Austin

Photos courtesy of Fever | Mad Hatter’s (Gin &) Tea Party

Events

A (Boozy) Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is Coming to Austin 

Houston

The Menil Collection


Lifestyle

Best Things to do Indoors in Houston When it’s Too Hot and Humid

Denver

Gum Pop Presents


CocaCola_842219_May22

Whether you’re into food, drink, football, yoga, or meteor shower parties, you’ll find something fun to do this weekend in and around Denver.

Everything Fun to Do in Denver This Weekend

Moody Amphitheater


Just when you thought the lava-like temperatures of August couldn’t make being outside any worse, enter the insects.

Actually Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend

Nation

Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

Rome in the summer is so unrelenting even the Italians take off time in August to escape the heat.

Why Granita Is the Easiest Summer Recipe

Photo by Johnny Shryock

Michael Twitty calls this his Eat Pray Love moment.

New Michael Twitty Memoir Nourishes Like a Recovery Meal

Las Vegas

Drink

The best bars in Las Vegas offer plenty of variety, from wine to craft cocktails and even a few secluded speakeasies, but sometimes nothing beats an ice-cold beer.

The 19 Most Essential Craft Breweries in Las Vegas

New York

Photo by Teddy Wolff

While whirling around the city’s disco wonderland-esque roller rinks and setting off on idyllic getaways in the Hudson Valley and Catskills might keep us preoccupied for a little while, here, we stick by the theory that there’s always time for a good meal.

8 Exciting Restaurant Debuts in NYC This Week

San Francisco

Photo courtesy of Palisades Tahoe

This is an especially amazing weekend for anyone who enjoys any of the following: eating tasty food, sipping delicious drinks, and listening to amazing live music.

Everything Fun You Can Do in San Francisco This Weekend

Phoenix

Photo courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

Everything Fun to Do in Phoenix This Weekend

Atlanta

Live at the Battery Atlanta

We have officially made it to another weekend, and if you’re in the city over the next few days, there is a lot to look forward to.

Everything Fun to Do in Atlanta This Weekend

Miami

Photo courtesy by Cote Miami

You’ll know summer’s winding down when you drive to work next week and discover the school zones are back.

Everything Fun You Can Do in Miami This Weekend

Bryan Furman BBQ

If you're looking to enjoy the tastiest smoked meats in Atlanta, Texas-style brisket, and Southern sides, look no further than these expert-approved BBQ joints across the city.

Fox Bros Bar-B-Q


The first time Steve Hartsock, owner of Socks’ Love Barbecue in Cumming, had brisket was at Fox Bros. Bar B-Q a little over 10 years ago. “I was introduced to a whole new style, a whole new realm of barbecue,” he says. “I didn't really get to experience brisket or anything much outside of pork until I moved to Atlanta [from Columbus, Georgia].” 
 
Before twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their Candler Park location in 2007, barbecue in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/atlanta/best-restaurants-atlanta" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Atlanta’s food scene</a>&nbsp;was pretty pork-driven. “When we first opened, pork was the main seller,” says Jonathan Fox, one half of the Fox Bros. duo. “We hardly sold any brisket, and, I would say, within the last five or six years, brisket has finally surpassed pork as our number-one seller.” 
 
Fox recalls that barbecue institutions like Fat Matt’s and Sprayberry’s Barbecue in Newnan reigned supreme, and when Fox Bros. first opened, people were confused by their methods. “It took a while for it to take off, but after some sticking to our guns and doing what we do, we finally got around to winning over the masses,” says Fox. Now people wait hours to feast on smoked meats, including brisket, and other Texas-inspired treats like Frito pie and, on certain days, chicken-fried steak. 
 
While the Fox brothers paved the way for Texa-fied barbecue in Atlanta, there are still purely Southern barbecue options around. Anna Phelps opened her restaurant, Anna’s BBQ, in 2013 in the Kirkwood neighborhood. “When I opened it, I didn't know of a good barbecue place, to be honest. I didn't know of a good one, until I got on the scene,” she laughs. 
 
“From what I hear, a lot of people try to do the Memphis-style barbecue. I'm just strictly Southern because this is where I'm from and that's what I grew up eating. I'm strictly Southern with my vegetables and my meat,” says Phelps who cooks her brisket overnight for 12 hours and then uses chicken scraps to make her collard greens. “We pick our collard greens every other day. We have fresh greens and fresh green beans. I think it's different from a lot of places because I know a lot of places do use canned greens,” she says. 
 
