4. Restaurants

Community Q BBQ

1361 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, GA, 30033
  • (404) 633-2080
  • Store is closed

Community Q BBQ Menu

  • Meats
  • Sides
  • Bulk
  • Family Pack
  • Kid's Menu
  • Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Community Q BBQ

  • Meats
  • Sides
  • Bulk
  • Family Pack
  • Kid's Menu
  • Drinks

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  • Matt S.

    Tonight was my first meal at Community Q. I've heard conflicting reviews from my self-described BBQ aficionado friends about whether it is as good as everyone else says it is. I decided to start with what I consider to be the cornerstone of any BBQ joint - the pulled pork sandwich. Of course, as a lifelong cheese n' mac fan, I had to go with that for my side. Let me kill the suspense and say that I am also a BBQ aficionado, being born and raised in Georgia, and I was not disappointed. The pork sandwich was plentiful, with meat overflowing onto the side. It was sandwiched between two crisp pieces of Texas toast bread that was sufficiently buttered and also sported a bonus hint of garlic. Yum. I quickly doused it in sauce, of which they have both vinegar and sweet varieties available to satisfy any BBQ palate (I picked vinegar as that is my personal favorite). The sandwich was awesome, the meat was very tender and to my enjoyment, fairly devoid of overly fatty pieces. As for the mac, it is as good as you've heard. Creamy with big fat noodles. My only complaint here is that it is a rather small side for the price. The size of the sandwich made up for that, as there were several overflowed chunks remaining after I dispensed with the bread. Being a new Decatur resident, I'm happy to have established a great BBQ joint around the corner from our house. In my unprofessional opinion, they give Fox Bros. (my long-time favorite) some much needed competition.

    (4)

  • Robert M.

    This place and Fox Brothers are hands down the 2 best bbq places around Atlanta/Decatur...

    (5)

  • Jess B.

    If you want to have a good day- eat here. Seriously this is some of the best bbq I have ever had. The pulled pork and brisket are so good you can eat it without sauce...But then they have awesome sauce so why do that. The mac and cheese will make all other mac and cheese obsolete. The staff and overall atmosphere is fantastic - I have prob returned to more than any other resturant in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Clarity A.

    I was reared in a culinary city, so it's rare that food makes me smile. The ribs at Community BBQ caused a glow in my belly, a stream of joy so great that it spread all the way up to my face. I could taste their process and preparation. There's a refined way to cook, in which one step is taken, then the food steeps in that herb/butter/seasoning for a time, then the next (slowly, slowly) and then another....It's clear they take their time to craft the flavors and tenderness you taste in the food. I'm so pleased to give them 5 stars I wish there were 5 more to tack on. Increase your satisfaction and eat here!

    (5)

  • Kathryn W.

    I like the mac and cheese and cole slaw. Rough place for a vegetarian. Burnt Fork has tofu but Community Q does not. I still like eating here it's just bad for my health :) cheese, carbs, and mayonaise. yeesh.

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Amazing BBQ, comfortable seating, nice folks working there. We have eaten at Community BBQ three times, and never had a bad experience or a bad item off the menu. Fox bros., Fat Matt's, Daddy D.'s are all getting a run for their money!

    (5)

  • Pratik S.

    This is the best BBQ in Atlanta in my opinion. We have been several times now and never had a bad experience. We have taken a few friends from out of town and they have all loved it as well. The pulled pork and pork ribs are my favorite things to get here. They don't put sauce on either when it comes out so you can really taste how smoky and flavorful the meat is. They have a North Carolina vinegar based sauce and a Kansas City sweet sauce which are both really good but I think the NC one is better. The pulled pork is really soft and tender and can really be eaten without sauce. The ribs are very meaty and flavorful and really just perfect in every way. The ¼ bone in chicken is pretty good too. As for the sides I don't think you can really go wrong no matter what you choose. The mac and cheese is amazing and it has huge noodles and tons of cheese. The potato salad, slaw, greens, and Brunswick stew are all really good too. We tried the smoked sweet potatoes with kale last time we went and they were ok, but not as great as the other sides. I know it will be very tough to do, but you have to save room for the banana pudding. It may be the best thing on the menu. If you haven't tried Community Q you are really missing out. Stop what you are doing now and go!

    (5)

  • Qian L.

    One of my favorite places to eat when i was in collage. They have great BBQ, not sure what style of BBQ it is but it is really really good. my favorite things to order is the half chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens (usually can't finish so have leftovers!!). I have been on multiple occasions, have eaten at the restaurant or take out, and have never been disappointed. I know they also make their own BBQ sauce. The food is really great and the people are really friendly. Make sure you go early in the afternoon if you want some great BBQ for dinner, because i remember going one evening and they were closed by 7 or 7:30. I think they close when they run out of food.

    (4)

  • Alex W.

    Good as always but they stopped serving the beef short ribs and they just raised their prices. I ordered a half rack plate with fries and Mac. Mac is the best Mac ever and ribs are delicious. But no more beef ribs on the menu and prices have increased.

    (3)

  • American A.

    Tried this place for dinner last night. I hardly give 5 stars to any restaurant. This place deserves it. Great food. Freshly prepared. Great price for the quality and quantity of food. Highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Jill T.

    Amazing food even for a vegetarian like myself. The macaroni and cheese is to DIE for it was extremely cheesy and the Mac was soft, its a shame that I don't know the recipe for it. Oh and let me tell you about this salad it's a mixture of fresh greens, beets,carrots, radish with an awesome vinaigrette dressing. The chicken I cannot speak for nor can I speak for the barbeque so I'm going to give it to you from the other persons perspective. Moist and juicy chicken with loads of flavor, bar-b que was sweet and tangy, the meat was tender and you can taste the smoke in the ribs, the ribs were smoked and not boiled.

    (5)

  • Roman G.

    Delicious. Friendly staff! Really laid back atmosphere with great food and awesome prices. You won't leave disappointed. Cheap for the amount of food you get.

    (5)

  • Tom E.

    When one is on the way to a funeral, you would think you would just go, pay your respects, and thats it. With my family- it went down a little differently. We decided to get some BBQ beforehand. This is a favorite amongst my oldest sister and her husband, and I got to find out why before we had to go to a funeral. Nestled just inside a hustling intersection off of Clairmont road, Community Q can be easy to drive by if you are not paying attention. That has happened to me plenty of times, over the years. It's small, and simple- look at the menu on the wall, order your food/pay, and then they bring you your food. They have a Coke machine, you get to use at your disposal (sorry, no Freestyle!). I remember getting the sausage and some ribs- with a side of mac n cheese. I won't lie- the sausage was pretty damn decent and smoked well! The ribs were alright as well, but I liked that sausage! Doused with sauce, I enjoyed the mac n cheese. The people there were friendly which was a plus- and they clean the tables up for you. They do have a lot to offer, including sides- so I would presume that this place has a lot to offer, even for a vegetarian. The value is decent too- sometimes you can go to a 'cue place and it will just seem really expensive. This is not like that at all! I am glad I was able to find another solid BBQ place, I would like to go back and try some more! I cannot remember if they serve booze or not. I want to say no :/ ....

    (4)

  • Luckie D.

    BBQ is subjective and I like a little crusty char whcih they don't do. Other than that this place is a real winner. Friendly, welcoming, great fresh food (nothing leftover whcih means go early when its gone its gone) sweet tea, mac&cheese and collards is what I had and it was all good.

    (4)

  • Anthony T.

    Oh the smell when you walk in the door!!! Love, love, love it!!!!!!! Friendly staff. Recommended plate when he could tell I was torn with choices on the menu. Perfectly brewed southern sweet tea. Great food, great ambiance.

    (5)

  • Tammy L.

    I typically don't prefer bbq, but Community Q BBQ is SO good and with excellent service to match. Everyone is extremely friendly and their portions are generous without being overpriced. The food came out in under 5 minutes during lunch time, which is amazing considering it was pretty full inside. It was my first time here but my boyfriend has been here before so it was his suggestion but I will definitely be back. I ordered the 2 meat plate with 2 sides: Louisiana style ribs, pulled chicken, Mac&cheese, and Brunswick stew. He ordered the beef brisket sandwich with potato salad and Mac&cheese. Everything was really good. The stew was tasty with a little kick to it. Ribs were amazing, brisket was tender and flavorful, chicken wasn't dry at all. Potato salad and Mac were on point. Oh and Homemade BBQ sauce. I shall return & would definitely recommend this place to anyone craving BBQ.

    (5)

  • J S.

    Not a huge fan of BBQ in the first place but I gave it 3 stars because the seasons were on point. Mac and cheese was oily and needed salt. Collard greens were yummy. The attendant seemed bored and was rude. Place wasn't very clean, didn't make it to my top anything list.

    (3)

  • Andria C.

    So considering the fact that my office is at Perimeter, some might say that driving here for lunch about twice a month is outrageous. And it is. But you know who couldn't care less?!? Me. I climbed aboard the Community Q bandwagon fairly recently and it has quickly become my favorite BBQ spot in the city. While I'm a huge fan of their pulled pork, smoked sausage, and ribs (pork or beef), it's the sides that keep me coming back. The baked beans, brunswick stew, and collardrs and my favorites. I can live without their mac and cheese. FYI - I know sausage isn't the sexiest thing to order, but get it. Please. For me. It's surprisingly delicious. And if you don't like it, I'll eat it. It can get pretty busy, even at lunchtime, so be prepared. But the wait is absolutely worth it.

    (4)

  • Steve L.

    This was stop #2 on my Atlanta BBQ marathon. My buddy Jarrett and I had just come from Fox Bros BBQ where both cars and customers were lined up looking for parking and table spaces. In contrast, Community Q had no line and our food came out without delay, and to me, that's a bad sign when it comes to BBQ: Ribs: Tender but unmemorable flavor Brisket: Dry Mac n Cheese: Mac n Butter Fries: Actually pretty good With such a high Yelp rating, Community Q was definitely a disappointment to me in both food and atmosphere.

    (2)

  • Andrew D.

    I had been meaning to try this place for ages. I stopped by the other night. Tried the ribs, brisket and house made sausage along with collard greens. My likes included, well priced fare, tax included in the price, quick service, and quick follow up by the food runners. Both of which are levels of service above the call of duty for this level of establishment. The ribs were awesome, with a nice rub on them. They were perfect, and not too dry. The brisket was moist. I still prefer Texas style Brisket which is more smokey with more rings of flavor on the outside to show for it, but this was still very flavorful and they were cut in fairly thick slices. The homemade sausage was awesome as well. The sauce was what BBQ sauce is supposed to be. Sweet and tangy. they also had the vinegar variety on hard, and I tried that, but it is just not my bag. Even the white bread accompanying the meats seemed more hearty then most BBQ joints and it was toasted with a nice amount of butter on it. Loved it. I will be back for sure. Soon!

    (5)

  • MJ M.

    The food is good but I will not be going back because of the action of one of the wait staff. I took a seat with my kids while my wife went to order. I wasn't aware that you had to order first before you sat down. I can appreciate that and was made aware of by one of the wait staff. It took my wife 15 minutes to get through lines and there were plenty of tables. I offered to give up our table should someone else need it before we had ordered. This certain staff, came by twice to check in and I could tell it really really bothered her that we were sitting there. At one point she did ask us to give up the table but then abruptly said, oh wait...the party looking for a seat had found another table. After we ate our meal, she came by yet again and said "you can take it easy since there are other tables" implying I guess that if it was busy, to get the hell out!! While food may be good, my $50 can also be spent elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Devin A.

    Community Q stands out as one of the relatively stronger BBQ joints in the Atlanta area. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. About as good as Fox Bros, but without the wait/hassle. Below are some reviews of the menu items I tried. I went with a party of four on a weeknight and had no problem finding a table and received prompt and friendly service once we placed our order at the counter. I had the pulled chicken which I had heard was one of their stronger meats and was not disappointed. One of the moistest servings of chicken I've ever enjoyed. Nice smokey flavor with an almost buttery texture. Would definitely get it again. My girlfriend had the 1/2 chicken, which was also very good, but I think the pulled chicken was a bit moister. My friends had the pulled pork and the sausage, which I got to try a bite of as well: The sausage was on point: richly flavored with a nice smoke and an enjoyable snap. I saw many other diners enjoying it as well. I think I'd get this next time I go. Now. The pork. Pulled pork is very hard to set yourself apart with, but very easy to execute poorly. I would say Community Qs pork hits the mark with theirs and it is obvious they know what they are doing. Community Q has both a vinegar and a tomato based BBQ sauce on their tables. I like having the opportunity to use both and both are good sauces. The tomato based sauce has a nice heat to it. Sides: Mac n cheese: good, very creamy, actually very VERY creamy Slaw: very good, nice touch with the added mustard Baked beans: good Brunswick Stew: good, beefy Collards: very good, some of the best I've had Also, if you're like me and enjoy plenty of pickles with your Q, Community Q has you covered

    (4)

  • April H.

    I make a lot of trips to Winship Cancer center, so finding a quality BBQ spot nearby was a must. Community BBQ fit the bill. The pulled pork is tender and mildly smoky, with nice pieces of "bark" throughout. The ribs are St.Louis style, served without sauce and very tasty on their own. I like the options of a vinegar sauce as well as a sweeter, traditional thick sauce. Although the stew didn't thrill me ( very flavorful but a bit chunky) I absolutely LOVED the collard greens. Prepared southern style with a smoky taste without being overly-salty. Outstanding! The Mac n cheese is something special. More of a rigatoni than elbow, it was creamy and tender with a nice topcoat of baked cheese. Service is fast and friendly, even when the place is hopping. Definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    I traveled down to Decatur/Atlanta with my son to look at colleges. I knew I could get good BBQ in the south so I turned to yelp. Our very first night here, we decided on this restaurant and I was not disappointed! My son had the pulled chicken sandwich and I had the pulled pork sandwich. I have never had meat so tender and the sauce they make themselves, out of this world! It was so good, we had to go back the next night and try the ribs, sausage and beef. Not at all disappointed. It was always busy and I could see this was the place to get good food. If I ever get down this way again, I will be back :).

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Love the BBQ ribs and brisket. Sides are great, too. I had mac-and-cheese + Brunswick stew. Any time I am in Decatur to fight the VA in court, I follow it up with a meal here. I love it.

    (5)

  • Owen K.

    The line was to the door, but it only took about five minutes to reach the counter. The atmosphere was a weird mix of corporatized hipster grunge (think Mellow Mushroom) and legitimate dank basement grunge (I purposely did not seek out their health score). The music was 60s/70s stoner rock. I ordered the ribs with slaw and beans. The slaw was decent, the ribs were delicious, and the beans were fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of St. Louis style ribs, but I will put up with them if done right. In this case, the meat was fall-off-the-bone and worth the struggle with all that extra ligament. My only issue was the crust on the ribs were a little salty. That said, I would go again for the ribs. My wife also got the ribs with a side of fries and mac-and-cheese. The mac-and-cheese was amazing (the fries were also really good, but I'm not a fan of fries with BBQ). Overall, I enjoyed the experience. The whole yelling-out-your-name-to-deliver-your-order thing is kind of weird (I kept looking to see if names I heard were for people I knew), but our food came super-quick, which was impressive, especially since it was so packed. The place kind of had a touristy, looky-loo vibe, but that may have been the time of day/week we went (Friday at 6pm).

    (4)

  • Julie F.

    I'm not the biggest fan of barbecue, preferring to focus my obsessive food attentions on pizza. But Community is one of the two places I actually crave. Their pulled pork is soooo good: tender and juicy with a perfect amount of crispy bits mixed in there. With that sweet sauce dousing it (throw a little of the vinegar in there too- you won't be sorry) it is one of the most perfect bites I can imagine. What about the sides- half the reason for hitting up a BBQ joint, in my book? Well, their baked beans have bits of pulled pork in them... mmmm. I am also obsessed with their macaroni and cheese, a creamy and delicious rendition of the dish that tempts me mercilessly, only to shame me after I eat every last bite and feel it languishing in my belly and making me sleepy all afternoon at work. Or was that the sweet banana pudding that I couldn't help ordering? Platters at Community, if you don't order a sandwich, come with the meat on a thick buttery slice of Texas toast. I can't stop eating that either... just more proof that this place is good to the last detail.

    (4)

  • Rebecca O.

    As many have said, Community Q is one of the only BBQ restaurants in the Decatur/Druid Hills area. I feel like Community Q is isn't as recognized as Fox Bros or Heirloom, but it could definitely be a contender. To be honest, I'm not the best reviewer for BBQ restaurants, simply because I usually order BBQ pork (with a side of lame-sauce). It's hard to screw that up, but I do have to say they do a nice job. One thing I can judge BBQ restaurants on is there sides. I could dream about Community Q's baked beans and mac n cheese. So delicious! We also tried their banana pudding, which coincidentally didn't have any bananas in it. It was good, but I wouldn't say the best I've ever had. The service here is always very friendly and personable. They kind of have a home-y atmosphere, which helps with the overall friendly persona. There's also a small sign that says they donate their leftovers to the community food bank, which I thought was cool. I always leave smelling like bbq smoke (not a bad thing)-- just a heads up in case you have "nice clothes" on.

    (4)

  • Food L.

    Amazing BBQ chicken and brisket. The best mac&cheese you'll ever eat. Also, if you don't get the lemonade you're crazy.

    (5)

  • Bessie S.

    Good stuff! They serve the meat and let you apply the sauce, either Kansas City (I think, tomato based) or Carolina. The mac and cheese is worth mentioning...beans are nice and tangy, slaw is sweet vinegar (not my bag). The most exciting thing about this place are the less-usual sides: sweet potatoes and kale, black eyed peas, beets, ginger-bread pudding (!)...they have rotating specials to keep things interesting, and I've never been disappointed. The least exciting is the restaurant-style Texas toast they serve the meat on...I'm not a fried-white-bread-and-butter kinda girl. The service is several classes above what you would expect from a short-order kitchen- they go out of their way to make you happy. The environment is *extremely* casual- paper towels on the table, water served out of an Igloo container. If this would ruin your experience, then...what the hell are you doing at a BBQ joint? ;) See y'all Decaturites down there!

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Yay Q! They've incorporated some amazing and original sides to their menu. The sweet potatoes with Kale are amazing and the specials look awesome as well although the only one I've tried thus far is the Red Neck Chicken Salad (but it was gooood). I must say that the staff continues to be one of the things I love most about Q though. As I hobbled in on crutches at lunch time, a super-nice guy working there opened the door for more, offered a Q stamp to add to the signatures on my cast, and tucked away my crutches by the door. Now THATs service!

    (5)

  • brennan v.

    Short and sweet.....everything I had was GREAT. Pulled pork sandwich, mac n cheese and fries. Best in Atlanta! Especially the mac . The staff were great too. Extremely helpful and great personalities. I will definitely go back!

    (5)

  • keith k.

    Mediocre food, service, and decor As others have posted in these reviews, the staff is rude, condescending, and doesn't care about customer service. My guess is that since they get enough business, the ownership neglects that crucial part of the equation. When we walked in there was a big fat sign saying "No more Beef", just seeing that almost made us walk away. And accordingly to fellow Yelpers, this apparently is a common occurrence. We decided to order a Rib Combo. The portions were incredible small (smallest I've ever seen in a BBQ joint); which is very odd since most places to be be very generous. There was about enough pulled pork for one slider and the 1/4 rib rack was about 2 and a half bones of meat. It came with two sides, and I ordered an add-on. There were NO biscuits and no complimentary ones either. The entree was for about $25 in which I thought was a rip off. The rips were decent, but the pulled pork sandwich lacked flavor and was not fine quality. The sides were just okay, but not good enough to finish them. When I asked to order more food, they said my only option was to order another combo plate, and at $20 each, this wasn't something I was going to do. I decided to leave unsatisfied. Would not eat here again, I will try other places first. Especially since chain restaurants such as Lucile's BBQ or Fox Bros. BOTH of which offer a better product for less money.

    (1)

  • bob k.

    they make a damn good Reuben.

    (4)

  • Brandy B.

    When we drove up to the packed strip mall in the middle of who knows where, after driving 30 minutes in traffic, I was thinking to myself (and my stomach) "This better be good!" Boy was I plesantly suprised. The yummy food at Community Q BBQ attracts well, the community. It seemed that it was a huge mix of a very diverse group of people all gathering around for the same thing, good, cheap bbq. I had the kitchen sink salad with brisket and my bf had the brisket sammie and we split the mac'n'cheese, the blackeyed peas, collard greens, and bbq baked beans. Everything was yummy, well everything except the mac'n'cheese which had a yummy crunchy top but the rest just tasted like pasta in a white sauce of some sort that was not cheesy enough. I loved my trip to ATL and this was one of the many reasons!

    (5)

  • Imani L.

    Oh Community, Community, Community. I just wrote a review for a BBQ competitor in Atlanta so I knew I had to do Community BBQ a solid and give my opinion on this little Decatur gem. I heard about Community BBQ through some of my classmates when I went to Emory. I'm embarrassed to say I never bothered make the less than 2 minute trip up the road to try it until I was four months from graduating. Still, I'm glad I did. I went to Community BBQ on one of my first dates with my boyfriend. We were both impressed and have been back many times since then. I love the mac n' cheese, all the meats are good and flavorful, and the service is quick. Also, it's always crowded but there is never a wait to sit down. Sometimes the line gets a bit long but it moves really fast. I think it is a great place to grab a quick lunch and it isn't too noisy. My only hang up with Community is the fact that I have been served cold food before which is never acceptable. Naturally, I have to deduct one star for that. Still, the convenience, the service, the flavorful food, and the familiarity keeps me coming back.

    (4)

  • Brenda T.

    Friendly quick service and a great place to eat in or do take out. I had the two meat sandwich (sausage and pulled pork) with creamy Mac n Cheese. The sweet BBQ sauce and the savory meat brings joy to my stomach. The sweet potato side is good too but I find it hard to choose a veggie when presented with many tempting side dishes. A valued addition to the Emory area.

    (4)

  • Jeremy H.

    This unassuming BBQ joint in a strip mall on Clairmont road is my favorite BBQ joint in Atlanta! I usually order the pulled pork, but have also ordered the ribs. The ribs are really good even if they aren't the best ribs in Atlanta, but the pulled pork is amazing. It has a good chart, but isn't overcooked. It has a juicy, tender texture and is packed with smokey flavor. For sides, everything is good. The mac and cheese is awesome. The Brunswick stew is really good. The collards are good too. I'd go to this place more often if it wasn't out of my way in Decatur, but I definitely can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jessica D.

    I went here for lunch with some work colleagues today, and this place was the perfect Monday lunch. I got the pulled chicken and mac'n'cheese and baked beans. It was good, but, the 293 reviews before me were right- it's some of the best mac'n'cheese I've ever had. The baked beans were a bit soupy (and I dribbled some down my shirt [sigh]), but had a nice kick to them. The service was excellent, especially for the busy lunchtime crowd. The manager/owner/guy bossing everyone even offered to do the Heimlich maneuver after I started choking on a sip of water. So, bottom line, I shouldn't go out in public, but if you do, go to this place for good barbeque. It's so good I'm going to bring my mom here when she comes back to visit.

    (5)

  • Kimberly L.

    The portions were BEYOND AWESOME SIZED!!!! The tea and lemonade were UBER SWEET... but I guess that's pretty subjective. The BBQ was excellent. I love that they offer you a choice of vinegar / mustard based or sweet tomato brown sugar based BBQ sauce. Everyone rants and raves about the mac and cheese but it was average to slightly above in my opinon. All and all I was impressed with my meal and the service. Update... one weird thing is the fries are heavily seasoned w/ a some sort of sweet rub??? Weird.... I think I'd kind-of get it if there were sweet potato fries... but it was just weird.

    (4)

  • Katy L.

    I've been working my way through Atlanta Magazine's top BBQ in Atlanta list and Community Q was my next stop. A few of my friends had told me that this was their favorite BBQ in town so I was excited to try it out. First, the staff is awesome. I know that some people don't like sarcasm, especially from restaurant staff, but I enjoy a little snark now and then. They bantered with me as my husband and I ordered and jokingly mispronounced my name when our food was ready. Granted I might be in the minority of people who like that sort of thing, but to me it was greatly appreciated. My husband ordered the brisket which I liked, but he didn't like as much as Grand Champion. I don't remember the sides we ordered, but I do remember the mac and cheese was quite tasty. Still doesn't top my all time fave from Swallow at the Hollow. Now I am going to talk about a salad...something that usually doesn't happen in a review of a BBQ joint. But their Kitchen Sink salad is pretty incredible. I don't even remember everything that was in there, but I do recall some beets, a hard boiled egg, greens, radishes (I think) and much much more. The vinaigrette they served with it was awesome too. You can add some meat, so I added the chicken. Man, it was incredibly. I know a bunch of people don't really ever crave salads, but I do, and specifically this one. I want to drive their now to get one.

    (4)

  • Dwayne B.

    Great BBQ! Could use a little less vinegar on the collards, and a lot less butter on the Mac and Cheese! Other then that, pretty good!

    (4)

  • Valerie N.

    Amen. Here's what's so fantastic. -- 100A health score. A 1-freakin-00!!!!!!!! Woohoo. -- When I walked in, CCR's "Green River" was playing and I found myself toe-tappin' and humming along while I waited in line. Followed by Tedeschi Trucks, I knew I was in the perfect place. -- I didn't wait long at all on a busy Friday night. -- You can sit outside - yay! -- SLOPPY JOE BRISKET SANDWICHES. OMG, heaven. It was so good y'all. I'm officially an addict. It was on special so this may require me calling like a mad woman to see if they have it again. Ridiculously good. -- Can we please talk about their mac & cheese? It's soooo good that I've made the recipe at home (found here, thanks AJC/Access Atlanta! accessatlanta.com/atlant… ) I love when I get a bite where the noodle has a ton of cheese inside the rigatoni. Yummity yum yum. -- This is the first time I've really enjoyed a Kansas City BBQ sauce. Perfection. The only thing that would improve Community Q would be hushpuppies, but that's the TN girl in me. :)

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    Community Q is my favorite bbq in Atlanta! You must get the 1/2 pork 1/2 beef brisket meal with a side of mac & cheese and collard greens!

    (5)

  • Hieu H.

    Located in a non-descript strip mall near Emory, Community Q's low-key digs don't do the BBQ justice. As you enter, you are instantly transformed into a homey restaurant that seems to have withstood the test of time. With a worn-in vibe, that feels like your favorite old sweater you never want to get rid of, Community Q really does feel like a local watering hole. There's no pretense here, just good BBQ - especially the beef ribs. Big enough for two, and makes you feel like a cavemen taking a bite out of the giant rib. The sides are just as delicious as the meat. The mac and cheese is decadent and oozing with cheesy goodness. The collards have that perfect balance of bitter and salt and would put any grandmother's version to shame.

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    An office favorite with my coworkers. Some of the best brisket I've ever had, and I'm SUPER picky about brisket. It's probably the best BBQ I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and get the mac n cheese. I had the brisket sandwich, mac n cheese, kale and sweet potatoes the last time I went. Unbelievable. This is also a go-to when guests are visiting from out of town. One of Atlanta's finest.

    (5)

  • Tamaica M.

    Omg!!! This bbq place is the BOMB! My gf found this one on Yelp. SO we decided to give it a try it was good!! I had the pulled pork bbq sandwich with baked beans....she had the meat combo that sausage is good I want that when I go back.My daughter had the bbq sandwich and mac n cheese off the chain! They even have a pan of mac n cheese to go...I will be back!!!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Best sweet I have ever had and he only bbq I've ever been to that sells sloppy joes. The sloppy joe is to die for, I go every Wednesday to get it.

    (5)

  • Kate F.

    We live a couple blocks from Fox Bros, so that's been our go-to bbq for the last year. Last week, we were in the mood for something different and decided to give Community Q a whirl. I had the Kitchen Sink Salad with pulled pork and my BF got a combo plate with chicken, brisket, collards, and sweet potatoes. The positives: Food came out quickly and the services is very friendly. The salad was lightly dressed (maybe a bit too lightly dressed), but I liked the variety of veggies and the big bowl (who doesn't love a Big Salad?). The side portion of pork was very generous and it was pretty tender. The chicken was also nice and juicy. The not-as-positives: I wasn't a big fan of the sauces, which weren't super flavorful. The sides, too, were a little underwhelming (and sides are usually my favorite part of bbq). In fact, at Fox Bros, I usually only get sides. I could easily eat a meal of just collards. So when the collards at Community Q were a touch on the bland side, it was a bit disappointing. Overall, it was a pretty decent meal. The meats were the best part and I really liked the fact that there's a nice veggie-full and healthy option for me. If I went back, I'd probably want to sample a few more sides, as it's possible that we just selected the wrong ones.

    (3)

  • Paige N.

    It's hard to believe I've lived around the corner from Community Q BBQ and never once noticed it, let alone set foot in it until last weekend. Boy was I missing out. My boyfriend is a huge fan of good barbecue and I'm not one to turn it down either, so when we were trying to decide what to have for lunch on Saturday, I suggested Community Q. We'd been meaning to try it for a while, but hadn't gotten around to it. When you step inside, it gives off a gloriously homey, slightly kitschy feel: there's children's drawings on the walls, small figurines of chicken, cows and pigs throughout the little space, a menu board on the wall with the barbecue options and daily specials, and tables and booths scattered around with each table bearing a roll of paper towels (your napkins) and a variety of sauces. After some debate (he was leaning towards ribs and more ribs), we agreed to split a combo plate of brisket and ribs, a side of mac and cheese, and Brunswick stew. Although you can certainly dine inside, we chose to utilize the patio which has a number of tables (big round wooden tables), stools and a bench running around the perimeter of the patio for additional seating. In no time at all, a server brought out our lunch on a stainless steel tray, and it was pretty impressive: brisket, baby back ribs, Texas toast, mac'n'cheese, Brunswick stew, and a few slices of pickle on the side for garnish. It all tasted great too. The sauce was on the side and had a slightly sweet tang to it which went well with both the ribs and the brisket, which were both super tender and flavorful. The mac'n'cheese was some of the creamiest I've ever had, and instead of traditional macaroni, they used big penne pasta instead - nice surprise. And the Brunswick stew had some extra spice in it that provided an unexpected (though not unpleasant) kick. We easily polished off the plate between the two of us. Aside from a pushy employee who tried to take away my extra plate I was using for my share of the barbecue before I was done, I have no complaints. We'll definitely be back to Community Q BBQ.

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    After I had gotten done ranting about how delicious the food was to my mother (a new customer) our experience was soon ruined by an extremely rude waitress(?). Manager - if you're reading - I attempted to call you to let you know about this employee but your phone lines rang busy. I am talking about the blonde girl with a piercing coming out of her face. As we are getting our food - my mom asked for a cup. Not only did this chick roll her eyes at my mother (yes, she seriously did and I could not believe it) she was very condescending when it came to the cup. I really think she thought we were paupers begging for a freaking water cup - even though we had bought a family 8 pack of food totaling $75.00. Anyways, I was so upset at this blatant disrespect that instead of talking about how yummy the food was over dinner with my family, all I could talk about was how disgusted I was with that girls service. This waitress ruined the entire experience with her attitude and I sure hope that this was a bad day for her and not how she generally treats paying patrons. I will be back for the food but if I get another eye roll from that girl I can guarantee she'll be wearing my dinner out of her place of employment. What ever happened to good customer service! Good grief!

    (2)

  • Ed W.

    Wow! What a surprise. First off, given that their decor consists almost entirely of pigs, please get the pulled pork and you won't be disappointed. With the lunch platter, I got brunswick stew (kind of like a chili) and slaw. The sandwich is served on a Texas toast and the servings are huge. My favorite part however was the sweet BBQ and vinegary BBQ saces that they provide. They were both great, either separate or together.

    (5)

  • Douglas W.

    It doesn't seem quite fair that the state of Georgia could have so much unbelievable BBQ. I spent a couple hours reading reviews in the Atlanta area and this place sounded the best after weeding out the yuppified establishments, the ones that serve burgers and the fusion BBQ joints. This was a great find and well deserving of its most laudatory praises on Yelp. I ordered the rib combo with pork ribs and pulled pork. It comes with 2 sides and I opted for 2 of the specials of the day, the sweet potato & kale dish and the black eyed peas. There are 2 sauces on the table. One is a mustard vinegar sauce and the other is a red vinegar sauce. The ribs have good smoke, not overpowering and just right. They were cooked until tender and juicy. They were terrific and both sauces were nice with them. The pulled pork had a nice bark and was similarly smokey, tender and pulled in big pieces just as I like it. I think I liked the red sauce better with the ribs and the yellow sauce with the pulled pork but either worked well. Neither was really sweet which I really prefer most of the time. The sides were great. I thought the greens and potatoes were a little undercooked and seasoned but there was a lot of condiments on the table to add to them so I was just fine with it. The black eyed peas were delicious. I tried my dinner partners baked beans and really enjoyed them too. I didn't want to leave so I ordered blueberry bread pudding with whipped cream. This could have been served with a sauce or had a little more moisture for my taste but it really was delicious. This place would definitely be counted as one of my favorites. I can't wait to go back again.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    Wow, this food is amazing!!! The BBQ pork is wonderful -- the sauce is incredible. I would come here if all they had was beans -- very tasty!! The Mac-n-cheese is better than Paula Deans. Lines are a bit long, but they move quickly and the staff is nice and on top of things.

    (5)

  • Cynthia N.

    Like everyone else, I really like Community Q. The meat is good, but really I love their sides. My favorite side item is the sweet potato w/ braised kale. Although I love kale, the sweet potato is the star and the kale just adds a nice little texture. I also like their collard greens which still have a firmness that I really like with just enough vinegar. The mac-n-cheese is tasty but not for the faint of heart because it's very, very heavy on the butter. The only downside is the pasta used for the mac-n-cheese, it's not my favorite as its a large tube pasta, but it'll do. My favorite meat item are the baby back ribs. They are fall off the bone delicious and the sauce is perfectly sweet and tangy. It's a solid choice. I usually go on a Friday with coworkers and although it's super crowded service is fast and friendly. In my Southern Girl opinion, this is a great place for BBQ. Yelp 52 #52 I made it all the way!

    (4)

  • Mimi B.

    Best BBQ in Decatur area! The beans are the best!! And of course Mac n cheese! Only have had take out.. No complaints!

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    Got invited here for lunch today by the Duke of Community BBQ himself... Mr. Tony "Beef Rib" P!!! Needless to say my wife and I were treated like Royalty as honored guests. First let me say the location is nothing like I pictured it to be. It's actually kinda small, and feels like someplace you would find in the most remote areas of Georgia (which I liked). The menu is simple and the BBQ is straight forward, no gimmicks. BBQ, to me, is St. Louis style ribs and nothing else... so that's exactly what I ordered. The macaroni & cheese was amazing (but a little too greasy). The collard greens were devoured by my wife before I could sample any, but her critique was "they were ok". She said they were a little too bitter with vinegar, which I found humorous considering she inhaled them before I could get my Root Beer filled. But thumbs down to the french fries. I will likely never order them again here. The BBQ pork ribs were fantastic, in my top 3 favorites in Georgia for sure!!! They had great smoke flavor (but not overwhelming), well seasoned, and just the right amount of BBQ sauce dressing it's beautiful outer coloring. But hold on just one minute... because Tony ordered the BEEF ribs and offered me a sample. I told him I was not really a fan, but he insisted and it was true love at first bite!!!! I don't know if there is a difference in seasoning and cooking between the beef and pork ribs, but OMG that beef was amazing!!! I can't wait to go back and have my own plate of this masterfully smoked meat. It didn't look particularly appetizing when it came out, as it was completely charred and looked like firewood after burning all night. But looks can be deceiving, and they definitely were today. The BEEF RIBS are a must try if you are coming here for the first time. Trust me!!! Duke Tony knows what he's talking about, but be sure not to sit on his thrown!!! A long table near the rear with "Tony's Rib here" carved into its surface... lol!!!

    (4)

  • Charee W.

    Community Q BBQ is a very delicious option for local bbq. There are a few bbq places in Decatur that I have tried over the years, but I am thinking that this is my favorite so far. I have tried both the pulled pork and chicken dinners that comes with two sides. They come with texas toast as well. The meats are very flavorful! There are two different sauces to choose from already placed on the table. I believe one is vinegar based and the other is ketchup based, but I am not expert in bbq sauce ingredients. I guessed! Either way, they are still both really good. I have always gotten the same sides, but they have some different options. The mac and cheese is very yummy, and I am sure that I will get it every time I go. When you arrive, you will see that the menu has consistent items posted very easily to see. The last time I was there, they had some fresh produce available to sell also. The staff was really friendly and patient. Put in your order, have a seat, and the food is brought to your table. The food comes on a silver tray with a red and white checkered cover paper on it. It is very true to what you would imagine a bbq restaurant to look like. What sets Community Q BBQ apart from other places are the large portion sizes. There is enough food for you to take home leftovers for a late night snack or lunch the next day. The decor is also interesting. There are decorative pigs everywhere! Family friendly restaurant. It is in a complex with other restaurants, so there is a lot of parking.

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    My fave bbq hands down, five stars. I will drive 40 minutes out of my way just to have great bbq

    (5)

  • Alex C.

    Good BBQ in the Decatur area. It's prices are reasonable and the meat is good. There isn't a crazy wait usually and the staff is super friendly. I'd come here more often but I work next to Heirloom and live next to Fox Brothers. It's hard to justify a special trip here, but it seems to be the best in the area.

    (4)

  • Aileen C.

    YUM! My first BBQ in the south and i was NOT disappointed. WOW they give so much food. I got the beef rib and it was 1.5 times bigger than my fork! I felt like a really lame tourist eating there but the staff was soo nice and friendly. They were helpful in choosing the food and delivered it super quickly. All the sides were delicious too. I wish I could have gotten more, but we couldn't even finish what we ordered. The collared greens and mac and cheese were my favorite. My sister really liked the brunswick stew. Too bad I don't live in ATL normally or else I would be going there all the time.

    (5)

  • Spencer R.

    best bbq in atlanta. must check them out. Great family owned and operated restaurant. Very friendly staff always willing to make your experience the best it can be!

    (5)

  • Rachael I.

    I love BBQ, and this place is solid. Like, really solid. The sandwiches are all great. I think it's an amazing portion for $6.50. My personal favorite is the 2 Meat Combo though. Sliced brisket? To die for. I usually ask for a double serving of it =) The sides are where it's at here though. Mac & cheese? Probably the best I've ever had. Creamy, but not too creamy. Cheesy, but not too cheesy. And the pasta they use is not regular macaroni but this flat type of rigatoni. There's probably an actual name for it that I don't know, but the important thing is that it is big and holds a ton of creamy, cheesy goodness inside every bite! They usually have "special" sides too. One of my favorites is the sweet potatoes & kale. Yummy. Give this place a try! It's a Decatur gem!

    (4)

  • Jaden T.

    Drove here to find signs on the door that they were out of food. I'll take my money and patronize a restaurant that does.

    (1)

  • Miyako L.

    So glad we had local Atlanta friends to visit with. Not only did they introduce this place to us (we would have never found it on our own)... they picked us up, drove us there, AND treated!! How nice, geeze! The menu here was overwhelming. Too many delicious sounding choices! And the smokey BBQ smell that was filling my nostrils was super distracting, and making my mouth water and my hunger ravenous. I couldn't concentrate!! We were steered in the right direction with the advice to choose something from the "Specials Menu". Phew, okay thank you for helping me narrow it down. I chose a pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac n cheese and pickled beets. I had pretty much added a side of mac n cheese to every single meal I had during our Atalanta stay, and this was the best version of it FOR SURE. My sandwich was about 5 inches thick and just stuffed full of perfectly smoked pulled pork. The fresh, tart/sweet lemonade was particularly refreshing after bites of the smokey sandwich and the über cheesy mac n cheese. We were so happy to finally have experienced a meal like this! And the drive through Decatur in the fall was gorgeous! If you are a local and have out of town guests... take them here. They will love you for it!

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Our local friends in Decatur were nice enough to pick us up from downtown and whisk us away to Community BBQ for some "real" southern BBQ. After having their special brisket-based Sloppy Joe special of the day with mac-n-cheese & potato salad sides, I just have to say is "Wow!" I don't think I need to say much else :)

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    I have had their food several times but this most recent time I found their food to be too salty and afterwards had a really bad tummy ache so I won't be coming here for awhile. Try fat matts on Piedmont instead

    (2)

  • Duc L.

    I've heard a lot about this place so finally having it for lunch yesterday, this is on the top of my list for BBQ around here. Located in a shopping center a little bit off from the intersection of North Decatur and Clairmont, i actually missed it looking for it the first time around. There's a big tree in front if the building which kinda blocked the sign from the road when I drove by so just be on the lookout for it. Walk in, there's nothing fancy smancy about this place. Couple of tables, paper towel rolls and condiments sitting on the tables, tables for party of 4 or benches for larger groups (like myself when we had a party of 7). It is a smaller seating area, so if it's peak hours, you may not seat everyone together. Menu is printed out on orange sheets located near the front and they even have some menu items hand written in on the front board itself. Something from what I remember such as the kitchen sink salad. Sounds great, but I'm here for BBQ, the salad was WAYYY to healthy of a choice. Ordered the meat combo (pork ribs and pulled pork) with a side of Mac-n-cheese and brunswick stew. The pork ribs were fall-off-the-bone good. Tender, juicy, and just delicious. Outside is charred with that smokey goodness. Not something I would even try to make at home. It's great for having that ribs fix. I hear the beef ribs are just as amazing so it's on my to-try list my next go here. The pulled pork was just as awesome as the ribs. Tender and has the smokey flavor you're looking for. Both was served within two toasted sandwich slices which I just forgot about and ate with a fork so that I can just drench it in BBQ (i'm a sauce kinda guy). This place isn't biased towards it's customers though. Two unlabeled bottles (looking like a ketchup and mustard bottle) sit on your table. The red one is a kentucky sweet based sauce while the yellow is a north-carolina vinegar based sauce. I don't know why they didn't label the bottles to avoid confusion and for us to taste both of them to find out but we ended up asking the food runner what each sauce was exactly. Mac and cheese was awesome. Thick slices of noodles covered in cheesy goodness. That is until you reach the bottom. During the entire time, i'm thinking to myself "Man, it's so cheesy and buttery, it's so good!" Then at the bottom, you see the puddle of butter at the bottom. Just great for your heart I tell you, just kidding guys. But no one said this was about being healthy, I love me some butter. The brunswick stew was good. Girlfriend ate most of it so I didn't have much to taste. Lots of assortments in the stew itself, i didn't know what all was in it. Kinda salty from my tasting. A little more on the thick side than watery but each his own on how they like their stew. Overall, I can't wait to go back. Good food, friendly people, why wouldn't you want to come here?

    (5)

  • quinn a.

    Three stars. I want to give four stars but I am such a barbecue slut that I have to temper my reviews. Well prepared pulled pork. Sides are good and the beef rib is massive and delicious. I wish the store location was a little more on ambience and maybe they will open a location witih a full bar and grille that would be nice. Food is good, wait is minimal and I also have had their catering which is quite good. Sauce is good, hard for me to pinpoint though since I have a definite habit of mixing sauces...Brunswick stew is not the best I have had. Overall this is a super solid place where the bbq is the strength (of course).

    (3)

  • Keith B.

    Tasty Q at Community Q I'm a barbecue fan and love the opportunity to try a new place. Community Q has been there for a while, but I only recently got to go there on a visit to Atlanta. We went a bit late on a Tuesday evening and the place was hopping. It is best not to go too late, since everything is smoked fresh each day and they run out of items towards closing. I had the rib and pulled pork combo plate. The pork was delicious with a few bits of crunchy outside meat to give texture. The ribs were good, but a little too soft and fatty. I prefer my ribs cooked more and to have a chewy consistency and to have more of the fat cooked out. My wife had the half chicken which was moist and very flavorful. The sides were mostly excellent. We really liked the collard greens, Brunswick stew and coleslaw. We would skip the mac & cheese next time. I would happily return.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    Solid. The pulled pork is my favorite here, but what really shines is the sides: mac n' cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. The brisket's not bad either.

    (4)

  • J. D.

    I'm still a big fan, but please guys: I witnessed them taking a stack of the trays they use as platters they serve all meals on and just wiping them off with a paper towel and some Windex. These things need to be properly washed and sanitized. That is a gross (and lazy) practice.

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    The best bbq I think I have ever tasted. We split the pulled pork sandwich and got baked beans, fries and mac and cheese and it was all excellent. The meat was so tender and the flavor was amazing. The service is super friendly too. I wish I lived close by because this would definitely be a go to spot.

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    I love the brisket here! I usually get a BBQ Brisket Plate. For sides, the Mac & Cheese is awesome (but very filling cause of the butter), the Brunswick Stew is pretty good, Collard Greens are great, and the Baked Beans are awesome!

    (4)

  • S C.

    This is my favorite local BBQ joint! Love the atmosphere and the food! As long as I can get there before they run out of pork, I'm a happy camper. My go-to is the pork sammich, mac and cheese, and collards. If they are out of pork, the sliced brisket is a close second. As much as I love baked beans, the variety here leaves something to be desired. I have tried them a couple times hoping the taste would grow on me, but it is an overpowering taste of black pepper - I'll have to pass.

    (5)

  • Yulle Y.

    Quick service, affordable and delicious. Highly recommend the sausage with a side of the mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Community Q is a very good BBQ joint in Decatur, in an area of town where there's not a whole lot of BBQ restaurants. This place is less than two years old (grand opening was Thanksgiving 2009). It was founded by one of the Daves of Sam and Dave's BBQ1 in Marietta (now known as Sam's BBQ1 and Dave Poe's BBQ). I like that Community Q has an emphasis on daily, fresh-cooked local meats and vegetables. The restaurant is located in the same shopping center as Bhojanic (Indian) and Pyng Ho (Chinese). There's a good variety of food in the immediate vicinity -- Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, Indian, and BBQ. Q has a humble, down-home atmosphere featuring a cozy space with wooden furniture, mismatched chairs, a handwritten menu on the wall, and locally farmed, organic produce for sale. The produce is located below the wall menu. Examples of some of the items for sale when I went included pecans for $8 per pound and mixed lettuce for $4 a bag. Like other BBQ joints, Q offers sandwiches and plates that come with two sides. The specials looked enticing (pickled beets, smoked sweet potato with kale, "kitchen sink salad," etc.), but I ended up going with some of my favorites: pulled pork, mac and cheese, and collard greens. To my dismay, they do not serve fried okra here. Blasphemy! All prices on the menu include tax. The pulled pork was served with two buttered slices of toast and a few pickle slices. The toast was crispy and delicious. The pork was pulled in large chunks. I've found that the definition of "pulled," "sliced," and "chopped" can vary from BBQ restaurant to BBQ restaurant. The meat was tender and had a pleasant smokiness to it. The sauces on the table included sweet Georgia (red) and vinegary Carolina (yellow), a tradition carried over from the original Sam and Dave's. Mac and cheese starts off well and then gets kind of gross at the end. The noodles are nice and thick with a charred and chewy outer layer of cheese on top. As you make your way towards the bottom of the bowl, the noodles are just sitting in a puddle of grease. My last few bites were dripping with grease. Also, I think the mac and cheese here is a bit salty. The collards were delicious. They were large and leafy with several small chunks of pork to add more flavor and texture. I came hungry and one plate was enough to satisfy me. The food comes out fast and all of the employees are very friendly, from the owner/manager down to the kitchen assistants. Drinks are self-serve.

    (4)

  • Mick D.

    I've been accused of being a BBQ snob. I am quick to correct them: I am merely a BBQ slut. Having heard quite a bit of goodness about Community Q, I very much looked forward to my trip here, and it did not disappoint. We got there before 7pm on a Thursday and experienced no wait/delay at all. Staff was also friendly and quick. A bottomless glass of root beer is always a good thing. (Even if it's cheap root beer--I am a root beer snob.) My beef brisket sandwich was excellent. Smoky and dense in all the right ways, served up on some Texas Toast, and flanked by some cole-slaw and mac & cheese. Dang. I'm making myself hungry again. (BTW, if you're a true Southerner, you won't balk at putting cole-slaw on your sandwich.) I want to go back and try the ribs. And maybe some Brunswick Stew. Holler if you'd like to come with!

    (4)

  • Ashley M.

    Delicious beef brisket, pulled pork, baked beans and collards. Just ordered Community Q for a group of 25 for a Superbowl Party...super easy to place the order and everything was ready for pick up right on time. Enthusiastic and helpful crew who like what they do. Also, Kitchen Sink Salad is killer for lunch...

    (5)

  • Tom C.

    Ok....seems like I jumped the gun on Community Q on my last review. I finally tried their St. Louis Ribs and Beef rib and I thought it was delicious! I can now see why they are top 4 BBQ places in Atlanta (Fat Matt's, Fox Bros, Heirloom BBQ). Their St. Louis rib is tender but the meat doesn't fall off the bone like Fat Matt's. It is a different variation of the BBQ rib but a good different. The rib was quality and tasty. Beef rib was delicious as well. You get 2 ribs instead of a whole rack (cause you know cows are bigger animals then pigs...LOL). The meat on the beef rib was soft. I think (not positive) that I interacted with the owner of the restaurant at the cash register. He was very friendly and funny. It is a good thing to be able to interact with people who are invested in their restaurant. It brings a family feel to the place. Definitely adding Community Q as places to go when I have a craving for ribs.

    (4)

  • Mary E.

    This is my new favorite BBQ place in Atlanta!! Best baked beans and ribs I've had in a long time. Collards are top notch also. Brisket was really good. Staff are super friendly and helpful. The chef came around to check how I liked everything. Funky atmosphere, great Blues playing overhead. Free refills on sodas. What more could one wish for?

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    I've been here twice. I will admit this Q is good. But the portions are smaller that tiny. The amount of meat you get on a two meat plate fits in a sandwich. And that's how they serve it. I got pulled pork and pulled chicken with collards and stew. Wife had pulled pork, spicy baked beans and fries. Even the sides were small. It wasn't worth the 30 bucks we payed. We left hungry and we are NOT big eaters. Please, save your money!

    (3)

  • Robert G.

    Really good bar-b-que. Wife had pulled pork sandwich and I had brisket w Brunswick stew. The stew was great favor, but for my taste should have been thicker. Very friendly place for good food.

    (4)

  • kay c.

    I'm picky about BBQ, as I assume are most folks. I have my favorites all over the city for different reasons and particular dishes, but my overall favorite is Community Q. Community Q excels at pulled pork, the Flintstone-sized beef rib, sauces, that amazing mac n' cheese and in sourcing the highest quality ingredients possible. If you have a chance to try the kale and sweet potato salad do not pass it up! The service is friendly, fast and professional. Community Q is an all around winner for BBQ!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Truly excellent.

    (5)

  • Rick V.

    For my tastes and money, Community Q is the best barbecue around. A few years ago, I spent several months visiting many barbecue places (60-ish if I recall correctly) of note around the Atlanta area to find which place(s) I liked the best, and Community Q was the winner for me. (If you like Heirloom Markest best, then I respect your opinion, but if you like best anywhere other than Heirloom or Community Q, I will quietly think you an idiot.) Pulled (not chopped!) pork is the single most important barbecue item to me, and Community Q does the best and most consistently excellent pork around. While the other meat items on their menu are great, I really have a hard time ordering anything other than the pork since a pulled pork sandwich is perhaps my favorite food item. I also really appreciate that they serve both a sweet sauce and a vinegar sauce, since not every place in Atlanta will have a vinegar-based sauce and I really love how vinegar sauces penetrate the pork. When I do manage to not order the pulled pork, I've enjoyed the rest of their meats. In particular, I always enjoy the beef rib. The beef rib has fantastic flavor, both from the smoke and whatever rub they use. While most other bits of meat are either complemented or enhanced by a sauce, for the beef rib I feel that it is best enjoyed without any sauce. I'm always perturbed by barbecue places that have good meat, but seem to treat their sides as some sort of afterthought and produced mediocre sides. That is not the case at Community Q. In particular, the mac-n-cheese is death row last meal good, and the fries are among my favorite in town. The specials that appear on the pieces of paper next to the main board are also very much worth looking at. The Kitchen Sink salad is among the best in Atlanta that I've had, and the other special items are always worth ordering.

    (5)

  • Angela M.

    You know how Pepsi always won the blind taste test versus Coke? It was because that one single sip was sweeter and better. But when the consumer drank the whole cola, Coke was the winner. In this case, Community Q is the Coke. I was meeting Rachel E for lunch, and for once, managed to get there a little early. So I went ahead and ordered my plate of pulled pork, baked beans, and collards and got us seats. My food came very fast (just as soon as I could get myself and the car seat settled into one of the tables against the banquette in the middle). So it was just staring at me while I waited for Rachel. I'm polite, but not that polite, so I took a little bite of everything - pork, collards, beans, and both sauces. In that one bite, the pork was dry, the collards mushy and vinegary, the beans too sweet, the thick sauce too sweet, and the vinegary sauce too strong. But once Rachel arrived, and I started eating the full meal, everything improved. The pork was good with the thicker sauce - smoky and sweet, with a hint of heat in the aftertaste. The beans were good and peppery with nice chunks of meat. The collards were still on the vinegary and mushy side, but I managed to eat them all anyway. I would say this is a 3.5 star food experience for me. I'll round up because the guys at the counter were very nice, and my clothes smell like smoked meat. Unlike greasy Mexican or greasy Chinese food that leaves your clothes with that smell that makes you a little sick, I LOVE when my clothes have that smoky wood-burned scent. #Yelp365 - 26/265

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    It's nice to see that intown is starting get some good BBQ and it's not regulated to rural Georgia. I finally made it down here after months of trying, the experience was awesome. I got what I like to call the CRITICS PLATE, It's not something they offer, I built it myself basically a little bit of everything. The brisket was really good although I'm not a big fan of brisket In general. The ribs had a sweet rub and real smoky and tender. The pulled pork was smoky and moist, not greasy; perfect. All the employees were super cool Hipster style and really nice and easy to talk to. The owner, I guess he was the owner checking on me a couple times and Gave me a good rundown on the sauces. One sweet the other tangy. I like the idea of having one or two sauces at my barbecue restaurant, Too many different varieties just says Lack of confidence in the quality of their 'Q. You can't go wrong here with any desicion. Everything really is done well true.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    I was really looking forward to coming here, but this place does not compare to Fat Matt's or Heirloom. We ordered the rib combination with the brisket plus mac and cheese and brunswick stew. Both meats were a bit dry. The mac and cheese is GREAT!!! The only other place I've been to with Brunswick stew is Brick Store Pub and I thought that place had awesome stew. All in all, I would rather go to Heirloom and/or Fat Matt's.

    (2)

  • I Love Pizza ,.

    It's our go-to barbque. Casual, fast, food always great. We love the brisket, sausage, chicken. Their mac and cheese is great. Sorry, I'm southern and your potato salad is a fail. CAUTION: seems they run out of brisket (beef) often. That's good no waste management for them, bad for us. Pricing is reasonable for the great food. I drive a distance for this place. They are a definite rival of Franklin's in Austin, TX, our other fav barbque.

    (4)

  • Katharine S.

    I love this place. I live in the Emory Woods apartment complex behind the restaurant, and Webster Drive always smells like delicious cooked meat. Now that my dissertation-writing trenchmate lives in Decatur, we often go here for lunch to work through ideas or drafts. Whether it's a weekday or a weekend, I've never had to wait long for a table or for food to be delivered to the table. One orders at the counter and then sits down. My standard order is the pulled pork sandwich ($6.50), a side of cole slaw ($2.25), and a diet Coke ($1.75, free drink refills). The cole slaw is particularly delicious. I didn't know why for a long time, but then my friend--who goes there even more than I do--asked and learned that the recipe includes sliced apples. Since I learned that fact, slaws at other restaurants disappoint me consistently and make me yearn to be eating at Community Q. Their fries are pretty good, too. Note for folks who like their fries plain, such as the boyf: the default way the fries are served is with a lot of seasoning on them. Community Q is in Decatur, but it's north Decatur, which means that it's a restaurant that's not populated by hipsters/crunchy granola folks (of either the individual person or the family varieties) in the same way that restaurants located in Decatur Square are. Don't get me wrong--I love Decatur Square, and if you squint at me, I look purty hipster and crunchy myself--but I especially appreciate seeing a "wider swath of humanity" whenever I eat at Community Q. BBQ bringing people together! At a restaurant with "community" in the name! Okay, maybe not vegetarians. I don't know whether their baked beans or greens are cooked in or have meat products in them, although I think one can order grilled cheese even though it's not on the menu.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    I've heard great things about this place, and now understand it's well warranted. Fantastic large juicy ribs, scrumptious Mac n cheese, and tender brisket. The food came fast and the staff was super friendly. I shall return!

    (5)

  • Lauren H.

    Jeremy H and I have decided this is by far our favorite BBQ joint in Atlanta! On our last visit we sampled several delicious items. We tried the pulled pork, pork ribs, mac & cheese, brunswick stew & collard greens. The pork was awesome and the pork ribs were really great. They don't put any sauce on when they bring it out so you can really taste the quality of the meat and the smokiness! The two sauces on the table both complimented the meats perfectly! For sides - we LOVE LOVE LOVE the mac & cheese. They seem to put it in a bowl and then top it with more cheese and toast it or something. Absolutely to die for - creamy and gooey and wonderful. The Brunswick stew was also wonderful - great flavor while not being too thick! The collards were good, but nothing to write home about. We saw on the menu that they have blueberry bread pudding as well as banana pudding. We didn't have room this time, but are hoping to go back and try it soon!

    (5)

  • Tiffany P.

    Great local BBQ! We live in the area and have this wonderful place at our fingertips. We visit often enough to know there are times when your meat choice will run out (usually if you do not arrive early-ish). Everything is made that day- Makes for great side items and desserts. Try it all, you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Nathan H.

    Coming from Texas, I always tell the person taking orders at a new BBQ joint to order me what they would get. I ended up with pulled pork and sausage, fries and Mac & cheese. The BBQ was good but not in running for the best I've ever had. The pulled pork was dry and required a ton of sauce to add some flavor. The sausage had a good smoky flavor and definitely the better of the two meats. The fries... now that's a different story! The fries were heavily seasoned and were the highlight of the meal. I enjoy BBQ, I like good sides, I don't mind hipsters, and I would enjoy coming back to Community Q BBQ.

    (3)

  • Sam G.

    Id heard a lot of positive things about this place. Had to check it for myself. Im not one for BBQ very often and being from England, Im still adjusting to Southern eating... but I must say, the food at Community Q will convert anyone to saying 'Y'ALL' The staff are a little odd but polite. The decor is a little tacky but justified. Good on Price but wish there were more mix n match options.

    (5)

  • Greg W.

    Excellent! If you are at Emory and tired of hospital food, then go here. Tie on that feed bag and throw down! It's soooooo good!

    (5)

  • South Of A.

    This place is great. Nothing is bad here that i have had. The stew is great as well as the Brisket. If you ever leave this place hungry it has to be your fault.

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    Toss up with Fox Bro's for best bbq in Atlanta that I've had. I think for meat taste alone Community Q wins (especially in the rib department) but overall including selection, sides, ambience, (BEER!), and service you gotta go with Foxs. If you're entertaining follks go Fox Bro's... if it's just you, fam, or a few buds looking for a meaty, tasty morsel then it the Community Q.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    Looked this up on yelp - went by after work. THE SMELL hits you when you walk in the door. Could have just stood there and smelled the place. Ordered the pulled chicken, beef brisket, slaw, potato salad, and sweet sauce to go. Everything was great. Have leftovers for tomorrow!

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    The food here is phenomenal and the staff sweet as pie! The food is ALWAYS fresh and the Mac will blow your socks off - so cheesy, SO good!!

    (5)

  • Tyger B.

    Good service and yummy, filling beef brisket sandwich. They loaded on so much meat that I couldn't eat any sides...

    (4)

  • Denise C.

    In my opinion, no trip to the South is complete without good BBQ. My friend C and I had tons of options, of course, but went with Community because it was high on her list. Community is in the most random of strip malls, along with a Thai-sushi restaurant, Indian restaurant and grocery, and coffee shop. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is posted on the wall as soon as you walk in, and there are a ton of options. In addition to the everyday menu, there is a big poster listing specials like smoked sweet potatoes with kale. C ordered the two-meat, two-side plate with bone-in chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and baked beans. I went with the pulled pork, smoked sausage, mac and cheese, and greens. I also grabbed a bag of stone-ground grits (hard to find where I live) from a shelf with locally sourced products like chow chow and hot pepper jelly. The smoked sausage was excellent and easily my favorite of the entire plate. The pulled pork was tasty, but a little dry, and benefited from some hot sauce and the tomato-based BBQ sauce. Generally, I prefer my 'cue without sauce, but it was very good. (They also offer a vinegar-based sauce if that's your thing.) I liked the mac, even though it was swimming in cheese-oil. However, I was disappointed in the greens, which are usually my favorite. They were on the bitter side and just weren't to my liking. C enjoyed her plate but said the beans that day were a little too peppery for her (but she doesn't like peppery food). She'd had them before, though, and really enjoyed them. The guys behind the counter were friendly and affable, just as you'd expect in any good Southern BBQ place. Business was steady the entire time, which is always a positive sign, and it was obvious the staff really did care about their customers. The next time I visit the area, I want to return and give the collards another try, as well as the ribs and some of the desserts.

    (3)

  • Allena H.

    Great BBQ and funky atmosphere which is highly characteristic of my favorite area - Decatur. Mac and cheese is made with rigatoni and oh so cheesy. Greens are well seasoned and don't need much help at all. Fries are hand cut and crispy. Pork has great smoky flavor - as well as the 1/2 chicken. Their vinegar sauce is good, but not spicy enough - had to add some red rooster. Overall great BBQ at a great price.

    (4)

  • F S.

    I dream about this place!

    (5)

  • Shyam S.

    The ambience, location and smells are wonderful. So is this food. But the only reason I can't give this place anything higher than three stars is because they royally botched my order. I ordered a sloppy joe to eat on site and a beef brisket sandwich to go; instead, I was served the brisket at my table, but I was so hungry, I thought what the heck, I will eat the joe at home. The brisket was delicious and I inhaled it. Happy with the knowledge I would have more meaty goodness for dinner, I looked forward to an evening of beef and Redbox. Imagine my disappointment then when I got home only to find no sloppy joe at all, but some sort of pork sandwich. I definitely want to return and hope they get my order right.

    (3)

  • Ronique Nicole C.

    I went, I grubbed, and it was GOOD. My only gripe is that some of the sides I ordered didn't do it for me. The only side I had that was great was the bbq baked beans. The meat and the Kansas City bbq sauce is stellar! Amazin' But one can not thrive on perfectly grilled meats alone, the sides must match said awesomeness to be a great meal. The potato salad was just egg, mayo, and red potatoes, which isn't potato salad in my book, it's egg, mayo, and red potatoes. I would suggest adding some relish, mustard, celery, season all spice, and a dash of red bell pepper to resurrect this side from the dead. I didn't care for the Mac & Cheese either, I saw the pics on yelp, and it seemed as if I got something completely different. A different cook that day? Maybe, who knows. The batch I got wasn't cheesy. My rule of thumb to Mac n' Cheese is too much cheese in the Mac & Cheese? There's no such thing. The bbq baked beans however were the BOMB! um um um um um. Listen people, they put.........chunks of brisket in the baked beans.....(you dirty dawg you...behave!) Yeah I know right! They gave it to me with these baked beans...LAWD , these are the best darn bbq baked beans I have ever had. Ouuuuu and the Sweet Tea was great! and they sell it by the Gallon. Joy! Will I be back again? Oh Hell Yes..... I shall return. What I had: (Combo Meal for 2 Sausage Chicken Brisket Ribs Mac & Cheese Baked Beans Potato Salad 1 Gal Sweet Tea

    (4)

  • Patrick P.

    Those who follow me know I only write reviews when the place is great or sucks! This place was great. This is the ONLY place I have eaten ribs and felt they were better than my own. Crisp sweet crust on them and tender falling off the bone. Sublime! Mac and cheese was good. Collards were OK. All in all, a great place.

    (5)

  • Suhana A.

    Their food is pretty good. I went there twice already for the beef ribs. It's fingerlicking good. Don't go wearing pretty clothes and be prepared to get your hands and face messy =) I think their prices are decent compared to other BBQ places.

    (4)

  • Steven S.

    Another great BBQ spot in Atlanta! Very happy with our experience here. The very first moment you walk in the door, the smokey smell of all the good stuff going on in the back has you go from hungry to starving!! A possible downside to some people may be that most of the menu items are sandwiches but, that having been said, the sandwiches are on awesome slices of Texas Toast, so don't worry. My sandwich had the beef brisket & the pulled chicken. It's nice that the sandwich comes out dry so the patron can put whichever BBQ sauce on that they want. The Carolina sauce was ok but their main "St. Louis" BBQ sauce is the best I've had since moving here! The collard greens were awesome (w/ pieces of onion & bacon) & the Brunswick Stew (though not the best I've had) was still excellent. My gf had the beans & they were fresh w/ a solid kick of spice! I highly recommend Community Q for an authentic BBQ joint in the perimeter. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Pork very good flavor tender. Brisket was above-average but nowhere near Texas. Did get one piece that was moist and tasty but the rest was dry. Perhaps ask for moist brisket next time. Mac & cheese fabulous. good sauces

    (4)

  • Val W.

    Coming here, I was sad to see that the ribs were significantly more expensive than the other meats, but I nevertheless splurged and was glad I did, they were delicious! I also had the brisket, which was also very tender and good. One of the daily sides was sweet potatoes and kale, which was amazing, and the mac n cheese was also good. The choice of two sauces was nice, and the person who came to bring us our food was very welcoming and kindly explained them to us! The atmosphere was very casual, but nice, The service was quick. My only complaint is that I wish the ribs had been priced more on par with everything else, and when I ordered a rib + brisket sandwich, I only got three small ribs that weren't even excessively meaty or anything.

    (4)

  • Jake N.

    The brisket was delicious! Succulent and very tasty!! The Mac n Cheese was a must try since I am Savannah born and Southern raised. I added a bit of salt for my personal taste, but it was legit! The biggest side item I really enjoyed were the collard greens! They were hot, extremely flavorful and I even dipped my bread into the "liquor" after I ate the greens because it was too good to waste! Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Garrison E.

    Pricey? A bit. But it is well worth it. I had a pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and mac n cheese. EVERYTHING was delicious. Their bbq sauces were on point too. And the service was very quick. I ordered, filled up my drink, and found a seat. Within minutes my food was placed in front of me. I was extremely satisfied. I shall return.

    (4)

  • David N.

    Soooo good. I love me some Fox Bros. but this place is just as good. Great quality pork. Great staff. Love it. A must in Decatur.

    (5)

  • Bud C.

    For openers, the ribs came to the table smoking (literally) hot , the meat falling off the bone. Great, right? Wrong. Smoking hot means cooked all over again. Likely this time in a warmer or zapped in a micro wave, but not from a smoker or fresh from a bed of smouldering wood. The sign out front says BBQ, not baked, not zapped... and for the Brown Shoe Gourmet, Community BBQ was a disappointment. Hidden in a strip center, this place has a we're not-really-in-a-strip-center charm all its own... as an example, you can also to buy locally grown vegetables while you're ordering and paying for your 'cue. Friendly staff, a fairly priced menu and quality $10 tee-shirts (more than 200 in the collection from across the country). Then the steaming hot ribs. Having spent a lifetime in pursuit of the perfect barbecue, it made sense to get a combo plate (two meats, two sides for all of $11). We've already discussed the ribs while the pulled pork that accompanied them was good, moist but the flavor was not on the level of some of the other metro Atlanta BBQ joints. The hand cut fries (misleading hopeful sign) were, cut thin and devoid of any real deep fat fried flavor (don't tell me you go out for barbecue hoping to eat healthy). The slaw was a mix of vinegar and mayo, with a unique semi tart flavor. My cohort across the table reported the Brunswik Stew (also available as a side - not always the case) to be excellent. The brisket he ordered was dry and missing any real smoke flavor. The thin layer of fat that captures the smoke flavor had been trimmed away. Folks in the next booth had good things to say about Community's mac-n-cheese; "buttery" was the word they used. Having spent a lifetime in pursuit in search of the perfect barbecue (read other barbecue reviews), Community BBQ did not prove to be the place where the search would end. It's a neat place, fair prices, friendly people... but in their haste to provide prompt service, they're guilty of recooking what should be their signature dish and serving baked rather than barbecue ribs. Can't speak for others, but this is one customer who would have preferred to wait a few extra minutes for his food rather than have it nuked and on the table within minutes. The quality of their barbecue may be taking it on the chin because of the place's popularity... and the folks there may want to remember those things tend to go full cycle

    (2)

  • Timothy J.

    I think it's safe to say that this is the best pulled pork sandwich I've had. It's just perfect. They meat is tender and flavorful and juicy and the texas toast is the perfect bread for it. The mac and cheese is also one of my favorites. I've had the beef ribs and they're very good. I wish the stayed open just a bit later because I'm always rushing to get here after work before they close.

