Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford review, pics, hours, and menu info for The Concho Pearl Icehouse Restaurant conveniently located on M-24 just south of Downtown Oxford and just north of Downtown Lake Orion. The location is a remodeled Big Boy restaurant that had previously sat vacant for years. The Concho opened up in October of ’17 and is the 2nd location of a chain, the other being in Texas. I’m not sure of the relationship between San Angelo Texas-style BBQ and Oxford, but I’m glad to have another great local BBQ restaurant to visit.
Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford Pics
I found The Concho Pearl Icehouse to be a bit different than most typical local BBQ restaurants… in a positive way… and a negative way. I’ll get to both. First the positive.
As of the date of this post, Concho Pearl in Lake Orion offers Kids Eat Free on Mondays. For each adult entree purchased, children receive a free item from the kid’s menu.
Despite being located in a former Big Boy, the restaurant is very modern and well-decorated. No tacky vintage gas station signs or inflatable pigs adorning the walls, Concho Pearl is quite alluring. Great for a date, or great for a nice dinner with the family. Also uncharacteristic of most BBQ restaurants is an expanded menu with some very creative menu choices. You won’t find the usual 3 choices of sides and 3 choices of meat here. You’ll find smoked shrimp tacos, brown sugar smoked salmon, turkey melts, pulled pork enchiladas, and a variety of made-that-day desserts the chef whips up in the kitchen. Concho Pearl comes close to Lockhart’s Lake Orion in its menu creativity. Not quite there, but close. It’s very refreshing to see a number of gluten and allergy friendly items on the menu.
OAKLAND COUNTY BBQ RESTAURANTS
On the downside, I was shocked at the complete lack of BBQ sauce choices at Concho Pearl. I ordered my brisket and sausage at the bar and was expecting them to make available 4-6 squeeze bottles filled with colorful sauce choices in an six-pack of beer container ala EVERY OTHER BBQ RESTAURANT in Michigan. Instead, it’s one sauce. While the sauce was enjoyable, the enjoyment from ordering brisket is sampling all the sauces, vinegars and mustards that the restaurant has and not just being stuck with one. Also, since I ordered a typical meat platter, my only choices for sides were baked beans (which were very runny), and potato salad (which was excellent). Again, not being a “typical” BBQ place bit me in the butt here. For sides, I’m used to having a choice of baked beans, potato salad, mac n cheese, Texas caviar, corn on the cob… you get the point. There is so much creativity and so many things to like on the Concho Pearl Oxford menu that I was bummed that the true BBQ fans somehow suffer. The tasty brisket and sausage weren’t as enjoyable as they could have been thanks to the lack of sauces and zero variety sides.
I don’t think the negatives will hold Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford back, though. While I greatly prefer Lockhart’s in Lake Orion, Concho Pearl Icehouse is beautifully situated on M-24 to draw crowds of families from Lake Orion AND Oxford (and they do). It’s a nice restaurant, friendly staff, great menu items, and good food. I’ll be back, I just might stray away from BBQ when I go.
Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford
955 S Lapeer Rd
Oxford, MI 48371
248-800-4222
Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford Hours (WINTER)
Mon-Wed – 4p-10p
Thu – 11a-10p
Fri – 11a-11p
Sat – 10a-11p
Sun – 10a-8p
Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford Hours (SUMMER)
Mon-Thu – 11a-10p
Fri-Sat – 11a-11p
Sun – 11a-8p
For Concho Pearl BBQ Oxford menu info, visit www.theconchopearl.com