg- it was so good. The pickle and cornbread were actually my faves, but the lamb and brisket were also great. The owner was very friendly, service was quick, and the cheesecakes were also good, especially the henny. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and I'm so happy it did not disappoint. I ordered 2lbs of the brisket and 2 lbs of the dino bone (beef ribs). Both cuts of meat were tender, smokey, and delicious. This was the first BBQ place I've been to that asked me if I wanted the brisket with lean pieces, fatty pieces or mixed. I got the mixed and it was a great combination. I also enjoyed the habanero bbq sauce and the chiblam sauce. I didn't get to try their cheesecake this time, but my husband who is a cheesecake lover did and he said it was really really good! read more

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Got the chicken and brisket with a side of Cole slaw and Mac and cheese. It was incredible. Owner seems super chill and the beer was only $6. Nice and clean inside with a cool ambiance. read more

Was fortunate to encounter Crazy Block Cheesecakes at one of Yelp's own events 1-ish year ago. At that particular event, his menu boasted a "Henny Praline" cheesecake that I wanted to try so badly. Well, one year and a brick & mortar later, I finally got the chance over the weekend! Located along Lakeshore Ave (right next to Philz Coffee), Crazy Block not only does crazy/unique cheesecake flavors, but also BBQ, latkes, and it looks like the menu is ever-expanding!! Once you walk inside, it's like entering a millennial kid's dream hangout - huge murals of popular anime/tv characters like Goku, Pikachu (pre-unchunked, aka the best form), PowerPuff Girls, Ryu, and more. The vibrant colors reel you in, but the food and service is what hooks you! We placed our order with Mr. Block himself and he was so nice and helpful. Throughout our meal, we could overhear him greeting return patrons as if they were the best of buds. It was really fun to experience. We ended up ordering: CHIBLAM (smoked chicken quarter, brisket, and pulled lamb) - Some of the most tender, juicy meat I have ever eaten. The fatty brisket had NO structure and just melted in the mouth. This combo plate had the best deal because it gave us the most variety (you also get a choice of two sides). The pickled red onion and pickle spears were acidic and cut through the fattiness well. Latkes - These were so crispy and the apple sauce on top paired so well together. Mac n cheese - Creamy, thick, cheesy as God intended. Cornbread - Our resident Southern friend said that this was legit. It also came with a side of homemade habanero hot honey! 6 mini cheesecakes sampler pack... with these flavors: Ube french toast - So ube-y. The french toast is made using challah - yum! OG NY - This was for my neighbor, and she absolutely loved it. BPBCC - AKA Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. This was a favorite among the ones we tried (both past and present), so we got a second one. Banilla Bean - Banana-y, very much banana pudding vibes Henny praline - FINALLY I get to taste! This was so rich and delicious. The Henny is present and the SO enjoyed it when I brought it home. We devoured the BBQ plate and latkes between the 3 of us and left so satisfied. What a treasure to have this place in Oakland. I hope Crazy Block is here to stay - I am rooting for them! read more

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This place rules. This is more than a cheesecake spot. At first i was misled by the name and wasn't looking for cheesecake but a friend told me they low key had some BBQ and it is some of the best BBQ in Oakland. I had the 2 way Beef Rib, Beef Brisket BBQ plate and it was delicious. The interior of the restaurant was cozy and noticeably very clean. The owner Ben was super friendly and welcoming. I got a cheesecake to go and it lived up to the name. I saw they had a full latke menu I didn't get a chance to try but look forward to it in a future visit. read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - 2 way BBQ plate with Beef Rib, Beef Brisket, Collard Greens and, Brisket beans - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

This food was amazing everything was on point!!! Mac and cheese, brisket,chicken , yams, chicken the kids loved the loaded fries and the owner hooked it up for us to try some latkes OMG sooo amazing. I am ready for some more we definitely had to get some cheesecakes to go and they were also super yummy. Service was great owner is super inviting and makes you feel welcomed!!!!! He takes pride in what he does and it shows from the minute you walk in to the minute you leave. Parking right out front. read more

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The bbq menu here is legit. Juicy well cooked brisket and great barbecue sauce. Beans and cornbread were tasty as well.

