LAReview

photo credit: Holly Liss

Maple Block Meat Co. image
7.6

Maple Block Meat Co.

BBQ

Culver City

$$$$Perfect For:Casual Weeknight DinnerFirst/Early in the Game DatesLunchOutdoor/Patio Situation
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Hold up. Did LA just become a BBQ town?

Right as you were choking down the last of that milk thistle tempeh bowl, Los Angeles just got itself yet another A-List BBQ joint. No, we’re not going to be Memphis, Kansas City, or Austin anytime soon. But LA BBQ is officially no longer a punchline.

Residing on a stretch of Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City we understood to be reserved for discount carpet stores and Donut King, Maple Block Meat Co. is a modern, fantastic BBQ spot that frankly nobody saw coming. The interior may have some pretty trendy touches to it, but fear not. The rustic look of the place still triggers that button in your brain telling you it’s ok to binge eat BBQ here. And trust us, you will.

The star of this meat show is undoubtedly the brisket. This smoky cut of meat is drop-your-fork-and-consider-what-just-happened good. You could just order it alone and probably walk out happy. But that would also be a huge mistake on your part, because what really sets Maple Block apart from the pack is everything else on that menu. We can’t stop thinking about the biscuits, the mac, the pie, the greens, or those pimiento cheese sandwiches that wouldn’t be out of place in the lunch box of a first grader whose mom clearly knows what the f*ck is up.

While the food will continue to bring in the crowds, it’s the vibe that will keep them there. This is Culver after all, people don’t give a sh*t about status. They care about having a laid-back place where they can show up with their friends, eat great food, and be on their way. Enter: Maple Block. Come in with co-workers for a casual, order-at-the-counter lunch or stroll in at dinner with the crew or a hot date (yes, a date) for some full-service BBQ bliss. Maple Block is the unpretentious, non-kitschy neighborhood BBQ joint that will appeal to just about everyone.

Scrap the punchlines, jokes on you if you aren’t eating here.

Food Rundown

Maple Block Meat Co. image

Brisket

Hallelujah. Cut either fatty, lean, or mixed, the brisket at Maple Block delivers on its promised hype. This baby is smoked to an inch of its damn life and we want ALL. OF. IT.

Maple Block Meat Co. image

Pimiento Cheese Sandwich

Don’t tell anyone, but this might be the best thing here. It’s sort of hidden away on the menu, but seek it out and fill your mouth with it. Cut on two pieces of white bread, this is just you, cheese, and childhood dreams.

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Biscuits

There are some mighty fine biscuits in this town, and Maple Block just secured its place in the top of the ranks. These are fluffy, golden perfection, but the secret might actually be in that honey butter served alongside them.

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Seasonal Vegetable Salad

Stay with us here. No right-minded human wants to deal with goddamn seasonal vegetables at a BBQ place, but this is no average BBQ place. This is Maple Block, and their seasonal salad (with a squash puree from the gods) is an absolute must-order.

Maple Block Meat Co. image

Smoked Peewee Potatoes

While definitely good, these don’t stand out as much as promised. A little under-seasoned and over-salted. That being said, no points docked.

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Apple Cobbler

Couldn’t this just be bad so we’d have something to complain about? Fck you, Maple Block, you’re perfect and you haunt our dreams.

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FOOD RUNDOWN

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