Fat Matt’s Rib Shack in Atlanta

If you find yourself in Atlanta, Georgia with a craving to try some great southern BBQ, Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is not to be missed. The restaurant serves tender ribs dripping with barbeque sauce that can be pulled straight off the bone and sandwiched between slices of white bread or licked off your fingers alone.

A full slab brings twelve thick ribs, more than enough for two hungry people, but you also have the option to order half a slab. Other items on the menu that regulars rave about are the chicken and chopped pork. Sides include potato salad (creamy, crunchy, just tart enough), “rum” baked beans, and the southern specialty, Brunswick Stew.

The restaurant is casual with a hole-in-the-wall appeal, and the staff are as friendly and charming as only southerners can be. Local bands play live blues nightly, and the locally-brewed beers available, along with the usual stuff, contribute to the casually-festive atmosphere. Try Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale. A meal for two that included a full slab, a beer, a lemonade and four sides was only $36, and there were plenty of leftovers to be taken home for later.

By Thrifty Gourmet on April 16, 2009 | 1