Gram’s Mission BBQ in Riverside, a hit and a miss! | Lashaun Turner | NewsBreak Original

The I.E Soul Food Tour made a stop at Gram’s Mission BBQ Restaurant in Riverside, Sunday October 10, 2021.

The Restaurant

Gram’s is billed as an informal restaurant serving Southern-style BBQ dishes, Cajun cuisine & fried fish. Gram’s specialty is its award-winning BBQ.

The courtyard in front of the entrance has a banner that reflects the restaurant was voted #1 in the 25th annual Press Enterprise Readers Choice awards for 2020.

According to the restaurants Facebook page Gram’s has over 25 years in catering services, 2 mobile BBQ pits and a full-service food truck.

The Experience

The restaurant has limited indoor seating space as well as a courtyard setting outdoors.

The courtyard patio tables are covered, and the area is well shaded with lush green trees and potted shrubbery making the ambiance very cozy and enjoyable.

The Food

Here is where it gets tricky. I sampled the pork ribs, Cajun chicken, hot wings greens, cornbread, mac n cheese and potato salad.

The ribs were no doubt good tasting! That smoke flavor was on point and the texture of the meat was cooked well. The sauce was delicious.

The problem however was that the meat was cold. The outside was a little warm but as I bit into it — the rib was cold.

The Cajun chicken as you can see from the pictures was very undercooked and not edible by my standards.

I always request my food be prepared well done and did so in this instance. The chicken was golden brown on the outside but pink and runny on the inside.

The hot wings were a little more cooked (a little) and the flavor did not disappoint.

The greens and mac n cheese were good, but the cornbread disintegrated as soon as I picked it up. Incredibly dry crumbs went everywhere.

The potato salad had a great taste but for some reason it was floating in a flood of liquid in the container. I was able to skim off the top and did think it tasted very good, but the liquid was just gross.

A watery potato salad can be caused by mixing the potatoes while they are too hot or the ingredients used in your potato salad (for example too much vinegar or other liquid). … If you mix them while hot, the potatoes will continue to sweat adding moisture to the salad and then resulting in a watery potato salad. -Entertaining With Beth

Impression

This is one of those times when I feel like the food would have been exceptional if cooked/served properly. They have the flavors right- just the execution was lacking on this particular day, in my opinion.

When it comes to the BBQ, I can see why they would have been voted #1 for taste. I just wish mine had of been warm throughout so I could have enjoyed it fully.

If you would like to try it for yourself, Gram’s Mission BBQ is located downtown Riverside California at 3527 Main Street.

Check out some more recent stops made on my food tour in the Inland Empire:

Sunday Dinners Soul Food Slap Yo Momma BBQ & Soulfood AJ’s Fish Market Urban Craft Eatery

Do you have an experience with Gram’s Mission BBQ? Any Soul Food or other recommendations? Leave comment below and don’t forget to like and share with other Foodies!

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Originally published at https://original.newsbreak.com.