Since the last time Hartsock, the Fox brothers, and Phelps connected with Thrillist, a lot has changed, especially when it comes to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Phelps and the Fox brothers, new challenges have also arisen even over the past several months. “The supply side of things have been difficult,” Jonathan Fox says. 
 
Yet with that said, some positive developments have hit Atlanta’s barbecue scene. For starters, Phelps is expanding Anna’s BBQ’s business hours with the addition of her food truck, which will be stationed in front of her Kirkwood restaurant to supply BBQ lovers with some delicious nighttime barbecue. Furthermore, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q recently started serving their smoked short rib on Delta flights, and later this year, one of Atlanta’s most beloved pitmasters is returning to the brick and mortar barbecue scene with a new restaurant in Riverside. With so many exciting developments coming Atlanta’s way, the city’s barbecue scene remains as strong and as eclectic as ever. From the sausage and beef ribs to turkey ribs to brisket injected with miso, there truly is a barbecue style for everyone, so if you’re searching for the perfect ‘cue for you, here are the best, expert-approved barbecue joints in Atlanta.

The first time Steve Hartsock, owner of Socks’ Love Barbecue in Cumming, had brisket was at Fox Bros. Bar B-Q a little over 10 years ago. “I was introduced to a whole new style, a whole new realm of barbecue,” he says. “I didn't really get to experience brisket or anything much outside of pork until I moved to Atlanta [from Columbus, Georgia].”

Before twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their Candler Park location in 2007, barbecue in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/atlanta/best-restaurants-atlanta" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Atlanta’s food scene</a>&nbsp;was pretty pork-driven. “When we first opened, pork was the main seller,” says Jonathan Fox, one half of the Fox Bros. duo. “We hardly sold any brisket, and, I would say, within the last five or six years, brisket has finally surpassed pork as our number-one seller.”

Fox recalls that barbecue institutions like Fat Matt’s and Sprayberry’s Barbecue in Newnan reigned supreme, and when Fox Bros. first opened, people were confused by their methods. “It took a while for it to take off, but after some sticking to our guns and doing what we do, we finally got around to winning over the masses,” says Fox. Now people wait hours to feast on smoked meats, including brisket, and other Texas-inspired treats like Frito pie and, on certain days, chicken-fried steak.

While the Fox brothers paved the way for Texa-fied barbecue in Atlanta, there are still purely Southern barbecue options around. Anna Phelps opened her restaurant, Anna’s BBQ, in 2013 in the Kirkwood neighborhood. “When I opened it, I didn't know of a good barbecue place, to be honest. I didn't know of a good one, until I got on the scene,” she laughs.

“From what I hear, a lot of people try to do the Memphis-style barbecue. I'm just strictly Southern because this is where I'm from and that's what I grew up eating. I'm strictly Southern with my vegetables and my meat,” says Phelps who cooks her brisket overnight for 12 hours and then uses chicken scraps to make her collard greens. “We pick our collard greens every other day. We have fresh greens and fresh green beans. I think it's different from a lot of places because I know a lot of places do use canned greens,” she says.

Since the last time Hartsock, the Fox brothers, and Phelps connected with Thrillist, a lot has changed, especially when it comes to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Phelps and the Fox brothers, new challenges have also arisen even over the past several months. “The supply side of things have been difficult,” Jonathan Fox says.

Yet with that said, some positive developments have hit Atlanta’s barbecue scene. For starters, Phelps is expanding Anna’s BBQ’s business hours with the addition of her food truck, which will be stationed in front of her Kirkwood restaurant to supply BBQ lovers with some delicious nighttime barbecue. Furthermore, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q recently started serving their smoked short rib on Delta flights, and later this year, one of Atlanta’s most beloved pitmasters is returning to the brick and mortar barbecue scene with a new restaurant in Riverside. With so many exciting developments coming Atlanta’s way, the city’s barbecue scene remains as strong and as eclectic as ever. From the sausage and beef ribs to turkey ribs to brisket injected with miso, there truly is a barbecue style for everyone, so if you’re searching for the perfect ‘cue for you, here are the best, expert-approved barbecue joints in Atlanta.

