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 ( , anyone?) or somewhere with much better barbecue ( ). 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. 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 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. " - Ricky Rodriguez
