We LOVE finding new neighborhood spots, and while exploring East Lake in Atlanta, we stumbled upon Gene's BBQ. Let me tell you... this place is officially a new ATL favorite! The vibe, the food, the drinks... all on another level. And I will absolutely be dreaming about those sticky ribs until we can go back. We started the night with some frozen beverages, and my favorite was the Watermelon Crawl -- tequila, fresh cantaloupe and watermelon, lime and salt. So refreshing and absolutely perfect for a hot Atlanta night! We shared the 3-meat BBQ plate, and the sides were every bit as delicious as the mains. The brisket practically melted in your mouth, and the cheddarwurst was smoky, cheesy goodness. The smashed potato salad tossed in Alabama white sauce was the perfect mix of tangy, creamy and vinegar-y. Everyone was so kind and the service was excellent! We will definitely be back to try more delicious menu items read more

We didn't go to genes for a while when they opened because we were worried about the line and wait to get in - but once we learned the trick (go on any day but Saturday night) we regularly come in for their pimento cheese and barbecue. We love the down to earth feel, and the portions are a great value for the money in our experience - we have never left hungry! read more

I genuinely enjoyed my recent experience at Gene's. I went on a Sunday around 4 and it wasn't very crowded. I was solo and decided to sit at the bar. I was greeted promptly. To start, I ordered a frozen cocktail called the bushwacker. It contained rum and coffee liqueur and was quite delicious, For my entree, so chose the combo meat plate with ribs and brisket. It came with two sides and I chose the fries and coleslaw. The brisket was SO good and tender. The ribs were tender and flavorful as well. I enjoyed the coleslaw and fries as well. They have three different types bbq sauces. My favorite was the boss sauce. Every single staff member that I encountered was so pleasant and welcoming. I will be returning soon for more or their delicious bbq. read more

See all

Food was fantastic. Service was wonderful. The vibe was a cool punk artsy dive bar. Will definitely be back read more

Gene's - Inside of restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

See all

This was my first food stop while in town visiting and it definitely didn't disappoint. Well, they sold out of brisket before I got to try any, so that was a little disappointing lol -- but no, what I got was so good that I literally ordered a second plate to go! The dry rub ribs were perfectly flavorful without being overly fatty, and the trio of bbq sauces were sublime. Having authentic collared greens in Atlanta was an item off my foodie bucket list, and to top it all off they were very knowledgeable and accommodating of my gluten and dairy allergy. I'd definitely go back if I ever had the opportunity! read more

Gene's - Pulled pork, ribs, collared greens, beet salad - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Cute place. Friendly staff. I ordered the ribs and it was absolutely amazing. The sides are also tasty.

So so happy I finally came to Gene's!! I didn't realize it was BBQ to be honest but was super happy to see the menu. And the number one takeaway I have from this place is that we have to come back! We showed up on Friday night around 8pm and we definitely waited a bit for a table around 30 minutes or so. Its like first come first serve and theres not a huge system for getting a table but it works out! Once seated the meal was great! I loved that they had trivial pursuit cards on the table as that made the meal so much fun! I got a genesicle without alcohol and that was such a fun and yummy drink! I definitely recommend. We also got some of the brisket beignets which was such a fun appetizer and delicious. The star of the show was the main meal though. With a friend I shared the brisket sandwich with mac and cheese and the shrimp roll with potato salad. The shrimp roll was super fresh and delicious and had tons of shrimp. The potato salad was slo great. The brisket sandwich was also great and I kind of loved that it didn't come with BBQ sauce because I enjoyed the vinegar sauce. The mac and cheese was also delicious but to me it needed some sharper cheese. To finish the meal we got some of the banana pudding and I don't like banana pudding but I really enjoyed this one!! (Probably because it wasn't too banana flavor but more creamy and I loved the biscoff pieces!) A delicious meal and a such a great spot to spend a Friday night. 10/10 read more

