Swallow At The Hollow

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Restaurant: Swallow At The Hollow
Location: 1072 Green Street, Roswell, GA‎
URL: theswallowatthehollow.com
Recommended By: Mason

7.83

A trip to Swallow at the Hollow may give you the feeling that you are at a North Georgia hollow. The restaurant is off a small side road, gravel parking lot, and the building seems to be made of all old wood. Right in front of the open kitchen there is a large canoe filled with beer. There is also a stage, but no music during lunch.
Every table is set with three BBQ sauces (Carolina Vinegar, Carolina Mustard, Thick KC) plus additional hot sauces. Mixing the three together made for an excellent sauce. The baby back ribs are very tender and covered in the KC style sauce. The sauce is thick and has a strong molasses flavor, not everyone’s favorite. The chopped beef was tender but did not have any sauce, when sauce was added it was pretty good. The pulled pork was good – “some of the best I have every had”.
Each order came with a choice of homemade bread, Texas toast or biscuits. All were better than the average BBQ joint. The mac & cheese was outstanding, very creamy. The Brunswick stew was very soupy and had corn meal bits in it. They just threw the taste off. Fried Green tomatoes were too thick so they came out under cooked, and the breading was a little flakey, more like they were baked and not fried.
The biggest downside is the price. A plate with 2 sides is $13. A bit pricy for lunch, although it is enough for 2 people to share.


Mason
Overall Score: 8
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork – 9.5
      Ribs – 3.5 (I hate Baby Back Ribs)
Sauce:9.5
Tenderness:8
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew - 6
      Mac & Cheese - 9
Service: 8.5
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 5
Comments: To get to Swallow at the Hollow you have to drive through some questionable streets. It feels like you are back in the woods. The entire building is made of wood except for the roof. Really cool atmosphere. The portions at this place are enormous. Two people could easily share a normal pork plate, which may explain the $14 i paid for lunch (without tip). The pulled pork was excellent, some of the best I have had. Great Smokey flavor. The sauce was awesome because you get three different kinds (sweet, spicy, mustard based) and mix away. The mac and cheese was excellent as well. The Brunswick stew had a good taste but an almost grainy texture, it was just too different so i have to say pass. Which leaves the ribs. They were the smallest ribs we have seen to date and absolutely caked with a dark thick sauce that resembled molasses. Not really my style of rib. Overall, great atmosphere, country style portions, great BBQ, not so much with the ribs, and expect to pay more.

Dan
Overall Score:7.5
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork – 8.5
      Ribs – 8.5
Sauce:8
Tenderness:8
Sides Taste :
      Fries – 7
      Biscuit - 7
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 4
Comments: Having been there recently, my expectation were extremely high. While it didn’t quite deliver up to my expectations, it was still a very solid experience. The atmosphere is exactly what you want out of a bbq place, a nice rustic feel. The number of different option on the sauce was fabulous, not to mention how good it was why you mixed the sauces together. The pork was good, but the ribs were better. Tasty and tender. The ribs were a little small, but that’s what you get with baby back ribs. My one main complaint with the place was the price. Definitely more expensive than the other places, and when you know it can be done well for cheaper, that what I expect. All in all though a very solid place and I would definitely go back.

Matt
Overall Score:8
Main Dish Taste:
      Beef - 8
      Ribs – 8.5
Sauce:8
Tenderness:8
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew - 8
      Mac & Cheese – 9
      Fried Green Tomatoes - 7
      Texas Toast - 9
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 6
Comments: Pulling into Swallow at the Hollow, I had the feeling that I was up in the North GA Mountains. The building looks like an old country farm house. The inside is just as rustic. The menu was a bit pricy, especially for lunch. But the platter can easily be spit. I did like the number of options that you had. You can get the beef or pork, chopped or sliced; three types of bread, white, Texas toast, or biscuit (all homemade); Carolina, KC and Carolina Mustard sauces.
I got my beef chopped; fairly tender with a good smoky flavor. It did not come with any sauce. I ended up mixing all three, which came out very well. The ribs were very tender baby back ribs. There were smothered in the KC style sauce, a little too much for me, and I love sauce, plus the sauce had a bit too much of a molasses flavor. The mac & cheese was very creamy, very delicious. The Brunswick stew was more like a soup with bits of corn meal in it. It had a different taste to it. The fried green tomato was a little thick so it did not cook all the way and the breading with a little crumby.

Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Restaurant: Fat Matt's Rib Shack
Location: 1811 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA 30324
URL: http://www.fatmattsribshack.com
Recommended By: Dan (and everyone one we spoke to)

Score 9

If you are looking for a true BBQ experience in Atlanta, Fat Matt's is the place. The building looks like it hasn't changed since the 60's. It’s a small dining area with a walkup order counter. The whole BBQ dining experience was enhanced by a two man group, singing the blues. Most of the items come a la carte, but everything is so affordable that you can make your own meal and not break the bank
The Ribs are the best we have had so far. They were large tender spare ribs, full of flavor and a good meat to bone/gristle ratio. The pulled pork sandwich was near the top of the list. The chicken is a good smoked chicken with light sauce, fairly tender.
The sides were good to OK. The Brunswick stew is a bit soupy, the mac & cheese (new menu item) were cafeteria style, white bread is Wonder Bread, and the chips are out of the bag.