    (5)

  • LINDSAY R.

    I just don't get the hype here. The macaroni and cheese is to die for but that's it! It amazes me the reviewers who say this BBQ is better than Fat Matts. This past Friday was my third time going because I was like maybe I have been going on the wrong days and getting bad cooks or something. Nope, same nasty ribs as each time before. Although I did like my sides, I just can't see going here again.

    (2)

  • Melissa R.

    You can't go wrong with anything you get here. I like the bone-in chicken and pulled pork. My husband lives the ribs. All the sides are yummy, but the Mac-n-cheese is sinful!!

    (5)

  • Heather N.

    OK, I know I will have some people thinking I'm crazy, but I'm sticking to this rating. I don't want to deter anyone from trying them if you haven't already. You might love them. Two first timer dudes ended up walking out in newly purchased T-shirts. Just wanted to share my experience, so if you do go, call first to make sure they have food! Just got back in town, it was a balmy evening and sitting outside eating BBQ sounded perfect. DENIED. They were sold out of food by 7:30! Ended up getting fairly decent dolla sushi next door at Mint2 (wouldn't do it again, better just to get the good stuff and pay a bit more). Tried again the next night. The beans tasted off and the pork had a few nice tender sections but mostly seriously dry pieces. Can't say that I care for any of the sides and I've tried them all. Started feeling ill that night and it wasn't *severe* food poisoning, but it was bad enough that I trashed my leftovers. Looks like I was not the only person that ended up ill after eating here. Not going back... Cheers~

    (2)

  • Bex G.

    I loved the beans and ribs. So much food! If I lived closer, I would be 500 lbs. Everything was really tasty!

    (4)

  • Tom R.

    The food is the main deal, so I'll start with that. I've only visited once, and I got the pulled-pork plate with baked beans and Brunswick stew. I got it to go, but I only live a mile away, so I don't think the short drive home affected the food at all. The plate included a generous helping of pulled pork topped with three pickle slices between two slices of grilled Texas toast. I saved about half of the meat for the next day and still had a good-sized sandwich. The pork was pulled into large pieces, not finely shredded as a lot of places do. Unfortunately, I found the pork to be somewhat dry and very bland. The pieces had a thin bark and a nice pink smoke ring, but the meat did not have even a hint of smoke flavor. I would have sworn that the pork was baked in an oven. I also needed to drown it in barbeque sauce to give it any moisture. It's a shame the meat was so tasteless, though, because there was no fat and it wasn't the least bit greasy. Speaking of the sauce: I was given an option of sweet or vinegar-based for my takeout order. I assume they offer the same on the tables. I opted for the sweet, and I found it to have a nice flavor. Not too tomato-ey, not too vinegary (though there was some twang that must come from vinegar). It wasn't hot, but did have a nice black pepper flavor. It was oilier than I would have liked, with a thin layer of oil floating on top when I opened the container. Baked beans - they were okay, tender without being mushy, and a nice spicy flavor. There were a lot of meat chunks in the beans. I would have preferred a little more sauce in the beans, though. Brunswick stew - this was very nice. A lot of corn, a lot of shredded meat, in a tasty tomato base. As with the bbq sauce, a little too oily with a thin layer floating on top. Service was okay. A little slow, but it looked like only three people were working: one taking orders, one plating the food, and one carrying plates to the tables and cleaning up. I did walk in right behind several others, though. If I had been there ten minutes later, there would have been no line. (I don't think any of the recent reviews mentioned it, but you stand in line to order up front, then they bring your food out to your table.) I'm surprised none of the recent reviews mentioned the lack of alcohol, either. No beer in a bbq joint? Maybe they're just waiting on their liquor license. I would have asked, but it didn't occur to me because I was getting take-out. I know a lot of people that would pass on getting a Saturday night dinner there, though, if they can't wash their Q down with a cold beer. I saw reviews complaining that they ran out of this or that. They do have signs on the door and in the line saying that they fix the meat fresh every day, and only use leftovers for stew and beans. They warn that it's hard to judge demand and they may run out of certain meats. Fair enough - the place is new and it will take some time to figure out how much they need on a daily basis. They have enough options that you should find something you like. The ambiance is okay. It's a bbq joint wanna-be. There are small cartoons and folksy stuff posted around the counter, and some of the usual bbq joint paraphernalia, but it's hard to hide the fact that this place is in a strip mall. I'm rooting for this place, though. We can use another bbq restaurant in the neighborhood, the staff is friendly, and I'm hoping they're just going through some start-up pains. I'll try again - St. Louis ribs next time - and I'm hoping I can give them at least one more star. Maybe they'll be serving beer by then!

    (2)

  • Bill W.

    My favorite BBQ in Atlanta. The sides are great too, especially for a BBQ joint! Love to serve their brisket at dinner parties and watch people devour their serving and ask for more.

    (5)

  • Nikhil R.

    Really good BBQ. Why isn't it 5 stars? Well their portions have been shrinking and their meat quality is slightly inconsistent (a result of smoking the meat, it is unavoidable, but still can be annoying when you feel you went on a bad day). When I first went here, the sandwiches were piled with enough meat for 2 meals. Now I am still peckish after one. The sides are all good, I haven't tried a single one that was bad.

    (4)

  • Phil R.

    Very tasty bbq! The pulled pork sandwich is outstanding! These are moist and smokey flavored pieces of pork. They are not the shredded to death, dry offerings found elsewhere. I have heard good things about the beef brisket too, but I haven't tried it as yet. The fries are very tasty as well and are similar to Five Guys, if you've eaten at one if those. Old South sides like mac-n-cheese are favorites as well. Be sure to try it!

    (4)

  • Aaron W.

    Wow. This place was great. Hands down best BBQ I have ever had. I want to go back...

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    I had the brisket platter with mac-n-cheese and potato salad. It was phenomenal. Definitely one of the best BBQ restaurants in town. The brisket was so tender you didn't need a fork or knife, it just falls apart. The mac-n-cheese was great, it isn't really macaroni noodles but I'll forgive them because it is still absolutely delicious. The potato salad, though, was a bit lackluster. Nothing too special about it. I've heard great things about the fries so I think I'll try them next time. And there will be a next time. One complaint though, the BBQ sauce that is on the table is sweet. I like sweet BBQ sauces but I do like the option of having other sauces (e.g., spicy, Korean, etc.). I don't know if they have other sauces as there is only one container on each table. Still enjoyed it, though!

    (5)

  • TiaBia J.

    Followed reviews advising long lines by 530 and they were spot on! We got there today at 5, were greeted promptly and I truly can appreciate when my children are acknowledged. Tron held conversations with my son (and we saw him interacting with everyone). He brought true meaning to their name Community Q BBQ! Thank you! We got a full slab of ribs. Enjoyed the char on them. Sauces are on the table (sweet or vinegary). We prefer the sweet with the char. Tender enough for my 6 year old to finish 4. Tried the brisket and it's smoky flavor was perfect. Mac-n-cheese is truly rich, creamy and with chunks of melted cheese incorporated throughout..everything you want from the dish!! We took a pint home! Do not attempt to calorie count it - just enjoy. Coleslaw wasn't too sweet or tangy. It complemented the meal just fine. We will be back. I really wanted beef ribs which they ran out of - so I gave it 4 stars. I felt we got there in good enough time for there to be some left. I understand their fresh concept though. Give this place a try! You won't regret it!

    (4)

  • Daniele X.

    Our table had pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, Brunswick stew, collard greens, mac & cheese, & potato salad. I wish the pork has been a little drier; the brisket apparently was good. The bread was grilled perfectly to hold together all the way through the meal, which was nice. Our table of 2 kids & 2 adults agreed that we would choose Pig & Chik over Community Q, but only by a bit.

    (4)

  • Katherine I.

    So my review of a BBQ restaurant is not going to concentrate on typical BBQ dishes. Which is part of the reason I love this place so much. First off, I needed some greens for the day, so I went ahead and ordered the "kitchen sink" salad. A great salad with greens (not iceburg!). I wish I could remember more about the specific ingredients, but they were all fresh and tasty. You can add meat to the kitchen sink salad if you want. I added the pulled pork which was smokey and good. I also got a side: smoked sweet potato with braised kale. It was wonderful and a very unique side dish - especially for a BBQ restaurant. I tried some of the fiance's mac and cheese and it was creamy and tasty.

    (4)

  • Liz V.

    Upon pulling up, I was immediately drawn to the overwhelming smell of BBQ in the air. I almost didn't want to sit inside but we chose the oversized bar table for the birds eye view of the food coming out of the kitchen! After a long lunch, my clothes smelled like smoked meat for the rest of the day. Instant happy girl! The staff knew several people by name which was impressive but the line that remained out the door told it's own story. Community Q is serious about customer service and making sure you not only enjoy your food but the experience itself. My drink was refilled, I was offered extra pickles, fresh sauce and all this before I was given my cute little silver tray with oversized sides and brisket stacked like a game of Jenga. Based on Tony P.'s suggestion, I chose the brisket and who could resist the macaroni and cheese, collard greens and of course the banana pudding. I also managed to sweet talk some pulled pork off my friend! I could talk for hours, or paragraphs rather, about how amazing the mac n cheese is! Thick ziti pieces of pasta with soft cheeses and a crispy topping of more cheese! I am a collard green snob and I was shocked at how flavorful the greens were without the typical hot sauce most other BBQ places add. Needless to say, I literally tilted the bowl back in to my mouth when I was done! Now, the meat, the entree size of brisket could feed 3 people. I am used to brisket that literally falls to pieces when you cut it with a fork and this brisket, sadly... Tony P. please don't hate me, failed. It was dry, didn't have a lot of flavor or even the right color. I tried the pulled pork and it too was very dry. I normally don't use the sauce on BBQ at all considering the rub normally speaks for itself but even after literally soaking both items, I still didn't finish either. The "home made" banana pudding was from a box and the container was so small, we tried to share, but I ended up with just one bite. I will give Community BBQ another try just for the sides alone. Besides, I have to try the famed beef rib to at least get back on Tony P.'s good graces...

    (3)

  • Katie C.

    After having this place recommended by several friends, we went to Community Q last night. We ordered the pulled pork and pulled chicken plates with mac 'n cheese, Brunswick stew, fries and coleslaw. The portions are huge. I could only eat half the sandwich and a small portion of the sides, but that just meant left overs for lunch the next day. The food was fabulous! I love that the meat came out without sauce. The wonderful smokiness of the meat was great by itself, but their BBQ sauce is really good too. I'm a sauce kinda girl so I slathered on it and topped it with coleslaw. The chicken was moist and the smoke gets into every nook and cranny. The fries and coleslaw were good, but the mac 'n cheese was AMAZING! Seriously. Next time I come here - is tomorrow too soon? - I will get two sides of the mac 'n cheese with my chicken.

    (5)

  • Carlos M.

    I am a big fun of community BBQ the food is just terrific. I always get the same thing all though I had tried half of their menu. My favorite is the brisket sandwich you will never go wrong with this one. And is only 6.50!

    (4)

  • Bee F.

    If I could give them 9 stars I would! If you haven't been, go NOW! Don't wait until tomorrow! Your life will not be complete until then! We ordered a half rack of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, Mac n cheese, Black eye peas and collard greens. The ribs are PHENOMENAL!!!!! Did you read that?? Ok good. Mac n cheese was AMAZING!! I mean some of the best I've ever had, like ever!!! Collards were good as well, not the best I've had but it's hard to compete with the greens I get at home anyway though. I don't eat black eye peas so idk abt that but they were all gone so it's safe to assume they were good! Brisket was great!!! Pulled pork was really good too!! I usually don't order pulled pork but this was really good. The sauce was really good, which is important for a great BBQ experience. The service was good, everyone was really nice and chill. The ONLY thing that would have made this review a 10 is if they had drinks! A bourbon cocktail would have put this meal over the top. Aside from that this was better than Fox Brothers, Smoke Ring and any other that you can think of!

    (5)

  • Billy H.

    I ordered the beef brisket with the famous Mac and cheese and Brunswick stew. This place is phenomenal. A must have for Atlanta BBQ! I WILL be coming back!

    (5)

  • June J.

    I personally give my vote of the best barbecue joint to this place. The meat is juicy and tender without being overly sweet. The most pleasant thing about this place is that you don't have to get typical fatty mac&cheese or creamed corn for side dishes. They have healthy side dishes as well; the last time I went, I think I had roasted sweet potatoes with kale and blacked eyed peas with both being exceptional.

    (5)

  • George S.

    Try the baked beans! I don't normally frequent a BBQ joint for their side dishes, but I do here! It's a once/week staple for my son and I. My 2 year old loves their brisket (as do I). The only thing I've tried that I didn't care for was their fries, but then again, who the heck orders fries at a BBQ joint? Kid friendly - they always come by our table to talk to my son. I love the fact that they run out of things from time to time. They cook as much as they think they'll need but won't try to scrape something together if they run out.

    (5)

  • Bisley B.

    I've really enjoyed Community BBQ. I've been here probably 5-6 times now. The ribs are very good, brisket is good, pulled pork is very good, half chicken is very good, Mac-n-cheese is very good, fries are very good, bruswick stew is good, toast is good. I like their spicy BBQ sauce. Don't really know what else to say, except this is how places should operate. Get people in to eat in a reasonable amount of time, serve them good food, be friendly, and move on to the next customers that take their place.

    (5)

  • David S.

    All these years later, I am still excited to write an update... Love this place.. Food great, people are very nice.. Glad that made the switch to water coming out of the soda machine, it is now filtered water.. A big plus for me.. I cannot drink tap water, doesn't agree with me. Thanks for making the switch. I think I will eat lunch there today, can't wait..

    (5)

  • Stefanie M.

    Community Q reminds me of bbq shacks way out in the sticks of the south. Nice people, casual family atmosphere, straight forward good bbq with no fanciness, no city twist, no pretense, and no liquor. I've sampled the brisket, the pork ribs, the smoked chicken, collards, mac and cheese, baked beans and brunswick stew at this point, and they were all pretty solid. To nit pick, I'm not a huge fan of sliced brisket, I feel it dries out really fast. Not a huge deal cuz you can cover it in sauce to juice it right back up. Baked beans were really stellar! Mac and cheese was good, but I'm not as in love with it as some other yelpers, I found the oversized pasta made it slightly difficult to eat. I feel nobody should need a knife to eat mac and cheese. Smoked chicken was yummy with a great dry rub on the skin. Brunswick stew was decent but I wouldn't order it again. Overall Community Q is a really great bbq joint, and if I'm in the area and craving bbq, it's a great place! I'm not sure I'll be a regular though since I live so close to Fox Bros, and I feel Fox Bros and Community Q both offer equally very good bbq. For this gal, Fox Bros wins for proximity to my house and ability to sell me a beer or watermelon margarita in the summer.

    (4)

  • Jes C.

    Surprisingly awesome BBQ in a strip mall. The best Mac-n-cheese these taste buds have ever experienced. As a 99.99% vegequarium, this is the only place that has tempted me to eat meat in over 4 years. The mister and bro-in-law claim that is the best brisket around. Also, there is a mini produce market at the counter.

    (4)

  • T T.

    Everything was great. Had BBQ pork sandwich with pickled beets and coleslaw,. Which is a must have for my BBQ sandwich. It was more mustard than mayo, which is perfect. My dad loved the Brunswick stew and mac and cheese. AND homemade pickles FTW!

    (4)

  • John M.

    I stopped by here by chance because my wife wanted a smoothie at a business nearby. The atmosphere here is real cool and it would have been nice to stay there and watch the goins on as it appeared the staff was really friendly and fun. However I did take my food to go. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and the potato salad. The potato salad was good, a southern style, traditional with new potatoes and egg. The sandwich was a little disappointing to me. There was a lot of pork, which was great, it's served on two thick pieces of grilled toast, which was also good. The part I was disappointed in was while the pork was moist and tender, it lacked any real flavor. It was terribly bland. Not really even a smokey flavor. I guess all the flavor is supposed to come from one of the sauces you can choose from. Which the vinegar sauce was tatsy. Just not really what I'm looking for in a pulled pork sandwich. I want the pork to be the star and it just wasn't. I'll probably give them another try though, if I'm in the area as I think there's a good chance this was just an off batch. They certainly look like they know what they're doing. I'll try the chicken or brisket next time perhaps

    (3)

  • Maya W.

    This place is soooo good! I'm not much of a red meat person but I get the ribs and fries every time. Delish!

    (5)

  • Andrew A.

    When our tailgating party at the Falcon's game grew from 5 to 15 we had to have a change of plans regarding food. Since no one wanted to cook for that many people and people bringing their own food on Marta wasn't an option (our SUV was already filled with two coolers, tables, a tent, chairs, television, chargers, etc) we opted for getting BBQ from Community Q. We ordered Saturday night and they had our order ready at 11a when they opened on Sunday. The Feed 8 was a perfect option with its 3 lbs of meat and 2 sides so we ordered two of them - the brisket and the pulled chicken with potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw and mac and cheese. We also had the north carolina sauce and the kansas city sauce. The food was devoured - especially the mac n cheese which is terrific. I really enjoyed the pulled chicken. It had a great flavor even before the BBQ sauce. I also enjoyed the potato salad which did not have to much mayonaise. Great for take out and I look forward to eating in next time.

    (4)

  • Charlene W.

    I come here quite frequently because it's close to Emory, but I'd come here even if it was far away (probably just not as often). This place is seriously delicious and great for those on a budget. I always get the pulled pork with 2 sides. I'm a pretty big fan of all their sides, but I especially like their potato salad. The line can get pretty long here during lunch hours, but it always moves quickly. If you have a big group, it may be difficult to find a table together, but try the outside patio for sunny days. You can usually finagle your way into 2 adjacent tables. Here's my secret tip: Use equal parts of both of their BBQ sauces. The combination is far superior to either sauce alone!

    (5)

  • Daniel L.

    Ok, this is real BBQ. These guys don't mess around or cut corners. Everything here is awesome. Best BBQ in Atlanta, hands down. Honorable mention to the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac-n-cheese and a crucial glass of sweet tea.

    (5)

  • Scott V.

    Very good BBQ. St. Louis style ribs, brisket and pulled pork are all above average. Loved the collard greens side dish.

    (4)

  • Kayla E.

    The mac and cheese was so absolutely delicious. It was tangy, creamy, cheesy, with a hint of sweet. The melty cheese on top was the cheery on top. The brisket is tender and juicy and loaded with flavor. The staff are friendly and helpful and the aroma inside should be bottled and sold. Definitely will be coming back for more.

    (4)

  • Erik L.

    Don't you hate those reviews that start with I know BBQ cause I've been to Memphis or I grew up in Texas. Well bite me Texas, no one likes you and your stupid beef brisket. Grow up! What can I say that hasn't been said awesome BBQ great sides. Had the pulled pork and sausage and the best damn mac and cheese ever. This is Danny Edwards KC BBQ good!!!

    (5)

  • Christy M.

    I wouldn't say I'm a barbecue snob, but there are some definite no-no's that seem to plague local 'que joints. Dry meat, not enough smoke, sauce that's too sweet...happily, none of these were an issue at Community Q. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the 1/2 smoked chicken, and both were delicious. Even the white meat of the chicken was moist and flavorful, and I loved the smokiness of the pork. There was a very generous amount of meat on the sandwich (more than one could reasonably "sandwich," in fact) and I'm a big fan of the garlic Texas toast as a bun. There were two sauces: a spicy vinegar-based sauce and a sweeter tomato-based. The tomato-based sauce was alright, but I really enjoyed the vinegar one. We got three sides between our two meals: the mac 'n cheese, the slaw, and the fries. The mac 'n cheese was out of this world - definitely don't miss that. The slaw was okay, a little too chopped up and mayo-ey for my preferences, but it still tasted good, piled on the pork sandwich with the vinegar-based sauce Carolina-style. The fries I wasn't a fan of, mostly because they weren't crisp (disclaimer: we got the food to go, but it wasn't in the container very long) and they were covered in a seasoning that made them taste exactly bbq potato chips, something I don't particularly like. Overall, though, the quality of a BBQ place has to rest on its meats and sauces, and there Community Q delivers a solid dining experience. I wouldn't drive across town for it, but since it's in my neighborhood, I'll definitely be stopping back again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    You all know how I feel about this place already- BUT I just wanted to fill you in on a few "must-try" sides that are on their semi-makeshift list of specials: Sweet potatoes with braised kale- A great combination of different textures and flavors. Brisket and black bean chili- flavor was good, not overpowering- just right, with a little kick. I had both of these sides along with the very last beef rib they had for the evening. I'm sure there will come a time where I will not be able to finish all the meat on that rib- I'm definitely slowing down...but I'll savor it while I can.

    (5)

  • Stephanie A.

    Another strip mall bbq gem in the metro area (if you consider Decatur metro?) You will find it next to Bhojanic Indian. Country store decor as is appropriate. It has more seating than Heirloom Market but less than Fox Bros. I call it a happy medium. I ordered my standard fare of pork ribs and brisket. Mac n cheese and brunswick stew sides (not usual but it sounded good at the time). My friend got similar plate but baked beans in addition to. I will say the ribs and brisket are delicious. Tender, light smoke taste and not overly sauced. Two sauces are on the table, mustard based and an overly sweet uncomplex Kansas city style. Ribs are meaty and easy to eat (as opposed to a sloppy mess and I don't say sloppy mess like it's a bad thing). Brisket is lean but not too lean and tender as you would expect from a proper cook. The side are a gamble. The mac n cheese is rigatoni a noodle with a cheddary sauce, high fat creamy comfort and a safe bet for satisfaction. The baked beans LOOKED like they would taste divine but they did greatly disappoint. No complexity. Neither of us wanted more than one bite. The stew suffered the same offense. I gave it two bites hoping the second would be better than the first. No luck. Free parking! It's a lot so nothing fancy (you weren't wearing your ball gown to your Q dinner were you?) but when it's free who cares? Go for the mains, sides are at your own risk. 7 out of 10. 6 for food and a plus 1 for friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    Sorry to report that we found Community Q to be over-rated in almost every important way. We hope your experience will be different, and we know others disagree, but honestly, this is what we experienced: a pork sandwich in which the pork was fatty, a bit dry and quite bland and utterly tasteless, with two awful sauces available, one thin and vinegary and lacking bite, the other sickly sweet. The sides fared little better. The mac n' cheese, rated by many among the best in the city, we thought was better than store-bought but with fat noodles and too much dried cheese. The sweet potatoes were lumpy and served cool not hot; the slaw was nicely vinegary (our favorite of a dismal selection), and the beans were, well, ok. Not much to rave about here, sorry to say. We know this place is very popular, but our visit confirms a belief that Atlanta is very shy on first-rate barbecue houses. And for heaven's sake, find some decent barbecue sauce please!!.

    (2)

  • The S.

    Brisket sandwich was excellent but I found the pulled pork a bit disappointing. Ditto for the Brunswick stew. Cole slaw was ok. Sauce was very good as well. Lemonade was way too strong and needed much ice and water to make it drinkable

    (3)

  • Fabian W.

    What can I say, the baked beans, mac & cheese, the sausage, brisket, pulled pork and chicken all were great. This place stays busy because it's just that good. A true neighborhood gem. I drove almost an hour and I can't wait to go back. Seating can obviously be a challenge but I'm will to eat in the car or take it to go and have a picnic.

    (5)

  • Lois B.

    Forget Fox Bros BBQ. Juicy meat every single time unlike hit-and-miss Fox Bros BBQ(not consistent enough for my liking). Be sure to get their mac n cheese too! One of the tastiest done right! This joint is set up differently than most restaurants. You walk-in, place an order, and grab a table until it is brought out to you. And they close fairly early compared to most places in the area so make sure to check their business hours beforehand. Try this place and you will simply see what I am talking about. Makes my mouth water just writing this review!

    (5)

  • Lauren R.

    I popped in here today during my lunch break. I haven't been impressed with any of the barbecue I've had since I've lived in this city. The pulled chicken sandwich I had today at Community Q BBQ is the exception. Absolutely delicious! Still thinking about it an hour after I've finished it. My sides (the mac and cheese and coleslaw) were passable - not fantastic, but not terrible. For an $11 plate, I expected everything to knock my socks off. Next time, I'd probably just get the sandwich and bring an apple or something from home. Plenty of parking and seating available during lunch, and even though I took my time eating, I never felt rushed - definitely a plus. The guys cleared my table and everything! I'll be back for another sandwich soon.

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    Great bbq. When I say bbq, I am referring to the pulled pork. Yes, they have chicken and beef and usually a special or two, but real bbq is pulled pork, so that's what I get. Sides: Beans are great. Mac and cheese is great, but has a huge amount of butter in it. Potato salad is not that good, but be fair, I judge all potato salad compared to my mom's which is still the best potato salad I have ever had, so this place didn't have much of a shot. I usually don't like coleslaw, but I din't hate the coleslaw here, so take that for whatever its worth. Fries are decent as well. One weird thing - about 50% of time I've been there, when they bring my food, they ask if eaten there before and know about the sauces. The "sauces" they are referring to are two unlabeled bottled - one that is sweet (ketchup based?) and that is a sour (mustard/vinegar based?). But that's it, and their explanation is basically what I wrote: "one is more of a sweet sauce, and one is more of a vinegar, sour one". They have two sauces in unlabeled bottles and could avoid this whole speech if they just decided to put some labels on them. Nobody asks me if I know about their condiments in other restaurants ("do you know about ketchup?"). Just label the bottles. END RANT. Still, best bbq I've had in Atlanta, and not that expensive.

    (5)

  • terry M.

    Best beef brisket and mac and cheese I've ever had. The BBQ chicken is juicy and the other sides are great. I eat it when I'm sad, I eat it when I'm happy. . . basically, I just find any excuse I can to eat at this place. A must try!

    (5)

  • Erich F.

    Good solid BBQ. Had the pulled pork sandwich and Greens. Sandwich was good with a nice bark, but was a little fattier than I like...but who eats BBQ because its health food?? The greens had a great flavor, just the right amount of spice and acidity to them. The food got about a three from me, but I gave another star because of the atmosphere...and the Detroit Redwings and Tigers banners hanging in the dining room!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Have made two visits, getting the ribs both times. The were quite good and I will go back. I have found slightly more tender ribs at some of the other good BBQ joints in Atlanta and Memphis, but that was the only criticism I can think of and it is a very slight one. The sauces were both good too. We also had a side of collards and a side of Brunswick stew. Neither of us were impressed with the collards -- too much vinegar and other spices in them. The stew was decent, but a little on the tomatoey side for my tastes. We will go back.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Love this place. The meat isn't oversmoked such that one "remembers" one's meal for hours to come (Fox Bros. take note!), and it is the only place I know of that I can get a perfectly Q'd beef-rib as a regular item on the menu. They don't try to get fancy or clever or hip, it's just good Q at a decent price. Did I mention the Beef Rib? It's one of those holdover-loves of mine from when I was a kid growing up in South Florida. Ina little town called Margate, along SR 441, just north of Royal Palm (neé Copans Road) was a little BBQ restaurant a few doors from the dive-diner "The Clock" - and their specialty was the Beef Rib. So while the meal is certainly one of those things that takes me back to my youth, there's no denying the simple luxuriousness of a slow-smoked beef-rib. So good, it'll turn your vegan-ass into flesheater by your second bite. Word.

    (4)

  • Lindsay W.

    I ordered my smoked turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. Need I say more????

    (5)

  • Eddie T.

    The BBQ pork was excellent, the chicken was good. But the Ribs and the Brisket should be illegal!!! Toss up between Community BBQ and Fox Bros. love both. But Community gets the edge because their portions are bigger.

    (5)

  • Zhenting G.

    My first taste of American restaurant. A lot of meat, I love it. But if they also serve some hot drink, that would be better.

    (4)

  • Jing X.

    Love the typical southern BBQ. Chicken is perfectly cooked, seasoned, juicy, and tasty. As An Asian from Asia, I totally get conquered by Half Chicken, bone in.

    (5)

  • Brianna E.

    I moved here from Texas a few months ago and this is the only BBQ joint I've between to more than once in the metro area. We've had the ribs, the beef ribs, and their brisket. All are top notch. I'd give them 4.5 stars, but yelp doesn't let you do that. Sides are good too, Mac and cheese was creamy and a tad stretchy with the right amount of buttery goodness. Greens are good too. Will be back for more Q in the future.

    (5)

  • Erika S.

    I love BBQ. It makes me beyond happy. Community Q BBQ may be one of the best I've ever had. Their two sauces are amazing, a KS style and a Carolina style. Delish! The mac and cheese might be a bit greasy, but that's the cheesy-goodness. I ate so much I needed to be rolled to the car! The best part would be the service. Everyone was friendly and the atmosphere of this tiny place was "We're a neighborhood joint, come sit a spell, eat a lot, and relax." OH, and try the black eyed peas too... Heaven!

    (4)

  • Eowyn C.

    I was excited to see Community Q enter the neighborhood, but after patronizing this place a couple of times I find this place to be just alright. - The meat has a pretty good taste, especially the pulled pork, but it's lacking that delicious smokey flavor that I associated with bbq. Also the sauces, which there are only two of, are vinegar based. - Macaroni is delicious with a baked layer of cheese on top but I could do without the cup of oil that it is swimming in. After eating this side, I was pretty much full and had to take the majority of my food home. I felt a little sick after eating it. - Side items are limited and lacking. I'm pretty sure, "Thou shalt not have a bbq restaurant without fried okra" is one of the commandments. In the South at least. I'm accustomed to their being at least 2 fried items at every bbq establishment I've been to and neither of these include fries. - $11 for a pulled pork plate with 2 sides is a bit expensive in my opinion. The best bbq I've had has been at little hole in the wall places that bring you out a heaping plate of food all for around $8 drink included. If you're gonna bear the humble name of "Community" then naturally the overall concept should be humble as well. There is a bit of pretension masked under that humble facade. I would definitely go back being as it is so close and it seems bbq joints are disappearing at an alarming rate in Georgia, but it leaves one wanting for more.

    (3)

  • Jessica D.

    It's really really hard to park. Sometimes we have to just go somewhere else because the parking lot is so terrible. But the food is SO worth it, so we just try to go early.

    (5)

  • Elson M.

    Oh man really good food. I've been in this area for a long time, but shied away from this place until recently. The food is great. I always get the pulled pork with sweet sauce and Mac and cheese. Good stuff. Keep it up community BBQ!

    (5)

  • Jereme G.

    Wow. Wow. Wow. What else can I say? Ok I can say alot. Right now my favorite and most consistent restaurant. A constant issue I have is falling in love with something and then having inconsistency. Remembering how good it once was named it that much worse. You won't see that here. Best brisket I've ever had! Two amazing bbq sauces. Try them both. The pulled pork is rumored to be best in Atlanta and I understand why. Mac and cheese was an awakening to me. Large rigatoni noodles in a conglomerate of melted cheeses, though it can be really greasy sometimes, it is the bomb. They do reubens on Tuesdays and that made me realize I'd never had a REAL reuben before! I enjoy the occasional soup, my favorite corned beef and cabbage. Only thing I would recommend to the place is let's get some jalapeno cornbread!!!! The staff is awesome every single one of them. The prices are cheap compared to other bbq spots.

    (5)

  • Ron B.

    Saturday night at 7pm and closed with sign on door they were Out of food.Three groups of customers at door and we all agreed we would NEver come back. obvious they do not care about customers

    (1)

  • Tracie J.

    Love love love the brisket at Community Q! I can't get enough. The mac and cheese is also quite yummy. The first time we went, they gave us extra sides to try in addition to what we ordered. The baked beans are really good and the fries are awesome. Not a huge fan of the collards, but the other sides give me more than enough. The people who work there are great and it's nice that they remember us when we come in. Good portions and good prices.

    (4)

  • Charlene W.

    Awesome BBQ and some of the best Mac n Cheese .. EVER!! Great small hometown friendly feel, but in a small location. Seating is limited, but worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Brian J.

    You know a BBQ restaurant is going to be good when you first walk in and smell the smoke right away. Community BBQ had the best Barbeque Ribs I've eaten all year. I ordered the Pork Rib Sandwich for takeout which was actually a half rack of ribs served with two slices of bread. They were meaty, with very little fat and perfectly grilled, well seasoned and had that Smoky taste that you can only get from a good BBQ joint.

    (5)

  • Kevin G.

    Look, it takes alot for me to be a fan of a BBQ place and I am a fan of Community Q. Their food is great all around. Even the baked beans, which for most restaurants are a throw away were great. I feel that their meat is better than Fox Bros and their portions are not ridiculous. Their Mac n' Cheese is awesome get that and pulled pork and have yourself a night. The service is great for what it is; a walk up order and eat place. The choice of two sauces (vinegar based and sweet) is a nice touch although I am not a fan of their vinegar based sauce. Go their and put their food in your mouth it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Roxy J.

    I actually like this place. But what I actually like about CQBBQ is their sides. They have really, really good Mac n' Cheese (real cheese, milk, eggs and butter), Collards, Potato salad, Slaw and black eyed peas. Seriously. As a Georgia native, I can say with great conviction that their side dishes rival some of the best, most authentic, soul food restaurants' side dishes in the entire Atlanta area. Their strawberry bread pudding is absolutely wonderful. And for as good as their southern sides are, I expected their banana pudding to be much better. I also commend them for their salad entrees, even though the one I had wasn't much to write about and left much to be desired, at least it had NO MEAT. I think Brunswick stew is best done in its namesake. Or Charleston, or somewhere else (but definitely not Fat Matt's). Generally, if you 'know' Brunswick stew, you'll have a tough time finding some good stew anywhere between Fannin to Dooly county! And quiet as is kept, the best beef ribs I've had have been one's made at home with the Spicy Barbecue recipe provided by Weight Watchers in the Mix-It Match-It Cookbook. Buy some decent, grass fed beef bones, follow the recipe in that book and you'll think twice about trying anyone's beef ribs again. Unbelievable, but true. Promise. I initially rated the place with 3 stars, but their sides are SO good, and the Texas toast REALLY makes their sandwiches winners, I'll have to give them 4 stars!

    (4)

  • Bobbin W.

    MMMMM! Community Q BBQ fully deserves every aforegroaned capital "M." Piled high with bewitching pulled pork shreds, my 'cue sandwich melted in my mouth, sweet sauce and vinegar running across my tongue. Its lightly buttered cloak of Texas toast added a coy crunch to every bite. When my sandwich became too delicious to handle, I switched my focus to the bowl of macaroni and cheese that sat seductively on my plate, long, thick pasta cooing promises of white cheddar and oil. Plus, a layer of baked cheese had become encrusted over the top. In addition to ethereal barbecue, Community Q showered me with chivalrous service. While I waited for my friend to arrive, the owner fixed me a cup of sweet tea, at first offering me green tea in celebration of St. Patty's Day. "You guys serve hot tea?" I almost clapped. "No," another staff member chortled. "Oh. You mean you dye your sweet tea green?" "No," he sniggled again. I, too, laughed at my gullibility. After delivering my glass of refreshing tea, the same staff member also brought me the latest copy of Creative Loafing to keep me company during my wait. Top-notch 'cue and sides served up by perfect gentlemen: I'm a fan of Community Q!

    (5)

  • Chef Invisible T.

    Commu--nity, Commu---nity Q Where are you? Me and My Asian are coming to find you.(Scooby Doo) And we want the best you have to offer. After about 3 par trips and 2 above average experiences, Community Q finally hit my red neck ass on the right head with a complete din din. So after much ado community boo, became community good bbq, got this favorable review, and is added to my normal to do--- writing reviews today hung over I dig this place and it jumped up my list of places with four star brisket, four star pork, and 4 star St.Louis ribs. The sides are all good, but the baked beans are notoriously salty and under cooked. As simple as it might be, their presentation is clean, tight, and traditional all in the same sentence. I like how it looks good without trying to fancy--fy bbq. I love the cable spool for outside patio tables--reminds me of my grandparents home--pretty authentic for que restos. I believe this will become my go to spot with the girl 4.3331 stars Chef Invisible--Out

    (4)

  • Mallory C.

    Could be better, could be worse. Due to reviews and word of mouth I called ahead to make sure they hadn't run out of anything. They had a full menu and I set off. The sweet tea was bitter, as if it have been over seeped, the mac and cheese while creamy was bland, and my sandwich came on thick Texas style toast. With each of these items a la carte my check was higher then I would have liked, especially since I was disappointed by the preparation of the food. I went with the traditional sauce. I was warned it was sweet, and yep it was. Not too sweet since my bread soaked some of it up. I want to like it, I just don't.

    (2)

  • Veda R.

    Gosh this place is so stinkin' cute, it's ridiculous. The ambiance is very home-y (note: different than homely), the servers treat you like you're family, and the food is just good ole southern cookin'. I was in the same group as Mona P. and ordered the brisket sandwich which came with yummy savory and crispy fries, and mac and cheese. The brisket left a lot to be desired, so I spent a good 20 minutes perfecting a mix of hot sauce and barbecue sauces, which were conveniently table side. It was tough and just not well seasoned. The fries were heavenly, and the mac and cheese was just downright sinful. Okay so I was the gross coworker at the table that spent a lot of time "pouring" melted butter off the mac and cheese cup...guilty....BUT I think very low of establishments that rely solely on fat in order to boost taste. There's a perfect mix of cheese, milk and butter that can be played with...rather than just adding more butter. Of course, didn't deter me from polishing off my leftovers later on that evening. Ignoring the hardened butter at the bottom of my non-styrofoam box was difficult though. (OH that's another thing. I let out an audible squeal when our server brought out our non-styrofoam doggie box made of post-consumer recycled goodness.) Major pluses for awesome southern hospitality. Icing on the cake was when I dropped my phone and the server tried to help me locate all the pieces (conveniently spread out underneath an occupied table). Meanwhile, another server started running towards the door with the doggie bag I left on my table while looking for my phone. He thought someone left it at the table and ran off to find its owner...(me). Such sweet people. I'll be back :)

    (4)

  • Leeanna L.

    The day I visited Community Q was a good day. The pulled pork was heavenly, my oh my! Maybe I got lucky but it was amazingly tender and succulent through and through. It was even delish sans sauce and sans bread, which I'd pushed aside to uncomplicate things. My pulled pork was not afflicted with any of the eventual hard or dry bits you usually run into. Way to represent the South, CQ. The BBQ sauce that did eventually make its way onto my pulled pork was thick, sweet, and reminiscent of ketchup, maybe? Jury's out. It's good but I'm not sure I love it. I was almost done with my pulled pork before I realized that the big yellow squeeze bottle in front of me was a vinegar sauce. Illogical as it was, I'd ignored it as a big giant bottle of mustard. That improved the BBQ sauce situation a great deal so don't miss out. I had pickled beets from the specials board and it was pretty pickled, causing a few uncontrolled winks. Collards were only ok, a little different with salty smoky notes. I liked that Community Q had a patio area outside though be ready to be bumped and jostled. The tables are big and crammed together and the patio area is small. Also, depending on how you feel about fusion, you may or may not appreciate the spicy pungent smells wafting over from Bjohanic next door.

    (4)

  • Joyce S.

    surprisingly good! I had the pull pork sandwich, cole slaw, beans and fries. $13 and I had enough left over for dinner. The guy at the register and the entire staff had great attitudes and always smiled! I went at lunch and the line moved pretty quickly and it didnt take took long for my food to be delivered to my table. Cant want to go back!

    (5)

  • Joey M.

    Very good barbecue! This is definitely one of my new favorites in Atlanta. First, the pulled pork. It was some of the most moist, decadent pulled pork I've had in a long time. Very reminiscent of Sam/Dave's but even more tender and moist. So, so good. Good smoky flavor, too. Mac and cheese was just fine. Baked beans were fabulous - really thick and meaty. They've gotta be the heartiest I've had at any barbecue restaurant. I like it. Brunswick stew was quite delicious, though not my favorite. Pork rib was pretty tasty, but not my favorite. I'm not a big ribs-eater though. Two sauces - one vinegar and one tomato based. Both were really great. Not sure if there's any actual relationship (is there?), but the sauces, pork, and mac and cheese were all eerily similar to sam's BBQ1 and Dave Poe's. This is definitely not a bad thing, but still.... This will definitely be my new go-to place.

    (5)

  • Randy B.

    Omg! Awesome. I'm from NC myself and loves me some Q. Other than the fact that the sandwiches are too big and served on big square bread slices rather than white round buns, and don't have slaw installed as standard equipment, I've got nuthin but glorified things to say about this place. Fresh and delish, and I went inMonday night at closing when my expectations were way low. Go get you some.

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    I'm stuffed. Just went by Community BBQ for the first time tonight and I am impressed. Had the pulled pork sandwich, cole slaw, and brunswick stew. My wife enoyed the sandwich, slaw and fries. The sandwich was huge, with Texas Toast bread and plent of pickles on the side. Lots of meat that was tender, juicy and flavorful. Wish there had been a mix of inside and outside meat to give a bit more of the grilled flavor. Don't consider this a negative, just something that would have made the meal perfect. The slaw was flavorful with the right balance of sweetness. The brunswick stew was very good, with just a hint of spicy heat that comes back at you late. The fries were really good, and I heard another diner commenting how they were the best he'd had anywhere in the area. I'd have to say there were really good as well. We walked out stuffed and pleased with our experience. At $6.50 a sandwich and $11.50 for a platter (2 sides), the prices may seem a little steep. But the food is good, and the portions are large, (so you could split a platter in a pinch.) Great addtion to the neighborhood!

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    I've heard good things about Community Q so I was glad to finally get out there to try it. I was pleasantly surprised. Portions are decently sized, fairly typical when compared to a place like Jim N Nick's. I had the 2 meat sandwich, with brisket, pork, collards and brunswick stew. Brisket was pretty darn tasty. No need for sauce, it's great on its own. I agree with a few other reviews I've seen about it being dry, it does need sauce IMO. But that's really just a great, convenient excuse to douse it with the delicious vinegar sauce they have. I could almost drink it. The collard greens were damn tasty. They have a tart kick, and are cooked long and slow so that even the stems are tender and delicious. The stew was a disappointment, in that it was very mild. I expected more flavor and really didn't get it, which just meant the sauces got drizzled in and saved it. The coolest part came at the end, when I was refilling my tea. The waitress was walking past and I casually asked her if the big metal box next to the tea tanks was the smoker. "No, that's the walk-in. You wanna see the smokers though?" I geeked out, said yes, giggled like a schoolgirl and was thrilled to see them. Yeah, they're simple metal boxes, but as a barbeque fan (and aspiring competitor) it was a big moment for me. Great food, easy to reach, enjoyable. I intend to be here as much as possible, some of the best BBQ I've had anywhere.

    (4)

  • Laura T.

    Visited again today, so wanted to update. Pulled pork sandwich was good again, but not quite as stellar as I remembered it to be. I think next time I may opt for the brisket as it's quite tender. Mac-n-cheese is still sooooo yummy & the reason I will return. Sad to say I can't change my opinion of the banana pudding. :-( Sorry guys, but it's a miss for me when it tastes like something even I can easily make at home and yet I'm being charged $2.50 for it.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    Hands down one of the best Beef brisket plates I've ever had. Been going there for several years but just finally getting on the "Yelp" Also they catered a party for us several months ago & knocked it out of the park! Big hit! Later

    (5)

  • M A.

    Oh yes yes yes. Tender pulled pork with a choice of vinegar or tomato-based sauces? Delicious sides - including a mac n' cheese to rival that of my dad? Ample portions for two to share off a single plate? Few places can really say yes to all three of those questions - particularly the one about my dad's heavenly mac n' cheese - but Community Q can. Even if you're not from the South, the decor, food, and staff will make a Southerner out of you in no time. Don't expect your meal to show up to your table for a while. It's prepped to order and you can bet your britches there is a line ahead of ya. So just sit down and enjoy the smell of smokey meat rising up from the kitchen to tease and tantalize you while you wait. It's worth the patience and the drool-covered shirts, and the moment that plate is set down in front of you, you'll want your stomach to hit the ground running and down it faster than those guys in a hot dog eating contest. Lick your fingers at the end - you won't want to miss a single bite! I'm happy to have another spot to get my 'que fill in town, and it's super close to my house whereas the others are a bit further out. Will I be back? You bet yer britches I will!

    (5)

  • Darren H.

    Went here on a whim, the original plans was to go to Maddy's or Fat Matt's but since neither of us had been to this place before we figured we'd give it a try. There are several other places in this little strip mall that i'd like to try but this review is about Community. We ordered the 2 meats plus 2 sides so we could try a variety of things on the menu. I got the Pork ribs, Smoked sausage with Mac & cheese & baked beans. She got the Brisket, pulled pork with the black eyed peas & Mac & cheese. I have to agree with most that the mac & cheese was on point & some of the best I've had from a restaurant & pasta they decided to go with in it was a different choice other than the elbow macaroni but I liked it. All the sides were good the baked beans stood out a little bit better than the Mac & Cheese. There beans are sweet so if you not a fan steer clear. The ribs were good, thinking about it might be the best I've had in Atlanta so far, smoked sausage was great moist on the inside and crispy on the edges. Everything was good but the brisket, it was dry & really didn't have any flavor and needed sauce added to it bad. Enjoyed the food & loved the neighborhood feel to the place. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • adam h.

    I don't think the hype helped. I had high expectations of this joint. BBQ is my passion. Unfortunately it didn't live up to my sky high hopes. The pulled pork was disappointing. It was a bit mushy and cold. Everything was a bit weak on seasoning. The ribs were good, and the brisket was fine. But, pulled pork wasn't to the quality I expected. The vinegar based sauce was a little bland as well. Sides were solid. I would give the pulled pork 1.5 stars, the collard greens 5 stars, the ribs 4 stars and the brisket 3 stars. It's a good addition to the dining scene (maybe it will start a BBQ war!), but it's not worth the drive from midtown.

    (3)

  • Enoch C.

    community is one of my go-to places for bbq. it's in my top 3 and i go here the most because it's the closest of the 3. my last visit was right before the yelp halloween party, which was a couple doors down. i got the beef rib with the sweet potato and kale and the collards as my sides. my gf got the st. louis ribs with the cole slaw and mac and cheese. my gosh, the beef rib was soooo juicy and tender. i will be ordering this from now on. you hear me, community? have some ready for me!! it fell off the bone and i ate the whole thing with a fork and didn't have to use my hands at all, it was that awesome. the beef rib comes with one giant rib and it had tons of meat on it. the sweet potatoes and kale were great. i've never had kale before, but i thoroughly enjoyed it especially since it was very paleo friendly. the collards were great. i used to hate collards, but ever since i started doing paleo, i can't get enough of them. the best collards award has to go to heirloom though cause it's like a 50/50 ratio of pork to collards, but community q's doing alright for themselves. the st. louis pork ribs were a little on the dry side this visit, but i won't let that stop me from ordering those again in the future. it was definitely an off day for that item. service was great as always. they really do treat you like family there even if it's your first time. the staff is superb. i will be a regular at community as long as i live in this city and they don't leave. deal?

    (5)

  • Tanya F.

    My hair still smells like smoked meat. There are cute kitschy farm animal decorations on the walls and the counters. It almost made me feel guilty about the pound and a half of brisket I'd ordered. But after biting into the first succulent tender morsel, I got over it. My order wasn't quite ready when I arrived, so they offered me a cup full of "redneck lasagna" to tide me over. If you aren't familiar, this tasty dish is a mixture of their mac & cheese with Brunswick stew--it's their Monday special. If nothing else, get the mac & cheese, they're liberal with the cheese and use rigatoni in place of macaroni--it's delicious. The staff is welcoming and personable, and they pay attention to the little touches that will certainly keep me coming back.

    (5)

  • Rob N.

    My quest to hit up the BBQ places in town continues.I have to agree with the previous review. This place is over hyped. The BBQ beans were pretty decent and the actual pulled pork was tasty. However, the sauce was very *meh*. If I were catering something and I wanted to get the best sides in town... I would stop by here for a trough of the baked beans. Nothing else would make the cut though. Would I eat here again? Yes, if I wanted BBQ and I didn't want to leave Decatur. Of the BBQ in Decatur is the best I have had yet. But when that competition so far is Maddy's and Burnt Fork... that isn't high praise.

    (3)

  • mac m.

    Two thumbs up. The sliced beef brisket sandwich is as close to Gates & Sons BBQ [_R_E_A_L_ Barbecue from Kansas City] as I'm going to get without driving 900 miles. The BBQ Pork sandwich was just OK. Get the BEEF!!! Overall Community BBQ beats the pants off of Fat Matt's, Pig 'n Chick [a REAL JOKE] , Slopes [biggest JOKE of all!] and rest of the Georgia "barbecue" joints....

    (5)

  • Ben H.

    Jeez, talk about hype. I have to admit I was excited about a new bbq place that's ITP and near my hood. So, armed with an appetite, I hit up Community on 2 separate occasions and tried nearly everything on the menu. Brisket - Similar to the brisket at Sam's BBQ1, but it wasn't quite as good. There were a couple slices from the inside that were really tender, but all the exterior slices were a bit dry. Flavor was pretty decent on the exterior pieces, but lacking on the interior (no rub). If the exterior slices were tender like the interior ones, this would be great. Beef short rib - Very good. Served off the bone, nice bark, good flavor, pretty good texture. Sort of like a smoked piece of dry-rubbed pot roast. Definitely the best meat I've had here. Pulled pork - Beef bbq is nice and all, but pork bbq is really where it's at - it's the standard for me to judge at place. And the pulled pork here fell woefully short. It didn't have much flavor and was underseasoned. It wasn't warm. I like that they serve PULLED pork shoulder, but I'm not really a fan of long strings of pork that resemble spaghetti. And to wrap things up - it wasn't particularly tender. Occasionally you'd come across a tender piece, but at least 80% was fairly dry. Egads! Pork ribs - St. Louis-cut. Not particularly meaty either. The texture was pretty good on the ones I had, but the flavor was underwhelming. I probably wouldn't get the ribs again to be honest. The ribs are not similar to the ones at Sam's BBQ1. Pulled chicken - Decent flavor, but a little dry and not warm enough. Kinda boring. I wanted to go with the 1/2 chicken with my rib combo but apparently you can't do that (even though the menu seems to indicate you can). Sauces - Neither the sweet KC-style nor the sour NC-style sauce really impressed me much, but neither was bad either. Both of them just seemed to be lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Mac & cheese - Identical to Sam's BBQ 1. I can see why people like it - it seems to have a lot of butter and cream in it so it's very rich. That's sort of the issue I have with it though - it's just too buttery/creamy and not cheesy enough. It's the same criticism I had before with BBQ 1's m&c - which is no surprised. However, it's still pretty good - just not exactly my thing. Collard greens - Good, but maybe a little too sour/vinegar-y. People typically add their own vinegar to collards so it seems a little unnecessary. Baked beans - These look gross and don't taste much better. They are really intense - they don't really seem to fit in with the conservative flavor style of this place. It's like big, bold Fox Bros flavors...on PCP. And they were not cooked well at all - a lot of the beans were actually sort of crunchy. Sorry, I'm not feeling these at all. French fries - Good. Well cooked and well seasoned. A-okay. Banana pudding - Decent, but I wouldn't get it again. The pudding had kind of a flour-y quality that I wasn't digging. I can make better banana pudding at home and it's really easy to make so... Anyway, I agree with Christian B. on a lot of the issues he brought up. I gotta say I was looking forward to this, but after 2 visits and trying nearly everything on the menu, I don't really get the hysteria. As for right now, I gotta say I still prefer Fox Bros. in terms of most of the individual items I sampled and overall - even when comparing to inconsistent meat at FB. Maybe it will improve in time though. I'll definitely be giving it another shot as it's nice to have another bbq spot close-by and one that is good. However, it's just not as good as people are making it out to be. Let's get back down to earth, people. 3

    (3)

  • Jason P.

    First and foremost - excellent food. My fiancee and I have been scouring the ATL for good bbq, and Community Q did not disappoint. The ribs were tender and flavorful, the brisket was delicious... the mac and cheese was superb (and we're picky). Everyone has different preferences when it comes to sauce, and there are two to choose from on the table... not sure they were my favorite, but this place is really best for take out, at least right now. So bring the meat home, lather it up in the sauce of your choice, and crack open a beer. Beer. They don't have it (yet). Not sure if that's going to be the plan on a long-term basis, or it's just an issue of getting the license, but beer would be a welcome addition. The ambiance is neutral - it's not a greasy, dirty, dark bbq joint like Maddy's or Daddy D's, but maybe the smoke will start to dim the lights and stain the walls eventually... but none of that matters, because the food is good. Really really good.

    (4)

  • Jim O.

    I can say this place is only OK now after having eaten here twice. Seems they may have a consistency issue, as the first time I ate here was better than tonight's meal. Sausage - I have to say this is pretty tasty. The first time I had it, I was really impressed by it. Tonight I tried it again and it didn't seem the same. Fairly tasty but perhaps a little more dry than the last time. Baked Beans - These have a super taste and are real hearty with chunks of meat even. Tonight's however was not near as good because the Navy beans (or whatever they use) were slightly undercooked. It ruined them. You have got to make sure the beans are cooked thoroughly. They shouldn't be even slightly hard. Sauce - Their vinegar-based BBQ sauce is just that. The only real flavor that comes through is the vinegar, nothing but really. I just do not care for tainted vinegar as a BBQ sauce. However, their sweeter sauce is actually quite tasty. It has a thicker consistency; and it's really not all that sweet. It still has a slight tang to it. Good. Pulled Pork - I had this the first time I went and it was great. Tender and moist. Really good. No complaints, except tonight they were out. How does a BBQ joint run out of the foundation of BBQ? Oh well. Beef Brisket - I had it this evening and it was very tasty. I could not believe how tender they get theirs. Very moist, very flavorful. Very good. Pickled Beets - Oh my God! NOTHING BUT VINEGAR. If it were not for the fact that I could see I was eating beets, or trying to, I would not know it by the amount of vinegar in them. Hardly any beet flavor and there was so much vinegar it made me and my fiancé both pucker and squint an eye, literally. Disappointing. Sanwiches - Thick bread with pickles (commonplace for BBQ) and they pile on, whatever it is, high. I had both sausage and brisket tonight and there was no shortage of either. Work on the consistency and doing a better job of getting things right. There are just too many far better BBQ places to eat at in Atlanta for this one to get away with not being better. But if you are around Emory, then there could be worse choices to be made too. It's OK.

    (3)

  • Eric V.

    Great, fast service and awesome food. The pulled pork was amazing and the sides were all good!

    (4)

  • J Z.

    We had high expectations coming here last night. A few of our picky eatter friends have sworn by Community, so we figured we couldn't go wrong! And.....we were wrong. We ordered a full slab plus 2 sides. The Bad.... Flavor - The dry rub and sauce were relatively tasty, but not at ALL seasoned into the meat. The inside was so flavorless I had no choice but to add more sauce. Compared to Fox Brothers where I never had to use any additional sauce. Tenderness- Nonexistent! I've never had ribs so tough. They weren't even close to fall off the bone. I like a bit of a chewy but this was just plain tough. The top layer was very good and chewy...but the toughness continues into the rest of the ribs as well....very disappointed.... The Good.... Sides - Awesome mac and cheese! It was perfectly baked and delicious! Don't get their collards....way too much vinegar. Portions, Cost, Service- Despite the bad ribs, you have to admit its a good deal. The 2 of us couldn't even finish a full slab. Plus the 2 sides the meal only came out to $25! The people there were great...service was good...no complaints at all! Summary..... I came here for good ribs...and ultimately that's not what I got. If you want some great smoked ribs, I would recommend Fox Brothers.

    (2)

  • Loretta B.

    Community BBQ is CONSISTENTLY fabulous! Thanks for being open on Labor Day! Also, bought the best tomatoes there this summer as they have seasonal produce for sale from organic farmers!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    You'll find it pretty easily, tucked away in Bhojanic's shopping center. I'd look for the Indian place instead of the actual Community BBQ sign as it's tiny. There were a ton of people there for a Monday night. Our large group of 15ish had no problem grabbing a few tables on the patio though. The decor was cute and relaxed and amazingly non-cheesy. There were even little pots of fresh herbs growing outside from which you could pick off your own fresh seasonings. Oh, and they were selling fresh locally grown organic veggies. :) As you might be able to tell from some other posts, I'm not a meat eater. However, I successfully found a few sides that were meat free: mac n cheese, coleslaw, and pickled beets. They were all tasty and all my meat eating pals seemed satisfied with their no fuss meals but no one was raving. Actually, I take that back, there was some raving over the mac n cheese!

    (3)

  • Lisa L.

    Great place for BBQ! I've been here several times and each time I've always had delicious food and great service. The BBQ sandwiches are ENORMOUS. You will have to eat it with a fork and knife! Sides are tasty and the Redneck Chicken Salad Sandwich is probably one of the best I've had. The owner and staff is friendly and helpful. I'm not a BBQ expert by any means, but it was certainly enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Cindy S.

    Great BBQ, Super Friendly Crew. You absolutely MUST Get The Baked Beans. Enjoyed Every Minute of it!

    (5)

  • The Food Abides W.

    It's unfortunate that among all of the numerous barbecue joints inside the perimeter, there aren't very many worth going to. Sadly, when asked for BBQ recommendations by others, I'm hesitant to even mention my favorite ITP que spot, Fox Brothers. While I really do enjoy their food, the quality of preparation is so spotty you never no quite what you're going to get when entering the Dekalb Avenue eatery. Finally, there is a new kid on the block: Community Q BBQ. Located on Clairmont road in North Decatur, Community Q is pretty unassuming. As of right now they don't even have a sign up for their storefront, just a banner. It was opening night, but I was literally the only customer inside. The interior space of the restaurant is typical of most BBQ spots, casual and comfortable. Low key. And, like any good Q spot, it actually smells like barbecue. You place your order at the counter and at least tonight, they have it ready for you in roughly three minutes. The two guys working there both kept up the friendly chit chat the entire time I was there and kept awkwardness at a minimum. I appreciate that. Kins and I both ordered a rib combo plate and at $14.75, it's a bargain. You have the option to get St. Louis cut pork ribs or beef short ribs. We both went by way of St. Louis. The meat is served with two sauces - a sweeter one and a vinegar one. The sweet is excellent but the vinegar was just too runny and I couldn't even get it to hang on to the meat. The rest of the items we ordered are as follows: 1. St. Louis Ribs - These were pretty excellent. While smoke-infused flavor wasn't readily apparent, the ribs were still flavorful and extremely tender. Additionally the cut of meat was superb and lacked the large amounts of fat that can normally be found in most St. Louis ribs. 2. Pulled pork - This was just average. It was tender, but too dry. Nice smoke ring on it and again just the right combination of fat, bark, and lean meat in the serving. The sauce made any of its shortcomings magically disappear. 3. Brisket - This was the crowning achievement of Community Q. I would probably say it's the best barbecued brisket I've ever had. Just perfect - it's flavorful, smokey, and tender with the perfect amount of bite. Honestly, it's incredible. 4. Mac and Cheese - This was splendiferous. While it doesn't top Carver's for me it's up there on my list. The first thing I immediately noticed was the cream cheese base. It's strong, but not overpowering. There's definitely some cheddar and possibly American in this also, so it still looks orange and yellow like most mac and cheese. Additionally, they use much larger than average macaroni noodles. 5. Brunswick stew - Pretty standard fare. There's pork, corn, tomatoes and broth. It's on the medium side of thickness and consistency, but the flavor just doesn't draw you in. 6. Fries - By themselves, these are just above average fries, however the seasoning is out of this world. It's similar to a dry rub for BBQ, with sugar being the standout ingredient. They need to bottle this seasoning and sell it as it will improve most any french fry among other things. It was difficult to determine whether or not they were fresh cut or frozen, but I'm leaning toward fresh cut. It's pretty apparent that I really enjoyed the food here. To top it off, Community is ITP and economical. When asked where I would get barbecue in Atlanta, I now have a second alternative to suggest. Hopefully, if they keep their consistency up and improve their minor shortcomings, they can move up to my favorite spot.

    (5)

  • Sid P.

    The wife said she'd rather go back to Fox Bros. I'm torn - I really appreciate Community Q's atmosphere; it reminds me of the little mom and pop joints I used to frequent down in Central GA during my college days. (Fresh Air, Finchers, represent!) We went close to closing on a Thursday and it was swamped. Packed. Filled to the gills. They were already out of brisket and ribs, which infuriated my Yankee mother-in-law (all she ever wants is brisket). The pulled pork was solid, even though it wasn't really pulled, it was sliced into big ol' chunks and it was left to you, the customer, to pull. The texture was great, it literally melted in my mouth. I also appreciated the choice of vinegary sauce or sweet syrupy sauce. The brunswick stew was above average, but not the best I've ever had. The baked beans were really really sickly sweet. It was interesting, but not really super good. Mac & cheese was fantastic, and the black eyed peas were very very good. It's a bit outside our "once a week dining out" budget (more like "once a month dining out" right now) but I'd definitely eat there again.

    (4)

  • David K.

    Overall, a really good Q experience. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was way larger than most places and I love the fact that they have Vinegar and tomato based sauces...depending on your mood you can go either way. (I actually split my sandwich in half and tried each type of sauce...I'm a vinegar fan). For my side, I had the pickled beets (it was a special that day and I figured I could get the standard sides any time). They were interesting...I have never tasted pickled beets like these and I'm still trying to decide if I liked them or not. I ate them all, so I didn't dislike them, but probably won't order them again. I wish they had sides for less $ so I could try two sides...maybe have a "lunch special" side size or something. I hate paying $13 for lunch and that's what it would be with 2 sides and a drink. I'll be back-A. Schwarzenegger

    (4)

  • Coco R.

    To me it's the best in Atlanta!!!!The ribs are meaty and tender. The sauces are tangy and good and the side items are well seasoned like the black eyed peas. Mac and cheese is always good. They have great customer service. I like to call in my order in. It is always ready when I get there.

    (5)

  • Dustin W.

    The food is to die for. The sides are nothing short of amazing and the meat. It can be a little pricey but after one bite you forget how much you paid.

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    Their sides are what brings me back. I started coming here as soon as it opened, as it was literally a five minute walk (maybe less) from my apartment. The meat is ALWAYS tender, but there is something about the flavor that I just don't like. I've tried it with the different bbq sauces and still I don't like it. Yet, I still come here even years later after I've moved 20 mins north, why? The everything else. Macaroni and Cheese - good grief I could go on an on about how good this is and I am a total macaroni and cheese snob. Honestly, this is mainly what brings me back. Baked Beans - Mmmm. Sometimes they overdo it on the black pepper, but for the most part, some of the best beans I've had. It has meat in it (which serves a purpose b/c I pretty much only buy sides here) Vidalia Onion Soup (seasonal) - So frickin good, I hate that it's seasonal. Peach Cobbler (seasonal) - also really, really good, but the portion is ridiculously small. Yeah, so when I come here, I only get the sides. I think the people look at me funny for only ordering sides, but honestly, I've tried the meat on several ocassions, thinking it has to be off b/c everything else is just so spectacular, but it's just not for me. I've had urges to buy Community Q's sides then drive 15 mins to Fat Matt's for their ribs. Fat Matt's sides leave MUCH to be desired. But I usually end up going w/ one over the other. Lately, I've been going w/ Community Q's, though. Although, there was a time when I'd be at Fat Matt's like a crack fiend, lol.

    (4)

  • Scott M.

    So visit two was much the same...really good food, really friendly folks. I had the beef rib, which was ginormous (insert much overused dinosaur comparison here), and my companions split different sides. The beans were really rich, the mac-n-cheese remained decadent, the collards were good, the slaw was slightly disappointing but fine for what they were. The pulled chicken was nicely smoky and moist, but I'd be curious about the bone-in. Still haven't tried the pudding. On "hype": If people say they liked it, it's really not your fkn place to tell them "it's not as good as they think." That's what taste is about, losers. On review-hype, while almost all blog/newspaper reviews have been positive, they've all also pointed out weaknesses and even problems. So...what the hell are you talking about? Spend more time on your own review instead of dictating how we should feel about our own experiences.

    (4)

  • Myke J.

    So far, I've had the pulled chicken and the brisket and I've been pretty pleased at the quality of the meat. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. Haven't been terribly impressed with the sides. The baked beans are pretty good, but the mac & cheese were drowned in butter. Now, I'm not looking for health food at a BBQ joint, but c'mon. The sauces are decent, and thankfully not necessary to the meal. And the sweet tea is delicious.

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    As good as it gets ITP for BBQ. The owners and staff are super friendly, the place is clean, and the food is delicious. My favorites are the brisket and mac and cheese, but everything was good.

    (5)

  • J D.

    Another intown BBQ bummer. The sides are rave worthy. Brunswick stew, mac and cheese and the greens were all better than average. The brisket disappointed though. It was dry. Maybe it deserves a second chance, but I wouldn't drive too far out of my way.

    (3)

  • Jinny Y.

    Pulled pork, pulled chicken, St. Louis style 1/2 rack, collard greens, and mac 'n cheese~ I'm so full! My bf's brother is in town; thus, this weekend is full of good eats: The Vortex, Community Q, and Big Pie in the Sky tomorrow. *Just a warning to first time goers~ Community Q doesn't have a big sign, so it can be hard to find at first. It's in the same strip as Bhojanic and Moya. If you get to North Decatur Road, you've gone too far. We get to Community Q and we're greeted by the owner, Dave. He was very helpful in explaining the difference between their St. Louis style ribs and the "beef rib" listed on the menu. St. Louis style is the typical pork rack of ribs, dry rubbed with a mixture including sugar. The beef rib is one ginormous rib smoked/cooked for 14 hours with a non-sugar dry rub. All bbq sauce is on the side, they have both vinegar based and sweeter kind waiting for you at the table. =) MEAT: Both the pulled pork and chicken sandwiches were full of plump juicy pieces of meat, yum! The ribs were great, the very flavorful dry rub went great with the sweet bbq sauce. (I'm not a big fan of the Carolina style vinegar bbq sauce). SIDES: The collard greens were perfect. Not too overcooked and mushy, not too undercooked and stringy... plus, collards are always better with chunks of bacon =D. Mac 'n cheese oh my gracious! mmm MMM mmm MMM goooood! My bf's brother came from LA and said it was the best mac 'n cheese he's ever had. I was a bit skeptical at first when I saw the huge rigatoni like pasta, but I was wrong. So yummy! A few pieces had a nice cheesy crust while the rest were covered in ooey gooey white cheddar cheese! Needless to say, I ate too much and passed out due to food coma in the car ride home. I think I feel a second wave of food coma setting in...

    (4)

  • Lawler S.

    If they want to call it "pulled chicken" then they should indeed pull the chicken, not give it to me in huge chunks. Also, the workers there got my order wrong- I clearly asked for pulled pork but got huge chunked chicken instead. Who works at a BBQ joint and can't tell the difference between pork and chicken? I don't understand why people are saying this is the best BBQ- I disagree entirely. I find Fox Brothers to be more enjoyable if I feel like splurging. That is still not the best I've had, the best is a little place in Ala. off the beaten path. Also, for some strange reason somebody told me this place was cheap....eh me thinks not. Just as expensive as the other places in ATL. Nothing too special about this place. They're also severely lacking in sauce. I didn't have enough sauce for my meat....that kinda ticked me off.

    (2)

  • Amy G.

    We checked out this new BBQ spot this weekend with some high expectations due to the great press it's been getting lately. Its reputation definitely preceded itself! Yumminess! The food was awesome -- brisket, ribs, pulled pork sandwich. Perfect tenderness and pleasing smoky flavor. The sides, brunswick stew, mac n cheese, and baked beans were all super satisfying. The baked beans, though, are a bit too hickory-ish for my liking, but still good. And the sweet tea could have been sweater. Servings are appropriately sized, and service was friendly. Two green thumbs up for selling local produce, too! The crowd was a good size when we went, so I grabbed a table when I saw one open. Parking was sparse, too, thanks in part to the other popular joints in the same shopping center. No biggie, though. The wait(s) are worth-it!

    (5)

  • Melissa L.

    I had the pleasure of attending "The Q's" (just you wait - it'll catch on) family and friends opening on 11/16 and was in hog heaven. I ate the pulled pork which was perfect naked, but, uh, perfecter with the vinegar based BBQ sauce. I'm from the Carolinas and that makes me vinegar sauce biased, but it was nice to finally find a place ITP that rivals the slow cooked Carolina goodness with which I was raised. The mac and cheese is my new guilty pleasure: giant rigatoni noodles with a crispy layer on top and cheesy gooey goodness inside. The fries were very good, but nothing particularly special about them. Brunswick stew was also very good, but I don't eat this stew often enough to have a strong opinion about it. I returned to The Q the following weekend to order take-out for my bday party. Everything was consistently as good. Owners and staff are attentive to details (they included free banana pudding with nice birthday wishes upon catching wind the order was for my birthday dinner) and they were quick to point out my several individual orders would be much more cost effective if I combined things family style. Nice of them to pay attention to save me a buck. I look forward to the potential of them getting a liquor license, but this does not detract from 5-stars. If I want alcohol, I go to a bar. If I want incredible BBQ, I hit up the Q. On a side note, the mac and cheese only re-heats well if you do so slowly and on a low temp. Too high and fast results in the butter separating from the cheese and noodles and nobody wants to see what we are actually eating, right?

