DAS BBQ on Collier Road in North-
west Atlanta describes itself as an
“easygoing counter-service joint
featuring smoked meats, Southern
sides and beer, plus live music.”
The barbeque is prepared Texas-
style, with thick-sliced brisket and
beef sausage being among the most
popular items. While the chicken
and pork items might be less intense
in the flavor department, the spicy
corn chowder and mac and cheese
sides are excellent additions to your
order.
Fat Matt's Rib Shack on Piedmont
Avenue is an Atlanta institution
known as “an electric and unpre-
tentious blues and barbeque joint
[specializing] in ribs, from sandwich
to slab, and a long list of special
sides.” The barbeque joint even got
a shout-out in the George Clooney
movie "Up in the Air." This restaurant
knows how to do ribs and sweet po-
tato pie well – the long line outside
the door can attest to that. Bring a
bib, stick to the restaurant’s main-
stays and your stomach will thank
you.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q on DeKalb Av-
enue in Northeast Atlanta features
Texas-style “slow-roast ribs, pulled
pork and Southern sides in an in-
formal space with a patio.” This is
a modest description for one of the
more popular barbeque restaurants
in Northeast Atlanta. While Fox
Bros. are known for their brisket,
smoked beef ribs and homestyle
sides, visitors should consider order-
ing a selection of wings or one of
their many sandwich options. Fox
Bros. barbeque is tender and fla-
vorful – and that’s even before you
add the sauce.
Heirloom Market BBQ on Akers
Mill Road in Northwest Atlanta calls
itself “the smallest of places with
the biggest of hearts.” For anyone
who has waited along the I-285 ac-
cess road for a coveted Heirloom
parking spot - or who has stood in
line outside the storefront - you can
agree. But the hungry crowds also
indicate great barbeque, which is
exactly what Heirloom offers. The
cross-cultural menu features home-
style Korean and Texan cooking.
Everything is simple, classic, fresh,
and delicious.
Sweet Auburn Barbeque on North
Highland Avenue in Northeast Atlan-
ta offers “traditional style barbeque
with an Asian twist.” The restaurant
is also a food truck in the Sweet
Auburn Market location, a popular
Poncey-Highland spot since 2014.
Menu favorites include the pimento
cheese wontons and the coconut
lemongrass ribs. Guests should also
try the house smoked beef brisket
if they are looking to try a tasty ex-
ample of classic Southern barbeque
with a modern, eclectic influence.
B's Cracklin' BBQ was another
favorite Atlanta barbeque restau-
rant, but unfortunately, the North-
west Atlanta location burned down
in March 2019, just prior to publica-
tion. Owner Bryan Fulman told the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he
is planning to rebuild, and the taste
testing team will be at the front of
the food line when they do.
about the evolution of barbeque
and how these dishes have come
to claim an enduring place at U.S.
dinner tables. The exhibition also
features a collection of artifacts, im-
ages and oral histories from restau-
rants, festivals and museums across
the country. For more information
and tickets, visit atlantahistorycen-
ter.com.
Hungry for Atlanta barbeque? If you
would like to try these dishes for
yourself, you can attend the 7th An-
nual Beer Tasting & BBQ Battle,
which takes place on June 13th at
Park Tavern in Midtown Atlanta. A
collaboration between Atlanta Legal
Aid Society and Atlanta Volunteer
Lawyers Foundation, this event rais-
es funds and awareness to support
critical legal programs. To purchase
tickets, visit avlf.org.
___________________________
The restaurants selected for this article
collectively earned the highest ratings
from the following organizations and
publications: Atlanta Magazine, ATL
Insiders, Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Creative Loafing, Eater, Food & Wine
Magazine, Google Reviews, Paste
Magazine, Thrillist, Trip Advisor, Yelp,
and Zagat.
1
The author would like to thank fellow
Atlanta attorneys Sarah Siedentopf and
Walt Siedentopf for volunteering their
time and taste buds for this BBQ review.
2
If you are interested in learning more
about barbeque and its history in
Georgia, be sure to visit the Bar-
beque Nation exhibit at the Atlanta
History Center, open now through
September 29th. Visitors will learn
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER
31