The Blue Board

I love the passion that comes with using THE BEST when it comes to bbq. But when you add in all around environment(from the cracked out waitresses to the terrible neighborhood), the fact it has been there since the 50's, the great cracklin cornbread, ok bbq and brunswick stew, I just love a trip to Harold's in downtown Atlanta. Not the best but definantly worthy of a try. Not to recommend a tourist stop but last time I drove from Atlanta to Mississippi I stopped in Birmingham on the way through and ate lunch at Dreamland, then I stopped in Tuscaloosa on the way back (the very next day) and had Dreamland again for lunch. I usually am more of a pulled pork guy than ribs, but my personal favorite is Dreamland for ribs! I am a fan of Fat Matt's as well as Pig n Chik, but Country's in Columbus is my personal favorite for pulled pork!

Not that any of you are man enough, but if you ever get the courage to visit Detroit, go to Slow's BBQ on Michigan Ave near the former grounds of Tiger Stadium. I'm not saying it's the greatest of them all, but it's damn good.

This you?

I asked the cook and
Maybe he said they were aged 2 days. I can't recall. What I do remember is he said they aren't boiled and that's a myth around town. Likely started by rivals.

How does that come up in casual conversation? Did you just ask...hey, do you boil your ribs?

A lot of people think they do boil them. They slap some sauce on them and throw them on the grill before they serve them (no secret...they do it right in front of you).

Might be a case of if they start running out of smoked ribs, then they boil some.

I find humor in the fact there is argument on which Atlanta joint has the best BBQ ribs. Since I live in the Carolinas, I will sit back and continue to let all you pretenders claim greatness. We all know that if in Atlanta, you need to point your car north a few hours and head to the Carolinas. There are only four areas of this great nation that can claim BBQ greatness. St. Louis, Memphis, Carolinas and Texas. All others are mere pretenders dreaming of the big time. :)

Please do yourself a favor and visit Archibalds next time you're in Tuscaloosa. I learned about it after 2 years in T-town and am kicking myself that I went to Dreamland for so long.

I consider myself a BBQ Ribs Critic. My co-workers and I are based out of Atlanta and we eat there several times a month. The conversation kinda comes up when your'e a regular. and LOL at there being 4 regions for good BBQ and no one outside of it can touch it. Its BBQ for gods sake. It can be done great anywhere with the right sauce.

I concur with Fat Matts. They are the best ribs I have had to date. I eat there atleast once a week. I used to eat Pig n Chik alot but once I found Fat Matts I haven;t been back to Pig n Chik. Again this is just ribs. I have had better pulled pork sandwhich at Sugar's in Chattanooga.

I might be a little prejudice here because the Owens family are friends of mine, and while new to the Atlanta BBQ scene, they do a pretty damn good job with all of their offerings not just ribs.Try their Mac and Cheese side, the best I have ever had.

Dreamland is terrible. Was much better before they whored themselves out and franchised. Their sauce is still great but their ribs are usually very tough.