The first time Steve Hartsock, owner of Socks’ Love Barbecue in Cumming, had brisket was at Fox Bros. Bar B-Q a little over 10 years ago. “I was introduced to a whole new style, a whole new realm of barbecue,” he says. “I didn't really get to experience brisket or anything much outside of pork until I moved to Atlanta [from Columbus, Georgia].”Before twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their Candler Park location in 2007, barbecue in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/eat/atlanta/best-restaurants-atlanta" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Atlanta’s food scene</a>&nbsp;was pretty pork-driven. “When we first opened, pork was the main seller,” says Jonathan Fox, one half of the Fox Bros. duo. “We hardly sold any brisket, and, I would say, within the last five or six years, brisket has finally surpassed pork as our number-one seller.”Fox recalls that barbecue institutions like Fat Matt’s and Sprayberry’s Barbecue in Newnan reigned supreme, and when Fox Bros. first opened, people were confused by their methods. “It took a while for it to take off, but after some sticking to our guns and doing what we do, we finally got around to winning over the masses,” says Fox. Now people wait hours to feast on smoked meats, including brisket, and other Texas-inspired treats like Frito pie and, on certain days, chicken-fried steak.While the Fox brothers paved the way for Texa-fied barbecue in Atlanta, there are still purely Southern barbecue options around. Anna Phelps opened her restaurant, Anna’s BBQ, in 2013 in the Kirkwood neighborhood. “When I opened it, I didn't know of a good barbecue place, to be honest. I didn't know of a good one, until I got on the scene,” she laughs.“From what I hear, a lot of people try to do the Memphis-style barbecue. I'm just strictly Southern because this is where I'm from and that's what I grew up eating. I'm strictly Southern with my vegetables and my meat,” says Phelps who cooks her brisket overnight for 12 hours and then uses chicken scraps to make her collard greens. “We pick our collard greens every other day. We have fresh greens and fresh green beans. I think it's different from a lot of places because I know a lot of places do use canned greens,” she says.Since the last time Hartsock, the Fox brothers, and Phelps connected with Thrillist, a lot has changed, especially when it comes to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Phelps and the Fox brothers, new challenges have also arisen even over the past several months. “The supply side of things have been difficult,” Jonathan Fox says.Yet with that said, some positive developments have hit Atlanta’s barbecue scene. For starters, Phelps is expanding Anna’s BBQ’s business hours with the addition of her food truck, which will be stationed in front of her Kirkwood restaurant to supply BBQ lovers with some delicious nighttime barbecue. Furthermore, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q recently started serving their smoked short rib on Delta flights, and later this year, one of Atlanta’s most beloved pitmasters is returning to the brick and mortar barbecue scene with a new restaurant in Riverside. With so many exciting developments coming Atlanta’s way, the city’s barbecue scene remains as strong and as eclectic as ever. From the sausage and beef ribs to turkey ribs to brisket injected with miso, there truly is a barbecue style for everyone, so if you’re searching for the perfect ‘cue for you, here are the best, expert-approved barbecue joints in Atlanta.

Secret Pint BBQ may not yet have a physical location, but this Hartsock-approved BBQ pop-up is more than legit. The pop-up operation is spearheaded by the well-respected Bryan Hull, who you’ve likely already fallen in love with if you’ve ever tried one of Socks’ Love Barbecue’s delicious sausages, and if you’re ever in need of some craft barbecue for your next wedding or event, Secret Pint BBQ makes for the perfect mobile BBQ joint. Over the next five months, Secret Pint BBQ has eight pop-ups planned, so now is the perfect time to give Hull's growing barbecue brand a try.

Secret Pint BBQ


Flickr/mowl.eu

Rodney Scott opened his first Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2017, and after four successful years, the renowned pitmaster ventured down to Atlanta and opened up his third and largest Rodney Scott Whole Hog BBQ location last summer. Scott’s award-winning Carolina-style barbecue is Jonathan Fox-approved too. “He's been coming here for a long time, so it’s nice to finally have him have a presence in Atlanta,” Fox says while recommending the Metropolitan Markway eatery. When visiting, tease your palate with a light and crunchy bag of pig skins, grab the Loaded Tater Truck (a loaded baked potato with your choice of barbecue pork, chicken, brisket, or steak) for your side, and most importantly, treat your tastebuds to one of Rodney Scott’s mouthwatering pit-cooked meat plates.

Rodney Scott's BBQ


Rodney Scott's BBQ Atlanta

Rodney Scott's Bbq Atlanta

The brainchild of Todd Richards and Josh Lee, Lake &amp; Oak has a laid-back, welcoming vibe in addition to plenty of smoked meats. Popular options on the menu include rib tips, smoked wings, and the pulled pork sandwich. There are plenty of beers to cool down with, too, which is especially great if you’re sitting on their patio.

