Lunch with David: Bojax Kitchen

I met David at the gym. Grunting over various machines, we started talking about the gym, our neighborhood, and other stuff dudes discuss while getting swole.

We discovered we liked chopping it up with each other and became friends. He is very respectful of my time and, because of that, asked if he could treat me to lunch monthly.

So we've been having lunch together once a month for the last three or four months. He's cool, and we're becoming closer friends. It's all good. Male friendships are what's happening.

It just so happens that David works for Alameda County, so he knows a number of good hole-in-the-wall restaurants and sandwich shops in Oakland.

Our monthly lunches together have evolved into me learning about "dem round-the-way spots" I know nothing about, and a feature in my newsletter called Lunch with David.

I thought I would take a stab at sharing the places we go with you because I'm hella cool, and also because David always talks about supporting local businesses.

Most recently, we ate at a spot off Seminary called Bojax Kitchen. I would have never gone there. That's why having a friend like David is so cool. Also, because he treats me to lunch.

When we arrived, it was a small place with three guys working. I wasn't quite sure about either the food or the location. A dude was waiting out front.

I looked over the menu. Heavy soul food.

I'm trying not to take advantage of the free lunch and not eat so much that I spend the remainder of the afternoon at Mancini's Sleep World, so I ordered a chili dog.

I was informed that they were out of chili.

I got that feeling I get when I go to a Black-owned business and get told that they're out of everything.

David smiled and encouraged me to order higher up the food chain and get the oxtails, the most expensive item on the menu.

I agreed.

The dude behind the register told me the oxtails came with two sides. I chose mac and cheese and collard greens.

After thanking the dude and David, I turned around and went outside to wait for the order.

After David placed his order, he walked outside, and we started chopping it up about world events and AI.

The man standing out front when we arrived overheard us talking and asked if he could join our conversation.

We agreed, and we all began talking. We had a good conversation. The man's order arrived first. He thanked us for talking with him and left.

Shortly after, our order was ready. David grabbed it, we jumped in his car, and we drove off.

David didn't stop until we reached Burckhalter Park, off Highway 580 and Edwards Avenue.

After parking, we got out and found a picnic table across the grass field, opposite the parking lot.

David slid my clamshell Styrofoam container toward me.

I opened it to find oxtails, gravy, rice, mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread.

I couldn't tell if it was lunchtime or Thanksgiving.

All I knew was that a great deal of drowsiness was on the agenda.

Let me tell you about this food, though.

David, true to form, knows where to eat.

One bite of the oxtails, and I heard strings.

Fork-tender, fall-off-the-bone oxtails, soaked in gravy like 10W-40 motor oil, are always what I'm talking about when it comes to oxtails.

Super cheesy mac and cheese and collard greens that make you look for Big Mama.

That's the day I found out that Bojax Kitchen, located at 6018 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, is worth visiting.