Since he was a little kid growing up near Fresno, Clint Melville wanted to run a restaurant.
“I don’t know why,” Melville said. “It’s just something I’ve always been attracted to.”

So when he moved to Oregon as an adult, he brought his Central California culinary skills with him and operated Rip City Grill on Portland’s southwest waterfront. Then the pandemic hit and he had to close after 15 years of growing a successful business.

In May, the seasoned restaurateur resurfaced when he opened Sandbar BBQ in the heart of Sandy. Response from locals and passersby has been better than expected.

“[I] just had the meat sweats with jalapeños cornbread, root beer beans, waffle fries and slaw,” a customer posted on Sandbar BBQ’s Facebook page. “Don’t forget about the side of corn tortillas. Absolutely delicious. Enough for 3 adults and leftovers. Customer service was the best.”

Melville found out quickly that Sandy has a big appetite for great barbecue, as his restaurant drew a few hundred during opening weekend to its Highway 26 location.

“I can’t complain,” Melville said. “We were a little overwhelmed by the number of people for the first weekend, but I think we’ve got it figured out now.”

And there’s plenty on the menu to keep them coming back for more.

“We’re known for our tri-tip steaks,” said Melville, who lives in nearby Oregon City. “But my favorite is the tacos. We’ve got steak, chicken, pork, fish and cauliflower tacos.”

Other favorites include al pastor sausages and pulled pork egg rolls. All the meats are excellent. There’s also a full bar with 29 taps and they tout the best cocktails in town.

General Manager Jacob Soucie, a big fan of Sandbar BBQ’s al pastor sausage, has worked with Melville for years. Soucie found the Sandy location when they were looking for restaurant space.

“Sandy is a great location,” Soucie said. “It’s a great city. I’m happy I moved here. I was very impressed with the town and the people, and look forward to making myself a part of it.”

The large family-friendly restaurant is fun with bright colors and a homey, relaxing atmosphere and four large-screen TVs. The interior has large tables that can accommodate about 60 diners. The outside courtyard seats up to 40. And Sandbar BBQ has a staff of about 20.

“We’re just hoping to give Sandy some new options we think they will enjoy,” Melville said.

They’re open from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday, with plans to add lunch in July. Sandbar BBQ is located at 39750 U.S. Highway 26 in Sandy. Give them a call at 503-832-8246, visit their website sandbarbbq.com., or visit them on Facebook at @sandbarbbq.