    (5)

  • Kegan C.

    I was dying for some ribs because it had been ages since I'd eaten any. My gracious host went out of his way to find a place that served beef ribs. We lucked up on this spot. Or so we thought. First of all, the positives: there was enough meat on one plate to feed two people. Also, the owners were nice enough to wait for us to get over there from Piedmont Park for our order. Great business practices!!! I thought the potato salad was okay as well. Now, the negatives: The ribs were really fatty. I think that is so gross. Imagine slimy, chewy meat rolling around in your mouth... you get the idea. Then, the macaroni and cheese was completely devoid of flavor. I don't know if this was because they were closing and we got whatever was left over, but ew. My partner said that his beans had flavorless ground beef in them. Yuck!!! The fries? Over-seasoned and rubbery. Terrible. And then the worst part: the barbecue sauce was watery. I think they mixed steak sauce with it to make it more flavorful, and while I applaud their effort, um... no. The meat should be well-seasoned. The sauce should be thick. Two fails = bad barbecue. My partner could not throw the food away fast enough, and he hates to waste food.

    (1)

  • Richard D.

    I was born and raised in Kansas City which anyone involved in competition level barbeque will tell you KC is ground zero for the best of the best. I had never had really good barbeque since I left, until I found Q. Their place isn't fancy but it needn't be. Their food is the best of the best. Keep it up Q.

    (5)

  • Alan P.

    Tonight was my 3-year-old daughter's first experience with BBQ. I asked her: "Is it good?" She responded simply "Uh-huh! It makes my mouth feel better." What else could I possibly say.

    (4)

  • Jess P.

    This place rocks! I'm not a big BBQ person and I always enjoy going here. The BBQ is yummy and the sides, even yummier. I usually get the collards and the mac and cheese, which are both amazing. Their sweet tea is also to die for. Service is great, too. I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    I was not a fan of the pulled pork, but had a few bites of the beef rib, which I thought was flavorful and tender. The brisket seemed extremely fatty and chewy and pretty flavorless. But, the mac & cheese is amazing! We would definitely stop by and grab a container of m & c to go sometime soon.

    (2)

  • Blake K.

    First, being in a strip-mall next to an overpriced Indian restaurant and a lame club means you've got yourself quite the hole to dig out of when creating the ambiance of your restaurant. And, to their credit, Community BBQ did a pretty good job. Does it feel like you're in a strip mall? yeah. But at least it feels like they tried to make the place an experience. Now the food, oh the food. Maybe it's because I'm not a St. Louis style fan? Or maybe it's just because I went around 8:30 and they were already running out of things fast. Either way, the meats were lack-luster. The pulled pork was a bit dry, and so was the chicken, and the ribs, and... forget it, everything was dry. The sauce was a necessity. If you didn't inject some sort of liquid into your meat it would probably dry up your mouth almost instantly. But there's the catch, I'm not a fan of vinegar-based BBQ sauces (because I have the ability to taste). So upon solving the problem of dry meat by drenching it in sauce, you've now created another problem. Now your wet meat tastes bad. Dang it. But yes, the mac and cheese is good. And I'm sure lovers of non-flavor will enjoy the, also oddly dry, coleslaw. Or maybe the half toasted, a little burnt, but overall underwhelming bread they provide. Which, I might add, was a nice touch. Since, you know, I was worried my meal wasn't dry enough.

    (3)

  • Kevin F.

    The wife and I ended up here after our first dinner choice was closed for the day. We had a little trouble finding the place since their only signage was a small banner that you couldn't see from the street. I was a little bummed they had run out of pulled pork for the evening but I had a good meal anyways. I got the combo platter with brisket and pulled chicken and Emily had the pulled chicken also. Our sides were beans, slaw, and collards. Both the brisket and chicken had a nice smoked flavor and weren't over cooked. The meat came out w/o sauce, which is how I prefer it served. You have two sauces to choose from, a vinegar based and a sweet red sauce. Both were tasty in my opinion. The slaw and collards were both good, but I thought the beans could have used a little help. The beans are a dark color, likely brown sugar and molasses, with both heat (saw what looked like a Chipotle in there) and sweetness. I can't say I've had anything like them before. They were good, but I think a little too sweet. The decor is typical of most BBQ places; nothing to write home about. It was well lit and the booths were comfortable. The service was quick and we were checked up on from time to time to see if we need anything. Overall, I'd say this place has a good shot at sticking around for a while. The food was good and the price was fair. I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Ted K.

    I've had BBQ all over this country, and Community BBQ is at the top of my BBQ experiences. Great brisket and sausage, ribs and all sides. Down home place, but get there early or be prepared for the crowd crush in this smallish venue. Quick service and superb tastes. great menu variety and reasonable prices. A definite revisit, over and over again. A must stop place for your Atlanta dining experience.

    (5)

  • Terry G.

    My hubby and I have gotten take-out several times. We're big Maddy's fans, but Community Q is a great new option. To us, they are totally different in taste - both are good. We have tried Fox Bros three times and have never had a great meal. I'm a pulled pork fan...I like to mix cole slaw in with the meat and eat it together. Community Q serves their pulled pork in chunks without sauce. - it's moist & tasty. I like the vinegar version of their sauce with the pork. The cole slaw is pretty darn good. Maddy's serves their pulled pork shredded and with sauce cooked in - it has a tangy taste. Community Q's sides are definitely better than Maddy's - the Mac & cheese has big flat noodles and cheese that has been browned in places. The cole slaw looks like it might have mustard in it and is good & crunchy. My hubby likes Q's pork ribs, but prefers Maddy's beef ribs. Both are excellent....just depends what he's in the mood for. They do run out of stuff, but I'd rather have that situation than eat leftovers!

    (4)

  • Gretchen S.

    I did follow through with my plan to used Community Q for our rehearsal night and it worked like a charm. I ordered pulled pork and beef, with cole slaw, potato salad, greens and mac & cheese. I sent Dad to pick it up and it was ready at 6 as I requested. Their pork was so juicy- that's why I wanted to serve this to our guests, many of whom were from out of town. This would be their only chance to try Southern barbecue while they were here and I'm pleased that we made a good impression. My only mistake was underestimating how many folks would want seconds on the greens and mac & cheese!

    (5)

  • Austin S.

    Great new BBQ in Atlanta! I think this place is a great addition to the best area to live in Georgia. I always loved going to N.Decatur to eat. Unlike typical midtown or new places, they're not trying to hard to be so modern and hip. The community Q BBQ is located near N.Decatur rd and Clairmont. They had a nice outside seating area which I didn't care too much for during the crazy pollen season. The menu was little confusing to me because of all the order sizes and bulk orders, but they definitely offered great variety of BBQ food. My friends and I opted for the BBQ Pork, smoked sausage and BBQ chicken. As for sides, mac & cheese, BBQ beans and potato salad. The overall presentation of the food was perfect. The southern feel of the restaurant was very comforting, the scent of smoky BBQ was definitely letting you know that you came to the right place. The meat was nice and flavorful. It was nice and juicy, cooked to perfection. The sides were also delicious, but I thought the BBQ beans were little too salty for my taste. We ended up ordering too much meat, but forced ourselves to eat all 2lb. :) Service was great and people were friendly. I would highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to try some good southern BBQ. They offer great food and great service!

    (5)

  • Joey G.

    I'm so surprised by all of the positive reviews because my experience here was absolutely terrible. I expect my food to be tasty, the preparation to be safe to eat, and the service to be polite. This place fails on all levels. It actually started out okay: placing my to-go order, the guy behind the register answered my questions and was patient while we confirmed an order for six. I even added a gratuity to the credit card as an acknowledgment of his service. And then, when I found I had been overcharged, the guy, who looked like a sweaty Newt Gingrich with glasses, replied that he hadn't updated the prices on the menus yet, but that I was charged correctly. I told him that I didn't understand - there were photocopied menus taped to the counter in front of the cash register and a big board with prices written on it where you order. I suggested if the prices had changed, he could have crossed out the old price and written the new. He told me the price it rang up was correct and if I came in again, he'd charge me the same price... and he said it in a very nasty tone. I was dumbfounded because I'd made a polite request and got in return a belligerence I'd never seen! Meanwhile the other guy at the counter was standing behind the Newt Gingrich guy making strangling motions like he wanted to kill the jerk, and another woman was rolling her eyes. In the end, with prodding from the coworker, he returned the change with a lot of hesitation. The other guy took me aside and gave me a rice crispy treat for my trouble, which was a nice gesture, but getting a stale, Publix frosting-filled "treat" wasn't exactly what I was looking for... all I wanted was not to be treated like an idiot. Blood boiling, I got home with the food. And then I discovered the trouble wasn't even worth it. I've eaten a lot of good barbecue in my life, and this food was pretty mediocre: flavorless and greasy. Without any of the sauces - one of which was overly sweet and syrupy, and the other which was was like pouring water over the meat - it was bland. Every item is served as a sandwich, whether you get a platter or not, and the portions of meat on the sandwiches are pretty meager compared to what you would find on a real Memphis sandwich. The cole slaw was over-mayonnaised. The Brunswick Stew was the tastiest item, but also seemed watered down - thin and soupy. And then, the haunting, which is the real reason not to go to this place.... we ALL got sick... six of us. I must assume a rash of food poisoning, with stomachs churning, diarrhea... yucko. Definitely, one of the very worst dining experiences I've ever had. Eat here at your own risk!

    (1)

  • al p.

    was talking to a foodie friend and lamenting about the deminse of Rolling Bones, ever since Dana and the boys sold it the new chef has put his own flavors in place of those that made "DA BONES" and Atlanta must have. Not any more.. Move over BONES and WELCOME COMMUNITY Q, I have had the St Louis Ribs, WOW no need for sauce these Dry Rub babies are Incredble, Yes for those of you who need sauce its there on the table but these are so good and tender and the rub so nice.. YUMMMY I have also had the pulled Pork, WOW WOW WOW, again no need for sauce but the Western Carolina Vinegar/Mustard one is damn good.. Had the brisket as well, ask for the 'lifter" or Cap" the extra fat makes all the difference. Thanks for a really good BBQ place ITP

    (4)

  • Esteban R.

    Amazing food. Mac and cheese is to die for... The ribs spectacular and the strawberry shortcake - one of the best I've had... Stop reading this and just go there, you will like it.

    (5)

  • A. C.

    (01/10/2012) Really good BBQ close to Emory, a slightly different beast than your usual BBQ joint. There's hints of something more modernly ambitious. The pork ribs had a nice deep pink smoke ring, penetrated pretty far into the meat; meat was tender, moist, flavorful, fell off the bone, nice finished char. Pulled pork was also moist, meaty, flavorful. Of the two sauces on the table, the Kanasas-style (sweeter, ketchup/tomato-based) was the better. I'm usually an East Carolina vinegar-based sauce fan, but Community's lacked that zip from peppers and astringent punch that I really like. The two sides I tried were interesting and unusual for your standard BBQ place: the smoked sweet potatoes and kale was the more successful of the two, savory and smokey, the sweet accented by bitter kale; black-eyed peas were nicely soft, woodsy with rosemary, smokey with bacon, very, very black peppery. I tried my friend's mac 'n' cheese, the most popular side at Community, says the guy at the counter; it was a good specimen, they don't use a bechamel-based sauce (I believe it's the baked variety), but it was sufficiently cheddar cheesey and a touch creamy. We split a blueberry bread pudding that was decadently good; like a blueberry muffin/bread in pudding form, topped with a large dollop of fresh whipped cream, tooth-achingly sweet, lots of large fresh blueberries baked-burst in. One of the better urban BBQ places I've been to in a long time.

    (5)

  • Jonah K.

    Best BBQ in town so far. The black bean brisket chilli was not very good. Mac and cheese was awesome. Brisket was very good, and the pulled pork was very good. The sauce isn't great, but sauce isn't needed if the meat is this good. Prices are excellent as well, and the portions are massive.

    (5)

  • Clay G.

    Great food, never had anything I didn't like. The mac and cheese is worth the trip alone. Brisket is perfection. The only time it's not a good experience is when you are dead set on something and they run out. Oh, and if you order the baked beans, you'll get a bowl of pork, with a side of beans mixed in, it's rather nice.

    (5)

  • Rob P.

    Great brisket. Great Mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Nick D.

    4 stars but more like 4.5. The ribs here are great and so are the sandwiches. The sides are nice, if not standard. The meat has a good, smoked flavor with added seasonings. The one drawback is that it's a bit pricey for bbq. I really like this place though, and the staff is friendly.

    (4)

  • Kathryn J.

    I loved this place. The ribs and the pulled pork were awesome, and the sides were fantastic. Had vidalia onion and corn chowder, sweet potatoes with braised kale, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese. Next time I'm getting the banana pudding!

    (5)

  • Brad S.

    Loved it! Best BBQ experience I've had in Atlanta. Great atmosphere. Had the pulled pork, which was very good. Great sauce. The mac and cheese was unbelievable. Maybe the best I've ever had. Very friendly folks. Wish you could buy a beer, but overall great.

    (5)

  • Sam M.

    For me, this place rivals Fox Brothers as the best BBQ in Atlanta. It's a small establishment tucked away in a strip mall a couple of miles from downtown Decatur. It is easy to miss, but hard to resist. I'm a Carolina boy, so stick with the pulled pork and disregard all other alleged BBQs. The sauce does not make the BBQ, no matter what you Georgians say or think -- you have much to learn grasshopper. It is about the meat, and the careful smoking process that creates a tender, moist, and smoky flavor. Community does a consistently good job in this regard. The spice rub they use is very flavorful and the outside pieces will melt in your mouth with joy. Occasionally, you will get a piece of fat and have to do your own trimming. They don't need to be embarrassed and cover up their product with sticky sweet sauces. But if sauces are your thing, they have a sweet tomato based sauce that is okay. The vinegar sauce is something akin to what we would do back home, so I go that route. It is cliche' to brag about your favorite restaurant having the best mac-n-cheese. But their mac-n-cheese has a special place in my heart. It is cheesy beyond belief (a side product of that is some oiliness). The collards were good when I tried them. The sweet tea is really sweet, and should be enjoyed in moderation. Some of the other sides can be inconsistent. I recommend ordering the pulled pork sandwich and one or two sides, it will be enough food for most people and will cost about $10. The lines can get long at certain times of the week and can be frustrating. If you go a few times the owners/managers will remember your face (if not your name) and greet you like a friend. They are very personable. I'll keep going back. *I'm upgrading my review because they have consistently been my favorite BBQ place in the Atlanta area for several months now. I like going there. I'm not ashamed.

    (5)

  • Arica B.

    Why is everyone in love with this place? Maybe I am a BBQ snob, since I am from the Delta region, and Memphis BBQ is the best in the world. I just did not understand how such over priced BBQ could be so danged nasty! My friend and I went one Friday afternoon, around 2. We ordered pulled pork, sausage, macaroni and cheese, greens, and lemonade. It was very expensive, but since I read such wonderful reviews, I was expecting to get what I paid for. It was not the case. The meat was dry, not seasoned, and the sauce left MUCH to be desired. The lemonade was good, though, but I didn't come there to drink. I wanted BBQ, and was disappointed in what I had to eat. My friend is not as snobbish as me about Q, but he was not impressed, either. I ended up trashing the bulk of that over-priced mess. I won't be back, unless someone else is paying, because that place was a waste of my hard earned money.

    (2)

  • Jamie T.

    I'd really give it 3 1/2 stars... It's not bad, I've had dinner there twice since there opening weekend "that was rough".. But it's gotten WAY better since then.. It looks like they can actually make BBQ beans now... I will warn you now, if your a broke ass you might wanna save up pennies to eat there. Or just don't get a order of ribs...$11 "but yes they were good" *big smile*

    (3)

  • Rob R.

    Excellent! Had the pulled pork and beef brisquet, mac n chz side was amazing. Brunswick stew definitely an after thought. The Carolina sauce was a bit too runny, but the sweet sauce was delicious. Only thing missing was a cold beer.

    (3)

  • theron t.

    Been here two times now. Great to have this addition to Decatur!! I've had the pulled pork, brisket and the sausage. Both the brisket and the pork were good, although both could use a little more smoke. Sausage was good, but the presentation was weird. The sausage sandwich consists of sliced pieces of sausage served between two pieces of bread. Haven't had anything quite like that. Would like to see a whole sausage in a nice bun. :) Baked beans are awesome and mac-n-cheese is different, but good. Stew misses the mark with me, but I'm pretty picky. Cole slaw is pretty good. The sauces by themselves are okay, but strange. Looks like another case of foreign sauces trying to invade Georgia territory. TIP--mix the two sauces together, it's really good. Other than that, I would like to see a more traditional Ga. style sauce. Service is great and super friendly. I will definitely be supporting this small business in the future. It's good to have real BBQ in Decatur. Maddy's is decent, but they don't make their own sides like Community Q does. How can you be a BBQ joint and not make your sides from scratch? This place doesn't have that problem.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Great location which was fairly busy on a saturday night. There were 8 of us, but we found a large table and got our food quickly. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. All the staff members have great personalities and are very helpful and friendly. The food was great. Most plates come with 2 sides for about $11. The mac and cheese was some of the best I have ever had. I didnt get the fries, but they were supposed to be good and the baked beans looked killer. Good portions too, I dont think anybody finished their plate. Great for lunch or dinner and also very quick in and out....If you want BBQ in the emory area, you cant beat it.

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    I was torn on giving the folks at Community Q a 3 or a 4 since I really wanted to give them a 3.5. I went with the 4 because the service was good, the food was good, the value was good, and the location is very convenient (for my family anyway). The Q: as many other reviewers have posted, the Q is good but not great. I ordered the pulled pork and it was very tender, juicy, but it lacked the smokiness you'd expect from a top-notch Q joint. I'd actually take their pork a little drier and less juicy if they could make it smokier. The Q gets a 3 from me. The sides: great. The mac-n-cheese and collards were both standouts for us, especially the mac. I'd hate to know how many calories are in each serving, but man was it good. Sides get a 4. Service/decor/location: We must have timed the Saturday dinner rush perfectly because the place was pretty empty when we arrived around 8:30 or so. We walked right up and ordered, and the food was out in less then 3 minutes. One of the owners/managers stopped by to ask how everything was and was extremely friendly. I'm guessing the service and experience would be rougher during peak times, but it gets a 4 based on our late dinner time. This is probably my new go-to BBQ place since it's 2 minutes from my house and the value seems solid. Definitely not the best Q in town though but worth trying at least once.

    (4)

  • Bill K.

    Very well done barbecue. Brisket was favorite.

    (4)

  • mary m.

    The smoked ham was wonderful and made Easter dinner. We will never get honey baked ham again. I wish they would add a smoked ham sandwich to the menu.

    (4)

  • Adp P.

    Maybe I'm too picky. So what was good? Meats: I had the sausage and St Louis style ribs. They (according to the spouse and he is a Southerner born and bred) were beef ribs. They were tender, not too greasy, not too dry and flavorful. Not swimming in sauce, but appreciative of one of the two sauces at table, a sweet and a vinegar. The sausage was good, not too dry, well spiced without being overwhelming. My spouse had the pulled pork. He says it was a bit mushy but tender and neither too spicy or too bland. For sides, he pronounced the brunswick stew "good" and cole slaw "good." I tried the coleslaw, sweet, crunchy and not entirely swimming in mayo. I had the potato salad, which wasn't quite my favorite, the potatoes, red, were firm and not overcooked, but the dressing was more mustardy than I really like. The mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. That may be a stylistic difference though. I've eaten Fat Matt's, Daddy Dz, Maddies and Fox Brothers. I gotta say, if I could have the potato salad and half chicken at Maddies, the green salad and some of the special sides at Fox Bros and the ribs and Brunswick stew at Fat Matt's, I'd have perfect BBQ

    (3)

  • Nareg B.

    I'm going to keep this short, sweet and to the point... RIBS + BRISKET COMBO WITH SLAW AND FRIES ON THE SIDE... Im from California and I've never been exposed to true Southern BBQ til today when I ate at Community. Absolutely flawless... Oh and yes I've ate at Fatt Matt's and Community BBQ is definitely better! :) You will not be disappointed

    (5)

  • Martha K.

    We were already big CQ fans - we usually split the 1/2 rack of ribs with 2 sides. We recently had a family event. We wanted to take CQ food for our first meal for the road weary travelers. We ordered a Family Pack from CQ to pick up on our way out of town. They packed our cooler with the food and ice for us and gave us the reheating instructions. The staff could not have been nicer to us. And our dinner was a huge hit with the family! Thank you CQ!!!

    (5)

  • Jaime H.

    It's a little bit pricey, but the portions are large. The sandwiches are huge! The sides are good--I've had the Brunswick stew, the beans, and the fries. The plate (a sandwich and 2 sides) is good for two meals for me. I eat the Kansas City sauce, which I thought was very good. I can't comment on the vinegar-based bbq sauce. I live nearby, so it's very convenient. Best BBQ that I can walk to!

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    My mom brought me here while we were running errands in the Decatur area and I will definitely be returning. It might be my favorite BBQ spot now. You make your order and if they are busy they call your name, if not they will bring the order to your table. I got the combo plate so I could try the pulled pork and the brisket. I was pleased when it was the same price as a single meat plate. I got baked beans and the mac and cheese as my two sides. Everything I got was delicious. The flavor of the meats alone was excellent. There are two sauce options, the vinegar based sauce and the ketchup based sauce, both lean more to the spicy side than sweet side. The restaurant had a fair amount of seating, and was decorated nicely. They do allow ordering in bulk, for most of their menu items.

    (5)

  • Barbara S.

    We like Community Q very much (though it would be nice to have a cold beer or glass of wine -- but the tea and lemonade are both excellent). Love the pulled pork with Kansas City sauce and LOVE their ridiculously decadent mac & cheese. We had them cater our wedding recently (well, meaning we picked up big pans of food from them), and it was excellent -- all the guests enjoyed it very much! My only letdown so far has been the baked beans -- they're very strange. Very spicy and have a strong flavor of (I think) bourbon. In any case, I'd highly recommend Community!

    (4)

  • Lisa A.

    I have eaten at Community several times and really enjoy it. This is a pretty basic BBQ place, nothing fancy but the food is good and the price is right! I really enjoy their pulled pork and mac & cheese. Husbands loves their BBQ beans. Not really a place I would take my out of town guests, but I have no problem coming here for lunch or take out any day!

    (4)

  • Robby C.

    You can never get into Fox Brothers, I've been twice and I know why, it's fantastic. That being said, I was visiting Emory U, so I thought now's the time to visit Community. It had gotten rave reviews from friends and critics. I don't feel carniverous much, but when I do, I want it to be good. Community is literally right around the corner from Emory University. Located in a strip mall the restaurant is super laid back. Order your food at the bar, get your drink and they bring your order to the table. And speaking of drinks, Community does not serve alcohol. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, fries and cole slaw. The menu on the board contained the standard issue Q joint offerings, some of the salads sounded very interesting and definately warrent a try. The food was brought out very quickly, the sandwich consisted of huge hunks of pork piled high between two pieces of Texas Toast, it was delicious. The fries were hand cut and good and the cole slaw was average, a little too much vinegar for my buds, but to each his own. It's difficult to rate Q joints since metro Atlanta is loaded with them and they are all good. Community is definately near the top of the bell curve and I'm sure many people who live in the area really appreciate having it locally. And I agree, the waitstaff was very friendly and very helpful. So if you are in that part of town I highly recommend giving Community BBQ a try. I definately will be back.....

    (4)

  • Candace S.

    My husband and I visited Community Q BBQ a few weeks ago for the first time. Reading the rave reviews convinced us to go, and it's nearby. We ordered pulled chicken. He had the plate with two sides - fries and baked beans and I had the sandwich. We shared the sides and really enjoyed the fries. The beans were ok. Our bowl was 75% bone (whatever they use to season beans) and 25% beans. Wasn't enough beans to eat and left me wanting something else. We will most likely not order them again and try the stew or mac n cheese we've read about. The meat itself was great, after trimming the fat. I wish there wouldn't have been so much to trim off. I understand the fat gives it flavor while cooking, but spare me some of it, please. The bread was great and tasty. The service was great, prices are decent. It was just enough food to satisfy us, but not to much to over indulge or have to waste. I think we'll go back.

    (3)

  • Patrick C.

    This place is brand new and fantastic. I look forward to it owning some of the local BBQ competitions. Got served, what was called by the main Pit Master and owner David, the 'poo poo' platter which ended up being everything and the kitchen sink. The dry rub ribs were awesome...the vinegar base BBQ sauce was awesome (so I am from KY..I like it)..and an ABSOLUTE must is the mac 'n cheese. I didn't even have room for the 'nanner pudding :(

    (5)

  • Leigh N.

    I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of slaw. Portions were good. Did not like the slaw - had mustard or something in it. The heart of any good BBQ place is it's sauce, and the sauce here was really lacking. Would like to see a bolder sauce, and maybe I'd come back.

    (3)

  • Wanda J.

    Disclosure: This review is coming from someone who is not a BBQ fan. I had the beef rib plate with mac and cheese and collards. The hubs had the pulled pork sandwich. I contemplated on whether or not to get the pork ribs, but I couldn't resist my favorite protein (BEEF). Luckily, we went with a friend who ordered the pork ribs so I was able to get a bite of it, which was very tasty. The beef rib was "melt in your mouth" good! The rib was gigantic, and it had an inch thick of beef along the whole length of the rib. Yum! The meat was so tender, juicy, and tasty. The fat infused between all the meat probably helped with the taste, tenderness and juiciness. This was an artery's worst nightmare, but a sweet dream for an empty stomach. :) The pork rib was very tasty too. It was a little on the dry side, not juicy like the beef rib. It was cooked with a dry rub, and the vinegar or sweet sauce was on the table. Both sauces were good. I'll probably order a 1/2 slab of these the next time. The mac and cheese was super yummy with major creamy, cheesy goodness. You know it's good mac and cheese when there's an 1/2 inch deep layer of oil at the bottom of your bowl. It was good, and I liked the big penne type noodles they used. There were tons of bacon bits in the greens, which probably made them as tasty as they were. I would've preferred my collards to be a little less cooked, but it was still good. I'll probably try something else next time. Overall, I liked Community Q despite my lack of excitement for BBQ in general. The food was good, and the service was very friendly and fast. I'll definitely be visiting again.

    (4)

  • J H.

    I'm writing this as I finish up my first meal from this place. Pulled pork sandwich with sweet sauce is alright, but nothing special. Potato salad is very good, although a bit too peppery. It's way better than Maddy's, but for a pulled pork sandwich I still contend that Shane's is better, and cheaper to boot. Yes, I just said that. Quit being a snob. Daddy D'z is better as well. As for atmosphere, there is none. If you love hanging out at the cafeteria area of Scott Antique market, then you'll feel right at home. I decided on takeout instead.

    (2)

  • Jason H.

    So glad there's a close BBQ spot near where I live now! The food is great for what it is.. and always makes me stuffed. The beef brisket is extremely juicy towards the middle portions but extremely dry on the outer parts. The pulled pork is just so-so compared to some other ATL institutions. I've tried the brunswick stew, fries, and mac n' cheese, and they were all great.. especially the mac n' cheese.. they make em heart attack style here. The staff is extremely friendly also.

    (4)

  • J S.

    Hog heaven! Absolutely delicious. Had the pulled pork sandwich. Came in a sauce-stained container in a brown paper bag. Inside a mound of moist pulled swine on thick toast with pickles. PERFECTION. While, Fox Bros. gets the hype (undeservedly in IMHO) and has a more neighborly location, Community Q gets the meat right. LOVED IT. I will drive for good BBQ and this is worth the mileage. GREAT job guys!

    (5)

  • Oliver B.

    I should have known better when they didn't have beer. Any BBQ place worth its salt either sells beer or has a liquor store next door. Between the two of us, we had the ribs, brisket, pulled pork, collards and the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was the highlight of the meal. A side should not be the highlight of the meal. The St. Louis ribs were exceptionally tender though a little lacking on flavor. If I had only tried the ribs, they would have eked out 3 stars. Unfortunately, we tried the brisket and pork. I have never had brisket quite as dry and bland as this. Ditto for the pulled pork. I usually skip the sauce for my BBQ but this had to be drenched in the stuff. It's as if they trimmed all the fat off of the meat and then steamed it. Collards were undercooked and flavorless. The mac and cheese was good as was the Texas toast that came with our meals. Oh, I guess the pickles were alright. We've been on a BBQ tour of Atlanta and Community Q was recommended by several people. I think we will be taking their recommendations with a grain of salt.

    (2)

  • Naveen D.

    Outstanding sandwiches and sides. We sampled the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches and were delighted with every bite. I don't know how they do it but the moisture was superb! I absolutely loved the baked beans side and will definitely have it again. Their sweet BBQ sauce is fantastic. This and Swallow at the Hollow are my favorite BBQ restaurants in Atlanta. Can't wait to return!

    (4)

  • TJ M.

    Another BBQ joint that I go to often. They have my fav beef brisket in town. And their pulled pork is excellent as well, although I'd prefer a little more smokiness to it. They add a spice rub to their fries, which makes them my fav BBQ place in town for a side of fries. I also like their Brunswick Stew. I agree with a lot of the other reviews that portion size/price isn't as good of a value when compared to the competition. That will cost them a star, so I'll give them 4 stars as a result. It's probably the easiest of my fav BBQ joints in regards to parking lot room, shortest time to get your order in, and plenty of seating.

    (4)

  • TurboFerret S.

    This place rocks. Best BBQ in the perimeter. Staff is super friendly. Facilities are always clean. The Mac and Cheese is just outrageously awesome. I would of given them 5 stars but they don't serve beer or liquor and I do really enjoy a beer with my Que.

    (4)

  • Vance B.

    This is great Barbeque. Best ribs in town. The only close second is Fox Bros.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    I have been here twice and only lunch both times. I had brisket the first time and pulled pork the second time. I had collards and baked beans for sides both times. The sides were good. The brisket was ok...definitely nothing special. The pork was decent...nothing to write home about. The sauce sauce was good. They need a good spicy BBQ sauce. I would go back but there is better out there.

    (3)

  • Brett B.

    This place is the bomb! Get a pork sandwich please.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    I ate here for lunch and now that I've recovered from punishing heartburn and an incapacitating coma, I can now say the following: I'm definitely a fan of this place! Sure, heartburn and comas are arguably unwanted outcomes. But as one who believes that "good food is bad for you," I will have to say that what I suffered this afternoon are really compliments towards the food here! It's so good it's bad! I couldn't decide between the beef brisket sandwich and the 1/2 pound of pork ribs, so I made the game-time decision of getting both. The beef brisket was dense, tender, and delicious, it might be my favorite BBQ item in all of Atlanta. Especially when doused with their BBQ sauce. This sandwich was so huge that it makes one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, the pastrami sandwich at Katz's Deli in NYC, seem like a snack item. And then the order of ribs. Yes, I was in over my head. But when one of the guys who work there said, "Dude, you're my new idol," that unfortunately made me want to consume more than I usually do. The ribs were quite good. A little burnt, not quite fall off the bone, but honestly, that's being nit-picky. Their BBQ sauce hit the spot and in fact may have turned that spot into an ulcer. All kidding aside. This place is a real deal BBQ place. I've road-tripped through Memphis, Kansas City, Texas, Alabama, eating BBQ at all the classic joints. At that time it made me think about the lack of BBQ in Atlanta. Community Q is a strong counterargument. I'm a fan indeed!

    (4)

  • Walter R.

    I've tasted Dave's barbeque (the owner) twice before, but never at one of his restaurants - just straight from a cooler he had with him as a sandwich. He IS a master BBQ'er. I was on his e-mail list prior to the opening and came in three days later. As I expected, I was not disappointed. This is probably the best BBQ inside of the perimeter - for meat and sauce! I ate the pork, beef brisket, and macaroni and cheese. All three were masterpieces.

    (5)

  • Steven K.

    I stopped by here recently since I have been hearing such good things about their brisket. It definitely held true to its reputation, there was a light smokiness, very little fat (which is uncommon at many bbq joints), and good tenderness. The mac&cheese was a bit greasy, but food quality tends to change a bit when you get take out so unfortunately I will have to stop in again and subject myself to the delicious brisket all over again. Even though my friend got the ribs, I have yet to try them. By the time I looked up from my feeding frenzy, there was nothing but bones left on the plate. Maybe next time I will order the ribs, or bring someone who eats slower than me so I can sample theirs.

    (4)

  • Topher R.

    Friendly service and quality food...make for a great lunch or dinner out. I had the ribs and the pulled pork, neither needed sauce. Very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese is a must...can substitute it as dessert, very good.

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    After reading Yelp's reviews, I dropped by at about 8 pm figuring I'd grab some take-out. Instead, I enjoyed the cozy hole-in-the-wall vibe so I dined there and chatted with the owner a little. Seems like a nice guy who's really earnest about making the place work. I enjoyed the light-rock tunes playing from the speakers enough that I pulled out my earphones and turned off the mp3 player. The ribs and brisket were mighty fine. Generous, tasty portions. Of the two sauces available, one was a nice vinegar-based sauce and the other was more of the red, sweet variety that BBQ newbs expect. Both were good. The sides were a real surprise. The collards were fresh and juicy, and the mac-and-cheese showed a lot of TLC was put into it. This is a perfect establishment for this area, which is otherwise saturated with foreign cuisine. It's a nice contrast. I am really happy that they don't have a waiter/waitress, but instead put everything you need where you can just get it yourself. We've entered an age where a 15% gratuity is becoming thought of as cheap, and such a small establishment doesn't really warrent someone being on staff just to ocassionally refill glasses. The one thing this place needs to get five stars out of me is a menu that's a little broader. Other than the selection of BBQ (brisket, chicken, sausage, ribs), the only other items are a basic selection of sides (baked beans, brunswick stew, potato salad, slaw, mac & cheese, collards, and fries). Not much to choose from for someone who wants something green and non-starchy. Personally, I'd really love to see some kind of fried veggie, like fried pickles or fried green tomatoes.

    (4)

  • Dee W.

    I like Community Q. The pulled pork is pretty good and the sweet BBQ sauce is SO good. The mac & cheese & collard greens are really good also.

    (4)

  • Mandy P.

    Yummy!! I got the chicken cuz they were out of pulled pork... I would have rather tried the pulled pork, but it was delish!! My fiancé got the brisket and enjoyed that as well... but it was the mac n cheese that was the real star of the show. In fact, after eating all of his food, my fiancé ate the rest of my mac n cheese that I was saving for the next day! Luckily they will sell you a pan of it to go that you bake yourself!!!! Yum yum yum!!! I forgot what other sides we got, but we will definitely go back... Hope they'll have pulled pork this time!

    (5)

  • Tressi J.

    tried this place for lunch today on my quest to find the best bbq in the land. sadly, i still haven't found it but this is decent. great mac n cheese! sweet tea--not so good. and the brisket--it was flavorful and smoky but just a tiny bit fatty in my opinion. sauces were ok...i'd go back, but just not my fave.

    (3)

  • Erin O.

    This place is as good as everybody says. I had the Brisket Plate with Mac n Cheese & Baked Beans. It was excellent. Great service. The brisket was full of flavor & really tender. The Mac n Cheese & Baked Beans were delicious. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE their BBQ Sauce, especially the Carolina vinegar based sauce. I loved my entire meal & will go here a million more times.

    (5)

  • juan a.

    The staff was really frendly when ordering the food. I had fun eating here the BBQ plated was 4 STARS

    (4)

  • Jim K.

    Real good barbeque ribs. Not the best but really good. Good sides, simple but good fare on east side of town.

    (4)

  • Holly B.

    First I would like to say that this place is hard to find. It is kind of behind the other shopping center, off of N. Decatur and Clairmont. They said that they are waiting on their sign, there is just a banner now. I did not have alot to spend, so I ordered the brisket sandwich-they were out of pulled pork. For 6.50 this is a large sandwich, and you get you choice of sauces. Yum Yum! I think that this is the first time I have eaten BBQ in a long time that I did not need a pepto afterwards! This is my new fav! Can't wait to go back and try some sides and dessert!!

    (5)

  • Rob M.

    First of all, if the review was just for the Mac & Cheese I'd give it 12 stars...by far the best Mac I have ever had...really. For the rest of the food, it's average. I went for the pulled pork but they were out so I got the half-slab ribs...after reading the reviews of how great they were I was expecting to be teleported to Memphis upon my ordering. We ordered, we waited...a little longer than usual at a bbq joint. Skipping to the food...my ribs were a little "crispy", not like they were slow roasted in a rotating pit but like they were cooked directly on a grill...which is a little different to me. The meat, a little tough, especially on the lower ends of the ribs. It was good, don't get me wrong, but not 4 or 5 stars good. The sides...the fries, yep, I opted for fries over cole slaw...sorry! The fries are...different. I think we got some of the bottom of the basket fries or something. They were little pieces with something, a seasoning or something on them. Bigger than old bay...don't know what it was. As a proclaimed lover of "squishy fries", these were very overdone for me, quite crispy, almost overcooked to a crisp unfortunately. I'd like to try them again, a fresh batch with normal sized fries, maybe they'd be a little better. The bread served with the ribs was a little lacking as well. I think the slices we tossed on a flattop and heated to a toast which isn't too bad if you just like plain bread with your bbq...but not me, soak that monster in some butter and toast it, both sides, let my fingers get a little buttery as I eat it. I mean c'mon, it's a bbq place, we aren't there because we're on a diet : ) So, regarding the non-food...the service was with a smile and the guys behind the counter were nice and friendly. Staff, 4 stars. All in all, it's a good place to eat, but not the best bbq in town. BUT...you can get the mac & cheese in a pan to take home and heat up for a family meal (or a single meal for me). If you get a chance...GET IT, you'll love it. OH...make sure you get there EARLY, they run out of food...YES, they RUN OUT OF FOOD.

    (3)

  • J H.

    Went there last night for first time,with couple friends. We were all happy with quality of food. It was awesome, everything was great. I had Rib / Sausage combo w/ Mac-n-chz & Baked Beans. Very satisfying, I didn't even use any of the sauce.....We shared some sides between us to try everything. Brunswick stew, Collards , French Fries all excellent. Yes try the fries !!

    (4)

  • Gus S.

    I've been to Community Q three times now. When trying to decide what to order on my first visit, I asked the owner to describe the ribs to me. He responded that they were similar to baby back ribs, only meatier. In fact, they were similar to baby back ribs, only fattier. I won't order the ribs again. In subsequent visits, I ordered the shredded pork as my entree. Authentic and tasty, but I'd rather have them trim the fat, as some bbq joints do, before serving. The helpings are generous, and I appreciate their vinegar based sauce. As others have noted, Community Q's mac-and-cheese is delicious. I also enjoy their baked beans and/or fries. My main complaint is the price. You'll end up paying around $12, give or take, for a meat, two sides, and a drink -- and that's for lunch. Given the prices at other metro bbq joints, that's $4 or $5 too much. As a result of these prices, I don't visit as often as I otherwise might.

    (3)

  • Denise B.

    I'd be happy to review this place, but everytime we go there, they're closed. Hey guys! You are not in Mayberry. This is the big city with a huge university down the street. People eat later here--especially in the summertime. Your 8:30 to 9:30 closing times are a tad unrealistic, unless perhaps you are in a retirement community.

    (1)

  • George C.

    Oooo- I see I get to write review #98 for Community Q! Story: Us OTP folk really do read ITP food reviews with a certain jealousy because our eating places tend to be scattered more and there seems to be more of a 'foodie culture' ITP. When I find out I am going to be ITP for more than four hours, I begin assessing reviews from my Yelp family a week in advance. Since I was going to be in Emory at 2:00 today, I was torn as to whether to stop at Desta or Community Q for lunch. Ann basically settled that when she wrinkled her nose and said, "Ethiopian?" So, we got to Community Q at 11:05 (before the landslide) and both ordered pulled pork sandwich plates, hers with mac 'n cheese and sauteed apples, mine wirh collard greens and Brunswick Stew. We were both pleased with the moistness and flavor of the pork mountains we received. The toasted garlicky bread that cradled the meat was nice, but wholly inadequate to contain the pork pile (minor matter really). Ann was ecstatic about the mac 'n cheese and apples, I was not in love with the overly vinegared greens and non-assertive stew. As for stars, I remind myself that it's the meat that's the most important thing at a BBQ joint, as I've been to quite a few GREAT ones that only offered potato chips and plain white bread on the side: 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Andrew R.

    I admit it - we eat at Fox Brothers all the time. It's the family favorite. Friday evening, my son and I tried Community BBQ for the first time, First of all, Community does not serve Beer and you cannot bring beer in. Beer without BBQ? Bad Combo. My pork sandwich and Mac/cheese was fine. I prefer it on a bun but that's just my opinion. My son ordered a half rack of Fatty/Cartilage-oops I mean ribs. If you want lean tasty ribs go to Fox Brothers. Stick with Community if you like Fatty Ribs. So we tried to share our disappointment with the owner regarding the Ribs. He looked at the plate of fatty ribs and told me there was Cartilage and then muttered some rude comment, the ribs at Community are bad! The owner's apparent lack of interest in customer satisfaction was disappointing.

    (2)

  • klyde k.

    totally hung over and felt nauseous while i was there. BUT the damn bbq was so good, i kept eating and eating. i've only been to fox brothers and williamson brothers, but this place beats both by a long shot.

    (5)

  • Stacy A.

    Great BBQ! Pulled pork was tender with good blend of smokiness and juiciness. In addition to traditional side options, they have a creative menu of side specials. I had the tomato cucumber salad and it was a refreshing choice on a warm day.

    (5)

  • red l.

    Really good BBQ . I am from the old school the dirtier the place the better the bbq. So with that said for a clean joint it has pretty good bbq. The BBQ is good, the Mac n cheese is great , the collards are great, the slaw is ok not great , the tea is not sweet enough, the beans are the BEST i have ever had (good Job fells). The sauce is not my favorite and is average. Now the only thing I have a real problem with is NO CORNBREAD. To the owners I am glad you are in the neighborhood I have been looking for another bbq place to replace my favorite Daddy D's . I like the fact that you have your mom working the customers NICE TOUCH .

    (4)

  • aimee l.

    the owners seem to care a lot about their customers and that goes a long way with me. always friendly and the food is generously portioned and delicious. i dock a star for closing at 8:30pm - tried to come on several occasions and missed my chance.

    (4)

  • Connor A.

    This is amazing bbq. I normally get the sausage, which is great. I have had the pulled pork too, which is a little dry, but nothing some sauce (they have plenty) can't fix. Their mac n cheese is delicious, and can compete with fox bros, which is rare. Overall, I love this place. It's incredible. Note-If you're wanting lemonade, be aware-IT IS THE SWEETEST DRINK YOU WILL EVER TASTE. I swear they use like a cup of sugar. I can only take sips at a time.

    (5)

  • B.S. T.

    A party of five of us enjoyed pulled pork (exceptional as it was flavorful as well as very lean) on a Wednesday evening and will definitely go back. Steady stream of customers right up to closing (8:30). More folksy than DBA but quieter and friendlier. We also enjoyed sides of mac n cheese, collard, and baked beans. They had some tempting specials but stayed conservative on this our first visit. BTW - Lots of other restaurants in same shopping center (Thai, Italian, Indian, and Greek) to satisfy most appetities.

    (4)

  • Beau D.

    These guys have gone to school on barbecue. Their sauces are divine. They have a light vinegar based North Carolina styled sauce and a sweet Memphis styled sauce. Both are served at the table so you sauce your own meat which, of course, is preferable. Pork is Boston Butt. It has a nice smoke ring and a good flavor. It is not greasy. The smokiness is subtle, not overwhelming. If you ask for outside you may get a little more bark and fat. The sausage is excellent and is reputedly produced here in the Atlanta area. Sausage is not overly peppered. The brunswick stew is perfect. The consistency is perfect with meat ground just right. It is not overly tomatoey. They add sweet corn and the sweet corn they add is a perfect compliment to the stew. The sides are very good. The macarioni and cheese is made with rigatoni noodles and is fabulous. The greens are porked up and there is absolutely nothing wrong about that. The beans are different so they are not like anywhere else. Nothing wrong with that. Service at lunch was efficient and friendly. The place is clean and pleasant. A lot of older people were there when I came in, That might be a function of the neighborhood or it might be a functiion of folks who have had enough experience to know good Que when they see it. Or maybe all those ladies were after the mac and cheese. Portions were more than ample, I thought I might take some home but at the end of lunch my plate was clean. Price is fair considering the time and trouble that has gone into this restaurant and menu. The Community Barbeque is grade A ,suped up, porked up Southern cooking. This would be a great place to take out of town guests who want some vernacular cooking.

    (5)

  • s f.

    This place was really good! I am not a huge bbq fan and appreciated that there menu had alot of options- several different beef, pork and chicken! The mac n cheese was amazing! I had the chicken off the bone and some of the brisket- both were good but the brisket had more flavor... it is a relax atmosphere and reasonably priced... the only thing that was not so good was the sweet tea. (I usually find i have to mix the sweet & unsweet together at a restaurant- but here i found it to be too bitter- i refilled with straight sweet and it was just off! Not sweet enough and just kinda wrong tasting!) I would def. go back!

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    The only place to go intown for a pulled pork barbecue sandwich. It's a place to go and eat good food served by friendly people when you're in a hurry. I've been there twice so far, and each time the pork sandwich's were great. The Mac'n'cheese is really delicious especially for the price. Overall a great value.

    (5)

  • F H.

    I'd heard a lot of hype about this place and was concerned it wouldn't live up to it, but I was wrong. The food was all fantastic and the macaroni and cheese is the best I've had anywhere in Atlanta. The meats were good, but not as good as Fox Bros, with the exception of the brisket - even though it wasn't visibly juicy, it was incredibly tender and had just the right amount of smoke flavor. I really like the rub they use because it's got a good amount of brown sugar that adds just the right touch of sweetness. The rub is also used on the fries and I thought it was a little heavy-handed here and made the fries too salty - a modified rub with less salt and more brown sugar would have been perfect. As a Carolina girl, I LOVE my vinegar-based sauces and the one here is amazing - nice and tangy with just the right amount of heat. I couldn't get enough of it! The other sauces were very good as well, but I stick with vinegar when I can find it. The restaurant is located in a small strip-mall in Decatur, which doesn't really lend to the bbq restaurant atmosphere, but whatever, the food's good enough for that to be overlooked.

    (4)

  • Elise E.

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about this new BBQ place. The food is DELICIOUS (brisket and pulled pork--i am fainting just thinking about this), the atmosphere is exactly the feel a BBQ restaurant should have, and the staff is the cherry on top! Everything is reasonably priced and the portions are huge (I usually try to split a 2 meat combo with somebody). I am officially a convert--it's not worth going anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Ross G.

    This is thoroughly average BBQ. While I enjoyed it, I am in no rush to go back. I had the pork/brisket combo plate so that i could try more than one thing, and had the Brunswick Stew and fries as sides. Both meats were fine. Nothing was wrong, just nothing was remarkable. The Brunswick Stew made me miss Dusty's (RIP) more than anything else. The fries were the best part of the meal, as they were very well seasoned and has a good crispness to them (no one likes soggy fries, but a lot of places serve them anyway. Good for them for keeping 'em in the fryer). That being said, when the fries are the best part of your meal, that's usually not a great sign. The service was very friendly, if slow (especially the line to order), and if I'm hungry and really just want BBQ but not ribs (Fat Matt's is the only place anyone should go for ribs) and don't feel like driving anywhere, I'll come back, since it's the closest BBQ to me. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be joining the Community Q community again anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Hashtronaut L.

    Damn good bbq! Must try the brisket, pulled pork and fat noodle mac n cheese that's swimming in grease. Next time I'm ordering as much mac n cheese as possible to take home

    (4)

  • Amy H.

    That mac n cheese though!!! This was a great little place!! I went and literally could NOT decide bw the half chicken and the brisket and APPARENTLY you can get half of each!! The chicken was cooked perfectly, moist and flavorful and you didn't need to anything to it. Loved the brisket, very tender! All the sauces on my table were good and I got WAY too much food for under $12 bucks. I brought my spoils home to my hubby and he died and went to heaven!!

    (4)

  • Clare A.

    Okay... I think it's actually illegal in some states to make mac'n'cheese this good. Seriously I will be thinking about that for a long time. White cheddar penne all thick & melty with gooey orange cheddar baked on top. I could get in major trouble if I lived close by. So worth kicking a gluten-free diet under the table for an afternoon. Just a note, the side salad is incredible. If you want some greens other than collards to go with your dish - typically two-ingredient side salads are so disappointing. Not theirs. It's obviously local Bibb or butter lettuce, with freshly prepared pickled beets (not too salty or sweet) and an incredible homemade vinaigrette. Just thought I'd provide a review about the non-bbq dishes, cause everybody knows their bbq is killer. ;)

    (5)

  • Myles M.

    This place is dangerously close to my apartment. It's a miracle I'm not 500 lbs. The smoky aroma reaches all the way to N Decatur road sometimes and has been known to turn the most pious of vegans into bloodthirsty carnivores. Regardless of what kind of sandwich I'm partial to at any given time, I always get the same two sides: mac n cheese and baked beans. The macaroni is decadent and the beans are to die for. I've also tried the collard greens and blacked eyed peas and they're good, but who wants veggies and those lesser legumes when you're bringing your tummy out for a good time? The barbecue sauces are so delicious you could actually drink them. I may have, but that info will not be disclosed publicly. You could "accidentally" eat a napkin drenched in either of their two sauces. The function of the bread in the so-called sandwiches is just a more acceptable form of BBQ sauce sponge, cuz it would be weird if we started eating their napkins. I recently discovered the smoked sausage sandwich. Everyone knows about the mouthwatering pulled pork and the unbelievable brisket sandwiches. Their sausage is at the same god-tier level as those two BBQ staples. Give it a try if your other favorites happen to run out!

    (5)

  • Vicki N.

    FYI: My review is based on a take out order and not for dining in. I was in the mood to try a new BBQ place, so I found Community Q on Yelp. The cashier was very friendly! I ordered the rib combo which comes with a quarter rack of ribs, an additional meat and two sides. I opted for the pulled chicken with mac and cheese and slaw. Ribs- I am absolutely not a fan of sauce-y ribs, so I loved these ribs. They're smoked and very flavorful. The meat wasn't quite fall-off-the-bone, but flavors were spot on. Pulled Chicken- The chicken was definitely very moist and well-seasoned. I rarely like any sort of chicken dishes because of how dry it can be, but their pulled chicken was perfect! Mac and cheese- They use huge noodles, maybe rigatoni pasta. It was cheesy and didn't have a noodle-y taste that some mac and cheese have. Loved it! My order came out within 5 minutes. Also, there was no line around 2:30pm on a Wednesday since it was probably off-peak hours. Can't wait to come back and try their St. Louis style ribs and banana pudding!

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Went way out of my way on advice that these guys do some of the best barbeque in Georgia. The beef was good but the ribs were the best I've ever eaten. Outstanding flavor and tenderness.

    (5)

  • Kai E.

    This is one of my top choices for BBQ now that I had the opportunity to experience Community Q. The spot is tiny and the menu is straight to the point. I had the chopped bbq chicken which was extremely filling . The bbq sauce was the closest thing to perfect that I have ever had it was tangy, sour, sweet and spicy all at the same time I can't compare it to any bbq sauce I had before which is why this restaurant is at the top of my list. Most bbq places have 2 or more bbq sauces but if you get it right the first time it's fine to just offer 1. The sides are a decent size I had the mac and cheese which was good. I also tried the fries which was also good. The customer service was good as well. I will be back often.

    (4)

  • Fefe P.

    Ok, so maybe I have been living on the moon recently. Or, perhaps I've just been driving with blinders on down Clairmont Rd. Most likely, it's just that I haven't been on a quest for the best BBQ in Atlanta...until the other day. These are my reasons for why I had absolutely No Flippin' Idea that this place existed Shame on me! After recently seeing Community BBQ in Talk Threads, "Best Of" Lists and reading great reviews from Yelpers whose opinions I trust...my husband and I decided to pick up a takeout BBQ order. The location is easy to find, but at the same time...I kind of understand how I never noticed this BBQ joint before. The restaurant blends into the background a bit. We lucked up with parking at the front door and a wonderful aroma hit us as we exited the car. Upon opening the restaurant door, I knew 2 things right away: 1) I'm going to leave smelling like BBQ (hey, no problem there LOL) 2) I'm really going to enjoy this food! And, both were true!!! The space is small, simple and cozy on the inside, with outdoor seating too. Most tables were filled and folks seemed to be enjoying their food (they were eating, Not talking ...that's a good sign :-). I don't eat pork, so unfortunately I cannot speak to the ribs or pulled pork, sorry. However, I am a lover of Beef Brisket, which is my gauge for good BBQ. On this trip, we ordered meats only: *Chopped Beef Brisket: one word...Delicious! If you've ever had chopped Fat, masquerading as chopped Brisket, then you understand how wonderful it is to have actual juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked meat!!! It was a winner *Pulled Chicken: moist, nicely textured and smoky! *Two sauce options: Sweet or Vinegar based Since we didn't try any sides, I will update the review next time. We still have a number of must try options on the menu, so we'll be back!!! Until then, Happy Eating.

    (4)

  • Angel P.

    I finally gave Q a visit! Can I just say...Ah Maze Zing!!!!!! Q is pretty legit. I ordered ribs, brisket, collards, & brunswick stew. My husband had the brisket. & my daughter had a 1/2 rack. The dry rub on the ribs were on point! Not salty & not too sweet. Just the perfect balance. I usually like my ribs a bit wet, drenched almost. But these were so perfect that I didn't need any sauce. That's definitely a first! The brunswick stew, collards, & mac & cheese were perfect. Nice pieces of meat in the stew, seasoning in the collards, & the cheesy mac n cheese.. Yummmmm! No complaints on the sides. Now, on to the brisket..this is the only reason why I had to knock off a star. Our brisket was pretty dry. There was a nice smoke ring on it but it was just too dry to enjoy. The sauce sure came in handy. The service was just outstanding! From the moment we walked in, placed our order, until we left. Wonderful customer service! I honestly can't say it enough, but great customer service, to me, is a huge plus! Overall, Community Q BBQ definitely exceeded my expectations. If you haven't given them a try yet, you're missing out. You won't be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Andrea A.

    Parked in a spot near the entrance was a black SUV with a round bumper sticker on the back window reading, "(animal) Bros. Bar-B-Q." I don't like to mention competitor establishments in a restaurant review but the irony was too much. I took it as a sign that Community Q BBQ was legit before I even walked through the front doors. A memo posted out front shared important FYIs with customers: "We cook fresh every day! That means we have to guess how much we will need. Some days we under guess and some days we over guess. Some days are just right." "We only use leftovers in stew and baked beans! What we can't use goes to the food bank. Please understand that we will run out of meat occasionally." The posting continued and was almost a full page. I wondered why a restaurant would need to make these disclaimers. Have they suffered riots or angry customers with pitchforks? I wanted someone to unpack a few of the statements but I didn't want to hold up the line with curious questions. After tasting my 1/2 BBQ Chicken with Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens, I understood why customers would be so passionate about their Community Q BBQ. Moist, smoky and sweetly sauced...I could totally envision someone getting heated when they had their mouth set on good BBQ only to find it sold out. The lesson is go and make sure you get there early! It's a popular intown pick!

    (4)

  • Karnesha S.

    The Mac and Cheese here...is....EVERYTHING. Like I keep thinking about how tasty, savory and cheesy it was!! I will be back very soon! The line was out the door which is always a telltale sign that a restaurant has delicious food.

    (5)

  • Kristian D.

    Oh man, was this place good. I searched and searched for the best barbecue in Atlanta and found Community Q. Fortunately, I was in the neighborhood and was able to stop in for lunch. It was a little difficult to find tucked into a strip mall, but you can just follow your nose. I had a half rack of St. Louis ribs with mac &cheese and beans. Unusually, I have to start describing the mac & cheese. Their mac & cheese is simply the best I have ever had. Super creamy, super cheesy, super mac'y. I am still experimenting on how to recreate this dish in my kitchen. The beans were also spectacular with a perfect balance or sweet and spice with their delicious brisket. And yes, the ribs were also perfect with rub, sauce, and tenderness in the upper echelon of barbecue heaven. I really wish this place was not 2,500 miles away. Highly recommended and worth the trip!

    (5)

  • Sky D.

    I wanted some ribs but I wanted to venture outside of Fat Matts and Community Q BBQ was the chosen one. Located in a small quaint plaza on Clairmont Road in Decatur, parking was not difficult because it was during the week. I can imagine parking being insane if it were really busy. The restaurant itself is not huge inside but it seem to hold all patrons that were there that day and it was pretty packed. I was ordering to go for my husband. They have a small outdoors patio. I I ordered 1/2 rack with a side (mac n cheese). The bag felt very light and everyone do not use the same ribs. Once home, I ate a little bit but I wasn't a fan of the ribs. They were not nasty...just not to my liking. My husband enjoyed them. I would try them again for the beef brisket.

    (3)

  • Mary T.

    Okay! I came back & before I even read my own review, I was right.. I got the ribs and macaroni & cheese again! I guess I kinda know myself, huh? My meal was just as good as I remembered it would be. This macaroni and cheese isn't made with regular macaroni noodles but rather a bigger noodle. The cheese is nice and creamy while the topping is crunchy cheese melted on top. The ribs are awesome as usual. Nice and meaty. They have 2 bottles of different barbecue sauces on the table. one is a sweet sauce and the other is a more spicy sauce with a vinegar base. I didn't really like it the last time so, I didn't even taste it this go around. I didn't even finish my ribs. I ate a half one and gave one to my boyfriend and brought about 4 or 5 home for later. I love this place and would recommend it to everyone who asks about good barbecue in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Katz A.

    Very nicely cooked pulled pork and brisket without a lot of unnecessary added flavors. Will try the ribs and chicken next time. Picked up a takeout menu for the crew at work. The $$ is misleading as the portions are quite generous.

    (4)

  • Amber A.

    Top two if not best Barbeque in Atlanta. I ate here for the second time today and just can't say enough. Their sides are creative, fresh and delicious (and yes they still have the usuals too). I got the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and collards today with banana pudding. I got both sauces, regular and vinegar....both great. This is my new go to....and I suggest it become everyones! The staff is super nice and helpful too!

    (5)

  • Denise M.

    Wow this place is Amazing! The food was soooo good, the atmosphere was perfect, the price was cheap compared to other bbq restaurants! My hubby was trying to find a place in atlanta to eat bbq and we couldn't of picked a better spot! The ribs, mac and cheese, the pulled pork sandwich, is the best bbq food I have ever ate. And the customer service from the manager was excellent! A MUST TRY!!

    (5)

  • JAN k.

    Fabulous Food.....half chicken on the bone, half slab of ribs, slaw, collards, and delicious black eyed peas(try ,you will like). All for a little more than 30$. Counter ordering with no tip and water to drink. 4:30 on a Monday afternoon. Service was great. HOWEVER, the smoke in the place was so thick , I felt like I was eating inside the smoker. Made breathing a little hard at first. I had to come home and shower, wash my hair and wash all of my clothes. If ( and that is a big if ) I ever come back it will be a phone in order and I will send my husband in to pick up the food.

    (3)

  • Chris A.

    Smells great from the outside, good selections. Good sides. Coming from a Texan this BBQ is solid. Near VA hospital

    (4)

  • Bill G.

    All good, had the Brisket / slaw and beans. Brisket was great, tender and tasty Also had the mac and cheese, don't pass on that one. Prices pretty decent, need a bit better ventilation, the Smokey flavor in the air was great, but didn't need to wear it the remainder of the day, but a definite revisit when in town.

    (4)

  • Rusty R.

    Great little BBQ place. Went early for lunch and by the time I was leaving the place was packed. Pulled pork was tender. Add the BBQ sauce and it became outstanding. Thee ribs fell off the bone good. Highly recommend this nice place!

    (5)

  • Michelle C.

    Ordered take-out from Community Q BBQ, and it was delicious! I ordered the meat combo with pulled pork and sliced brisket, and both were flavorful before even putting on the vinegar and tomato based sauces that I asked for on the side. I love it when BBQ tastes good before the condiments, you could taste the smokey flavor. For sides I got the mac-n-cheese which was decent, and the black eyed peas that were described as having rosemary and bacon, but I didn't get very much of those flavors. The meat portions were huge, and the sides were small-- not sure if that's standard or because I ordered take-out and they had to place it in little containers. Either way, it was definitely good enough for me to probably dine-in next time.

    (4)

  • Elevenmile S.

    5 stars for the food. It's really some of the best bbq I've had. Minus 3 for the service. Why? One of the employees walked up to my table mumbling "don't touch my sauce" under his breath and literally snatched it off the table while I was using it! Other employees saw this happen and no one offered an apology or any kind of explanation. I would have understood if he told me it was his personal sauce that he accidently left out and POLITELY asked for it back. The staff is wholly unprofessional. Loitering around the counter goofing off and packing buns on the table I was eating at! No excuse me, do you mind, nothing. I'm all for having a good time at work, but one of the employees was telling a story and pointing right at me, repeatedly...save that stuff for when no one is looking. You get paid to at least LOOK like you're working. Well, great food, bad service. I won't be going back... BBQ joints in the south are a dime a dozen.

    (2)

  • garrett e.

    Delicious BBQ! Plus with more restaurants in that area... It's really starting to pop

    (5)

  • Larry W.

    While in the Atlanta area for work, decided to find out if Georgia Bbq could compete with other places I visited in Texas, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. After reading a few reviews, decided to Try this place. Great atmosphere-no frills, great smell of smoke and nice mix of country music. Was hungry-ordered the Mac and cheese wow) along with ribs (nice smokey flavor, and pulled pork (A+). Mixed both a vinegar based and vinegar/ tomato homemade sauces with nest-very good. Was hungry so ordered the pulled chicken and brisket too. Chicken was great (highly recommends) but brisket just ok. If u are a smoked bbq snob like me, then this is worth trying out. Good job boys- you represented Georgia very well

    (4)

  • Adrienne R.

    We absolutely LOVE this place! This place is amazing! They have REAL mac'n cheese, not just something out of a box. The meat is seasoned perfectly! You don't even need sauce for any of the meat. We get a slab of ribs, 1/2 pound of smoked sausage, a small mac'n cheese, a small Brunswick stew & a small collard greens for a little over $30. Which is a really good deal for metro Atlanta bbq. We've had the pulled pork & the bbq chicken, you can't go wrong in this place!

    (5)

  • Scott P.

    This is really, really solid BBQ - I've eaten here before but I think that they have actually improved their BBQ game, from discussions with other BBQ snobs like myself and this last trip looking at the meats and tasting. We got a half rack of ribs, brisket, and mac n cheese, and Brunswick stew and I tried a bit of it all. The ribs come in with the highest rank at a 4.5, very well seasoned, nice fine layer of bark with tender inside. What I personally appreciate about the ribs is that the seasoning could easily replace the sauces (a sweet thick sauce, or a vinegar sauce are your choices here) and I could easily enjoy the meal without sauce at all. I've said this on rare occasions, The brisket comes in about a 3.5 here, it was a nicely barked slice of brisket, a slight dry for my liking, the seasoning doesn't shine through on the brisket like it does the ribs. I really, really like their mac n cheese and would easy give it a 4.5. The Brunswick stew to me had little flavor. Normally I would kick it up with some hot sauce like tabasco but I just kinda gave up on it, a 2 star for me. It's a chunky style as well which isn't my personal liking. The décor is your typical bbq shack style with a pretty good amount of seating and even some outdoor seating (with a view of the parking lot). The décor gets a 4 star from me. Overall I would definitely swing this way if you are in the area, or if you make it a destination spot, I think you'll find it worth a half hour drive or so.

    (4)

  • Linda N.

    Got my food to go during the busy lunch hours, and I didn't have to wait long. Meat combo (pork and beef) with sweet potato with kale as the side. Great flavors with the options of a vinegar BBQ sauce or a sweet BBQ sauce (or both). The meat was great, not dry at all. All of it was delicious.

    (4)

  • Lily W.

    So good! Highlights: ribs, mac 'n cheese, & collards. My family also says the beans were great! The banana pudding definitely got better reviews that the bread pudding. I would say that the space is a plus as it's spacious. The tea and lemonade is a bit too sweet. Will look forward to heading back.

    (4)

  • Carla D.

    Ribs. Get the ribs. I felt like a dog with a bone with those things, I placed my arm around them and glared at anyone that said, those look good.....yes, yes they do...and they are.. and you should order some of your own. Mac and Cheese was good. I had heard A LOT of hype about the mac n cheese so because of this I think my experience of it was a little lacking. I really expected it to change my life, it didn't but it did make my mouth happy for that day and left over day. I guess my life would be kind of sad if it was changed by pasta and cheese. Anyway, eat here at least once, you'll be glad you did if you like BBQ

    (4)

  • Sticky L.

    I was at FedEx when Jose told me about this great BBQ place. OMG, I walked in and the smell was Awesome! The BBQ chicken and the sauces was to die for! The smoke sweet potatoes tasted like they were from a can. The mac & cheese was creamy and very cheesey, but very bland and tasteless! But the BBQ chicken and the sauces was Awesome! The best BBQ I've had outside of my own! I'm talking finger locking good!

    (5)

  • Lindsay W.

    This is my absolute favorite BBQ restaurant in Atlanta. Hands down. If you come on a Friday or Saturday night, there will be a line (~15 minutes), but it's well worth the wait. The way it works is you walk in, get in line and look at the wall mounted menu by the register. Once you get to the register you order, get your drink, and then and only then do you sit down... and that goes for your whole party. The staff will bring your food to you by your first name. Next step: proceed to dig in and get fat. The macaroni and cheese is thick and cheesy, and they use large pasta for it. The baked beans are insanely sweet with bits of meat in it too. Not just little bits of meat either. The first time I ordered the baked beans, there was more meat than beans in it. The brisket and pork and everything really is juicy and smoked to perfection. The banana pudding gets its own paragraph. Nestled in the Styrofoam container is (starting from the top) four vanilla wafers, banana pudding, four banana slices, banana pudding, and four additional vanilla wafers on the bottom. If you've gotten the banana pudding from the Your Dekalb Farmer's Market, it's similar in that you can really taste the bananas in it. It's sweet, but not enough to rot your teeth. You'll want it as one of your sides (it counts as a side!). I keep meaning to try the ribs, but the brisket and sausage are just too good to pass up! The sausage has a nice, thick casing that pops when you bite into it. They serve the sausage sliced for you, and man is it good on some of their toast as a sandwich. Bring yourself, bring your SO, your family, and your kids because you'll all love it.

    (5)

  • Caesar B.

    Great beef brisket and mac n cheese. I've been eating this BBQ every since I moved to Atlanta in the early 2000's. The original restaurant is BBQ 1. They opened another restaurant, Dave Poe's BBQ...and now we have the Community Que, the 3rd restaurant. Each restaurant is individually owned and ran by 1 of the the 3 original partners. You can't go wrong with any of them. I always get the beef brisket sammie.... In my opinion Dave Poe's has a little more smokey flavor in the brisket, but I think Community Que makes up for that by giving you a larger portion of brisket.

    (5)

  • Brett F.

    Mac and cheese here is great! The BBQ itself is decent, though not earth shattering. Great, solid place if you are in the area.

    (3)

  • Nkenge G.

    Wow, this place has really gone downhill. I used to eat there all the time when I worked in the area. I got the two meat plate with one side for $9.50. The servers were nice and the food came out quickly. The toast was buttery and just right. I also enjoyed my kale and sweet potatoes. Even though it's a small portion, it's always good. But the meat was sub par. The beef brisket had more fat than meat. It was charred on the outside and parts of the meat were dry while other parts were greasy. The pulled pork tasted better than the brisket but it still wasn't as good as I remember. I prefer the sweet sauce to the vinegar one. It's great to have a choice. Unfortunately, I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • James H.

    I've been to some of Atlanta's most "popular" BBQ Restaurants (Daddy D'z and Fat Matts) and have been thoroughly disappointed. So much so, that my family and I would drive all the way to Pendleton, SC when we wanted really good BBQ (Smoking Pig). But, we no longer have to do that!!!! Like I said in another review, I've had a lot of great BBQ between Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee (Memphis), so I know really good BBQ. Community BBQ lived up to the hype!!! I had the rib and brisket combo. Both were very good cuts of meat. Very lean and smoked to perfection. The meat had an excellent taste without sauce which is usually the first test for me. The sauce actually reminded me a lot of the homemade sauce that my wife makes at home!!!! Really good. On top of all of that, these folks KNOW HOW TO COOK COLLARD GREENS!!!!! They weren't sweet like you find in a lot of places. I will definitely make the trip back to Decatur to eat at Community BBQ!!!

