Crazy Block Cheesecakes

This place is like a 3-in-1. There is a cheesecake display and a section for BBQ and latkes. To be honest, I was a little disappointed by the food. What is pictured is what I got. The beef ribs had a tremendous amount of fat and I got a slice and a sixth of brisket. The yams felt pre-cooked and too sweet. Similarly, the meat in the beans and greens felt a little fatty so the texture was off putting. I think I would have preferred a meat free option. The restaurant decor is hella cute and parking is towards the end of Lakeshore is not as difficult. If I were to visit again, I would consider the chicken and ask for meat-free greens.

Ordered take out last night for dinner and had the plate combo and it was fantastic! The brisket was absolutely amazing, melt in your mouth good and bursting with flavor. The side of mac and cheese with coslaw very much complemented everything. To top it all off, the mini Samoa cheesecake was a delightful finish. 10/10 would highly recommend and I will for sure be back again.

I love BBQ, and am so happy to have a new fav spot to frequent. I’ve always preferred baby back ribs, but Crazy Block’s beef ribs are FANTASTIC. Can also attest to the amazing brisket and chicken. Sides are where lesser BBQ spots might falter, but not Crazy Block. The collard greens are tender, not overcooked with delicious chunks of meat, the baked beans similarly have bits o’brisket in them, mac and cheese so creamy and flavorful, and lest I forget the cornbread… two choices are both delicious. On top of the consistently amazing food, the service is great. Ben, the owner, is super friendly and gave great advice as I planed out ordering food for my Super Bowl party. I’ve never saved enough stomach capacity for an actual cheesecake, but vow to make that happen soon.

5 STARS. FIVE. I would give it six but my phone only goes to five. Listen. LISTEN. I have been driving up and down the state of California for YEARS — years, people — on a holy quest for brisket that didn't taste like it got smoked by a guy who learned BBQ from a YouTube video titled "BBQ for Beginners (EASY)." I had given up hope. I had made peace with my sad California brisket reality. And then I rolled into Crazy Block Cheesecakes on Lakeshore Ave and my whole understanding of the West Coast meat landscape got turned upside down and shaken out like a pinata full of bark. This is the best brisket west of the Mojave. I am not exaggerating for effect. I am stating this as a geographic fact that should probably be on a historical plaque. The brisket itself shows up smoky like it just walked off a campfire, bark for days, and you get to choose lean or juicy which is basically the BBQ version of choosing your own adventure novel except every ending is delicious. Pull up with the chiblam combo, throw some collard greens and that vinegar slaw on the tray, and just sit there in silence for a minute appreciating what is happening on your tongue. AND THEN. AND THEN THERE'S THE CHEESECAKE. A BBQ joint that also makes a genuinely elite New York style cheesecake from Grandma Block's actual recipe should not exist. It is not a fair matchup for the rest of the cheesecake industry. Dense, rich, made with real local dairy, and somehow this man has 160 flavors going at once like he's running a cheesecake casino. Owner Ben Block himself was working the line, slinging plates, vibing with customers under a wall mural of Goku powering up a slice of cheesecake, which is either the most unhinged or the most correct decor choice I have ever witnessed in a restaurant. And when I told him I'd been searching forever for real BBQ out here, he just shrugged and said better late than never. Aye men, Ben. Aye men. Brisket: immaculate. Cheesecake: a separate, equally immaculate occasion. Vibe: dinosaurs and Pokemon and pure unfiltered joy. Will be back. Will probably be buried here.

Crazy Block Cheese is my new favorite BBQ spot in Oakland! I love everything about this place the anime artwork is dope, and the atmosphere has great energy. The owner, Ben, was really friendly and enthusiastic. He takes time to engage with all his customers and takes pride in the fresh-made food and sauces. My wife and I ordered the three-protein combo meal, and it was more than enough for both of us. We had the beef rib, brisket, and pulled chicken, all were juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The sauces were hella good too. For sides, we got the mac and cheese and cornbread. They accidentally gave us collard greens at first but Ben fixed it right away, no problem. The cornbread was also really good! The beef ribs and brisket is my favorite. This is hands down the best value meal you can get. Most BBQ spots overcharge and leave you disappointed, but here you get high-quality food at a fair price. I also love that they use local ingredients. Great food, great vibe, good music, great people perfect spot to bring friends or family.