Fat Matt's Rib Shack

(404) 607-1622

1811 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30324 33.8048 -84.3673

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Neighborhoods: Piedmont Heights, Northeast, Northeast

FATMATTSRIBSHACK.COM

Price:

$

Last updated 8.06.11

Category:

Restaurants, Barbecue Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Live Music, Brunch, Cheap Eats, Outdoor Dining

Smoking Permitted:

no

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – This rib joint is good, noisy honky-tonk fun courtesy of long communal tables and a decent stable of local blues acts. Inside, a Mount Rushmore-esque blues legends mural competes for your attention with the beer selection shelf and some splashy cartoon renditions of ribs and baked beans. Outside there's the patio-in-a-parking-lot routine, good for the ozone-loving boulevardier in every Atlantan. Drink some beer, eat some ribs, talk to strangers, make new friends. – – The Food – Fat Matt's at its best is a cinderblock temple to the pork rib. Available by the…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
If you see it, grab a slice of homemade sweet potato pie for a taste of Southern goodness.
ambiance
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. “Iknow alot of people eat here because of the location, alot of the good BBQ places are off the beaten path, do yourself a favor & steer clear of this place.”
  2. “If you want good food, and a fun time with friends, thats the place to go.”
  3. “Very relaxed atmosphere which is nice at times compared to the uptight 'Midtown' crowd places.”
  4. “Next door you'll find the fish and chicken shack and while the atmosphere is not so hot, the food is just as good.”
  5. “Seating was comfortable, my son enjoyed it!”
  6. “The atmosphere was cool, but the ribs were, quite simply, not good true southern barbecue.”
  7. “Anyway, Fat Matts was fun.”
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The ribs were excellent as well as the pulled pork sandwich and their beer selection was really great.”
  2. “Food was mediocre, the only thing that was decent was the beer and the band.”
  3. “but if you are in atlanta and crave good bar-b-q at a non-commercial place.”
food quality
82.6099967956543% positive
  1. “some of the best Mac and Cheese I have ever tasted), sweet potato casserole/souffle 10, Baked Beans 9, Ice Tea 10, BBQ Sauce 8.5.”
  2. “love eating there, food is great and you do it all your self.”
  3. “Next door you'll find the fish and chicken shack and while the atmosphere is not so hot, the food is just as good.”
  4. “The prices are pretty decent for the amount of food you get.”
  5. “The food is good, but not the best BBQ in Atlanta.”
  6. “The beans were very good with the hint of rum.”
  7. “liked the sauce and bought a bottle to take home.”
  8. “There was no smoky taste, they were fatty, stringy, and limp, and the sauce just wasn't very good.”
  9. “The ribs were excellent as well as the pulled pork sandwich and their beer selection was really great.”
  10. “Yes, the sauce is very vinagery, but this is a good think.”
  11. “The Ribs slide off the bone, the fries are excellent and next door at Fat's Chicken shack you can get great chicken nuggets and fish.”
  12. “If you want good food, and a fun time with friends, thats the place to go.”
  13. “We were only in town for a couple of days and I went there to try the famous bbq.”
  14. “really good rips and chicken, If you like local bluse bands and crowded spaces this is the place to be.”
  15. “Great Ribs, great brunswick stew, but the copped pork sandwich and the baked beans are the best in Atlanta and I have tried them all.”
  16. “Coming from Texas I was looking for a place that would serve good smoked meats and was highly disappointed.”
  17. “and the hushpuppies at the chicken shack are awesome too.”
  18. “They're heads above the mediocre side dishes offered at the rib shack.”
  19. “Most dates on the calendar are filled with authentic pickers, young and old.”
  20. “When you place an order, they throw the boiled ribs on the grill, slather that terrible sauce on them, and brown them.”
  21. “The ribs are tender, the chicken is juicy and the sandwiches are perfect.”
  22. “After reading all the other reviews, I am wondering if it is me or my taste in good food.”
  23. “The sauce is divine and the meat on the ribs I've tried has been falling-off-the-bone tender.”
  24. “The beans are great too and so is the live music.”
  25. “It has the juiciest, most delicious pulled pork sandwich in town (this from a.”
  26. “The food is amazing.”
  27. “But the food is terrific.”
  28. “Bottom line is just plain good, tasty food at a decent price.”
  29. “Love the sauce however.”
  30. “Nevertheless, by the time I left Atlanta (1995) some of the cons began to emerge: inconsistent quality in the food, large crowds, long lines, etc. which is too bad for FM and barbecue lovers.”
  31. “Ended up eating 2 slabs and a combo plate with chicken that was also good!”
  32. “go to FM every time I visit, and despite their shortcomings, they still have the best bbq around.”
  33. “The service is terrible, the food is average at best.”
  34. “The rum beans were good - had a little kick in them.”
  35. “while it is not the best dish on the menu, it IS sweet!”
  36. “The food is really great, HOWEVER.”
  37. “For lunches I would suggest the pulled pork BBQ sandwiches.”
  38. “Messy and delicious, this restaurant is NOT for vegetarians - but if you're in the mood for some tasty ribs or just delicious barbeque, nothing in Atlanta beats Fat Matts!”
  39. “not the best ever, but certainly worth any bbq lover's attention.”
  40. “If you like bbq and haven't been, you gott.”
  41. “The ribs would be wonderful without a single drop of sauce.”
  42. “had been to many places in and around Atlanta and I always went back to FM because I prefer tender ribs, not the tree bark ribs I've had at "authentic" bbq places.”
  43. “The mediocre entertainment held much more appeal than the food.”
  44. “Flavorful, tasty, and not dry.”
  45. “Yes, at times they can be slow, and the place can be noisy, but Ive' eaten in 4 star restaurants that sufferred the same problem and at times, the food wasn't good either.”
  46. “Contrary to quite a few reviews, the staff was friendly (maybe because they knew we were from out of town) and the food was better than average.”
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The ribs were excellent as well as the pulled pork sandwich and their beer selection was really great.”
  2. “Inside though you will find the best ribs in Atlanta and the rest of the menu isn't too shabby either.”
  3. “while it is not the best dish on the menu, it IS sweet!”
overall
95.0% positive
  1. “make it a point to go to the best barbecue restaurant(s) whenever I go somewhere, and Fat Matt's is generally a name I saw listed as one of the best.”
  2. “The live music is good but it can be loud in the small place.”
  3. “really good rips and chicken, If you like local bluse bands and crowded spaces this is the place to be.”
  4. “but if you are in atlanta and crave good bar-b-q at a non-commercial place.”
  5. “Actually, probably my favorite restaurant in Atlanta.”
  6. “If you want good food, and a fun time with friends, thats the place to go.”
  7. “When it opened it was the best place for ribs.”
  8. “For a night of great BBQ and blues, there is no other place in town.”
  9. “It's a great place to go with a group and do just that (eat & hang out to hear the band).”
  10. “Iknow alot of people eat here because of the location, alot of the good BBQ places are off the beaten path, do yourself a favor & steer clear of this place.”
service
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. “The servers aren't very friendly either.”
  2. “Contrary to quite a few reviews, the staff was friendly (maybe because they knew we were from out of town) and the food was better than average.”
  3. “Staff is friendly.”
  4. “The chop and the stew are very good, however, and the service is always great.”
  5. “Iknow alot of people eat here because of the location, alot of the good BBQ places are off the beaten path, do yourself a favor & steer clear of this place.”
  6. “Terrible, terrible, terrible service!”
  7. “The service is terrible, the food is average at best.”
  8. “Bad service!”
  9. “The service is very fast and I wobbled out with a big smile!”
value
95.0% positive
  1. “Fat Matt's, however, is very convenient and the prices are good.”
  2. “The prices are pretty decent for the amount of food you get.”
  3. “Bottom line is just plain good, tasty food at a decent price.”
  4. “tried daddy d'z and saw a huge r a t run inside while we were eating.”
  5. “If you are looking to eat great BBQ with great brew at ridiculously low prices, I highly suggest Fat Matts!”
  6. “am also a huge fan of BBQ, ribs especially.”
  7. “Excellent value for what you get.”
  8. “The ribs are huge, meaty, and succulent.”
  9. “not the best ever, but certainly worth any bbq lover's attention.”
  10. “The Ribs are fall of the bone tender and the full portion is huge.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Yes, at times they can be slow, and the place can be noisy, but Ive' eaten in 4 star restaurants that sufferred the same problem and at times, the food wasn't good either.”
  2. “prefer slow smoked ribs, but I would eat here again if in the area.”
  3. “Nevertheless, by the time I left Atlanta (1995) some of the cons began to emerge: inconsistent quality in the food, large crowds, long lines, etc. which is too bad for FM and barbecue lovers.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/17/10