I was on the hunt for dessert while in the Oakland area and stumbled upon this hidden gem--and I'm so glad I did! It's not just a cheesecake spot--they also serve BBQ?! When I first walked in, I was surprised to see the BBQ setup and thought I might've entered the wrong place. But then I saw the display case filled with cheesecakes, and I knew I was in the right spot. There were so many flavor options, and I loved that they offered samples--definitely a bonus for first-timers like me! I came specifically for the cheesecake this time, but I'm definitely coming back to try the BBQ too. I picked up the original cheesecake, cookies & cream, passion fruit, and lemon. I enjoyed all of them except the cookies & cream--it was a bit heavy on the cookie side for my taste. It was creamy and delicious, but the crust was also good too and usually you rarely get both. But overall, everything was delicious, and I'll absolutely be back for more! read more

Me and my brother went into Crazy Block last night.... we've lived around the area for years... We see shops open and close often. But this one has legs... got the Brisket plates..... Some Collard Greens and Beans.... The owner met us as we walked in.... He seemed so proud of what he built.... rightly so.... BBQ sauce was a little like an NC sauce... heavy in the vinegar..... The smoke ring on the brisket was decent... Nice bark..... I'm not a bbq pro.... but I've eaten a lot. The atmosphere definitely fit our headspace. Frosted mugs for our beer. Nice bit of ice floating in the mug by time I sat down. I would take those out of town guest who come in for a visit. Good job, Crazy Block! , read more

This may just be some of the tastiest cheesecake I've ever had. We had several Crazy Block flavors catered to a recent corporate event, and they were the stars of the show! I quite enjoyed the Banoffee flavor ... it was the perfect mix of sweet and salty, with a cookie crust that made me want to go back for more. I took a second mini cheesecake back to my hotel room for later, and would definitely be a regular customer if I lived in the area. Big thanks to the Crazy Block team for crafting such memorable mini desserts! read more

I was starving and decided to stop by and check this place out since it had so many positive reviews. Honestly was very disappointed, not only with customer service but especially the food. I ordered my food and I believe the mistake was on both ends but they assembled it to dine it, and I wanted to take out. No problem they just slapped that shii in a container. Fries soggy af. Oh and if you're not a returning customer the owner does not greet you. The chicken isn't even crispy and by the time I got home 5 mins away btw my shit was cold. Mac n cheese was horrible, along with the coleslaw, it is more like curtido. The brisket was ok, nothing special. The only thing I liked was the habanero bbq sauce, but even that couldn't save my meal read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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Absolutely the best brisket in the area! The meat is perfectly smoked, tender, and full of flavor. You can really taste the quality and care in every bite. They also have a great variety of dessert. The owner is super friendly and makes you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is very cool and laid back, and it's the kind of place you'll want to come back to again and again. Highly recommended. read more

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Food was AMAZING. Everything on the chiblamon plate was a 10/10 super good flavor and I loved the home style feel. Super nice staff and the vibes were immaculate. I also really enjoyed the art on the walls and with iconic cartoons/ anime. You will not find a place like this anywhere else! read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Chiblamon plate - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

These we epic mini cheesecakes we had at a work off-site. Just what you need after a savory meal, a sweet treat!! I was abl to indulge at the offsite, as well as take one to my hotel and enjoyed the next day, I am a big crust lover, thats what makes a great cheesecake in my opinion and this was PERFECT, thick and flavorful. read more

