North Carolina, Highlands, Rib Shack

Since August 26th was our 19th wedding anniversary, we took a two nighter up to Highland’s North Carolina. This was our first trip to Highlands, but we’re looking forward to going back. There are dozens of neat local eateries and shops. The Rib Shack was awesome. We had some St. Louis ribs that were smoked with a dry rub with sweet sauce added before serving. Sweet Tea and atmosphere were good. We also had a serving of pulled pork with a vinegary sauce with a little kick (much like our own Circle M BBQ). Our sides were great black-eyed peas and Sweet Potato French fries (they were delicious) Kevin: ribs 6, tea 8, ambience 9 Ann: ribs 10, tea 9, ambience 9.

North Carolina, Highlands, DonLeon's Deli Cafe

DonLeon’s Deli Café (Highlands NC)This was a pretty cool local shop serving an awesome Reuben sandwich. DonLeon’s has a unique atmosphere with little signs and quotes all over the walls. Ann’s favorite was “PMS=Putting up with Men’s Stupidity”. Sweet Tea was great. Kevin: ribs na, tea 7, ambience 9 Ann: ribs na, tea 9, ambience 8.

Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Dreamland Bar-B-Que

Dreamland was our first stop in Tuscaloosa as we came here to see the Dawgs play Bama’s Tide. I’ve found that if a Bar-B-Que place has a website and several locations, it may not be the place you’re looking for. The ribs were very meaty yet tough. No way these ribs were slow cooked. Sauce was good. Beans and slaw were good. Sweat tea was too sweet, yet they offered fresh lemon wedges. The ambience was good if you wanted to hang out with your frat brothers at a sports bar, but not your typical ribs joint. Kevin: ribs 4, tea 4, ambience 7. Tyler: ribs 7, tea 8, ambience 9.5

Alabama, Northport, Archibald & Woodrow’s BBQ

Maybe it’s an Alabama thing, but all 3 Tuscaloosa rib shacks serve their ribs cut apart. I liked this and will order my ribs this way from now on. The ribs were more tender than Dreamland, yet a little burnt. Very cool atmosphere for ribs. Tea was great. Danny V would be surprised how good the teas was even though the lemon juice came out of a bottle. Beans had a tad too much kick and slaw was good. Kevin: ribs 7, tea 9, ambience 9. Tyler: ribs 8, tea 10, ambience9.

Alabama, Northport, Hicks Bar-B-Q

Tyler and I agree these were the best ribs we ate in Tuscaloosa. The ribs were large, meaty, and cooked just right with a lot of salt, pepper, & maybe garlic or something that made these ribs good even without the awesome sauce. Atmosphere was a great rib shack. The ribs are served wrapped in butcher paper. Considering how messy they were, this was convenient. I don’t like syrupy tea so I like it better than Tyler did. Tyler found a needed toothpick as we left and you know the dork didn’t get ole dad a toothpick. Kevin: ribs 9.5, tea 8, atmosphere 9 Tyler ribs 9.5, tea 6, atmosphere 7.

Shane's Rib Shack, Dahlonega Georgia

Pretty cool place, Good Fries, Good Slaw & Good Beans
Ambiance-8
Ribs-8
Sweet Tea-10 I wish Verdin could see the size of lemon wedge!

Blues BBQ

Pictured above is Jerry, who works for Blue's BBQ in Kingland Ga (exit 1 off I-95 just before you cross the border into Florida). Jerry says "If you don't feel at home, its your own fault."
Great Ribs. Great Place.
Ribs - 8
Ambience - 9
Tea - 9

Jim Deermans’s BBQ – Birmingham Alabama

Jim Deermans’s has the best ribs I have ever eaten in my life! The interesting thing was his sauce is not very good, but the ribs without sauce were fantastic. Not really dry like Memphis, but not wet either; just juicy, meaty, and smokey. He puts a little kick into the meat as they are smoked.
Tea 10
Ambience 10
*Ribs me 10, Tyler 7

*Ribs: Here’s where Tyler & I had a serious debate. He thought Uncle Bob’s Ribs were the best on our tour, but I disagreed.

Uncle Bob’s Ribs – Oxford Mississippi

Bob sells these ribs from his travleing smoker on Jackson Rd. in Oxford. He told us that these were going to be the best ribs we have ever tasted. They were great. Tyler agrees with Bob. These were his favorite ribs, but I’m going vote on our next stop in Birmingham on the way home.
Tea N/A
Ambience 10
Ribs me 9, Tyler 10

Creekside BBQ – Oxford Mississippi

Every year, Tyler and I trek to a different SEC football road game to see the Georgia Bulldogs. This year we chose Ole Miss in Oxford Mississippi. Naturally, we are always looking for some good local food. Danny Varat recommended this joint as he attended Ole Miss several years ago. Not bad. The waitress would not let us leave without trying their special buttermilk checker pie. Being the gentlemen we are, we obliged (even though I’m on a diet, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings). It was delicious. Thanks Dr. Varat!
Sweet Tea 10
Ambience 8
Ribs 6

Lake Rabun Grocery & Marina, Rabun Co, Ga

Looked like our kind of place, but the food was so so.
Ambience 10
Burgers 4
Grilled Cheese 10
No Tea, just canned drinks

Blue Creek BBQ, Cleveland Georgia

Cleveland Georgia
1-BBQ 8
2-Tea 9
3-Ambience - 8