This Is It

Date: 3/24/2010
Restaurant: This Is It
Location: 2776 Cumberland Blvd, Smyrna, GA 30080

URL: http://www.thisisitbbq.com/loc.html
Recommended By: TV Commercial

Score : 2.5

If this is It, We don't want "It". Most of their food is ready and waiting, cafeteria style. Somehow it still took us 15 minutes to move up 3 people in line and another 10 minutes to scoop our food out of the warming trays.

You can see all the items soaking away in sauce. The beef looked like beef soup, except the soup is BBQ sauce. It was also ½ fat and cartilage. The Ribs were over cooked and then covered in sauce. The pork was OK if it wasn’t soaked sauce. They have a special of 3 wings for a dollar, not a bad deal. The wings are fried wings sitting in the warming tray, when you order, they are drizzled in sauce.

Speaking of sauce over everything, you can’t pour your own. They add it when you order. There is plenty of hot sauce to add, I guess to cover the taste. The mac and cheese was the only item that tasted good, lots of good spices. The fries came straight from the freezer into the deep fryer.

If you are reading this, do not go to This Is It. You may find out why we nick named it “Loose Stools.”

"Lunch Special” Meat, 1 Side and drink - $5
Meat 0 sides - $5
Plate 2 sides - $7
4 Ribs - $10

Matt
Overall Score: 4
Main Dish Taste:
      Beef - 6
      Ribs - 5
      Chicken Wing - 4
Sauce: 5
Tenderness: 5
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew - 6
      Mac & Cheese – 7
      Fries - 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Cost: 8
Comments: If this is It, I don't want "It". We got there right around 12 with 2 people ahead of us in line. It took 20 min to order and then 15 more to get our food. The best part is most of their food comes cafeteria style and is all ready to serve. They messed up 3 of our orders.
The beef was full of fat and catilige. Covered in sauce. The ribs were dry and covered in sauce. Their wings were pre fried and sitting in a warming tray. When you order them they soak them in sauce.
The mac and Cheese was probably the best item and it was just OK. Good pepper taste. The brunswich stew was 1/2 stew and 1/2 BBQ sauce. Tasted pretty good but way too much sauce.

Mason
Overall Score: 2
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 6
      Ribs - 6
Sauce:6
Tenderness:6
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew - 3
      Fries - 5
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 2
Cost: 5
Comments: Oh boy. It doesn't get much worse than this. We started with the worst service i have had in a long time. There was probably a 5 minute gap between each order at the register, and there were people in front of us. We didn't sit down with our food for 20-30 minutes. Their menu looked like something from a cheesy fast food joint. The cost seemed good, pork sandwich, fries and a drink for like $6. But when i got it, it was like 5 forkfuls of pork. The pork was actually ok, nothing great but i expected the worst. The ribs were ok too, big spare ribs covered in sauce. Speaking of sauce. You had to ask for sauce from behind the counter, but their was like 2 bottles of hot sauce per table. Hot sauce is not as important as bbq sauce at a bbq joint. The stew was terrible. It came on a Styrofoam plate and tasted like something that may have been good once but got old. This place was so bad that it got a long review. I would be completely embarrassed if someone from out of town got their impression of Georgia bbq from this place.

Dan
Overall Score:2
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 4
      Ribs - 4
Sauce:5
Tenderness:4
Sides Taste :
      Fries - 7
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
Cost: 6
Comments: Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. There is no other way to describe it. I thought Rib Etc. was as bad as it could get, but no, this was MUCH worse, We stood in line for 30 minutes, and no, it was not busy. After waiting so long to get my food, I was hoping, boy, this food better be great. But much to my dismay, it was not. The pork was dry and the ribs were disgusting. Someone there said, "This is NOT it", they were certainly right.