Lake & Oak Neighborhood Barbecue


Lake & Oak

The brainchild of Steve Hartsock, Socks’ Love is a bit OTP in Cumming, but worth the drive. The restaurant is currently open for takeout and serves up a mix of Hartsock’s favorite things. In addition to brisket, you’ll find smoked sausage, turkey, and pulled pork. Don’t forget the sides! The “OMG” Mac &amp; Cheese is made with rigatoni noodles that soak up the cheesy sauce. The one thing you won’t find on the menu? Brunswick stew. He’s had people get mad at him for not having it on the menu, but, he says, “I didn't like it [growing up]. I would tolerate it, but I wouldn't ever order it. So, if I had the opportunity to put it on my menu, I didn't care to.”

Socks' Love Barbecue


Socks Love Barbecue

Anna Phelps took the plunge to become a Black woman pitmaster in 2013 without any prior professional cooking experience. Now — even in the wake of the beloved founder’s retirement — Anna’s BBQ restaurant has hours-long waits so people can chow down on brisket, turkey ribs, and pulled pork. The casual space offers some indoor seating but there’s also a patio out front with plenty of outdoor seating, too.

Flickr/Tavallai

Anna's BBQ

Opening a barbecue restaurant after running a Southernized Jewish deli may not seem like the logical next step, but, for Todd Ginsburg, it was. “I talked to Todd a lot when he was getting into barbecue and trying to figure out how and what to cook on, give him suggestions,” says Fox. “He's got great sides and they're doing a great focus on different meats and stuff like that.” At the Summerhill restaurant, Ginsburg uses wood smokers to produce tender chopped beef, jalapeño cheddar sausage, and smoked chicken. On Sundays, you can purchase hot smoked salmon which is incredibly tender and definitely not something you find at most barbecue restaurants in Atlanta. You can’t go wrong when it comes to the creative sides, but the beet and jalapeño slaw is a standout.

Wood's Chapel BBQ


Wood’s Chapel BBQ Shortstop

There’s barely any patio seating at Heirloom Market, found in the Cumberland area adjacent to a nondescript convenience store, but that doesn’t stop throngs of people from lining up outside the restaurant. “When you go out to eat barbecue and want something different: Heirloom,” says Fox. “Cody and his wife are doing a great job at creating diversity in barbecue.” The creation of husband and wife chefs Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee (the latter was a pop star in a former life), Heirloom Market features smoked meats with a Korean twist. The smoked brisket is injected with miso, the pulled chicken is marinated in gochujang sauce, and the pork is spicy Korean-style. Don’t miss sides like the macaroni and cheese punched up with kimchi, fried sweet potatoes tossed in a soy-ginger sauce, and kimchi coleslaw. Don’t overlook the fried chicken, either, available on Tuesdays.

Heirloom Market BBQ


When Hartsock thinks of comfort food, he thinks of ribs that fall off the bone. “I almost don't want to say fall off the bone, because a lot of people don't really shoot for that. I mean, there's a fine line between fall off the bone and overdone, and I think Fat Matt's nails it,” says Hartsock. The barbecue joint in Morningside has been open since 1990 and is an Atlanta institution. There are zero frills, but the energy is high especially in non-pandemic times with a full slate of blues performers. Make sure to get the ribs. They’re currently open for takeout.

Fat Matt's Rib Shack


Grand Champion started in Roswell and now has two other locations (with a third on the way) in the Atlanta area. The Hogfather sandwich is a delight with 14-hour smoked pork, slaw, and North Carolina sauce and the beef short rib plate (available on Friday and Saturday only) is great if you’re feeling extra carnivorous. Most importantly, though, don’t leave without a side of macaroni and cheese. “When I tried theirs, it just changed my whole attitude towards homemade mac and cheese,” says Hartsock. “I still, to this day, don't know exactly how they do it. And I haven't had it in a long time, but those guys, if I went there today, I would get a pint of it, and try my best to eat it all.”

