Heirloom Market BBQ - Living Up to the Hype

Pulled pork with collards and fabulous mac & cheese. What taste!!

Heirloom Market BBQ is a new favorite. Housed near I-285 near Cumberland Boulevard in a tiny parking lot with a package store next door, the tranquil lines and the folks happily eating while standing up demonstrate the ethereal nature of this amazing spot. We arrived on a Saturday around 3 PM and the crowd was visible. Luckily after placing our order and paying at the register we found room at the standing room only wooden table on the small deck. Inside, patrons waiting patiently for seating on bar stools or at the one communal table.

When the food arrived we could tell why this is the new spot in town for BBQ. Chef/owners Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor hail from impressive backgrounds, having worked at the St. Regis and the Ritz Carlton. Lee also brings a welcome flair from her native South Korea. The spices and sides with Korean influences meld perfectly with the succulent, tender meats. We tried pulled pork and smoked wings. The pork is truly amazing. The wings - like no other wings we've ever tried with a sauce sticky and spicy and wonderful all at the same time. Chicken, turkey and various unique sausages are also available. Next time we must try the ribs - we saw a table of college guys downing them with beautiful looking fries and cole slaw. Side dish specials can be found on the restaurant's Facebook page.

The bustling dining room.





Cucumber and radish salad - perfectly pickled.



Smoked wings with fried green tomatoes. SO delicious.



Spicy BBQ sandwich with Korean sweet potatoes. A steal at $7.50. The potatoes are crispy and sweet with a unique taste - definitely worth a try. Love the true spice on the sandwich. Several homemade BBQ sauces are also available.



Snickerdoodle cookie, apple pie and pecan pie. Cookie was delicious but who needs dessert after such a filling and fabulous meal?

In some ways I really hope that Heirloom Market BBQ moves to a new space with more room - BUT, it is so perfect right now and its energy is wonderful. It would be a shame to lose that even if more space can be gained. I must go back - and soon!

Hillbilly Willy's Bar-B-Q - Chattanooga

Combo Plate with ribs and pulled pork.

On the way to MTSU for our nephew's football game, we stopped at Hillbilly Willy's Bar-B-Q and had a wonderful lunch. This family owned establishment is a great pit stop. The ribs and pulled pork were both particularly tasty. We also tried the chocolate coca-cola cake (not pictured) and it is also delicious.

The giant combo plate was enough for 2 to share, with delicious huge onion rings and homemade cole slaw in addition to the succulent, falling of the bone Q.



Specials on the board.



Owner George Foster cooks up all the meat right behind the restaurant.



Yum!



Located in a strip shopping mall just off I-24 - a great place to stop while on the road in Tennessee.

Pig N Chik - Emory

Pulled pork platter with cole slaw and hush puppies.

A new outpost of Pig N Chik opened recently not far from my house at the corner of Briarcliff and Clifton. One evening I decided to try it out. Although I am glad to have a BBQ place in the neighborhood, the food did not impress me. The pulled pork was decent but not memorable and the grilled wings were very plain. The banana pudding - made with a moon pie - was unique but also not as good as homemade. For Atlanta BBQ I still prefer Fox Brother's and have also recently enjoyed Sweet Auburn BBQ's food truck.

Grilled wings.



Banana pudding with a moon pie.

Pig of the Month Club

Baby Back Ribs and Pulled Pork.

The folks at Pig of the Month were nice enough to send me the above samples. They came packed in dry ice and kept fine for a few days in my refrigerator. I wanted to make a proper meal to go with this delicious meat so I opted to make a simple homemade sweet cornbread along with my grandma's slaw and okra, corn and tomatoes. The results were extremely satisfying and the Pig of the Month items held their own. I particularly liked the pulled pork, but the ribs, (I sampled Key West style) were also really delicious. This would make a neat gift (wedding present?!) for those who would like to give a gift that lasts all year.

Pulled Pork from "Pig of the Month" with homemade cornbread, cole slaw and okra, corn & tomatoes.

Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q

Lots of logs needed for all of this BBQ!

After a wonderful hike at Red Top Mountain State Park, we were hungry and ventured to Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q in Marietta. The restaurant has several other locations, including Douglasville and Canton. At once we were given the opportunity to try the "all you can eat" deal, which was quite a deal - I believe it was around $10 - $11 for all of the riblets, chopped pork and sides you could eat. It was pretty funny that they brought out one onion ring at a time, although I will admit it was a pretty large onion ring. Overall the meal satisfied our hungry tummies but was by no means outstanding. The chopped pork was tasty as were the baby back ribs that Cal ordered separately (not available with all you can eat) and the pies were a nice finish. However, when I'm in the mood for BBQ I'll head to Fox Brothers any day! I also want to try Heirloom Market BBQ very soon!

Pork-a-cookin'.



Chopped pork and Brunswick stew. The stew was, disappointingly, too sweet.



Chocolate and Key Lime Pies.



Ribs with fried okra and mac & cheese.

Stonewall's BBQ - Roadfood in GA

Ribs and pulled pork with bread pudding and mac & cheese.

We recently discovered a great place to stop on the way to/from North Carolina - it's Stonewall's, a tasty BBQ restaurant located just off 85 at Exit 129 in Braselton, Georgia.

Upon entering the restaurant you order at the counter before choosing a table. The owner let us sample just about everything before deciding on ribs, pulled pork and wings. YUM. Everything was great, especially the Brunswick stew (not pictured) and the bread pudding - offered as a side dish - and the ribs. We will definitely be visiting this place again soon!

Owner Ronnie Jones will serve you up some awesome 'cue with a smile!

Soul Vegetarian Restaurant

Jerusalem Rice Dish with sauteed Tofu and homemade Ginger sauce.

After passing this place multiple times on the way somewhere else, I decided to bite the bullet and try Soul Vegetarian Restaurant on Highland Avenue, just south of Ponce de Leon. The atmosphere is unique and rumor has it that slow service is the norm. It was a little slow (and not very crowded) on my visit, but not terribly so. The above rice dish came out hot, tasty and probably did a lot for my veggie and fiber intake that day! Seriously, it was very good and my friend also enjoyed her BBQ tofu. She also ordered a side salad that came with a tasty garlic dressing. This place is totally vegan and is purportedly owned and run by the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, an interesting group to say the least. We had no room to try it, but the restaurant's Ice Kream (non-dairy ice cream) is something I'd like to sample.

Garden salad and BBQ Tofu.

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous in Memphis

Famous ribs with pulled pork, slaw and beans.

I finally had the opportunity to try the iconic Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous' famous dry rub ribs while on a family vacation to Memphis. The ribs are really what it is all about here as the other items we tried fell flat. Don't bother with the pulled chicken or even the pulled pork. Get the ribs. Try both sauces. Enjoy the atmosphere. You'll thank me later. The baked beans and slaw are okay, but the side dishes are not what Rendezvous is famous for. They offer no fried foods so service is quick - we were in and out in about 30 minutes - a good thing since we'd parked the rental at a one hour meter!

Back alley entrance.



Pulled chicken sandwich - not impressive.

BBQ in Heflin, Alabama

BBQ, slaw and Brunswick Stew.

A few weeks ago I found myself meeting with someone for work in the middle of nowhere - midway between someplace in Alabama and Atlanta. With a little research, I came up with Marie's BBQ House as a good meeting point.

For this area, not a bad choice. I really liked the Brunswich stew more than the BBQ and wished I had ordered a bowl instead of the plate. The slaw contained too much mayo for my taste and the pulled pork was not memorable. They have homemade looking desserts, including something I've never heard of - a boiled cookie - but after eating the above I did not have room for dessert.

Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ

Coconut shrimp side and Waikikie Combo.