James
Overall Score:2
Main Dish Taste:
      Beef- 1.5
      Chicken – 1.5
Sauce: 4
Tenderness: 1
Sides Taste :
      Fries - 2
Service: 1.5
Atmosphere: 2
Cost: 10
Comments: I wanted to give my feedback on the “BBQ” place we visited for lunch. I can’t remember the name of it but I’ll refer to it from this point forward as “Loose Stools”. I would like to offer that it is definitely on my list of “off limit establishments” and not the way I imagined my first re-introduction to Georgia BBQ. The chicken I had brought me back to the days when I was dating my wife, I had this annoying rooster that used to crow outside my window every morning way before I ever wanted to get up, so I “took care of him”, it was a clean shot through the head so I thought I would make him for dinner and spent most of the day preparing the toughest piece of meat you’d ever eaten in your life – my then girlfriend wasn’t impressed. Anyway, the positive takeaway is at least “Loose Stools” reminded me of my youth… I’m sure I’ll be reminded throughout the evening as well.

Fox Brothers

Date: 12/29/2009
Restaurant: Fox Brothers
Location: 1238 Dekalb Ave, Atlanta Ga 30307
URL: http://www.foxbrosbbq.com/
Recommended By: Peter Drive By, Guy at Poker

Score 7.5

At first glance Fox Brothers looks like a great dive BBQ joint. There is a separate smoke house next to the restaurant, old signage all over the walls and the menu looks like an 1800's news paper. While you are waiting for your food the Tomminator is a must. Tater Tots covered in thick Brunswick stew smothered with melted cheese. The fried pickles or jalapenos are really good as well.
The ribs come out with a slightly burnt sauce. Pretty good, but they were not very tender. The outer ones were more burnt an the inner ones were slightly tender. The beef was not very tender. The pulled pork had a strong bitter smoky flavor. The chicken wings are smoked wings, the meat has a good kick to in and they are covered in sauce. A nice sweet and spicy combo.
Over all, Fox Brothers has a great BBQ atmosphere and some of the best BBQ appetizers around. Their main dishes need a bit of work.

Beef Sand (1 Side) - $10
Beef Plate (2 Sides) - $13
1/2 Rack - $15
Combo 2 meats - $15
Half Tomminator - $4

Peter
Overall Score: 6.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Chicken Wings - 8
      Ribs - 6
Sauce: 7
Tenderness: 6
Sides Taste :
      Tomminator - 9
      Mac & Cheese - 6
      Collard Greens - 9
      Fried Pickles & Jalapenos - 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Cost: 7
Comments: Fox Bros looks great from Dekalb Ave. When I walked up and saw the smoker house next door and then the menu, I was very intrigued and excited. I ordered the Tomminator to start. Tots piled high with cheese and Brunswick Stew. It was very good, but more bar fare than bbq. The ribs and chicken wings combo looked really good when set in front of me. But, it failed to impress where the rubber hit the road. The ribs were tough. The flavor was okay, but I could tell that Fox Bros. lost focus somewhere along the way when it comes to translating their original concept with ribs into the finished product. The current execution is poor. The wings were interesting looking. Smokey and spicy buffalo flavors present as well. The Collard Greens were also good, But I won't be planing to come back again. That would require some reason other than the food.

Matt
Overall Score:8.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Beef - 7
      Ribs - 8
Sauce:9.5
Tenderness:7
Sides Taste :
      Tomminator – 9.5
      Mac & Cheese - 6
      Brunswick Stew – 8
      Jalapeno Corn Bread - 8
      Fried Pickles & Jalapenos – 9.5
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 7
Comments: When I first walked into Fox Bros I got really excited. They have a smoke house next to the restaurant, the restaurant was packed and the menu looked like a western newspaper.
We started off with the Tomminator, fried Pickles and jalapeno cornbread. The Tomminator is one of the best side dished I have had, tater tots topped with thick Brunswick Stew smothered with melted cheese. Wow. The fried pickles and jalapenos were excellent too. The breading was perfect. The corn bread was not sweet, I prefer mine sweater.
For the main dish I got a combo beef and ribs. The beef was a bit dry and not the most tender. The sauce was great, sweat and spicy I picked up a bottle on my way out. The put the sauce on the ribs early in the process with gave it a burnt sauce taste, pretty good but they outer ribs were not that tender. As I worked my way in they got more tender. The Brunswick stew way nice and thick, with a sweater tomato flavor. The Mac and chees was very cafeteria style, just OK.
Overall I would say the atmosphere, sauce and sides are amazing. The meat was OK. It may have been excellent at one point, and I see the potential but not our day.