1/4 Chicken - $3.75
1/2 Chicken - $5.75
Rib Sand. - $5.20
1/2 Rack - $8.95
Stew - $2
Mac & Cheese - $2

Matt
Overall Score: 9
Main Dish Taste:
      Chicken - 8
      Ribs – 9.5
Sauce: 9
Tenderness: 9
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew – 7.5
      Mac & Cheese - 6
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 9.5
Cost: 9
Comments: Fat Matt's Rib Shack had a lot of hype. Well it has lived up to its hype. The restaurant is a dive. I was very surprised that they had live music for lunch, on a Wednesday. You order at the counter; the waitress is a little rude.
Each meal is plated with a slice of wonder bread. The chicken was good, fairly tender. It came with light sauce with a bit of flavor. The extra BBQ sauce is top notch; thick and full of species. The ribs are definitely at the top of my list. They are tender with full smoky flavor. Each bit practically melts in your mouth. Good amount of meat.
The sides were nothing to write home about. The Brunswick stew was too soupy for my taste. It had good flavor but nothing special. The mac & cheese tasted like it came from a cafeteria.

Mason
Overall Score:9
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 9
      Ribs – 9.5
Sauce:8.5
Tenderness:9.5
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew -7
Service: 7
Atmosphere:8
Cost: 7.5
Comments: I will start off by saying, it doesn't get much better than this. The pulled pork was amazing. But the ribs were some of the best I have ever had. As tender as ribs can get, with the best taste I have had in a while. Brunswick Stew was ok. There were only a few of very small negatives. The cashier was a little rude (she actually got mad at me for leaving a tip!?!?). The menu is set up in a way where you have to kind of put your meal together on your own, there is no plate with sides. And to me the live music was a little annoying, but it did add to the authenticity. But the food doesn't get any better. This is the type of place that you tell people they have to go to if they are in the area.

Dan
Overall Score:9
Main Dish Taste:
      Pulled Pork - 9
      Ribs – 9.5
Sauce:9
Tenderness:9
Sides Taste :
      Chips - 5
Service: 8
Atmosphere:9
Cost: 9
Comments:

Peter
Overall Score:9
Main Dish Taste:
      Ribs – 9.5
Sauce:9.5
Tenderness:9.5
Sides Taste :
      Brunswick Stew -8
Service: 8
Atmosphere:8
Cost: 9
Comments: Do believe the hype.

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.

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.

Moto

Go in with an open eye.
No Pre Judging
Every restaurant gets a clean slate when reviewing.

Our rating system

We have created a Google Doc to track each BBQ joint. We will evaluate the returant on the following scale.

9-10 = Excellent (I want this every meal)
7-8 = Good (Lets go back some time next month)
5-6 = Fair (Ehhh. Eatable.)
3-4 = Poor (I will go back only if necessary)
0-2 - Awful (Tastes like a boot)

Here is what we rate
Item Ordered
Main Dish Overall Taste
Sauce
Tenderness
Side Item Overall Taste
Service
Atmosphere
Cost
Overall Restaurant Score (This is a separate rating and is not calculated based on the other scores)

Recommendation List

This is our current list of places to visit

Spiced Right (Mason)
Ribs Etc (Matt)
Old Brick Pit Barbeque (Matt)
One Star Ranch (Matt)
Fat Matts (Dan)
Dreamland (Josh)
Slopes
Pig and Chick
KC Pit
JRs (Matt)
BBQ1 (Matt)
Five Star Barbecue (Google)
Lowcountry Barbecue Restaurant (Google)
Shanes Rib Shack
Old Hickery House (Matt)
Bennie's Barbecue (Google)
BBQ Corner 2 (Google)
Rib Ranch (Google)
Swallow At The Hollow (Mason)
Rolling Bones - Downtown (Peter)

Who Are We

Matt
My main dish of choice is Beef and Ribs. When beef is not available (why wouldn't it be) I will go with Chicken. I will always get the Brunswick stew. I prefer it thicker with chunks. I will also get a Mac and Cheese when available.

I love to try new food. I will try anything at least once. If I do not like a visit to a restaurant I tend to give it a second chance. I don't have a simple pallet, I like my foods to have flavor. If something is dull or bland I will find some hot sauce or condiment to spice it up.

Mason
I choose to go with the traditional pulled pork and ribs. I feel that you should be able to judge the character of a BBQ joint on these two things alone. I always get the Brunswick Stew as a side. I am from the south so I am personally offended when somebody gets BBQ wrong! If you don't know how to cook real BBQ then don't claim to be a BBQ resaurant. Just call yourself a neighborhood grill.

I do not believe in saying something is great or awful. There is a lot of grey area for me. Every restaurant has its strengths. I love cooking BBQ on my own as well, so I love to see the different ways that people come up with when cooking BBQ.

Dan
My dish of choice is pulled pork and ribs. If I had to choice between the two, I would typically pick ribs, but why pick when you can have both?

When it comes to pork, I prefer the chopped pork over the ticker chunks. When it comes to ribs, tenderness and flavor are the two top items needed and when a place can get both right, I am a happy man. I'm not big on the sides, but as long as a bbq places has fries or chips, I'm good.

At the end of November Peter joined the group
Peter

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.