If you have read any food magazines lately they always seem to be talking about the food scene in Atlanta, Georgia. Sweet Auburn Barbecue is one of those hot spots to try.
It is located within a cute neighborhood of newly built apartments and older homes getting modern updates.
When I walked in the door I got an urban, hipster vibe with the décor and layout of the restaurant.
But the smell reminded me of a good, old Southern BBQ joint.
I started off with one of their creatively named cocktails. The “Hands Off My Tikis” sounded fun and delicious. It was a tropical drink made with Sailor Jerry Rum, Goslings Black, Rum Haven, Royal Combier, pineapple juice, orange juice, and lemon. The best part of this drink is it is actually served in a tiki glass.
It’s probably just my imagination but the drink tasted better because of the tiki glass. The drink was sweet and it was loaded with alcohol. One was plenty.
The table ordered a few starters because we were all really hungry from a long day of work. We got a plate of seasoned fries. They brought us a few dipping sauces on the side, which included their homemade ranch dressing. The fries were fresh cut potatoes that were slightly sweet.
The bucket of cornbread was next out. It actually did come in a galvanized bucket. The cornbread was made with jalapeños and cheddar. It came with a side of sorghum butter. it added a little sweetness to the bread. I recommend putting it on as soon as the bread comes out; this way it has time to melt. Although there are jalapeños in the bread, it was not very spicy.
The last starter was the pimento cheese wontons. These were my favorite as well as everyone at the table. The crispy wonton noodles were stuffed with a salty and creamy pimento cheese.
It had a sharp taste at first bite and as I chewed the creaminess took over. I also tasted a hint of bacon mixed in. At the end there was a richness to the overall dish.
It was accompanied by a bacon marmalade and sweet Thai chili sauce. When I took a bite of the wonton with these sauces, it added a different level of flavor. The bacon marmalade added a smoky taste, while the Thai sauce added a slight heat plus sweetness. It really complemented the robust taste of the cheese. I highly recommend this starter, you will not be disappointed.
For dinner I ordered the pulled pork bowl. This dish was unique to me. It was pulled pork on top of stone ground cheddar grits, pickles, and scallions. Their house made BBQ sauce was drizzled on top. On the side there were two pieces of buttery Texas toast.
Breaking down the components, the pork was thick and juicy. It had a slight smoky flavor and was extremely tender. The only thing I wish the pork had was a little more bark on the outside.
The cheddar grits were amazing. They were very creamy and soft. When the grits and pork were eaten together, they made perfect harmony. All the flavors worked together, even though one might not think creamy cheese and tangy BBQ sauce would work. While I liked the entire bowl, I felt the grits were the star of the dish.
If you want a side they need to be ordered separately. However, they are the perfect size for sharing. That is exactly what we did with the skillet green beans.
These were fresh garden green beads that kept their crunch. They had a smoky, grilled taste to them. They were cooked with red onions that added sweetness. This was a great, fresh side dish.
While there are tons of restaurants to choose from in Atlanta, perhaps I can help marrow down your search by suggesting Sweet Auburn Barbeque. Check out their menu at http://sweetauburnbbq.com/
Enjoy!
T