I've driven past Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ on Briarcliff Road so many times, I finally decided it was my duty to check it out. The atmosphere is casual, with puzzles and games for kids and tables inside and outside on the small patio. You order at the counter and your food is then brought to your table. We tried the mini samosas (not pictured), which came out piping hot and with good curry flavor. The coconut shrimp and Waikikie combo (BBQ beef, BBQ shortribs and BBQ chicken) rounded our our dinner. The meats were cooked to perfection, with a tasty sauce served on the side. Plenty of Sriracha is also available. The rice here is also exceptionally tasty, as is the traditional Hawaiian macaroni salad. They offer a variety of shave ice flavors, although I was too full to try any during my visit. I can't wait to come back and sample more menu items - this is about as close to Hawaii as you can get in Atlanta!

Cute building and patio.

Stone Bowl House - Woo Nam Jeong

Beef bulgogi with banchan dishes.

We met up with friends at this OTP Buford Highway gem on a rainy January evening. The signage here is a bit deceptive, but I've tried to help by calling the restaurant "Stone Bowl House - Woo Nam Jeong" instead of the other way around. When we visited only the English words were visible and all I had was a sheet of paper with "Woo Nam Jeong" scribbled on it with the address. Since the place is in a strip shopping center, this caused a bit of confusion.

In any event, once we arrived, we ended up waiting for about 30 minutes for a table for 5. The restaurant had just been reviewed by the AJC (see their review here) so I think that explains part of the allure that weekend. That and the place is really good - at least really good for non-Duluth Korean BBQ. Since I don't get out to Duluth much I was so glad to find this place. Also the atmosphere is quite nice, with several private rooms.

We didn't opt for the 12 course menu bloggers have been raving about, but it looks like a real experience. I was very happy with the seafood pancake (not oily here and so fluffy) with delicious dipping sauce, the bulgogi - very tasty meat and the bi bim bap as well as the plentiful and fresh banchan (vegetable side dishes including many that are pickled).

Seafood pancake with delicious dipping sauce - we want more sauce!



Bi Bim Bap in hot stone bowl - the egg cooks as you mix it in the sizzling bowl.

I look forward to returning to Woo Nam Jeong soon. They are reportedly open for lunch as well, offering good midday prices.

The Nook

Trademarked Totcho's (tater tot nachos) - above is the Redneck variety: Mesquite smoked pork, barbecue sauce, jalapeno and cheese sauce. Very tasty, although I don't like thinking about the calorie count!

Back in January I was treated to food and drinks at The Nook, a pub near Piedmont Park. One of the owners, Adam Gajadharsingh, was there to greet us. I like the library-like feel and intimate booths as well as the bar that takes up one side of the restaurant. It was not too loud. Adam recommended the Totcho's (above) as well as the shrimp and grits. The totchos tasted great and they have five other varieties including black and blue and creole. A neat idea, and a crowd a definite crowd pleaser - who can resist the nostalgia of tater tots? And these are dressed up for adult tastes. I particularly liked the raw jalepeno slices on top. In fact, I liked them so much, I asked for more. Although my meal was complimentary, I noticed they added an additional charge on the check (I saw it even though I didn't pay it) for the extra jalepenos. This irks me. I hope they inform regular customers of this additional charge before adding it to the bill.

Crackarita and Peach Cobbler Martini with the extensive menu.

The Nook has a varied drink menu including a good beer and cocktail selection. I tried the Peach Cobbler Martini - it was the graham cracker rim that tempted me - and it was tasty. The Crackarita wasn't as good, but still a noble effort.

Calamari - the feta with this dish is a nice unique touch. I also enjoyed the chili sauce.



Shrimp & Grits: the dish Chef Michael Gogolin is known for; while the Gouda cheese cakes and spinach tasted great with the shrimp, the dish was a bit too salty for me overall.



Special of the Night: Hawaiian Burger with onion rings. This burger tasted great. It was stuffed with cheese and had a pineapple slice on top. The onion rings were supposed to be tempura style, but the batter was much too thick and they tasted like regular onion rings.



For Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Lava Cake with a scoop of ice cream.

The Nook is a neat addition to the Piedmont Park landscape - definitely a great place to come have a drink and nibbles after a visit to the park.