See all

Delicious bbq! I got the pulled pork plate and my partner got the brisket plate, both came with a generous amount of meat; and the two sides filled the rest of the tray! Definitely recommend the Mac and cheese and the waffle fries sides. I personally really enjoyed the food, but the seasoning plus fixin's were not traditional (felt more "new age"), so it's not the best choice if you're looking for something more southern / soul food. However, no matter what, it was delicious. Servers were also so kind and nice, though service was a little sporadic. read more

Gene's - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I've passed this place several times and have been talking about trying it forever so I was super excited. It's super cute on the inside and the service was pretty good. The food was just kind of bad. I went in hungry after not really eaten today and I left almost just as hungry but with a hurt stomach. We got the pit master friens with brisket, brisket sandwich, and Philly cheesesteak. My bun on the sandwich was too roasted and somehow overpowered the taste of the brisket and sauce. I can't really explain why it was bad, it just was, and ruined my appetite. Super dissapointed, maybe I'd come back to get a drink at the bar. read more

Gene's - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

See all

I absolutely loved this place. Cool and quirky. Also felt clean ! Service was great, the server recommended so many good things to do on our trip to Atlanta. Decor was so amazing. Even the bathrooms were a work of art. The food was delicious. We got the shrimp roll, Mac and cheese, smoked chicken , turnip greens and coleslaw. The dessert was banana pie. It was all yummy . Came to the table very quickly too. We stayed in the area and walked to genes. read more

See all

Saw this place on TikTok and was in the car within 10 mins to try. We loved it! Service was very kind, and quick to answer all questions. We loved the fusion of flavors. Our highlights were the meats: smoked wings, pulled pork, brisket (with the flaky salt), and the bahn mi. Also loved the banana pudding with a cinnamon kick! Loved the food and vibes. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

I love that this place lists what is vegetarian and vegan for a BQ place and that it is vegetarian friendly. However, I was a little disappointed with the service where we had to wait for a long time for the server to take order. I got tofu bahn mi with a side of waffle fries. which was delicious. I wish it was less breaded and it definitely filled me up and their portion was generous. Friends got a meat plate with two sides one of then being collard greens and that ended up being my favorite at the end of the day. read more

See all

Looks like a bar but operates more like a restaurant. Like the emphasis seems to be on food, you don't really see a lot of people at the bar. Very cool atmosphere, and good drinks. The food is also very good, but it's simply too expensive for me to go here consistently. I live fairly close and would love to make this my go to bar for a quick drink or hanging with friends, but to be a neighbors bar you can't charge $15 for a cocktail. Staff is really nice though. read more

We can't believe we didn't know about Gene's when we lived in Old Fourth Ward. Crazy how just moving a couple miles changes where you explore the city. Anyway, Gene's is now a regular spot for us. If you're lucky, you can find a spot in their parking lot and walk in the back door; if not, there is street parking. We have that in all the different areas of the restaurant. We prefer the bar cause it's usually just my husband and me, but when friends or our fuebaby join us, we have sat outside and in the booth in the front room, where you can see into the kitchen. My favorite drink is the Bushwhacker. It's like a mix between a milkshake and an espresso martini. I can only have a couple of these, so if I drink another beverage, it's usually a vodka soda. My husband enjoys their variety of gin. I like that everyone helps everyone out. Service-wise, you have a main server, but other people will stop by and help you if you need it I like their wings. I've tried multiple sauces, but my favorite is the fish caramel sauce with ranch dressing. My husband loves the ribs. We usually get the slaw and the fantastic, delicious mac and cheese. The mac and cheese is very cheesy, with some nice breadcrumbs on top. read more

