Don't sleep on this small but outstanding option. It's…read moremostly a take-out place, but there is one table and 11 booth spaces inside. They feature pork, brisket, chicken and sausage which you can order as a sandwich, dinner or stuffed potato. I got the brisket dinner and my wife got the chicken stuffed potato. Both were on point. Reasonable prices. Friendly counter staff. Winner.

We were coming back from buying a dishwasher and pulled up to this tiny barbecue spot that used to…read morebe called Uncle Sonny's (?? still not 100% sure what it's called now, which honestly adds to the experience). No website. No branding. Just vibes, smoke, and cool accents. And some ads for discounted tickets to a community wrestling match taking place tonight. So naturally, we ordered: Brisket sandwich Pulled pork plate + 1/3 lb of sausage Fried pies (chocolate & lemon - because obviously) First impression: this is the kind of place where you trust the food immediately because the building looks like it could survive a tornado and a country album cover at the same time. Brisket sandwich -- super solid. Not trying too hard, just smoky, tender, and exactly what you want when you're in the middle of nowhere and questioning your life decisions (in a good way). Pulled pork plate -- this is where they flex a little. Juicy, good bark, and the kind of portion that makes you reconsider finishing it... and then you finish it anyway. Except my teenage daughter, who hadn't eaten anything all day except a Kodiak protein cup, didn't quite... 1/3 lb of sausage -- yeah, that was a solid addition. Smothered in a mix of mild, hot, and sweet bbq sauce, it was good without being too greasy. Fried pies -- listen. These are dangerous. Crispy, sweet, probably made by someone's grandma in the back. If you skip these, you've made a mistake. Overall: No frills. No nonsense. Just really good barbecue in a place that may or may not have a name. 5 stars for food +1 star for mystery branding I hope our dishwasher lasts a long time, but if not, we'll be sure to come back here!

Our grilled cheese sandwiches were very good with the smoked meat. We were greeted promptly and our…read moresandwiches arrived hot and fresh. The dining area was clean and comfortable. It can be a little loud at times.

Pretty solid bbq connected to the distillery! Huge fan of the ribs, it fell off the bone and very…read morenicely seasoned. Get the hot bbq sauce- it has a nice little kick and isn't terribly spicy. Sausage was solid, pulled pork was a little dry. The Mac and potato salad were both tasty and solid sides. Get the half unsweetened half sweetened tea!

The woman at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum recommended this place and, based on how often we heard…read moreher mention it, I am convinced she says it about thirty times a day. She deserves a commission, because it absolutely worked on us. And honestly, it delivered. Now that I live in Texas, I am becoming quite the barbecue aficionado, working my way through all the regional styles this country has to offer. Tennessee BBQ?? - sign me up! This stop was well worth adding to the list. We were seated quickly and decided to split a combo plate, the Barrelhead (something?). It is exactly what you want from a combo. Brisket, ribs, chicken, cornbread, and two sides. We went with the sweet potato casserole and onion rings. The standout items were the ribs and that sweet potato casserole. The ribs were tender, flavorful, and the kind you keep reaching for even when you are already full. The casserole was rich and comforting, easily one of the best sides on the table. The chopped brisket was a bit on the dry side, and I found myself wishing we had asked for sliced brisket instead. This feels like the kind of place that would happily accommodate that kind of request. The cornbread was just okay, nothing memorable, but not a dealbreaker. Even with 2 of us splitting the plate, we still had leftovers, which is always a win and Wayne the dog who enjoyed them - would give it 2 paws up!. The four of us could not resist trying one of the newer desserts, the peach cobbler with ice cream. It comes out warm in a small cast iron dish, which is always a good sign. I do not know why I keep expecting fresh peaches in these desserts, they are almost always canned, but it did not matter. The dish was completely cleaned out in minutes.

The curb appeal is okay. It does have a fairly grand entrance. Inside is quirky and rustic. Plenty…read moreof seating options, both in the bar and the dining room. We arrived at 6:45 - party of 4. Got a table immediately. I had a small appetite and chose the salad buffet and a cup of soup. The buffet has a generous selection and I really enjoyed it. The soup was delicious. Service was prompt and we were eating by 7:05. Everyone enjoyed their meals. And no one had any complaints.

Brent our tour guide was fantastic! Skip the resturant. Food was mediocre and overpriced for…read morequality!

This was my second time visiting Uncle Nearest, and it just confirmed why I gave them a 10. I…read morebrought my lady and her friends in from Cincinnati--one of them works for a distributor doing tastings--so we wanted them to get the full Uncle Nearest experience, especially since they don't get access to all the flavors back home. As always, everything was top tier. The staff was incredible, and Karen really stood out--she made the experience even more special. From the atmosphere to the tasting, Uncle Nearest never misses. Every visit feels like something you gotta share with people. That's why it's a 10 every time.

