Old South Bar-B-Q

601 Burbank Circle, Smyrna, GA - (770) 435-4215

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Posted By Ben Olson on 10/11/2010 10:00:00 PM

After reading about Old South on this site and realizing I was staying close by, I headed over to dinner on 6/29. I could not have made a better decision; this was some of the best, if not THE best barbeque I have ever had.

The restaurant itself is rustic with three small dining rooms, all featuring older paneling and a homey feel. The booths and tables are made of heavily varnished plywood and added to the charm of the place. Obviously this place has been around a long time and has a no-nonsense feel; it is all about the food!

The waitresses and cashier were charming and made me feel right at home. I started with unsweet tea which came in a big glass with plenty of ice and was replenished each time it needed to be. The menu included a number of BBQ favorites like brisket, pork, ribs, chicken, etc., many available in sliced, chopped, or shredded form. I opted for the brisket and pork, both chopped, and ordered the hot/sweet sauce. For my two sides, I tried their chili and potato salad.

Within a few minutes, the waitress appeared with my food and placed a large platter and two secondary plates on the plywood table. The main plate contained the brisket and pork, along with the sauce, while my sides came in cups on the second plate and the third plate contained two slices of toast.

The chopped brisket and pork had a texture that I am unfamiliar with. For a lack of any better comparison, it reminded me of a coarser texture than jerky chew. Not exactly a flattering description, but I LOVED it! The meat was lean and contained bits of crusty exterior which are always my favorite. Adding the hot/sweet sauce made the meat come to life and I hope I didn't make too many audible gasps and mmmmm's as I ate this meal. The side of chili had a ground texture and was flavored quite well and the potato salad was excellent as well.

I did not eat too much of the bread because I was running out of room and wanted to be able to finish the two meats. I cannot describe how good those meats were and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. The great chopped texture and the way the sauce brought the dry meat to moist life is making me long for the ability to go back, and I will do so the next time I am in Atlanta, and the time after that, and the time after that.

This is exactly why I consult Roadfood.com when I travel and have not been steered wrong yet. Visit Old South Bar-B-Q in Smyrna, GA. You cannot go wrong with this place - food, service, or quaint atmosphere!

Scorecard

Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace

Pulled Pork Plate

Rate this place

"The Brunswick stew, seen here as part of a pulled pork sandwich plate, was heavier on the meat and lighter on the vegetables than I am accustomed. That is definitely not a complaint!"
Cliff Strutz

"If you order the bar-b-q salad, you have some decisions to make, such as: do you want pork, chicken or beef? What style (chopped, sliced, or pulled)? Which salad dressing? You also get your choice of BBQ sauces. This plate shows chopped pork, honey mustard dressing, and sweet BBQ sauce, which proved to be a delicious combination!"
Cliff Strutz

"Powerfully strong, super-sweet, and loaded with ice, this is one of the better sweet teas we have had in a while."
Cliff Strutz

"Four different homemade sauces are offered. They were happy to let us try them all, with the sweet hot being the favorite of our table."
Cliff Strutz

"The interior is full of photo collages of loyal Old South Bar-B-Q customers, done for their 30th and 35th anniversaries."
Cliff Strutz

"The unmistakable smell of BBQ envelops you as soon as you pull into the parking lot. Note the smoke pouring out of the chimney, almost always a good sign."
Cliff Strutz