Loven Fresh Baking Company

Hands down, our favorite barbecue! Pulled pork, ribs, or nachos, you can’t go wrong. Great for a quick bite and they do an excellent job on big orders as well.

Eaten here for years. Family owned and operated by creative people who do an amazing job with a small space. Be warned though; If you have an appetite for BBQ, you will be tormented as you drive down Hwy 64 if the hickory smoke that seductively rides the breezes off their smoker should blow your way. The only way to ease your pain is to sink your teeth into a jumbo sandwich… and quickly. The location is an odd one though. It’s basically not much more than a closet on the end of a self serve car wash and laundromat. An interesting and well appointed little closet… but minuscule. Get it to go… unless you want to eat at the little tables outside at the end of the building. But hey… it’s all about the pork, right? In addition to some of the most flavorfully smoky meat in a hundred mile radius, the retro feel once you walk inside is an unexpected bonus. A throwback to small town America with a wide variety of soda brands in cold bottles, local sauces and canned goods. Also the tamales here are very high quality and definitely worth a try.
Another reason to stop in for a visit is the fresh baked bread which is available to those who are fortunate to recognize the value. I was told that before this business was started, the current owner would occassionally bake bread for co workers where he previously worked. Soon he was overwhelmed with requests for more than he had time to bake, this he was inspired to open his own business. His skill with providing some of the best pork around will make you a fan of this impressive little roadside oddity. Put this place on your «must visit» BBQ list. You won’t be disappointed.

An so happy to have this close to my house! Great sandwiches on fresh baked bread, BBQ cooked in the front of the store, the Gobbler is Thanksgiving on a sandwich and I’m in love with their potato salad! I’ve NEVER had anything here that wasn’t great!

Small joint right on Hwy 64. Has a couple of tables but looks like it is primarily carry out. Tried the BBQ sandwich and the regular is still huge. Packed with tender smoked meat and covered in delish sauce and, of course, slaw if you ask. The hot sauce was perfect. Not really hot but just enough spice to make you appreciate it. The also sell their homemade sauces there. Nice place. Friendly service.

Great BBQ and beans. It is the best place in a Oakland to get BBQ, unfortunately it is really carry out only. Prices are reasonable.

In terms of BBQ, you may think that this Yankee probably doesn’t have much authority regarding it. Let me briefly describe my experience with BBQ. I have eaten at some of the première BBQ capitals in the US. I have been to NC and had the deliciously tangy mustard sauces; I have lived in Texas and sampled their bold, black-​peppery flavors; I have traveled to KC and consumed their paprika-​heavy sauces, and in-​your-​face dry rubs; lastly, I have lived in Memphis for over 8 months now and have eaten at many of this city’s best BBQ locations. Does this make me an expert? Maybe… and maybe not? Regardless, I have experience with the whole spectrum of BBQ, and will detail my findings regarding Loven Fresh Baking Company below.
Food: The food ranged from surprising, to pleasantly delicious. Let’s start with the surprising: The Potato Salad. Wow. I was not expecting that combination of flavors in my mouth. I have had so many potato salads, and this was by far the most unique. It tasted like a sour cream dressing, with chives (or scallions), and bacon. Almost more like a ‘Loaded Baked Potato’ Salad, then a traditional potato salad. I really, really liked it! Awesome, unique flavors I have not had anywhere else. Also surprising were the Baked Beans. I liked these a lot too. They had a great combination and balance of heat and sweet. I prefer the sauce of my baked beans to be a little thicker… that is my only complaint. I was very fond of these as well.
When it comes to BBQ, I am literally crazy for Pulled Pork. I mean, if pulled pork is on the menu, I am ordering it in a mass amount. This is what we did on this occasion as well. So in terms of the meat, I have only eaten their pulled pork. This was underwhelming. It was the dry-​est pulled pork I have had in Memphis thus far… and that saddens me. It wasn’t offensively dry; but dry enough where it REQUIRED BBQ sauce. I find that great pulled pork sometimes is great with minimal BBQ sauce; like I said, BBQ was required with this pork. Despite the prevalent dry-​ness though, the flavor was really nice. It had a great smoke flavor that finished cleanly… no bitterness.
The least successful thing we ate was the coleslaw. It lacked flavor in my opinion, and had a little too much vinegar bite for my liking.
The BBQ Sauce was good, but it was also the least successful BBQ sauce I have had in Memphis so far. Central BBQ is by far my favorite, and I also have a fondness for Jim and Nick’s unique BBQ as well. Loven Fresh’s was a little bit forgettable, with very basic flavors. There was no depth to the flavor.
Food: Sides (5,5,2 = 4) Pork (3) BBQ (3) = ³⁄₅
Atmosphere: N/​A. It is a take-​out location only
Service: The service was friendly, and was exactly what was expected.
Service: ³⁄₅
Price: The price was actually very reasonable. I think it was about $ 20 for all three of us. We got the second smallest size of sides (pints I think?), and one large container of the Pulled Pork with a side of BBQ. That really isn’t bad for three people. For pretty decent quality BBQ, it was cheaper than three meals at McDonalds, and one million times better.
Price: ⁴⁄₅
Final Thoughts: There are VERY FEW dining options in Oakland, TN. In fact, given my 10 years of restaurant experience, I have seriously considered opening one. I think it would make a killing in profit. Anyway, regarding Loven Fresh, I think it benefits from not having any direct competition in the area. Brad’s BBQ is down the street, but I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t really comment on it. I would be willing to bet though, that in the coming years, more and more restaurants will start popping-​up, and this may be problematic for Loven Fresh. It is middle-​of-​the-​road BBQ, with some deliciously surprising offerings; but its only purpose for my family would be grabbing something quick, easy, and right down the street if I was in the mood for BBQ and didn’t feel like traveling far. I would really like to try some of their sandwiches though, and when I do, I will update this review.

Good BBQ. You order inside in a tiny room, then you can get it to go or sit on the small patio next to the smokers. We sat outside and I smelled like smoke the rest of the day (this is a good thing). Lots of choices on the menu. I got a half rack of ribs with beans and slaw. The sides were really good; some of the best beans I’ve had. Ribs were served wet. I prefer dry, but didn’t mind. They were really good. The meat easily slid off the bone. The sauce wasn’t my favorite, but it was still very good. Go visit If you’re out in Oakland or if you’ve got time for a drive on a Saturday.

The folks have no inside seating, though they have their BBQ cooking equipment and seating outdoors. They are also a bakery.
Overall, everything is okay (the bread, the flavors, the meat, the slaw), but the meat is slightly on the dry side for the BBQ sandwich.