On Saturday, Nov. 28, Carnivore’s BBQ Sandwich Shop will be opening its doors to the Turlock community and gracing everyone with its mouth-watering smoked meat sandwiches. All carnivores are encouraged to come hungry.
This new restaurant, originally planned to be a BBQ food truck, boasts a meat-lover’s dream of a menu with four meat choices for sandwiches, including tri-tip, pulled pork, pastrami and turkey, each smoked to perfection.       
Restaurant owner Rich Aziz said he felt Turlock was the perfect area to start his business because of its culinary diversity and its lack of one thing: a great-tasting, signature BBQ restaurant.
“The one thing that I always thought was missing from this city is a good BBQ place,” Aziz said. “I’m trying my part to bring that in.”
Aziz brings a unique type of BBQ to Turlock – he uses a Santa Maria style, which he says really brings out the flavor in the meats.  This Santa Maria style is native to the coastal area of Southern California and incorporates the use of red oak wood, which is only from that region, during the smoking process to give the meats a unique taste.
Each of the meats are cooked with the red oak bark and, surprisingly, no sauce at all. However, four tasty, homemade sauces are offered to go along with each kind of sandwich. 
“We have our own sauces that we have created over the years,” Aziz said. “With tri-tip, we like to use the Carnivore sauce. With the pulled pork, we recommend the BBQ sauce. With the pastrami, the Santa Maria Aioli is delicious.”
Aziz praised all of his meats for their amazing taste, but he recommended a clear favorite.
“Our pastrami is to die for,” Aziz said. “As far as texture and taste, it’s really good (…) You want to have more than one sandwich, but then you’re full.”
If you are looking to splurge on something beyond just sandwiches, several sides are offered including the “Carnivore-Style” fries that are topped with melted cheese and any choice of meat, and “Crispy Funnel Cake Fries,” which just might be a godsend for those with a big sweet-tooth.  
In addition to great food, their menu is extremely friendly to student budgets. All of their sandwiches are regularly priced under $8. If that doesn’t get California State University, Stanislaus students in the door, the 15% discount they get by showing their Warrior Card definitely will.
If you are looking to satisfy your meat cravings, stop by the grand opening of Carnivore’s BBQ Sandwich Shop, which is located at 2685 Geer Road. 
You can also check out their website for menu options at carninvoresbbqturlock.com.
Update 11/20/15: The opening of Carnivore’s has been pushed back one week from Nov. 21 to Nov. 28.