F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; J, M, Z at Essex St.
Prices
$8-$18
Payment Methods
Cash Only
Special Features
BYOB
Delivery
Lunch
Private Dining/Party Space
Take-Out
Reservations Not Required
Alcohol
Beer and Wine Only
Reservations
Not Accepted
Delivery Area
Grand St. to 14th St., Ave. C to Bowery
Profile
This pint-sized Southern rib shack channels a down-home backyard BBQ, with plaid easy-wipe tablecloths, a mounted antique rifle and stuffed barracuda, and plenty of paper napkins. Bandana-sporting owner Alan Natkiel grew up on a New Hampshire horse farm before moving to Georgia, where he honed his grilling skills and became inspired by the “bonding experience of Southern culture and cuisine.” The ribs, which are slow-cooked over a pan of beer, before being tossed on the grill, reveal crackly skin and juicy meat. The pulled pork is tender, falling to pieces with a nudge from the knife. Sides are similarly well-crafted: Vinegary, pepper-sprinkled coleslaw serves as a crunchy complement, moist corn bread is studded with plump kernels, and the inherent bitterness of collard greens is sweetly tempered with molasses. There’s a benefit to such snug quarters with no storage space: Everything’s “completely fresh,” says Natkiel. Unfortunately, there’s also no bathroom – for that (along with a post-‘cue beer or three), head to the bar across the street.
— AnneLise Sorensen
Restroom
The spot's too small for a bathroom, so you'll have to head across the street.
Recommended Dishes
Ribs with two sides, $18; pulled pork sandwich, $7; coleslaw, $3; collard greens, $4
That dude who gave this place a 4.0 is a hater. Frankly, this is the best BBQ joint I've been to in NYC (the Harlem ones have nothing on Georgia's) and maybe my favorite restaurant in the city. I've been on numerous occasions and can enthusiastically recommend the Fried Chicken (so juicy), the Ribs (so juicy) and the Pulled Pork (so juicy). Also, that corn bread is more like cake then bread and won't crumble apart on you. You will be too full for sides, but the mac n' cheese is superlative. Furthermore, the waitress is the epitome of cool and they always got good tunes. Seriously, check this place out!
p.s. they now provide alcohol (it used to be BYOB)
First off, to call this place a "BBQ" joint is ridiculous.
The baby backs had zero smoky type flavoring, the owner beer steama and grills - how come it's BBQ?
I've had BBQ from Calif (Santa Maria Style - rub/no sauce), southern, Texas, etc.
So to really test drive this place I had the ribs with sauce on the side - and the only flavor in their ribs was a grease overtone. There was a dry rub but it was invisible to the palate. Otherwise they were bland and un-interesting.
The sides which are "specials" are up-charges - so I had 1 item - cheese grits instead of 2 items to avoid the up-charge. But there was virtually no cheese flavor and the grits were undercooked.
My dinner friend had string beans ($1 upcharge - go figure I suppose the hipsters who fall for this joint don't care) and the potato salad was the sadly the only redeeming item in the meal.
Service was great - our friendly and patient waitress (she had to explain the absurd up-charge for sides policy a couple times to us) was nice and very efficient.
Sadly Dallas BBQ is better