Harold's Barbecue

12/01/08

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE, MAYBE they WERE the best at one time, but as of today, worst BBQ we have eaten.

by JoeCal at Citysearch

We drove a good distance arriving shortly after lunch. We ordered their "SPECIALTY" Pork Ribs only to find out they were completely out! I guess you might say that says a lot about their ribs and/or you need to do a better job of having more of your "specialty product AVAILABLE". Anyway we ended up going with what we thought would be the next best thing: Chopped Pork Plate & Sliced Beef Plate. Both the Pork & Beef were extremely dry and beef slices were more like beef jerky. Furthermore, the meats were completely lacking in any type of smoked/great bbq flavor. When we advised the waitress, her response was "they must have over microwaved it ?" GREAT, just what we need to hear at a BBQ restaurant! I then told the Manager about my beef his response was "we specialize in pork", wow that would have been nice to know before I ordered it, or better yet, why even have it on the menu? His response was followed up with "well we can't please everybody."

Having been to great BBQ restaurants all over our great country, this place was a joke. They may have been great at one time, but we could not figure out how? In short, don't believe the hype. It was so bad, I had to take time out of my busy day to save another victim. What a joke! Truly Disappointed

• Pros: Decent Cornbread & Brunswick Stew
• Cons: Everything else, oh including the BBQ.

11/16/09

Best in atl

by Andi4564 at Citysearch

best bbw in atlanta- no thrills just done right everytime

• Pros: Love it

07/06/09

One time best BBQ, has REALLY gone down hill

by southsidediner at Citysearch

My Grandfather patronized Harold's over sixty years ago, and for decades, it's been a family tradision.

I would eat there at least twice a month, but my last time eating there will probably be my last.

I took a friend, we arrived early so no one was in the restaurant. Our waitress was rude and argued with me with I complained of grizzle in my sandwich the previous time I ate there.

Portions are smaller, the pork was lame, at best, chips are no longer served with the plate and the prices have increased.

Futhermore, the place is just dirty, (tables,walls, etc), which makes you question eating there. No soap or paper towels in the restroom, the parking lot is impossible, espesically when they have delieveries, the neighborhood is scary, at best, and the waitress was such a b it ch, even her co-workers were appologizing to me.

Sadly, Obviously, someone has passed away and the family member who inherited the place, is simply not doing the a good job.

Very sad indeed.

• Pros: Brunswick Stew
• Cons: Parking, Portions, Quality, Environment

08/19/08

Sink your teeth into those ribs !!

by LoHarper at Citysearch

My husband loves BBQ and when Harolds' was recommended to him, he jumped on it. The place is not much to look, you almost want to keep driving past it, but the food is excellent! Everytime my husband goes to Harolds', he get at least 2 full slabs of ribs and a quart of brunswick stew. The cracklin cornbread is also something to write home about. If you haven't tried Harolds' yet, you don't know what you are missing.

• Pros: Great BBQ
• Cons: Not much parking and it is in an old rundown area of Atlanta

02/10/08

glorified shoe leather

by thornyrose2 at Citysearch

THE WORST barbeque we have ever had! We got combo plates. The ribs were ok - not much meat and kinda dry. My sliced pork was tough,dry and tasteless.I asked for a mix of outside and inside. I was given all inside so they brought me a small plate with outside ten minutes later which was charred fat covered shoe leather- nasty! My friend got the chopped pork and beef. Also tasteless. The bruswick stew was good and the cornbread was GREAT. The place was very dirty and rundown. I am not sure how they pass their health inspection. The place was PACKED. I don't get it??