See all

Came to Gene's for dinner and there is a free parking lot in the back and street parking which is always nice. We were sat almost immediately with no wait and service was great. Absolutely loved the vibes and decor of this place and service was so friendly. We ordered the fish sauce wings, 3 meat plate with brisket, ribs, and cheddarwurst, and the banana pudding. The fish sauce wings were good but not as fish saucy as I would think they should be. You could hardly tell these were fish sauce wings at all! Still good! The 3 meat platter was huge and we got waffle fries and mac and cheese. The waffle fries were amazing - definitely get these. The mac and cheese tasted like elevated box mac and cheese which I liked! The brisket was my favorite meat and I found the ribs to be fine. The cheddarwurst I didn't love as there was some seasoning to it that was no my favorite. The table has a few good sauces for your meats! The platter comes with tortillas which I didn't love but my friend did. The banana pudding was AMAZING! Even if you don't like banana pudding, it is a must get. The only downside was the nilla wafer garnishes smelled and tasted of garlic!! They likely absorbed the smell of garlic from the kitchen, but otherwise sooo good! I really liked Gene's and see myself coming back to try the other meats or sandwiches or a drink or two! read more

See all

We got the three meat plate Pulled pork, ribs and brisket. Mac n cheese and potato salad Good price for what you get. The meats were all good. The Mac was delicious. I didn't like the potato salad though The picked veg was tasty and so where the tortillas Beautiful crust on the brisket- it was tender and juicy too The pulled pork was really good too read more

Gene's - Three meat plate. Pulled pork, ribs and brisket. Mac and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I love the vibes at Gene's! Kitschy and eccentric decor, creative bbq plates, and tasty cocktails- including frozen dacs of all sorts. Always a good time! read more

I've visited Gene's twice. Once on a quiet Sunday early evening and recently on a packed Friday night. The Sunday early evening was better. The best thing about Gene's is the vibe; it's a very feel-good space. My first visit was takeout - a small gumbo with potato salad, mississippi slaw and banana pudding. I had a small portion of gumbo which had a lot of turkey that tasted great, and the warm bit of potato salad tasted really good. My portion of gumbo was missing vegetables though, no okra, peppers, nothing. It was broth and turkey only. The mississippi slaw was fantastic. I love slaws and this mustard-based one was a surprise. I plan to make it for myself at home. The banana pudding was a disappointment; it was too fluffy, as if it had been whipped a bit too much. And flavor-wise, it was just sweet, not much banana or cookie in my portion. My second visit was dine in - brisket with potato salad and collard greens. I love the tortillas as the bread option, and I'm a sucker for pickled peppers and they were great. But the brisket was a huge disappointment. It looked so good but had no flavor. I was soooo sad about it! The potato salad tasted better warm (see gumbo above). The collards were the driest I've ever had, and this was not a bad thing; just different. The flavor on the collards was good, and I enjoyed the crispy garlic on top. I've had the frozen margarita and hurricane cocktails. The margarita was okay, but the hurricane was really good. But as much as I liked the Hurricane, $14 for a frozen drink is crazy. The people working here have an easy vibe. I've encountered a few of them, and all interactions were positive. Gene's must be a decent place to work. On my second visit, I stayed to eat and the person taking orders up front asked if I was dining alone and then left to see if they had a "space" for me. I knew there were empty tables, but I'm guessing that the person didn't want a solo diner taking a table. I hate this kind of policy (aka solo diners should sit at the bar only), and I don't use "hate" lightly. I sat at the bar but I had an attitude about it. At least the bar chairs have backs. The parking lot is small and easily fills up (other restaurants are in the same building.) There is also street parking available. I gave Gene's three stars because 3.5 isn't an option, I'm not a fan of that solo dining situation, the food is hit or miss and the price point for some things is a bit much. read more

Gene's - brisket with fresh herbs, pickled peppers, tortillas, collard greens and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Really great food! the workers were nice and we didn't have to wait. I really enjoyed the tortillas with my bbq, I thought that was a really nice touch read more