This review is a for a TGTG order! Visited the kitchen where they make the cheesecake and it's in the commercial area of Alameda! Parking is plenty! The drive from my house was around 30 minutes so, I didn't get there until 1:20PM(their pick up ends at 1:30!). I did see other TGTG customer, as the pickup window is a bit narrow, just 30 minutes. At first, I was given a bag with 1 medium plain cheesecake and 1 mini salted caramel cheesecake, which would be a $15 value. Didn't meet the $18 minimum value, but I thought, "maybe they just ran out, it's okay, I still got cheesecake!". (The cheesecakes also come frozen. My thoughts process is they bring these to sell at farmers markets, and freeze whatever they have left?) As I'm walking away, the guy is chasing after me with 2 more minis. I was super excited and well really happy. He handed me a 1 mini plain and 1 mini salted caramel. The New York style cheesecake was creamy and delicious. I love how the crust is a little bit saltier, which balanced out the sweetness! I haven't tried to Salted caramel yet, but will try it tonight! read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Plain and salted caramel! - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

(adapted from my Google maps review) Had dinner here tonight and it was awesome. The barbecue was absolutely top notch, probably the best I've had in the East Bay. I knew the chef from his days of running his cheesecake pop up so I knew his cheesecake was fire, but I did not realize he was also a savant with savory food too. Then again all of his food are tried and true recipes from his mom and grandma, so of course they were 10/10. We ordered the latkes (TL;DR the best latkes in the bay, they were perfectly light and crispy) and the Chiblamon combo plate (all 4 of their meats - Chicken, brisket, lamb, and salmon + 3 sides of your choosing) and it was an OBSCENE amount of food, more than enough to feed 2 people and very reasonably priced ($45). The brisket was solid and the salmon savory and lucious. The Mac and Cheese here is especially decadent, with shell pasta, creamy sauce, and crispy breadcrumbs. read more

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It's nice to come in, see the owner right there with his employees serving it up, always with a smile, a joke, and a positive attitude. The brisket is so tender, and you'd think, how tasty could a fried potato thingy be, but the latkes are delicious. And they have a happy hour! I love not having to buy a huge amount of cheesecake as well (it comes in cups), and they have great variety. It's an Oakland classic. read more

Customer service was great! Food was hot and ready to go. Lamb was delicious. Smoke flavor was good. Mac and cheese was gooey. I would prefer a better flavor on the greens but still were good. Had the cheesecake at a different time but still delicious. Never tasted one like that one but it was killer. read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

THE BEST and most unique cheesecake flavors EVER!! I first discovered them as a pop up and their flavor menu instantly caught my attention. I got a variety of mini cheesecakes and they were all so so good! There was some I liked more than others but none that I disliked. So far I've tried: Vietnamese coffee, ube, banilla, henny, and their original. Going to make it my mission to try all their different cheesecake flavors. Side note, I was at Berkeley bowl and saw they also carried their cheesecakes there! read more

I've been getting cheesecakes from Crazy Block for a while now. The cheesecake is amazing and they're always putting some new flavor on the menu. Last weekend I finally had a chance to try the BBQ and it definitely delivered. The brisket was moist and tender. The sauce was balanced between sweetness and spices. The beans were legit some of the best I've ever had. Texas BBQ is not my personal favorite style but this place is awesome. Plenty of thoughtful options for non meat eaters too! read more

Highly recommend this place, everything I've had from them has been delicious. Absolutely incredible brisket and salmon. Also, the gulab jaman cheesecake (which I think is limited edition) was SO GOOD. I will be back soon!! read more

I was honestly so pleasantly surprised by this place. I had heard good things but it seems kinda random, bbq, cheesecake and latkes? Like what is that? It's amazing that's what. We came in on a Friday night and ordered take out at the counter. My son enjoyed looking at the anime murals on the walls and action figures on the counter as we waited for our food. He also loved the Pokemon cards we were given by the friendly staff! My family got two meat platters; the brisket and chicken plates, which come with 2 sides each, so we got collard greens, Mac & cheese, cornbread and baked beans along with, 3 latkes and 2 cheesecakes; passion fruit and Samoa . Everything was so delicious! The latkes were super crispy and perfectly seasoned. The cheesecakes were creamy and flavorful with a crispy graham cracker crust. The Mac 'n cheese, greens and brisket were truly mouth watering, I kept exclaiming "mmmm... so good" as I ate. The baked beans were smoky and sweet with crispy savory meat pieces which was super tasty. The only thing I didn't love was the corn bread, it had good flavor but was a bit too dry and crumbly for my taste. read more