10/10--absolutely worth the stop!…read more If you're heading to Lynchburg for the Jack Daniel's Distillery (or any of the nearby whiskey distilleries), do yourself a favor and eat at Barrel House BBQ afterward. First things first: if you're a die-hard brisket lover, just know they don't serve brisket. But honestly? Their ribs more than make up for it. Coming from Florida, where truly great, non-franchise barbecue can be hard to find, we're always excited to try local BBQ when we travel. Barrel House absolutely exceeded our expectations. We ordered the three-meat platter with sides (and couldn't resist adding a couple of extras), and every single bite was fantastic. The meats were tender and juicy, nothing was dry, and the barbecue sauce was incredible. What really made the experience stand out was the atmosphere. It's a small, tucked-away hole-in-the-wall that feels welcoming the moment you walk in. You can grab a marker and sign the walls, which was a fun touch, and they also encourage guests to leave signed dollar bills that are donated to a charitable cause each year. It's those little details that make places memorable. The owner (or manager--I never did ask which) was outstanding. Even during a busy lunch rush, he was everywhere at once--helping customers, running food, supporting his staff, and making sure everyone was taken care of. You could tell he genuinely cared about both his employees and his guests. Sometimes the best restaurants are the ones hiding down a side street, and this place proves it. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in Lynchburg. Highly recommend!

Loved the location of this place. Spacious and roomy. Plenty of seating…read more The service was great, very fast, attentive and efficient. The waitress was friendly and gave some amazing recommendations!! The sandwich was a nice touch. Very original and filling. Their potato salad was one of the better ones I've had in a long, long time. The vinegar slaw was great and original as well. Nicely done. The best part of this meal were the ribs. I have got to say that these were the best ribs I've ever had in my life. And, let me tell you... I've had a lot of ribs... the meat just melted off the bones. The flavor was next level. And, the proportions of meat to bone are ones I've never seen in my life, not even at a backyard barbecue. If you haven't been and are in the area, go check it out!!! You won't be disappointed. Ah-mazing!!!

BBQ ALERT...there's a new Texas BBQ joint in the hamlet of Bell Buckle, TN!!! I was walking around…read moreBell Buckle and as I rounded the corner I was stunned by the sweet scent of BBQ and could not resist entering Alley BBQ. I met Madilynn McReynolds at the counter whose smile lights up the room and was very welcoming. She told me they have been open for about 5 months and the smoker sits behind the restaurant. I can see where the name of the place comes from, it's about as big as an alley so seating is limited. I decided to go with the Cowboy Sampler and the sausage, brisket, and chicken option plus some beans and potato salad. The brisket is on point with a subtle smoke flavor, very tender, moist, and a nicely seasoned bark. The chicken was tender with a light smoke and the sausage had a nice pork flavor, not overly seasoned, and the casing was firm. I really enjoyed the potato salad, very different flavor as it included chunks and pieces of green olives, sadly I wasn't a fan of the beans. They also make their own BBQ sauce, a sweet & smoky flavor and really compliments the meat. I also met the McReynolds family...was a pleasure to talk BBQ with Jeremy and Crystal, wonderful folks who are intent on providing a good experience for their customers. Overall a solid offering of Texas style BBQ while the service and atmosphere is awesome.

This place is pretty good and the staff is super friendly! I love the hole in the wall vibes that…read morethis place gives off because they blend perfectly with the small town charm of Bell Buckle. I ordered 1/2 pound of brisket and it definitely hit the spot. There was a little more fat hanging on the edges than I typically like to see and the bark had an acrid taste to it, which made some bites less enjoyable. The brisket was super tender and juicy so that's always a good one. I'll definitely be back!

Literally. Terrible. Customer service wasn't great, the guy offered me and my husband things that…read morethey didn't have. Out of bread? Seriously. Food didn't even taste great. Very bland.

Back in the day, Whitt's BBQ was THE barbeque stop in North Alabama and southern middle Tennessee…read more But the quality today is nothing like it used to be. Sometimes the meat has some taste to it (and that's usually because they've added hot sauce to it) and sometimes it doesn't. Their vinegar slaw has always been good. But hey, I ain't ordering a pork sandwich just to taste the slaw. As for the staff, don't expect much there either. I've sat at the window a couple of minutes before waiting for a staff member to acknowledge me; that was the last time I went there, too. If you want to give them a try, go on a Wednesday when sandwiches are on special. Then decide for yourself if it's worth going back for.

In 2022, 85 championship teams from across the world convened in Lynchburg, TN to compete for the…read morecoveted title of "The Jack Grand Champion," and judging by their website the Grand Champion team receives a $25K check - not bad!!! my husband and I completed our training and received our Kansas City Barbecue Society [KCBS] BBQ judge's certification and were excited to attend [not judge but attend] our first BBQ competition! It's held annually in October and is such a lovely drive up to Lynchburg! Gary N did a great job of accurately capturing the "feel" of the event in his numerous photos posted here! There are a lot of vendors set up for this event selling eats, t-shirts, and more. There's a large, covered pavilion where the judging happens, and spectators can watch from bleachers. I don't recall the number of judges but I do recall at least one local "celebrity" newscaster among the judges. The Styrofoam containers for judging are deftly prepared and rushed to the judging area with immense intensity - it really is something to watch, and the "food runner" will scream at you to "get out of the way" if they need to! Others referenced free samples, which wasn't the case on our visit, except for the international area. No guests/visitors get samples of the competition BBQ to my knowledge. If you want lunch, you'll need to get something from the vendors. However, the international area competitors did offer us ample samples of their BBQ. They were all very friendly, too! The competition area is fairly spread out, so wear comfortable shoes and the entryway is sloped, so there's that. It's free as far as I know, and everyone should attend at least one championship BBQ competition - the Jack Daniels event is a well-run, fun one to attend.