    (5)

  • Yulonda B.

    This place was pretty awesome, asbsoon as you walk in you smell the mouth watering, captivating country style snoked barbecue. The place was small but cozy. The servers where nice and welcoming. When we got there the line was a bit long, however it moved swiftly. I was tickled by the sign that said "This way to pig out" Looking at the surroundings and the amount of people there, we could tell that this place must had some good food. And sure enough the food was great. Perfectly flavored for ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw and mac n cheese. I had the banana pudding for desert which was definitely delish and hit the spot. I was also impressed by the fact that they not only served prok, but also had, pulled chicken, smoked sausage and beef ribs as well as a nice savory selection of sides. The only cons I had was that they only had 2 types of types of barbecue sauce to choose from and that some parts on the ribs was over cooked and tough. I do recommend your that you try this place out.

    (4)

  • Brad B.

    Crack fries. Half a bird. Pickled beets. Mac and cheese. All amazing. The only reason this place does not get 5 stars from me is the fact they run out of pork like it is going out of style. That's my word and I'm sticking to it.

    (4)

  • Brooke N.

    First let me say... I'm usually not a BBQ fan. BUT, I was traveling with someone who LOVES BBQ and every time she had the chance she went to Community Q. It was delicious. Pulled pork, slaw (I loved the slaw, and I don't even like coleslaw!) and fries one time. Ribs with greens and mac 'n' cheese the next. Eat there once, and keep coming back. There's so much to try -- and it's all good.

    (4)

  • Christine F.

    I was eager to try Community Q but it seemed that fate was destined to keep us apart. The first time I tried to go, the power was out in the entire complex. The second time I tried to go, they were just closing shop. None of these mishaps were the restaurant's fault, of course. Maybe my expectations were too high when I did end up getting in the place. I ordered pulled pork, collards and mac-n-cheese. The best thing on my plate was the mac-n-cheese which was baked and tasty. The pulled pork was OK but nothing great. The collars were really bitter and not good at all. I would give it another try, but would order completely different items off the menu.

    (2)

  • Addy C.

    Smoked Sausage and Baked Beans. Enough said. Haha I can't write a review with just seven words :) If you like variety then get the $12 Meat Combo (2 meats) or $14.75 Rib Combo (ribs + 1 meat) which comes w/ two sides. That's what my friend and I did - and you'll have enough leftovers for a 2nd meal. MILD SMOKED SAUSAGE I knew I had to get the sausage after reading Andria C and Andrew D's reviews rave about how awesome they were. Loved the smoky flavor and the crunchy outside. I made myself not eat all of it so I could enjoy it later. BEEF RIB I'd heard this was the most popular among the meats - it's also the most expensive so I figured it must be good. When I came for dinner last year they ran out. I have another friend who comes here weekly just for the beef ribs. So my expectations were super high. Verdict? I thought they were very good - meat was super tender, flavorful, several fatty pieces but that's expected, and very black crusty outside but edible and delicious. I still liked the sausage better. OTHER MEATS Sampled Sliced Beef Brisket and St. Louis Ribs - thought they were just ok esp. compared to the more flavorful sausage and beef ribs. SIDES Absolutely LOVED their Baked Beans - I think they're the best in Atlanta. I'd heard great stuff about the Brunswick Stew too but already fell in love w/ the Baked Beans so the stew was just ok. However when I ate the stew later for dinner, I thought it tasted great. Baked Beans are more on the sweet side, Brunswick Stew more vinegary. Mac N Cheese was pretty good but didn't wow me. The Sweet Potato & Kale didn't wow me either. FYI - they're located in the same strip mall w/ Bhojanic and Pyng Ho. Next time I'd like to try their Sloppy Joe w/ Beef Brisket and their Kitchen Sink.

    (4)

  • F S.

    Not a huge BBQ person but my daughter is.. Took her here for her birthday dinner!! OMG!! This place made me realize why BBQ is a Southern treat.. Loved it, Loved it!!! Will be back. The customer service was Outstanding. Great job!!!

    (5)

  • Danny H.

    I found my way to Community Q, because I was in the mood for ribs, and my go-to place in Decatur was usually Burnt Fork, but for whatever reason, they were temporarily closed, leading me to have to seek barbecue refuge elsewhere. Kind of bad news for Burnt Fork, because now I've discovered Community Q. Now, my review is based on a take-out order, since I was taking food to someone else, so I have nothing to really say about the interior of the place, or what dining in is like. I can say however, that it's somewhat easy to find, as it's just off of the corner of two well-traveled routes, North Decatur Blvd and Clairmont Rd. They have free parking, and what appears to be a pretty cozy and quaint looking patio up front. And the people on the phone who took my order were friendly and cooperative in scheduling when to prep my food, so that it would be as fresh as possible for when I picked up. Back to the all-important food though; I ordered some ribs, and I ordered myself a pulled-pork sandwich, since it's my belief that pulled pork is the best way to gauge an untested barbecue restaurant. In my order were sides of fries, collards, baked beans, and some mac and cheese. The pulled pork was excellent. What I really liked about it was that it wasn't overly oily or greasy, but at the same time retained a good amount of tenderness without being dry. In the "sandwich" the portion of pulled pork was heaped on and massive, and you'll never hear me complain about generous portions. The ribs however, were pretty incredible. They were Kansas City style, and they literally fell right off the bone. Pulling them off half slabs were intricate operations, so that you didn't yank a bare bone off, leaving heaps of succulent boneless rib meat in giant chunks in the container. The flavor wasn't the smokiest in the world, but the rub was tasty, and the meat not dry or rubbery. I also liked the fact that they left on the tips, which is like getting flavorful, charred-ended bonus meat. I wish I ordered myself ribs instead of the pulled pork in retrospect, but this just means the next I go, and believe you me, there will be a next time, I'm going straight for the ribs. Now the reason I don't five-star Community Q, is that I was actually a little unimpressed with their sides. The collards were okay, but I'm not entirely sure if they were made with any pork juice or not. It's hard to tell, but one thing was sure, is that they didn't have the tangy bite that I expect from my interpretation of good collards. The baked beans were equally unsatisfactory to me, because the flavor wasn't bad, but frankly I think they were a little undercooked. I don't know if this is the norm, or I just got a bad batch, but I don't think I'm going to get them again in the future. Partially, because of the mac and cheese, which wasn't my side, but I still got to sample. Now, compared to like Burnt Fork's mac and cheese, I greatly prefer Community Q's. It's hard to explain it, but both use multiple types of cheese, but Community Q's just holds it's flavor better, so to say. Regardless, it's what I plan on getting with my ribs the next time I'm there. Overall, I was very pleased with Community Q's barbecue. I also like their location more than Burnt Fork's, and I look forward to the chance to actually go inside, relax and take in a dine-in experience there. The barbecue itself was excellent, and I think with a nice order of KC ribs to try for myself, I might be able to decide who really has the best ribs in the city.

    (4)

  • Lisa N.

    Hands down one of the best BBQ places in Atlanta. The Brisket is butter and the mac and cheese is AMAZING. I have eaten here a few times and I always leave wanting more. My only con is this place gets very crowded but its worth it!

    (5)

  • Conchata W.

    I truly love the atmosphere here at this place. I tried the 1/2 chicken plate with greens and potatoe salad. The food was soon good and it was well cooked. I am very picky with bbq joints but this one had my QUEEN approval.

    (5)

  • Athena A.

    I have to start this out with this, in case you don't want to read the entire review, the mac and cheese is NOT good! And no, I am not some cretan solely searching for the "yellow" variety made with ( dare I even type) velv****a and cheddar. Different macs call for different ingredients. Sometimes I use a variety of cheddar and maybe mix mozzarella. Sometimes a girl needs Parmesan base with some fontina and Gruyere. It depends! But what I am NEVER in need of is watery base with no flavor and no melted cheese! They can't be serious believing that this is Mac and cheese. I mean, at least if it's going to only contain the cream base, have some flavor! After all THY BASE is where you put your seasoning for the love of Alain Ducasse! Okay, Emeril, Ducasse is too far. But you get it. Banana pudding, skip it. I can tell it's not from a box, but too grainy and watery at the same time. How?? Ribs- so good! The rub is wonderful and they are cooked well. Baked beans- yes! Seasoned wonderfully, like none I've had. Overall, yes I will go back to try different things. I've got my eyes on their potato salad.

    (3)

  • Adrienne T.

    Well, I ventured in here based on my fellow Yelpers' reviews. I drive for Uber ($20 off you or your friends' first ride with code HY5TY) on weekends, and this is "my" area. I was hungry one day, so clicked the Yelp app for nearby suggestions. Delicious brisket! Not quite as tasty as my number ONE bbq place since I've been in Georgia (almost 2 years now) Big Shanty in Kennesaw, which is well worth the drive, but they are the next best, slightly edging out Sweet Auburn. The pulled pork was tasty and not dry, and the mac-n-cheese-mmm, mmm, good! I tried the blueberry bread pudding thing since a Yelper said to get it, and it was ok. Just ok. There was a line, but it moved quickly, very genuinely friendly staff, happy patrons, and a down home feel. When I'm out here, I'll definitely drop in!

    (4)

  • Jeremy S.

    This is a fine bite of BBQ. Not a destination but, hey if you're in the neighborhood, drop by. I definitely will.

    (3)

  • Ant S.

    So Community Q. I love having this in the neighborhood. And I'll admit it... I drive by for the smell sometimes. But the important stuff...The meats are really good quality que! Ribs, pork, sausages, and etc. Although I still miss when they had the beef rib on the menu. It's cliche at this point but the star side is the mac and cheese. Calling it one of the best things I've ever said eaten doesn't do it justice. Let's just say sometimes I double up on my order. The rest... I like the layout of the restaurant and parking is easy.

    (4)

  • Jason J.

    Never a miss when I visit community. The brisket is on par and I love the sloppy joe. The sides are delicious and fresh.

    (5)

  • Ariel L.

    Welcome, Georgia BBQ! Not a bad introduction. Today I tried the combination meat, which included bits of pulled pork, brisket & sausage. The meats were tasty, but not like the hankering a "walker" has for flesh. In medical sense, the arteriole blockage loomed within the lack of savoryness. Possibly just too subtle? Unlike Donald Trump's comb-over. The sauces, although "fair ball" were overpoweringly sweet. That's probably more related to the ignorance of my Midwest bias. The good ole' Midwest... The sides won out. The mac & Cheese oozed more than being slimed on the 90's version of Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards & the Cole slaw didn't pull a Mily Vanilli. (Faking it). Overall, solid BBQ, but nothing extraordinary. Sincerely, Pollen Outbreak

    (3)

  • Laura O.

    I am still dreaming of delicious BBQ since eating there last week. The macaroni and cheese made me cry it was so good. Got the pulled pork and pulled chicken (served between two thick slices of bread). Heaven on earth. You stand in line to order, grab a seat, and wait for your food to be delivered to your table. 3 or 4 BBQ sauce options on the table. All amazing. Pass on the black eyed peas, but you will devour everything else.

    (5)

  • Victoria M.

    Amazing BBQ! Had ribs with mac and cheese, and I can't wait to try everything else on the menu! You can tell everything is home cooked and made to order.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    Great BBQ. Helpings are large and food is tasty. Sides are excellent too

    (5)

  • Corey Z.

    Been eating there since day 1. Wonderfully sweet staff. Many there for years. The challenge is to try new things and specials.... and they sell fresh food items. Institution......

    (5)

  • Steve D.

    Oh man. Let me just say that I am California and on our visit to Georgia I knew I had to try some good BBQ. Community was consistently on the list of places to try and it did not disappoint. Generous portions of tender, juicy meat in between two prices of Texas toast and a side of your choosing? Yes please! I was with a group of seven people and was able to try a little bit of the pulled pork, brisket, St. Louis Ribs, half chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, cole slaw, and potato salad... All of it, incredible. My favorites however were the Baked Beans which were incredibly addicting and the chicken. I had to go stand back in line just to buy a couple of their dry rubs to bring home! And speak of the hospitality! The crew here was helpful, friendly and courteous. Can't wait to visit again!!!! Or you can open up a restaurant in California and be the king of BBQ in the SF Bay Area... Just saying... Thanks for the great experience.

    (5)

  • Marvin B.

    Was looking for a good BBQ joint in the Decatur area and came across this one. The ratings prompted me to give them a try, glad I did. This place has really good bbq and service too. I ordered the sweet potato with kale which was delicious and the baked beans, these however were smothered in too much bbq sauce. Overall I had a very good experience and will be back again.

    (4)

  • Judith C.

    How lucky am I to live so close to a place with such good BBQ?! They offer sandwiches and plates, and you can choose 2 sides. Some of my fave sides were: - mac n cheese: super cheesy, but I only eat like the top half because after that, it gets super oily. Also, these don't taste that great when reheated. - collard greens: my #1 - smoked sweet potato with kale I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish a whole plate of that stuff; I loved the smokiness and tenderness of the meat. I loveeddd loading up on the condiments (red = sweet, from Georgia; yellow = vinegary; from N. Carolina I think). It was my first time trying these different sauces! Learning something new all the time. Prices are very reasonable, especially with the huge serving that you get. Service is friendly and welcoming. With this place being so close, I'd come here all the time!

    (4)

  • Barbara M.

    What an amazing lunch! Located in a strip mall, which contains several restaurants, these guys really know how to do it right! Large portions, reasonably priced. We both ordered the pulled pork sandwich and mac/cheese. My husband also ordered the baked beans. We brought home the sandwich bread and six ounces of meat. Seriously, did I say large servings??? Next time, we will probably order one sandwich and two sides and split. I have no doubt that we will leave completely satisfied. Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Memorial Day Weekend is the official start of the summer and the perfect time to start the Atlanta BBQ tour. The first stop was here at Community BBQ. You could smell the smoke from street, so my taste buds are on 10 now. We walked in and it was packed that's a great sign. They have all of your classic BBQ meats, but one thing they had that most signs don't is Sausage. I got the Ribs and Brisket combo, while my GF got the Pulled Pork and Sausage- this was the perfect combo because we were able to sample a little of everything. Now on the food- ranking from top to Bottom: The Ribs were delicious- perfectly smoked and flavorful, next was the sausage It's the perfect pairing with the ribs. The pulled porked lacked flavor- I wish they used the same rub they used on the ribs on the pork- the brisket was mediocre. The side are just fillers- I can say I'm happy about them having handcut fries. I would return for the ribs and sausage combo.

    (3)

  • Wen L.

    Holy BBQ!!! Whenever I'm craving BBQ I go here! The food is always good and the sides are always a huge treat. Every time I go here I have to resist the desire to order EVERY side possible! The pulled pork sandwich is my go to entree. But I do have to mention the beautiful ribs, the delicious bone in chicken, and smoked sausage. Delicious! The sides are always so perfectly delightful. My favorites are the Mac and cheese, Brunswick stew, and cole slaw. One thing that I love about Community Q BBQ is that they have the sweet Georgia BBQ sauce AND the vinegar based North Carolina BBQ sauce (I'm originally a NC girl!). Needless to say, community BBQ is always on my mind!

    (5)

  • Bill A.

    So far, the best BBQ in Atlanta and at a decent price. We have been there many times. The restaurant is small and homey and the employees friendly. Sometimes we get takeout, especially on busy Friday nights. I wish they had beer to go with the ribs, which is why they don't get 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Meat is fall off the bone and the Mac and cheese is extremely good. I especially like the ribs and pulled pork. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Scott P.

    Beef Rib. That is all you need to know. Whats that? You need to know more? Ok fine. Community is a great little BBQ place close to the Emory Campus. While I would put it 2nd in the area behind Fox Bros. if you didn't know Fox Bros existed than community would be your best BBQ in Atlanta. And they do have beef ribs which Fox Bros does not- much to my dismay. You order at the counter, there are no servers and since I am used to a butler waiting on me hand and foot at home this was a little off putting but I have since learned to enjoy slumming it on occasion. They also have an impressive amount of pig memorabilia inside for decor which adds a degree of charm. The food- get the beef rib. Really. A lot of people like to hate on beef ribs and say they are inferior to pork, the meat is never tender enough, they hate America etc. If you honestly think you don't like beef ribs than I am guessing you have never actually tried one. The meat is fall off the bone tender, very beefy in taste, and generally makes you feel like the king of the world. Plus it comes on an enormous and impressive rib bone you can give to your hounds or use as a club 2001 a space odyssey style. One thing you need to worry about is that they often run out of beef ribs later in the day( I contacted Nuremburg and apparently due to some legal technicalities they do not in fact consider this a war crime) so if you arrive after say 5pm make sure you shove elderly people in the parking lot down as you run by and then cut in line to try and make sure you get one. Other than the aforementioned beef rib my next favorite meat is actually the sausage which I would not say of any other BBQ place ever but at community it is reeeeally good. Some people worry that it will be too spicy but as someone who can't handle any spice at all I can assure you it is mild. As for sides you can't go wrong with the Mac and Cheese- even if you are lactose intolerant suck it up, stop buy Sam's Club on the way home for 500 rolls of toilet paper and dig in. I don't know anyone who doesn't think community doesn't have the best Mac and Cheese of any BBQ place in GA (even better than Fox Bros it pains me to admit) so it is a must have. The 2nd best side IMO is the sweet potatoes and kale though that one isn't always available.

    (5)

  • Joel B.

    I had the combo -- St. Louis ribs and pulled chicken. Both were awesome. My sides were the Mac-n-cheese and the Brunswick stew. Both of those were awesome too. There was plenty of food but I also took home a banana pudding for desert later. I've had better but it was still very good. I will definitely go back again and look forward to trying their other selections.

    (5)

  • Zack A.

    Ever since I went to Community Q BBQ for the first time a few weekends ago, I have been wanting to go again, and I plan to as soon as possible. As far as the meat, I am not much of a ribs or brisket person. But I did try both the pulled chicken and pulled pork, and both were amazing. The BBQ sauce that comes with their sandwiches is awesome, and you get plenty even though there is a ton of meat on each sandwich. The sides are probably the best part. The fries are surprisingly good, and both the mac and cheese and the brunswick stew are probably the best I have ever had. Try it out; you won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Annie C.

    I'd been meaning to eat here for a while now, I just rarely crave barbecue. But yesterday the mood struck and off we went. We came in around 5 PM, it wasn't too busy - no line and just a few tables occupied. My first impression was that the setup is pretty similar to that of Fat Matt's (off Piedmont). There's a large menu board by the register, you order off it, and they bring your order to the table. The boyfriend and I both ordered the sammiches (individually $6.50) - he the 'beef brisket' and I the 'pulled chicken'. For $11 (drinks excluded), you have your pick of 2 sides. Together we got the: Mac & Cheese: It was really good, really cheesy - just the way I like it. The macaroni pasta is huge! Potato Salad: Also pretty solid, and it was quite a generous amount. Baked Beans: Good and sweet. The beans were a little harder than I'd prefer, but again a solid side dish. Brunswick Stew: Honestly, I don't think I'd ever had Brunswick stew before yesterday but I liked it! The meat was nice, and the broth was flavorful. On to the sammiches! These were definitely the highlight of the meal, and a lot more filling than they look. The bread was buttery and perfectly toasted. I really enjoyed the pulled chicken sandwich, and they were not stingy with the chicken. It was well cooked and tasted delicious with both of the house barbecue sauces (one's sweeter and the other is vinegar based.) However, my favorite of the two was the 'beef brisket' sandwich. It was delicious - so tender and flavorful! Before we came to the restaurant the boyfriend asked a friend what to order, and the 'beef brisket' came highly recommended. I definitely see why!

    (4)

  • Alison G.

    Yet another place I love and have forgotten to spread the word about. Boy is my face red! Literally, because I was flirting with Tron all night. Yes I'm a married lady, but he is super cute. I have to tell the internet: never before have I been served with such finesse and flair, as when Tron served me some BBQ tonight. Okay it was actually a chicken salad sandwich but the verdict stands. The smoked chicken salad sandwich is the real deal, y'all. Usually I eat half and save half for later but tonight I ate the whole ding dang thang and I don't regret it. Okay maybe a little because I'm full as HAYL but it was still worth it. I also got double macaroni because double DUH. Their macaroni is the macaroni to beat all macaronis. That is an annoying word to type a lot, I'm over it. Get the M&C, then bring some to me. I think their meats are real tasty, too, but I stick with my uzh. Sometimes I get the sausage (aww yeaah! Wait, not you Tron! I mean actual like, pork product!) and it is also super delish. The seating isn't the best, and when you leave you'll smell like smoke forever but I think that's part of the BBQ charm.

    (5)

  • Lee B.

    The only disappointment here is that they often run out of barbecue way before closing. Pulled pork is delicious, mac n' cheese always awesome. Go early before its all gone. And bring your dull knives - you can have them sharpened there.

    (4)

  • Gleni J.

    Great service, was greeted with a smile when I walked up to order. Every time I come here I just happen to luck out on finding a table to sit at. Always busy but surprised that they don't close later than they already do. I came right when they opened and there was a line that wrapped around the inside. I guess that's a good sign of good food. I love their black eyed peas and I'm not a fan of black eyed peas in general. Their baked beans were awesome and well as their mac n cheese, and collards. Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with a side. The main attraction to me was the brisket. I wish the pulled pork was pulled more but it was still tasty. What confuses me is that when you order two meats , they fill the sandwich with a mix of both. I was thinking I was missing a meat until I dug a little further. I'm not too crazy about the sauce, a little too sweet for me so I mix it with the vinegar sauce to give it a tang. Overall I'll still go back. Got a solid four star from me.

    (4)

  • C.E. D.

    Ribs so delicious and tender as they come out, no extra sauce needed. Also delicious - the mac & cheese and the black eyed peas. Quick service.

    (5)

  • Erin S.

    Best barbecue I've had in years, and I really don't like barbecue normally but this place is phenomenal. We'll be back again soon. The Mac n cheese is as good as I make, can't wait to try the other sides they have.

    (5)

  • Greg A.

    3 Stars in this case = I would try it a 2nd time. Chicken was best meat of 3 we tried. Pulled Pork was OK. Beef Brisket was sliced to thick, dry & minimal taste. Without BBQ sauce I would not enjoy the beef at all. Bright spot was the Brunswick Stew. Food came out quick & correct. Priced like it was the best around. Luke warm greeting & ZERO come back & see us again. If there was 2.5 Stars I would select it. As of this time I am neutral on Community Q. In Summary, I'd go try the blacked eyed peas, collards & other veggie sides. The Meat CAN be beat !!

    (3)

  • Charlie M.

    BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN DECATUR IN FIFTEEN YEARS. Consistent quality, standards, offerings and service. Incredibly fast "fast-food" speed of delivery of highest quality BBQ and farm-style veggies and sides. In the beginning they were still learning the ropes of service, but now it's like going over to your best friends place. I've sampled most of their offerings off-and-on since they opened (as well as just about everything else in the Decatur area since 2000) and Community wins out. Easily gives any other BBQ in Atlanta a run for taste and quality. Expect to see additional sites around town in the future. I never write reviews, but they have earned it - will post this same review to multiple sites. If you like BBQ, you will like Community Q!

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    Have tried a lot of different BBQ places during multiple visits to Atlanta and I usually come away thinking "eh". This place is at the top of my list now for options out there. The portions are huge and they had some of the best Mac n' Cheese I've had. Brisket was better than most places as I personally like Texas style and this was pretty close, but I found it a bit tough and dry for my liking. The BBQ beans had a nice spicy kick to them and the chopped brisket was a tasty addition, probably benefiting from the extra moisture. I found the St. Louis ribs to be my favorite; the meat was fall-off-the-bone and had that requisite smoke ring and flavor. I do recall the fries being nothing special.

    (4)

  • Patricia S.

    "I wish I would have found this a long time ago!" Some of the best BBQ in the ATL! Yes, it is true! We had the pulled pork, with sides. Lots to choose from on the menu, reasonably priced and friendly staff. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Barbara A.

    I've lived in the area for 10 years but just happened to notice this restaurant in a strip of restaurants. Made a mental note and checked reviews when I got home. Oh, yeah, this place CAN'T be as good as everyone said....but it IS!!!! I had my favorite 'try it out' meal of a pulled pork plate with the two sides of cole slaw and potato salad. As a new customer, they added a taste of Mac and cheese. WOW! The pork was moist with a couple of nice chunks of bark, but no fat/gristle. The sandwich was constructed with two perfectly grilled pieces of Texas style toast. Potato salad chunky with red skin potatoes and the right combo of mayo/mustard, etc. love the cole slaw, tart and sweet and crunchy. The Mac and cheese??? SINFUL. I thought my Mom was in heaven - obviously she's hanging out in the kitchen here! I love the piggy decor and the music must have been programmed right out of my iPod. Everything from Dave Matthews All Along the Watchtower to Led Zepplin. I've been back and tried other dishes including the collards -oh, yeah- they are GOOD, pickled beets...perfectly sweet and tart. The ribs - yes!!!! BEWARE!!! When they run out of something, it's gone, so don't wander in 20 minutes before closing counting on a specific item. I did that recently and the man in front of me got the LAST of the pulled pork. I drowned my sorrows with a half rack of ribs AND banana pudding.

    (5)

  • Aly C.

    Absolutely best sloppy joe and lemonade! The food comes out quick, and the staff are very friendly. Ordered this for a business lunch and everyone loved it!

    (5)

  • Joy J.

    Ordered: 2 meats with 2 sides (macaroni & cheese and smoked sweet potatoes & kale) Pulled chicken was great. Beef brisket was ok. I've had brisket more tender. I wish the collards and baked beans were vegetarian because I don't like pork in sides. This limits the no pork patrons to a few starchy sides. :-( Macaroni & cheese was creamy and delicious. Smoked sweet potatoes with braised kale...one word, SCRUMPTIOUS! Overall, good eatin!

    (4)

  • Renel G.

    Great flavor and price! Beans have brisket chunks and quite spicy. Mac & cheese is as good as the other reviews stated. The sauces to add, not as great as the rest. Incredible service!

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    Whatever you do, order the mac and cheese!!! I could be a vegetarian if it weren't for places like Community Q. I now live in Connecticut and suffer with next to no good BBQ after growing up in SC and eating plenty of good southern BBQ. My dad was in the hospital at Emory and I wanted to find some BBQ so I yelped it and found this awesome little spot. I ate there several times over the weeks my dad was in the hospital and it is the bright spot in an otherwise negative time. I had several things while I was there, but my favorite was the hillbilly sloppy joe. This wasn't on the regular menu, but it was on a separate sheet of paper for several weeks. I also had a pulled chicken sandwich, a few bites of my husband's pulled pork sandwich, a meat combo sandwich (any 2 meats) with brisket and chicken. Every sandwich I had was amazing. This is my all-time favorite BBQ joint ever. Now for the sides: Let me start by saying I hate, hate, hate going to a BBQ place and having a great sandwich with really bad out of a box mac and cheese. Well, I asked about their mac and cheese before I ordered it and the guy assured me it was homemade and delicious, so I tried it. HOLY AMAZING CHEESY GOODNESS!!! I love my own recipe, but this is the best mac and cheese I've had anywhere made by anyone! I'm sure it had enough fat in it to send me in to cardiac arrest, but it would have been worth it! I also loved the sweet potatoes and kale. Their baked beans were also amazing. I put some of them on my pulled chicken sandwich and those flavors went well together. Warning, the baked beans have a kick, so if you don't like them real peppery, then don't order them. The dry rub on the chicken was great. I also liked the sweet BBQ sauce on all the meat. So to sum up: Get any meat- they are all amazing. And you must get the mac and cheese and baked beans! Also, the house made lemonade is really good as well!

    (5)

  • Dio S.

    This relatively new Q joint seems to be doing just fine, already establishing itself as one of the best BBQ in the city according to many. Its rustic, hogs-adorned interior is relatively spacious (compared to other in town BBQs). The whole place has a way of making you feel like you are out in the country, like everybody should be in overalls. My favorite was the beef short rib. Its almost completely smoked-black exterior belied meltingly tender meat laced with fat once you bite into it. Full of flavor and called for modest sauce use. Of the sauce two kinds sat on tables. A vinegary one and a tomato based one. Both were on the mild side and pretty good. Above average pulled pork and smoked sausage. Brisket was okay. Combo plates were presented like open faced sandwiches. I think the overall portions are smaller than most places. Sadly, the sublime short ribs tend to run out often. Mac and cheese was very good. Brunswick stew not so much, too watery and somewhat bland. A special of the day chicken chowder also was kind of bland. Brunswick stew was a big deal to me but the beef rib makes up for it. *Added 8/9/10: Baked beans are unbelievably good...transcendentally good, get it. Overall, like pretty much every BBQ around, you can get some great items, and some meh ones. Nobody has great everything.

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    I have no idea how I have managed to avoid coming here for as long as I have. But I have been here twice in the past week and I am a fan. The first time I was here, I had the pulled chicken plate, with mac & cheese and collards as my sides. Seriously, everything was delicious. The mac & cheese wasn't super creamy and cheesy, so I was expecting to be disappointed in the taste. But man, I was glad to be wrong. It was very flavorful, sharp cheddary goodness. The chicken was moist and not drenched in sauce. Which is a good thing, since preference varies from person to person. I, for one, like my BBQ drenched in sauce. And I vastly prefer sweet BBQ sauce over vinegary. Their sweet sauce was everything I could want, sweet but tangy with just enough kick. The second time we came, we were entertaining my parents and sister. Everyone got different sides and we all sampled each others. The beans and cole slaw were good, not great. The brunswick stew was more like chili, but still delicious. I liked the potato salad enough to have it again in the future. This time, I got beef ribs, which were delicious. A nice crust on the outside, juicy on the inside. The service is good, the cashier and servers are friendly and prompt. This is place is so close to where we live, I really can't believe we hadn't tried it sooner. Probably because Maddy's is even closer. But sorry to say, I don't think I'll be hitting up Maddy's anytime soon knowing about Community Q what I do now.

    (5)

  • Leroy Z.

    We Yelped the best BBQ in the area and this place also registered with Atlanta's top 50 places to eat. We decided to give it a shot on May 16th as we were in town. It's a hole in the wall place in a fsmall strip mall with a sign that looks like a teenager designed it but that wasn't why we were here. I had the Pork Ribs (St. Louis style) and Brisket combo with beans and potato salad as the sides. The BBQ sauce itself comes in 2 flavors. One is a strong vinegar based and the other a little sweet but none were great but the sweet one was what all 3 of us used. The Ribs, Brisket were juicy and very flavorful and I give them 4 1/4 stars. The beans were very good as well and 4 1/2 stars! Very different than any that I've ever tried. I'd defintely eat there agin when I'm back in town. If you like Q, then you need to try this place.

    (4)

  • Dago V.

    This place was great and very affordable. We were shocked to see the price of only $26 after we has practically ordered everything on the menu. My two favorites were the pork ribs and the Mac and cheese. I can say it's the best make and cheese I've ever had. The ribs were fall off the bone and full of flavor. The brisket and pulled pork were also great.

    (5)

  • Tennille C.

    Food is sooo very yummy. I got the Pulled Chicken sandwich, which was very very moist. The service was great and friendly. The food was soo good I went there twice in one week.

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    I'm always a bit nervous of new BBQ joints in the ATL. As Georgia doesn't really have it's own specific style of BBQ, you never know which style of BBQ you're going to get with a new restaurant. Although the restaurant and location are new, the owner of Community Q BBQ, Dave Roberts, has been a BBQ man in Marietta for a number of years, as part owner of the now defunct Sam & Dave's BBQ. I was not aware of this until recently, so when I first tried Community Q BBQ earlier this spring, I went in with an open mind. The secret is out on Community Q BBQ, this place is always packed. Location, location, location. Community Q has it, being located right near Emory, giving it an endless supply of customers. The space is kind of small, as they are located inside a strip center. On this occasion we had to sit outside in the summer heat, which kind of sucked. I've heard on any given day they smoke 700 - 1,200 pounds of meat, and consistently sell out. If you're going by for a late dinner, you probably should call ahead to see if your favorite meat is still available. On previous trips, I have put this restaurant up to my standard BBQ test. Pulled/Chopped pork sandwich, brunswick stew, and sweet tea. Community Q passes this test with a solid score, but didn't blow me away. The Brunswick stew is on the runny side, and not too flavorful. They have two sauces, a vinegar based and a ketchup/molasses based. On this trip, I decided to give the brisket a shot, and it did not disappoint. Similar to the pork, the brisket was quite good, but not amazing. The wife went with the rib plate this trip, and gave the ribs a very high compliment stating, "they're better than Fox Brothers." Where Community Q BBQ really shines is side dishes. The sides here complete the meal, and they are typically huge. The mac & cheese is probably some of the best I've had in a long time. I love it here, and it's probably my favorite item on the menu. The baked beans and black eyed peas are pretty damn good too. One of my friends told me that she thought the fries were the best she's ever had, which surprised me because I rarely think to order fries with bbq. A common complaint I've heard about Community Q is the lack of fried okra on the menu. This doesn't bother me, but some Georgia folks want that fried okra. This has actually been one of the harder reviews for me to write. I'm torn with Community Q BBQ. I like it, but I don't love it. I haven't had anything here that inspired me to the point that I had to write about it, but it is definitely better than average bbq. The location will keep me coming here, but when I must have the best bbq in town, you'll still find me at Fox Brothers.

    (3)

  • Adrian R.

    ANOTHER AWESOME BBQ JOINT!! Loved the fact that you could choose between a sweet or vinegar sauce. Mac n Cheese was DELICIOUS!!! The collards were surprisingly tasty! Brisket was tender and had great flavor. The smoked sausage was KILLER!!

    (5)

  • David And Natalie S.

    Meats done right, sides not so much. I recommend just getting the delicious meats of all kinds here. The brisket, chicken, and ribs are all stellar. Sides are mall food court quality at best. Beans way to sugary, Mac n cheese swimming in grease but no flavor. Would be best BBQ in town if they could get some decent sides.

    (4)

  • David F.

    A lot of word of mouth has spread about Community BBQ and Fox Brothers. The latter was a disappointment both times, the former was highly satisfying and I'm looking forward to round two! You walk up and order your items. I got the meat combo (pulled pork and pulled chicken) platter, which comes with two sides (mac n cheese and Brunswick stew) for $11 (including tax). The sandwhich only is $6.50. Within 5 or so minutes, I received a heaping portion of meats between two pieces of nicely toasted texas toast. I squirted some sweet BBQ sauce on it and my taste buds danced. The mac n cheese was spectacular creamy goodness, although I've read several reviews wishing it had more kick (but that wouldn't be mac n cheese, now would it?). The Brunswick stew was solid as well. I'll be back. I've seen several coupons for it on Half Off Depot, so if you are ensure, check for deals there first. Kudos for being one of the few restaurants in Atlanta that includes tax in the price listed.

    (4)

  • Dwayne H.

    It's just OK to me...3.5 stars. Why? Maybe its that I expected so much more than a three and a half star "food" experience from Community Q being that they have a steadfast stellar Yelp rating; maybe its because I have tasted far superior BBQ in lesser BBQ popularity-s and populous-es; maybe I'm just a BBQ snob that expects perfection from such a high heralded establishment but for the life of me, I really can't condone more than a three and a half star for their BBQ...and here's my reasons why: #1 The Pulled Pork (the heart of Georgia BBQ), 3 star: although some of the leanest and tenderest Pork I have encountered in my BBQ quests (it literally fell apart or "cut" with the slightest pressure from my fork) it was just too dry on the tongue and nearly devoid of any flavor (there was a hint of smoke in the meat and that's all); quite honestly, it tasted more like a regular baked pork roast; one of very little seasoning and cooked a little too long in the oven only to remove the fat content. Really, one can easily tell this is high quality pork as it simply cuts as such, but I think the problem belies to the super lean quality of the meat as pork with some fat in it simply tastes better (especially for BBQ). Alright, kudos to Community Q for using very lean and high quality pork (a pork diet with this stuff would be very health conscious) but boo to the smidgen of BBQ flavor given. #2 The Beef Brisket, 3 star: another beautiful presentation of a very lean and high quality meat, but yet again, it was supremely fork tender, close to dry on the tongue and nearly flavorless; it had a very slight hint of pink left in the middle with a really nice but thin dark crust that would suggest more time needed in the smoker at a lesser temperature. #3 The Mac & Cheese, 4.5 star: good stuff and high quality with lots of flavor; I really like that they use the Penne regate style noodle in this dish as it simply holds the cheese better than your standard macaroni. This dish is easily discerned as a home baked and homemade Mac&Cheese far superior than any sloppily thrown together artificial cheese sauce induced glop that many BBQ establishments serve. I added a little salt to mine to enhance the flavor (I'm sure it is prepared with less sodium for dietary purposes) but for all intensive purposes, I could eat a big tray of this and be very happy! #4 The Brunswick Stew, 5 star: the simply southern non chunky type with just the right amount of vegetable and meat served HOT and steamy; yes, this is the real deal of homestead Brunswick stews and I really like the slight punch it has as well. Throw me in a big pool of this and I guarantee I will not drown! #5 The Sauces, 5 star: two sauces (one a tomato base and one a vinegar base) are on the table and ready to add at leisure. Community Q has it going on in the sauce department as each hit-the-taste-bud-sweet spot with me full on! The vinegar based sauce may even have been my favorite and that says a lot being that I don't enjoy most vinegar sauces! Each sauce is fluid in disbursement and unique in flavor to themselves with a tang to them. Yes, I liked them! 5star. OK, so much for the food evaluation of which I will again say was an OK overall experience. Granted, I really enjoyed the sides and the sauces, but lets face it, the MEAT is the real reason for BBQ and I only wished that the Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket I had made a better impression; I went through six drink refills in order to stave off the meat[s] dryness factor. I will have to try the Ribs and Chicken some time as well as some of the other Yelper reviewed food crave offerings, but until then, my 3.5 star food rating will have to do for my visit. As for the service and ambiance I give Community Q a full 5 stars; the people where all very friendly and the surroundings where clean and well kept with a decidedly homey feel; maybe this is truly why so many Yelpers rave over this place--- it feels welcoming and comforting within the perimeter (ITP).

    (3)

  • Jake V.

    Incredible. In a class all it's own, the brisket and sausage were fantastic. I will be thinking about those ribs for days. All around a great spot!

    (4)

  • Tiff H.

    Worth the money for the amount of meat they give you. The homemade BBQ sauces, the tender and smoky meats, and their pretty delish sides? Yes please I will be there again very soon. Downside is how early they close....

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    Just happened onto this place. It was fairly late. Service was quick and prompt. NO FRILLS..but good basic BBQ. I'm a Fan. The Mac & Cheese is some of the best I've EVER had. I will be back for a take-away order of that.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    Feel good BBQ at its best. Spareribs are very tasty--nice to see spares instead of baby backs for once. Brisket has an awesome crust and a great beefy flavor. Collards are done exactly right. The rigatoni noodles in the mac and cheese are different but good nevertheless. Cool old school atmosphere with super friendly service and a neighborhood feel. Good BBQ in a place that just feels good!

    (4)

  • Jack R.

    Probably the best BBQ on this side of town. Community does it right. The food is fresh and locally sourced when possible. I love the mac 'n' cheese even though it could prbably kill me on the spot, but there are terrific healthy options on the menu as well. If you want to beat the crowds at Honeybaked Hams around the holidays I suggest you order a ham or a turkey from Community. They catered our backyard 25th wedding anniversary party and everyone loved it. Just wish you could get a cold one here with your brisket or pork sandwich.

    (4)

  • Jaimie M.

    Mac-and-cheese. Ah! I'd come back for that alone. Everyone was super nice and accomdating to my husband's disability.

    (4)

  • Ebony B.

    i read about Community Q in the ATL Magazine's edition dedicated solely to BBQ. I had such high expectations since the guy Dave left his old spot in Marietta to start this place. I was hyped bc not only is it close to campus, it's next to all of my fave spots for when I have to run and get lunch in between class. Campus people were raving about it, Yelpers were raving about it, and so were the editors of Atlanta Magazine. Did I miss something? I was totally unenthusiastic about the food here. I absolutely loved the Macaroni and Cheese, ok, but that's not BBQ. I had the Okra Stew which tasted like Pickled Okra drizzled in oil + Tomato. It wasn't very tasty at all and quite greasy for no reason. i had the chicken and it was so unseasoned. I said to my beau, maybe this is why people make BBQ bc they don't have to season their meats, and he said "Oh no, that is NOT supposed to be how it's done. Good BBQ is rubbed, or infused via smoking or injecting/basting the meats" Ok, so what was wrong? My meat tasted like a bad repeat of HS cafeteria BBQ meat, with some GOOD sauce. The best things about this place were the Location, the Sauce (which was very thin and runny), and the ... um ... oh yeah, macaroni. I am discovering that I detest places that make me order first and then sit and wait. What if I want to add something? Then I have to get up, greasy faced and greasy fingered, stand my overweight butt in line again for 10-15 minutes and then wait for you to bring me the food. I'm just over this type of dining experience. I didn't like the food, there was no service to comment on, and to top it off, the banana pudding tasted like straight Banana flavored Jell-O pudding with some wafers thrown in there. No soft wafers, just banana flavored pudding WITH a wafer or three in there. No meshing was done in this pudding. Huge let down man. TIPS: 1. Call ahead the day before to reserve cuts of meat because they DO run out of meat selections as the day goes by. 2. No alcohol 3. Prices seemed a little high for the portions and the service (as compared to my fave BBQ spot in ATL) 4. They sell some "produce" while you wait in line, which is cool.

    (2)

  • Michael D.

    Good parking, good portions, good blues background music (recorded,) and good food. If I could take the best of both worlds, I would take Community Q's portion sizes, and location and combine it with Fox Bros setting, ambience, and bar.

    (4)

  • Skillet P.

    Have been looking forward to going here for months. Finally made it and was a little disappointed. Got the pulled pork, Mac and cheese, and baked beans. Pork was bland and the watery sauce did little to help it. The bake beans were so spicy my Latino boyfriend could not finish them. The Mac and cheese were excellent. My biggest problem was how the food was served (this complaint has nothing to do with Community Q). They take your name at the register and when your tray is ready they call out your name. There was another person with the same name as me and when the server called out we both answered. The guy and his (please God let that have been his daughter) companion gave me the stink eye for 10 minutes until my food came. The people I was with actually noticed without me saying a word. I don't know if they thought I was stealing or what. It was just weird and uncomfortable.

    (2)

  • Joanna G.

    Community is one of the first places I went when I first moved to Atlanta. Rare is the barbeque restaurant that also offers CSA (community supported agriculture) memberships and other local products! No hippie-dippy crap either when it comes to the cooking - their food is straight-up delicious. Nothing too fancy here: you order at the counter and food is brought to your table. Heracles strengths: Delicious barbeque with all the fixin's. I'm a big fan of the Brunswick stew, and the epic macaroni and cheese is not to be missed. I love, love, LOVE the barbeque chicken here! A friend recently had a birthday party here. The owners allowed us to 'reserve' a big table on the floor for 12 people, and their menu was served to us family style. They even included a bonus "sloppy joe" meat monstrosity that was amazing, and I don't think that's part of their regular menu (if you're reading this, owners, PLEASE make that a part of your regular menu!!). I may walk out of here with the meat sweats, and a solid 5lbs heavier, but by God, I love this place. Achilles heel: During the winter it is INEXPLICABLY smoky in here - and I do mean smoky. I guess they may close the windows to keep it warm and this affects the ventilation(??). Whatever. Doesn't stop me from coming and getting my grub on. Aphrodite factor: Not the most romantic of spots, but a great place to grab a bite with friends. On the other hand, I consider not liking Community to be sufficient grounds for a break-up. Hermes rating: Very quick service. Even when it's busy here, the food is served promptly. All of their staff is extremely polite and friendly. Libations: No liquor license here, so a full range of Coca-Cola products and (Un)/Sweet Tea are available. Bonus: lemon juice for your tea! Offerings: Super reasonably priced. Bottom line: My favorite barbeque in Atlanta. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Joseph W.

    Good not great. Portions a bit small. I would charge slightly more and bump up the portion size just a little more. Pork is cheap anyways so make sure people leave full.

    (3)

  • Will T.

    Community BBQ has a business plan that defies logic. Guess how much food you can serve without there being any leftovers. And when it runs out, close down. Which meant the closed sign got slapped on the door at 7 pm the night I ate there. It probably doesn't matter because the food's not that good anyway. We arrived at 6:40pm on July 5th. Already out of pork. I ordered a Meat Combo plate (two meats and two sides) for $11. The 1/2 chicken promised was only a leg quarter and the four slices of brisket were small, so the serving size was really chintzy. Both the meats were dry, not overly so, but the chicken looked like it'd been held in a warming box the better part of the day. Two types of sauce are offered, a vinegar sauce and a sweet honey sauce, both very thin and very tepid and unlike any bbq sauce I've ever had. And not in a good way. I ordered Brunswick stew and it was the lamest Brunswick stew I've ever eaten, a thin gruel with a teeny bit of pulled pork, about 2 kernels of corn and 2 tiny minced pieces of tomato. Oh, yeah, and no taste. The macaroni and cheese was okay, but greasy, with a little puddle of oil in the bottom of the cup. While the owners are passionate about their business, earnestness does not good BBQ make. Don't waste you time here, they'll probably be out of what you want anyway.

    (1)

  • A L S.

    Community is a more than decent classic BBQ house with a simple easy to understand and efficient menu and ordering system. The pricing is fair and of good value. The servings are generous and service attention is friendly & knowledgeable. Hickory smoked, the Q has a good flavor and excellent crafted bark, but for my taste was a bit lacking in flavorful rub. The two sauce options Carolina vinegar and St Louis spicy were balanced and not over sweet. It's not competition BBQ but why pay higher prices for that when you can come here and have a competitively priced meal more often. Stand outs are the Beef Ribs served daily. How often do you find long bone BBQ beef ribs outside of Texas? The meat fell off the bone. The pulled pork had a fine smoke ring and baked beans were a semi sweet molasses chuck wagon style with chunky seasoning meat. The collards were very tasty but on this day a bit salty. A cooks err. The mac & cheese was homemade style and refreshingly non commercial. For a pulled pork entrée and a two meat beef rib plate both with two sides and two teas--less than $30. Not only did we leave with a to go box of our generous remaining portions, but the lingering waft of the joints hickory aroma made my hound dog sit up rightly when we came home. This quite possibly could be the best BBQ deal in the ATL.

    (4)

  • Dan I.

    Love the BBQ here. Not very expensive. The decor leaves a little to be desired but it isn't too bad. I actually prefer it over Burnt Fork BBQ which is a little too pricy IMO.

    (4)

  • Will W.

    The brisket was the best ribs that I've had in the Atlanta area...lean and delicious. The ribs were probably the 2nd best and was lean and delicious also. The Mac and Cheese is great too. The greens and baked beans were good but the beans are a little too sweet for me.

    (4)

  • Asia L.

    The pulled pork sandwich is worth the hype. However, I think the individual side portions for the Mac & Cheese should be a bit bigger for the price. The noodles are too big, it's like 3 or 4 bites & it's gone (maybe I'm asking for too much).

    (4)

  • Jada G.

    ok...so I had a hankering for some bbq and knew that i had to try this place out. I walked in to a long long, that went pretty quickly. I liked this b/c it gave me the chance to talk to the ppl in front and behind me in line. After telling them I heard of this place on yelp, they said it was really busy that night b/c there was a write-up in the AJC. cool beans! anyways, you walk in and go to order/pay for your food. you then go sit down and they call your name and find your table to give you the food. I ordered the 2 meat plate w/ chopped pork and brisket. with a side of the special that night: black eyed peas with bacon. the black eyed peas were cool, nothing to write home about. The brisket was amazing. very tender and juicy. the chopped pork was ok. but the shiz was, drum roll please....the St. Louis sweet B-B-B-B-BBQ SAUCE. it was so good and complimented my meat just swell. it was sweet at first, then hit you in the face with it's tangy-ness. my little cousin had the kids meal "this little piggy." it was 3.50 and came with a good portioned chopped pork sandwich and a side. she got the mac n cheese. it was a little greasy, however it was really cheesy and had a good crust topping to it. I love it! the brunswick stew was to die for! the baked beans, were freaking amazing. they were spicy and sweet and dark brown. overall, the meal/service/atmosphere was pretty darn great! i will definitely come back. all they need is beer!

    (4)

  • Jeremy A.

    This place has not been open long but has alot of buzz on yelp so I stopped in to check it out. Much to my surprise they had beef ribs, Oh man these are my favorite. it was real good here and the sandwich came with the two pieces of finely toasted texas toast. It was a great rib (you only get one but its huge) and the pooch appreciated the bone later that day. A little on the pricey side the rib alone was 11 and its 14 for a combo, but it was great and ill be back to try some other stuff here.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Love it. The mac and cheese is amazing, and the beans and greens are likewise awesome. Ribs are tasty, pork is lovely, etc., etc. And the leftovers are still good from the microwave. Just so you don't get confused, you will walk in the door, wait in a line that probably extends to the door, order at the register, take a seat, and they will call out your name and bring your food to you. They also do takeout.

    (4)

  • Larry P.

    This is a great neighborhood BBQ place with wonderful food - tender, smoky, fall off the bone meats and tasty sides. The Pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, were all excellent. For sides we had mac and cheese, collards and black eye peas, which were also good. The atmosphere is the typical BBQ joint - nothing fancy, paper towels on the table, plastic chairs. You can also buy carry-out.

    (4)

  • Kyle E.

    Good quality BBQ. I loved the mac and cheese, just a simple noodle change really makes a difference. The beans were thick and had plenty of bacon. The sauces were good, they have sweet and a vinegar based. I would've liked to see a spicy option. The employees are very attentive and always able to lend a hand.

    (4)

  • Emily K.

    I'll preface this with the fact that I'm generally not a fan of barbecue. It's usually too fatty and the sides are too bland. Not so with Community. The mac and cheese is to die for. I probably could've eaten the whole tub without even thinking twice. It was everything mac & cheese should be. This alone would be worth a return trip. I also tried the baked beans & pulled pork. The baked beans were unexpectedly spicy, but I really enjoyed them. The heat didn't overwhelm the actual taste. I hate it when things are so spicy the flavor gets lost. The pork was tender and not at all fatty. The portion was ridiculous. It looked like it could easily feed 3 people. I liked Community better than Fox Bros and wouldn't hesitate sending someone here. I'll be back for the mac & cheese for sure.

    (4)

  • Libby D.

    Well, I have finally figured Community Q out -at least for my tastes and now it has become one of my absolute favorites. What I think of as traditional southern BBQ -pork, well smoked, great "crust" we'll it just doesn't exist here. And the traditional slaw and fries both leave tons to be desired. But the vegetables, the specials, the soups( the chef is a soup genius-turkey, wild rice and kohlrabi ? Kale, peas, smoked ham and a little spice right during flu season? Yum!!) and the salad -yes the salad at. BBQ place. And this southerner now finally understands brisket. The brisket here is what the pork should be but isn't. Flavorful, a nice,mix of fatty pieces and great, crispy " outside" or top meat. If I am feeling carnivorous, the brisket is my go to meal. The vegetables are my real favorite here though. The collards, the spicy baked beans, sautéed sweet potatoes with kale, pickled beets (yes, really) -all outstanding. From time to time they get carried away with the salt. A nice okra and tomatoes was inedible from salt once. And the black eyed peas with rosemary can sometimes be a salt lick -other times perfect. Ditto the toast. The bread is great but when toasted gets way too salty with whatever butter mixture is slathered on. The kitchen sink salad is a giant bowl of whatever is in season. Hey -please bring back that whipped goat cheese that was on the side once -much preferable to your regular dressing. So finally I get community q. A perfect BBQ restaurant for anything but traditional southern BBQ!

    (4)

  • Tom N.

    I thought the place was good. I had a beef brisket and sausage plate.

    (3)

  • Corey L.

    Overrated. The only reason the people on this post love it so much is probably because it's one of only two bbq joint in that area. Pork was so-so. Sides were okay. Nothing to go out of the way for unless this is the only place for bbq and you're in this area.

    (2)

  • Catherine R.

    The food here is great! I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was amazingly tender, my mother had the brisket and my father had the chicken. All of us enjoyed the food, the meat portions were quite large, and the prices were reasonable. I also had the incredible mac and cheese - my only complaint is that the side were all small portions. We also had the homemade lemonade, which had a ton of sugar for my mid-Atlantic taste buds, but it was still really good. The place looks unassuming from the outside (it's just in a small strip-mall), but the food is so great, I'm definitely going back soon!

    (4)

  • Charles R.

    This is my go to BBQ joint. That's what you call a BBQ restaurant....a joint. I know pretty much all the employees by name and vice versa. My typical order is: Meat Combo Plate (Beef brisket and pulled pork), Mac & Cheese, whatever the soup of the day happens to be. If I were to judge Community on the BBQ alone they'd place just under Fox Bros. However, the real star of the show here is the sides. I think most of Fox Bros sides are really lacking. Much the opposite here. Everyone should experience the ooey gooey goodness of the Mac & Cheese at least once in their life. And if they have the Black Bean Brisket chili on the menu, do yourself a favor and just pick up a quart to take home for dinner. Some folks complain about the price here and I think it's unfounded. Every time I eat here it makes for 2 meals (as it should for most human beings). So factor that into the prices you're seeing on the board. Class A joint right here!

    (5)

  • Esther L.

    What we ordered: Pulled pork sandwich w Mac n cheese Brunswick stew Sweet potato n kale Kitchen sink salad - didn't like the mix of flavors, but everything else I give a 4 Loved the cute decor with all the pigs Friendly service Clean bathrooms

    (4)

  • Winston G.

    First off, the staff here is really friendly and accomidating to any requests you might have. They even let me try a piece of the brisket before getting it! Awesome. I got the beef brisket and pulled pork plate with two sides (mac and cheese and the brunswick stew), which rings in at $11. They give you ample amounts of meat, and I'm eating the rest for dinner tonight, so yeah, lots of food. I thought the brisket was only OK, and would probably give it 3.5 stars, considering it wasn't as moist and tender as I would have liked it to be. One of the chefs told me that today was a bit of an off day for the brisket, and I appreciated the honesty. I'll probably have the brisket again at some point, since I love eating a good brisket. You can also ask for more moist pieces if you want, but of course, it comes with more fat (I can't complain about that.) The pulled pork was really good. You can tell that this has been in the smoker for hours, as it basically falls apart when you stick a fork through it. I would have liked a bit more moisture, but the BBQ sauce at the table provides for that part, and overall, this was very solid. I'm normally not a big fan of mac and cheese, but the M&C here was awesome. It is really rich and cheesy, but not too overwhelming, as some people have complained. There is just the right amount of burnt/crispy cheese on some of the pieces, and they use large pieces of rigatoni or ziti, so it's not your typical small macaroni. Really delicious. Brunswick stew was not my thing, I did not enjoy it. The two pieces of toast were awesome -- I believe it was similar to Texas toast, just not overwhelmingly buttery. I will come back here again and try some of the other meats, like the BBQ beef ribs.

    (4)

  • Scott S.

    I went back last night which was a good thing as it wasn't as crowded us usual because everyone was at home watching the Oscars. I ordered their beef rib as they were out of it last time I visited. I added the fries and collards as the sides. The beef rib is one big rib with the meat on its edges. I wouldn't say it wasn't awful, but it wasn't great either. I was expecting a larger cut of meat along with the rib. It was tender and had a nice smoky flavor upon eating. I was a little disappointed with it as I am more used to a larger slab of beef rib say from One Star Ranch in Buckhead. The unfortunate thing about One Star Ranch is the lackluster and lame sides. I want to like this place but I don't know if it will work out for me. I asked the owner about their beer and wine sales but it seems to be some sort of odd zoning thingy. I don't understand it since there are 5-6 other restaurants in this strip shopping center. The search still continues for better BBQ ITP.

    (3)

  • Harley J.

    I used to live in Texas, and one of the big things I miss now that I no longer live in Texas is Texas BBQ. Community Q more than satisfies that craving. This place would be on my top 10 all-time favorite BBQ spots, probably in the top five. Barbecued sausage is wjhat I gravitate to -- which in itself isn't all that easy to find in Georgia -- but Community Q has the best barbecued sausage around. The sides can't be beat either. We love this place! It is one of our go-to spots when we have out-of-town guests as well. Casual and conducive to conversation.

    (5)

  • Tommy R.

    Awesome bbq, awesome sides (especially their baked beans). Their regular sauce is as good as it gets. Service is always great--I've used them to cater events (they're always on time or even early) and been to the restaurant (super cool and friendly people). Definitely the best bbq in Atlanta (or at least out of Pig n Chik, Fox Bros, Daddy Dz, and Fat Matts).

    (5)

  • jim b.

    Friend of mine had a party with some pans of take-out from Community Q. Great stuff. The chicken was pulled, but entirely recognizable, pieces of chicken. No skin or gristle mixed in. Nice bbq spiced flavor. The brisket was fork tender and excellent. I've smoked brisket and it never came out this tender. I'm not sure if they're brining, injecting, or what, but it was really tender and not too fatty (those are all legitimate techniques sometimes used by various pit-masters). I've had similar take-out from Burnt Fork, and BF's brisket was much tougher and fattier. Very impressed.

    (5)

  • Cara B.

    Standard BBQ restaurant interior. Nice, knowledgeable staff. Lots of BBQ options and sides. Seasonal sides. Decent sauces. So why 3 stars? The BBQ is a little too dry and while I liked the sides, the BBQ is what keeps me coming back to these restaurants. I have a few places I will go before I come here again, but I guess if I am craving 'cue and in the area, I wouldn't be upset to eat here again! Also, parking lot is small for the number of restaurants in the shopping center, so we had to drive around for a while waiting for someone to leave...

    (3)

  • Gary T.

    The St. Louis style ribs here are very good, I stopped by here recently when I was in the neighborhood. The ribs were very tender and the meat had a nice smoke ring in addition to a nice crust on the outside from their rub. They cook their ribs fresh everyday and you can tell, I've been to other places where I have suspected that I was eating yesterdays meat and you can definitely tell the difference. For my sides I ordered their potato salad and the macaroni and cheese. The potato salad was very good and as I have said in other BBQ joint reviews....Georgians just seem to "get" how to make good potato salad. They use large chunksof potato's and I thought that was a nice twist. I forgot to mention earlier that whatever food is not used is at the end of the day is donated to local food kitchens. While this thing is becoming more and more common, I still like seeing stories where businesses are being good corporate citizens. The staff behind the counter were very friendly and the food came out very quickly. I would definitely eat some ribs here again. These folks know what they are doing.

    (3)

  • Joey W.

    Just stopped by Community BBQ at the recommendation of a few friends who were part of their "soft" opening. Today is their first day open (November 19, 2009) and the BBQ (and sides) are DELICIOUS! I ordered a pulled pork sandwich to-go and was warned that this was not a sandwich I would be able to eat in the car, and boy were they right! This sandwich was loaded with the most delicious (and from what I hear, local) pork! I had to start with a fork before getting it down to where I could actually pick up the sandwich and take a bite, which was fine by me! I also tried their slaw and mac & cheese - both were great. The mac & cheese was awesome as they used some large noodles to make it different than what you would expect from a mac & cheese. Overall, I would highly recommend this new BBQ!!

    (4)

  • Nicole A.

    Community Q was my weekend staple! But the last few visits have just been aggravating. The sides are deeeelicious including the collard greens, baked beans, and mac n cheese (can be loaded with butter if ordered late in the day). The desserts are even better! The peach cobbler, strawberry bread pudding, and the banana pudding...all taste fresh and homemade. The Beef Rib was my favorite - until recently the meat has been extremely tough and flavorless. The chicken and pulled pork are not bad. The St. Louis Ribs made my stomach turn...literally. The ribs had an odd smell and looked strange in color. Why did I eat the ribs??? The (2) different sauces are both good - sweet or vinegar. The older gentleman at the counter has always been rude for absolutely no reasoon...perhaps a little too "Southern" but everyone else is nice. I'm going to lick my wounds and perhaps give Community another shot......or maybe not.

    (2)

  • Kristie C.

    A bit oily, the chicken was not all that flavorful, but the sauce was pretty good. If you eat there, the environment is pretty fun & friendly.

    (3)

  • Ethan T.

    Not only is the BBQ great (beef rib mmmmmm) but the employees are very nice.

    (4)

  • Alexia R.

    Growing up in California will really handicap you when it comes to BBQ. I barely knew what it was when I moved to Atlanta eight years ago. After a few mediocre experiences, I was introduced to Fat Matt's and thought I had discovered what real BBQ was about. Fast forward to today, having recently moved back to the ATL from Kansas City and enduring some serious BBQ withdrawal without much relief, we saw Community Q on 'Atlanta Eats' and decided to give it a go. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster we did. I've been a couple of times now and will keep coming back. The ribs are awesome and so too are the sides (mac 'n cheese and slaw especially.) The service is great too. On my last visit a friend thought she had ordered the rib combo, but it turned out we had only paid for the sandwich combo. They brought her out ribs anyway and were sooooo nice about it. What more could you ask for?

    (5)

  • Lynn M.

    I count myself very lucky to live around the corner from Community Q! You cannot ask for better service or friendlier staff. When my work goes on too late and there's just no time to cook in the evening, Community Q is a great and reliable fallback. The pulled pork is awesome , and the ribs rock. But by all means, don't forget the veggies. You can even go all vegetable here and have plenty of choices. Do yourself a favor and dig in to a wonderful meal at Community Q.

    (5)

  • Rob C.

    I've never gone back to update a Yelp review, but it is with great pleasure I bestow upon this fine establishment the somewhat coveted 5-star rating. Went back last week and tried the rest of the menu. Based on this latest experience: Brisket 4 stars - consistent and oh so good Chicken 5 stars - bbq chicken is usually a disappointment, but theirs is succulent perfection, moist and flavorful without needing any sauce Beans 2 stars - unique and not my favorite, but a good flavor on their own Mac & Cheese 10 stars - yup, still busting the curve Service 5 star - friendly and helpful, really took care of us

    (5)

  • Eleanor S.

    This place is just so great. The portions are huge, the meat/sauce are delicious, and the people are very friendly and personable. Once they even let me try a bite of a new side because I couldn't decide if I wanted to order it. Their sandwiches are a GREAT deal. Best sides: baked beans, mac and cheese. The only possible con I could ever think of is that they only have one type of sauce...but it's amazing so it's not a con at all.

    (5)

  • Todd P.

    Definitely snarf-worthy food here. I'm not a BBQ snob, and don't claim to be one. I just like grub that tastes good. And the Saint Louis style ribs here did me right. Messy? Check! Tender? Check! Good sized serving? Double-check! The slaw and 'tater salad were nicely done sides as well. I liked the laid back, casual, friendly atmosphere. I was surprised to see they're only open til 8:30 on weeknights though. I guess you gotta get in there before the food runs out. Solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Keith H.

    We mourned, and mourned, and mourned some more when our beloved Maddys closed in 2010. we tried Community probably a bit too soon and before we were over the loss. Agreed that it was good but it wasn't Maddys. Fast forward a year, on a whim we go to Community at 6 pm on a Sunday, little did we know that everything but the brisket and the sausage would be sold out. We took it as a good sign and took a chance and the gf and I were blown away by the dinner, we also ordered the bread pudding and were pleased with that (both the blueberry ginger and strawberry are great). I can recommend the Pork Ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and brisket. they are all insane. Both the sweet and vinegar sauces are well balanced and hit the spot. For sides the mac and cheese, cole saw, and potato salad are uniquely prepared, they stand out but not in a crazy over the top way. Service is always fast and polite. Go early as they frequently sell out of food. Its generally a good spot for lunch but if the stars are aligned right expect a line and a wait.

    (5)

  • wayne e.

    I wan't extremely impressed. The bbq was ok, but the brisket was great! Maybe after hearing some rave reviews I thought this must be the place??!!!?? The back beans were good, but not sure I would rush to go back to this place. The staff were really really nice as well. So I guess even though I didn't leave this place thinking "I must return" the spots where it shined it really shined bright.

    (3)

  • Boris Y.

    Dave Poe didn't mess with the Sam & Dave's formula much, if at all. That's a good thing. Those two dudes alone have greatly improved the barbecue choices with all their spinoffs. Ribs and mac n cheese especially stood out.

    (4)

  • young k.

    BBQ was just good. I would of liked it if the cole slaw didn't have so much mustard and the beans didn't have so much pepper in it. The Lemonade tasted like sugar syrup. Everything was just so overly peppered.

    (2)

  • Julio G.

    Look, I really wanted to go to Mary Macs Tea House since I heard it was the best bbq but my group could not accommodate this so I ended up at CQ. The ribs were way better than anything I could make at home (this would be like 4.5 stars). The combo only gives like 4 pork ribs (babyb)- so not a ton of ribs. I got the rib combo (15$) which allowed me to pick another meat. I chose brisket. Eh, dry and brown (1.5 stars). The mac was good but it should have been called mac and butter; instead of cheese (3 stars). I got the special sweet potatoes, which aren't even really worth scoring. Overall, the ribs were awesome- but it was a small serving surrounded by a lot of food that was not that good.

    (3)

  • Ashley D.

    We live nearby and Community Q is one of our favorites. The pulled pork is consistently very good and the sides are great. I love the mac & cheese, as well as the kale and sweet potato side. Kitchen sink salad is also really good! They are always very friendly too!

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    Wow. Some of the best BBQ ever. I had the beef rib. Great marbling on rib and was fork tender. Very filling. Great Mac and cheese, they use penne which soaks up a crazy good cheese sauce. Wife had pork ribs which were sauced perfectly. Just a great experience. Loved the baked beans as well.

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    Ate lunch at Community Q BBQ on 02/23/12.... I ordered the Rib Combo Plate (1/4 slab ribs + choice of meat - I chose pulled pork... + choice of 2 sides - I chose the Mac N Cheese & Cole Slaw). I also ordered a small side of Brunswick Stew. Food: Ribs - some of the best I've had in ATL... dry rub style, seasoned & cooked just right, smoky - but not overly so... The meat of the ribs not too lean, not too fatty.... just about right. Pulled Pork - smoked and cooked about right, albeit perhaps a touch on the dry side... overall very good (but the ribs stole the show) Mac N Cheese - good solid southern style mac Cole Slaw - just the right blend of mayo, vinegar & seasoning... again, amongst the best I've had in the ATL Brunswick Stew - B+.... a good version of the classic style, but nothing to write home about... (IMHO, Pig N Chik has the best Brunswick Stew I've tasted - to date - in the Atlanta metro) Sauces: Two types of BBQ sauces are on every table... 1) A traditional vinegar/pepper based North Carolina style sauce - this version had some tomatoes and/or ketchup (& a bit of sugar) in it, by the looks and taste of it, although it was close enough to the North Carolina traditional style 2) A Lexington-style sauce - it tasted to me like the ketchup was overly prominent in the sauce... (Now, ketchup is used in the majority of BBQ sauces to some degree, but IMHO, it has to be used in the right quantities so that it doesn't overpower the other ingredients in the sauce.... Top notch local examples would be Williamson Bros. sauce, with Pig N Chik's a close second.) Atmosphere: Located near Emory University, the interior is spacious, with BBQ & Southern memorabilia adorning the walls. Seating is at old-school wooden tables, with the sauces, condiments and racks of paper towels located on every table. There is also a nice outdoor patio, with about 6 or so tables. Service: Order at the counter & they bring it out to you. I was served promptly and one of the staff members came out to check on me a few minutes after I had been served. The whole staff seemed to be composed of very nice "good ol' southern boys".... (usually a positive sign in BBQ joints) Overall: Community Q BBQ is one of the better BBQ restaurants in the Atlanta metro area. I would rate Community Q BBQ as 3 1/2 stars if I had not had the ribs.... With the ribs, the rating goes up 1/2 star to a solid 4 star rating. Recommended.

    (4)

  • Jose P.

    There is nothing special about the place, the food was average. The cleanliness was questionable as I spotted a few roaches in the dining room. I was just happy that we got it to go.

    (3)

  • Mr. Butters ..

    how this isn't at least top 5 in ATL is upsurd. They have their bad days, but there aren't many. I would strongly recommend the st. louis ribs, mac 'n cheese, hell everything there is solid

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    I've been hear 4 or 5 times and as soon as you walk in the BBQ smells so good. Everytime I've been there I have ordered the Kitchen Sink Salad which is freaking amazing. It's all fresh veggies and changes seasonally. Now it has beets, black eyed peas, eggs, and other beans and veggies. I have ordered chicken on the side to go with the salad and the BBQ chicken is very good. The sauces are great but the chicken can be enjoyed without sauce.