Gene's - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

For the 4th of July, my wife and I wanted Bbq. We first went to community q and before we got in the door, they told us they were out of meat. Dang. It's 2:00pm ? Their food is good. My wife found Gene's and it was a new spot for us and we said let's do it !!!!! When we first walked in, we were like OKAYYY! This has a nice funky vibe to it and we could smell the bbq. They also provide d grilled tortillas ( bomb). Not your traditional southern bbq place. This is an American Southern, Cajun and Vietnamese cuisine. That's right !!! THE FOOD WAS THE BOMB.......the drinks are off the chain!!! We will be coming back ( 50 minute drive from my house ) The staff are super friendly and the patio is chill. Come on out and give it a try. read more

Gene's - The combo meat plate was more than enough for me. - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

The spot is chill. It's got a dive bar plus hipster vjbe. We went on a weekend night and it was busy but we were seated almost immediately. The food and service was slow though. We ordered the meat plate, tofu banh mi and sides of waffle fries, mac and ch3ese, collard greens and slaw. Portions were generous but everything tasted average. It's good spot to hang with friends but there's better bbq in town by a mile. Also do not.get the banana pudding. Not good, too artifical sweet tasting read more

See all

Okay, it's a BBQ joint, only it's so much more! This spot was fantastic from the atmosphere to the service to the food. They cosplay as a dive bar, but they provide high-quality food and cocktails. They are the sister restaurant to Kimball House and it shows in their service. Pro tip: order the banana pudding! read more

This place was so cute and the food was amazing!! This is our second time in Atlanta visiting some family and they wanted to show us a new BBQ spot. Absolutely did not disappoint! I'm a huge fan of Asian flavors so I loved the subtle inclusions like cilantro and fish sauce to the dishes. The Asian flavors aren't super pronounced, but if you know it's there you can really appreciate the fusion of it! Highly recommend the brisket (#1 favorite for me), ribs (boyfriend's favorite), and the waffle fries (arguably the best side dish we had during our trip. 11/10 crunchy crispy seasoned fries). Will note that the potato salad was more on the mustardy side if you care at all (I do). Also the drinks and the server were amazing on top of it all. Definitely the spot to try! read more

See all

Healthy and rich in flavor! Service was great and love the ambiance. Will be back soon! read more

Gene's - Wedge Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

We live down the street and we love this local spot for good food and cocktails!!!!!! We needed a place like this in east lake !!!

The server was extremely uneducated on the menu. Any time we asked a question she said she didn't know or just guessed. We asked how much meat came on the brisket plate she was said "6-12oz I think". Big difference. Then She came back and said 6. I said ok so what if I get a 2 meat plate. She said "idk maybe half that". I asked her to confirm and she just responded "yeah probably just half" Which to me seemed off. But after going back and forth we just avoided the multiple meat plates. We ordered the kids food almost immediately and during a slow time. (Not even 1/4 full restaurant) it still took 40 mins to make 2 kids quesadillas with the worst premade mac and cheese ever. The noodles were over cooked, it was just a mushy clump. No texture or differentiating parts to the noodles. Just tasted like they ground up cheetos, mixed with Water for the "cheese sauce" and poured it over putty shaped noodles. We also ordered the ribs and fish sauce wings. And while labeled as basically the same the flavors were extremely different. The wings weren't horrible, at least edible. The ribs were super tough, dry, and extremely salty. Seemed they were cooked way too fast and dried out and didn't break down to get tender. When the server eventually came back we ordered a brisket sandwich and a pork bahn mi to avoid the meat amount portion issue. And explained the rib/mac issues. For sides we got the wedge salad and fries. The wedge salad was about as mediocre as you could expect and they made no effort in removing the core. I guess they took "wedge" to the fullest. The fries were par cooked as they were hot but far from crispy. Which leads me to the bahn mi sandwich which the bread was so hard I couldn't even bite it. Had they added that extreme crunch to the fries and softer bread it might have been edible. But unfortunate it wasn't. The brisket sandwich ended up being 60% fat for almost $20. Again like the ribs and every other dish it was all rushed. No attention to detail or trimming the brisket for a more enjoyable cut on the point side. The meat alone is marbled a 2in fat cap when served on a sandwich is unacceptable. We didn't take more than maybe 1 bite from each item and waited about 10-15 mins for the server to come by which during that time I reached out on ig sending over a picture of the brisket. Attempting to resolve it directly with the restaurant. The kitchen manager came out after talking to the server and acted as if he understood. Agreed fish sauce ribs are very salty/tough which part of being a good restaurant is taking those ingredients and knowing how to balance them out to make them taste more palatable. He offered to heat up more food but at that point we were tired and just couldn't see how the food would be any better that day. If the ribs are tough you can't fix that in 15 mins. If you agree the ribs are salty you're not making fresh sauce to resolve it and balance the flavor. As well as not making fresh Mac and cheese. It's being scooped out of a hotel pan that's probably made 2-3 days in advance. He claimed most people love the food and eat it all with no issue. But the 3 tables outside all took a few bites and requested boxes. If I'm enjoying my food I'm eating all If it or at least lost of it. So it's hard to believe most people love it. I think it's just location based and they are so active on social media it sells the impression they are busy and very good. Later the (I assume) owner responded on ig messenger apologizing and saying he wasn't at the store he was at an event. States to let him know next time I want to come in with the family and he would make it right. I explained I lived over an hour away so usually not I've there but made a special trip to try the food. 4 days later I found out id be in the area for work and reached out on ig again letting him know I'd be over there that id be happy to grab food to go to take home to the family for us to try since i would be at work and we wouldn't all be available. At that point he stopped responding and avoided me. read more