Mason
Overall Score:7.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 5
      Ribs - 7
Sauce:8.5
Tenderness:6
Sides Taste :
      Tomminator – 9.5
      Mac & Cheese – 3
      Brunswick Stew – 6.5
      Fried Pickles & Jalapenos – 9
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 7
Comments: There was a 15 minute wait for Fox Bros. It was packed and we couldn't find parking. There was a seperate smoke house on the side that had BBQ smoke puring out of it. During the wait we scoped the menu and it was very impressive. All kind of BBQ creations and different kinds of plates. We ordered some fried pickles and The Tomminator while waiting for our food. Wow it was all amazing. I was thinking that this could be the best BBQ yet....and then I got my plate. The ribs were ok, a little tough. The pulled pork had a very odd taste to it. Like some type of weird wood chips were used during smoking, and it didn't turn out well. The mac and cheese was very dry, I ate about a fourth of it. The brunswick stew was ok. Overall, they excell in the areas that don't really matter with BBQ. I would go back for the appetizers only. They need to revisit

One Star Ranch

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Restaurant: One Star Ranch
Location: 25 Irby Ave NW, Atlanta, GA
URL: http://www.onestarranch.com
Recommended By: Matt

Score 7.13

If you decide to head to One Star Ranch, you will forget you are in the middle of Buckhead; instead you will think you were in a dive bar out in the country side. The walls are covered in old signed dollar bills, worn street signs and some bull horns.
We got a waitress on her first week, so our service was not the best. All the meat we received was pretty dry. The ribs are cut before they are smoked, which makes them even drier, but does give them a bit more flavor. We had to ask for sauce, once we got it, it was worth it. Both the regular and spicy had a great smoky taste.
They have a wide variety of sides. The stew rank one of the best so far. So thick you can eat it with a fork. The jalapeno cornbread was soft, slightly sweet and with a hint of spice.
Overall, if you are looking for a great atmosphere and some good sides, we have found your place. If you are looking for some good pork, beef and ribs, I hope you like them extra dry.

Lunch Sand - $7
Ribs (8) - $20
Plate 2 Sides - $11

Matt
Overall Score:7.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Beef - 7
      Ribs - 6
Sauce:9
Tenderness:5
Sides Taste :
     Brunswick Stew -9
     Jalapeno Cornbread – 8.5
Service: 6
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 8
Comments: As soon as you walk into One Star Ranch you feel like you have stumbled upon a dive bar in the middle of nowhere. There are signed dollar bills on every wall along with other country signs, and a set of bull horns. It was our waitress’s 1st week, so my meal had issues (for the 3rd BIBbq trip in a row). First she forgot my order. Then she brought me Pork instead of Beef. Luckily the Manager was there to bless my pork and make it Kosher. Actually the Manager was very friendly and did try and make us happy.
The Brunswick stew is one of the best that I have had, so thick you can eat it with a fork. The Jalapeno Cornbread had a hint of sweet and little kick, great combination. Once I got my beef, it was tasty but dry. We had to ask for extra sauce, because there was none on the table. Both the regular and spicy sauces were excellent. Thick with bold spices and a smoky flavor. The way I imagine BBQ sauce tastings. The ribs were also very dry. They were cut before they were cooked so they had full smoked taste, but also contributed to them being dry. My last piece was more like a piece of rib jerky.
Label: Dive BBQ

Mason
Overall Score: 6.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 7
      Ribs - 6
Sauce:9
Tenderness: 4.5
Sides Taste :
     Brunswick Stew - 9
     Fries - 8
Service:6
Atmosphere: 9.5
Cost: 7
Comments: It is a little shack type building that was hard to find parking for. When you walk in the first thing you notice is all of the one dollar bills on the walls. Really cool. The service was about the worst I have had, except for the fact that the owner kind of just stands around and checks on everyone. He ended up serving us half the time. The sauce was excellent. even though you have to ask for it (it is not sitting on the table) and it is not brought out by default. The ribs were very different. Not tender at all. Crunchy almost. The pulled pork was ok. The Brunswick stew was amazing. Some of the best i have had. So thick and full of goodness that I was able to finish it all with a fork. Bottom line is this: The worst part of the experience was the food, so therefore it is hard for me to give it a good score.