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    Community Q is undoubtedly one of the best barbeque restaurants in the Atlanta area. I always find both the food and service to be consistently exceptional. Food: The offerings at Community Q are typical to what you would expect for most barbeque restaurants. You have your choice of purchasing either meat alone or plate combo, the latter of which includes two sides. Meat options include pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, half chicken (bone-in), smoked sausage, St. Louis ribs, or beef ribs. Sides include slaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac n cheese, brunswick stew, collards, or fries. On any given day, they also have at least a half dozen side specials and available dessert options. From my perspective, the one thing that really sets the flavor of Community Q apart is their sauce. They offer two different sauces, one of which is vinegar based (make sure you shake it before pouring) and the other is sweet. The sweet sauce is really enjoyable and unlike any other I've tried. I'm also a huge fan of their mac n cheese, which is greasy, but heavy on the cheese. Community Q does not serve any alcohol; however, they do have a reasonable assortment of self-serve fountain drinks available. Service: I always find the service to be incredibly pleasant. This is really a family-run establishment at its best; during my last visit, there were three generations working throughout the restaurant, from cashier, to order delivery, to busing tables. It is important to note that Community Q does not have full table service; you order at the counter and your order is brought out to you when it is ready. The wait time is usually fairly minimal; the longest I've ever experienced is 10 minutes. Atmosphere: Community Q is located in a strip mall and doesn't have much of an atmosphere, but I can overlook that because their food is so good. The clientele is also fairly atypical from most area barbeque restaurants; I always find that there tends to be a lot more families with children. Cost: Comparable to other barbeque places, but can get pricey if you're feeding an entire family. Plates (including 2 sides) run between $11 and $15, while additional sides are around $2.50. They do offer family packs (included meat and sides) that will feed 4 ($32) and people ($60), but they are only available via take-out. Other: It's important to note that Community Q makes a limited quantity of barbeque each day, so they occasionally sell out of certain items. Accordingly, you'd be wise to go earlier rather than later to ensure that you have access to every option.

    (5)

  • J W.

    BBQ is great. If they served beer I'd give them 5 stars. The beef short rib and sausage are the best in town.

    (4)

  • Jorge D.

    Awesome BBQ food!!

    (5)

  • Wesley C.

    We had a large group that went out to Community BBQ when they were donating 20% to Atlanta Food Bank a while back . . . I was on call so my wife lovingly and graciously brought me leftovers for dinner . . . 1. St. Louis Style Ribs - Well flavored - loved the smokey taste and aroma. The meat was very tender and although not too dry, just not as moist as I would have liked. 2. Baby Back Ribs (special) - Surprisingly HUGE ribs! Very tender meat, but not as well flavored as the St. Louis style ribs . . . came with dipping sauce . . . but why should I have to dip ribs into a sauce for it to have more flavor? not as impressed 3. Baked Beans - Very interesting . . . good strong flavor, loved the actual shreds of pork in the beans . . . pretty solid 4. Mac-N-Cheese - Not overly impressed . . . maybe it was just because by the time I was eating it, it wasn't very hot . . . but it just wasn't as cheesy as I would have liked, and it really wasn't as flavorful . . . and if you're going to be expecting me to taste the cheese with good BBQ, it better have some strong flavor! 5. Potato salad - Pretty good! I liked the flavor . . . especially with the fact that they put some of their rub in it . . . And to be fair . . . I really think I need to eat there to be able to fairly judge how good the food is when it's hot . . . but for now, until that happens, I'm sticking with a 3/5.

    (3)

  • Olesya M.

    Come here with friends. Clean and bright inside, no alcohol is good for families! We had full rack ribs(they was absolutely delicious) and sides to share : mac-n-cheese (not fan at all), fries (spicy) and slaw.

    (3)

  • Kurt F.

    About 10 years ago, I spent a few months in Austin, Texas for work. In Texas, the Cow is King and the BBQ is smoked brisket. While I never liked Texas (or more specifically, Texans), I did come to love their BBQ and upon returning to Atlanta I yearned for a plate of that moist, perfectly rubbed meat. As the years wore on, I became increasingly convinced I would never again find a place that knew how to smoke a bovine. Then I found Community Q. My girlfriend and I ate here and we fell in love with the place approximately 6 seconds after the food arrived. She had the chicken and, of course, I had the cow and both agreed it was the best BBQ we'd had in Atlanta. Then we tried the mac-n-cheese. Take the best orgasm you've ever had, multiply it by 10 and you're still nowhere close. The slaw, collards and potato salad were all impressive as well. Community Q would make any vegan or cardiologist weep a river of tears, but to us it is a little slice of smoked heaven.

    (5)

  • Henry C.

    The Background: Community Q is a small bbq joint near Emory with big flavor and reasonable prices. The place seems to be family owned and the wait staff is quite nice. While there wasn't a ton of room, it's bigger than Fat Matts and parking is plentiful. Finally, there is a good amount of food at reasonable prices which would make me want to come back. The Positives: As everyone has said, the food here is quite good. I really appreciated the fact that they had the half and half so I could try out two things. The pulled pork was quite tasty and went well with either sauces. The Negatives: The brisket was nice but it was a little overcooked. In addition, the mac and cheese had a scary amount of oil at the bottom.

    (4)

  • Theodore L.

    When I was a child, barbeque was a form of currency. "You want more ribs, Ted?" Mother would ask. "Then promise to clean the basement, and remove the doggie droppings from the yard." Though her cruel bartering of chores for food has, among many things, inspired a memoir - tentatively entitled "You Made Me This Way, Now DEAL" - man, I love me some ribs! Barbeque shacks are a dime a dozen. Most deliver the goods...up to a point. There will be that one missing factor, be it moistness, delectability, or heat. (I find these same deficiencies in the dating pool, LOL!) So it was divine to discover the finest BBQ in town, Mecca for those with a hankering for tender meat (insert Craigslist joke here). Located within a dense cluster of restaurants - most of which I never hear of anyone going to - Community Q keeps it simple with an unpretentious interior. If I have one gripe, it's the volume of the horrific stepdad-rock blaring over the speakers. (C'mon, you know what step-dad rock is - Eagles, The Band, Rolling Stones - what every hateful stepdad thinks is cool.) I suggest sitting outside if old white men farting through harmonicas ain't your bag. You really can't go wrong order-wise. The Brisket is juicy, smoked goodness - what I imagine Billy Dee Williams' charred flesh might taste like. The pork bursts in your mouth, which - oh, forget it - too obvious a joke. A variety of sauces are at your disposal on the table. I like to mix them up, drenching the meat with each, the barbeque equivalent of a soda-fountain suicide.* Just how good is the Mac and Cheese? Good enough to reverse global warming and reunite The Smiths. As that guy would say, run and tell that. Be sure to finish with the Banana Pudding, though eat it only using a fork. You get the meanest looks when finger-banging the cup, believe you me! So rush on over, and PIG out. (Get it? You got it). * Don't know? Bing it.

    (5)

  • Larry M.

    Doesn't get any better than this!

    (5)

  • Matt Y.

    A great BBQ place, especially for one in the Emory area. The Mac and cheese is actually the best I've had in Atlanta so far, in terms of BBQ places. It beats out Fox Bros. in that regard. Is it healthy? No, but hey, that's BBQ for ya. The meats are all good, and I particularly enjoy their pulled pork. The brisket does the job too. My main complaint for them right now is that they should be open later on Sundays. I get that it's Sunday and usually you have shorter hours, but then 7pm is pretty early for a dinner cutoff...

    (4)

  • Christian B.

    Had to update my review since recent experiences have been night and day with earlier ones. What I said well over a year ago was how inconsistent the place was. Nothing was made the same way twice. And everything was usually lukewarm. That made dining at Community a somewhat frustrating experience. I wanted to like it, but never really could. Now, however, they've pretty much gotten the food down pat. It's flavorfully juicy, consistently prepared and thankfully served at the right temperature. Funny thing is, the one thing that's always worked for me -- the mac and cheese -- was the one thing that I didn't enjoy my last visit. There was so much oil floating in it, I wondered if BP was responsible. That aside, last week's meal was the best we've had at Community. Be prepared to wait though. We certainly did. At 12:30 on a Friday, we were in line for 15 minutes and waited at our table for another 15 minutes. I think people are taking the name a tad too seriously though, as it seemed the entire neighborhood was there (including Eli from Top Chef).

    (4)

  • Tariq M.

    Excellent Reubens. I like how chunky the meat was. It differentiated this sandwich from every other Reubens I've ever had and it is certainly an experience worth having. From what I understand it is only available on Tuesdays and I called ahead to pick mine up. I paired it with a potato salad and then picked up some Fat Tire on the way home for an amazing little Tuesday meal.

    (5)

  • Jason D.

    It was okay. I had the brisket sandwich and mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was a little hard. The brisket sandwich was LOADED with meat. A great portion. But, it was fatty, chewy in places, and was tough to eat it like that. Again, it's ok. Not the best, but ok. I like it that they carry local fruits and vegetables for purchase, and their staff is always friendly.

    (3)

  • Kevin H.

    Outstanding! This is how BBQ is done and done right!! I'm never disappointed each time I eat here.

    (5)

  • Rachel E.

    Community Q is a place I often go for lunch. It definitely scratches the itch I have for BBQ. The decor is fun a kitschy sort of a way. The staff is always pleasant. I have never had a bad experience there with the staff. I really like the food.. the portions or generous. I usually get the beef brisket and am not ever disappointed in it. The sides I usually like but have had some mixed feelings. The mac and cheese is good but a big greasy. I happen to really like the collard greens. The only knock on this place, for me, is the price. You get a lot of meet - I don't exactly expect it to be cheap. But, the price I think is a bit much when you get 2 sides. All in all - a great place to go with a great staff!

    (4)

  • Caroline G.

    Went there with 2 fellow yelpers who know what good food is about! Not only was the beef rib as huge as a whale bone (literally), the outside of the meat was cooked to a black, crisp perfection. Sides of collard greens, macaroni&cheese, potato salad and BANANA PUDDING were delectable! Keep in mind that southern cooking = butter, grease, and all things fatty that bring out the flavor. What southern bbq meal would be complete without a Sweet Tea???

    (5)

  • Katie S.

    I've come here off and on since it opened. It's no Fox Brothers but I still go more often bc of the location and more available parking. The sides are great-- Mac and cheese is the best, but the meat is never anything to write home about. The last time I went was definitely my last though. The brisket was dry and fatty-- looked like it had been yesterday's leftover. It's always better than that so I brought it up to see if I could swap it out. Not only were the employees incredibly rude initially, but in the midst of their incompetence the manager/owner (?) came out of the office and asked "how do you want it to look?" -- without even seeing what I sent back. All I wanted was some of the fresh brisket that I could see them cutting -- something worth the $ and something that didn't need to be covered up with the bread (usually the bread is on the side when you order a plate). Never going back -- especially once Heirloom BBQ opens up in the old Kitsch'n 155 location.

    (1)

  • Alex D.

    Solid BBQ... The BEST MAC N CHEESE IN ATLANTA Not the best BBQ in Atl (Fox bros) but definetly really good. My favorite to order her is the beef rib along with the mac n cheese. They have a vinegar sauce that is very tasty and really hard to find in atlanta. This place really understands how to make bbq. I have seen plenty people come here just to eat salad, apparently they have fresh produce and it looks really good. But you will never find me eating salad at a BBQ joint.

    (4)

  • Chuan S.

    This place just made 4 stars, mostly because I tend to be a harsh reviewer. It's always busy and unlike Fat matts there's always parking available. I've had their ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs and sausages. What can I say I LOVE my meat. To me the brisket, pulled pork and sausages are OK since I am more of a rib guy than anything else. The ribs are very consistent, they are juicy and smoked properly and every time we come my wife ends up with bbq sauce all over her face. Each table has 2 bbq sauces on one is tomato based and the other is vinegary. I prefer the vinegary sauce and the wife the tomato one but the ribs are so good you can forgo the BBQ sauce and just dive into the meaty goodness. We're going to have to back soon because the wife wants a nice rack T-shirt

    (4)

  • Jordan M.

    Our favorite BBQ place in Atlanta. Despite living less than a mile from Fox Brothers, we rarely go since it's usually a madhouse with multi-hour waits for a table. At Community Q, you simply order at the counter and your BBQ is in front of you less than 10 minutes. We also find the BBQ here to be more consistently good than at Fox Bros. Moist pulled pork with the good crunchy bark Texas-quality brisket Moist ribs with an excellent crust Perfectly balanced sweet/smoky beans Extremely decadent mac and cheese (too rich for me, but my wife likes it). Try the smoked sweet potato and kale special if they have it, If you aren't overly hungry, I highly recommend the kitchen sink salad which is full of fresh local produce. You can add a side of any BBQ meat to that to make it a meal.

    (5)

  • victoria f.

    Went to Community Q again this week because it's just been too long. We've been on a best BBQ quest in Atlanta, so I've been hopping all over the place. The mac n' cheese was still just as delicious as I remembered, the service was great, and I just love all the fresh local produce they sell in the front. Always a treat!

    (5)

  • Don D.

    So in my last review of this place, I gave it 4 stars because the taste and environment but said that there was an issue with the temperature of the food. I've been back three time since then (the most recent being last week) and none of those times was the food a good temperature. Matter of fact, last week i got the pulled chicken sandwich and the chicken was warm at best as was the mac and cheese. Unless they can serve me HOT food, I will not be eating there again.

    (2)

  • Kevin K.

    Awesome. Best BBQ in town. Even better than Fox Bros, Maddy's, and Pig N Chik. Had the smoked sausage. Delicious. You have your choice of sauce and they're all great.(I prefer the vinegar based NC style). Side of mac-n-cheese and brunswick stew. Outta this world. Extraterrestrial! A plate will definitely make you weary and in need of a nap...which is a good thing! Staff is friendly, parking is easy, prices are moderate. If I am craving Q in the future Community is first place I'll go.

    (5)

  • Venicia C.

    Amazinggggggggggggggggg ! Over ate :/ stuffed to the max everything was delicious hard to find good bar b q .. Definitely will be returning !

    (5)

  • Mary M.

    Not only is the food amazing, the owners and staff here are unbelievably cool. I went in Monday night after work and ordered a sandwich and mac n cheese to go, as I'd been sick and that was the only thing that even sounded appetizing. The owner saw me while I was waiting and asked if I'd gotten chicken soup. I said no, and he gave me a giant cup to go, for free, and told me to feel better! And, obviously, all of it was incredibly delicious. This is still one of my all time favorite places here in Atlanta. A+++++++

    (5)

  • Stone M.

    The BBQ is really good. BUT The sides were atrocious! The greens were inedible! They were way over cooked and either old or someone dropped Windex in it. There wasn't anyone at the table who could get more than a bite down. The Mac n Cheese was alright, just grease laden. My brother said the Brunswick stew was gross too, but after trying the Greens I was not feeling very adventurous. Also I tried the "Blueberry Bread Pudding" it was actually a stale blueberry muffin with some kind of icing, that once more no one at the table could even stomach. It also tasted like something was in it that was not food, possibly a cleaning chemical. We had to get it to go because there were no tables, we waited for 30 minutes. How is this place so busy? The lady at the counter seemed surprised too, she was kinda grouchy too. I really enjoyed the meat, that is why it is not a one star review. Everything else was inexcusable.

    (2)

  • Justin H.

    Best all around BBQ in ATL. The only thing better than the food is the portions. I've tried everything here and it is all spectacular. My favorite order is the pulled pork plate with collards and mac-n-cheese. Their mac is amazing! It is made the old school way with huge pasta tubes and delicious cheese. I took my 71 year old, ultra-southern, BBQ-snob father and he didn't say a word until he was finished eating. All he said was "Damn, boy. That was good!" That's really all I need to prove that this place is fantastic. I am a fan of Fox Bros, but they are a close 2nd to this place. Mainly because the sides are better than Fox. I also think that Community's meat tastes better and is far less dry. If you ain't been, go on and git.

    (5)

  • Berlin B.

    I am from Austin, Texas and I know BBQ. Actually, I lived there 10 years ago, the only thing I know about BBQ is to eat it. Hell, we don't have anything down there but dry brush, 100 degree heat, George Bush and BBQ. My favorite is Elgin BBQ, especially Elgin sausage. It has a hickory smoked hot sausage kind of taste, fatty/greasy but not too much. The community BBQ almost compares to that sausage, they have different texture in taste but it was still amazingly good. A lot of the BBQ places in Atlanta, they don't normally focus on the sausage but in Texas, sausage is a big part of the BBQ ensemble. I have only had the chicken, sausage and some of the sides. The chicken was a little dry but still tasted OK. Like I said, sausage was good. Community seems a little pricey for BBQ. The sandwiches are about $6 with no side or drink. You add $2 for another meat and a dollar or so for the side. That is $10 for the sandwich meals. And the platters are priced at about $10-12. It is located in Decatur, near Emory. If you are driving south of Clairmont, at Clairmont and North Decatur. If you notice, this area is a revolving door of restaurants. They go through failed restaurants every other month, so I hope Community BBQ can break the curse.

    (4)

  • Sharma J.

    "Good food and great service. Loved the mac&chez"

    (5)

  • Ryan V.

    At the insistence of several friends in the area, I gave Community Q another try. I'm glad I did -- the food was much better. I had the pulled pork and beef rib combo. The pork had great smoky flavor, but mine was a little on the dry side. It needed some sauce, but the sauce was very good (I tried the tomato-based one). The beef rib was much better, with a crisp sugary crust and tender meat that easily pulled away from the bone. The servings of both were generous, given the moderate price for that much BBQ. For sides, I got the mac and cheese and the smoked sweet potato/kale special. And the potato/kale combo was, indeed, indeed special. Unlike anything I've had before, the smoky sweetness of the sweet potato was offset perfectly by the bitter greens, which were tender without being wilted. If they have this, get it. The mac was very good, despite being penne pasta rather than the traditional elbows. There's a nice cheesy layer on top that tells you this has been cooked fresh, and the melted goodness hidden below does not disappoint. The food takes a bit longer than most BBQ restaurants I've been to, and I still prefer a certain establishment on Dekalb Avenue, but Community Q is back on the map for me.

    (4)

  • Jin L.

    My review is based on a take-out order on a sunday afternoon. My preferred BBQ places are Fat Matt's and Rudy's BBQ (Tx). After reading so many favorable reviews on yelp, I decided to drop by and ordered the following to-go: pulled pork sandwich, sweet sauce, mac and cheese, and fries. Total = $11.00 Pulled pork: unexciting. The meat tasted bland/flat. Inconsistent moistness throughout. Sweet sauce: watery but with nice flavor. Much needed to offset the tasteless pork. Mac and cheese: too much grease. By the time I got home (5 min from location) the mac and cheese had congealed into a solid, shiney mass. The pasta tasted bland and the cheese didn't add much flavor either. Fries: pros- crispy, not limp. cons- I don't like the smokey flavor. And I thought there was too much of the seasoning. Conclusion: This was a take-out order, so my review may not reflect an in-dining experience. I'll give this place another try, but not with the same level of anticipation I had this time.

    (2)

  • Stephanie S.

    I had gotten lots of word that Community Q BBQ was a top place to try some barbecue. I thought I might have lost my taste for it after my last barbecue experience but I was determined to find out if this place could cleanse my palate of the bad and replace it with some down home awesome. I was not disappointed. This time I took the whole family in to eat and from the moment we walked in the delicious smell of smoking meat lifted me out of my doldrums and settled me into the friendliest and most down to earth BBQ place I had been to in Atlanta. I have had Fox Bros and a few others outside the perimeter but never before had I felt so welcome and at home in a barbecue restaurant. After some joking around with the smiling people behind the counter we got down to the business of ordering our food. My husband got the sausage plate with coleslaw and fries, my daughter a pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked beans and I decided on the two meat platter (pulled pork and brisket) with mac and cheese and baked beans to share with my little boy. I was very pleasantly surprised at the price barbecue for a family of four with drinks and tip for less than $45. After we ordered we got our drinks and cozied ourselves into a booth. The decor is just right a bit down on the farm, a little folksy but polished enough to avoid being too kitschy. It took very little time for our food to make it to the table. I have to admit there are some interesting twists in the food but the foundation of traditional barbecue is strong and the additions just make everything so much better than you expect. The pulled pork was delicious, not fatty at all but moist without being mushy. A delicious smoky flavor permeated the meat, honestly it stood up without having to be smothered in sauce. The Brisket was frankly amazing. Moist, smoky and falling apart like slices of pure beef flavor melting away on your tongue. The sauces are a fairly good but not over the top, sweet barbecue sauce and a vinegar based Carolina sauce. The sauces do not steal the show but they are tasty and rather than the meat being nothing more than a system by which barbecue sauce makes it into your mouth, the sauce was exactly that and nothing more. The part that impressed me and honestly thrilled me is that the sides weren't secondary but were just as fantastic as the meats. This is a rare convergence in barbecue. The baked beans were cooked with barbecue sauce, spices, peppers and chunks of pork. Those beans are a meal all to themselves and I could happily come back to just get a bowl of these saucy and pleasantly spicy beans. The mac and cheese as it has been remarked on before, is fantastic and it is definitely the best I have had so far in Atlanta. My husband's coleslaw was the perfect balance of savory flavors and satisfying crunch. Fries were perfectly done and I really enjoyed the spices dusted on them. My whole family left Community Q BBQ, sated and happy. It was a really enjoyable trip to the North of Decatur, family friendly, hell, they're just flat out friendly and they make some damn fine 'cue. Next time I'm totally getting the ribs and digging into some of their garden fresh veggies.

    (5)

  • Meg C.

    I'm stuck, I just don't see it-- maybe I would have had the sides if they wouldn't have added so much on, but the sandwiches we got were insanely expensive to begin with! I lived in Memphis for 5 years and while I don't buy in to the fact that they're the BBQ capital of the world, I sure had a hell of a lot better BBQ there, here, and in Austin, TX! My husband and I went to Community for lunch one day, we got one pork sandwich and one brisket so that we could try a little of both. The plates that have the extra sides were way too expensive, which was too bad because apparently the mac and cheese could have saved our meal. Both the pork and the brisket were extremely dry, and the sauces were so weak that even though they were doused in an aenemic, vinegar based dressing the sandwiches were rough and tasteless. I know that part of the problem here is that I'm not big on the vinegary, SC style BBQ sauces, but there wasn't really anything to them so I don't even have an opinion on it-- if you can't even make the effort to make something stand out, why make it at all? The decor was kinda cute, but a little kitschy for my taste, and the people behind the counter were very nice. We're willing to go back and try the ribs when we have the cash to drop, but if those don't hit it out of the park, we probably won't go back. EDIT: I went back for a staff meeting one day and got a few sides since they were more fiscally sound option and while the mac'n'cheese isn't as phenomenal as Palate, Wahoo!, or Iberian Pig, it's pretty solid. The Black Eyed Peas were doused with some aromatic (lavender maybe?) that made them nearly unbearable, and the collards weren't too shabby, pretty decently cooked. I'd up my overall to 2.5 stars.

    (2)

  • David T.

    Good pulled pork sandwich. Also cole slaw and brunswick stew with a chili ancestor. Dining area small (40X40). Local traffic makes this "weekend only" for me.

    (3)

  • Dan K.

    YUM ,, this and Fox are my two very favorite BBQ places in atlanta --i love their pulled pork and beef brisket-- Sides include slaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac n cheese, brunswick stew, collards, or fries. plus they usually have a lot of side specials and desserts - also, their sauces are really good --

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    I can't give enough positive feedback about the Community Q! Love what they are doing to keep it local, and offering up the same fresh local produce for purchase that they are using to cook up their sides. Now, I have tried all of the meats and with out a doubt, this is the best BBQ in the ATL! The pork is so tender and juicy and full of rich, smoky flavor without being overwhelming. The Mac and Cheese is so darn good that I would love to have that as my entree, with a side of pulled pork or beef brisket! Baked Beans are stellar, and the Banana Pudding is almost as good as the pudding at Southern Sweets. Okay, maybe it is just as good.. Oh, and i hope that they never stop making those Chocolate Caramel Rice Crispy Treats. Not sure how they make em, but they are better than any Rice Crispy treat I have ever tasted. Maybe it's the fresh butter? Yummers!

    (5)

  • Elvis J.

    Ordered one of their smoked turkeys for the holidays. Will never cook another turkey again. All of our guests raved about it & there were absolutely no leftovers for sammies later. Not a fan of ham personally but i've heard it is equally excellent.

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    Wow... I'm truly impressed with the BBQ from Community Q!

    (5)

  • Mona P.

    I must say, I was ready to hate on this place because we have so many great BBQ places in Atlanta, but the hater inside of me was stifled by the cheery staff, tender ribs, creamy mac and cheese, and thinly cut, seasoned fries. The ribs were just like I like em'-- tender, meaty, and easy to get off the bone. I went with co-workers and was ready to have them judge me about my inability to eat ribs without getting sauce everywhere; but, instead they were envious and wishing they had ordered the same. My fellow diners ordered the brisket sandwich, pulled chicken, and smoked sausage. I tried the brisket and thought it was "meh" because it was a bit tough and on the dry side. I am used to eating brisket that has been marinating for hours and is so tender that it falls apart as you cut it. I think because they allow you to sauce your own meat at the table, the meat isn't injected/infused with sauce the way I like it. I appreciate the customer input on saucing, but I do think it compromised the quality of the brisket. But, overall the table was happy. The mac-and-cheese was a bit oily as my co-worker displayed by tipping her bowl and pouring oil out in a superfluous stream. .. . but what else can you expect from a dish made of 3 heart clogging ingredients of cheese, cream, and butter. I actually thought the mac-and-cheese was nice and creamy and appreciated the chewy layer on of melted cheese on top. Fries were solid. Thinly cut and heavily seasoned- just the way I like them. And I was pleasantly surprised to store away my BBQ in a environmentally-friendly doggie bag made of recycled materials- BONUS. The only complaint is the vinegary barbecue sauce that is offerred on the table. It was way to vinegary and overpowered the food. I would stick with the sweeter sauce on the table and add in a bit of hot sauce for a kick. Woo Wee. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and wil definitely be back.

    (4)

  • M D.

    The sausage is my favorite--it has great flavor. The brisket is so-so and for ribs I would probably prefer another joint in town. The mac n' cheese is really good, but quite buttery. There is often a kale and sweet potato "special" side which is great. Sauces are really good.

    (4)

  • Nicholas H.

    This is by far the best mac & cheese you can buy anywhere. Their recipe is absolutely heavenly, though heavy on the caloric level too. Unfortunately, the pork here is very average. Occasionally it shines due to their sauce, however the meat the use just doesn't have a tremendous amount of flavor. As a native Texan, I feel fully qualified to pronounce Community BBQ as having the best beef brisket in Atlanta and possibly anywhere outside of Texas in general. The real gems of this place are their beef brisket and mac n' cheese; everything else is very good, but nothing special.

    (5)

  • Pseudo N.

    Mac n cheese was awesome. Pulled pork was pretty good too.

    (5)

  • Scott L.

    Like Fox Bros, their sides are AMAZING. I LOVE their french fries, because you can tell that they are fresh cut and they put seasoning salt and I think SUGAR on them, because they have a sweetness. Also, they might have the best Mac and Cheese. Nothing on the menu will let you down. Also, with Emory University being down the street, it's kind of comical hearing all of the New York Ivey Leaque Rejects asking "What is Brunswick Stew?" So, smart, but yet so dumb.

    (4)

  • Jonathan C.

    We tried it two Monday's ago and were really disappointed. Maybe we had it built up in our heads because of all they hype, but it was some of the worst que I've had. I'm guessing it was an off night, as we all know barbeque can be inconsistent, especially when the place is new. My brisket was extremely dry, and my pork had very little smoke flavor(or any flavor at all for that matter) and you could see where the collagen hadn't fully rendered, making the meat quite tough. You were spot on in your analysis of the beans, as there was an overpowering molasses flavor to them. Mac and Cheese was solid as were their greens. I'm going to give them another shot it in a couple weeks, as all the reviews can't be wrong, but my first impression was definitely disappointing.

    (2)

  • Ron R.

    These ribs were really tender...not overpowering in flavor but the sauces make the perfect marriage for a flavorful experience.... Will definitely be back.....The mac and cheese and baked beans were great as well....

    (4)

  • Scott J.

    I had Community Q again last night and it was better than I had remembered. The pulled pork was perfectly smoked, the mac and cheese is still amazing and the potato salad was terrific. In my opinion, this is the best BBQ in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Buddy R.

    The Good: Pulled pork is excellent. Smokey flavor without sauce pre applied. Good mix of end pieces Sweet thin sauce and even thinner hot version. In the past I've had ribs and smoked sausage - they were all excellent. The Bad: Fries were all small pieces with skin on. I like skin on fries but these were overcooked with a burnt flavor from the skins and way over spiced with salt and paprika. Turnip Greens were fresh but with vinegar and garlic. A bit of heat but too salty. And a pet peeve of mine - too many stems. My daddy ruined me on other people's turnip greens cause he would sit for hours and break the stems out of the greens before cooking them. Other sides I've had in the past were also marginal. The service is friendly - it's a neighborhood type restaurant where the owners know a lot of their customers by name. Atmosphere is classic southern BBQ restaurant - old tables with paper towel rolls on the table and 60s rock and blues music on the PA. Food is served in what looks like square tin baking dishes. SO - my bottom line - go for the Q, skip the sides.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Truly excellent.

    (5)

  • Rick V.

    For my tastes and money, Community Q is the best barbecue around. A few years ago, I spent several months visiting many barbecue places (60-ish if I recall correctly) of note around the Atlanta area to find which place(s) I liked the best, and Community Q was the winner for me. (If you like Heirloom Markest best, then I respect your opinion, but if you like best anywhere other than Heirloom or Community Q, I will quietly think you an idiot.) Pulled (not chopped!) pork is the single most important barbecue item to me, and Community Q does the best and most consistently excellent pork around. While the other meat items on their menu are great, I really have a hard time ordering anything other than the pork since a pulled pork sandwich is perhaps my favorite food item. I also really appreciate that they serve both a sweet sauce and a vinegar sauce, since not every place in Atlanta will have a vinegar-based sauce and I really love how vinegar sauces penetrate the pork. When I do manage to not order the pulled pork, I've enjoyed the rest of their meats. In particular, I always enjoy the beef rib. The beef rib has fantastic flavor, both from the smoke and whatever rub they use. While most other bits of meat are either complemented or enhanced by a sauce, for the beef rib I feel that it is best enjoyed without any sauce. I'm always perturbed by barbecue places that have good meat, but seem to treat their sides as some sort of afterthought and produced mediocre sides. That is not the case at Community Q. In particular, the mac-n-cheese is death row last meal good, and the fries are among my favorite in town. The specials that appear on the pieces of paper next to the main board are also very much worth looking at. The Kitchen Sink salad is among the best in Atlanta that I've had, and the other special items are always worth ordering.

    (5)

  • Angela M.

    You know how Pepsi always won the blind taste test versus Coke? It was because that one single sip was sweeter and better. But when the consumer drank the whole cola, Coke was the winner. In this case, Community Q is the Coke. I was meeting Rachel E for lunch, and for once, managed to get there a little early. So I went ahead and ordered my plate of pulled pork, baked beans, and collards and got us seats. My food came very fast (just as soon as I could get myself and the car seat settled into one of the tables against the banquette in the middle). So it was just staring at me while I waited for Rachel. I'm polite, but not that polite, so I took a little bite of everything - pork, collards, beans, and both sauces. In that one bite, the pork was dry, the collards mushy and vinegary, the beans too sweet, the thick sauce too sweet, and the vinegary sauce too strong. But once Rachel arrived, and I started eating the full meal, everything improved. The pork was good with the thicker sauce - smoky and sweet, with a hint of heat in the aftertaste. The beans were good and peppery with nice chunks of meat. The collards were still on the vinegary and mushy side, but I managed to eat them all anyway. I would say this is a 3.5 star food experience for me. I'll round up because the guys at the counter were very nice, and my clothes smell like smoked meat. Unlike greasy Mexican or greasy Chinese food that leaves your clothes with that smell that makes you a little sick, I LOVE when my clothes have that smoky wood-burned scent. #Yelp365 - 26/265

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    It's nice to see that intown is starting get some good BBQ and it's not regulated to rural Georgia. I finally made it down here after months of trying, the experience was awesome. I got what I like to call the CRITICS PLATE, It's not something they offer, I built it myself basically a little bit of everything. The brisket was really good although I'm not a big fan of brisket In general. The ribs had a sweet rub and real smoky and tender. The pulled pork was smoky and moist, not greasy; perfect. All the employees were super cool Hipster style and really nice and easy to talk to. The owner, I guess he was the owner checking on me a couple times and Gave me a good rundown on the sauces. One sweet the other tangy. I like the idea of having one or two sauces at my barbecue restaurant, Too many different varieties just says Lack of confidence in the quality of their 'Q. You can't go wrong here with any desicion. Everything really is done well true.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    I was really looking forward to coming here, but this place does not compare to Fat Matt's or Heirloom. We ordered the rib combination with the brisket plus mac and cheese and brunswick stew. Both meats were a bit dry. The mac and cheese is GREAT!!! The only other place I've been to with Brunswick stew is Brick Store Pub and I thought that place had awesome stew. All in all, I would rather go to Heirloom and/or Fat Matt's.

    (2)

  • I Love Pizza ,.

    It's our go-to barbque. Casual, fast, food always great. We love the brisket, sausage, chicken. Their mac and cheese is great. Sorry, I'm southern and your potato salad is a fail. CAUTION: seems they run out of brisket (beef) often. That's good no waste management for them, bad for us. Pricing is reasonable for the great food. I drive a distance for this place. They are a definite rival of Franklin's in Austin, TX, our other fav barbque.

    (4)

  • kay c.

    I'm picky about BBQ, as I assume are most folks. I have my favorites all over the city for different reasons and particular dishes, but my overall favorite is Community Q. Community Q excels at pulled pork, the Flintstone-sized beef rib, sauces, that amazing mac n' cheese and in sourcing the highest quality ingredients possible. If you have a chance to try the kale and sweet potato salad do not pass it up! The service is friendly, fast and professional. Community Q is an all around winner for BBQ!

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    I've been here twice. I will admit this Q is good. But the portions are smaller that tiny. The amount of meat you get on a two meat plate fits in a sandwich. And that's how they serve it. I got pulled pork and pulled chicken with collards and stew. Wife had pulled pork, spicy baked beans and fries. Even the sides were small. It wasn't worth the 30 bucks we payed. We left hungry and we are NOT big eaters. Please, save your money!

    (3)

  • Robert G.

    Really good bar-b-que. Wife had pulled pork sandwich and I had brisket w Brunswick stew. The stew was great favor, but for my taste should have been thicker. Very friendly place for good food.

    (4)

  • Katharine S.

    I love this place. I live in the Emory Woods apartment complex behind the restaurant, and Webster Drive always smells like delicious cooked meat. Now that my dissertation-writing trenchmate lives in Decatur, we often go here for lunch to work through ideas or drafts. Whether it's a weekday or a weekend, I've never had to wait long for a table or for food to be delivered to the table. One orders at the counter and then sits down. My standard order is the pulled pork sandwich ($6.50), a side of cole slaw ($2.25), and a diet Coke ($1.75, free drink refills). The cole slaw is particularly delicious. I didn't know why for a long time, but then my friend--who goes there even more than I do--asked and learned that the recipe includes sliced apples. Since I learned that fact, slaws at other restaurants disappoint me consistently and make me yearn to be eating at Community Q. Their fries are pretty good, too. Note for folks who like their fries plain, such as the boyf: the default way the fries are served is with a lot of seasoning on them. Community Q is in Decatur, but it's north Decatur, which means that it's a restaurant that's not populated by hipsters/crunchy granola folks (of either the individual person or the family varieties) in the same way that restaurants located in Decatur Square are. Don't get me wrong--I love Decatur Square, and if you squint at me, I look purty hipster and crunchy myself--but I especially appreciate seeing a "wider swath of humanity" whenever I eat at Community Q. BBQ bringing people together! At a restaurant with "community" in the name! Okay, maybe not vegetarians. I don't know whether their baked beans or greens are cooked in or have meat products in them, although I think one can order grilled cheese even though it's not on the menu.

    (4)

  • Mark H.

    I've heard great things about this place, and now understand it's well warranted. Fantastic large juicy ribs, scrumptious Mac n cheese, and tender brisket. The food came fast and the staff was super friendly. I shall return!

    (5)

  • Lauren H.

    Jeremy H and I have decided this is by far our favorite BBQ joint in Atlanta! On our last visit we sampled several delicious items. We tried the pulled pork, pork ribs, mac & cheese, brunswick stew & collard greens. The pork was awesome and the pork ribs were really great. They don't put any sauce on when they bring it out so you can really taste the quality of the meat and the smokiness! The two sauces on the table both complimented the meats perfectly! For sides - we LOVE LOVE LOVE the mac & cheese. They seem to put it in a bowl and then top it with more cheese and toast it or something. Absolutely to die for - creamy and gooey and wonderful. The Brunswick stew was also wonderful - great flavor while not being too thick! The collards were good, but nothing to write home about. We saw on the menu that they have blueberry bread pudding as well as banana pudding. We didn't have room this time, but are hoping to go back and try it soon!

    (5)

  • Tiffany P.

    Great local BBQ! We live in the area and have this wonderful place at our fingertips. We visit often enough to know there are times when your meat choice will run out (usually if you do not arrive early-ish). Everything is made that day- Makes for great side items and desserts. Try it all, you can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Nathan H.

    Coming from Texas, I always tell the person taking orders at a new BBQ joint to order me what they would get. I ended up with pulled pork and sausage, fries and Mac & cheese. The BBQ was good but not in running for the best I've ever had. The pulled pork was dry and required a ton of sauce to add some flavor. The sausage had a good smoky flavor and definitely the better of the two meats. The fries... now that's a different story! The fries were heavily seasoned and were the highlight of the meal. I enjoy BBQ, I like good sides, I don't mind hipsters, and I would enjoy coming back to Community Q BBQ.

    (3)

  • Sam G.

    Id heard a lot of positive things about this place. Had to check it for myself. Im not one for BBQ very often and being from England, Im still adjusting to Southern eating... but I must say, the food at Community Q will convert anyone to saying 'Y'ALL' The staff are a little odd but polite. The decor is a little tacky but justified. Good on Price but wish there were more mix n match options.

    (5)

  • Greg W.

    Excellent! If you are at Emory and tired of hospital food, then go here. Tie on that feed bag and throw down! It's soooooo good!

    (5)

  • South Of A.

    This place is great. Nothing is bad here that i have had. The stew is great as well as the Brisket. If you ever leave this place hungry it has to be your fault.

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    Toss up with Fox Bro's for best bbq in Atlanta that I've had. I think for meat taste alone Community Q wins (especially in the rib department) but overall including selection, sides, ambience, (BEER!), and service you gotta go with Foxs. If you're entertaining follks go Fox Bro's... if it's just you, fam, or a few buds looking for a meaty, tasty morsel then it the Community Q.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    Looked this up on yelp - went by after work. THE SMELL hits you when you walk in the door. Could have just stood there and smelled the place. Ordered the pulled chicken, beef brisket, slaw, potato salad, and sweet sauce to go. Everything was great. Have leftovers for tomorrow!

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    The food here is phenomenal and the staff sweet as pie! The food is ALWAYS fresh and the Mac will blow your socks off - so cheesy, SO good!!

    (5)

  • Tyger B.

    Good service and yummy, filling beef brisket sandwich. They loaded on so much meat that I couldn't eat any sides...

    (4)

  • Denise C.

    In my opinion, no trip to the South is complete without good BBQ. My friend C and I had tons of options, of course, but went with Community because it was high on her list. Community is in the most random of strip malls, along with a Thai-sushi restaurant, Indian restaurant and grocery, and coffee shop. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is posted on the wall as soon as you walk in, and there are a ton of options. In addition to the everyday menu, there is a big poster listing specials like smoked sweet potatoes with kale. C ordered the two-meat, two-side plate with bone-in chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese, and baked beans. I went with the pulled pork, smoked sausage, mac and cheese, and greens. I also grabbed a bag of stone-ground grits (hard to find where I live) from a shelf with locally sourced products like chow chow and hot pepper jelly. The smoked sausage was excellent and easily my favorite of the entire plate. The pulled pork was tasty, but a little dry, and benefited from some hot sauce and the tomato-based BBQ sauce. Generally, I prefer my 'cue without sauce, but it was very good. (They also offer a vinegar-based sauce if that's your thing.) I liked the mac, even though it was swimming in cheese-oil. However, I was disappointed in the greens, which are usually my favorite. They were on the bitter side and just weren't to my liking. C enjoyed her plate but said the beans that day were a little too peppery for her (but she doesn't like peppery food). She'd had them before, though, and really enjoyed them. The guys behind the counter were friendly and affable, just as you'd expect in any good Southern BBQ place. Business was steady the entire time, which is always a positive sign, and it was obvious the staff really did care about their customers. The next time I visit the area, I want to return and give the collards another try, as well as the ribs and some of the desserts.

    (3)

  • Allena H.

    Great BBQ and funky atmosphere which is highly characteristic of my favorite area - Decatur. Mac and cheese is made with rigatoni and oh so cheesy. Greens are well seasoned and don't need much help at all. Fries are hand cut and crispy. Pork has great smoky flavor - as well as the 1/2 chicken. Their vinegar sauce is good, but not spicy enough - had to add some red rooster. Overall great BBQ at a great price.

    (4)

  • F S.

    I dream about this place!

    (5)

  • Shyam S.

    The ambience, location and smells are wonderful. So is this food. But the only reason I can't give this place anything higher than three stars is because they royally botched my order. I ordered a sloppy joe to eat on site and a beef brisket sandwich to go; instead, I was served the brisket at my table, but I was so hungry, I thought what the heck, I will eat the joe at home. The brisket was delicious and I inhaled it. Happy with the knowledge I would have more meaty goodness for dinner, I looked forward to an evening of beef and Redbox. Imagine my disappointment then when I got home only to find no sloppy joe at all, but some sort of pork sandwich. I definitely want to return and hope they get my order right.

    (3)

  • Ronique Nicole C.

    I went, I grubbed, and it was GOOD. My only gripe is that some of the sides I ordered didn't do it for me. The only side I had that was great was the bbq baked beans. The meat and the Kansas City bbq sauce is stellar! Amazin' But one can not thrive on perfectly grilled meats alone, the sides must match said awesomeness to be a great meal. The potato salad was just egg, mayo, and red potatoes, which isn't potato salad in my book, it's egg, mayo, and red potatoes. I would suggest adding some relish, mustard, celery, season all spice, and a dash of red bell pepper to resurrect this side from the dead. I didn't care for the Mac & Cheese either, I saw the pics on yelp, and it seemed as if I got something completely different. A different cook that day? Maybe, who knows. The batch I got wasn't cheesy. My rule of thumb to Mac n' Cheese is too much cheese in the Mac & Cheese? There's no such thing. The bbq baked beans however were the BOMB! um um um um um. Listen people, they put.........chunks of brisket in the baked beans.....(you dirty dawg you...behave!) Yeah I know right! They gave it to me with these baked beans...LAWD , these are the best darn bbq baked beans I have ever had. Ouuuuu and the Sweet Tea was great! and they sell it by the Gallon. Joy! Will I be back again? Oh Hell Yes..... I shall return. What I had: (Combo Meal for 2 Sausage Chicken Brisket Ribs Mac & Cheese Baked Beans Potato Salad 1 Gal Sweet Tea

    (4)

  • Patrick P.

    Those who follow me know I only write reviews when the place is great or sucks! This place was great. This is the ONLY place I have eaten ribs and felt they were better than my own. Crisp sweet crust on them and tender falling off the bone. Sublime! Mac and cheese was good. Collards were OK. All in all, a great place.

    (5)

  • Suhana A.

    Their food is pretty good. I went there twice already for the beef ribs. It's fingerlicking good. Don't go wearing pretty clothes and be prepared to get your hands and face messy =) I think their prices are decent compared to other BBQ places.

    (4)

  • Steven S.

    Another great BBQ spot in Atlanta! Very happy with our experience here. The very first moment you walk in the door, the smokey smell of all the good stuff going on in the back has you go from hungry to starving!! A possible downside to some people may be that most of the menu items are sandwiches but, that having been said, the sandwiches are on awesome slices of Texas Toast, so don't worry. My sandwich had the beef brisket & the pulled chicken. It's nice that the sandwich comes out dry so the patron can put whichever BBQ sauce on that they want. The Carolina sauce was ok but their main "St. Louis" BBQ sauce is the best I've had since moving here! The collard greens were awesome (w/ pieces of onion & bacon) & the Brunswick Stew (though not the best I've had) was still excellent. My gf had the beans & they were fresh w/ a solid kick of spice! I highly recommend Community Q for an authentic BBQ joint in the perimeter. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Pork very good flavor tender. Brisket was above-average but nowhere near Texas. Did get one piece that was moist and tasty but the rest was dry. Perhaps ask for moist brisket next time. Mac & cheese fabulous. good sauces

    (4)

  • Val W.

    Coming here, I was sad to see that the ribs were significantly more expensive than the other meats, but I nevertheless splurged and was glad I did, they were delicious! I also had the brisket, which was also very tender and good. One of the daily sides was sweet potatoes and kale, which was amazing, and the mac n cheese was also good. The choice of two sauces was nice, and the person who came to bring us our food was very welcoming and kindly explained them to us! The atmosphere was very casual, but nice, The service was quick. My only complaint is that I wish the ribs had been priced more on par with everything else, and when I ordered a rib + brisket sandwich, I only got three small ribs that weren't even excessively meaty or anything.

    (4)

  • Jake N.

    The brisket was delicious! Succulent and very tasty!! The Mac n Cheese was a must try since I am Savannah born and Southern raised. I added a bit of salt for my personal taste, but it was legit! The biggest side item I really enjoyed were the collard greens! They were hot, extremely flavorful and I even dipped my bread into the "liquor" after I ate the greens because it was too good to waste! Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Garrison E.

    Pricey? A bit. But it is well worth it. I had a pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and mac n cheese. EVERYTHING was delicious. Their bbq sauces were on point too. And the service was very quick. I ordered, filled up my drink, and found a seat. Within minutes my food was placed in front of me. I was extremely satisfied. I shall return.

    (4)

  • David N.

    Soooo good. I love me some Fox Bros. but this place is just as good. Great quality pork. Great staff. Love it. A must in Decatur.

    (5)

  • Bud C.

    For openers, the ribs came to the table smoking (literally) hot , the meat falling off the bone. Great, right? Wrong. Smoking hot means cooked all over again. Likely this time in a warmer or zapped in a micro wave, but not from a smoker or fresh from a bed of smouldering wood. The sign out front says BBQ, not baked, not zapped... and for the Brown Shoe Gourmet, Community BBQ was a disappointment. Hidden in a strip center, this place has a we're not-really-in-a-strip-center charm all its own... as an example, you can also to buy locally grown vegetables while you're ordering and paying for your 'cue. Friendly staff, a fairly priced menu and quality $10 tee-shirts (more than 200 in the collection from across the country). Then the steaming hot ribs. Having spent a lifetime in pursuit of the perfect barbecue, it made sense to get a combo plate (two meats, two sides for all of $11). We've already discussed the ribs while the pulled pork that accompanied them was good, moist but the flavor was not on the level of some of the other metro Atlanta BBQ joints. The hand cut fries (misleading hopeful sign) were, cut thin and devoid of any real deep fat fried flavor (don't tell me you go out for barbecue hoping to eat healthy). The slaw was a mix of vinegar and mayo, with a unique semi tart flavor. My cohort across the table reported the Brunswik Stew (also available as a side - not always the case) to be excellent. The brisket he ordered was dry and missing any real smoke flavor. The thin layer of fat that captures the smoke flavor had been trimmed away. Folks in the next booth had good things to say about Community's mac-n-cheese; "buttery" was the word they used. Having spent a lifetime in pursuit in search of the perfect barbecue (read other barbecue reviews), Community BBQ did not prove to be the place where the search would end. It's a neat place, fair prices, friendly people... but in their haste to provide prompt service, they're guilty of recooking what should be their signature dish and serving baked rather than barbecue ribs. Can't speak for others, but this is one customer who would have preferred to wait a few extra minutes for his food rather than have it nuked and on the table within minutes. The quality of their barbecue may be taking it on the chin because of the place's popularity... and the folks there may want to remember those things tend to go full cycle

    (2)

  • Timothy J.

    I think it's safe to say that this is the best pulled pork sandwich I've had. It's just perfect. They meat is tender and flavorful and juicy and the texas toast is the perfect bread for it. The mac and cheese is also one of my favorites. I've had the beef ribs and they're very good. I wish the stayed open just a bit later because I'm always rushing to get here after work before they close.

    (5)

  • LINDSAY R.

    I just don't get the hype here. The macaroni and cheese is to die for but that's it! It amazes me the reviewers who say this BBQ is better than Fat Matts. This past Friday was my third time going because I was like maybe I have been going on the wrong days and getting bad cooks or something. Nope, same nasty ribs as each time before. Although I did like my sides, I just can't see going here again.

    (2)

  • Melissa R.

    You can't go wrong with anything you get here. I like the bone-in chicken and pulled pork. My husband lives the ribs. All the sides are yummy, but the Mac-n-cheese is sinful!!

    (5)

  • Heather N.

    OK, I know I will have some people thinking I'm crazy, but I'm sticking to this rating. I don't want to deter anyone from trying them if you haven't already. You might love them. Two first timer dudes ended up walking out in newly purchased T-shirts. Just wanted to share my experience, so if you do go, call first to make sure they have food! Just got back in town, it was a balmy evening and sitting outside eating BBQ sounded perfect. DENIED. They were sold out of food by 7:30! Ended up getting fairly decent dolla sushi next door at Mint2 (wouldn't do it again, better just to get the good stuff and pay a bit more). Tried again the next night. The beans tasted off and the pork had a few nice tender sections but mostly seriously dry pieces. Can't say that I care for any of the sides and I've tried them all. Started feeling ill that night and it wasn't *severe* food poisoning, but it was bad enough that I trashed my leftovers. Looks like I was not the only person that ended up ill after eating here. Not going back... Cheers~

    (2)

  • Bex G.

    I loved the beans and ribs. So much food! If I lived closer, I would be 500 lbs. Everything was really tasty!

    (4)

  • Nikhil R.

    Really good BBQ. Why isn't it 5 stars? Well their portions have been shrinking and their meat quality is slightly inconsistent (a result of smoking the meat, it is unavoidable, but still can be annoying when you feel you went on a bad day). When I first went here, the sandwiches were piled with enough meat for 2 meals. Now I am still peckish after one. The sides are all good, I haven't tried a single one that was bad.

    (4)

  • Phil R.

    Very tasty bbq! The pulled pork sandwich is outstanding! These are moist and smokey flavored pieces of pork. They are not the shredded to death, dry offerings found elsewhere. I have heard good things about the beef brisket too, but I haven't tried it as yet. The fries are very tasty as well and are similar to Five Guys, if you've eaten at one if those. Old South sides like mac-n-cheese are favorites as well. Be sure to try it!

    (4)

  • Aaron W.

    Wow. This place was great. Hands down best BBQ I have ever had. I want to go back...

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    I had the brisket platter with mac-n-cheese and potato salad. It was phenomenal. Definitely one of the best BBQ restaurants in town. The brisket was so tender you didn't need a fork or knife, it just falls apart. The mac-n-cheese was great, it isn't really macaroni noodles but I'll forgive them because it is still absolutely delicious. The potato salad, though, was a bit lackluster. Nothing too special about it. I've heard great things about the fries so I think I'll try them next time. And there will be a next time. One complaint though, the BBQ sauce that is on the table is sweet. I like sweet BBQ sauces but I do like the option of having other sauces (e.g., spicy, Korean, etc.). I don't know if they have other sauces as there is only one container on each table. Still enjoyed it, though!

    (5)

  • TiaBia J.

    Followed reviews advising long lines by 530 and they were spot on! We got there today at 5, were greeted promptly and I truly can appreciate when my children are acknowledged. Tron held conversations with my son (and we saw him interacting with everyone). He brought true meaning to their name Community Q BBQ! Thank you! We got a full slab of ribs. Enjoyed the char on them. Sauces are on the table (sweet or vinegary). We prefer the sweet with the char. Tender enough for my 6 year old to finish 4. Tried the brisket and it's smoky flavor was perfect. Mac-n-cheese is truly rich, creamy and with chunks of melted cheese incorporated throughout..everything you want from the dish!! We took a pint home! Do not attempt to calorie count it - just enjoy. Coleslaw wasn't too sweet or tangy. It complemented the meal just fine. We will be back. I really wanted beef ribs which they ran out of - so I gave it 4 stars. I felt we got there in good enough time for there to be some left. I understand their fresh concept though. Give this place a try! You won't regret it!

    (4)

  • Liz V.

    Upon pulling up, I was immediately drawn to the overwhelming smell of BBQ in the air. I almost didn't want to sit inside but we chose the oversized bar table for the birds eye view of the food coming out of the kitchen! After a long lunch, my clothes smelled like smoked meat for the rest of the day. Instant happy girl! The staff knew several people by name which was impressive but the line that remained out the door told it's own story. Community Q is serious about customer service and making sure you not only enjoy your food but the experience itself. My drink was refilled, I was offered extra pickles, fresh sauce and all this before I was given my cute little silver tray with oversized sides and brisket stacked like a game of Jenga. Based on Tony P.'s suggestion, I chose the brisket and who could resist the macaroni and cheese, collard greens and of course the banana pudding. I also managed to sweet talk some pulled pork off my friend! I could talk for hours, or paragraphs rather, about how amazing the mac n cheese is! Thick ziti pieces of pasta with soft cheeses and a crispy topping of more cheese! I am a collard green snob and I was shocked at how flavorful the greens were without the typical hot sauce most other BBQ places add. Needless to say, I literally tilted the bowl back in to my mouth when I was done! Now, the meat, the entree size of brisket could feed 3 people. I am used to brisket that literally falls to pieces when you cut it with a fork and this brisket, sadly... Tony P. please don't hate me, failed. It was dry, didn't have a lot of flavor or even the right color. I tried the pulled pork and it too was very dry. I normally don't use the sauce on BBQ at all considering the rub normally speaks for itself but even after literally soaking both items, I still didn't finish either. The "home made" banana pudding was from a box and the container was so small, we tried to share, but I ended up with just one bite. I will give Community BBQ another try just for the sides alone. Besides, I have to try the famed beef rib to at least get back on Tony P.'s good graces...

    (3)

  • Katie C.

    After having this place recommended by several friends, we went to Community Q last night. We ordered the pulled pork and pulled chicken plates with mac 'n cheese, Brunswick stew, fries and coleslaw. The portions are huge. I could only eat half the sandwich and a small portion of the sides, but that just meant left overs for lunch the next day. The food was fabulous! I love that the meat came out without sauce. The wonderful smokiness of the meat was great by itself, but their BBQ sauce is really good too. I'm a sauce kinda girl so I slathered on it and topped it with coleslaw. The chicken was moist and the smoke gets into every nook and cranny. The fries and coleslaw were good, but the mac 'n cheese was AMAZING! Seriously. Next time I come here - is tomorrow too soon? - I will get two sides of the mac 'n cheese with my chicken.

    (5)

  • Carlos M.

    I am a big fun of community BBQ the food is just terrific. I always get the same thing all though I had tried half of their menu. My favorite is the brisket sandwich you will never go wrong with this one. And is only 6.50!

    (4)

  • Bee F.

    If I could give them 9 stars I would! If you haven't been, go NOW! Don't wait until tomorrow! Your life will not be complete until then! We ordered a half rack of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, Mac n cheese, Black eye peas and collard greens. The ribs are PHENOMENAL!!!!! Did you read that?? Ok good. Mac n cheese was AMAZING!! I mean some of the best I've ever had, like ever!!! Collards were good as well, not the best I've had but it's hard to compete with the greens I get at home anyway though. I don't eat black eye peas so idk abt that but they were all gone so it's safe to assume they were good! Brisket was great!!! Pulled pork was really good too!! I usually don't order pulled pork but this was really good. The sauce was really good, which is important for a great BBQ experience. The service was good, everyone was really nice and chill. The ONLY thing that would have made this review a 10 is if they had drinks! A bourbon cocktail would have put this meal over the top. Aside from that this was better than Fox Brothers, Smoke Ring and any other that you can think of!

    (5)

  • Billy H.

    I ordered the beef brisket with the famous Mac and cheese and Brunswick stew. This place is phenomenal. A must have for Atlanta BBQ! I WILL be coming back!

    (5)

  • June J.

    I personally give my vote of the best barbecue joint to this place. The meat is juicy and tender without being overly sweet. The most pleasant thing about this place is that you don't have to get typical fatty mac&cheese or creamed corn for side dishes. They have healthy side dishes as well; the last time I went, I think I had roasted sweet potatoes with kale and blacked eyed peas with both being exceptional.

    (5)

  • George S.

    Try the baked beans! I don't normally frequent a BBQ joint for their side dishes, but I do here! It's a once/week staple for my son and I. My 2 year old loves their brisket (as do I). The only thing I've tried that I didn't care for was their fries, but then again, who the heck orders fries at a BBQ joint? Kid friendly - they always come by our table to talk to my son. I love the fact that they run out of things from time to time. They cook as much as they think they'll need but won't try to scrape something together if they run out.

    (5)

  • Bisley B.

    I've really enjoyed Community BBQ. I've been here probably 5-6 times now. The ribs are very good, brisket is good, pulled pork is very good, half chicken is very good, Mac-n-cheese is very good, fries are very good, bruswick stew is good, toast is good. I like their spicy BBQ sauce. Don't really know what else to say, except this is how places should operate. Get people in to eat in a reasonable amount of time, serve them good food, be friendly, and move on to the next customers that take their place.

    (5)

  • David S.

    All these years later, I am still excited to write an update... Love this place.. Food great, people are very nice.. Glad that made the switch to water coming out of the soda machine, it is now filtered water.. A big plus for me.. I cannot drink tap water, doesn't agree with me. Thanks for making the switch. I think I will eat lunch there today, can't wait..

    (5)

  • Daniele X.

    Our table had pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, Brunswick stew, collard greens, mac & cheese, & potato salad. I wish the pork has been a little drier; the brisket apparently was good. The bread was grilled perfectly to hold together all the way through the meal, which was nice. Our table of 2 kids & 2 adults agreed that we would choose Pig & Chik over Community Q, but only by a bit.

    (4)

  • Katherine I.

    So my review of a BBQ restaurant is not going to concentrate on typical BBQ dishes. Which is part of the reason I love this place so much. First off, I needed some greens for the day, so I went ahead and ordered the "kitchen sink" salad. A great salad with greens (not iceburg!). I wish I could remember more about the specific ingredients, but they were all fresh and tasty. You can add meat to the kitchen sink salad if you want. I added the pulled pork which was smokey and good. I also got a side: smoked sweet potato with braised kale. It was wonderful and a very unique side dish - especially for a BBQ restaurant. I tried some of the fiance's mac and cheese and it was creamy and tasty.

    (4)

  • Stefanie M.

    Community Q reminds me of bbq shacks way out in the sticks of the south. Nice people, casual family atmosphere, straight forward good bbq with no fanciness, no city twist, no pretense, and no liquor. I've sampled the brisket, the pork ribs, the smoked chicken, collards, mac and cheese, baked beans and brunswick stew at this point, and they were all pretty solid. To nit pick, I'm not a huge fan of sliced brisket, I feel it dries out really fast. Not a huge deal cuz you can cover it in sauce to juice it right back up. Baked beans were really stellar! Mac and cheese was good, but I'm not as in love with it as some other yelpers, I found the oversized pasta made it slightly difficult to eat. I feel nobody should need a knife to eat mac and cheese. Smoked chicken was yummy with a great dry rub on the skin. Brunswick stew was decent but I wouldn't order it again. Overall Community Q is a really great bbq joint, and if I'm in the area and craving bbq, it's a great place! I'm not sure I'll be a regular though since I live so close to Fox Bros, and I feel Fox Bros and Community Q both offer equally very good bbq. For this gal, Fox Bros wins for proximity to my house and ability to sell me a beer or watermelon margarita in the summer.

    (4)

  • Jes C.

    Surprisingly awesome BBQ in a strip mall. The best Mac-n-cheese these taste buds have ever experienced. As a 99.99% vegequarium, this is the only place that has tempted me to eat meat in over 4 years. The mister and bro-in-law claim that is the best brisket around. Also, there is a mini produce market at the counter.

    (4)

  • T T.

    Everything was great. Had BBQ pork sandwich with pickled beets and coleslaw,. Which is a must have for my BBQ sandwich. It was more mustard than mayo, which is perfect. My dad loved the Brunswick stew and mac and cheese. AND homemade pickles FTW!

    (4)

  • John M.

    I stopped by here by chance because my wife wanted a smoothie at a business nearby. The atmosphere here is real cool and it would have been nice to stay there and watch the goins on as it appeared the staff was really friendly and fun. However I did take my food to go. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and the potato salad. The potato salad was good, a southern style, traditional with new potatoes and egg. The sandwich was a little disappointing to me. There was a lot of pork, which was great, it's served on two thick pieces of grilled toast, which was also good. The part I was disappointed in was while the pork was moist and tender, it lacked any real flavor. It was terribly bland. Not really even a smokey flavor. I guess all the flavor is supposed to come from one of the sauces you can choose from. Which the vinegar sauce was tatsy. Just not really what I'm looking for in a pulled pork sandwich. I want the pork to be the star and it just wasn't. I'll probably give them another try though, if I'm in the area as I think there's a good chance this was just an off batch. They certainly look like they know what they're doing. I'll try the chicken or brisket next time perhaps

    (3)

  • Maya W.

    This place is soooo good! I'm not much of a red meat person but I get the ribs and fries every time. Delish!

    (5)

  • Andrew A.

    When our tailgating party at the Falcon's game grew from 5 to 15 we had to have a change of plans regarding food. Since no one wanted to cook for that many people and people bringing their own food on Marta wasn't an option (our SUV was already filled with two coolers, tables, a tent, chairs, television, chargers, etc) we opted for getting BBQ from Community Q. We ordered Saturday night and they had our order ready at 11a when they opened on Sunday. The Feed 8 was a perfect option with its 3 lbs of meat and 2 sides so we ordered two of them - the brisket and the pulled chicken with potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw and mac and cheese. We also had the north carolina sauce and the kansas city sauce. The food was devoured - especially the mac n cheese which is terrific. I really enjoyed the pulled chicken. It had a great flavor even before the BBQ sauce. I also enjoyed the potato salad which did not have to much mayonaise. Great for take out and I look forward to eating in next time.

    (4)

  • Charlene W.

    I come here quite frequently because it's close to Emory, but I'd come here even if it was far away (probably just not as often). This place is seriously delicious and great for those on a budget. I always get the pulled pork with 2 sides. I'm a pretty big fan of all their sides, but I especially like their potato salad. The line can get pretty long here during lunch hours, but it always moves quickly. If you have a big group, it may be difficult to find a table together, but try the outside patio for sunny days. You can usually finagle your way into 2 adjacent tables. Here's my secret tip: Use equal parts of both of their BBQ sauces. The combination is far superior to either sauce alone!

    (5)

  • Daniel L.

    Ok, this is real BBQ. These guys don't mess around or cut corners. Everything here is awesome. Best BBQ in Atlanta, hands down. Honorable mention to the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac-n-cheese and a crucial glass of sweet tea.

    (5)

  • Scott V.

    Very good BBQ. St. Louis style ribs, brisket and pulled pork are all above average. Loved the collard greens side dish.

    (4)

  • Christy M.

    I wouldn't say I'm a barbecue snob, but there are some definite no-no's that seem to plague local 'que joints. Dry meat, not enough smoke, sauce that's too sweet...happily, none of these were an issue at Community Q. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the 1/2 smoked chicken, and both were delicious. Even the white meat of the chicken was moist and flavorful, and I loved the smokiness of the pork. There was a very generous amount of meat on the sandwich (more than one could reasonably "sandwich," in fact) and I'm a big fan of the garlic Texas toast as a bun. There were two sauces: a spicy vinegar-based sauce and a sweeter tomato-based. The tomato-based sauce was alright, but I really enjoyed the vinegar one. We got three sides between our two meals: the mac 'n cheese, the slaw, and the fries. The mac 'n cheese was out of this world - definitely don't miss that. The slaw was okay, a little too chopped up and mayo-ey for my preferences, but it still tasted good, piled on the pork sandwich with the vinegar-based sauce Carolina-style. The fries I wasn't a fan of, mostly because they weren't crisp (disclaimer: we got the food to go, but it wasn't in the container very long) and they were covered in a seasoning that made them taste exactly bbq potato chips, something I don't particularly like. Overall, though, the quality of a BBQ place has to rest on its meats and sauces, and there Community Q delivers a solid dining experience. I wouldn't drive across town for it, but since it's in my neighborhood, I'll definitely be stopping back again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    You all know how I feel about this place already- BUT I just wanted to fill you in on a few "must-try" sides that are on their semi-makeshift list of specials: Sweet potatoes with braised kale- A great combination of different textures and flavors. Brisket and black bean chili- flavor was good, not overpowering- just right, with a little kick. I had both of these sides along with the very last beef rib they had for the evening. I'm sure there will come a time where I will not be able to finish all the meat on that rib- I'm definitely slowing down...but I'll savor it while I can.

    (5)

  • Stephanie A.

    Another strip mall bbq gem in the metro area (if you consider Decatur metro?) You will find it next to Bhojanic Indian. Country store decor as is appropriate. It has more seating than Heirloom Market but less than Fox Bros. I call it a happy medium. I ordered my standard fare of pork ribs and brisket. Mac n cheese and brunswick stew sides (not usual but it sounded good at the time). My friend got similar plate but baked beans in addition to. I will say the ribs and brisket are delicious. Tender, light smoke taste and not overly sauced. Two sauces are on the table, mustard based and an overly sweet uncomplex Kansas city style. Ribs are meaty and easy to eat (as opposed to a sloppy mess and I don't say sloppy mess like it's a bad thing). Brisket is lean but not too lean and tender as you would expect from a proper cook. The side are a gamble. The mac n cheese is rigatoni a noodle with a cheddary sauce, high fat creamy comfort and a safe bet for satisfaction. The baked beans LOOKED like they would taste divine but they did greatly disappoint. No complexity. Neither of us wanted more than one bite. The stew suffered the same offense. I gave it two bites hoping the second would be better than the first. No luck. Free parking! It's a lot so nothing fancy (you weren't wearing your ball gown to your Q dinner were you?) but when it's free who cares? Go for the mains, sides are at your own risk. 7 out of 10. 6 for food and a plus 1 for friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Kayla E.

    The mac and cheese was so absolutely delicious. It was tangy, creamy, cheesy, with a hint of sweet. The melty cheese on top was the cheery on top. The brisket is tender and juicy and loaded with flavor. The staff are friendly and helpful and the aroma inside should be bottled and sold. Definitely will be coming back for more.

    (4)

  • Erik L.

    Don't you hate those reviews that start with I know BBQ cause I've been to Memphis or I grew up in Texas. Well bite me Texas, no one likes you and your stupid beef brisket. Grow up! What can I say that hasn't been said awesome BBQ great sides. Had the pulled pork and sausage and the best damn mac and cheese ever. This is Danny Edwards KC BBQ good!!!

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    Sorry to report that we found Community Q to be over-rated in almost every important way. We hope your experience will be different, and we know others disagree, but honestly, this is what we experienced: a pork sandwich in which the pork was fatty, a bit dry and quite bland and utterly tasteless, with two awful sauces available, one thin and vinegary and lacking bite, the other sickly sweet. The sides fared little better. The mac n' cheese, rated by many among the best in the city, we thought was better than store-bought but with fat noodles and too much dried cheese. The sweet potatoes were lumpy and served cool not hot; the slaw was nicely vinegary (our favorite of a dismal selection), and the beans were, well, ok. Not much to rave about here, sorry to say. We know this place is very popular, but our visit confirms a belief that Atlanta is very shy on first-rate barbecue houses. And for heaven's sake, find some decent barbecue sauce please!!.

    (2)

  • The S.

    Brisket sandwich was excellent but I found the pulled pork a bit disappointing. Ditto for the Brunswick stew. Cole slaw was ok. Sauce was very good as well. Lemonade was way too strong and needed much ice and water to make it drinkable

    (3)

  • Fabian W.

    What can I say, the baked beans, mac & cheese, the sausage, brisket, pulled pork and chicken all were great. This place stays busy because it's just that good. A true neighborhood gem. I drove almost an hour and I can't wait to go back. Seating can obviously be a challenge but I'm will to eat in the car or take it to go and have a picnic.

    (5)

  • Lois B.

    Forget Fox Bros BBQ. Juicy meat every single time unlike hit-and-miss Fox Bros BBQ(not consistent enough for my liking). Be sure to get their mac n cheese too! One of the tastiest done right! This joint is set up differently than most restaurants. You walk-in, place an order, and grab a table until it is brought out to you. And they close fairly early compared to most places in the area so make sure to check their business hours beforehand. Try this place and you will simply see what I am talking about. Makes my mouth water just writing this review!

    (5)

  • Lauren R.