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Great vibes, awesome prices and delicious food. We had a really good experience here. Cannot recommend enough. read more

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I had recently discovered the Crazy Block Cheesecake experience at a Fair Vintage Rock and Roll at Faction brewery. I had been waiting in line at another food vendor when his booth caught my eye. The Man "Ben" was engaging and was super Hyped up and very energetic. I had purchased a Henny and Praline dessert cheesecake. When I tried the Cheesecake later, it was best dessert Cheesecake I had in awhile. I had started following him on IG and found out that he was opening a Brick and Mortar soon in Oakland. I made it out on Grand Opening day and was greeted with a complimentary sample of the Brisket. 16 hours smoked and it was really good along with the Pickle and onions. I had the pleasure of meeting his Mom. In-line and she told me what to order along with how hard working her son was. It was apparent that other people had anticipated the Grand opening. I ran into some Yelp foodie friends in line and was also given advice on what to order. I had ordered Latkas, a Chicken sandwich,, Brisket Combo with Mac Cheese; and a Henny Cheesecake.. I got a bonus small Og cheesecake for being one of the 1st 100 people In line. The food was really good and reasonably priced for the portions they gave out. The potato Latkas had a sweet component with the apple sauce and sour cream combo was delicious. Brisket was tender and cheese cake was also very good. I will definitely go back to try more of their menu and desserts. read more

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The guy at the counter took my order. He was dressed like Mario. Nice guy. Food was pretty damn tasty! And the portions were very generous. I'm a little disappointed that they didn't have any potatoes as a side but when I ate the Mac n cheese it was delicious! The brisket was smoky and juicy. The business owner Ben even gave me a free sample of the corn bread. Overall I would come back and try their sandwiches and burgers and cheesecake. read more

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The barbecue is tasty. The cheesecakes are AMAZING. The sides... could use some work. The decor is adorable.

Holy shucks that's good food! The bbq salmon and collards were amongst the best I've ever eaten, and I'm speaking from having traveled to Texas, NC, and parts of CA for decent bbq, to no avail. This was not sugary sweet or too much vinegar or salt. It was absolutely perfection in the distribution of favor. Try the cornbread as well, you will definitely go back for another slice or two! Don't forget the latkes and NY-style cheesecakes - being from NYC I can attest that both are superb! read more

Tri tip & ground beef sandwiches off the hook. Not on the everyday menu asks about it. Let's get it on the everyday menu read more

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We got the 6 mini cheesecakes for $30 deal because it was our first time trying them out and we wanted to taste a variety of flavors. The one I was most excited for was the Oreo flavor but it was a very underwhelming. The egg nog flavor was a miss for me entirely. I recommend the fruitier flavors (strawberry, mango, or even the taro). For the price, I don't think I'll be returning. read more

Crazy Block Cheesecakes - Cheesecake selections - Desserts Near Me - Oakland, California

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Hear me now and thank me later...I asked a local about BBQ and found THE BEST BRISKET this side of Texas at a cheesecake shop. So glad I asked! read more

This place opened on March 16 so they are still in soft opening phase. With that in mind, set your patience level to high and you will do fine. Saturday afternoon at 5, there was no line. The owner and servers are eager and passionate, but they still have to get their logistics sorted. Like how to package the combo, and how to bag more than 2 boxes of food. Yes, the name and yelp say this is a dessert place. It also serves BBQ, latkes and loaded fries. The brisket was on the dry side and needed help from the BBQ sauce. The short ribs were sadly over charred. Yes they are supposed to have burnt ends but more than 1/2 of the meat was charcoal. Perhaps we were the unlucky ones today. The Mac and cheese was also underwhelming. So what was good? The latkes, the loaded fries and the collared greens were tasty. And most definitely the cheesecakes. Do not miss out on the cheesecakes. Those were wonderfully delicious!! Will come back again later to see if the service and the proteins get better. read more