Randall's Pop-Up Barbecue Spices Up Crown Heights

Tucked into the back of The Crown Inn on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights is probably the best local barbecue you’ve never heard of. But you will. It's only been there four days, after all. 

Randall’s, a brand new pop-up sandwich counter, slings barbecue for thirsty bar patrons who have no idea just how hungry they are until they take a bite. Then it’s all over in a matter of minutes. 

The owner, and the man making the sandwich, is Jared Male, a veteran of New York City barbecue mainstays like Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem and Hill Country in Manhattan, who wanted to take a shot at striking out on his own in Crown Heights. 

"A good friend of mine moved around the corner five years ago, and I've been able to watch the neighborhood develop to the point that it's at now," Male said. "Barbecue and this bar go well together. I thought my food would go over really well here."

He thought right. On Thursday night The Crown Inn was standing room only, and a lot of drinkers needed some barbecue to help settle a few fingers of whiskey. 

The sandwiches don’t come cheap — settling in the $10 to $13 range — but it’s worth it for the amount of meat that comes piled on, and the flavor that comes with it. Pass on the brisket at your peril. Walk the five paces to the bar to pair it with a beer and go to sandwich heaven.

"Wow. What animal did this brisket come from? What kind of meat magician did this?" asked one incredulous barbecue enthusiast in the high-backed leather seats at the rear of the bar.

She wasn’t the only one blown away by the sandwiches. Male said the response since Randall’s first popped-up on Monday has been huge.

The plan is for Randall’s to stay at The Crown Inn’s sandwich counter through the end of November, and hopefully longer if they’ll have him. 

"So far it’s been overwhelmingly positive," he said. "The best part is to see a customer's reaction. If you're making them happy, you must be doing something right."

The Crown Inn is located at 724 Franklin Ave in Crown Heights. Randall's is located in the back of the bar and starts sandwich service around 5 p.m.