    I popped in here today during my lunch break. I haven't been impressed with any of the barbecue I've had since I've lived in this city. The pulled chicken sandwich I had today at Community Q BBQ is the exception. Absolutely delicious! Still thinking about it an hour after I've finished it. My sides (the mac and cheese and coleslaw) were passable - not fantastic, but not terrible. For an $11 plate, I expected everything to knock my socks off. Next time, I'd probably just get the sandwich and bring an apple or something from home. Plenty of parking and seating available during lunch, and even though I took my time eating, I never felt rushed - definitely a plus. The guys cleared my table and everything! I'll be back for another sandwich soon.

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    Great bbq. When I say bbq, I am referring to the pulled pork. Yes, they have chicken and beef and usually a special or two, but real bbq is pulled pork, so that's what I get. Sides: Beans are great. Mac and cheese is great, but has a huge amount of butter in it. Potato salad is not that good, but be fair, I judge all potato salad compared to my mom's which is still the best potato salad I have ever had, so this place didn't have much of a shot. I usually don't like coleslaw, but I din't hate the coleslaw here, so take that for whatever its worth. Fries are decent as well. One weird thing - about 50% of time I've been there, when they bring my food, they ask if eaten there before and know about the sauces. The "sauces" they are referring to are two unlabeled bottled - one that is sweet (ketchup based?) and that is a sour (mustard/vinegar based?). But that's it, and their explanation is basically what I wrote: "one is more of a sweet sauce, and one is more of a vinegar, sour one". They have two sauces in unlabeled bottles and could avoid this whole speech if they just decided to put some labels on them. Nobody asks me if I know about their condiments in other restaurants ("do you know about ketchup?"). Just label the bottles. END RANT. Still, best bbq I've had in Atlanta, and not that expensive.

    (5)

  • terry M.

    Best beef brisket and mac and cheese I've ever had. The BBQ chicken is juicy and the other sides are great. I eat it when I'm sad, I eat it when I'm happy. . . basically, I just find any excuse I can to eat at this place. A must try!

    (5)

  • Erich F.

    Good solid BBQ. Had the pulled pork sandwich and Greens. Sandwich was good with a nice bark, but was a little fattier than I like...but who eats BBQ because its health food?? The greens had a great flavor, just the right amount of spice and acidity to them. The food got about a three from me, but I gave another star because of the atmosphere...and the Detroit Redwings and Tigers banners hanging in the dining room!

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    Have made two visits, getting the ribs both times. The were quite good and I will go back. I have found slightly more tender ribs at some of the other good BBQ joints in Atlanta and Memphis, but that was the only criticism I can think of and it is a very slight one. The sauces were both good too. We also had a side of collards and a side of Brunswick stew. Neither of us were impressed with the collards -- too much vinegar and other spices in them. The stew was decent, but a little on the tomatoey side for my tastes. We will go back.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Love this place. The meat isn't oversmoked such that one "remembers" one's meal for hours to come (Fox Bros. take note!), and it is the only place I know of that I can get a perfectly Q'd beef-rib as a regular item on the menu. They don't try to get fancy or clever or hip, it's just good Q at a decent price. Did I mention the Beef Rib? It's one of those holdover-loves of mine from when I was a kid growing up in South Florida. Ina little town called Margate, along SR 441, just north of Royal Palm (neé Copans Road) was a little BBQ restaurant a few doors from the dive-diner "The Clock" - and their specialty was the Beef Rib. So while the meal is certainly one of those things that takes me back to my youth, there's no denying the simple luxuriousness of a slow-smoked beef-rib. So good, it'll turn your vegan-ass into flesheater by your second bite. Word.

    (4)

  • Lindsay W.

    I ordered my smoked turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. Need I say more????

    (5)

  • Eddie T.

    The BBQ pork was excellent, the chicken was good. But the Ribs and the Brisket should be illegal!!! Toss up between Community BBQ and Fox Bros. love both. But Community gets the edge because their portions are bigger.

    (5)

  • Zhenting G.

    My first taste of American restaurant. A lot of meat, I love it. But if they also serve some hot drink, that would be better.

    (4)

  • Jing X.

    Love the typical southern BBQ. Chicken is perfectly cooked, seasoned, juicy, and tasty. As An Asian from Asia, I totally get conquered by Half Chicken, bone in.

    (5)

  • Brianna E.

    I moved here from Texas a few months ago and this is the only BBQ joint I've between to more than once in the metro area. We've had the ribs, the beef ribs, and their brisket. All are top notch. I'd give them 4.5 stars, but yelp doesn't let you do that. Sides are good too, Mac and cheese was creamy and a tad stretchy with the right amount of buttery goodness. Greens are good too. Will be back for more Q in the future.

    (5)

  • Erika S.

    I love BBQ. It makes me beyond happy. Community Q BBQ may be one of the best I've ever had. Their two sauces are amazing, a KS style and a Carolina style. Delish! The mac and cheese might be a bit greasy, but that's the cheesy-goodness. I ate so much I needed to be rolled to the car! The best part would be the service. Everyone was friendly and the atmosphere of this tiny place was "We're a neighborhood joint, come sit a spell, eat a lot, and relax." OH, and try the black eyed peas too... Heaven!

    (4)

  • Eowyn C.

    I was excited to see Community Q enter the neighborhood, but after patronizing this place a couple of times I find this place to be just alright. - The meat has a pretty good taste, especially the pulled pork, but it's lacking that delicious smokey flavor that I associated with bbq. Also the sauces, which there are only two of, are vinegar based. - Macaroni is delicious with a baked layer of cheese on top but I could do without the cup of oil that it is swimming in. After eating this side, I was pretty much full and had to take the majority of my food home. I felt a little sick after eating it. - Side items are limited and lacking. I'm pretty sure, "Thou shalt not have a bbq restaurant without fried okra" is one of the commandments. In the South at least. I'm accustomed to their being at least 2 fried items at every bbq establishment I've been to and neither of these include fries. - $11 for a pulled pork plate with 2 sides is a bit expensive in my opinion. The best bbq I've had has been at little hole in the wall places that bring you out a heaping plate of food all for around $8 drink included. If you're gonna bear the humble name of "Community" then naturally the overall concept should be humble as well. There is a bit of pretension masked under that humble facade. I would definitely go back being as it is so close and it seems bbq joints are disappearing at an alarming rate in Georgia, but it leaves one wanting for more.

    (3)

  • Jessica D.

    It's really really hard to park. Sometimes we have to just go somewhere else because the parking lot is so terrible. But the food is SO worth it, so we just try to go early.

    (5)

  • Elson M.

    Oh man really good food. I've been in this area for a long time, but shied away from this place until recently. The food is great. I always get the pulled pork with sweet sauce and Mac and cheese. Good stuff. Keep it up community BBQ!

    (5)

  • Jereme G.

    Wow. Wow. Wow. What else can I say? Ok I can say alot. Right now my favorite and most consistent restaurant. A constant issue I have is falling in love with something and then having inconsistency. Remembering how good it once was named it that much worse. You won't see that here. Best brisket I've ever had! Two amazing bbq sauces. Try them both. The pulled pork is rumored to be best in Atlanta and I understand why. Mac and cheese was an awakening to me. Large rigatoni noodles in a conglomerate of melted cheeses, though it can be really greasy sometimes, it is the bomb. They do reubens on Tuesdays and that made me realize I'd never had a REAL reuben before! I enjoy the occasional soup, my favorite corned beef and cabbage. Only thing I would recommend to the place is let's get some jalapeno cornbread!!!! The staff is awesome every single one of them. The prices are cheap compared to other bbq spots.

    (5)

  • Ron B.

    Saturday night at 7pm and closed with sign on door they were Out of food.Three groups of customers at door and we all agreed we would NEver come back. obvious they do not care about customers

    (1)

  • Tracie J.

    Love love love the brisket at Community Q! I can't get enough. The mac and cheese is also quite yummy. The first time we went, they gave us extra sides to try in addition to what we ordered. The baked beans are really good and the fries are awesome. Not a huge fan of the collards, but the other sides give me more than enough. The people who work there are great and it's nice that they remember us when we come in. Good portions and good prices.

    (4)

  • Charlene W.

    Awesome BBQ and some of the best Mac n Cheese .. EVER!! Great small hometown friendly feel, but in a small location. Seating is limited, but worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Roxy J.

    I actually like this place. But what I actually like about CQBBQ is their sides. They have really, really good Mac n' Cheese (real cheese, milk, eggs and butter), Collards, Potato salad, Slaw and black eyed peas. Seriously. As a Georgia native, I can say with great conviction that their side dishes rival some of the best, most authentic, soul food restaurants' side dishes in the entire Atlanta area. Their strawberry bread pudding is absolutely wonderful. And for as good as their southern sides are, I expected their banana pudding to be much better. I also commend them for their salad entrees, even though the one I had wasn't much to write about and left much to be desired, at least it had NO MEAT. I think Brunswick stew is best done in its namesake. Or Charleston, or somewhere else (but definitely not Fat Matt's). Generally, if you 'know' Brunswick stew, you'll have a tough time finding some good stew anywhere between Fannin to Dooly county! And quiet as is kept, the best beef ribs I've had have been one's made at home with the Spicy Barbecue recipe provided by Weight Watchers in the Mix-It Match-It Cookbook. Buy some decent, grass fed beef bones, follow the recipe in that book and you'll think twice about trying anyone's beef ribs again. Unbelievable, but true. Promise. I initially rated the place with 3 stars, but their sides are SO good, and the Texas toast REALLY makes their sandwiches winners, I'll have to give them 4 stars!

    (4)

  • Bobbin W.

    MMMMM! Community Q BBQ fully deserves every aforegroaned capital "M." Piled high with bewitching pulled pork shreds, my 'cue sandwich melted in my mouth, sweet sauce and vinegar running across my tongue. Its lightly buttered cloak of Texas toast added a coy crunch to every bite. When my sandwich became too delicious to handle, I switched my focus to the bowl of macaroni and cheese that sat seductively on my plate, long, thick pasta cooing promises of white cheddar and oil. Plus, a layer of baked cheese had become encrusted over the top. In addition to ethereal barbecue, Community Q showered me with chivalrous service. While I waited for my friend to arrive, the owner fixed me a cup of sweet tea, at first offering me green tea in celebration of St. Patty's Day. "You guys serve hot tea?" I almost clapped. "No," another staff member chortled. "Oh. You mean you dye your sweet tea green?" "No," he sniggled again. I, too, laughed at my gullibility. After delivering my glass of refreshing tea, the same staff member also brought me the latest copy of Creative Loafing to keep me company during my wait. Top-notch 'cue and sides served up by perfect gentlemen: I'm a fan of Community Q!

    (5)

  • Chef Invisible T.

    Commu--nity, Commu---nity Q Where are you? Me and My Asian are coming to find you.(Scooby Doo) And we want the best you have to offer. After about 3 par trips and 2 above average experiences, Community Q finally hit my red neck ass on the right head with a complete din din. So after much ado community boo, became community good bbq, got this favorable review, and is added to my normal to do--- writing reviews today hung over I dig this place and it jumped up my list of places with four star brisket, four star pork, and 4 star St.Louis ribs. The sides are all good, but the baked beans are notoriously salty and under cooked. As simple as it might be, their presentation is clean, tight, and traditional all in the same sentence. I like how it looks good without trying to fancy--fy bbq. I love the cable spool for outside patio tables--reminds me of my grandparents home--pretty authentic for que restos. I believe this will become my go to spot with the girl 4.3331 stars Chef Invisible--Out

    (4)

  • Mallory C.

    Could be better, could be worse. Due to reviews and word of mouth I called ahead to make sure they hadn't run out of anything. They had a full menu and I set off. The sweet tea was bitter, as if it have been over seeped, the mac and cheese while creamy was bland, and my sandwich came on thick Texas style toast. With each of these items a la carte my check was higher then I would have liked, especially since I was disappointed by the preparation of the food. I went with the traditional sauce. I was warned it was sweet, and yep it was. Not too sweet since my bread soaked some of it up. I want to like it, I just don't.

    (2)

  • Veda R.

    Gosh this place is so stinkin' cute, it's ridiculous. The ambiance is very home-y (note: different than homely), the servers treat you like you're family, and the food is just good ole southern cookin'. I was in the same group as Mona P. and ordered the brisket sandwich which came with yummy savory and crispy fries, and mac and cheese. The brisket left a lot to be desired, so I spent a good 20 minutes perfecting a mix of hot sauce and barbecue sauces, which were conveniently table side. It was tough and just not well seasoned. The fries were heavenly, and the mac and cheese was just downright sinful. Okay so I was the gross coworker at the table that spent a lot of time "pouring" melted butter off the mac and cheese cup...guilty....BUT I think very low of establishments that rely solely on fat in order to boost taste. There's a perfect mix of cheese, milk and butter that can be played with...rather than just adding more butter. Of course, didn't deter me from polishing off my leftovers later on that evening. Ignoring the hardened butter at the bottom of my non-styrofoam box was difficult though. (OH that's another thing. I let out an audible squeal when our server brought out our non-styrofoam doggie box made of post-consumer recycled goodness.) Major pluses for awesome southern hospitality. Icing on the cake was when I dropped my phone and the server tried to help me locate all the pieces (conveniently spread out underneath an occupied table). Meanwhile, another server started running towards the door with the doggie bag I left on my table while looking for my phone. He thought someone left it at the table and ran off to find its owner...(me). Such sweet people. I'll be back :)

    (4)

  • Leeanna L.

    The day I visited Community Q was a good day. The pulled pork was heavenly, my oh my! Maybe I got lucky but it was amazingly tender and succulent through and through. It was even delish sans sauce and sans bread, which I'd pushed aside to uncomplicate things. My pulled pork was not afflicted with any of the eventual hard or dry bits you usually run into. Way to represent the South, CQ. The BBQ sauce that did eventually make its way onto my pulled pork was thick, sweet, and reminiscent of ketchup, maybe? Jury's out. It's good but I'm not sure I love it. I was almost done with my pulled pork before I realized that the big yellow squeeze bottle in front of me was a vinegar sauce. Illogical as it was, I'd ignored it as a big giant bottle of mustard. That improved the BBQ sauce situation a great deal so don't miss out. I had pickled beets from the specials board and it was pretty pickled, causing a few uncontrolled winks. Collards were only ok, a little different with salty smoky notes. I liked that Community Q had a patio area outside though be ready to be bumped and jostled. The tables are big and crammed together and the patio area is small. Also, depending on how you feel about fusion, you may or may not appreciate the spicy pungent smells wafting over from Bjohanic next door.

    (4)

  • Joyce S.

    surprisingly good! I had the pull pork sandwich, cole slaw, beans and fries. $13 and I had enough left over for dinner. The guy at the register and the entire staff had great attitudes and always smiled! I went at lunch and the line moved pretty quickly and it didnt take took long for my food to be delivered to my table. Cant want to go back!

    (5)

  • Joey M.

    Very good barbecue! This is definitely one of my new favorites in Atlanta. First, the pulled pork. It was some of the most moist, decadent pulled pork I've had in a long time. Very reminiscent of Sam/Dave's but even more tender and moist. So, so good. Good smoky flavor, too. Mac and cheese was just fine. Baked beans were fabulous - really thick and meaty. They've gotta be the heartiest I've had at any barbecue restaurant. I like it. Brunswick stew was quite delicious, though not my favorite. Pork rib was pretty tasty, but not my favorite. I'm not a big ribs-eater though. Two sauces - one vinegar and one tomato based. Both were really great. Not sure if there's any actual relationship (is there?), but the sauces, pork, and mac and cheese were all eerily similar to sam's BBQ1 and Dave Poe's. This is definitely not a bad thing, but still.... This will definitely be my new go-to place.

    (5)

  • Randy B.

    Omg! Awesome. I'm from NC myself and loves me some Q. Other than the fact that the sandwiches are too big and served on big square bread slices rather than white round buns, and don't have slaw installed as standard equipment, I've got nuthin but glorified things to say about this place. Fresh and delish, and I went inMonday night at closing when my expectations were way low. Go get you some.

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    I'm stuffed. Just went by Community BBQ for the first time tonight and I am impressed. Had the pulled pork sandwich, cole slaw, and brunswick stew. My wife enoyed the sandwich, slaw and fries. The sandwich was huge, with Texas Toast bread and plent of pickles on the side. Lots of meat that was tender, juicy and flavorful. Wish there had been a mix of inside and outside meat to give a bit more of the grilled flavor. Don't consider this a negative, just something that would have made the meal perfect. The slaw was flavorful with the right balance of sweetness. The brunswick stew was very good, with just a hint of spicy heat that comes back at you late. The fries were really good, and I heard another diner commenting how they were the best he'd had anywhere in the area. I'd have to say there were really good as well. We walked out stuffed and pleased with our experience. At $6.50 a sandwich and $11.50 for a platter (2 sides), the prices may seem a little steep. But the food is good, and the portions are large, (so you could split a platter in a pinch.) Great addtion to the neighborhood!

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    I've heard good things about Community Q so I was glad to finally get out there to try it. I was pleasantly surprised. Portions are decently sized, fairly typical when compared to a place like Jim N Nick's. I had the 2 meat sandwich, with brisket, pork, collards and brunswick stew. Brisket was pretty darn tasty. No need for sauce, it's great on its own. I agree with a few other reviews I've seen about it being dry, it does need sauce IMO. But that's really just a great, convenient excuse to douse it with the delicious vinegar sauce they have. I could almost drink it. The collard greens were damn tasty. They have a tart kick, and are cooked long and slow so that even the stems are tender and delicious. The stew was a disappointment, in that it was very mild. I expected more flavor and really didn't get it, which just meant the sauces got drizzled in and saved it. The coolest part came at the end, when I was refilling my tea. The waitress was walking past and I casually asked her if the big metal box next to the tea tanks was the smoker. "No, that's the walk-in. You wanna see the smokers though?" I geeked out, said yes, giggled like a schoolgirl and was thrilled to see them. Yeah, they're simple metal boxes, but as a barbeque fan (and aspiring competitor) it was a big moment for me. Great food, easy to reach, enjoyable. I intend to be here as much as possible, some of the best BBQ I've had anywhere.

    (4)

  • Laura T.

    Visited again today, so wanted to update. Pulled pork sandwich was good again, but not quite as stellar as I remembered it to be. I think next time I may opt for the brisket as it's quite tender. Mac-n-cheese is still sooooo yummy & the reason I will return. Sad to say I can't change my opinion of the banana pudding. :-( Sorry guys, but it's a miss for me when it tastes like something even I can easily make at home and yet I'm being charged $2.50 for it.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    Hands down one of the best Beef brisket plates I've ever had. Been going there for several years but just finally getting on the "Yelp" Also they catered a party for us several months ago & knocked it out of the park! Big hit! Later

    (5)

  • Brian J.

    You know a BBQ restaurant is going to be good when you first walk in and smell the smoke right away. Community BBQ had the best Barbeque Ribs I've eaten all year. I ordered the Pork Rib Sandwich for takeout which was actually a half rack of ribs served with two slices of bread. They were meaty, with very little fat and perfectly grilled, well seasoned and had that Smoky taste that you can only get from a good BBQ joint.

    (5)

  • M A.

    Oh yes yes yes. Tender pulled pork with a choice of vinegar or tomato-based sauces? Delicious sides - including a mac n' cheese to rival that of my dad? Ample portions for two to share off a single plate? Few places can really say yes to all three of those questions - particularly the one about my dad's heavenly mac n' cheese - but Community Q can. Even if you're not from the South, the decor, food, and staff will make a Southerner out of you in no time. Don't expect your meal to show up to your table for a while. It's prepped to order and you can bet your britches there is a line ahead of ya. So just sit down and enjoy the smell of smokey meat rising up from the kitchen to tease and tantalize you while you wait. It's worth the patience and the drool-covered shirts, and the moment that plate is set down in front of you, you'll want your stomach to hit the ground running and down it faster than those guys in a hot dog eating contest. Lick your fingers at the end - you won't want to miss a single bite! I'm happy to have another spot to get my 'que fill in town, and it's super close to my house whereas the others are a bit further out. Will I be back? You bet yer britches I will!

    (5)

  • Darren H.

    Went here on a whim, the original plans was to go to Maddy's or Fat Matt's but since neither of us had been to this place before we figured we'd give it a try. There are several other places in this little strip mall that i'd like to try but this review is about Community. We ordered the 2 meats plus 2 sides so we could try a variety of things on the menu. I got the Pork ribs, Smoked sausage with Mac & cheese & baked beans. She got the Brisket, pulled pork with the black eyed peas & Mac & cheese. I have to agree with most that the mac & cheese was on point & some of the best I've had from a restaurant & pasta they decided to go with in it was a different choice other than the elbow macaroni but I liked it. All the sides were good the baked beans stood out a little bit better than the Mac & Cheese. There beans are sweet so if you not a fan steer clear. The ribs were good, thinking about it might be the best I've had in Atlanta so far, smoked sausage was great moist on the inside and crispy on the edges. Everything was good but the brisket, it was dry & really didn't have any flavor and needed sauce added to it bad. Enjoyed the food & loved the neighborhood feel to the place. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Enoch C.

    community is one of my go-to places for bbq. it's in my top 3 and i go here the most because it's the closest of the 3. my last visit was right before the yelp halloween party, which was a couple doors down. i got the beef rib with the sweet potato and kale and the collards as my sides. my gf got the st. louis ribs with the cole slaw and mac and cheese. my gosh, the beef rib was soooo juicy and tender. i will be ordering this from now on. you hear me, community? have some ready for me!! it fell off the bone and i ate the whole thing with a fork and didn't have to use my hands at all, it was that awesome. the beef rib comes with one giant rib and it had tons of meat on it. the sweet potatoes and kale were great. i've never had kale before, but i thoroughly enjoyed it especially since it was very paleo friendly. the collards were great. i used to hate collards, but ever since i started doing paleo, i can't get enough of them. the best collards award has to go to heirloom though cause it's like a 50/50 ratio of pork to collards, but community q's doing alright for themselves. the st. louis pork ribs were a little on the dry side this visit, but i won't let that stop me from ordering those again in the future. it was definitely an off day for that item. service was great as always. they really do treat you like family there even if it's your first time. the staff is superb. i will be a regular at community as long as i live in this city and they don't leave. deal?

    (5)

  • Tanya F.

    My hair still smells like smoked meat. There are cute kitschy farm animal decorations on the walls and the counters. It almost made me feel guilty about the pound and a half of brisket I'd ordered. But after biting into the first succulent tender morsel, I got over it. My order wasn't quite ready when I arrived, so they offered me a cup full of "redneck lasagna" to tide me over. If you aren't familiar, this tasty dish is a mixture of their mac & cheese with Brunswick stew--it's their Monday special. If nothing else, get the mac & cheese, they're liberal with the cheese and use rigatoni in place of macaroni--it's delicious. The staff is welcoming and personable, and they pay attention to the little touches that will certainly keep me coming back.

    (5)

  • Rob N.

    My quest to hit up the BBQ places in town continues.I have to agree with the previous review. This place is over hyped. The BBQ beans were pretty decent and the actual pulled pork was tasty. However, the sauce was very *meh*. If I were catering something and I wanted to get the best sides in town... I would stop by here for a trough of the baked beans. Nothing else would make the cut though. Would I eat here again? Yes, if I wanted BBQ and I didn't want to leave Decatur. Of the BBQ in Decatur is the best I have had yet. But when that competition so far is Maddy's and Burnt Fork... that isn't high praise.

    (3)

  • mac m.

    Two thumbs up. The sliced beef brisket sandwich is as close to Gates & Sons BBQ [_R_E_A_L_ Barbecue from Kansas City] as I'm going to get without driving 900 miles. The BBQ Pork sandwich was just OK. Get the BEEF!!! Overall Community BBQ beats the pants off of Fat Matt's, Pig 'n Chick [a REAL JOKE] , Slopes [biggest JOKE of all!] and rest of the Georgia "barbecue" joints....

    (5)

  • Ben H.

    Jeez, talk about hype. I have to admit I was excited about a new bbq place that's ITP and near my hood. So, armed with an appetite, I hit up Community on 2 separate occasions and tried nearly everything on the menu. Brisket - Similar to the brisket at Sam's BBQ1, but it wasn't quite as good. There were a couple slices from the inside that were really tender, but all the exterior slices were a bit dry. Flavor was pretty decent on the exterior pieces, but lacking on the interior (no rub). If the exterior slices were tender like the interior ones, this would be great. Beef short rib - Very good. Served off the bone, nice bark, good flavor, pretty good texture. Sort of like a smoked piece of dry-rubbed pot roast. Definitely the best meat I've had here. Pulled pork - Beef bbq is nice and all, but pork bbq is really where it's at - it's the standard for me to judge at place. And the pulled pork here fell woefully short. It didn't have much flavor and was underseasoned. It wasn't warm. I like that they serve PULLED pork shoulder, but I'm not really a fan of long strings of pork that resemble spaghetti. And to wrap things up - it wasn't particularly tender. Occasionally you'd come across a tender piece, but at least 80% was fairly dry. Egads! Pork ribs - St. Louis-cut. Not particularly meaty either. The texture was pretty good on the ones I had, but the flavor was underwhelming. I probably wouldn't get the ribs again to be honest. The ribs are not similar to the ones at Sam's BBQ1. Pulled chicken - Decent flavor, but a little dry and not warm enough. Kinda boring. I wanted to go with the 1/2 chicken with my rib combo but apparently you can't do that (even though the menu seems to indicate you can). Sauces - Neither the sweet KC-style nor the sour NC-style sauce really impressed me much, but neither was bad either. Both of them just seemed to be lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Mac & cheese - Identical to Sam's BBQ 1. I can see why people like it - it seems to have a lot of butter and cream in it so it's very rich. That's sort of the issue I have with it though - it's just too buttery/creamy and not cheesy enough. It's the same criticism I had before with BBQ 1's m&c - which is no surprised. However, it's still pretty good - just not exactly my thing. Collard greens - Good, but maybe a little too sour/vinegar-y. People typically add their own vinegar to collards so it seems a little unnecessary. Baked beans - These look gross and don't taste much better. They are really intense - they don't really seem to fit in with the conservative flavor style of this place. It's like big, bold Fox Bros flavors...on PCP. And they were not cooked well at all - a lot of the beans were actually sort of crunchy. Sorry, I'm not feeling these at all. French fries - Good. Well cooked and well seasoned. A-okay. Banana pudding - Decent, but I wouldn't get it again. The pudding had kind of a flour-y quality that I wasn't digging. I can make better banana pudding at home and it's really easy to make so... Anyway, I agree with Christian B. on a lot of the issues he brought up. I gotta say I was looking forward to this, but after 2 visits and trying nearly everything on the menu, I don't really get the hysteria. As for right now, I gotta say I still prefer Fox Bros. in terms of most of the individual items I sampled and overall - even when comparing to inconsistent meat at FB. Maybe it will improve in time though. I'll definitely be giving it another shot as it's nice to have another bbq spot close-by and one that is good. However, it's just not as good as people are making it out to be. Let's get back down to earth, people. 3

    (3)

  • Jason P.

    First and foremost - excellent food. My fiancee and I have been scouring the ATL for good bbq, and Community Q did not disappoint. The ribs were tender and flavorful, the brisket was delicious... the mac and cheese was superb (and we're picky). Everyone has different preferences when it comes to sauce, and there are two to choose from on the table... not sure they were my favorite, but this place is really best for take out, at least right now. So bring the meat home, lather it up in the sauce of your choice, and crack open a beer. Beer. They don't have it (yet). Not sure if that's going to be the plan on a long-term basis, or it's just an issue of getting the license, but beer would be a welcome addition. The ambiance is neutral - it's not a greasy, dirty, dark bbq joint like Maddy's or Daddy D's, but maybe the smoke will start to dim the lights and stain the walls eventually... but none of that matters, because the food is good. Really really good.

    (4)

  • Jim O.

    I can say this place is only OK now after having eaten here twice. Seems they may have a consistency issue, as the first time I ate here was better than tonight's meal. Sausage - I have to say this is pretty tasty. The first time I had it, I was really impressed by it. Tonight I tried it again and it didn't seem the same. Fairly tasty but perhaps a little more dry than the last time. Baked Beans - These have a super taste and are real hearty with chunks of meat even. Tonight's however was not near as good because the Navy beans (or whatever they use) were slightly undercooked. It ruined them. You have got to make sure the beans are cooked thoroughly. They shouldn't be even slightly hard. Sauce - Their vinegar-based BBQ sauce is just that. The only real flavor that comes through is the vinegar, nothing but really. I just do not care for tainted vinegar as a BBQ sauce. However, their sweeter sauce is actually quite tasty. It has a thicker consistency; and it's really not all that sweet. It still has a slight tang to it. Good. Pulled Pork - I had this the first time I went and it was great. Tender and moist. Really good. No complaints, except tonight they were out. How does a BBQ joint run out of the foundation of BBQ? Oh well. Beef Brisket - I had it this evening and it was very tasty. I could not believe how tender they get theirs. Very moist, very flavorful. Very good. Pickled Beets - Oh my God! NOTHING BUT VINEGAR. If it were not for the fact that I could see I was eating beets, or trying to, I would not know it by the amount of vinegar in them. Hardly any beet flavor and there was so much vinegar it made me and my fiancé both pucker and squint an eye, literally. Disappointing. Sanwiches - Thick bread with pickles (commonplace for BBQ) and they pile on, whatever it is, high. I had both sausage and brisket tonight and there was no shortage of either. Work on the consistency and doing a better job of getting things right. There are just too many far better BBQ places to eat at in Atlanta for this one to get away with not being better. But if you are around Emory, then there could be worse choices to be made too. It's OK.

    (3)

  • Eric V.

    Great, fast service and awesome food. The pulled pork was amazing and the sides were all good!

    (4)

  • J Z.

    We had high expectations coming here last night. A few of our picky eatter friends have sworn by Community, so we figured we couldn't go wrong! And.....we were wrong. We ordered a full slab plus 2 sides. The Bad.... Flavor - The dry rub and sauce were relatively tasty, but not at ALL seasoned into the meat. The inside was so flavorless I had no choice but to add more sauce. Compared to Fox Brothers where I never had to use any additional sauce. Tenderness- Nonexistent! I've never had ribs so tough. They weren't even close to fall off the bone. I like a bit of a chewy but this was just plain tough. The top layer was very good and chewy...but the toughness continues into the rest of the ribs as well....very disappointed.... The Good.... Sides - Awesome mac and cheese! It was perfectly baked and delicious! Don't get their collards....way too much vinegar. Portions, Cost, Service- Despite the bad ribs, you have to admit its a good deal. The 2 of us couldn't even finish a full slab. Plus the 2 sides the meal only came out to $25! The people there were great...service was good...no complaints at all! Summary..... I came here for good ribs...and ultimately that's not what I got. If you want some great smoked ribs, I would recommend Fox Brothers.

    (2)

  • Loretta B.

    Community BBQ is CONSISTENTLY fabulous! Thanks for being open on Labor Day! Also, bought the best tomatoes there this summer as they have seasonal produce for sale from organic farmers!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    You'll find it pretty easily, tucked away in Bhojanic's shopping center. I'd look for the Indian place instead of the actual Community BBQ sign as it's tiny. There were a ton of people there for a Monday night. Our large group of 15ish had no problem grabbing a few tables on the patio though. The decor was cute and relaxed and amazingly non-cheesy. There were even little pots of fresh herbs growing outside from which you could pick off your own fresh seasonings. Oh, and they were selling fresh locally grown organic veggies. :) As you might be able to tell from some other posts, I'm not a meat eater. However, I successfully found a few sides that were meat free: mac n cheese, coleslaw, and pickled beets. They were all tasty and all my meat eating pals seemed satisfied with their no fuss meals but no one was raving. Actually, I take that back, there was some raving over the mac n cheese!

    (3)

  • The Food Abides W.

    It's unfortunate that among all of the numerous barbecue joints inside the perimeter, there aren't very many worth going to. Sadly, when asked for BBQ recommendations by others, I'm hesitant to even mention my favorite ITP que spot, Fox Brothers. While I really do enjoy their food, the quality of preparation is so spotty you never no quite what you're going to get when entering the Dekalb Avenue eatery. Finally, there is a new kid on the block: Community Q BBQ. Located on Clairmont road in North Decatur, Community Q is pretty unassuming. As of right now they don't even have a sign up for their storefront, just a banner. It was opening night, but I was literally the only customer inside. The interior space of the restaurant is typical of most BBQ spots, casual and comfortable. Low key. And, like any good Q spot, it actually smells like barbecue. You place your order at the counter and at least tonight, they have it ready for you in roughly three minutes. The two guys working there both kept up the friendly chit chat the entire time I was there and kept awkwardness at a minimum. I appreciate that. Kins and I both ordered a rib combo plate and at $14.75, it's a bargain. You have the option to get St. Louis cut pork ribs or beef short ribs. We both went by way of St. Louis. The meat is served with two sauces - a sweeter one and a vinegar one. The sweet is excellent but the vinegar was just too runny and I couldn't even get it to hang on to the meat. The rest of the items we ordered are as follows: 1. St. Louis Ribs - These were pretty excellent. While smoke-infused flavor wasn't readily apparent, the ribs were still flavorful and extremely tender. Additionally the cut of meat was superb and lacked the large amounts of fat that can normally be found in most St. Louis ribs. 2. Pulled pork - This was just average. It was tender, but too dry. Nice smoke ring on it and again just the right combination of fat, bark, and lean meat in the serving. The sauce made any of its shortcomings magically disappear. 3. Brisket - This was the crowning achievement of Community Q. I would probably say it's the best barbecued brisket I've ever had. Just perfect - it's flavorful, smokey, and tender with the perfect amount of bite. Honestly, it's incredible. 4. Mac and Cheese - This was splendiferous. While it doesn't top Carver's for me it's up there on my list. The first thing I immediately noticed was the cream cheese base. It's strong, but not overpowering. There's definitely some cheddar and possibly American in this also, so it still looks orange and yellow like most mac and cheese. Additionally, they use much larger than average macaroni noodles. 5. Brunswick stew - Pretty standard fare. There's pork, corn, tomatoes and broth. It's on the medium side of thickness and consistency, but the flavor just doesn't draw you in. 6. Fries - By themselves, these are just above average fries, however the seasoning is out of this world. It's similar to a dry rub for BBQ, with sugar being the standout ingredient. They need to bottle this seasoning and sell it as it will improve most any french fry among other things. It was difficult to determine whether or not they were fresh cut or frozen, but I'm leaning toward fresh cut. It's pretty apparent that I really enjoyed the food here. To top it off, Community is ITP and economical. When asked where I would get barbecue in Atlanta, I now have a second alternative to suggest. Hopefully, if they keep their consistency up and improve their minor shortcomings, they can move up to my favorite spot.

    (5)

  • Sid P.

    The wife said she'd rather go back to Fox Bros. I'm torn - I really appreciate Community Q's atmosphere; it reminds me of the little mom and pop joints I used to frequent down in Central GA during my college days. (Fresh Air, Finchers, represent!) We went close to closing on a Thursday and it was swamped. Packed. Filled to the gills. They were already out of brisket and ribs, which infuriated my Yankee mother-in-law (all she ever wants is brisket). The pulled pork was solid, even though it wasn't really pulled, it was sliced into big ol' chunks and it was left to you, the customer, to pull. The texture was great, it literally melted in my mouth. I also appreciated the choice of vinegary sauce or sweet syrupy sauce. The brunswick stew was above average, but not the best I've ever had. The baked beans were really really sickly sweet. It was interesting, but not really super good. Mac & cheese was fantastic, and the black eyed peas were very very good. It's a bit outside our "once a week dining out" budget (more like "once a month dining out" right now) but I'd definitely eat there again.

    (4)

  • David K.

    Overall, a really good Q experience. The Pulled Pork Sandwich was way larger than most places and I love the fact that they have Vinegar and tomato based sauces...depending on your mood you can go either way. (I actually split my sandwich in half and tried each type of sauce...I'm a vinegar fan). For my side, I had the pickled beets (it was a special that day and I figured I could get the standard sides any time). They were interesting...I have never tasted pickled beets like these and I'm still trying to decide if I liked them or not. I ate them all, so I didn't dislike them, but probably won't order them again. I wish they had sides for less $ so I could try two sides...maybe have a "lunch special" side size or something. I hate paying $13 for lunch and that's what it would be with 2 sides and a drink. I'll be back-A. Schwarzenegger

    (4)

  • Coco R.

    To me it's the best in Atlanta!!!!The ribs are meaty and tender. The sauces are tangy and good and the side items are well seasoned like the black eyed peas. Mac and cheese is always good. They have great customer service. I like to call in my order in. It is always ready when I get there.

    (5)

  • Dustin W.

    The food is to die for. The sides are nothing short of amazing and the meat. It can be a little pricey but after one bite you forget how much you paid.

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    Their sides are what brings me back. I started coming here as soon as it opened, as it was literally a five minute walk (maybe less) from my apartment. The meat is ALWAYS tender, but there is something about the flavor that I just don't like. I've tried it with the different bbq sauces and still I don't like it. Yet, I still come here even years later after I've moved 20 mins north, why? The everything else. Macaroni and Cheese - good grief I could go on an on about how good this is and I am a total macaroni and cheese snob. Honestly, this is mainly what brings me back. Baked Beans - Mmmm. Sometimes they overdo it on the black pepper, but for the most part, some of the best beans I've had. It has meat in it (which serves a purpose b/c I pretty much only buy sides here) Vidalia Onion Soup (seasonal) - So frickin good, I hate that it's seasonal. Peach Cobbler (seasonal) - also really, really good, but the portion is ridiculously small. Yeah, so when I come here, I only get the sides. I think the people look at me funny for only ordering sides, but honestly, I've tried the meat on several ocassions, thinking it has to be off b/c everything else is just so spectacular, but it's just not for me. I've had urges to buy Community Q's sides then drive 15 mins to Fat Matt's for their ribs. Fat Matt's sides leave MUCH to be desired. But I usually end up going w/ one over the other. Lately, I've been going w/ Community Q's, though. Although, there was a time when I'd be at Fat Matt's like a crack fiend, lol.

    (4)

  • Scott M.

    So visit two was much the same...really good food, really friendly folks. I had the beef rib, which was ginormous (insert much overused dinosaur comparison here), and my companions split different sides. The beans were really rich, the mac-n-cheese remained decadent, the collards were good, the slaw was slightly disappointing but fine for what they were. The pulled chicken was nicely smoky and moist, but I'd be curious about the bone-in. Still haven't tried the pudding. On "hype": If people say they liked it, it's really not your fkn place to tell them "it's not as good as they think." That's what taste is about, losers. On review-hype, while almost all blog/newspaper reviews have been positive, they've all also pointed out weaknesses and even problems. So...what the hell are you talking about? Spend more time on your own review instead of dictating how we should feel about our own experiences.

    (4)

  • Myke J.

    So far, I've had the pulled chicken and the brisket and I've been pretty pleased at the quality of the meat. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. Haven't been terribly impressed with the sides. The baked beans are pretty good, but the mac & cheese were drowned in butter. Now, I'm not looking for health food at a BBQ joint, but c'mon. The sauces are decent, and thankfully not necessary to the meal. And the sweet tea is delicious.

    (4)

  • Jinny Y.

    Pulled pork, pulled chicken, St. Louis style 1/2 rack, collard greens, and mac 'n cheese~ I'm so full! My bf's brother is in town; thus, this weekend is full of good eats: The Vortex, Community Q, and Big Pie in the Sky tomorrow. *Just a warning to first time goers~ Community Q doesn't have a big sign, so it can be hard to find at first. It's in the same strip as Bhojanic and Moya. If you get to North Decatur Road, you've gone too far. We get to Community Q and we're greeted by the owner, Dave. He was very helpful in explaining the difference between their St. Louis style ribs and the "beef rib" listed on the menu. St. Louis style is the typical pork rack of ribs, dry rubbed with a mixture including sugar. The beef rib is one ginormous rib smoked/cooked for 14 hours with a non-sugar dry rub. All bbq sauce is on the side, they have both vinegar based and sweeter kind waiting for you at the table. =) MEAT: Both the pulled pork and chicken sandwiches were full of plump juicy pieces of meat, yum! The ribs were great, the very flavorful dry rub went great with the sweet bbq sauce. (I'm not a big fan of the Carolina style vinegar bbq sauce). SIDES: The collard greens were perfect. Not too overcooked and mushy, not too undercooked and stringy... plus, collards are always better with chunks of bacon =D. Mac 'n cheese oh my gracious! mmm MMM mmm MMM goooood! My bf's brother came from LA and said it was the best mac 'n cheese he's ever had. I was a bit skeptical at first when I saw the huge rigatoni like pasta, but I was wrong. So yummy! A few pieces had a nice cheesy crust while the rest were covered in ooey gooey white cheddar cheese! Needless to say, I ate too much and passed out due to food coma in the car ride home. I think I feel a second wave of food coma setting in...

    (4)

  • Lawler S.

    If they want to call it "pulled chicken" then they should indeed pull the chicken, not give it to me in huge chunks. Also, the workers there got my order wrong- I clearly asked for pulled pork but got huge chunked chicken instead. Who works at a BBQ joint and can't tell the difference between pork and chicken? I don't understand why people are saying this is the best BBQ- I disagree entirely. I find Fox Brothers to be more enjoyable if I feel like splurging. That is still not the best I've had, the best is a little place in Ala. off the beaten path. Also, for some strange reason somebody told me this place was cheap....eh me thinks not. Just as expensive as the other places in ATL. Nothing too special about this place. They're also severely lacking in sauce. I didn't have enough sauce for my meat....that kinda ticked me off.

    (2)

  • Amy G.

    We checked out this new BBQ spot this weekend with some high expectations due to the great press it's been getting lately. Its reputation definitely preceded itself! Yumminess! The food was awesome -- brisket, ribs, pulled pork sandwich. Perfect tenderness and pleasing smoky flavor. The sides, brunswick stew, mac n cheese, and baked beans were all super satisfying. The baked beans, though, are a bit too hickory-ish for my liking, but still good. And the sweet tea could have been sweater. Servings are appropriately sized, and service was friendly. Two green thumbs up for selling local produce, too! The crowd was a good size when we went, so I grabbed a table when I saw one open. Parking was sparse, too, thanks in part to the other popular joints in the same shopping center. No biggie, though. The wait(s) are worth-it!

    (5)

  • Kevin G.

    Look, it takes alot for me to be a fan of a BBQ place and I am a fan of Community Q. Their food is great all around. Even the baked beans, which for most restaurants are a throw away were great. I feel that their meat is better than Fox Bros and their portions are not ridiculous. Their Mac n' Cheese is awesome get that and pulled pork and have yourself a night. The service is great for what it is; a walk up order and eat place. The choice of two sauces (vinegar based and sweet) is a nice touch although I am not a fan of their vinegar based sauce. Go their and put their food in your mouth it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Melissa L.

    I had the pleasure of attending "The Q's" (just you wait - it'll catch on) family and friends opening on 11/16 and was in hog heaven. I ate the pulled pork which was perfect naked, but, uh, perfecter with the vinegar based BBQ sauce. I'm from the Carolinas and that makes me vinegar sauce biased, but it was nice to finally find a place ITP that rivals the slow cooked Carolina goodness with which I was raised. The mac and cheese is my new guilty pleasure: giant rigatoni noodles with a crispy layer on top and cheesy gooey goodness inside. The fries were very good, but nothing particularly special about them. Brunswick stew was also very good, but I don't eat this stew often enough to have a strong opinion about it. I returned to The Q the following weekend to order take-out for my bday party. Everything was consistently as good. Owners and staff are attentive to details (they included free banana pudding with nice birthday wishes upon catching wind the order was for my birthday dinner) and they were quick to point out my several individual orders would be much more cost effective if I combined things family style. Nice of them to pay attention to save me a buck. I look forward to the potential of them getting a liquor license, but this does not detract from 5-stars. If I want alcohol, I go to a bar. If I want incredible BBQ, I hit up the Q. On a side note, the mac and cheese only re-heats well if you do so slowly and on a low temp. Too high and fast results in the butter separating from the cheese and noodles and nobody wants to see what we are actually eating, right?

    (5)

  • Kegan C.

    I was dying for some ribs because it had been ages since I'd eaten any. My gracious host went out of his way to find a place that served beef ribs. We lucked up on this spot. Or so we thought. First of all, the positives: there was enough meat on one plate to feed two people. Also, the owners were nice enough to wait for us to get over there from Piedmont Park for our order. Great business practices!!! I thought the potato salad was okay as well. Now, the negatives: The ribs were really fatty. I think that is so gross. Imagine slimy, chewy meat rolling around in your mouth... you get the idea. Then, the macaroni and cheese was completely devoid of flavor. I don't know if this was because they were closing and we got whatever was left over, but ew. My partner said that his beans had flavorless ground beef in them. Yuck!!! The fries? Over-seasoned and rubbery. Terrible. And then the worst part: the barbecue sauce was watery. I think they mixed steak sauce with it to make it more flavorful, and while I applaud their effort, um... no. The meat should be well-seasoned. The sauce should be thick. Two fails = bad barbecue. My partner could not throw the food away fast enough, and he hates to waste food.

    (1)

  • Jess P.

    This place rocks! I'm not a big BBQ person and I always enjoy going here. The BBQ is yummy and the sides, even yummier. I usually get the collards and the mac and cheese, which are both amazing. Their sweet tea is also to die for. Service is great, too. I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    I was not a fan of the pulled pork, but had a few bites of the beef rib, which I thought was flavorful and tender. The brisket seemed extremely fatty and chewy and pretty flavorless. But, the mac & cheese is amazing! We would definitely stop by and grab a container of m & c to go sometime soon.

    (2)

  • Blake K.

    First, being in a strip-mall next to an overpriced Indian restaurant and a lame club means you've got yourself quite the hole to dig out of when creating the ambiance of your restaurant. And, to their credit, Community BBQ did a pretty good job. Does it feel like you're in a strip mall? yeah. But at least it feels like they tried to make the place an experience. Now the food, oh the food. Maybe it's because I'm not a St. Louis style fan? Or maybe it's just because I went around 8:30 and they were already running out of things fast. Either way, the meats were lack-luster. The pulled pork was a bit dry, and so was the chicken, and the ribs, and... forget it, everything was dry. The sauce was a necessity. If you didn't inject some sort of liquid into your meat it would probably dry up your mouth almost instantly. But there's the catch, I'm not a fan of vinegar-based BBQ sauces (because I have the ability to taste). So upon solving the problem of dry meat by drenching it in sauce, you've now created another problem. Now your wet meat tastes bad. Dang it. But yes, the mac and cheese is good. And I'm sure lovers of non-flavor will enjoy the, also oddly dry, coleslaw. Or maybe the half toasted, a little burnt, but overall underwhelming bread they provide. Which, I might add, was a nice touch. Since, you know, I was worried my meal wasn't dry enough.

    (3)

  • Kevin F.

    The wife and I ended up here after our first dinner choice was closed for the day. We had a little trouble finding the place since their only signage was a small banner that you couldn't see from the street. I was a little bummed they had run out of pulled pork for the evening but I had a good meal anyways. I got the combo platter with brisket and pulled chicken and Emily had the pulled chicken also. Our sides were beans, slaw, and collards. Both the brisket and chicken had a nice smoked flavor and weren't over cooked. The meat came out w/o sauce, which is how I prefer it served. You have two sauces to choose from, a vinegar based and a sweet red sauce. Both were tasty in my opinion. The slaw and collards were both good, but I thought the beans could have used a little help. The beans are a dark color, likely brown sugar and molasses, with both heat (saw what looked like a Chipotle in there) and sweetness. I can't say I've had anything like them before. They were good, but I think a little too sweet. The decor is typical of most BBQ places; nothing to write home about. It was well lit and the booths were comfortable. The service was quick and we were checked up on from time to time to see if we need anything. Overall, I'd say this place has a good shot at sticking around for a while. The food was good and the price was fair. I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Ted K.

    I've had BBQ all over this country, and Community BBQ is at the top of my BBQ experiences. Great brisket and sausage, ribs and all sides. Down home place, but get there early or be prepared for the crowd crush in this smallish venue. Quick service and superb tastes. great menu variety and reasonable prices. A definite revisit, over and over again. A must stop place for your Atlanta dining experience.

    (5)

  • Terry G.

    My hubby and I have gotten take-out several times. We're big Maddy's fans, but Community Q is a great new option. To us, they are totally different in taste - both are good. We have tried Fox Bros three times and have never had a great meal. I'm a pulled pork fan...I like to mix cole slaw in with the meat and eat it together. Community Q serves their pulled pork in chunks without sauce. - it's moist & tasty. I like the vinegar version of their sauce with the pork. The cole slaw is pretty darn good. Maddy's serves their pulled pork shredded and with sauce cooked in - it has a tangy taste. Community Q's sides are definitely better than Maddy's - the Mac & cheese has big flat noodles and cheese that has been browned in places. The cole slaw looks like it might have mustard in it and is good & crunchy. My hubby likes Q's pork ribs, but prefers Maddy's beef ribs. Both are excellent....just depends what he's in the mood for. They do run out of stuff, but I'd rather have that situation than eat leftovers!

    (4)

  • Gretchen S.

    I did follow through with my plan to used Community Q for our rehearsal night and it worked like a charm. I ordered pulled pork and beef, with cole slaw, potato salad, greens and mac & cheese. I sent Dad to pick it up and it was ready at 6 as I requested. Their pork was so juicy- that's why I wanted to serve this to our guests, many of whom were from out of town. This would be their only chance to try Southern barbecue while they were here and I'm pleased that we made a good impression. My only mistake was underestimating how many folks would want seconds on the greens and mac & cheese!

    (5)

  • Austin S.

    Great new BBQ in Atlanta! I think this place is a great addition to the best area to live in Georgia. I always loved going to N.Decatur to eat. Unlike typical midtown or new places, they're not trying to hard to be so modern and hip. The community Q BBQ is located near N.Decatur rd and Clairmont. They had a nice outside seating area which I didn't care too much for during the crazy pollen season. The menu was little confusing to me because of all the order sizes and bulk orders, but they definitely offered great variety of BBQ food. My friends and I opted for the BBQ Pork, smoked sausage and BBQ chicken. As for sides, mac & cheese, BBQ beans and potato salad. The overall presentation of the food was perfect. The southern feel of the restaurant was very comforting, the scent of smoky BBQ was definitely letting you know that you came to the right place. The meat was nice and flavorful. It was nice and juicy, cooked to perfection. The sides were also delicious, but I thought the BBQ beans were little too salty for my taste. We ended up ordering too much meat, but forced ourselves to eat all 2lb. :) Service was great and people were friendly. I would highly recommend this place for anyone who wants to try some good southern BBQ. They offer great food and great service!

    (5)

  • Joey G.

    I'm so surprised by all of the positive reviews because my experience here was absolutely terrible. I expect my food to be tasty, the preparation to be safe to eat, and the service to be polite. This place fails on all levels. It actually started out okay: placing my to-go order, the guy behind the register answered my questions and was patient while we confirmed an order for six. I even added a gratuity to the credit card as an acknowledgment of his service. And then, when I found I had been overcharged, the guy, who looked like a sweaty Newt Gingrich with glasses, replied that he hadn't updated the prices on the menus yet, but that I was charged correctly. I told him that I didn't understand - there were photocopied menus taped to the counter in front of the cash register and a big board with prices written on it where you order. I suggested if the prices had changed, he could have crossed out the old price and written the new. He told me the price it rang up was correct and if I came in again, he'd charge me the same price... and he said it in a very nasty tone. I was dumbfounded because I'd made a polite request and got in return a belligerence I'd never seen! Meanwhile the other guy at the counter was standing behind the Newt Gingrich guy making strangling motions like he wanted to kill the jerk, and another woman was rolling her eyes. In the end, with prodding from the coworker, he returned the change with a lot of hesitation. The other guy took me aside and gave me a rice crispy treat for my trouble, which was a nice gesture, but getting a stale, Publix frosting-filled "treat" wasn't exactly what I was looking for... all I wanted was not to be treated like an idiot. Blood boiling, I got home with the food. And then I discovered the trouble wasn't even worth it. I've eaten a lot of good barbecue in my life, and this food was pretty mediocre: flavorless and greasy. Without any of the sauces - one of which was overly sweet and syrupy, and the other which was was like pouring water over the meat - it was bland. Every item is served as a sandwich, whether you get a platter or not, and the portions of meat on the sandwiches are pretty meager compared to what you would find on a real Memphis sandwich. The cole slaw was over-mayonnaised. The Brunswick Stew was the tastiest item, but also seemed watered down - thin and soupy. And then, the haunting, which is the real reason not to go to this place.... we ALL got sick... six of us. I must assume a rash of food poisoning, with stomachs churning, diarrhea... yucko. Definitely, one of the very worst dining experiences I've ever had. Eat here at your own risk!

    (1)

  • al p.

    was talking to a foodie friend and lamenting about the deminse of Rolling Bones, ever since Dana and the boys sold it the new chef has put his own flavors in place of those that made "DA BONES" and Atlanta must have. Not any more.. Move over BONES and WELCOME COMMUNITY Q, I have had the St Louis Ribs, WOW no need for sauce these Dry Rub babies are Incredble, Yes for those of you who need sauce its there on the table but these are so good and tender and the rub so nice.. YUMMMY I have also had the pulled Pork, WOW WOW WOW, again no need for sauce but the Western Carolina Vinegar/Mustard one is damn good.. Had the brisket as well, ask for the 'lifter" or Cap" the extra fat makes all the difference. Thanks for a really good BBQ place ITP

    (4)

  • Esteban R.

    Amazing food. Mac and cheese is to die for... The ribs spectacular and the strawberry shortcake - one of the best I've had... Stop reading this and just go there, you will like it.

    (5)

  • A. C.

    (01/10/2012) Really good BBQ close to Emory, a slightly different beast than your usual BBQ joint. There's hints of something more modernly ambitious. The pork ribs had a nice deep pink smoke ring, penetrated pretty far into the meat; meat was tender, moist, flavorful, fell off the bone, nice finished char. Pulled pork was also moist, meaty, flavorful. Of the two sauces on the table, the Kanasas-style (sweeter, ketchup/tomato-based) was the better. I'm usually an East Carolina vinegar-based sauce fan, but Community's lacked that zip from peppers and astringent punch that I really like. The two sides I tried were interesting and unusual for your standard BBQ place: the smoked sweet potatoes and kale was the more successful of the two, savory and smokey, the sweet accented by bitter kale; black-eyed peas were nicely soft, woodsy with rosemary, smokey with bacon, very, very black peppery. I tried my friend's mac 'n' cheese, the most popular side at Community, says the guy at the counter; it was a good specimen, they don't use a bechamel-based sauce (I believe it's the baked variety), but it was sufficiently cheddar cheesey and a touch creamy. We split a blueberry bread pudding that was decadently good; like a blueberry muffin/bread in pudding form, topped with a large dollop of fresh whipped cream, tooth-achingly sweet, lots of large fresh blueberries baked-burst in. One of the better urban BBQ places I've been to in a long time.

    (5)

  • Jonah K.

    Best BBQ in town so far. The black bean brisket chilli was not very good. Mac and cheese was awesome. Brisket was very good, and the pulled pork was very good. The sauce isn't great, but sauce isn't needed if the meat is this good. Prices are excellent as well, and the portions are massive.

    (5)

  • Clay G.

    Great food, never had anything I didn't like. The mac and cheese is worth the trip alone. Brisket is perfection. The only time it's not a good experience is when you are dead set on something and they run out. Oh, and if you order the baked beans, you'll get a bowl of pork, with a side of beans mixed in, it's rather nice.

    (5)

  • Rob P.

    Great brisket. Great Mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Sam M.

    For me, this place rivals Fox Brothers as the best BBQ in Atlanta. It's a small establishment tucked away in a strip mall a couple of miles from downtown Decatur. It is easy to miss, but hard to resist. I'm a Carolina boy, so stick with the pulled pork and disregard all other alleged BBQs. The sauce does not make the BBQ, no matter what you Georgians say or think -- you have much to learn grasshopper. It is about the meat, and the careful smoking process that creates a tender, moist, and smoky flavor. Community does a consistently good job in this regard. The spice rub they use is very flavorful and the outside pieces will melt in your mouth with joy. Occasionally, you will get a piece of fat and have to do your own trimming. They don't need to be embarrassed and cover up their product with sticky sweet sauces. But if sauces are your thing, they have a sweet tomato based sauce that is okay. The vinegar sauce is something akin to what we would do back home, so I go that route. It is cliche' to brag about your favorite restaurant having the best mac-n-cheese. But their mac-n-cheese has a special place in my heart. It is cheesy beyond belief (a side product of that is some oiliness). The collards were good when I tried them. The sweet tea is really sweet, and should be enjoyed in moderation. Some of the other sides can be inconsistent. I recommend ordering the pulled pork sandwich and one or two sides, it will be enough food for most people and will cost about $10. The lines can get long at certain times of the week and can be frustrating. If you go a few times the owners/managers will remember your face (if not your name) and greet you like a friend. They are very personable. I'll keep going back. *I'm upgrading my review because they have consistently been my favorite BBQ place in the Atlanta area for several months now. I like going there. I'm not ashamed.

    (5)

  • Arica B.

    Why is everyone in love with this place? Maybe I am a BBQ snob, since I am from the Delta region, and Memphis BBQ is the best in the world. I just did not understand how such over priced BBQ could be so danged nasty! My friend and I went one Friday afternoon, around 2. We ordered pulled pork, sausage, macaroni and cheese, greens, and lemonade. It was very expensive, but since I read such wonderful reviews, I was expecting to get what I paid for. It was not the case. The meat was dry, not seasoned, and the sauce left MUCH to be desired. The lemonade was good, though, but I didn't come there to drink. I wanted BBQ, and was disappointed in what I had to eat. My friend is not as snobbish as me about Q, but he was not impressed, either. I ended up trashing the bulk of that over-priced mess. I won't be back, unless someone else is paying, because that place was a waste of my hard earned money.

    (2)

  • Jamie T.

    I'd really give it 3 1/2 stars... It's not bad, I've had dinner there twice since there opening weekend "that was rough".. But it's gotten WAY better since then.. It looks like they can actually make BBQ beans now... I will warn you now, if your a broke ass you might wanna save up pennies to eat there. Or just don't get a order of ribs...$11 "but yes they were good" *big smile*

    (3)

  • Rob R.

    Excellent! Had the pulled pork and beef brisquet, mac n chz side was amazing. Brunswick stew definitely an after thought. The Carolina sauce was a bit too runny, but the sweet sauce was delicious. Only thing missing was a cold beer.

    (3)

  • theron t.

    Been here two times now. Great to have this addition to Decatur!! I've had the pulled pork, brisket and the sausage. Both the brisket and the pork were good, although both could use a little more smoke. Sausage was good, but the presentation was weird. The sausage sandwich consists of sliced pieces of sausage served between two pieces of bread. Haven't had anything quite like that. Would like to see a whole sausage in a nice bun. :) Baked beans are awesome and mac-n-cheese is different, but good. Stew misses the mark with me, but I'm pretty picky. Cole slaw is pretty good. The sauces by themselves are okay, but strange. Looks like another case of foreign sauces trying to invade Georgia territory. TIP--mix the two sauces together, it's really good. Other than that, I would like to see a more traditional Ga. style sauce. Service is great and super friendly. I will definitely be supporting this small business in the future. It's good to have real BBQ in Decatur. Maddy's is decent, but they don't make their own sides like Community Q does. How can you be a BBQ joint and not make your sides from scratch? This place doesn't have that problem.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Great location which was fairly busy on a saturday night. There were 8 of us, but we found a large table and got our food quickly. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. All the staff members have great personalities and are very helpful and friendly. The food was great. Most plates come with 2 sides for about $11. The mac and cheese was some of the best I have ever had. I didnt get the fries, but they were supposed to be good and the baked beans looked killer. Good portions too, I dont think anybody finished their plate. Great for lunch or dinner and also very quick in and out....If you want BBQ in the emory area, you cant beat it.

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    I was torn on giving the folks at Community Q a 3 or a 4 since I really wanted to give them a 3.5. I went with the 4 because the service was good, the food was good, the value was good, and the location is very convenient (for my family anyway). The Q: as many other reviewers have posted, the Q is good but not great. I ordered the pulled pork and it was very tender, juicy, but it lacked the smokiness you'd expect from a top-notch Q joint. I'd actually take their pork a little drier and less juicy if they could make it smokier. The Q gets a 3 from me. The sides: great. The mac-n-cheese and collards were both standouts for us, especially the mac. I'd hate to know how many calories are in each serving, but man was it good. Sides get a 4. Service/decor/location: We must have timed the Saturday dinner rush perfectly because the place was pretty empty when we arrived around 8:30 or so. We walked right up and ordered, and the food was out in less then 3 minutes. One of the owners/managers stopped by to ask how everything was and was extremely friendly. I'm guessing the service and experience would be rougher during peak times, but it gets a 4 based on our late dinner time. This is probably my new go-to BBQ place since it's 2 minutes from my house and the value seems solid. Definitely not the best Q in town though but worth trying at least once.

    (4)

  • Bill K.

    Very well done barbecue. Brisket was favorite.

    (4)

  • mary m.

    The smoked ham was wonderful and made Easter dinner. We will never get honey baked ham again. I wish they would add a smoked ham sandwich to the menu.

    (4)

  • Adp P.

    Maybe I'm too picky. So what was good? Meats: I had the sausage and St Louis style ribs. They (according to the spouse and he is a Southerner born and bred) were beef ribs. They were tender, not too greasy, not too dry and flavorful. Not swimming in sauce, but appreciative of one of the two sauces at table, a sweet and a vinegar. The sausage was good, not too dry, well spiced without being overwhelming. My spouse had the pulled pork. He says it was a bit mushy but tender and neither too spicy or too bland. For sides, he pronounced the brunswick stew "good" and cole slaw "good." I tried the coleslaw, sweet, crunchy and not entirely swimming in mayo. I had the potato salad, which wasn't quite my favorite, the potatoes, red, were firm and not overcooked, but the dressing was more mustardy than I really like. The mac and cheese was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. That may be a stylistic difference though. I've eaten Fat Matt's, Daddy Dz, Maddies and Fox Brothers. I gotta say, if I could have the potato salad and half chicken at Maddies, the green salad and some of the special sides at Fox Bros and the ribs and Brunswick stew at Fat Matt's, I'd have perfect BBQ

    (3)

  • Nareg B.

    I'm going to keep this short, sweet and to the point... RIBS + BRISKET COMBO WITH SLAW AND FRIES ON THE SIDE... Im from California and I've never been exposed to true Southern BBQ til today when I ate at Community. Absolutely flawless... Oh and yes I've ate at Fatt Matt's and Community BBQ is definitely better! :) You will not be disappointed

    (5)

  • Martha K.

    We were already big CQ fans - we usually split the 1/2 rack of ribs with 2 sides. We recently had a family event. We wanted to take CQ food for our first meal for the road weary travelers. We ordered a Family Pack from CQ to pick up on our way out of town. They packed our cooler with the food and ice for us and gave us the reheating instructions. The staff could not have been nicer to us. And our dinner was a huge hit with the family! Thank you CQ!!!

    (5)

  • Jaime H.

    It's a little bit pricey, but the portions are large. The sandwiches are huge! The sides are good--I've had the Brunswick stew, the beans, and the fries. The plate (a sandwich and 2 sides) is good for two meals for me. I eat the Kansas City sauce, which I thought was very good. I can't comment on the vinegar-based bbq sauce. I live nearby, so it's very convenient. Best BBQ that I can walk to!

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    My mom brought me here while we were running errands in the Decatur area and I will definitely be returning. It might be my favorite BBQ spot now. You make your order and if they are busy they call your name, if not they will bring the order to your table. I got the combo plate so I could try the pulled pork and the brisket. I was pleased when it was the same price as a single meat plate. I got baked beans and the mac and cheese as my two sides. Everything I got was delicious. The flavor of the meats alone was excellent. There are two sauce options, the vinegar based sauce and the ketchup based sauce, both lean more to the spicy side than sweet side. The restaurant had a fair amount of seating, and was decorated nicely. They do allow ordering in bulk, for most of their menu items.

    (5)

  • Nick D.

    4 stars but more like 4.5. The ribs here are great and so are the sandwiches. The sides are nice, if not standard. The meat has a good, smoked flavor with added seasonings. The one drawback is that it's a bit pricey for bbq. I really like this place though, and the staff is friendly.

    (4)

  • Kathryn J.

    I loved this place. The ribs and the pulled pork were awesome, and the sides were fantastic. Had vidalia onion and corn chowder, sweet potatoes with braised kale, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese. Next time I'm getting the banana pudding!

    (5)

  • Brad S.

    Loved it! Best BBQ experience I've had in Atlanta. Great atmosphere. Had the pulled pork, which was very good. Great sauce. The mac and cheese was unbelievable. Maybe the best I've ever had. Very friendly folks. Wish you could buy a beer, but overall great.

    (5)

  • Richard D.

    I was born and raised in Kansas City which anyone involved in competition level barbeque will tell you KC is ground zero for the best of the best. I had never had really good barbeque since I left, until I found Q. Their place isn't fancy but it needn't be. Their food is the best of the best. Keep it up Q.

    (5)

  • Alan P.

    Tonight was my 3-year-old daughter's first experience with BBQ. I asked her: "Is it good?" She responded simply "Uh-huh! It makes my mouth feel better." What else could I possibly say.

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    As good as it gets ITP for BBQ. The owners and staff are super friendly, the place is clean, and the food is delicious. My favorites are the brisket and mac and cheese, but everything was good.

    (5)

  • J D.

    Another intown BBQ bummer. The sides are rave worthy. Brunswick stew, mac and cheese and the greens were all better than average. The brisket disappointed though. It was dry. Maybe it deserves a second chance, but I wouldn't drive too far out of my way.

    (3)

  • Mona P.

    I must say, I was ready to hate on this place because we have so many great BBQ places in Atlanta, but the hater inside of me was stifled by the cheery staff, tender ribs, creamy mac and cheese, and thinly cut, seasoned fries. The ribs were just like I like em'-- tender, meaty, and easy to get off the bone. I went with co-workers and was ready to have them judge me about my inability to eat ribs without getting sauce everywhere; but, instead they were envious and wishing they had ordered the same. My fellow diners ordered the brisket sandwich, pulled chicken, and smoked sausage. I tried the brisket and thought it was "meh" because it was a bit tough and on the dry side. I am used to eating brisket that has been marinating for hours and is so tender that it falls apart as you cut it. I think because they allow you to sauce your own meat at the table, the meat isn't injected/infused with sauce the way I like it. I appreciate the customer input on saucing, but I do think it compromised the quality of the brisket. But, overall the table was happy. The mac-and-cheese was a bit oily as my co-worker displayed by tipping her bowl and pouring oil out in a superfluous stream. .. . but what else can you expect from a dish made of 3 heart clogging ingredients of cheese, cream, and butter. I actually thought the mac-and-cheese was nice and creamy and appreciated the chewy layer on of melted cheese on top. Fries were solid. Thinly cut and heavily seasoned- just the way I like them. And I was pleasantly surprised to store away my BBQ in a environmentally-friendly doggie bag made of recycled materials- BONUS. The only complaint is the vinegary barbecue sauce that is offerred on the table. It was way to vinegary and overpowered the food. I would stick with the sweeter sauce on the table and add in a bit of hot sauce for a kick. Woo Wee. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and wil definitely be back.

    (4)

  • M D.

    The sausage is my favorite--it has great flavor. The brisket is so-so and for ribs I would probably prefer another joint in town. The mac n' cheese is really good, but quite buttery. There is often a kale and sweet potato "special" side which is great. Sauces are really good.

    (4)

  • Nicholas H.

    This is by far the best mac & cheese you can buy anywhere. Their recipe is absolutely heavenly, though heavy on the caloric level too. Unfortunately, the pork here is very average. Occasionally it shines due to their sauce, however the meat the use just doesn't have a tremendous amount of flavor. As a native Texan, I feel fully qualified to pronounce Community BBQ as having the best beef brisket in Atlanta and possibly anywhere outside of Texas in general. The real gems of this place are their beef brisket and mac n' cheese; everything else is very good, but nothing special.

    (5)

  • Pseudo N.

    Mac n cheese was awesome. Pulled pork was pretty good too.

    (5)

  • Scott L.

    Like Fox Bros, their sides are AMAZING. I LOVE their french fries, because you can tell that they are fresh cut and they put seasoning salt and I think SUGAR on them, because they have a sweetness. Also, they might have the best Mac and Cheese. Nothing on the menu will let you down. Also, with Emory University being down the street, it's kind of comical hearing all of the New York Ivey Leaque Rejects asking "What is Brunswick Stew?" So, smart, but yet so dumb.

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    Wow... I'm truly impressed with the BBQ from Community Q!

