Old Clinton Bar-B-Q- Gray,GA

Old Clinton Bar-B-Q has been on my radar for a while. Problem was, it's in the tiny town of Gray,Ga- not near any route I regularly travel. But after a weekend trip to Lake Sinclair, we were passing through around lunch time on the way back to Florida. Problem solved.

Even if you weren't looking for it, it would be hard to miss the low-slung building with it's dirt floored porch and vintage advertising, including the proclamation "Best in Georgia".

The interior has similarly been left un-updated for the most part, and feels like a 50 year step back in time.

Chopped pork with a thin vinegar and pepper sauce is what they are known for here, although they also offer ribs, turkey and chicken. Their classic plate includes the barbecue, brunswick stew, bread and a pickle, plus slaw or potato salad if you want to add it on.

We ordered several of these, and someone got ribs too, so I got to sample both.

The pork was a nice mix of different textures of well cooked meat- well cooked in that it was moist and flavorful, though the smoke wasn't too prevalent. It was perhaps overshadowed by the vinegar in the sauce. I could also detect a bit of a reheated taste. Still, it was every bit as good as any of this style of barbecue that I have had. Piled on a slice of fresh white bread, it made a barbecue sandwich that would be hard to beat.

The ribs were properly smoked and perfectly done, though they didn't have much in the way of seasoning. Old  Clinton's version of Brunswick Stew is a little on the thin side. It was good, but lacked anything that set it apart for me. Our sides of slaw and potato salad followed suit in that they were a good complement to the meal but didn't stand out on their own.

I enjoyed the experience of eating here as much or more than the food itself. It's definitely a must visit for anyone interested in the history of Georgia barbecue. I can't agree that it's the best in Georgia though. In my limited forays into the Peach State I have already been fortunate enough to eat at a few places that give them some stiff competition for that title, but having said that, they are definitely close to the top of the list.

FOOD RATING: 4 OF 5

Wall art at Old Clinton

OVERALL RATING: 4.5 OF 5

Heirloom Market BBQ- Atlanta,(Smyrna) GA

   A couple days before we planned to be driving through Atlanta around dinner time, I asked Dustin at The Georgia Barbecue Hunt to recommend a good place for a quick stop. He suggested Heirloom Market. Our plans changed, and it looked like we would miss it, but in the end we decided to spend the night in Atlanta and were able to visit the next day for lunch. I'm glad it worked out, because this ended up being one of my favorite visits of the year.
   This is a small place that shares a building with the convenience store next door. Seating choices are at the one table inside, a few stools along the counter running two sides of the room, or a couple chairs outside. We had a large group, so we fit in wherever we could- some of us eating family style alongside strangers, but staff and fellow diners both were super friendly. Here, you count yourself lucky just to have a seat.

Soon after we placed our order for a large combo of brisket, ribs and pulled pork, as well as a plate of wings, our meal appeared on the counter that separates the dining room from the kitchen.

Food was divided and passed, including our sides of thick cut fries, potato salad, collard greens and mac and cheese. All were good, showcasing Chefs Cody and Jiyeon's talents in combining Southern and Korean cuisines. Their minor variations made the sides exciting without straying too far from tried and true barbecue traditions. The creamy mac and cheese was by far the favorite. Meats were of course the star of the show, and none of them disappointed.

The chicken wings definitely had the most Korean influence. The tangy sauce complemented their smokiness for a good, if a little unusual starting point. Next I tried the brisket. The slices were fork tender and smoky with a nice crust. Large chunks of pulled pork went down easy, again well smoked and just the right amount of bark. It was great by itself, but I used this to sample the sauces. I liked best the table, a thick sweet sauce, and Hotlanta, which had more tomato and more heat. The ribs were a treat in themselves, their meaty insides covered by a generous layer of carmelized rub that could only be described as pig candy. They had a good amount of well-rendered fat that made them juicy and enhanced the flavor. Having the trifecta of hot flavorful meat juices, perfect smokiness and a complementary rub made these the best ribs I have eaten to date.

We left stuffed, with smoky fingers and smiles on our faces. I'm glad we didn't miss this, and neither should you if you're anywhere nearby. It's been along time coming, but I'm happy to give Heirloom my first 5 star rating-

FOOD RATING: 5 OF 5

OVERALL RATING: 5 OF 5

Thompson Brothers Bar-B-Q, Atlanta, (Smyrna) GA

  

"First time here?" the man behind the cash register asked as we stepped up to the counter. "Yeah? Then free drinks for all of you." My family and I were passing through Atlanta on our way back to Florida after a trip to North Carolina. "How'd you hear about us?" was his next question. When I mentioned I'd heard about them on the radio he replied, "Oh, Sean Hannity?" Horace Thompson, one of the five brothers that founded the restaurant, is a frequent caller to the Hannity show, and suffice it to say they don't agree on much except that Horace has the best ribs in Atlanta, possibly the country. We had found them after several wrong turns, in a nondescript strip mall beside Cobb Parkway.

Even though it was after 1:30, they still had a good sized lunch crowd and a bit of a line. It moved quickly though, and soon we were placing our order for ribs (of course) chopped pork, and a chicken sandwich for my daughter.

The brothers were originally from Oklahoma, so their barbecue has a little more Texas-style flavor to it. Their meats are smoked out behind the store in a wood burning cinder block smoker, using mainly oak.

The ribs indeed lived up to their billing. They were meaty, well smoked and pulled easily off the bone. A thick crust added just the right amount of flavor- no sauce needed. The chopped pork was poor by comparison. Though it had some smoke flavor, it had lots of gristle and unrendered fat. I tried out the sauces on the pork and they all improved it. The spicy one was my favorite, actually more like hot sauce and not as sweet as most places in this area. The chicken breast in the sandwich was thick, juicy and well cooked. All the sides we tried were good; creamy potato salad, macaroni and cheese and delicious collard greens. Tea was sweet and cold, just how it should be. Even though we were stuffed, I couldn't resist banana pudding for desert, and it didn't let me down either. 

It's easy to see why they are known for their ribs. Their menu also includes brisket, sausage and bologna, so I'd love to make a return trip to explore more options. If it wasn't for the sub-par pork, this may have been my first 5 star rating, but for now it's...

FOOD RATING: 4 OF 5

OVERALL RATING: 4.5 OF 5

Country's Barbeque-Columbus, GA

Full House at Country's Barbeque

This was my fourth visit to Country's, the best known barbeque restaurant in Columbus, Georgia. The place is always packed, even on weeknights, and it's not hard to see why. Although the food wasn't quite as perfect as I had remembered, it was still delicious. Many meals come with barbequed onions which are unusually good. Also, if you like peanut butter pie, don't leave here without at least a piece to go.

What really makes this place memorable though, is all the little touches from the butcher paper tablecloths (the kids can color on this table) to the nail aprons the waitresses wear to the Dale Earnhardt statue by the door.

I highly reccomend Country's as a funky-country family friendly barbeque experience.

FOOD RATING: 4 OF 5
OVERALL RATING: 4.5 OF 5