Dan
Overall Score: 7.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 6
      Ribs - 8
Sauce:9.5
Tenderness: 5
Sides Taste :
     Chips - 5
     Fries - 8
Service:
Atmosphere:
Cost: 7
Comments: The atmosphere is exactly what you want out of a BBQ place. The look, the smell, the signed dollar bills on the wall. It had everything you could want. The service, on the other hand, was terrible. They forgot an order, there was no sauce on the table and it wasn’t easy to get it from waitress. However, once we got the sauce, it was outstanding!! The best sauce we had yet. And the manager was nice helping out the waitress. The pork was ok, the ribs were better, especially with the sauce, but the tenderness wasn't great. The Ribs were definitely dry, but the taste was great. All in all, i liked the place and would definitely come back, despite its shortcomings.

Peter
Overall Score:7
Main Dish Taste:
      Sausage Sandwich - 5
      Ribs - 6
Sauce: 8
Tenderness: 5
Sides Taste :
     Brunswick Stew - 9
     Fries - 6
Service: 5
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 7
Comments:Good atmosphere, but service, though "perky", missed the mark. Pros: The Brunswick Stew....Cons: Dry Pork and beef. Won't be top on my list to visit in the future.

Old Brick Pit Barbeque

Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Restaurant: Old Brick Pit Barbeque
Location:4805 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA‎
Recommended By: Matt

Score 7.83

When they say Old Brick Pit BBQ, they mean old brick pit BBQ. This place says dive BBQ as soon as you drive by. The main street sign just says "BAR-B-Q" and two wagon wheels propped against each other that say the same. The buiding looks like a BBQ shack. When you walk in, the menu is on the wall and you can see the BBQ pit behind the counter. The qhole place smelled like tastie BBQ smoke.
The menu is simple Pork, Ribs, Chicken. Slaw, Stew, Beans, or Chips. The prices are cheap. You can get a sandwich with chips for $3.20.
The food was pretty good, nothing to write home about. All the meat was a little dry.

     1 lbs Rib - $12
     1/2 Chicken meal - $6
     Pork Meal - $6
     Pork Sand - $2.50

Matt
Overall Score:7.5
Main Dish Taste:
      ½ Chicken - 7.5
      Ribs – 7.5
Sauce:7
Tenderness: 8
Sides Taste :
     Brunswick Stew - 7
     Baked Beans – 6.5
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 9
Cost: 9
Comments: From the outside Old Brick Pit BBQ looks like a dive BBQ joint. The main sign just says BBQ and the building looks like an old barn. When you walk in the resturant has the smell of BBQ smoke. There a large chaulk board with the menu. There is not a big selection, Pork, Ribs, Chicken, and No Beef. There side are just as simple: slaw, stew, beans, chips. The ladies behind the counter were not too happy when I asked if I could make a chicken combo to add a couple of ribs to my chicken dish.
The chicken had a great BBQ taste, faily tender, good sauce. It was a 1/2 chicken, not bad for $6. The Beans were standard BBQ beans. The stew was laking in flavor. I added some of thier carolina style BBQ sause to give it some taste. That bumped to just OK. The ribs had a great smokey flavor. They too were lacking in flavor. After adding a bit of sauce they were good. They could easily be pulled of the bone, but not fall off.
Overall it was good but not great.
Label: Dive BBQ

Mason
Overall Score:8
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 8
      Ribs – 7.5
Sauce:7
Tenderness:7.5
Sides Taste :
     Brunswick Stew -8
     Baked Beans - 8
Service: 4
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 9
Comments: The place has a sign in the front that says only "BAR-B-Q" and two wagon wheels propped against each other that say the same. The building is shaped kind of like a barn with big windows in the front with all kind of writing on it. We couldn't figure out the actual name of the place until after eating. Great atmosphere with all of the simplicities that you expect from a true BBQ joint. The service was exceptionally bad, from not even offering brisket to the lady behind the register rudely hurrying us through the motions. The pulled pork was very tender and tastey. Very good. The ribs seemed low quality but full of flavor. Very good seasoning and cooking, not too tender though. Altough the sides I had were very good, I have to mention how lacking the side selection was. Baked beans, stew, slaw and chips. That's it. Overall, it is a great place to stop by and get some good BBQ, but don't take your friends from out of town there bragging.