Grand Champion BBQ


The original location is in Candler Park, but this famed local BBQ joint also has locations at The Battery, The Works in the Upper Westside, and in Brookwood Hills. Obviously, the brisket is legendary, as are the many ways you can get it. Try the “Burger,” brisket topped with bacon, pickles, onion, melted pimento cheese, and jalapeño mayo on a brioche bun, or the plate served with two sides (one of those sides better be the Fox-a-roni, a hearty combo of mac and cheese and Brunswick stew). Hartsock especially loves their wings which are smoked and available in quantities of six, 12, and 24.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Fox Bros Bar-B-Q & Brew

Asian-influenced barbecue is a delicious combination at this Poncey-Highland eatery. Siblings Howard and Anita Hsu grew up in the restaurant industry and know how to make bellies happy with creative dishes like coconut lemongrass wings, barbecue nachos topped with pulled pork, charred corn, and queso fresco, and pimento cheese wontons served with a Thai chili sauce. When it comes to meats, you can’t go wrong with the Curb Market spare ribs (in Wu Tang sauce) or the house-smoked brisket.

Sweet Auburn BBQ


Sweet Auburn Barbecue

Phelps doesn’t go out for barbecue often (“I smell barbecue all day, every day, I really don't want it right now.” But, she does occasionally go for the carnivorous offerings at Sgt. Wyatt’s, located off Memorial Drive in Kirkwood. The building looks like a shack, and there’s only an extremely limited amount of outdoor seating, but that doesn’t keep people from flocking to the spot for ribs, pig’s ear sandwiches, and sides like candied yams and cornbread.

Flickr/sarahstierch

Wyatt’s Country Bar-B-Que

D.B.A., one of Fox’s go-tos, is found in Virginia-Highland. The menu offers classic St. Louis ribs, brisket, and pulled chicken. The real treats, though, are the creative sandwiches. If you’re looking to load up, try the Archie Bunker with smoked pulled pork topped with macaroni and cheese, barbecue sauce, and cheddar on Texas Toast.

D.B.A. Barbecue


DBA Barbecue

D.B.A. Barbecue

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/lia-picard" target="_blank">Lia Picard</a>&nbsp;is an Atlanta-based journalist writing about food, travel, and a variety of other topics. Her work appears in&nbsp;The New York Times,&nbsp;The Washington Post,&nbsp;Wine Enthusiast, and&nbsp;CNN Travel. 
 
<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/joshua-robinson">Joshua Robinson</a> is an Atlanta-based contributor for Thrillist. Follow him on Instagram at @roshrisky.

America

The 14 Best BBQ Joints in Atlanta, According to Local Experts

Best BBQ Restaurants in Atlanta: Local Barbecue Joints to Try Right Now

 From Texas brisket at Fox Bros. to Southern-style at Anna’s, look no further for Atlanta’s essential smoked meats.


The first time Steve Hartsock, owner of Socks’ Love Barbecue in Cumming, had brisket was at Fox Bros.

Bryan Furman BBQ

Featured In

The 14 Best BBQ Joints in Atlanta, According to Local Experts

More From Thrillist

A (Boozy) Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is Coming to Austin

Quick, tickets have just been released for the ultimate Alice in Wonderland experience.

Best Things to do Indoors in Houston When it’s Too Hot and Humid

Don’t sweat the weather.

Everything Fun to Do in Denver This Weekend

These are all your local must-hit food and music festivals, events, movies, markets, deals, and concerts to help you make the most of your weekend.

Actually Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend

Claim your Halloween costume early, sing along to Sgt. Pepper, or get real Texas with it at a two-stepping class.

Why Granita Is the Easiest Summer Recipe

The shove-it-in-your-freezer dessert is the ultimate summer quencher.

New Michael Twitty Memoir Nourishes Like a Recovery Meal

‘Koshersoul’ highlights the long-lasting links between African and Jewish cuisines.

The 19 Most Essential Craft Breweries in Las Vegas

Beat the Sin City heat with cold beer.

8 Exciting Restaurant Debuts in NYC This Week

From nostalgic Americana bites in the East Village to old-school Roman fare on the Upper East Side, here’s how to savor the summer.

Everything Fun You Can Do in San Francisco This Weekend

Food and street fests galore, a Tiki bar crawl, the annual Jerry Day celebration, and more.

Everything Fun to Do in Phoenix This Weekend

These are all your local must-hit food and music festivals, events, movies, markets, deals, and concerts to help you make the most of your weekend.

Everything Fun to Do in Atlanta This Weekend

These are all your local must-hit music and food festivals, events, movies, markets, deals, and concerts to help you make the most of your weekend.

Everything Fun You Can Do in Miami This Weekend

We’ve got two very legitimate reasons to drink.