Gene's - Brisket that's mostly fat - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Traveled from Virginia thinking of what we could eat that's good in the ATL. This place was outstanding, the food was some of the BBQ I have had down here, the service was great and helpful with selections. This place ranks up there with the big names but has most of them beat. Try it you'll love it... BSG, VA fans of the big G read more

It's not traditional barbecue, but it's fabulous in its own way. We tried a lot of things, but our favorites were the brisket with the tortillas, the potato salad, the chili oil carrots, and the fish sauce wings. Our server was really nice, and I personally really loved the character of the decorations! It felt so cute in there. I'll definitely be back. But again, definitely don't come in expecting traditional barbecue! It's completely different and delicious in its own right read more

My fiancée and I stopped in late. They would typically be closed but one of the owners was having a birthday party and they welcomed us in. It was our first time in Atlanta and due to the holiday weekend - most food spots were closed. With nowhere to go we heard music and decided to head in. The waitress was super nice and we felt right at home. The birthday guy even shared a slice of his cake with us! The food was amazing. I'm picky with my sandwiches but it reminded me of a pork sandwich from back home in PR. Amazing drinks, food, service, and atmosphere. Thank you for a wonderful time. read more

A snarky dive bar all done up to look like a true Cajun hootenanny, Gene's is a great new neighborhood spot. We stopped in on a weeknight and were pleased by this spot's punk-meets-po'boy aesthetic and menu. We started with a couple delicious margaritas served up by the friendly bartender and followed that up with a delicious and generous vodka martini. For snacks, we couldn't pass up sharing the nice vegan banh mi (a Viet-Cajun shoutout), although their menu of bbq goodies looked equally as delicious. A great spot for elevated drinks and unassuming eats, Gene's is a winner. read more

Overall, really loved the food and vibe and for sure would go back. We sat at the bar and the service was pretty solid. Could have been a little more attentive at the beginning but over all sufficient service. For drinks - every drink we got was great, strong, and came out fast. They batch make their drinks which I am all good with as long as they are good and strong, which was the case. For food - we got the wings, 3 meat (brisket, chicken, and ribs) and two sides (potato salad, mac and cheese) platter. The brisket melted in my mouth, the chicken was HUGE , perfectly spiced , and came with a great Alabama white sauce. The ribs were also great and fell off the bone. The wings were very solid. The Mac and cheese had great flavor and I'm still dreaming about the potato salad (as someone who is picky about potato salad). As for the vibes, eclectic New Orleans theme with memorable character read more

Gene's - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Fire oysters&Sticky Ribs are the best. Customer service is very friendly. Cole slaw tasty.

