Georgians love when they get new restaurants. But are they any good? There are four that have met that mark and more.
Last week, Southern Living
released its list of the top 16 barbecue spots opened within the last two years. The rankings were determined by barbecue editor Robert Moss who visited as many as he could based simply on the enjoyment of his meals and overall experiences. Here's a look at what we know including what Moss said about the Peach State picks:Best BBQ in Georgia
- Gene's at No. 3
- Broad Street BBQ at No. 10
- Smoke & Barrels at No. 11
- Bradley's BBQ at No. 14
Gene's menu
"The offering is a novel Viet-Cajun-meets-barbecue blend, and the mashup really works. To get things rolling, there’s a selection of classic and frozen cocktails, which pair nicely with a tray of roasted oysters finished with Cajun butter and crushed Zapp’s Voodoo chips. Torn basil
leaves adorn slices of tender lean brisket, and the smoked half chickens are topped with a spiced-up Alabama white sauce. Cavatappi takes the place of elbows in the gooey mac and cheese. A cool beet, arugula, and citrus salad is finished with a scoop of labneh. Collards are laced with Steen’s cane syrup and Crystal hot sauce and dusted with crushed peanuts."
Gene's location and hours
Gene's is in Atlanta at 2371 Hosea L Williams Dr SE. It's open 5-11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Kitchen closes at 10 p.m.
Broad Street BBQ menu
"The meats are cooked on reverse flow Lang offsets in a pit cage adjoining the restaurant, and you’ll find no butcher paper-lined metal trays here. The thin-sliced brisket, neatly-trimmed ribs, and even the eye-raising (and delicious) 'ATL Ho Cakes'—fluffy cornmeal batter griddled into pancakes—each get their own stoneware plate....The full bar features clever cocktails like the Brain Tonic, a very Atlanta twist on an old-fashioned with a base of bourbon and Coca-Cola syrup."
Broad Street BBQ location and hours
Broad Street BBQ is in Atlanta at 96 Broad Street. It's open every day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Smoke and Barrels menu
"There’s plenty of pulled pork, brisket, and chicken to be had, but for me the standouts are the tender tri-tip beef (perfectly medium rare with a fine smoky bark) and the juicy, thick-sliced turkey. The green beans swim in a rich bacon-laced broth, and there’s a little secret behind what’s billed on the menu as 'Brunswick Stew with Rice': It's basically South Carolina-style hash and rice rebranded for a Georgia audience."
Smoke and Barrels location and hours
Smoke and Barrels is in Evans at 3118 William Few Pkwy. It's open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Bradley’s BBQ menu
"Smoky ribs and pulled pork headline the menu along with smoked chicken, sausage, wings, and brisket. Long, tender strands of pulled pork are quite tasty when doctored up with Bradley’s original sauce, a spicy tomato-vinegar blend, and the 'fixins' include delicious slow-cooked green beans and a rather unique tomato-laced hash and rice studded with chunks of potato."
Bradley’s BBQ location and hours
Bradley's BBQ is in Augusta at 1209 Broad St. It's open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
Best BBQ in the South
The crown went to Elliott's BBQ Lounge in Florence. Southern Living highlighted its "pasture-raised whole hog, cooked Pee Dee burn barrel-style" in custom-made open brick pits burning pecan wood.
Order your favorite local barbecue with DoorDash
BBQ sauce recipe
Several years ago, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver released a video showing how to make an "amazing barbecue sauce" described as sticky, sweet, and full of flavor and spice:
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: New restaurants: 4 BBQ hot spots in GA among Southern Living's top 16
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