Dan
Overall Score:8
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 8
      Ribs - 8
Sauce:8
Tenderness:8
Sides Taste :
     Chips - 5
Service:6
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 10
Comments: Not a lot of choices, the help was a little rude and the food comes quickly, not much more I can ask for from a BBQ restaurant. It was a little confusing to order, but I think that makes it even better. You gotta know what you are doing there, so you can tell the regulars from the newbies. The pulled pork was wonderful, athough I could have used a little more food. However, for $3.20, i can't really complain. The ribs were solid as well. It had a great smokey flavor that sat in my mouth even 20 minutes after eating. The sauce was also a solid plus. The only complaint I would have would be the lack of choices on the sides (no fries), but all in all a good experience.

Spiced Right

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Restaurant: Spiced Right
Location:635 Atlanta Street, Roswell, GA 30075
URL: http://www.spicedright.com/
Recommended By: Josh

Score 8.17

Spiced Right may not be spiced completly right but their BBQ is done right. While there was only one sauce to choose from, and it was just OK, their ribs and beef brisket were excelent. Most of the sides were top notch, but the beans were a bit sweet. Overal atmosphere and service is what you would expect from a BBQ joint.


Matt
Overall Score: 8.5
Main Dish Taste:
Beef Brisket - 9
Ribs - 8
Sauce: 7.5
Tenderness: 8.5
Sides Taste:
Brunswick Stew - 9
Baked Beans - 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 7
Comments:
Both the Ribs and Beef were nice and tender. The ribs that I got were a little fatty and had small bones, but the meat was really good. The beef came without sauce; once I added sauce it was perfect. The Brunswick stew was very good. The beans were a good but a bit sweet. The sauce was a mix of thick and vinegar. I liked it because it had sweet and spicy. But there was no other choice.
The Atmosphere at Spiced Right is what you would expect from a BBQ joint; Old signs on the walls, worn concrete floors, and a large smoker outside. You order up front and they bring you the food. I ordered the combo meal, 2 meats 2 sides, which was $11, a bit pricy. If you get 1 meat 2 side its $7. Much more reasonable.
Label: Dive BBQ


Mason
Overall Score: 9
Main Dish Taste:
Ribs - 8.5
Pulled Pork - 6.5
Sauce:6.5
Tenderness:9
Sides Taste:
Fries
Hashbrown Caserole - 9.5
Service: 9
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 8.5
Comments:
If I would have just got the ribs then this would have been very close to a 10. The pulled pork was just very mediocre. There was only one sauce and it was "OK". But very authentic BBQ experience!


Dan
Overall Score:
Main Dish Taste:
Ribs - 8.5
Pulled Pork - 4
Sauce:4
Tenderness:8
Sides Taste:
French Fries - 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere:8
Cost: 7
Comments:Ribs and fries were great. Pulled Pork and Sauce to so much.


Josh
Overall Score: 7
Main Dish Taste: Ribs - 7
Sauce: 6
Tenderness: 7
Sides Taste:
Fries - 10
Baked Beans - 5.5
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Cost: 7
Comments:
The ribs are excellent, but the sauce is not very exciting and
there is only one choice. The fresh-cut fries are some of the
best that I have ever had and I would eat at Spiced Right only
for the fries without hesitation. The baked beans are barely
one notch above those you would buy in a can at the grocery
store, not very exciting. Atmosphere is. . . lacking - just what
you would expect from an authentic BBQ joint.

Weclome To The BIBbq

At work we have a group of guys that enjoy to go out to lunch every day. There had been several debate to which is Atlanta's best BBQ restaurant . We decided to hit up a different BBQ restaurant each week and rate several aspects of the experience to determine what is truly the Best In BBQ in Atlanta. Thus the BIBbq group was born.

Each week the group will visit a different BBQ restaurant. We are currently located near Perimeter Mall, so we are starting off with the restaurants within a 10 mile radius. We will rate the restaurant on the following categories: Main Dish Taste, Main Dish Tenderness, Sauce, Side Items, Service, Atmosphere, Cost and an Overall rating.

Suggest A BBQ Restaurant

Please leave us a comment with any BBQ resaurant that we have forgotten in the atlanta area. We will add it to the list and rate it.