Community Q BBQ

Recommends

Druid Hills Dance Center, Bonni B.

Joined 1 year ago

5 star pulled pork and killer Mac & Cheese. We love Community Q! The pulled pork is so tasty and tender! I get the Mac & Cheese for dessert. We go just to see JP! Welcoming staff and great food.

Recommends

Bogie223

Joined 3 years ago

get the brisket, not the ribs. I grew up in St. Louis, so naturally the first time I went here I had to get the "St. Louis style" ribs. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. First of all, it was most decidedly NOT a St. Louis style preparation. St. Louis style ribs are actually submerged in bbq sauce in a roaster pan and simmered (look it up on wikipedia). This keeps the ribs wonderfully moist and the flavor of the sauce really penetrates the meat. However, the ribs I was served at Community Q had little to no sauce on them, and they were overcooked. The bark was too thick, and the meat was dry almost all the way to the bone. The sauce (provided in a bottle on the table) is a StL style sauce (tomato based, sweet and vinagery), but the ribs were not cooked in it. This almost kept me from coming back.

However, this place is right next to where I work, so I decided to give it a second chance. The second time I got the beef brisket, and it was delicious; tender, moist, smoky, awesome. As a side, I got the mac and cheese, which was absolutely delectable. That said, when I was about 3/4 of the way through the little bowl, I tipped it and about a tablespoon of pure oil ran out onto my plate. However, chances are if you're eating bbq, a little (or a LOT) of oil isn't going to scare you.

In conclusion, this place was good, but nothing really to write home about. Get the brisket and not the ribs (which they should really stop calling St. Louis style).

Recommends

Adam Johnson

Joined 3 years ago

My new favorite BBQ joint in Atlanta. As a resident of the Toco Hill(s) area, Community Q is my new local BBQ joint. The dudes that made Sam & Dave's a Marietta staple and who are coincidentally named Sam and Dave opened up shop in Decatur in late 2009.

In three visits, I've tried the St. Louis style ribs, the pork, and the brisket - and that's the order I would rank them. The ribs are tender and seasoned to perfection. The pork is charred just the right amount to give it a good smokey flavor without drying out the meat. The brisket is flavorful and tender for the most part, although I did run into a few pieces that were a tad dry on my most recent visit.

I don't know for sure if this is the best barbecue in Atlanta. What I do know is that it's pretty darn good, and if it's not the best, then my taste buds aren't refined enough to differentiate between the best and the really really good. Debating how Community Q ranks against the likes of Fox Bros., Daddy D'z, or Sprayberry's is like arguing about which of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders is the hottest. At the end of the day, most guys wouldn't kick any of them out of bed.

What really sets Community Q apart for me personally is the mac-n-cheese. It's not just good....it's inspiring...enlightening even. The juxtaposition of a crunchy top with a cheesy gooey bottom are only part of the story. For me, the difference maker is the rigatoni noodle, which is the perfect shape and size to be completely encompassed inside and out by the yummy goodness. I first tried Sam & Dave's version in Marietta a few years back, and it caused me to switch to rigatoni in my own homemade mac recipe. I thank them for showing me the way.

Doesn't Recommend

tj26

Joined 7 years ago

Decent Que but rude service. My hubby and I decided to try this place to see what all the fuss was about. I had actually been really excited to go as the reviews were raving, plus we are big foodies and very loyal to Fox Bros when it comes to BBQ.So we go in and the 1st thing I noticed is that the sandwiches are a la carte. For 6.50 you only get the meat on two pieces of texas toast. The sides were an additional $2. I went for the brisket sandwich and mac and cheese. The portions were kinda small but tasted good. Good brisket, dry at times but the mac was great, only wish I had more of it.For $11 hubby ordered the combo meats plate which was the exact same portion as my brisket sandwich with one extra side, very disappointing. His food tasted good, especially the greens. But again, small portions, especially for a $25 lunch. Perhaps most dismaying was the lack of customer service we experienced. We observed the owner speaking to and greeting most other patrons, except us. He helped clear the table of a young family sitting right next to us and never bothered to ask us if we needed anything, as I had seen him do with everyone else. Dont wanna play the race card but it came to mind. Even as we walked out and left a tip, he failed to acknowledge us with a "thanks for coming" even though he was standing nearby. Needless to say this put a very bad taste in my mouth to an otherwise decent lunch. I wont be back.

Recommends

highwaysofgold

Joined 6 years ago

Best BBQ (and Banana Pudding) in the South!. Community Q is the best BBQ joint in Atlanta! They're always friendly, and the food is delish! I love that everything is cooked daily and the leftovers (if there are any!) are donated to the food bank. And for once, there's a BBQ place that recognizes the importance of sides! They're an afterthought at most places, but not here. Everything's homemade, and, believe me, it makes all the difference! Try the banana pudding - it's heavenly.

Recommends

Jonathan Baker

Joined 6 years ago

Well-rounded and easily likeable barbecue in Decatur.. In Short
A sister spot to the uber-popular Sam & Dave’s in Marietta, Community is you’re typical better-than-average Atlanta fusion ‘cue. Smoked pork shoulder is pink with charred tips and the accompanying vinegar-based sauce will delight those who aren’t North Carolina sauce connoisseurs. In similar style, pork ribs get a St. Louis treatment and brisket gets accompanied with a sweet Kansas City sauce. It lacks unique identity on all accounts but executes well enough to elevate above most in-town barbecue joints. Hand-cut fries get sprinkled with barbecue seasoning and uber-rich mac ‘n’ cheese (boasting thick rigatoni noodles) is gooey but crisps nicely up top. The Brunswick stew falls a bit flat, and the serving dishes (cookie sheets) are strange and out of place, but overall for an ITP barbecue spot, Community gets the basics right.