Nice information for brisket-loving Lamorindans and East Bay foodies who’ve longed for some stellar barbecue: Matt Horn is opening a brand new restaurant in Lafayette.
Horn, a James Beard award-nominated barbecue chef who was named one of many nation’s greatest new cooks by Meals & Wine Journal in 2021, introduced on Instagram that he was opening a brand new Horn Barbecue location at 3422 Mount Diablo Blvd. on Wednesday, Dec. 18. It’s the previous location of the a lot beloved Bo’s Barbecue, an East Bay group mainstay, and two different eating places — Boneheads and All of the Smoke. It’s a location, in different phrases, with ‘cue in its DNA.
“Horn Barbecue in Lafayette is not just a restaurant; it’s the result of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to make a difference,” Horn introduced on social media. “Our vision has always been to serve others, uplift our community and build something that lasts. To everyone who has stood by us — your loyalty, trust, and encouragement have been the foundation of our success.”
It has been a protracted and wild journey for Horn, who opened his authentic location in West Oakland in 2020 and shortly rose to nationwide acclaim with even the Michelin Information calling him a “local sensation.”
However the authentic eatery was destroyed in 2023 in a hearth that’s nonetheless underneath investigation for arson. Horn’s household raised $130,000 by a GoFundMe marketing campaign within the days after the hearth hoping to rebuild. Earlier this yr, he was promised $100,000 from Alameda County in federal pandemic aid funds.
Horn relaunched Horn Barbecue in April in the identical Oakland location as one other of his eating places, the now-shuttered Matty’s Outdated Normal, however mentioned he wouldn’t attempt to rebuild on the authentic web site. (His different restaurant, Kowbird, opened in Oakland in 2022 and impressed a chicken-centric cookbook by the identical title.)
Along with the hearth, Horn has additionally grappled with authorized bother that features allegations of unpaid wages, a $167,000 lawsuit along with his former enterprise associate, David Kim, and a $200,000 dispute with a former worker who claims he helped Horn begin the enterprise and did many of the cooking.
The brand new restaurant will carry Horn’s signature “West Coast barbecue” to Lafayette’s buzzy downtown for the primary time, providing up brisket, beef and pork ribs, smoked turkey, wings and Horn-style Burnt Ends and the complete lineup of sides, from mac and cheese to collard greens, cornbread and slaw.
Particulars: Open from midday to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday by Sunday at 3422 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette; hornbarbecue.com.