I went here on Saturday 12/21/2024 for the first time. This place popped up on my feed recently and I saw that they have a delicious banana pudding. The reputation proceeds this entree. I also got a 6pc lemon pepper Wings with blue cheese. My bro got a three meat plate ribs,brisket and chicken with Mac and cheese and potatoe salad. The wings are delicious also the blue cheese. read more

Gene's - 6pc lemon pepper Wings with blue cheese and banana pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Give Chase a raise lol! He was friendly and helpful! (: Food was great! I got the shrimp roll (highly recommend) and potato salad. Bf got pulled pork sandwich and mac & cheese which he enjoyed. The banana pudding, which we split, is as good as everyone says; lots of cookie and banana in there. They don't have a lot of options for soda or sides and it's a little on the pricier side, but we still enjoyed everything and it was satisfying. The music was very nice, great picks + not too loud, and the lighting in the place was pleasant rather than garish or flourescent. We got a comfy booth. The decor is super fun. The bathrooms are very accessible and at least one of them has a blacklight so your clothes glow, lol! read more

See all

Some of the best barbecue I've had! A cool spot in east lake. Very casual. Just order at the counter and find a spot. They bring the food out when it's ready. You order drinks at the front counter too. They do also have staff walking around once you are seated if you want more drinks/food/etc so you don't have to go back up to the front counter to order again. We sat on the back patio and it was perfect for a nice fall day. They have a pretty big cocktail menu with quite a few yummy frozen options. We got the frozen marg and the bushwacker. Both were really good! We ordered the pulled pork plate with slaw and Mac as well as an egg roll. The pulled pork was amazing! So flavorful. I loved their take on slaw too! So unique and absolutely delicious. The Mac was super creamy and tasty. I'll be back for the biscoff banana pudding! read more

See all

I stopped in after work on Tuesday for a quick bite. The atmosphere was quiet and welcoming. The bartender, who was also serving, was very attentive and quick to bring me a menu and a drink. I ordered tacos and they were really good. I'll definitely be back next time to try the barbecue read more

Ordered the Crispy Pork Banh Mi with waffles fries, so good. Place is always busy during weekend nights but honestly it's worth the wait.

"GOTO" items on the menu is the smoked chicken, ribs, potato salad, and greens! Service awesome!

Holy Cow - Gene's blew me away! We stopped by around 5:45 pm on a Wednesday and it was already busy. We were able to grab 2 seats at the bar. We ordered drinks and looked over the menu. The 3 meat combo plate with 2 sides jumped out as a good opportunity to taste the menu. We opted for pulled pork, brisket, and chicken skewers with corn and green goddess potato salad. The plate was served with delicious handmade tortillas, fresh herbs and pickled veggies. It was so good! The chicken skewers had an Asian flair, and I thought they were delicious. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! read more

Saw this place on TikTok and I was immediately hooked when I saw Jell-O shots on the menu! I had no idea what to really expect here, but I think in hindsight there was a method to the madness. This is definitely a casual spot, a good place to stop and have a casual dinner before going out! Gene's gets pretty packed on the weekend and if you plan to come on a weekend there will be a line. However, they have a system to where you wait about 30 minutes in line (if it's packed) and while you're waiting you order your drink in line. I think this was smart and kind of helps pass the time while waiting. Once you get inside , you'll order at the counter! Unfortunately, they were out of some of the items I saw online that I was really excited to try, so I would probably get there earlier if there's something you're eyeing. My friends and I got the two meat plate. The ribs were the star of the show for me. I felt the Brisket could've had a little more flavor, but the sauce options are delicious! I wasn't super impressed with the sides, but they weren't bad! I liked the Macaroni & Cheese the most! I think the portions are good to share with someone else! The star of the show for me was this frozen drink called the "Buschwaker" , it was sweet and had a malt flavor. It was really good! read more

See all