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    We tried it two Monday's ago and were really disappointed. Maybe we had it built up in our heads because of all they hype, but it was some of the worst que I've had. I'm guessing it was an off night, as we all know barbeque can be inconsistent, especially when the place is new. My brisket was extremely dry, and my pork had very little smoke flavor(or any flavor at all for that matter) and you could see where the collagen hadn't fully rendered, making the meat quite tough. You were spot on in your analysis of the beans, as there was an overpowering molasses flavor to them. Mac and Cheese was solid as were their greens. I'm going to give them another shot it in a couple weeks, as all the reviews can't be wrong, but my first impression was definitely disappointing.

    (2)

  • Ron R.

    These ribs were really tender...not overpowering in flavor but the sauces make the perfect marriage for a flavorful experience.... Will definitely be back.....The mac and cheese and baked beans were great as well....

    (4)

  • Scott J.

    I had Community Q again last night and it was better than I had remembered. The pulled pork was perfectly smoked, the mac and cheese is still amazing and the potato salad was terrific. In my opinion, this is the best BBQ in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Buddy R.

    The Good: Pulled pork is excellent. Smokey flavor without sauce pre applied. Good mix of end pieces Sweet thin sauce and even thinner hot version. In the past I've had ribs and smoked sausage - they were all excellent. The Bad: Fries were all small pieces with skin on. I like skin on fries but these were overcooked with a burnt flavor from the skins and way over spiced with salt and paprika. Turnip Greens were fresh but with vinegar and garlic. A bit of heat but too salty. And a pet peeve of mine - too many stems. My daddy ruined me on other people's turnip greens cause he would sit for hours and break the stems out of the greens before cooking them. Other sides I've had in the past were also marginal. The service is friendly - it's a neighborhood type restaurant where the owners know a lot of their customers by name. Atmosphere is classic southern BBQ restaurant - old tables with paper towel rolls on the table and 60s rock and blues music on the PA. Food is served in what looks like square tin baking dishes. SO - my bottom line - go for the Q, skip the sides.

    (3)

  • Robby C.

    You can never get into Fox Brothers, I've been twice and I know why, it's fantastic. That being said, I was visiting Emory U, so I thought now's the time to visit Community. It had gotten rave reviews from friends and critics. I don't feel carniverous much, but when I do, I want it to be good. Community is literally right around the corner from Emory University. Located in a strip mall the restaurant is super laid back. Order your food at the bar, get your drink and they bring your order to the table. And speaking of drinks, Community does not serve alcohol. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, fries and cole slaw. The menu on the board contained the standard issue Q joint offerings, some of the salads sounded very interesting and definately warrent a try. The food was brought out very quickly, the sandwich consisted of huge hunks of pork piled high between two pieces of Texas Toast, it was delicious. The fries were hand cut and good and the cole slaw was average, a little too much vinegar for my buds, but to each his own. It's difficult to rate Q joints since metro Atlanta is loaded with them and they are all good. Community is definately near the top of the bell curve and I'm sure many people who live in the area really appreciate having it locally. And I agree, the waitstaff was very friendly and very helpful. So if you are in that part of town I highly recommend giving Community BBQ a try. I definately will be back.....

    (4)

  • Candace S.

    My husband and I visited Community Q BBQ a few weeks ago for the first time. Reading the rave reviews convinced us to go, and it's nearby. We ordered pulled chicken. He had the plate with two sides - fries and baked beans and I had the sandwich. We shared the sides and really enjoyed the fries. The beans were ok. Our bowl was 75% bone (whatever they use to season beans) and 25% beans. Wasn't enough beans to eat and left me wanting something else. We will most likely not order them again and try the stew or mac n cheese we've read about. The meat itself was great, after trimming the fat. I wish there wouldn't have been so much to trim off. I understand the fat gives it flavor while cooking, but spare me some of it, please. The bread was great and tasty. The service was great, prices are decent. It was just enough food to satisfy us, but not to much to over indulge or have to waste. I think we'll go back.

    (3)

  • Patrick C.

    This place is brand new and fantastic. I look forward to it owning some of the local BBQ competitions. Got served, what was called by the main Pit Master and owner David, the 'poo poo' platter which ended up being everything and the kitchen sink. The dry rub ribs were awesome...the vinegar base BBQ sauce was awesome (so I am from KY..I like it)..and an ABSOLUTE must is the mac 'n cheese. I didn't even have room for the 'nanner pudding :(

    (5)

  • Leigh N.

    I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of slaw. Portions were good. Did not like the slaw - had mustard or something in it. The heart of any good BBQ place is it's sauce, and the sauce here was really lacking. Would like to see a bolder sauce, and maybe I'd come back.

    (3)

  • Barbara S.

    We like Community Q very much (though it would be nice to have a cold beer or glass of wine -- but the tea and lemonade are both excellent). Love the pulled pork with Kansas City sauce and LOVE their ridiculously decadent mac & cheese. We had them cater our wedding recently (well, meaning we picked up big pans of food from them), and it was excellent -- all the guests enjoyed it very much! My only letdown so far has been the baked beans -- they're very strange. Very spicy and have a strong flavor of (I think) bourbon. In any case, I'd highly recommend Community!

    (4)

  • Lisa A.

    I have eaten at Community several times and really enjoy it. This is a pretty basic BBQ place, nothing fancy but the food is good and the price is right! I really enjoy their pulled pork and mac & cheese. Husbands loves their BBQ beans. Not really a place I would take my out of town guests, but I have no problem coming here for lunch or take out any day!

    (4)

  • Wanda J.

    Disclosure: This review is coming from someone who is not a BBQ fan. I had the beef rib plate with mac and cheese and collards. The hubs had the pulled pork sandwich. I contemplated on whether or not to get the pork ribs, but I couldn't resist my favorite protein (BEEF). Luckily, we went with a friend who ordered the pork ribs so I was able to get a bite of it, which was very tasty. The beef rib was "melt in your mouth" good! The rib was gigantic, and it had an inch thick of beef along the whole length of the rib. Yum! The meat was so tender, juicy, and tasty. The fat infused between all the meat probably helped with the taste, tenderness and juiciness. This was an artery's worst nightmare, but a sweet dream for an empty stomach. :) The pork rib was very tasty too. It was a little on the dry side, not juicy like the beef rib. It was cooked with a dry rub, and the vinegar or sweet sauce was on the table. Both sauces were good. I'll probably order a 1/2 slab of these the next time. The mac and cheese was super yummy with major creamy, cheesy goodness. You know it's good mac and cheese when there's an 1/2 inch deep layer of oil at the bottom of your bowl. It was good, and I liked the big penne type noodles they used. There were tons of bacon bits in the greens, which probably made them as tasty as they were. I would've preferred my collards to be a little less cooked, but it was still good. I'll probably try something else next time. Overall, I liked Community Q despite my lack of excitement for BBQ in general. The food was good, and the service was very friendly and fast. I'll definitely be visiting again.

    (4)

  • J H.

    I'm writing this as I finish up my first meal from this place. Pulled pork sandwich with sweet sauce is alright, but nothing special. Potato salad is very good, although a bit too peppery. It's way better than Maddy's, but for a pulled pork sandwich I still contend that Shane's is better, and cheaper to boot. Yes, I just said that. Quit being a snob. Daddy D'z is better as well. As for atmosphere, there is none. If you love hanging out at the cafeteria area of Scott Antique market, then you'll feel right at home. I decided on takeout instead.

    (2)

  • Jason H.

    So glad there's a close BBQ spot near where I live now! The food is great for what it is.. and always makes me stuffed. The beef brisket is extremely juicy towards the middle portions but extremely dry on the outer parts. The pulled pork is just so-so compared to some other ATL institutions. I've tried the brunswick stew, fries, and mac n' cheese, and they were all great.. especially the mac n' cheese.. they make em heart attack style here. The staff is extremely friendly also.

    (4)

  • J S.

    Hog heaven! Absolutely delicious. Had the pulled pork sandwich. Came in a sauce-stained container in a brown paper bag. Inside a mound of moist pulled swine on thick toast with pickles. PERFECTION. While, Fox Bros. gets the hype (undeservedly in IMHO) and has a more neighborly location, Community Q gets the meat right. LOVED IT. I will drive for good BBQ and this is worth the mileage. GREAT job guys!

    (5)

  • Lisa L.

    Great place for BBQ! I've been here several times and each time I've always had delicious food and great service. The BBQ sandwiches are ENORMOUS. You will have to eat it with a fork and knife! Sides are tasty and the Redneck Chicken Salad Sandwich is probably one of the best I've had. The owner and staff is friendly and helpful. I'm not a BBQ expert by any means, but it was certainly enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Cindy S.

    Great BBQ, Super Friendly Crew. You absolutely MUST Get The Baked Beans. Enjoyed Every Minute of it!

    (5)

  • Oliver B.

    I should have known better when they didn't have beer. Any BBQ place worth its salt either sells beer or has a liquor store next door. Between the two of us, we had the ribs, brisket, pulled pork, collards and the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was the highlight of the meal. A side should not be the highlight of the meal. The St. Louis ribs were exceptionally tender though a little lacking on flavor. If I had only tried the ribs, they would have eked out 3 stars. Unfortunately, we tried the brisket and pork. I have never had brisket quite as dry and bland as this. Ditto for the pulled pork. I usually skip the sauce for my BBQ but this had to be drenched in the stuff. It's as if they trimmed all the fat off of the meat and then steamed it. Collards were undercooked and flavorless. The mac and cheese was good as was the Texas toast that came with our meals. Oh, I guess the pickles were alright. We've been on a BBQ tour of Atlanta and Community Q was recommended by several people. I think we will be taking their recommendations with a grain of salt.

    (2)

  • Naveen D.

    Outstanding sandwiches and sides. We sampled the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches and were delighted with every bite. I don't know how they do it but the moisture was superb! I absolutely loved the baked beans side and will definitely have it again. Their sweet BBQ sauce is fantastic. This and Swallow at the Hollow are my favorite BBQ restaurants in Atlanta. Can't wait to return!

    (4)

  • TJ M.

    Another BBQ joint that I go to often. They have my fav beef brisket in town. And their pulled pork is excellent as well, although I'd prefer a little more smokiness to it. They add a spice rub to their fries, which makes them my fav BBQ place in town for a side of fries. I also like their Brunswick Stew. I agree with a lot of the other reviews that portion size/price isn't as good of a value when compared to the competition. That will cost them a star, so I'll give them 4 stars as a result. It's probably the easiest of my fav BBQ joints in regards to parking lot room, shortest time to get your order in, and plenty of seating.

    (4)

  • TurboFerret S.

    This place rocks. Best BBQ in the perimeter. Staff is super friendly. Facilities are always clean. The Mac and Cheese is just outrageously awesome. I would of given them 5 stars but they don't serve beer or liquor and I do really enjoy a beer with my Que.

    (4)

  • Vance B.

    This is great Barbeque. Best ribs in town. The only close second is Fox Bros.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    I have been here twice and only lunch both times. I had brisket the first time and pulled pork the second time. I had collards and baked beans for sides both times. The sides were good. The brisket was ok...definitely nothing special. The pork was decent...nothing to write home about. The sauce sauce was good. They need a good spicy BBQ sauce. I would go back but there is better out there.

    (3)

  • Brett B.

    This place is the bomb! Get a pork sandwich please.

    (5)

  • adam h.

    I don't think the hype helped. I had high expectations of this joint. BBQ is my passion. Unfortunately it didn't live up to my sky high hopes. The pulled pork was disappointing. It was a bit mushy and cold. Everything was a bit weak on seasoning. The ribs were good, and the brisket was fine. But, pulled pork wasn't to the quality I expected. The vinegar based sauce was a little bland as well. Sides were solid. I would give the pulled pork 1.5 stars, the collard greens 5 stars, the ribs 4 stars and the brisket 3 stars. It's a good addition to the dining scene (maybe it will start a BBQ war!), but it's not worth the drive from midtown.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    I ate here for lunch and now that I've recovered from punishing heartburn and an incapacitating coma, I can now say the following: I'm definitely a fan of this place! Sure, heartburn and comas are arguably unwanted outcomes. But as one who believes that "good food is bad for you," I will have to say that what I suffered this afternoon are really compliments towards the food here! It's so good it's bad! I couldn't decide between the beef brisket sandwich and the 1/2 pound of pork ribs, so I made the game-time decision of getting both. The beef brisket was dense, tender, and delicious, it might be my favorite BBQ item in all of Atlanta. Especially when doused with their BBQ sauce. This sandwich was so huge that it makes one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, the pastrami sandwich at Katz's Deli in NYC, seem like a snack item. And then the order of ribs. Yes, I was in over my head. But when one of the guys who work there said, "Dude, you're my new idol," that unfortunately made me want to consume more than I usually do. The ribs were quite good. A little burnt, not quite fall off the bone, but honestly, that's being nit-picky. Their BBQ sauce hit the spot and in fact may have turned that spot into an ulcer. All kidding aside. This place is a real deal BBQ place. I've road-tripped through Memphis, Kansas City, Texas, Alabama, eating BBQ at all the classic joints. At that time it made me think about the lack of BBQ in Atlanta. Community Q is a strong counterargument. I'm a fan indeed!

    (4)

  • Walter R.

    I've tasted Dave's barbeque (the owner) twice before, but never at one of his restaurants - just straight from a cooler he had with him as a sandwich. He IS a master BBQ'er. I was on his e-mail list prior to the opening and came in three days later. As I expected, I was not disappointed. This is probably the best BBQ inside of the perimeter - for meat and sauce! I ate the pork, beef brisket, and macaroni and cheese. All three were masterpieces.

    (5)

  • Steven K.

    I stopped by here recently since I have been hearing such good things about their brisket. It definitely held true to its reputation, there was a light smokiness, very little fat (which is uncommon at many bbq joints), and good tenderness. The mac&cheese was a bit greasy, but food quality tends to change a bit when you get take out so unfortunately I will have to stop in again and subject myself to the delicious brisket all over again. Even though my friend got the ribs, I have yet to try them. By the time I looked up from my feeding frenzy, there was nothing but bones left on the plate. Maybe next time I will order the ribs, or bring someone who eats slower than me so I can sample theirs.

    (4)

  • Topher R.

    Friendly service and quality food...make for a great lunch or dinner out. I had the ribs and the pulled pork, neither needed sauce. Very moist and tasty. The mac & cheese is a must...can substitute it as dessert, very good.

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    After reading Yelp's reviews, I dropped by at about 8 pm figuring I'd grab some take-out. Instead, I enjoyed the cozy hole-in-the-wall vibe so I dined there and chatted with the owner a little. Seems like a nice guy who's really earnest about making the place work. I enjoyed the light-rock tunes playing from the speakers enough that I pulled out my earphones and turned off the mp3 player. The ribs and brisket were mighty fine. Generous, tasty portions. Of the two sauces available, one was a nice vinegar-based sauce and the other was more of the red, sweet variety that BBQ newbs expect. Both were good. The sides were a real surprise. The collards were fresh and juicy, and the mac-and-cheese showed a lot of TLC was put into it. This is a perfect establishment for this area, which is otherwise saturated with foreign cuisine. It's a nice contrast. I am really happy that they don't have a waiter/waitress, but instead put everything you need where you can just get it yourself. We've entered an age where a 15% gratuity is becoming thought of as cheap, and such a small establishment doesn't really warrent someone being on staff just to ocassionally refill glasses. The one thing this place needs to get five stars out of me is a menu that's a little broader. Other than the selection of BBQ (brisket, chicken, sausage, ribs), the only other items are a basic selection of sides (baked beans, brunswick stew, potato salad, slaw, mac & cheese, collards, and fries). Not much to choose from for someone who wants something green and non-starchy. Personally, I'd really love to see some kind of fried veggie, like fried pickles or fried green tomatoes.

    (4)

  • Dee W.

    I like Community Q. The pulled pork is pretty good and the sweet BBQ sauce is SO good. The mac & cheese & collard greens are really good also.

    (4)

  • Mandy P.

    Yummy!! I got the chicken cuz they were out of pulled pork... I would have rather tried the pulled pork, but it was delish!! My fiancé got the brisket and enjoyed that as well... but it was the mac n cheese that was the real star of the show. In fact, after eating all of his food, my fiancé ate the rest of my mac n cheese that I was saving for the next day! Luckily they will sell you a pan of it to go that you bake yourself!!!! Yum yum yum!!! I forgot what other sides we got, but we will definitely go back... Hope they'll have pulled pork this time!

    (5)

  • Tressi J.

    tried this place for lunch today on my quest to find the best bbq in the land. sadly, i still haven't found it but this is decent. great mac n cheese! sweet tea--not so good. and the brisket--it was flavorful and smoky but just a tiny bit fatty in my opinion. sauces were ok...i'd go back, but just not my fave.

    (3)

  • Erin O.

    This place is as good as everybody says. I had the Brisket Plate with Mac n Cheese & Baked Beans. It was excellent. Great service. The brisket was full of flavor & really tender. The Mac n Cheese & Baked Beans were delicious. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE their BBQ Sauce, especially the Carolina vinegar based sauce. I loved my entire meal & will go here a million more times.

    (5)

  • juan a.

    The staff was really frendly when ordering the food. I had fun eating here the BBQ plated was 4 STARS

    (4)

  • Jim K.

    Real good barbeque ribs. Not the best but really good. Good sides, simple but good fare on east side of town.

    (4)

  • Holly B.

    First I would like to say that this place is hard to find. It is kind of behind the other shopping center, off of N. Decatur and Clairmont. They said that they are waiting on their sign, there is just a banner now. I did not have alot to spend, so I ordered the brisket sandwich-they were out of pulled pork. For 6.50 this is a large sandwich, and you get you choice of sauces. Yum Yum! I think that this is the first time I have eaten BBQ in a long time that I did not need a pepto afterwards! This is my new fav! Can't wait to go back and try some sides and dessert!!

    (5)

  • Rob M.

    First of all, if the review was just for the Mac & Cheese I'd give it 12 stars...by far the best Mac I have ever had...really. For the rest of the food, it's average. I went for the pulled pork but they were out so I got the half-slab ribs...after reading the reviews of how great they were I was expecting to be teleported to Memphis upon my ordering. We ordered, we waited...a little longer than usual at a bbq joint. Skipping to the food...my ribs were a little "crispy", not like they were slow roasted in a rotating pit but like they were cooked directly on a grill...which is a little different to me. The meat, a little tough, especially on the lower ends of the ribs. It was good, don't get me wrong, but not 4 or 5 stars good. The sides...the fries, yep, I opted for fries over cole slaw...sorry! The fries are...different. I think we got some of the bottom of the basket fries or something. They were little pieces with something, a seasoning or something on them. Bigger than old bay...don't know what it was. As a proclaimed lover of "squishy fries", these were very overdone for me, quite crispy, almost overcooked to a crisp unfortunately. I'd like to try them again, a fresh batch with normal sized fries, maybe they'd be a little better. The bread served with the ribs was a little lacking as well. I think the slices we tossed on a flattop and heated to a toast which isn't too bad if you just like plain bread with your bbq...but not me, soak that monster in some butter and toast it, both sides, let my fingers get a little buttery as I eat it. I mean c'mon, it's a bbq place, we aren't there because we're on a diet : ) So, regarding the non-food...the service was with a smile and the guys behind the counter were nice and friendly. Staff, 4 stars. All in all, it's a good place to eat, but not the best bbq in town. BUT...you can get the mac & cheese in a pan to take home and heat up for a family meal (or a single meal for me). If you get a chance...GET IT, you'll love it. OH...make sure you get there EARLY, they run out of food...YES, they RUN OUT OF FOOD.

    (3)

  • J H.

    Went there last night for first time,with couple friends. We were all happy with quality of food. It was awesome, everything was great. I had Rib / Sausage combo w/ Mac-n-chz & Baked Beans. Very satisfying, I didn't even use any of the sauce.....We shared some sides between us to try everything. Brunswick stew, Collards , French Fries all excellent. Yes try the fries !!

    (4)

  • Gus S.

    I've been to Community Q three times now. When trying to decide what to order on my first visit, I asked the owner to describe the ribs to me. He responded that they were similar to baby back ribs, only meatier. In fact, they were similar to baby back ribs, only fattier. I won't order the ribs again. In subsequent visits, I ordered the shredded pork as my entree. Authentic and tasty, but I'd rather have them trim the fat, as some bbq joints do, before serving. The helpings are generous, and I appreciate their vinegar based sauce. As others have noted, Community Q's mac-and-cheese is delicious. I also enjoy their baked beans and/or fries. My main complaint is the price. You'll end up paying around $12, give or take, for a meat, two sides, and a drink -- and that's for lunch. Given the prices at other metro bbq joints, that's $4 or $5 too much. As a result of these prices, I don't visit as often as I otherwise might.

    (3)

  • Denise B.

    I'd be happy to review this place, but everytime we go there, they're closed. Hey guys! You are not in Mayberry. This is the big city with a huge university down the street. People eat later here--especially in the summertime. Your 8:30 to 9:30 closing times are a tad unrealistic, unless perhaps you are in a retirement community.

    (1)

  • George C.

    Oooo- I see I get to write review #98 for Community Q! Story: Us OTP folk really do read ITP food reviews with a certain jealousy because our eating places tend to be scattered more and there seems to be more of a 'foodie culture' ITP. When I find out I am going to be ITP for more than four hours, I begin assessing reviews from my Yelp family a week in advance. Since I was going to be in Emory at 2:00 today, I was torn as to whether to stop at Desta or Community Q for lunch. Ann basically settled that when she wrinkled her nose and said, "Ethiopian?" So, we got to Community Q at 11:05 (before the landslide) and both ordered pulled pork sandwich plates, hers with mac 'n cheese and sauteed apples, mine wirh collard greens and Brunswick Stew. We were both pleased with the moistness and flavor of the pork mountains we received. The toasted garlicky bread that cradled the meat was nice, but wholly inadequate to contain the pork pile (minor matter really). Ann was ecstatic about the mac 'n cheese and apples, I was not in love with the overly vinegared greens and non-assertive stew. As for stars, I remind myself that it's the meat that's the most important thing at a BBQ joint, as I've been to quite a few GREAT ones that only offered potato chips and plain white bread on the side: 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Andrew R.

    I admit it - we eat at Fox Brothers all the time. It's the family favorite. Friday evening, my son and I tried Community BBQ for the first time, First of all, Community does not serve Beer and you cannot bring beer in. Beer without BBQ? Bad Combo. My pork sandwich and Mac/cheese was fine. I prefer it on a bun but that's just my opinion. My son ordered a half rack of Fatty/Cartilage-oops I mean ribs. If you want lean tasty ribs go to Fox Brothers. Stick with Community if you like Fatty Ribs. So we tried to share our disappointment with the owner regarding the Ribs. He looked at the plate of fatty ribs and told me there was Cartilage and then muttered some rude comment, the ribs at Community are bad! The owner's apparent lack of interest in customer satisfaction was disappointing.

    (2)

  • klyde k.

    totally hung over and felt nauseous while i was there. BUT the damn bbq was so good, i kept eating and eating. i've only been to fox brothers and williamson brothers, but this place beats both by a long shot.

    (5)

  • Stacy A.

    Great BBQ! Pulled pork was tender with good blend of smokiness and juiciness. In addition to traditional side options, they have a creative menu of side specials. I had the tomato cucumber salad and it was a refreshing choice on a warm day.

    (5)

  • red l.

    Really good BBQ . I am from the old school the dirtier the place the better the bbq. So with that said for a clean joint it has pretty good bbq. The BBQ is good, the Mac n cheese is great , the collards are great, the slaw is ok not great , the tea is not sweet enough, the beans are the BEST i have ever had (good Job fells). The sauce is not my favorite and is average. Now the only thing I have a real problem with is NO CORNBREAD. To the owners I am glad you are in the neighborhood I have been looking for another bbq place to replace my favorite Daddy D's . I like the fact that you have your mom working the customers NICE TOUCH .

    (4)

  • aimee l.

    the owners seem to care a lot about their customers and that goes a long way with me. always friendly and the food is generously portioned and delicious. i dock a star for closing at 8:30pm - tried to come on several occasions and missed my chance.

    (4)

  • Connor A.

    This is amazing bbq. I normally get the sausage, which is great. I have had the pulled pork too, which is a little dry, but nothing some sauce (they have plenty) can't fix. Their mac n cheese is delicious, and can compete with fox bros, which is rare. Overall, I love this place. It's incredible. Note-If you're wanting lemonade, be aware-IT IS THE SWEETEST DRINK YOU WILL EVER TASTE. I swear they use like a cup of sugar. I can only take sips at a time.

    (5)

  • B.S. T.

    A party of five of us enjoyed pulled pork (exceptional as it was flavorful as well as very lean) on a Wednesday evening and will definitely go back. Steady stream of customers right up to closing (8:30). More folksy than DBA but quieter and friendlier. We also enjoyed sides of mac n cheese, collard, and baked beans. They had some tempting specials but stayed conservative on this our first visit. BTW - Lots of other restaurants in same shopping center (Thai, Italian, Indian, and Greek) to satisfy most appetities.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    I've been hear 4 or 5 times and as soon as you walk in the BBQ smells so good. Everytime I've been there I have ordered the Kitchen Sink Salad which is freaking amazing. It's all fresh veggies and changes seasonally. Now it has beets, black eyed peas, eggs, and other beans and veggies. I have ordered chicken on the side to go with the salad and the BBQ chicken is very good. The sauces are great but the chicken can be enjoyed without sauce.

    (4)

  • Todd P.

    Definitely snarf-worthy food here. I'm not a BBQ snob, and don't claim to be one. I just like grub that tastes good. And the Saint Louis style ribs here did me right. Messy? Check! Tender? Check! Good sized serving? Double-check! The slaw and 'tater salad were nicely done sides as well. I liked the laid back, casual, friendly atmosphere. I was surprised to see they're only open til 8:30 on weeknights though. I guess you gotta get in there before the food runs out. Solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    Community Q is undoubtedly one of the best barbeque restaurants in the Atlanta area. I always find both the food and service to be consistently exceptional. Food: The offerings at Community Q are typical to what you would expect for most barbeque restaurants. You have your choice of purchasing either meat alone or plate combo, the latter of which includes two sides. Meat options include pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, half chicken (bone-in), smoked sausage, St. Louis ribs, or beef ribs. Sides include slaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac n cheese, brunswick stew, collards, or fries. On any given day, they also have at least a half dozen side specials and available dessert options. From my perspective, the one thing that really sets the flavor of Community Q apart is their sauce. They offer two different sauces, one of which is vinegar based (make sure you shake it before pouring) and the other is sweet. The sweet sauce is really enjoyable and unlike any other I've tried. I'm also a huge fan of their mac n cheese, which is greasy, but heavy on the cheese. Community Q does not serve any alcohol; however, they do have a reasonable assortment of self-serve fountain drinks available. Service: I always find the service to be incredibly pleasant. This is really a family-run establishment at its best; during my last visit, there were three generations working throughout the restaurant, from cashier, to order delivery, to busing tables. It is important to note that Community Q does not have full table service; you order at the counter and your order is brought out to you when it is ready. The wait time is usually fairly minimal; the longest I've ever experienced is 10 minutes. Atmosphere: Community Q is located in a strip mall and doesn't have much of an atmosphere, but I can overlook that because their food is so good. The clientele is also fairly atypical from most area barbeque restaurants; I always find that there tends to be a lot more families with children. Cost: Comparable to other barbeque places, but can get pricey if you're feeding an entire family. Plates (including 2 sides) run between $11 and $15, while additional sides are around $2.50. They do offer family packs (included meat and sides) that will feed 4 ($32) and people ($60), but they are only available via take-out. Other: It's important to note that Community Q makes a limited quantity of barbeque each day, so they occasionally sell out of certain items. Accordingly, you'd be wise to go earlier rather than later to ensure that you have access to every option.

    (5)

  • J W.

    BBQ is great. If they served beer I'd give them 5 stars. The beef short rib and sausage are the best in town.

    (4)

  • Jorge D.

    Awesome BBQ food!!

    (5)

  • Wesley C.

    We had a large group that went out to Community BBQ when they were donating 20% to Atlanta Food Bank a while back . . . I was on call so my wife lovingly and graciously brought me leftovers for dinner . . . 1. St. Louis Style Ribs - Well flavored - loved the smokey taste and aroma. The meat was very tender and although not too dry, just not as moist as I would have liked. 2. Baby Back Ribs (special) - Surprisingly HUGE ribs! Very tender meat, but not as well flavored as the St. Louis style ribs . . . came with dipping sauce . . . but why should I have to dip ribs into a sauce for it to have more flavor? not as impressed 3. Baked Beans - Very interesting . . . good strong flavor, loved the actual shreds of pork in the beans . . . pretty solid 4. Mac-N-Cheese - Not overly impressed . . . maybe it was just because by the time I was eating it, it wasn't very hot . . . but it just wasn't as cheesy as I would have liked, and it really wasn't as flavorful . . . and if you're going to be expecting me to taste the cheese with good BBQ, it better have some strong flavor! 5. Potato salad - Pretty good! I liked the flavor . . . especially with the fact that they put some of their rub in it . . . And to be fair . . . I really think I need to eat there to be able to fairly judge how good the food is when it's hot . . . but for now, until that happens, I'm sticking with a 3/5.

    (3)

  • Olesya M.

    Come here with friends. Clean and bright inside, no alcohol is good for families! We had full rack ribs(they was absolutely delicious) and sides to share : mac-n-cheese (not fan at all), fries (spicy) and slaw.

    (3)

  • Kurt F.

    About 10 years ago, I spent a few months in Austin, Texas for work. In Texas, the Cow is King and the BBQ is smoked brisket. While I never liked Texas (or more specifically, Texans), I did come to love their BBQ and upon returning to Atlanta I yearned for a plate of that moist, perfectly rubbed meat. As the years wore on, I became increasingly convinced I would never again find a place that knew how to smoke a bovine. Then I found Community Q. My girlfriend and I ate here and we fell in love with the place approximately 6 seconds after the food arrived. She had the chicken and, of course, I had the cow and both agreed it was the best BBQ we'd had in Atlanta. Then we tried the mac-n-cheese. Take the best orgasm you've ever had, multiply it by 10 and you're still nowhere close. The slaw, collards and potato salad were all impressive as well. Community Q would make any vegan or cardiologist weep a river of tears, but to us it is a little slice of smoked heaven.

    (5)

  • Henry C.

    The Background: Community Q is a small bbq joint near Emory with big flavor and reasonable prices. The place seems to be family owned and the wait staff is quite nice. While there wasn't a ton of room, it's bigger than Fat Matts and parking is plentiful. Finally, there is a good amount of food at reasonable prices which would make me want to come back. The Positives: As everyone has said, the food here is quite good. I really appreciated the fact that they had the half and half so I could try out two things. The pulled pork was quite tasty and went well with either sauces. The Negatives: The brisket was nice but it was a little overcooked. In addition, the mac and cheese had a scary amount of oil at the bottom.

    (4)

  • Theodore L.

    When I was a child, barbeque was a form of currency. "You want more ribs, Ted?" Mother would ask. "Then promise to clean the basement, and remove the doggie droppings from the yard." Though her cruel bartering of chores for food has, among many things, inspired a memoir - tentatively entitled "You Made Me This Way, Now DEAL" - man, I love me some ribs! Barbeque shacks are a dime a dozen. Most deliver the goods...up to a point. There will be that one missing factor, be it moistness, delectability, or heat. (I find these same deficiencies in the dating pool, LOL!) So it was divine to discover the finest BBQ in town, Mecca for those with a hankering for tender meat (insert Craigslist joke here). Located within a dense cluster of restaurants - most of which I never hear of anyone going to - Community Q keeps it simple with an unpretentious interior. If I have one gripe, it's the volume of the horrific stepdad-rock blaring over the speakers. (C'mon, you know what step-dad rock is - Eagles, The Band, Rolling Stones - what every hateful stepdad thinks is cool.) I suggest sitting outside if old white men farting through harmonicas ain't your bag. You really can't go wrong order-wise. The Brisket is juicy, smoked goodness - what I imagine Billy Dee Williams' charred flesh might taste like. The pork bursts in your mouth, which - oh, forget it - too obvious a joke. A variety of sauces are at your disposal on the table. I like to mix them up, drenching the meat with each, the barbeque equivalent of a soda-fountain suicide.* Just how good is the Mac and Cheese? Good enough to reverse global warming and reunite The Smiths. As that guy would say, run and tell that. Be sure to finish with the Banana Pudding, though eat it only using a fork. You get the meanest looks when finger-banging the cup, believe you me! So rush on over, and PIG out. (Get it? You got it). * Don't know? Bing it.

    (5)

  • Larry M.

    Doesn't get any better than this!

    (5)

  • Matt Y.

    A great BBQ place, especially for one in the Emory area. The Mac and cheese is actually the best I've had in Atlanta so far, in terms of BBQ places. It beats out Fox Bros. in that regard. Is it healthy? No, but hey, that's BBQ for ya. The meats are all good, and I particularly enjoy their pulled pork. The brisket does the job too. My main complaint for them right now is that they should be open later on Sundays. I get that it's Sunday and usually you have shorter hours, but then 7pm is pretty early for a dinner cutoff...

    (4)

  • Christian B.

    Had to update my review since recent experiences have been night and day with earlier ones. What I said well over a year ago was how inconsistent the place was. Nothing was made the same way twice. And everything was usually lukewarm. That made dining at Community a somewhat frustrating experience. I wanted to like it, but never really could. Now, however, they've pretty much gotten the food down pat. It's flavorfully juicy, consistently prepared and thankfully served at the right temperature. Funny thing is, the one thing that's always worked for me -- the mac and cheese -- was the one thing that I didn't enjoy my last visit. There was so much oil floating in it, I wondered if BP was responsible. That aside, last week's meal was the best we've had at Community. Be prepared to wait though. We certainly did. At 12:30 on a Friday, we were in line for 15 minutes and waited at our table for another 15 minutes. I think people are taking the name a tad too seriously though, as it seemed the entire neighborhood was there (including Eli from Top Chef).

    (4)

  • Kyle E.

    Good quality BBQ. I loved the mac and cheese, just a simple noodle change really makes a difference. The beans were thick and had plenty of bacon. The sauces were good, they have sweet and a vinegar based. I would've liked to see a spicy option. The employees are very attentive and always able to lend a hand.

    (4)

  • Cara B.

    Standard BBQ restaurant interior. Nice, knowledgeable staff. Lots of BBQ options and sides. Seasonal sides. Decent sauces. So why 3 stars? The BBQ is a little too dry and while I liked the sides, the BBQ is what keeps me coming back to these restaurants. I have a few places I will go before I come here again, but I guess if I am craving 'cue and in the area, I wouldn't be upset to eat here again! Also, parking lot is small for the number of restaurants in the shopping center, so we had to drive around for a while waiting for someone to leave...

    (3)

  • Tariq M.

    Excellent Reubens. I like how chunky the meat was. It differentiated this sandwich from every other Reubens I've ever had and it is certainly an experience worth having. From what I understand it is only available on Tuesdays and I called ahead to pick mine up. I paired it with a potato salad and then picked up some Fat Tire on the way home for an amazing little Tuesday meal.

    (5)

  • Jason D.

    It was okay. I had the brisket sandwich and mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was a little hard. The brisket sandwich was LOADED with meat. A great portion. But, it was fatty, chewy in places, and was tough to eat it like that. Again, it's ok. Not the best, but ok. I like it that they carry local fruits and vegetables for purchase, and their staff is always friendly.

    (3)

  • Kevin H.

    Outstanding! This is how BBQ is done and done right!! I'm never disappointed each time I eat here.

    (5)

  • Rachel E.

    Community Q is a place I often go for lunch. It definitely scratches the itch I have for BBQ. The decor is fun a kitschy sort of a way. The staff is always pleasant. I have never had a bad experience there with the staff. I really like the food.. the portions or generous. I usually get the beef brisket and am not ever disappointed in it. The sides I usually like but have had some mixed feelings. The mac and cheese is good but a big greasy. I happen to really like the collard greens. The only knock on this place, for me, is the price. You get a lot of meet - I don't exactly expect it to be cheap. But, the price I think is a bit much when you get 2 sides. All in all - a great place to go with a great staff!

    (4)

  • Caroline G.

    Went there with 2 fellow yelpers who know what good food is about! Not only was the beef rib as huge as a whale bone (literally), the outside of the meat was cooked to a black, crisp perfection. Sides of collard greens, macaroni&cheese, potato salad and BANANA PUDDING were delectable! Keep in mind that southern cooking = butter, grease, and all things fatty that bring out the flavor. What southern bbq meal would be complete without a Sweet Tea???

    (5)

  • Katie S.

    I've come here off and on since it opened. It's no Fox Brothers but I still go more often bc of the location and more available parking. The sides are great-- Mac and cheese is the best, but the meat is never anything to write home about. The last time I went was definitely my last though. The brisket was dry and fatty-- looked like it had been yesterday's leftover. It's always better than that so I brought it up to see if I could swap it out. Not only were the employees incredibly rude initially, but in the midst of their incompetence the manager/owner (?) came out of the office and asked "how do you want it to look?" -- without even seeing what I sent back. All I wanted was some of the fresh brisket that I could see them cutting -- something worth the $ and something that didn't need to be covered up with the bread (usually the bread is on the side when you order a plate). Never going back -- especially once Heirloom BBQ opens up in the old Kitsch'n 155 location.

    (1)

  • Alex D.

    Solid BBQ... The BEST MAC N CHEESE IN ATLANTA Not the best BBQ in Atl (Fox bros) but definetly really good. My favorite to order her is the beef rib along with the mac n cheese. They have a vinegar sauce that is very tasty and really hard to find in atlanta. This place really understands how to make bbq. I have seen plenty people come here just to eat salad, apparently they have fresh produce and it looks really good. But you will never find me eating salad at a BBQ joint.

    (4)

  • Chuan S.

    This place just made 4 stars, mostly because I tend to be a harsh reviewer. It's always busy and unlike Fat matts there's always parking available. I've had their ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beef ribs and sausages. What can I say I LOVE my meat. To me the brisket, pulled pork and sausages are OK since I am more of a rib guy than anything else. The ribs are very consistent, they are juicy and smoked properly and every time we come my wife ends up with bbq sauce all over her face. Each table has 2 bbq sauces on one is tomato based and the other is vinegary. I prefer the vinegary sauce and the wife the tomato one but the ribs are so good you can forgo the BBQ sauce and just dive into the meaty goodness. We're going to have to back soon because the wife wants a nice rack T-shirt

    (4)

  • Jordan M.

    Our favorite BBQ place in Atlanta. Despite living less than a mile from Fox Brothers, we rarely go since it's usually a madhouse with multi-hour waits for a table. At Community Q, you simply order at the counter and your BBQ is in front of you less than 10 minutes. We also find the BBQ here to be more consistently good than at Fox Bros. Moist pulled pork with the good crunchy bark Texas-quality brisket Moist ribs with an excellent crust Perfectly balanced sweet/smoky beans Extremely decadent mac and cheese (too rich for me, but my wife likes it). Try the smoked sweet potato and kale special if they have it, If you aren't overly hungry, I highly recommend the kitchen sink salad which is full of fresh local produce. You can add a side of any BBQ meat to that to make it a meal.

    (5)

  • victoria f.

    Went to Community Q again this week because it's just been too long. We've been on a best BBQ quest in Atlanta, so I've been hopping all over the place. The mac n' cheese was still just as delicious as I remembered, the service was great, and I just love all the fresh local produce they sell in the front. Always a treat!

    (5)

  • Don D.

    So in my last review of this place, I gave it 4 stars because the taste and environment but said that there was an issue with the temperature of the food. I've been back three time since then (the most recent being last week) and none of those times was the food a good temperature. Matter of fact, last week i got the pulled chicken sandwich and the chicken was warm at best as was the mac and cheese. Unless they can serve me HOT food, I will not be eating there again.

    (2)

  • Kevin K.

    Awesome. Best BBQ in town. Even better than Fox Bros, Maddy's, and Pig N Chik. Had the smoked sausage. Delicious. You have your choice of sauce and they're all great.(I prefer the vinegar based NC style). Side of mac-n-cheese and brunswick stew. Outta this world. Extraterrestrial! A plate will definitely make you weary and in need of a nap...which is a good thing! Staff is friendly, parking is easy, prices are moderate. If I am craving Q in the future Community is first place I'll go.

    (5)

  • Venicia C.

    Amazinggggggggggggggggg ! Over ate :/ stuffed to the max everything was delicious hard to find good bar b q .. Definitely will be returning !

    (5)

  • Mary M.

    Not only is the food amazing, the owners and staff here are unbelievably cool. I went in Monday night after work and ordered a sandwich and mac n cheese to go, as I'd been sick and that was the only thing that even sounded appetizing. The owner saw me while I was waiting and asked if I'd gotten chicken soup. I said no, and he gave me a giant cup to go, for free, and told me to feel better! And, obviously, all of it was incredibly delicious. This is still one of my all time favorite places here in Atlanta. A+++++++

    (5)

  • Stone M.

    The BBQ is really good. BUT The sides were atrocious! The greens were inedible! They were way over cooked and either old or someone dropped Windex in it. There wasn't anyone at the table who could get more than a bite down. The Mac n Cheese was alright, just grease laden. My brother said the Brunswick stew was gross too, but after trying the Greens I was not feeling very adventurous. Also I tried the "Blueberry Bread Pudding" it was actually a stale blueberry muffin with some kind of icing, that once more no one at the table could even stomach. It also tasted like something was in it that was not food, possibly a cleaning chemical. We had to get it to go because there were no tables, we waited for 30 minutes. How is this place so busy? The lady at the counter seemed surprised too, she was kinda grouchy too. I really enjoyed the meat, that is why it is not a one star review. Everything else was inexcusable.

    (2)

  • Justin H.

    Best all around BBQ in ATL. The only thing better than the food is the portions. I've tried everything here and it is all spectacular. My favorite order is the pulled pork plate with collards and mac-n-cheese. Their mac is amazing! It is made the old school way with huge pasta tubes and delicious cheese. I took my 71 year old, ultra-southern, BBQ-snob father and he didn't say a word until he was finished eating. All he said was "Damn, boy. That was good!" That's really all I need to prove that this place is fantastic. I am a fan of Fox Bros, but they are a close 2nd to this place. Mainly because the sides are better than Fox. I also think that Community's meat tastes better and is far less dry. If you ain't been, go on and git.

    (5)

  • Berlin B.

    I am from Austin, Texas and I know BBQ. Actually, I lived there 10 years ago, the only thing I know about BBQ is to eat it. Hell, we don't have anything down there but dry brush, 100 degree heat, George Bush and BBQ. My favorite is Elgin BBQ, especially Elgin sausage. It has a hickory smoked hot sausage kind of taste, fatty/greasy but not too much. The community BBQ almost compares to that sausage, they have different texture in taste but it was still amazingly good. A lot of the BBQ places in Atlanta, they don't normally focus on the sausage but in Texas, sausage is a big part of the BBQ ensemble. I have only had the chicken, sausage and some of the sides. The chicken was a little dry but still tasted OK. Like I said, sausage was good. Community seems a little pricey for BBQ. The sandwiches are about $6 with no side or drink. You add $2 for another meat and a dollar or so for the side. That is $10 for the sandwich meals. And the platters are priced at about $10-12. It is located in Decatur, near Emory. If you are driving south of Clairmont, at Clairmont and North Decatur. If you notice, this area is a revolving door of restaurants. They go through failed restaurants every other month, so I hope Community BBQ can break the curse.

    (4)

  • Sharma J.

    "Good food and great service. Loved the mac&chez"

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    I had gotten lots of word that Community Q BBQ was a top place to try some barbecue. I thought I might have lost my taste for it after my last barbecue experience but I was determined to find out if this place could cleanse my palate of the bad and replace it with some down home awesome. I was not disappointed. This time I took the whole family in to eat and from the moment we walked in the delicious smell of smoking meat lifted me out of my doldrums and settled me into the friendliest and most down to earth BBQ place I had been to in Atlanta. I have had Fox Bros and a few others outside the perimeter but never before had I felt so welcome and at home in a barbecue restaurant. After some joking around with the smiling people behind the counter we got down to the business of ordering our food. My husband got the sausage plate with coleslaw and fries, my daughter a pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked beans and I decided on the two meat platter (pulled pork and brisket) with mac and cheese and baked beans to share with my little boy. I was very pleasantly surprised at the price barbecue for a family of four with drinks and tip for less than $45. After we ordered we got our drinks and cozied ourselves into a booth. The decor is just right a bit down on the farm, a little folksy but polished enough to avoid being too kitschy. It took very little time for our food to make it to the table. I have to admit there are some interesting twists in the food but the foundation of traditional barbecue is strong and the additions just make everything so much better than you expect. The pulled pork was delicious, not fatty at all but moist without being mushy. A delicious smoky flavor permeated the meat, honestly it stood up without having to be smothered in sauce. The Brisket was frankly amazing. Moist, smoky and falling apart like slices of pure beef flavor melting away on your tongue. The sauces are a fairly good but not over the top, sweet barbecue sauce and a vinegar based Carolina sauce. The sauces do not steal the show but they are tasty and rather than the meat being nothing more than a system by which barbecue sauce makes it into your mouth, the sauce was exactly that and nothing more. The part that impressed me and honestly thrilled me is that the sides weren't secondary but were just as fantastic as the meats. This is a rare convergence in barbecue. The baked beans were cooked with barbecue sauce, spices, peppers and chunks of pork. Those beans are a meal all to themselves and I could happily come back to just get a bowl of these saucy and pleasantly spicy beans. The mac and cheese as it has been remarked on before, is fantastic and it is definitely the best I have had so far in Atlanta. My husband's coleslaw was the perfect balance of savory flavors and satisfying crunch. Fries were perfectly done and I really enjoyed the spices dusted on them. My whole family left Community Q BBQ, sated and happy. It was a really enjoyable trip to the North of Decatur, family friendly, hell, they're just flat out friendly and they make some damn fine 'cue. Next time I'm totally getting the ribs and digging into some of their garden fresh veggies.

    (5)

  • Ryan V.

    At the insistence of several friends in the area, I gave Community Q another try. I'm glad I did -- the food was much better. I had the pulled pork and beef rib combo. The pork had great smoky flavor, but mine was a little on the dry side. It needed some sauce, but the sauce was very good (I tried the tomato-based one). The beef rib was much better, with a crisp sugary crust and tender meat that easily pulled away from the bone. The servings of both were generous, given the moderate price for that much BBQ. For sides, I got the mac and cheese and the smoked sweet potato/kale special. And the potato/kale combo was, indeed, indeed special. Unlike anything I've had before, the smoky sweetness of the sweet potato was offset perfectly by the bitter greens, which were tender without being wilted. If they have this, get it. The mac was very good, despite being penne pasta rather than the traditional elbows. There's a nice cheesy layer on top that tells you this has been cooked fresh, and the melted goodness hidden below does not disappoint. The food takes a bit longer than most BBQ restaurants I've been to, and I still prefer a certain establishment on Dekalb Avenue, but Community Q is back on the map for me.

    (4)

  • Jin L.

    My review is based on a take-out order on a sunday afternoon. My preferred BBQ places are Fat Matt's and Rudy's BBQ (Tx). After reading so many favorable reviews on yelp, I decided to drop by and ordered the following to-go: pulled pork sandwich, sweet sauce, mac and cheese, and fries. Total = $11.00 Pulled pork: unexciting. The meat tasted bland/flat. Inconsistent moistness throughout. Sweet sauce: watery but with nice flavor. Much needed to offset the tasteless pork. Mac and cheese: too much grease. By the time I got home (5 min from location) the mac and cheese had congealed into a solid, shiney mass. The pasta tasted bland and the cheese didn't add much flavor either. Fries: pros- crispy, not limp. cons- I don't like the smokey flavor. And I thought there was too much of the seasoning. Conclusion: This was a take-out order, so my review may not reflect an in-dining experience. I'll give this place another try, but not with the same level of anticipation I had this time.

    (2)

  • Meg C.

    I'm stuck, I just don't see it-- maybe I would have had the sides if they wouldn't have added so much on, but the sandwiches we got were insanely expensive to begin with! I lived in Memphis for 5 years and while I don't buy in to the fact that they're the BBQ capital of the world, I sure had a hell of a lot better BBQ there, here, and in Austin, TX! My husband and I went to Community for lunch one day, we got one pork sandwich and one brisket so that we could try a little of both. The plates that have the extra sides were way too expensive, which was too bad because apparently the mac and cheese could have saved our meal. Both the pork and the brisket were extremely dry, and the sauces were so weak that even though they were doused in an aenemic, vinegar based dressing the sandwiches were rough and tasteless. I know that part of the problem here is that I'm not big on the vinegary, SC style BBQ sauces, but there wasn't really anything to them so I don't even have an opinion on it-- if you can't even make the effort to make something stand out, why make it at all? The decor was kinda cute, but a little kitschy for my taste, and the people behind the counter were very nice. We're willing to go back and try the ribs when we have the cash to drop, but if those don't hit it out of the park, we probably won't go back. EDIT: I went back for a staff meeting one day and got a few sides since they were more fiscally sound option and while the mac'n'cheese isn't as phenomenal as Palate, Wahoo!, or Iberian Pig, it's pretty solid. The Black Eyed Peas were doused with some aromatic (lavender maybe?) that made them nearly unbearable, and the collards weren't too shabby, pretty decently cooked. I'd up my overall to 2.5 stars.

    (2)

  • David T.

    Good pulled pork sandwich. Also cole slaw and brunswick stew with a chili ancestor. Dining area small (40X40). Local traffic makes this "weekend only" for me.

    (3)

  • Tom R.

    The food is the main deal, so I'll start with that. I've only visited once, and I got the pulled-pork plate with baked beans and Brunswick stew. I got it to go, but I only live a mile away, so I don't think the short drive home affected the food at all. The plate included a generous helping of pulled pork topped with three pickle slices between two slices of grilled Texas toast. I saved about half of the meat for the next day and still had a good-sized sandwich. The pork was pulled into large pieces, not finely shredded as a lot of places do. Unfortunately, I found the pork to be somewhat dry and very bland. The pieces had a thin bark and a nice pink smoke ring, but the meat did not have even a hint of smoke flavor. I would have sworn that the pork was baked in an oven. I also needed to drown it in barbeque sauce to give it any moisture. It's a shame the meat was so tasteless, though, because there was no fat and it wasn't the least bit greasy. Speaking of the sauce: I was given an option of sweet or vinegar-based for my takeout order. I assume they offer the same on the tables. I opted for the sweet, and I found it to have a nice flavor. Not too tomato-ey, not too vinegary (though there was some twang that must come from vinegar). It wasn't hot, but did have a nice black pepper flavor. It was oilier than I would have liked, with a thin layer of oil floating on top when I opened the container. Baked beans - they were okay, tender without being mushy, and a nice spicy flavor. There were a lot of meat chunks in the beans. I would have preferred a little more sauce in the beans, though. Brunswick stew - this was very nice. A lot of corn, a lot of shredded meat, in a tasty tomato base. As with the bbq sauce, a little too oily with a thin layer floating on top. Service was okay. A little slow, but it looked like only three people were working: one taking orders, one plating the food, and one carrying plates to the tables and cleaning up. I did walk in right behind several others, though. If I had been there ten minutes later, there would have been no line. (I don't think any of the recent reviews mentioned it, but you stand in line to order up front, then they bring your food out to your table.) I'm surprised none of the recent reviews mentioned the lack of alcohol, either. No beer in a bbq joint? Maybe they're just waiting on their liquor license. I would have asked, but it didn't occur to me because I was getting take-out. I know a lot of people that would pass on getting a Saturday night dinner there, though, if they can't wash their Q down with a cold beer. I saw reviews complaining that they ran out of this or that. They do have signs on the door and in the line saying that they fix the meat fresh every day, and only use leftovers for stew and beans. They warn that it's hard to judge demand and they may run out of certain meats. Fair enough - the place is new and it will take some time to figure out how much they need on a daily basis. They have enough options that you should find something you like. The ambiance is okay. It's a bbq joint wanna-be. There are small cartoons and folksy stuff posted around the counter, and some of the usual bbq joint paraphernalia, but it's hard to hide the fact that this place is in a strip mall. I'm rooting for this place, though. We can use another bbq restaurant in the neighborhood, the staff is friendly, and I'm hoping they're just going through some start-up pains. I'll try again - St. Louis ribs next time - and I'm hoping I can give them at least one more star. Maybe they'll be serving beer by then!

    (2)

  • Bill W.

    My favorite BBQ in Atlanta. The sides are great too, especially for a BBQ joint! Love to serve their brisket at dinner parties and watch people devour their serving and ask for more.

    (5)

  • Dan K.

    YUM ,, this and Fox are my two very favorite BBQ places in atlanta --i love their pulled pork and beef brisket-- Sides include slaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac n cheese, brunswick stew, collards, or fries. plus they usually have a lot of side specials and desserts - also, their sauces are really good --

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    I can't give enough positive feedback about the Community Q! Love what they are doing to keep it local, and offering up the same fresh local produce for purchase that they are using to cook up their sides. Now, I have tried all of the meats and with out a doubt, this is the best BBQ in the ATL! The pork is so tender and juicy and full of rich, smoky flavor without being overwhelming. The Mac and Cheese is so darn good that I would love to have that as my entree, with a side of pulled pork or beef brisket! Baked Beans are stellar, and the Banana Pudding is almost as good as the pudding at Southern Sweets. Okay, maybe it is just as good.. Oh, and i hope that they never stop making those Chocolate Caramel Rice Crispy Treats. Not sure how they make em, but they are better than any Rice Crispy treat I have ever tasted. Maybe it's the fresh butter? Yummers!

    (5)

  • Elvis J.

    Ordered one of their smoked turkeys for the holidays. Will never cook another turkey again. All of our guests raved about it & there were absolutely no leftovers for sammies later. Not a fan of ham personally but i've heard it is equally excellent.

    (4)

  • Laura O.

    I am still dreaming of delicious BBQ since eating there last week. The macaroni and cheese made me cry it was so good. Got the pulled pork and pulled chicken (served between two thick slices of bread). Heaven on earth. You stand in line to order, grab a seat, and wait for your food to be delivered to your table. 3 or 4 BBQ sauce options on the table. All amazing. Pass on the black eyed peas, but you will devour everything else.

    (5)

  • Victoria M.

    Amazing BBQ! Had ribs with mac and cheese, and I can't wait to try everything else on the menu! You can tell everything is home cooked and made to order.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    Great BBQ. Helpings are large and food is tasty. Sides are excellent too

    (5)

  • Corey Z.

    Been eating there since day 1. Wonderfully sweet staff. Many there for years. The challenge is to try new things and specials.... and they sell fresh food items. Institution......

    (5)

  • Steve D.

    Oh man. Let me just say that I am California and on our visit to Georgia I knew I had to try some good BBQ. Community was consistently on the list of places to try and it did not disappoint. Generous portions of tender, juicy meat in between two prices of Texas toast and a side of your choosing? Yes please! I was with a group of seven people and was able to try a little bit of the pulled pork, brisket, St. Louis Ribs, half chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, cole slaw, and potato salad... All of it, incredible. My favorites however were the Baked Beans which were incredibly addicting and the chicken. I had to go stand back in line just to buy a couple of their dry rubs to bring home! And speak of the hospitality! The crew here was helpful, friendly and courteous. Can't wait to visit again!!!! Or you can open up a restaurant in California and be the king of BBQ in the SF Bay Area... Just saying... Thanks for the great experience.

    (5)

  • Marvin B.

    Was looking for a good BBQ joint in the Decatur area and came across this one. The ratings prompted me to give them a try, glad I did. This place has really good bbq and service too. I ordered the sweet potato with kale which was delicious and the baked beans, these however were smothered in too much bbq sauce. Overall I had a very good experience and will be back again.

    (4)

  • Judith C.

    How lucky am I to live so close to a place with such good BBQ?! They offer sandwiches and plates, and you can choose 2 sides. Some of my fave sides were: - mac n cheese: super cheesy, but I only eat like the top half because after that, it gets super oily. Also, these don't taste that great when reheated. - collard greens: my #1 - smoked sweet potato with kale I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish a whole plate of that stuff; I loved the smokiness and tenderness of the meat. I loveeddd loading up on the condiments (red = sweet, from Georgia; yellow = vinegary; from N. Carolina I think). It was my first time trying these different sauces! Learning something new all the time. Prices are very reasonable, especially with the huge serving that you get. Service is friendly and welcoming. With this place being so close, I'd come here all the time!

    (4)

  • Barbara M.

    What an amazing lunch! Located in a strip mall, which contains several restaurants, these guys really know how to do it right! Large portions, reasonably priced. We both ordered the pulled pork sandwich and mac/cheese. My husband also ordered the baked beans. We brought home the sandwich bread and six ounces of meat. Seriously, did I say large servings??? Next time, we will probably order one sandwich and two sides and split. I have no doubt that we will leave completely satisfied. Can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Memorial Day Weekend is the official start of the summer and the perfect time to start the Atlanta BBQ tour. The first stop was here at Community BBQ. You could smell the smoke from street, so my taste buds are on 10 now. We walked in and it was packed that's a great sign. They have all of your classic BBQ meats, but one thing they had that most signs don't is Sausage. I got the Ribs and Brisket combo, while my GF got the Pulled Pork and Sausage- this was the perfect combo because we were able to sample a little of everything. Now on the food- ranking from top to Bottom: The Ribs were delicious- perfectly smoked and flavorful, next was the sausage It's the perfect pairing with the ribs. The pulled porked lacked flavor- I wish they used the same rub they used on the ribs on the pork- the brisket was mediocre. The side are just fillers- I can say I'm happy about them having handcut fries. I would return for the ribs and sausage combo.

    (3)

  • Matt S.

    Tonight was my first meal at Community Q. I've heard conflicting reviews from my self-described BBQ aficionado friends about whether it is as good as everyone else says it is. I decided to start with what I consider to be the cornerstone of any BBQ joint - the pulled pork sandwich. Of course, as a lifelong cheese n' mac fan, I had to go with that for my side. Let me kill the suspense and say that I am also a BBQ aficionado, being born and raised in Georgia, and I was not disappointed. The pork sandwich was plentiful, with meat overflowing onto the side. It was sandwiched between two crisp pieces of Texas toast bread that was sufficiently buttered and also sported a bonus hint of garlic. Yum. I quickly doused it in sauce, of which they have both vinegar and sweet varieties available to satisfy any BBQ palate (I picked vinegar as that is my personal favorite). The sandwich was awesome, the meat was very tender and to my enjoyment, fairly devoid of overly fatty pieces. As for the mac, it is as good as you've heard. Creamy with big fat noodles. My only complaint here is that it is a rather small side for the price. The size of the sandwich made up for that, as there were several overflowed chunks remaining after I dispensed with the bread. Being a new Decatur resident, I'm happy to have established a great BBQ joint around the corner from our house. In my unprofessional opinion, they give Fox Bros. (my long-time favorite) some much needed competition.

    (4)

  • Robert M.

    This place and Fox Brothers are hands down the 2 best bbq places around Atlanta/Decatur...

    (5)

  • Jess B.

    If you want to have a good day- eat here. Seriously this is some of the best bbq I have ever had. The pulled pork and brisket are so good you can eat it without sauce...But then they have awesome sauce so why do that. The mac and cheese will make all other mac and cheese obsolete. The staff and overall atmosphere is fantastic - I have prob returned to more than any other resturant in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Clarity A.

    I was reared in a culinary city, so it's rare that food makes me smile. The ribs at Community BBQ caused a glow in my belly, a stream of joy so great that it spread all the way up to my face. I could taste their process and preparation. There's a refined way to cook, in which one step is taken, then the food steeps in that herb/butter/seasoning for a time, then the next (slowly, slowly) and then another....It's clear they take their time to craft the flavors and tenderness you taste in the food. I'm so pleased to give them 5 stars I wish there were 5 more to tack on. Increase your satisfaction and eat here!

    (5)

  • Pratik S.

    This is the best BBQ in Atlanta in my opinion. We have been several times now and never had a bad experience. We have taken a few friends from out of town and they have all loved it as well. The pulled pork and pork ribs are my favorite things to get here. They don't put sauce on either when it comes out so you can really taste how smoky and flavorful the meat is. They have a North Carolina vinegar based sauce and a Kansas City sweet sauce which are both really good but I think the NC one is better. The pulled pork is really soft and tender and can really be eaten without sauce. The ribs are very meaty and flavorful and really just perfect in every way. The ¼ bone in chicken is pretty good too. As for the sides I don't think you can really go wrong no matter what you choose. The mac and cheese is amazing and it has huge noodles and tons of cheese. The potato salad, slaw, greens, and Brunswick stew are all really good too. We tried the smoked sweet potatoes with kale last time we went and they were ok, but not as great as the other sides. I know it will be very tough to do, but you have to save room for the banana pudding. It may be the best thing on the menu. If you haven't tried Community Q you are really missing out. Stop what you are doing now and go!

    (5)

  • Qian L.

    One of my favorite places to eat when i was in collage. They have great BBQ, not sure what style of BBQ it is but it is really really good. my favorite things to order is the half chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens (usually can't finish so have leftovers!!). I have been on multiple occasions, have eaten at the restaurant or take out, and have never been disappointed. I know they also make their own BBQ sauce. The food is really great and the people are really friendly. Make sure you go early in the afternoon if you want some great BBQ for dinner, because i remember going one evening and they were closed by 7 or 7:30. I think they close when they run out of food.

    (4)

  • Alex W.

    Good as always but they stopped serving the beef short ribs and they just raised their prices. I ordered a half rack plate with fries and Mac. Mac is the best Mac ever and ribs are delicious. But no more beef ribs on the menu and prices have increased.

    (3)

  • American A.

    Tried this place for dinner last night. I hardly give 5 stars to any restaurant. This place deserves it. Great food. Freshly prepared. Great price for the quality and quantity of food. Highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Tom E.

    When one is on the way to a funeral, you would think you would just go, pay your respects, and thats it. With my family- it went down a little differently. We decided to get some BBQ beforehand. This is a favorite amongst my oldest sister and her husband, and I got to find out why before we had to go to a funeral. Nestled just inside a hustling intersection off of Clairmont road, Community Q can be easy to drive by if you are not paying attention. That has happened to me plenty of times, over the years. It's small, and simple- look at the menu on the wall, order your food/pay, and then they bring you your food. They have a Coke machine, you get to use at your disposal (sorry, no Freestyle!). I remember getting the sausage and some ribs- with a side of mac n cheese. I won't lie- the sausage was pretty damn decent and smoked well! The ribs were alright as well, but I liked that sausage! Doused with sauce, I enjoyed the mac n cheese. The people there were friendly which was a plus- and they clean the tables up for you. They do have a lot to offer, including sides- so I would presume that this place has a lot to offer, even for a vegetarian. The value is decent too- sometimes you can go to a 'cue place and it will just seem really expensive. This is not like that at all! I am glad I was able to find another solid BBQ place, I would like to go back and try some more! I cannot remember if they serve booze or not. I want to say no :/ ....

    (4)

  • Luckie D.

    BBQ is subjective and I like a little crusty char whcih they don't do. Other than that this place is a real winner. Friendly, welcoming, great fresh food (nothing leftover whcih means go early when its gone its gone) sweet tea, mac&cheese and collards is what I had and it was all good.

    (4)

  • Anthony T.

    Oh the smell when you walk in the door!!! Love, love, love it!!!!!!! Friendly staff. Recommended plate when he could tell I was torn with choices on the menu. Perfectly brewed southern sweet tea. Great food, great ambiance.

    (5)

  • Tammy L.

    I typically don't prefer bbq, but Community Q BBQ is SO good and with excellent service to match. Everyone is extremely friendly and their portions are generous without being overpriced. The food came out in under 5 minutes during lunch time, which is amazing considering it was pretty full inside. It was my first time here but my boyfriend has been here before so it was his suggestion but I will definitely be back. I ordered the 2 meat plate with 2 sides: Louisiana style ribs, pulled chicken, Mac&cheese, and Brunswick stew. He ordered the beef brisket sandwich with potato salad and Mac&cheese. Everything was really good. The stew was tasty with a little kick to it. Ribs were amazing, brisket was tender and flavorful, chicken wasn't dry at all. Potato salad and Mac were on point. Oh and Homemade BBQ sauce. I shall return & would definitely recommend this place to anyone craving BBQ.

    (5)

  • J S.

    Not a huge fan of BBQ in the first place but I gave it 3 stars because the seasons were on point. Mac and cheese was oily and needed salt. Collard greens were yummy. The attendant seemed bored and was rude. Place wasn't very clean, didn't make it to my top anything list.

    (3)

  • Andria C.

    So considering the fact that my office is at Perimeter, some might say that driving here for lunch about twice a month is outrageous. And it is. But you know who couldn't care less?!? Me. I climbed aboard the Community Q bandwagon fairly recently and it has quickly become my favorite BBQ spot in the city. While I'm a huge fan of their pulled pork, smoked sausage, and ribs (pork or beef), it's the sides that keep me coming back. The baked beans, brunswick stew, and collardrs and my favorites. I can live without their mac and cheese. FYI - I know sausage isn't the sexiest thing to order, but get it. Please. For me. It's surprisingly delicious. And if you don't like it, I'll eat it. It can get pretty busy, even at lunchtime, so be prepared. But the wait is absolutely worth it.

    (4)

  • Steve L.

    This was stop #2 on my Atlanta BBQ marathon. My buddy Jarrett and I had just come from Fox Bros BBQ where both cars and customers were lined up looking for parking and table spaces. In contrast, Community Q had no line and our food came out without delay, and to me, that's a bad sign when it comes to BBQ: Ribs: Tender but unmemorable flavor Brisket: Dry Mac n Cheese: Mac n Butter Fries: Actually pretty good With such a high Yelp rating, Community Q was definitely a disappointment to me in both food and atmosphere.

    (2)

  • Andrew D.

    I had been meaning to try this place for ages. I stopped by the other night. Tried the ribs, brisket and house made sausage along with collard greens. My likes included, well priced fare, tax included in the price, quick service, and quick follow up by the food runners. Both of which are levels of service above the call of duty for this level of establishment. The ribs were awesome, with a nice rub on them. They were perfect, and not too dry. The brisket was moist. I still prefer Texas style Brisket which is more smokey with more rings of flavor on the outside to show for it, but this was still very flavorful and they were cut in fairly thick slices. The homemade sausage was awesome as well. The sauce was what BBQ sauce is supposed to be. Sweet and tangy. they also had the vinegar variety on hard, and I tried that, but it is just not my bag. Even the white bread accompanying the meats seemed more hearty then most BBQ joints and it was toasted with a nice amount of butter on it. Loved it. I will be back for sure. Soon!

    (5)

  • MJ M.

    The food is good but I will not be going back because of the action of one of the wait staff. I took a seat with my kids while my wife went to order. I wasn't aware that you had to order first before you sat down. I can appreciate that and was made aware of by one of the wait staff. It took my wife 15 minutes to get through lines and there were plenty of tables. I offered to give up our table should someone else need it before we had ordered. This certain staff, came by twice to check in and I could tell it really really bothered her that we were sitting there. At one point she did ask us to give up the table but then abruptly said, oh wait...the party looking for a seat had found another table. After we ate our meal, she came by yet again and said "you can take it easy since there are other tables" implying I guess that if it was busy, to get the hell out!! While food may be good, my $50 can also be spent elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Kathryn W.

    I like the mac and cheese and cole slaw. Rough place for a vegetarian. Burnt Fork has tofu but Community Q does not. I still like eating here it's just bad for my health :) cheese, carbs, and mayonaise. yeesh.

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Amazing BBQ, comfortable seating, nice folks working there. We have eaten at Community BBQ three times, and never had a bad experience or a bad item off the menu. Fox bros., Fat Matt's, Daddy D.'s are all getting a run for their money!

    (5)

  • Devin A.

    Community Q stands out as one of the relatively stronger BBQ joints in the Atlanta area. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. About as good as Fox Bros, but without the wait/hassle. Below are some reviews of the menu items I tried. I went with a party of four on a weeknight and had no problem finding a table and received prompt and friendly service once we placed our order at the counter. I had the pulled chicken which I had heard was one of their stronger meats and was not disappointed. One of the moistest servings of chicken I've ever enjoyed. Nice smokey flavor with an almost buttery texture. Would definitely get it again. My girlfriend had the 1/2 chicken, which was also very good, but I think the pulled chicken was a bit moister. My friends had the pulled pork and the sausage, which I got to try a bite of as well: The sausage was on point: richly flavored with a nice smoke and an enjoyable snap. I saw many other diners enjoying it as well. I think I'd get this next time I go. Now. The pork. Pulled pork is very hard to set yourself apart with, but very easy to execute poorly. I would say Community Qs pork hits the mark with theirs and it is obvious they know what they are doing. Community Q has both a vinegar and a tomato based BBQ sauce on their tables. I like having the opportunity to use both and both are good sauces. The tomato based sauce has a nice heat to it. Sides: Mac n cheese: good, very creamy, actually very VERY creamy Slaw: very good, nice touch with the added mustard Baked beans: good Brunswick Stew: good, beefy Collards: very good, some of the best I've had Also, if you're like me and enjoy plenty of pickles with your Q, Community Q has you covered

    (4)

  • April H.

