Who says you have to drive way outside the city to find good barbecue? In Atlanta there are several delectable spots that are fabulous when you are looking to taste that perfect bite of brisket, ribs or pulled pork.

4Rivers Smokehouse (Westside Atlanta)

This two story restaurant, which was once a firehouse, has been converted into a sleek restaurant. I love that they have a large parking lot with free parking adjacent to the restaurant. You can see a picture of the inside of 4Rivers at the top of this post. While there is plenty of seating on both levels, I was keen to enjoy the unusually pleasant summer evening with low temps when I visited 4Rivers.

Before I even talk about the food, I really have to give a shout out to Brandon and the entire crew at 4Rivers. Every employee we encountered was so pleasant, cheerful and helpful. I wish all restaurants had staff that was so wonderful!

Though 4Rivers is known for their brisket, don’t overlook other sides like the ribs or quarter chicken. Sides like baked beans with pork or even the green beans were amazing. There’s a lot of fat…er…love added to these sides and even the “healthy ones” are delish! I also would recommend taking friends or family visiting from out of town that may not get barbecue often. They will be impressed for sure.

Don’t miss out on dessert at 4 Rivers. Either the banana pudding or the coconut cake!

DAS BBQ (Westside Atlanta)

You really need a crew when you visit DAS BBQ. I often think sides are an afterthought, but not at DAS BBQ on Atlanta’s West side. When you go, make sure to visit on weekdays, as I’m sure this is a very popular spot on weekends. While this is barbecue, there are special touches like the bread, produced by Holeman & Finch. You know what got me excited? I mean besides the brisket and ribs I’d been craving all day? The spicy creamed corn and the German potato salad. Seriously a meal of sides here would NOT be a disappointment.

Protip: Mix the Peach and Red sauce together for the perfect blend of barbecue sauce!

Read all about DAS BBQ here.

DBA Barbecue (Virginia Highlands Atlanta)

I feel like Virginia Highlands is experiencing a resurgence in popularity with the addition of some fun spots like Tiki Iniki and Gino’s East Pizza. After years of eschewing this family-oriented neighborhood for up and coming spots like Old Fourth Ward, The Beltline and the Westside, now some hot spots opening in the neighborhood make me want to spend more time there.

When I visited D.B.A., the smoker was doing it’s thang and the pleasant aroma was wafting around the parking lot as I made my way into the restaurant.  I was looking forward to  barbecue for sure and sipping on a cold beer. But, to my surprise, there was a full bar and decent, if not intriguing cocktail list.

I went a little crazy with appetizers – corn muffins, bacon-wrapped shrimp, deviled eggs, and boiled peanuts. Of the four, the clear winner was the bacon-wrapped shrimp. Get the sampler platter for the best of everything. Read about it and more about the decor at DBA Barbecue here.