The damp weather did not effect the day much, but you had to come prepared. One of the best things…read moreof this event is the Fall Peak colors as you drive in from any direction. Coming from Chattanooga area we chose to take the scenic drive down the old highway from Monteagle through Sewanee. As you arrive into town you can start seeing the smoke and smelling the BBQ. This is a very small town but everyone seems to be selling parking. $5-$10 mostly. We parked very close to downtown. The square is fully covered with tents and vendors as you walk in, live country music is playing. All the downtown shops are open and plenty to explore and see in the town. However, food is in our mind and we continue down to the food tents and competition area. Lots of free samples, but I did not see any from the competitors which was a disappointment. But still plenty to see and try. They also have food instructions, vendor demos, Etc I do wish they would move this so it is not the same weekend as Tennessee vs Alabama. We left early to catch the game as I am sure many do. At the least put a big screen up for the crowd. Lynchburg is a great small town and one you should visit. Jack Daniels is a short walk and free tour. Great day.

I took a trip up to Tullahoma last week for a change of pace after working in Belvidere. Piggy's…read morePlace wound up being my selection for lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit! I arrived for a fairly late meal (~1:45) so it wasn't super crowded. The parking lot is easy to access. There were a few people eating inside and several carryout orders that occurred during my visit. The inside is adorably decorated in your usual southern bbq joint style -- fun pig memorabilia and whatnot. They have a pretty large selection of bbq and an even larger selection of desserts. In retrospect, I definitely regret not getting a slice of cake or pie to go! I am usually a pulled pork girl, but it is pretty unusual to see smoked pulled chicken -- most places only do half or quarter birds -- and I like pulled chicken a lot, so I ventured out and ordered that! I got the smaller sized plate lunch, which comes with a piece of Texas toast and two sides. I went with curly fries and corn on the cob. Overall, the food was good! The pulled chicken was nice and smoky and the perfect serving size. It was a teeny bit dry but that's typical bbq chicken territory and nothing a good dash of creamy, peppery white bbq sauce couldn't fix. Good sauce! My corn on the cob wasn't super sweet -- probably not quite in season yet -- but it was cooked nicely and very juicy. The fries gave strooooong Arby's vibes such that I think they might actually *be* Arby's fries lol, but there's nothing wrong with that. Especially when they were cooked so fresh and came out hot and crispy! The toast was a lovely buttery companion and my sweet tea was on point. The service here though...THAT gets a 5/5, or really a 10/5 if such a thing were possible. I sometimes feel like southern hospitality is a myth or at least an oversimplification of southern social norms, but at this place it's real and sincere. The woman who took my order -- the owner, I later learned, having purchased the restaurant after years as an employee -- treated me and everyone else who walked in the doors with such warmth, kindness, interest, and attentiveness that it made my entire day. Truly everyone was made to feel so welcome. She catered to some older ladies who came in for a birthday, checked in on me in a nonjudgmental but caring way since I was by myself, and greeted regulars with a smile and by their name. She made the place feel like joy! Definitely give this place a go and enjoy the tasty food and wonderful folks. I'd happily return.

I was looking for A BBQ place that was near me and came across this little place . It's basically a…read morehouse with parking spots in front . No big sign or anything . They have 3-4 pulled meats that can come on a sandwich for 5 bucks or add a side for 3 bucks more . I got the pulled Porto sandwich with a side , was like 8 and change . With baked beans which were really good . The sandwich was a bit small and had to get another one . Usually sandwiches like these are over stuffed but these were kind of skimpy for me . Why o needed another one . Dinner then came out to like 13 bucks . And doesn't show it . The pulled pork sandwiches were very good but could have used more meat . They have assorted sauces on the side and if you want a fountain drink , yup it's more . Over all the service was good and the restaurant was empty when I went but the dinner crowd was starting to flow in. Would try it again as I didn't have their ribs . But it's mostly ala cart and no real deals .

Best brisket in this part of TN. Ribs, chicken, sausages all are great as well. Everything about…read morethis place is well worth your time and money. Sweet folks that appreciate their customers. Comfortable seating and air conditioning is just right for loading up on your favorite "Q".

Great little hole in the wall BBQ joint. Easily overlooked, but definitely worth the stop! The…read morestaff were extremely kind & helpful. I would absolutely recommend this place.