AMAZING

by shert at Citysearch

Amazing bbq and amazing price! The pulled pork sandwich is delicious and comes with chips. I always order a side of either baked beans or potato salad and both are tasty. It can sometimes be hard to get seating, but it's definately worth the trip!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/18/10

a taste of Southern atmosphere

by emmiliawhite411 at Citysearch

A place to spend on good old barbeque, beer and good music.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/02/10

good bbq

by thickredhair at Citysearch

Had a couple ones i was going to give to the musician performing at lunch, guy who was checking on us and refilling our drink/clearing after us nearly picked it up, saw the money and thanked meand i said, 'this is for the musican, don't worry i tipped you when i paid', he said that they didn't get the tips, so be sure if you tip to tip cash!!!

  • Pros: love the bbq sandwich
  • Cons: can be crowded
3 Star Rating: Average

02/25/10

Live Blues Make This Place Swing

by ryansims at Citysearch

Though not re-inventing the wheel when it comes to the food, the main draw of Fat Matt's is the live blues music played nightly. Most dates on the calendar are filled with authentic pickers, young and old. Super-sweet tea washes down pulled pork sandwiches, crispy-charred rib plates, and cups of brunswick stew. Served with disposable plates and cutlery, you get the feeling you aren't in the heart of Atlanta, rather some rib joint parked in Anytown, U.S.A. - and I mean that as a compliment. Pictures adorn the walls of past guests and local legends who have graced the room. Be careful when parking to find an approved spot, as many neighboring businesses will tow.

  • Pros: Great Place To See Some Blues
  • Cons: It's tiny
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/21/09

fatty boiled ribs.... no thanks

by ElvisJackson at Citysearch

been many times over the years at friends' insistence. Very inconsistent fatty boiled ribs. One day good, the next day awful. Love the sauce however. One more thing...very loud and uncomfortable if band is playing. Don't know why all the hipsters love this place so much.

  • Pros: good sauce

The Details on Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • best bbq
  • best place
  • overrated barbeque
  • worst smoked ribs
  • divine sauce
  • fun fat matts
  • terrible service
  • favorite barbecue restaurant
  • pretty decent prices
  • good chicken
  • great live blues music
  • suggest pork bbq sandwiches
  • not dry flavorful
  • very overrated babeque
  • authentic bbq places
  • nice atmosphere
  • friendly staff
  • great brew
  • loud live music
  • very fast service
  • great brunswick stew
  • most delicious pulled pork sandwich
  • great beans
  • best bbq ribs
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