10/26/07

Once Again I'm not Impressed Tasteless

by thimss at Citysearch

I'm eating the brunswick stew while I'm writing. I've never had brunswick stew before. I have to admit the stew was good, nice flavor, but I didn't try this place for the stew or to spend $15 to try brunswick stew. Well silly me ordered the rIb plate, all I can say is NOT!! I'm upset because I tried the place based on reviews and a recommendation. The ribs are tasteless, they taste like they were boiled or cooked in the oven. The barbecue sauce has a nice taste. I guess I should have just ordered a barbecue sauce plate. This place has been around 47 year?? My question is why, how? It's not the decor, ambiance, service or the barbecue! I guess mediocre barbecue is the norm here. My ribs definitely were mediocre. I'm originally from Los Angeles, I've had better barbecue in LA-LA land than I have had in the Georgia so far. Yall who say this place is delicous, I recommend you venture out more. Well I'll have to continue my quest for decent barbecue. Can I get a Sticky FIngers Barbecue Restaurant here?

• Pros: The brunswick stew was delicious
• Cons: the look of the place, the barbecue

06/04/07

Too much hype fo this. Borderline nasty food overall.I'm being polite!!!!

by bellair at Citysearch

First time vist, after memorial day no ribs was available so settle for the all u can eat pork. She gave me a plate of cheap white bread and potato chips along wit brunswick stew ,in which the stew could have been the best I ever had if wasn't cold. And also the pork, wow the slices was nasty,dry,no flavor at all. Was looking for the bbq sauce, and found some homemade ketup mix with some tabasco , freaking nasty. The hype over the cornbread, whew ooo, could have been great to if only it was serve to me hot instead of cold, and not over cook. Ask for togo box because i didn't eat my first plate paid left and gave the box to the first available homeless guy on the street. By the way, the tea tasted like it was mix with artifical sugar and the cole slaw was nasty too...

• Pros: Will cause you to have the shakes at night ,think bout this nasty bbq joint!!!
• Cons: food, food, food, is freaking nasty. They don't know how to serve u hot food to the table

05/10/07

Best cornbread

by gshorter at Citysearch

I was excited to visit Harold's after seeing the restaurant being featured on a TV show off the Food Network. I was very disappointed when it came to the food. I had never tasted Brunwick Stew and was not impressed, and the BBQ POrk was not impressive at all either. There was very little flavor. However, the cracklin cornbread was some of the 2nd best I have ever tasted (1st being my mother and and my aounts). II would only return if I were in the neighborrhood, and that would only be for the cornbread. I drove all the way from Woodstock 30-40 minutes just to eat at this place.

• Pros: Awesome crackling cornbread
• Cons: food was very bland

12/15/06

Georgia Que Done Right!

by jaymaygm at Citysearch

Harold's is just a standard in the Atlanta area, and in fact, in Georgia. Many workers at the now defunct Chevrolet plant, spent many lunch hours here. Just basic Georgia Barbeque, white bread, and no frills. We usually just add Tobasco sauce. Many like the Brunswick Stew and Cracklin Cornbread. Just give us the basic chopped que, and we are happy campers! Good basic waitress service, and sweet tea for the Southern purist's.

• Pros: Good Chopped Que Sandwiche's! Fast Service!
• Cons: Run-Down Area! That's O.K.! It's A BBO-Joint!

07/26/06

The very definition of a barbecue joint, this hidden gem is well worth a trip from almost anywhere.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Opened more than half a century ago, this barbecue shack is straight out of central casting, from its run-down neighborhood to the red-and-white checkered tablecloths, wood paneling, straining AC units and burglar bars on the windows. Blue-collar regulars saddle up to the main dining room's wooden bar. Weathered waitresses provide proficient, friendly service at a leisurely gait, and address diners as "honey" and "sugar."

The Food
The diner's-eye-view of the kitchen is less than flattering, but there's barbecue magic at work back there. Pork ribs pack an exemplary heft and flavor, and barbecued beef, in sandwich or platter form, proves similarly pleasing. Homemade cornbread is just-right flaky; the sweet tea is addictive. Cole slaw and crinkle-cut fries are disappointing, but thin Brunswick stew fares much better. The menu also offers charburgers and hot dogs.