    I make a lot of trips to Winship Cancer center, so finding a quality BBQ spot nearby was a must. Community BBQ fit the bill. The pulled pork is tender and mildly smoky, with nice pieces of "bark" throughout. The ribs are St.Louis style, served without sauce and very tasty on their own. I like the options of a vinegar sauce as well as a sweeter, traditional thick sauce. Although the stew didn't thrill me ( very flavorful but a bit chunky) I absolutely LOVED the collard greens. Prepared southern style with a smoky taste without being overly-salty. Outstanding! The Mac n cheese is something special. More of a rigatoni than elbow, it was creamy and tender with a nice topcoat of baked cheese. Service is fast and friendly, even when the place is hopping. Definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    I traveled down to Decatur/Atlanta with my son to look at colleges. I knew I could get good BBQ in the south so I turned to yelp. Our very first night here, we decided on this restaurant and I was not disappointed! My son had the pulled chicken sandwich and I had the pulled pork sandwich. I have never had meat so tender and the sauce they make themselves, out of this world! It was so good, we had to go back the next night and try the ribs, sausage and beef. Not at all disappointed. It was always busy and I could see this was the place to get good food. If I ever get down this way again, I will be back :).

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Love the BBQ ribs and brisket. Sides are great, too. I had mac-and-cheese + Brunswick stew. Any time I am in Decatur to fight the VA in court, I follow it up with a meal here. I love it.

    (5)

  • Owen K.

    The line was to the door, but it only took about five minutes to reach the counter. The atmosphere was a weird mix of corporatized hipster grunge (think Mellow Mushroom) and legitimate dank basement grunge (I purposely did not seek out their health score). The music was 60s/70s stoner rock. I ordered the ribs with slaw and beans. The slaw was decent, the ribs were delicious, and the beans were fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of St. Louis style ribs, but I will put up with them if done right. In this case, the meat was fall-off-the-bone and worth the struggle with all that extra ligament. My only issue was the crust on the ribs were a little salty. That said, I would go again for the ribs. My wife also got the ribs with a side of fries and mac-and-cheese. The mac-and-cheese was amazing (the fries were also really good, but I'm not a fan of fries with BBQ). Overall, I enjoyed the experience. The whole yelling-out-your-name-to-deliver-your-order thing is kind of weird (I kept looking to see if names I heard were for people I knew), but our food came super-quick, which was impressive, especially since it was so packed. The place kind of had a touristy, looky-loo vibe, but that may have been the time of day/week we went (Friday at 6pm).

    (4)

  • Julie F.

    I'm not the biggest fan of barbecue, preferring to focus my obsessive food attentions on pizza. But Community is one of the two places I actually crave. Their pulled pork is soooo good: tender and juicy with a perfect amount of crispy bits mixed in there. With that sweet sauce dousing it (throw a little of the vinegar in there too- you won't be sorry) it is one of the most perfect bites I can imagine. What about the sides- half the reason for hitting up a BBQ joint, in my book? Well, their baked beans have bits of pulled pork in them... mmmm. I am also obsessed with their macaroni and cheese, a creamy and delicious rendition of the dish that tempts me mercilessly, only to shame me after I eat every last bite and feel it languishing in my belly and making me sleepy all afternoon at work. Or was that the sweet banana pudding that I couldn't help ordering? Platters at Community, if you don't order a sandwich, come with the meat on a thick buttery slice of Texas toast. I can't stop eating that either... just more proof that this place is good to the last detail.

    (4)

  • Rebecca O.

    As many have said, Community Q is one of the only BBQ restaurants in the Decatur/Druid Hills area. I feel like Community Q is isn't as recognized as Fox Bros or Heirloom, but it could definitely be a contender. To be honest, I'm not the best reviewer for BBQ restaurants, simply because I usually order BBQ pork (with a side of lame-sauce). It's hard to screw that up, but I do have to say they do a nice job. One thing I can judge BBQ restaurants on is there sides. I could dream about Community Q's baked beans and mac n cheese. So delicious! We also tried their banana pudding, which coincidentally didn't have any bananas in it. It was good, but I wouldn't say the best I've ever had. The service here is always very friendly and personable. They kind of have a home-y atmosphere, which helps with the overall friendly persona. There's also a small sign that says they donate their leftovers to the community food bank, which I thought was cool. I always leave smelling like bbq smoke (not a bad thing)-- just a heads up in case you have "nice clothes" on.

    (4)

  • Jill T.

    Amazing food even for a vegetarian like myself. The macaroni and cheese is to DIE for it was extremely cheesy and the Mac was soft, its a shame that I don't know the recipe for it. Oh and let me tell you about this salad it's a mixture of fresh greens, beets,carrots, radish with an awesome vinaigrette dressing. The chicken I cannot speak for nor can I speak for the barbeque so I'm going to give it to you from the other persons perspective. Moist and juicy chicken with loads of flavor, bar-b que was sweet and tangy, the meat was tender and you can taste the smoke in the ribs, the ribs were smoked and not boiled.

    (5)

  • Roman G.

    Delicious. Friendly staff! Really laid back atmosphere with great food and awesome prices. You won't leave disappointed. Cheap for the amount of food you get.

    (5)

  • Food L.

    Amazing BBQ chicken and brisket. The best mac&cheese you'll ever eat. Also, if you don't get the lemonade you're crazy.

    (5)

  • Bessie S.

    Good stuff! They serve the meat and let you apply the sauce, either Kansas City (I think, tomato based) or Carolina. The mac and cheese is worth mentioning...beans are nice and tangy, slaw is sweet vinegar (not my bag). The most exciting thing about this place are the less-usual sides: sweet potatoes and kale, black eyed peas, beets, ginger-bread pudding (!)...they have rotating specials to keep things interesting, and I've never been disappointed. The least exciting is the restaurant-style Texas toast they serve the meat on...I'm not a fried-white-bread-and-butter kinda girl. The service is several classes above what you would expect from a short-order kitchen- they go out of their way to make you happy. The environment is *extremely* casual- paper towels on the table, water served out of an Igloo container. If this would ruin your experience, then...what the hell are you doing at a BBQ joint? ;) See y'all Decaturites down there!

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Yay Q! They've incorporated some amazing and original sides to their menu. The sweet potatoes with Kale are amazing and the specials look awesome as well although the only one I've tried thus far is the Red Neck Chicken Salad (but it was gooood). I must say that the staff continues to be one of the things I love most about Q though. As I hobbled in on crutches at lunch time, a super-nice guy working there opened the door for more, offered a Q stamp to add to the signatures on my cast, and tucked away my crutches by the door. Now THATs service!

    (5)

  • brennan v.

    Short and sweet.....everything I had was GREAT. Pulled pork sandwich, mac n cheese and fries. Best in Atlanta! Especially the mac . The staff were great too. Extremely helpful and great personalities. I will definitely go back!

    (5)

  • keith k.

    Mediocre food, service, and decor As others have posted in these reviews, the staff is rude, condescending, and doesn't care about customer service. My guess is that since they get enough business, the ownership neglects that crucial part of the equation. When we walked in there was a big fat sign saying "No more Beef", just seeing that almost made us walk away. And accordingly to fellow Yelpers, this apparently is a common occurrence. We decided to order a Rib Combo. The portions were incredible small (smallest I've ever seen in a BBQ joint); which is very odd since most places to be be very generous. There was about enough pulled pork for one slider and the 1/4 rib rack was about 2 and a half bones of meat. It came with two sides, and I ordered an add-on. There were NO biscuits and no complimentary ones either. The entree was for about $25 in which I thought was a rip off. The rips were decent, but the pulled pork sandwich lacked flavor and was not fine quality. The sides were just okay, but not good enough to finish them. When I asked to order more food, they said my only option was to order another combo plate, and at $20 each, this wasn't something I was going to do. I decided to leave unsatisfied. Would not eat here again, I will try other places first. Especially since chain restaurants such as Lucile's BBQ or Fox Bros. BOTH of which offer a better product for less money.

    (1)

  • bob k.

    they make a damn good Reuben.

    (4)

  • Brandy B.

    When we drove up to the packed strip mall in the middle of who knows where, after driving 30 minutes in traffic, I was thinking to myself (and my stomach) "This better be good!" Boy was I plesantly suprised. The yummy food at Community Q BBQ attracts well, the community. It seemed that it was a huge mix of a very diverse group of people all gathering around for the same thing, good, cheap bbq. I had the kitchen sink salad with brisket and my bf had the brisket sammie and we split the mac'n'cheese, the blackeyed peas, collard greens, and bbq baked beans. Everything was yummy, well everything except the mac'n'cheese which had a yummy crunchy top but the rest just tasted like pasta in a white sauce of some sort that was not cheesy enough. I loved my trip to ATL and this was one of the many reasons!

    (5)

  • Imani L.

    Oh Community, Community, Community. I just wrote a review for a BBQ competitor in Atlanta so I knew I had to do Community BBQ a solid and give my opinion on this little Decatur gem. I heard about Community BBQ through some of my classmates when I went to Emory. I'm embarrassed to say I never bothered make the less than 2 minute trip up the road to try it until I was four months from graduating. Still, I'm glad I did. I went to Community BBQ on one of my first dates with my boyfriend. We were both impressed and have been back many times since then. I love the mac n' cheese, all the meats are good and flavorful, and the service is quick. Also, it's always crowded but there is never a wait to sit down. Sometimes the line gets a bit long but it moves really fast. I think it is a great place to grab a quick lunch and it isn't too noisy. My only hang up with Community is the fact that I have been served cold food before which is never acceptable. Naturally, I have to deduct one star for that. Still, the convenience, the service, the flavorful food, and the familiarity keeps me coming back.

    (4)

  • Brenda T.

    Friendly quick service and a great place to eat in or do take out. I had the two meat sandwich (sausage and pulled pork) with creamy Mac n Cheese. The sweet BBQ sauce and the savory meat brings joy to my stomach. The sweet potato side is good too but I find it hard to choose a veggie when presented with many tempting side dishes. A valued addition to the Emory area.

    (4)

  • Jeremy H.

    This unassuming BBQ joint in a strip mall on Clairmont road is my favorite BBQ joint in Atlanta! I usually order the pulled pork, but have also ordered the ribs. The ribs are really good even if they aren't the best ribs in Atlanta, but the pulled pork is amazing. It has a good chart, but isn't overcooked. It has a juicy, tender texture and is packed with smokey flavor. For sides, everything is good. The mac and cheese is awesome. The Brunswick stew is really good. The collards are good too. I'd go to this place more often if it wasn't out of my way in Decatur, but I definitely can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jessica D.

    I went here for lunch with some work colleagues today, and this place was the perfect Monday lunch. I got the pulled chicken and mac'n'cheese and baked beans. It was good, but, the 293 reviews before me were right- it's some of the best mac'n'cheese I've ever had. The baked beans were a bit soupy (and I dribbled some down my shirt [sigh]), but had a nice kick to them. The service was excellent, especially for the busy lunchtime crowd. The manager/owner/guy bossing everyone even offered to do the Heimlich maneuver after I started choking on a sip of water. So, bottom line, I shouldn't go out in public, but if you do, go to this place for good barbeque. It's so good I'm going to bring my mom here when she comes back to visit.

    (5)

  • Kimberly L.

    The portions were BEYOND AWESOME SIZED!!!! The tea and lemonade were UBER SWEET... but I guess that's pretty subjective. The BBQ was excellent. I love that they offer you a choice of vinegar / mustard based or sweet tomato brown sugar based BBQ sauce. Everyone rants and raves about the mac and cheese but it was average to slightly above in my opinon. All and all I was impressed with my meal and the service. Update... one weird thing is the fries are heavily seasoned w/ a some sort of sweet rub??? Weird.... I think I'd kind-of get it if there were sweet potato fries... but it was just weird.

    (4)

  • Katy L.

    I've been working my way through Atlanta Magazine's top BBQ in Atlanta list and Community Q was my next stop. A few of my friends had told me that this was their favorite BBQ in town so I was excited to try it out. First, the staff is awesome. I know that some people don't like sarcasm, especially from restaurant staff, but I enjoy a little snark now and then. They bantered with me as my husband and I ordered and jokingly mispronounced my name when our food was ready. Granted I might be in the minority of people who like that sort of thing, but to me it was greatly appreciated. My husband ordered the brisket which I liked, but he didn't like as much as Grand Champion. I don't remember the sides we ordered, but I do remember the mac and cheese was quite tasty. Still doesn't top my all time fave from Swallow at the Hollow. Now I am going to talk about a salad...something that usually doesn't happen in a review of a BBQ joint. But their Kitchen Sink salad is pretty incredible. I don't even remember everything that was in there, but I do recall some beets, a hard boiled egg, greens, radishes (I think) and much much more. The vinaigrette they served with it was awesome too. You can add some meat, so I added the chicken. Man, it was incredibly. I know a bunch of people don't really ever crave salads, but I do, and specifically this one. I want to drive their now to get one.

    (4)

  • Dwayne B.

    Great BBQ! Could use a little less vinegar on the collards, and a lot less butter on the Mac and Cheese! Other then that, pretty good!

    (4)

  • Valerie N.

    Amen. Here's what's so fantastic. -- 100A health score. A 1-freakin-00!!!!!!!! Woohoo. -- When I walked in, CCR's "Green River" was playing and I found myself toe-tappin' and humming along while I waited in line. Followed by Tedeschi Trucks, I knew I was in the perfect place. -- I didn't wait long at all on a busy Friday night. -- You can sit outside - yay! -- SLOPPY JOE BRISKET SANDWICHES. OMG, heaven. It was so good y'all. I'm officially an addict. It was on special so this may require me calling like a mad woman to see if they have it again. Ridiculously good. -- Can we please talk about their mac & cheese? It's soooo good that I've made the recipe at home (found here, thanks AJC/Access Atlanta! accessatlanta.com/atlant… ) I love when I get a bite where the noodle has a ton of cheese inside the rigatoni. Yummity yum yum. -- This is the first time I've really enjoyed a Kansas City BBQ sauce. Perfection. The only thing that would improve Community Q would be hushpuppies, but that's the TN girl in me. :)

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    Community Q is my favorite bbq in Atlanta! You must get the 1/2 pork 1/2 beef brisket meal with a side of mac & cheese and collard greens!

    (5)

  • Hieu H.

    Located in a non-descript strip mall near Emory, Community Q's low-key digs don't do the BBQ justice. As you enter, you are instantly transformed into a homey restaurant that seems to have withstood the test of time. With a worn-in vibe, that feels like your favorite old sweater you never want to get rid of, Community Q really does feel like a local watering hole. There's no pretense here, just good BBQ - especially the beef ribs. Big enough for two, and makes you feel like a cavemen taking a bite out of the giant rib. The sides are just as delicious as the meat. The mac and cheese is decadent and oozing with cheesy goodness. The collards have that perfect balance of bitter and salt and would put any grandmother's version to shame.

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    An office favorite with my coworkers. Some of the best brisket I've ever had, and I'm SUPER picky about brisket. It's probably the best BBQ I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and get the mac n cheese. I had the brisket sandwich, mac n cheese, kale and sweet potatoes the last time I went. Unbelievable. This is also a go-to when guests are visiting from out of town. One of Atlanta's finest.

    (5)

  • Kate F.

    We live a couple blocks from Fox Bros, so that's been our go-to bbq for the last year. Last week, we were in the mood for something different and decided to give Community Q a whirl. I had the Kitchen Sink Salad with pulled pork and my BF got a combo plate with chicken, brisket, collards, and sweet potatoes. The positives: Food came out quickly and the services is very friendly. The salad was lightly dressed (maybe a bit too lightly dressed), but I liked the variety of veggies and the big bowl (who doesn't love a Big Salad?). The side portion of pork was very generous and it was pretty tender. The chicken was also nice and juicy. The not-as-positives: I wasn't a big fan of the sauces, which weren't super flavorful. The sides, too, were a little underwhelming (and sides are usually my favorite part of bbq). In fact, at Fox Bros, I usually only get sides. I could easily eat a meal of just collards. So when the collards at Community Q were a touch on the bland side, it was a bit disappointing. Overall, it was a pretty decent meal. The meats were the best part and I really liked the fact that there's a nice veggie-full and healthy option for me. If I went back, I'd probably want to sample a few more sides, as it's possible that we just selected the wrong ones.

    (3)

  • Paige N.

    It's hard to believe I've lived around the corner from Community Q BBQ and never once noticed it, let alone set foot in it until last weekend. Boy was I missing out. My boyfriend is a huge fan of good barbecue and I'm not one to turn it down either, so when we were trying to decide what to have for lunch on Saturday, I suggested Community Q. We'd been meaning to try it for a while, but hadn't gotten around to it. When you step inside, it gives off a gloriously homey, slightly kitschy feel: there's children's drawings on the walls, small figurines of chicken, cows and pigs throughout the little space, a menu board on the wall with the barbecue options and daily specials, and tables and booths scattered around with each table bearing a roll of paper towels (your napkins) and a variety of sauces. After some debate (he was leaning towards ribs and more ribs), we agreed to split a combo plate of brisket and ribs, a side of mac and cheese, and Brunswick stew. Although you can certainly dine inside, we chose to utilize the patio which has a number of tables (big round wooden tables), stools and a bench running around the perimeter of the patio for additional seating. In no time at all, a server brought out our lunch on a stainless steel tray, and it was pretty impressive: brisket, baby back ribs, Texas toast, mac'n'cheese, Brunswick stew, and a few slices of pickle on the side for garnish. It all tasted great too. The sauce was on the side and had a slightly sweet tang to it which went well with both the ribs and the brisket, which were both super tender and flavorful. The mac'n'cheese was some of the creamiest I've ever had, and instead of traditional macaroni, they used big penne pasta instead - nice surprise. And the Brunswick stew had some extra spice in it that provided an unexpected (though not unpleasant) kick. We easily polished off the plate between the two of us. Aside from a pushy employee who tried to take away my extra plate I was using for my share of the barbecue before I was done, I have no complaints. We'll definitely be back to Community Q BBQ.

    (4)

  • Tamaica M.

    Omg!!! This bbq place is the BOMB! My gf found this one on Yelp. SO we decided to give it a try it was good!! I had the pulled pork bbq sandwich with baked beans....she had the meat combo that sausage is good I want that when I go back.My daughter had the bbq sandwich and mac n cheese off the chain! They even have a pan of mac n cheese to go...I will be back!!!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Best sweet I have ever had and he only bbq I've ever been to that sells sloppy joes. The sloppy joe is to die for, I go every Wednesday to get it.

    (5)

  • Lauren A.

    After I had gotten done ranting about how delicious the food was to my mother (a new customer) our experience was soon ruined by an extremely rude waitress(?). Manager - if you're reading - I attempted to call you to let you know about this employee but your phone lines rang busy. I am talking about the blonde girl with a piercing coming out of her face. As we are getting our food - my mom asked for a cup. Not only did this chick roll her eyes at my mother (yes, she seriously did and I could not believe it) she was very condescending when it came to the cup. I really think she thought we were paupers begging for a freaking water cup - even though we had bought a family 8 pack of food totaling $75.00. Anyways, I was so upset at this blatant disrespect that instead of talking about how yummy the food was over dinner with my family, all I could talk about was how disgusted I was with that girls service. This waitress ruined the entire experience with her attitude and I sure hope that this was a bad day for her and not how she generally treats paying patrons. I will be back for the food but if I get another eye roll from that girl I can guarantee she'll be wearing my dinner out of her place of employment. What ever happened to good customer service! Good grief!

    (2)

  • Ed W.

    Wow! What a surprise. First off, given that their decor consists almost entirely of pigs, please get the pulled pork and you won't be disappointed. With the lunch platter, I got brunswick stew (kind of like a chili) and slaw. The sandwich is served on a Texas toast and the servings are huge. My favorite part however was the sweet BBQ and vinegary BBQ saces that they provide. They were both great, either separate or together.

    (5)

  • Douglas W.

    It doesn't seem quite fair that the state of Georgia could have so much unbelievable BBQ. I spent a couple hours reading reviews in the Atlanta area and this place sounded the best after weeding out the yuppified establishments, the ones that serve burgers and the fusion BBQ joints. This was a great find and well deserving of its most laudatory praises on Yelp. I ordered the rib combo with pork ribs and pulled pork. It comes with 2 sides and I opted for 2 of the specials of the day, the sweet potato & kale dish and the black eyed peas. There are 2 sauces on the table. One is a mustard vinegar sauce and the other is a red vinegar sauce. The ribs have good smoke, not overpowering and just right. They were cooked until tender and juicy. They were terrific and both sauces were nice with them. The pulled pork had a nice bark and was similarly smokey, tender and pulled in big pieces just as I like it. I think I liked the red sauce better with the ribs and the yellow sauce with the pulled pork but either worked well. Neither was really sweet which I really prefer most of the time. The sides were great. I thought the greens and potatoes were a little undercooked and seasoned but there was a lot of condiments on the table to add to them so I was just fine with it. The black eyed peas were delicious. I tried my dinner partners baked beans and really enjoyed them too. I didn't want to leave so I ordered blueberry bread pudding with whipped cream. This could have been served with a sauce or had a little more moisture for my taste but it really was delicious. This place would definitely be counted as one of my favorites. I can't wait to go back again.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    Wow, this food is amazing!!! The BBQ pork is wonderful -- the sauce is incredible. I would come here if all they had was beans -- very tasty!! The Mac-n-cheese is better than Paula Deans. Lines are a bit long, but they move quickly and the staff is nice and on top of things.

    (5)

  • Cynthia N.

    Like everyone else, I really like Community Q. The meat is good, but really I love their sides. My favorite side item is the sweet potato w/ braised kale. Although I love kale, the sweet potato is the star and the kale just adds a nice little texture. I also like their collard greens which still have a firmness that I really like with just enough vinegar. The mac-n-cheese is tasty but not for the faint of heart because it's very, very heavy on the butter. The only downside is the pasta used for the mac-n-cheese, it's not my favorite as its a large tube pasta, but it'll do. My favorite meat item are the baby back ribs. They are fall off the bone delicious and the sauce is perfectly sweet and tangy. It's a solid choice. I usually go on a Friday with coworkers and although it's super crowded service is fast and friendly. In my Southern Girl opinion, this is a great place for BBQ. Yelp 52 #52 I made it all the way!

    (4)

  • Mimi B.

    Best BBQ in Decatur area! The beans are the best!! And of course Mac n cheese! Only have had take out.. No complaints!

    (5)

  • Richard R.

    Got invited here for lunch today by the Duke of Community BBQ himself... Mr. Tony "Beef Rib" P!!! Needless to say my wife and I were treated like Royalty as honored guests. First let me say the location is nothing like I pictured it to be. It's actually kinda small, and feels like someplace you would find in the most remote areas of Georgia (which I liked). The menu is simple and the BBQ is straight forward, no gimmicks. BBQ, to me, is St. Louis style ribs and nothing else... so that's exactly what I ordered. The macaroni & cheese was amazing (but a little too greasy). The collard greens were devoured by my wife before I could sample any, but her critique was "they were ok". She said they were a little too bitter with vinegar, which I found humorous considering she inhaled them before I could get my Root Beer filled. But thumbs down to the french fries. I will likely never order them again here. The BBQ pork ribs were fantastic, in my top 3 favorites in Georgia for sure!!! They had great smoke flavor (but not overwhelming), well seasoned, and just the right amount of BBQ sauce dressing it's beautiful outer coloring. But hold on just one minute... because Tony ordered the BEEF ribs and offered me a sample. I told him I was not really a fan, but he insisted and it was true love at first bite!!!! I don't know if there is a difference in seasoning and cooking between the beef and pork ribs, but OMG that beef was amazing!!! I can't wait to go back and have my own plate of this masterfully smoked meat. It didn't look particularly appetizing when it came out, as it was completely charred and looked like firewood after burning all night. But looks can be deceiving, and they definitely were today. The BEEF RIBS are a must try if you are coming here for the first time. Trust me!!! Duke Tony knows what he's talking about, but be sure not to sit on his thrown!!! A long table near the rear with "Tony's Rib here" carved into its surface... lol!!!

    (4)

  • Charee W.

    Community Q BBQ is a very delicious option for local bbq. There are a few bbq places in Decatur that I have tried over the years, but I am thinking that this is my favorite so far. I have tried both the pulled pork and chicken dinners that comes with two sides. They come with texas toast as well. The meats are very flavorful! There are two different sauces to choose from already placed on the table. I believe one is vinegar based and the other is ketchup based, but I am not expert in bbq sauce ingredients. I guessed! Either way, they are still both really good. I have always gotten the same sides, but they have some different options. The mac and cheese is very yummy, and I am sure that I will get it every time I go. When you arrive, you will see that the menu has consistent items posted very easily to see. The last time I was there, they had some fresh produce available to sell also. The staff was really friendly and patient. Put in your order, have a seat, and the food is brought to your table. The food comes on a silver tray with a red and white checkered cover paper on it. It is very true to what you would imagine a bbq restaurant to look like. What sets Community Q BBQ apart from other places are the large portion sizes. There is enough food for you to take home leftovers for a late night snack or lunch the next day. The decor is also interesting. There are decorative pigs everywhere! Family friendly restaurant. It is in a complex with other restaurants, so there is a lot of parking.

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    My fave bbq hands down, five stars. I will drive 40 minutes out of my way just to have great bbq

    (5)

  • Alex C.

    Good BBQ in the Decatur area. It's prices are reasonable and the meat is good. There isn't a crazy wait usually and the staff is super friendly. I'd come here more often but I work next to Heirloom and live next to Fox Brothers. It's hard to justify a special trip here, but it seems to be the best in the area.

    (4)

  • Aileen C.

    YUM! My first BBQ in the south and i was NOT disappointed. WOW they give so much food. I got the beef rib and it was 1.5 times bigger than my fork! I felt like a really lame tourist eating there but the staff was soo nice and friendly. They were helpful in choosing the food and delivered it super quickly. All the sides were delicious too. I wish I could have gotten more, but we couldn't even finish what we ordered. The collared greens and mac and cheese were my favorite. My sister really liked the brunswick stew. Too bad I don't live in ATL normally or else I would be going there all the time.

    (5)

  • Spencer R.

    best bbq in atlanta. must check them out. Great family owned and operated restaurant. Very friendly staff always willing to make your experience the best it can be!

    (5)

  • Rachael I.

    I love BBQ, and this place is solid. Like, really solid. The sandwiches are all great. I think it's an amazing portion for $6.50. My personal favorite is the 2 Meat Combo though. Sliced brisket? To die for. I usually ask for a double serving of it =) The sides are where it's at here though. Mac & cheese? Probably the best I've ever had. Creamy, but not too creamy. Cheesy, but not too cheesy. And the pasta they use is not regular macaroni but this flat type of rigatoni. There's probably an actual name for it that I don't know, but the important thing is that it is big and holds a ton of creamy, cheesy goodness inside every bite! They usually have "special" sides too. One of my favorites is the sweet potatoes & kale. Yummy. Give this place a try! It's a Decatur gem!

    (4)

  • Jaden T.

    Drove here to find signs on the door that they were out of food. I'll take my money and patronize a restaurant that does.

    (1)

  • Duc L.

    I've heard a lot about this place so finally having it for lunch yesterday, this is on the top of my list for BBQ around here. Located in a shopping center a little bit off from the intersection of North Decatur and Clairmont, i actually missed it looking for it the first time around. There's a big tree in front if the building which kinda blocked the sign from the road when I drove by so just be on the lookout for it. Walk in, there's nothing fancy smancy about this place. Couple of tables, paper towel rolls and condiments sitting on the tables, tables for party of 4 or benches for larger groups (like myself when we had a party of 7). It is a smaller seating area, so if it's peak hours, you may not seat everyone together. Menu is printed out on orange sheets located near the front and they even have some menu items hand written in on the front board itself. Something from what I remember such as the kitchen sink salad. Sounds great, but I'm here for BBQ, the salad was WAYYY to healthy of a choice. Ordered the meat combo (pork ribs and pulled pork) with a side of Mac-n-cheese and brunswick stew. The pork ribs were fall-off-the-bone good. Tender, juicy, and just delicious. Outside is charred with that smokey goodness. Not something I would even try to make at home. It's great for having that ribs fix. I hear the beef ribs are just as amazing so it's on my to-try list my next go here. The pulled pork was just as awesome as the ribs. Tender and has the smokey flavor you're looking for. Both was served within two toasted sandwich slices which I just forgot about and ate with a fork so that I can just drench it in BBQ (i'm a sauce kinda guy). This place isn't biased towards it's customers though. Two unlabeled bottles (looking like a ketchup and mustard bottle) sit on your table. The red one is a kentucky sweet based sauce while the yellow is a north-carolina vinegar based sauce. I don't know why they didn't label the bottles to avoid confusion and for us to taste both of them to find out but we ended up asking the food runner what each sauce was exactly. Mac and cheese was awesome. Thick slices of noodles covered in cheesy goodness. That is until you reach the bottom. During the entire time, i'm thinking to myself "Man, it's so cheesy and buttery, it's so good!" Then at the bottom, you see the puddle of butter at the bottom. Just great for your heart I tell you, just kidding guys. But no one said this was about being healthy, I love me some butter. The brunswick stew was good. Girlfriend ate most of it so I didn't have much to taste. Lots of assortments in the stew itself, i didn't know what all was in it. Kinda salty from my tasting. A little more on the thick side than watery but each his own on how they like their stew. Overall, I can't wait to go back. Good food, friendly people, why wouldn't you want to come here?

    (5)

  • quinn a.

    Three stars. I want to give four stars but I am such a barbecue slut that I have to temper my reviews. Well prepared pulled pork. Sides are good and the beef rib is massive and delicious. I wish the store location was a little more on ambience and maybe they will open a location witih a full bar and grille that would be nice. Food is good, wait is minimal and I also have had their catering which is quite good. Sauce is good, hard for me to pinpoint though since I have a definite habit of mixing sauces...Brunswick stew is not the best I have had. Overall this is a super solid place where the bbq is the strength (of course).

    (3)

  • Miyako L.

    So glad we had local Atlanta friends to visit with. Not only did they introduce this place to us (we would have never found it on our own)... they picked us up, drove us there, AND treated!! How nice, geeze! The menu here was overwhelming. Too many delicious sounding choices! And the smokey BBQ smell that was filling my nostrils was super distracting, and making my mouth water and my hunger ravenous. I couldn't concentrate!! We were steered in the right direction with the advice to choose something from the "Specials Menu". Phew, okay thank you for helping me narrow it down. I chose a pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac n cheese and pickled beets. I had pretty much added a side of mac n cheese to every single meal I had during our Atalanta stay, and this was the best version of it FOR SURE. My sandwich was about 5 inches thick and just stuffed full of perfectly smoked pulled pork. The fresh, tart/sweet lemonade was particularly refreshing after bites of the smokey sandwich and the über cheesy mac n cheese. We were so happy to finally have experienced a meal like this! And the drive through Decatur in the fall was gorgeous! If you are a local and have out of town guests... take them here. They will love you for it!

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    Our local friends in Decatur were nice enough to pick us up from downtown and whisk us away to Community BBQ for some "real" southern BBQ. After having their special brisket-based Sloppy Joe special of the day with mac-n-cheese & potato salad sides, I just have to say is "Wow!" I don't think I need to say much else :)

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    I have had their food several times but this most recent time I found their food to be too salty and afterwards had a really bad tummy ache so I won't be coming here for awhile. Try fat matts on Piedmont instead

    (2)

  • Keith B.

    Tasty Q at Community Q I'm a barbecue fan and love the opportunity to try a new place. Community Q has been there for a while, but I only recently got to go there on a visit to Atlanta. We went a bit late on a Tuesday evening and the place was hopping. It is best not to go too late, since everything is smoked fresh each day and they run out of items towards closing. I had the rib and pulled pork combo plate. The pork was delicious with a few bits of crunchy outside meat to give texture. The ribs were good, but a little too soft and fatty. I prefer my ribs cooked more and to have a chewy consistency and to have more of the fat cooked out. My wife had the half chicken which was moist and very flavorful. The sides were mostly excellent. We really liked the collard greens, Brunswick stew and coleslaw. We would skip the mac & cheese next time. I would happily return.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    Solid. The pulled pork is my favorite here, but what really shines is the sides: mac n' cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. The brisket's not bad either.

    (4)

  • J. D.

    I'm still a big fan, but please guys: I witnessed them taking a stack of the trays they use as platters they serve all meals on and just wiping them off with a paper towel and some Windex. These things need to be properly washed and sanitized. That is a gross (and lazy) practice.

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    The best bbq I think I have ever tasted. We split the pulled pork sandwich and got baked beans, fries and mac and cheese and it was all excellent. The meat was so tender and the flavor was amazing. The service is super friendly too. I wish I lived close by because this would definitely be a go to spot.

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    Community Q is a very good BBQ joint in Decatur, in an area of town where there's not a whole lot of BBQ restaurants. This place is less than two years old (grand opening was Thanksgiving 2009). It was founded by one of the Daves of Sam and Dave's BBQ1 in Marietta (now known as Sam's BBQ1 and Dave Poe's BBQ). I like that Community Q has an emphasis on daily, fresh-cooked local meats and vegetables. The restaurant is located in the same shopping center as Bhojanic (Indian) and Pyng Ho (Chinese). There's a good variety of food in the immediate vicinity -- Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, Indian, and BBQ. Q has a humble, down-home atmosphere featuring a cozy space with wooden furniture, mismatched chairs, a handwritten menu on the wall, and locally farmed, organic produce for sale. The produce is located below the wall menu. Examples of some of the items for sale when I went included pecans for $8 per pound and mixed lettuce for $4 a bag. Like other BBQ joints, Q offers sandwiches and plates that come with two sides. The specials looked enticing (pickled beets, smoked sweet potato with kale, "kitchen sink salad," etc.), but I ended up going with some of my favorites: pulled pork, mac and cheese, and collard greens. To my dismay, they do not serve fried okra here. Blasphemy! All prices on the menu include tax. The pulled pork was served with two buttered slices of toast and a few pickle slices. The toast was crispy and delicious. The pork was pulled in large chunks. I've found that the definition of "pulled," "sliced," and "chopped" can vary from BBQ restaurant to BBQ restaurant. The meat was tender and had a pleasant smokiness to it. The sauces on the table included sweet Georgia (red) and vinegary Carolina (yellow), a tradition carried over from the original Sam and Dave's. Mac and cheese starts off well and then gets kind of gross at the end. The noodles are nice and thick with a charred and chewy outer layer of cheese on top. As you make your way towards the bottom of the bowl, the noodles are just sitting in a puddle of grease. My last few bites were dripping with grease. Also, I think the mac and cheese here is a bit salty. The collards were delicious. They were large and leafy with several small chunks of pork to add more flavor and texture. I came hungry and one plate was enough to satisfy me. The food comes out fast and all of the employees are very friendly, from the owner/manager down to the kitchen assistants. Drinks are self-serve.

    (4)

  • Mick D.

    I've been accused of being a BBQ snob. I am quick to correct them: I am merely a BBQ slut. Having heard quite a bit of goodness about Community Q, I very much looked forward to my trip here, and it did not disappoint. We got there before 7pm on a Thursday and experienced no wait/delay at all. Staff was also friendly and quick. A bottomless glass of root beer is always a good thing. (Even if it's cheap root beer--I am a root beer snob.) My beef brisket sandwich was excellent. Smoky and dense in all the right ways, served up on some Texas Toast, and flanked by some cole-slaw and mac & cheese. Dang. I'm making myself hungry again. (BTW, if you're a true Southerner, you won't balk at putting cole-slaw on your sandwich.) I want to go back and try the ribs. And maybe some Brunswick Stew. Holler if you'd like to come with!

    (4)

  • Ashley M.

    Delicious beef brisket, pulled pork, baked beans and collards. Just ordered Community Q for a group of 25 for a Superbowl Party...super easy to place the order and everything was ready for pick up right on time. Enthusiastic and helpful crew who like what they do. Also, Kitchen Sink Salad is killer for lunch...

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    I love the brisket here! I usually get a BBQ Brisket Plate. For sides, the Mac & Cheese is awesome (but very filling cause of the butter), the Brunswick Stew is pretty good, Collard Greens are great, and the Baked Beans are awesome!

    (4)

  • S C.

    This is my favorite local BBQ joint! Love the atmosphere and the food! As long as I can get there before they run out of pork, I'm a happy camper. My go-to is the pork sammich, mac and cheese, and collards. If they are out of pork, the sliced brisket is a close second. As much as I love baked beans, the variety here leaves something to be desired. I have tried them a couple times hoping the taste would grow on me, but it is an overpowering taste of black pepper - I'll have to pass.

    (5)

  • Yulle Y.

    Quick service, affordable and delicious. Highly recommend the sausage with a side of the mac and cheese.

    (4)

  • Tom C.

    Ok....seems like I jumped the gun on Community Q on my last review. I finally tried their St. Louis Ribs and Beef rib and I thought it was delicious! I can now see why they are top 4 BBQ places in Atlanta (Fat Matt's, Fox Bros, Heirloom BBQ). Their St. Louis rib is tender but the meat doesn't fall off the bone like Fat Matt's. It is a different variation of the BBQ rib but a good different. The rib was quality and tasty. Beef rib was delicious as well. You get 2 ribs instead of a whole rack (cause you know cows are bigger animals then pigs...LOL). The meat on the beef rib was soft. I think (not positive) that I interacted with the owner of the restaurant at the cash register. He was very friendly and funny. It is a good thing to be able to interact with people who are invested in their restaurant. It brings a family feel to the place. Definitely adding Community Q as places to go when I have a craving for ribs.

    (4)

  • Mary E.

    This is my new favorite BBQ place in Atlanta!! Best baked beans and ribs I've had in a long time. Collards are top notch also. Brisket was really good. Staff are super friendly and helpful. The chef came around to check how I liked everything. Funky atmosphere, great Blues playing overhead. Free refills on sodas. What more could one wish for?

    (5)

  • Beau D.

    These guys have gone to school on barbecue. Their sauces are divine. They have a light vinegar based North Carolina styled sauce and a sweet Memphis styled sauce. Both are served at the table so you sauce your own meat which, of course, is preferable. Pork is Boston Butt. It has a nice smoke ring and a good flavor. It is not greasy. The smokiness is subtle, not overwhelming. If you ask for outside you may get a little more bark and fat. The sausage is excellent and is reputedly produced here in the Atlanta area. Sausage is not overly peppered. The brunswick stew is perfect. The consistency is perfect with meat ground just right. It is not overly tomatoey. They add sweet corn and the sweet corn they add is a perfect compliment to the stew. The sides are very good. The macarioni and cheese is made with rigatoni noodles and is fabulous. The greens are porked up and there is absolutely nothing wrong about that. The beans are different so they are not like anywhere else. Nothing wrong with that. Service at lunch was efficient and friendly. The place is clean and pleasant. A lot of older people were there when I came in, That might be a function of the neighborhood or it might be a functiion of folks who have had enough experience to know good Que when they see it. Or maybe all those ladies were after the mac and cheese. Portions were more than ample, I thought I might take some home but at the end of lunch my plate was clean. Price is fair considering the time and trouble that has gone into this restaurant and menu. The Community Barbeque is grade A ,suped up, porked up Southern cooking. This would be a great place to take out of town guests who want some vernacular cooking.

    (5)

  • s f.

    This place was really good! I am not a huge bbq fan and appreciated that there menu had alot of options- several different beef, pork and chicken! The mac n cheese was amazing! I had the chicken off the bone and some of the brisket- both were good but the brisket had more flavor... it is a relax atmosphere and reasonably priced... the only thing that was not so good was the sweet tea. (I usually find i have to mix the sweet & unsweet together at a restaurant- but here i found it to be too bitter- i refilled with straight sweet and it was just off! Not sweet enough and just kinda wrong tasting!) I would def. go back!

    (4)

  • Mark O.

    The only place to go intown for a pulled pork barbecue sandwich. It's a place to go and eat good food served by friendly people when you're in a hurry. I've been there twice so far, and each time the pork sandwich's were great. The Mac'n'cheese is really delicious especially for the price. Overall a great value.

    (5)

  • F H.

    I'd heard a lot of hype about this place and was concerned it wouldn't live up to it, but I was wrong. The food was all fantastic and the macaroni and cheese is the best I've had anywhere in Atlanta. The meats were good, but not as good as Fox Bros, with the exception of the brisket - even though it wasn't visibly juicy, it was incredibly tender and had just the right amount of smoke flavor. I really like the rub they use because it's got a good amount of brown sugar that adds just the right touch of sweetness. The rub is also used on the fries and I thought it was a little heavy-handed here and made the fries too salty - a modified rub with less salt and more brown sugar would have been perfect. As a Carolina girl, I LOVE my vinegar-based sauces and the one here is amazing - nice and tangy with just the right amount of heat. I couldn't get enough of it! The other sauces were very good as well, but I stick with vinegar when I can find it. The restaurant is located in a small strip-mall in Decatur, which doesn't really lend to the bbq restaurant atmosphere, but whatever, the food's good enough for that to be overlooked.

    (4)

  • Elise E.

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about this new BBQ place. The food is DELICIOUS (brisket and pulled pork--i am fainting just thinking about this), the atmosphere is exactly the feel a BBQ restaurant should have, and the staff is the cherry on top! Everything is reasonably priced and the portions are huge (I usually try to split a 2 meat combo with somebody). I am officially a convert--it's not worth going anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Ross G.

    This is thoroughly average BBQ. While I enjoyed it, I am in no rush to go back. I had the pork/brisket combo plate so that i could try more than one thing, and had the Brunswick Stew and fries as sides. Both meats were fine. Nothing was wrong, just nothing was remarkable. The Brunswick Stew made me miss Dusty's (RIP) more than anything else. The fries were the best part of the meal, as they were very well seasoned and has a good crispness to them (no one likes soggy fries, but a lot of places serve them anyway. Good for them for keeping 'em in the fryer). That being said, when the fries are the best part of your meal, that's usually not a great sign. The service was very friendly, if slow (especially the line to order), and if I'm hungry and really just want BBQ but not ribs (Fat Matt's is the only place anyone should go for ribs) and don't feel like driving anywhere, I'll come back, since it's the closest BBQ to me. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be joining the Community Q community again anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Clare A.

    Okay... I think it's actually illegal in some states to make mac'n'cheese this good. Seriously I will be thinking about that for a long time. White cheddar penne all thick & melty with gooey orange cheddar baked on top. I could get in major trouble if I lived close by. So worth kicking a gluten-free diet under the table for an afternoon. Just a note, the side salad is incredible. If you want some greens other than collards to go with your dish - typically two-ingredient side salads are so disappointing. Not theirs. It's obviously local Bibb or butter lettuce, with freshly prepared pickled beets (not too salty or sweet) and an incredible homemade vinaigrette. Just thought I'd provide a review about the non-bbq dishes, cause everybody knows their bbq is killer. ;)

    (5)

  • Hashtronaut L.

    Damn good bbq! Must try the brisket, pulled pork and fat noodle mac n cheese that's swimming in grease. Next time I'm ordering as much mac n cheese as possible to take home

    (4)

  • Myles M.

    This place is dangerously close to my apartment. It's a miracle I'm not 500 lbs. The smoky aroma reaches all the way to N Decatur road sometimes and has been known to turn the most pious of vegans into bloodthirsty carnivores. Regardless of what kind of sandwich I'm partial to at any given time, I always get the same two sides: mac n cheese and baked beans. The macaroni is decadent and the beans are to die for. I've also tried the collard greens and blacked eyed peas and they're good, but who wants veggies and those lesser legumes when you're bringing your tummy out for a good time? The barbecue sauces are so delicious you could actually drink them. I may have, but that info will not be disclosed publicly. You could "accidentally" eat a napkin drenched in either of their two sauces. The function of the bread in the so-called sandwiches is just a more acceptable form of BBQ sauce sponge, cuz it would be weird if we started eating their napkins. I recently discovered the smoked sausage sandwich. Everyone knows about the mouthwatering pulled pork and the unbelievable brisket sandwiches. Their sausage is at the same god-tier level as those two BBQ staples. Give it a try if your other favorites happen to run out!

    (5)

  • Vicki N.

    FYI: My review is based on a take out order and not for dining in. I was in the mood to try a new BBQ place, so I found Community Q on Yelp. The cashier was very friendly! I ordered the rib combo which comes with a quarter rack of ribs, an additional meat and two sides. I opted for the pulled chicken with mac and cheese and slaw. Ribs- I am absolutely not a fan of sauce-y ribs, so I loved these ribs. They're smoked and very flavorful. The meat wasn't quite fall-off-the-bone, but flavors were spot on. Pulled Chicken- The chicken was definitely very moist and well-seasoned. I rarely like any sort of chicken dishes because of how dry it can be, but their pulled chicken was perfect! Mac and cheese- They use huge noodles, maybe rigatoni pasta. It was cheesy and didn't have a noodle-y taste that some mac and cheese have. Loved it! My order came out within 5 minutes. Also, there was no line around 2:30pm on a Wednesday since it was probably off-peak hours. Can't wait to come back and try their St. Louis style ribs and banana pudding!

    (5)

  • Fefe P.

    Ok, so maybe I have been living on the moon recently. Or, perhaps I've just been driving with blinders on down Clairmont Rd. Most likely, it's just that I haven't been on a quest for the best BBQ in Atlanta...until the other day. These are my reasons for why I had absolutely No Flippin' Idea that this place existed Shame on me! After recently seeing Community BBQ in Talk Threads, "Best Of" Lists and reading great reviews from Yelpers whose opinions I trust...my husband and I decided to pick up a takeout BBQ order. The location is easy to find, but at the same time...I kind of understand how I never noticed this BBQ joint before. The restaurant blends into the background a bit. We lucked up with parking at the front door and a wonderful aroma hit us as we exited the car. Upon opening the restaurant door, I knew 2 things right away: 1) I'm going to leave smelling like BBQ (hey, no problem there LOL) 2) I'm really going to enjoy this food! And, both were true!!! The space is small, simple and cozy on the inside, with outdoor seating too. Most tables were filled and folks seemed to be enjoying their food (they were eating, Not talking ...that's a good sign :-). I don't eat pork, so unfortunately I cannot speak to the ribs or pulled pork, sorry. However, I am a lover of Beef Brisket, which is my gauge for good BBQ. On this trip, we ordered meats only: *Chopped Beef Brisket: one word...Delicious! If you've ever had chopped Fat, masquerading as chopped Brisket, then you understand how wonderful it is to have actual juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked meat!!! It was a winner *Pulled Chicken: moist, nicely textured and smoky! *Two sauce options: Sweet or Vinegar based Since we didn't try any sides, I will update the review next time. We still have a number of must try options on the menu, so we'll be back!!! Until then, Happy Eating.

    (4)

  • Angel P.

    I finally gave Q a visit! Can I just say...Ah Maze Zing!!!!!! Q is pretty legit. I ordered ribs, brisket, collards, & brunswick stew. My husband had the brisket. & my daughter had a 1/2 rack. The dry rub on the ribs were on point! Not salty & not too sweet. Just the perfect balance. I usually like my ribs a bit wet, drenched almost. But these were so perfect that I didn't need any sauce. That's definitely a first! The brunswick stew, collards, & mac & cheese were perfect. Nice pieces of meat in the stew, seasoning in the collards, & the cheesy mac n cheese.. Yummmmm! No complaints on the sides. Now, on to the brisket..this is the only reason why I had to knock off a star. Our brisket was pretty dry. There was a nice smoke ring on it but it was just too dry to enjoy. The sauce sure came in handy. The service was just outstanding! From the moment we walked in, placed our order, until we left. Wonderful customer service! I honestly can't say it enough, but great customer service, to me, is a huge plus! Overall, Community Q BBQ definitely exceeded my expectations. If you haven't given them a try yet, you're missing out. You won't be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Andrea A.

    Parked in a spot near the entrance was a black SUV with a round bumper sticker on the back window reading, "(animal) Bros. Bar-B-Q." I don't like to mention competitor establishments in a restaurant review but the irony was too much. I took it as a sign that Community Q BBQ was legit before I even walked through the front doors. A memo posted out front shared important FYIs with customers: "We cook fresh every day! That means we have to guess how much we will need. Some days we under guess and some days we over guess. Some days are just right." "We only use leftovers in stew and baked beans! What we can't use goes to the food bank. Please understand that we will run out of meat occasionally." The posting continued and was almost a full page. I wondered why a restaurant would need to make these disclaimers. Have they suffered riots or angry customers with pitchforks? I wanted someone to unpack a few of the statements but I didn't want to hold up the line with curious questions. After tasting my 1/2 BBQ Chicken with Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens, I understood why customers would be so passionate about their Community Q BBQ. Moist, smoky and sweetly sauced...I could totally envision someone getting heated when they had their mouth set on good BBQ only to find it sold out. The lesson is go and make sure you get there early! It's a popular intown pick!

    (4)

  • Karnesha S.

    The Mac and Cheese here...is....EVERYTHING. Like I keep thinking about how tasty, savory and cheesy it was!! I will be back very soon! The line was out the door which is always a telltale sign that a restaurant has delicious food.

    (5)

  • Kristian D.

    Oh man, was this place good. I searched and searched for the best barbecue in Atlanta and found Community Q. Fortunately, I was in the neighborhood and was able to stop in for lunch. It was a little difficult to find tucked into a strip mall, but you can just follow your nose. I had a half rack of St. Louis ribs with mac &cheese and beans. Unusually, I have to start describing the mac & cheese. Their mac & cheese is simply the best I have ever had. Super creamy, super cheesy, super mac'y. I am still experimenting on how to recreate this dish in my kitchen. The beans were also spectacular with a perfect balance or sweet and spice with their delicious brisket. And yes, the ribs were also perfect with rub, sauce, and tenderness in the upper echelon of barbecue heaven. I really wish this place was not 2,500 miles away. Highly recommended and worth the trip!

    (5)

  • Sky D.

    I wanted some ribs but I wanted to venture outside of Fat Matts and Community Q BBQ was the chosen one. Located in a small quaint plaza on Clairmont Road in Decatur, parking was not difficult because it was during the week. I can imagine parking being insane if it were really busy. The restaurant itself is not huge inside but it seem to hold all patrons that were there that day and it was pretty packed. I was ordering to go for my husband. They have a small outdoors patio. I I ordered 1/2 rack with a side (mac n cheese). The bag felt very light and everyone do not use the same ribs. Once home, I ate a little bit but I wasn't a fan of the ribs. They were not nasty...just not to my liking. My husband enjoyed them. I would try them again for the beef brisket.

    (3)

  • Jim B.

    Went way out of my way on advice that these guys do some of the best barbeque in Georgia. The beef was good but the ribs were the best I've ever eaten. Outstanding flavor and tenderness.

    (5)

  • Kai E.

    This is one of my top choices for BBQ now that I had the opportunity to experience Community Q. The spot is tiny and the menu is straight to the point. I had the chopped bbq chicken which was extremely filling . The bbq sauce was the closest thing to perfect that I have ever had it was tangy, sour, sweet and spicy all at the same time I can't compare it to any bbq sauce I had before which is why this restaurant is at the top of my list. Most bbq places have 2 or more bbq sauces but if you get it right the first time it's fine to just offer 1. The sides are a decent size I had the mac and cheese which was good. I also tried the fries which was also good. The customer service was good as well. I will be back often.

    (4)

  • Amy H.

    That mac n cheese though!!! This was a great little place!! I went and literally could NOT decide bw the half chicken and the brisket and APPARENTLY you can get half of each!! The chicken was cooked perfectly, moist and flavorful and you didn't need to anything to it. Loved the brisket, very tender! All the sauces on my table were good and I got WAY too much food for under $12 bucks. I brought my spoils home to my hubby and he died and went to heaven!!

    (4)

  • Mary T.

    Okay! I came back & before I even read my own review, I was right.. I got the ribs and macaroni & cheese again! I guess I kinda know myself, huh? My meal was just as good as I remembered it would be. This macaroni and cheese isn't made with regular macaroni noodles but rather a bigger noodle. The cheese is nice and creamy while the topping is crunchy cheese melted on top. The ribs are awesome as usual. Nice and meaty. They have 2 bottles of different barbecue sauces on the table. one is a sweet sauce and the other is a more spicy sauce with a vinegar base. I didn't really like it the last time so, I didn't even taste it this go around. I didn't even finish my ribs. I ate a half one and gave one to my boyfriend and brought about 4 or 5 home for later. I love this place and would recommend it to everyone who asks about good barbecue in Atlanta.

    (5)

  • Katz A.

    Very nicely cooked pulled pork and brisket without a lot of unnecessary added flavors. Will try the ribs and chicken next time. Picked up a takeout menu for the crew at work. The $$ is misleading as the portions are quite generous.

    (4)

  • Amber A.

    Top two if not best Barbeque in Atlanta. I ate here for the second time today and just can't say enough. Their sides are creative, fresh and delicious (and yes they still have the usuals too). I got the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese and collards today with banana pudding. I got both sauces, regular and vinegar....both great. This is my new go to....and I suggest it become everyones! The staff is super nice and helpful too!

    (5)

  • Denise M.

    Wow this place is Amazing! The food was soooo good, the atmosphere was perfect, the price was cheap compared to other bbq restaurants! My hubby was trying to find a place in atlanta to eat bbq and we couldn't of picked a better spot! The ribs, mac and cheese, the pulled pork sandwich, is the best bbq food I have ever ate. And the customer service from the manager was excellent! A MUST TRY!!

    (5)

  • JAN k.

    Fabulous Food.....half chicken on the bone, half slab of ribs, slaw, collards, and delicious black eyed peas(try ,you will like). All for a little more than 30$. Counter ordering with no tip and water to drink. 4:30 on a Monday afternoon. Service was great. HOWEVER, the smoke in the place was so thick , I felt like I was eating inside the smoker. Made breathing a little hard at first. I had to come home and shower, wash my hair and wash all of my clothes. If ( and that is a big if ) I ever come back it will be a phone in order and I will send my husband in to pick up the food.

    (3)

  • Chris A.

    Smells great from the outside, good selections. Good sides. Coming from a Texan this BBQ is solid. Near VA hospital

    (4)

  • Bill G.

    All good, had the Brisket / slaw and beans. Brisket was great, tender and tasty Also had the mac and cheese, don't pass on that one. Prices pretty decent, need a bit better ventilation, the Smokey flavor in the air was great, but didn't need to wear it the remainder of the day, but a definite revisit when in town.

    (4)

  • Rusty R.

    Great little BBQ place. Went early for lunch and by the time I was leaving the place was packed. Pulled pork was tender. Add the BBQ sauce and it became outstanding. Thee ribs fell off the bone good. Highly recommend this nice place!

    (5)

  • Michelle C.

    Ordered take-out from Community Q BBQ, and it was delicious! I ordered the meat combo with pulled pork and sliced brisket, and both were flavorful before even putting on the vinegar and tomato based sauces that I asked for on the side. I love it when BBQ tastes good before the condiments, you could taste the smokey flavor. For sides I got the mac-n-cheese which was decent, and the black eyed peas that were described as having rosemary and bacon, but I didn't get very much of those flavors. The meat portions were huge, and the sides were small-- not sure if that's standard or because I ordered take-out and they had to place it in little containers. Either way, it was definitely good enough for me to probably dine-in next time.

    (4)

  • Elevenmile S.

    5 stars for the food. It's really some of the best bbq I've had. Minus 3 for the service. Why? One of the employees walked up to my table mumbling "don't touch my sauce" under his breath and literally snatched it off the table while I was using it! Other employees saw this happen and no one offered an apology or any kind of explanation. I would have understood if he told me it was his personal sauce that he accidently left out and POLITELY asked for it back. The staff is wholly unprofessional. Loitering around the counter goofing off and packing buns on the table I was eating at! No excuse me, do you mind, nothing. I'm all for having a good time at work, but one of the employees was telling a story and pointing right at me, repeatedly...save that stuff for when no one is looking. You get paid to at least LOOK like you're working. Well, great food, bad service. I won't be going back... BBQ joints in the south are a dime a dozen.

    (2)

  • garrett e.

    Delicious BBQ! Plus with more restaurants in that area... It's really starting to pop

    (5)

  • Larry W.

    While in the Atlanta area for work, decided to find out if Georgia Bbq could compete with other places I visited in Texas, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. After reading a few reviews, decided to Try this place. Great atmosphere-no frills, great smell of smoke and nice mix of country music. Was hungry-ordered the Mac and cheese wow) along with ribs (nice smokey flavor, and pulled pork (A+). Mixed both a vinegar based and vinegar/ tomato homemade sauces with nest-very good. Was hungry so ordered the pulled chicken and brisket too. Chicken was great (highly recommends) but brisket just ok. If u are a smoked bbq snob like me, then this is worth trying out. Good job boys- you represented Georgia very well

    (4)

  • Adrienne R.

    We absolutely LOVE this place! This place is amazing! They have REAL mac'n cheese, not just something out of a box. The meat is seasoned perfectly! You don't even need sauce for any of the meat. We get a slab of ribs, 1/2 pound of smoked sausage, a small mac'n cheese, a small Brunswick stew & a small collard greens for a little over $30. Which is a really good deal for metro Atlanta bbq. We've had the pulled pork & the bbq chicken, you can't go wrong in this place!

    (5)

  • Scott P.

    This is really, really solid BBQ - I've eaten here before but I think that they have actually improved their BBQ game, from discussions with other BBQ snobs like myself and this last trip looking at the meats and tasting. We got a half rack of ribs, brisket, and mac n cheese, and Brunswick stew and I tried a bit of it all. The ribs come in with the highest rank at a 4.5, very well seasoned, nice fine layer of bark with tender inside. What I personally appreciate about the ribs is that the seasoning could easily replace the sauces (a sweet thick sauce, or a vinegar sauce are your choices here) and I could easily enjoy the meal without sauce at all. I've said this on rare occasions, The brisket comes in about a 3.5 here, it was a nicely barked slice of brisket, a slight dry for my liking, the seasoning doesn't shine through on the brisket like it does the ribs. I really, really like their mac n cheese and would easy give it a 4.5. The Brunswick stew to me had little flavor. Normally I would kick it up with some hot sauce like tabasco but I just kinda gave up on it, a 2 star for me. It's a chunky style as well which isn't my personal liking. The décor is your typical bbq shack style with a pretty good amount of seating and even some outdoor seating (with a view of the parking lot). The décor gets a 4 star from me. Overall I would definitely swing this way if you are in the area, or if you make it a destination spot, I think you'll find it worth a half hour drive or so.

    (4)

  • Linda N.

    Got my food to go during the busy lunch hours, and I didn't have to wait long. Meat combo (pork and beef) with sweet potato with kale as the side. Great flavors with the options of a vinegar BBQ sauce or a sweet BBQ sauce (or both). The meat was great, not dry at all. All of it was delicious.

    (4)

  • Lily W.

    So good! Highlights: ribs, mac 'n cheese, & collards. My family also says the beans were great! The banana pudding definitely got better reviews that the bread pudding. I would say that the space is a plus as it's spacious. The tea and lemonade is a bit too sweet. Will look forward to heading back.

    (4)

  • Lindsay W.

    This is my absolute favorite BBQ restaurant in Atlanta. Hands down. If you come on a Friday or Saturday night, there will be a line (~15 minutes), but it's well worth the wait. The way it works is you walk in, get in line and look at the wall mounted menu by the register. Once you get to the register you order, get your drink, and then and only then do you sit down... and that goes for your whole party. The staff will bring your food to you by your first name. Next step: proceed to dig in and get fat. The macaroni and cheese is thick and cheesy, and they use large pasta for it. The baked beans are insanely sweet with bits of meat in it too. Not just little bits of meat either. The first time I ordered the baked beans, there was more meat than beans in it. The brisket and pork and everything really is juicy and smoked to perfection. The banana pudding gets its own paragraph. Nestled in the Styrofoam container is (starting from the top) four vanilla wafers, banana pudding, four banana slices, banana pudding, and four additional vanilla wafers on the bottom. If you've gotten the banana pudding from the Your Dekalb Farmer's Market, it's similar in that you can really taste the bananas in it. It's sweet, but not enough to rot your teeth. You'll want it as one of your sides (it counts as a side!). I keep meaning to try the ribs, but the brisket and sausage are just too good to pass up! The sausage has a nice, thick casing that pops when you bite into it. They serve the sausage sliced for you, and man is it good on some of their toast as a sandwich. Bring yourself, bring your SO, your family, and your kids because you'll all love it.

    (5)

  • Caesar B.

    Great beef brisket and mac n cheese. I've been eating this BBQ every since I moved to Atlanta in the early 2000's. The original restaurant is BBQ 1. They opened another restaurant, Dave Poe's BBQ...and now we have the Community Que, the 3rd restaurant. Each restaurant is individually owned and ran by 1 of the the 3 original partners. You can't go wrong with any of them. I always get the beef brisket sammie.... In my opinion Dave Poe's has a little more smokey flavor in the brisket, but I think Community Que makes up for that by giving you a larger portion of brisket.

    (5)

  • Brett F.

    Mac and cheese here is great! The BBQ itself is decent, though not earth shattering. Great, solid place if you are in the area.

    (3)

  • Nkenge G.

    Wow, this place has really gone downhill. I used to eat there all the time when I worked in the area. I got the two meat plate with one side for $9.50. The servers were nice and the food came out quickly. The toast was buttery and just right. I also enjoyed my kale and sweet potatoes. Even though it's a small portion, it's always good. But the meat was sub par. The beef brisket had more fat than meat. It was charred on the outside and parts of the meat were dry while other parts were greasy. The pulled pork tasted better than the brisket but it still wasn't as good as I remember. I prefer the sweet sauce to the vinegar one. It's great to have a choice. Unfortunately, I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Carla D.

    Ribs. Get the ribs. I felt like a dog with a bone with those things, I placed my arm around them and glared at anyone that said, those look good.....yes, yes they do...and they are.. and you should order some of your own. Mac and Cheese was good. I had heard A LOT of hype about the mac n cheese so because of this I think my experience of it was a little lacking. I really expected it to change my life, it didn't but it did make my mouth happy for that day and left over day. I guess my life would be kind of sad if it was changed by pasta and cheese. Anyway, eat here at least once, you'll be glad you did if you like BBQ

    (4)

  • James H.

    I've been to some of Atlanta's most "popular" BBQ Restaurants (Daddy D'z and Fat Matts) and have been thoroughly disappointed. So much so, that my family and I would drive all the way to Pendleton, SC when we wanted really good BBQ (Smoking Pig). But, we no longer have to do that!!!! Like I said in another review, I've had a lot of great BBQ between Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee (Memphis), so I know really good BBQ. Community BBQ lived up to the hype!!! I had the rib and brisket combo. Both were very good cuts of meat. Very lean and smoked to perfection. The meat had an excellent taste without sauce which is usually the first test for me. The sauce actually reminded me a lot of the homemade sauce that my wife makes at home!!!! Really good. On top of all of that, these folks KNOW HOW TO COOK COLLARD GREENS!!!!! They weren't sweet like you find in a lot of places. I will definitely make the trip back to Decatur to eat at Community BBQ!!!

    (5)

  • Yulonda B.

    This place was pretty awesome, asbsoon as you walk in you smell the mouth watering, captivating country style snoked barbecue. The place was small but cozy. The servers where nice and welcoming. When we got there the line was a bit long, however it moved swiftly. I was tickled by the sign that said "This way to pig out" Looking at the surroundings and the amount of people there, we could tell that this place must had some good food. And sure enough the food was great. Perfectly flavored for ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw and mac n cheese. I had the banana pudding for desert which was definitely delish and hit the spot. I was also impressed by the fact that they not only served prok, but also had, pulled chicken, smoked sausage and beef ribs as well as a nice savory selection of sides. The only cons I had was that they only had 2 types of types of barbecue sauce to choose from and that some parts on the ribs was over cooked and tough. I do recommend your that you try this place out.

    (4)

  • Brad B.

    Crack fries. Half a bird. Pickled beets. Mac and cheese. All amazing. The only reason this place does not get 5 stars from me is the fact they run out of pork like it is going out of style. That's my word and I'm sticking to it.

    (4)

  • Brooke N.

    First let me say... I'm usually not a BBQ fan. BUT, I was traveling with someone who LOVES BBQ and every time she had the chance she went to Community Q. It was delicious. Pulled pork, slaw (I loved the slaw, and I don't even like coleslaw!) and fries one time. Ribs with greens and mac 'n' cheese the next. Eat there once, and keep coming back. There's so much to try -- and it's all good.

    (4)

  • Christine F.

    I was eager to try Community Q but it seemed that fate was destined to keep us apart. The first time I tried to go, the power was out in the entire complex. The second time I tried to go, they were just closing shop. None of these mishaps were the restaurant's fault, of course. Maybe my expectations were too high when I did end up getting in the place. I ordered pulled pork, collards and mac-n-cheese. The best thing on my plate was the mac-n-cheese which was baked and tasty. The pulled pork was OK but nothing great. The collars were really bitter and not good at all. I would give it another try, but would order completely different items off the menu.

    (2)

  • Sticky L.

    I was at FedEx when Jose told me about this great BBQ place. OMG, I walked in and the smell was Awesome! The BBQ chicken and the sauces was to die for! The smoke sweet potatoes tasted like they were from a can. The mac & cheese was creamy and very cheesey, but very bland and tasteless! But the BBQ chicken and the sauces was Awesome! The best BBQ I've had outside of my own! I'm talking finger locking good!

    (5)

  • Danny H.

    I found my way to Community Q, because I was in the mood for ribs, and my go-to place in Decatur was usually Burnt Fork, but for whatever reason, they were temporarily closed, leading me to have to seek barbecue refuge elsewhere. Kind of bad news for Burnt Fork, because now I've discovered Community Q. Now, my review is based on a take-out order, since I was taking food to someone else, so I have nothing to really say about the interior of the place, or what dining in is like. I can say however, that it's somewhat easy to find, as it's just off of the corner of two well-traveled routes, North Decatur Blvd and Clairmont Rd. They have free parking, and what appears to be a pretty cozy and quaint looking patio up front. And the people on the phone who took my order were friendly and cooperative in scheduling when to prep my food, so that it would be as fresh as possible for when I picked up. Back to the all-important food though; I ordered some ribs, and I ordered myself a pulled-pork sandwich, since it's my belief that pulled pork is the best way to gauge an untested barbecue restaurant. In my order were sides of fries, collards, baked beans, and some mac and cheese. The pulled pork was excellent. What I really liked about it was that it wasn't overly oily or greasy, but at the same time retained a good amount of tenderness without being dry. In the "sandwich" the portion of pulled pork was heaped on and massive, and you'll never hear me complain about generous portions. The ribs however, were pretty incredible. They were Kansas City style, and they literally fell right off the bone. Pulling them off half slabs were intricate operations, so that you didn't yank a bare bone off, leaving heaps of succulent boneless rib meat in giant chunks in the container. The flavor wasn't the smokiest in the world, but the rub was tasty, and the meat not dry or rubbery. I also liked the fact that they left on the tips, which is like getting flavorful, charred-ended bonus meat. I wish I ordered myself ribs instead of the pulled pork in retrospect, but this just means the next I go, and believe you me, there will be a next time, I'm going straight for the ribs. Now the reason I don't five-star Community Q, is that I was actually a little unimpressed with their sides. The collards were okay, but I'm not entirely sure if they were made with any pork juice or not. It's hard to tell, but one thing was sure, is that they didn't have the tangy bite that I expect from my interpretation of good collards. The baked beans were equally unsatisfactory to me, because the flavor wasn't bad, but frankly I think they were a little undercooked. I don't know if this is the norm, or I just got a bad batch, but I don't think I'm going to get them again in the future. Partially, because of the mac and cheese, which wasn't my side, but I still got to sample. Now, compared to like Burnt Fork's mac and cheese, I greatly prefer Community Q's. It's hard to explain it, but both use multiple types of cheese, but Community Q's just holds it's flavor better, so to say. Regardless, it's what I plan on getting with my ribs the next time I'm there. Overall, I was very pleased with Community Q's barbecue. I also like their location more than Burnt Fork's, and I look forward to the chance to actually go inside, relax and take in a dine-in experience there. The barbecue itself was excellent, and I think with a nice order of KC ribs to try for myself, I might be able to decide who really has the best ribs in the city.

    (4)

  • Addy C.

    Smoked Sausage and Baked Beans. Enough said. Haha I can't write a review with just seven words :) If you like variety then get the $12 Meat Combo (2 meats) or $14.75 Rib Combo (ribs + 1 meat) which comes w/ two sides. That's what my friend and I did - and you'll have enough leftovers for a 2nd meal. MILD SMOKED SAUSAGE I knew I had to get the sausage after reading Andria C and Andrew D's reviews rave about how awesome they were. Loved the smoky flavor and the crunchy outside. I made myself not eat all of it so I could enjoy it later. BEEF RIB I'd heard this was the most popular among the meats - it's also the most expensive so I figured it must be good. When I came for dinner last year they ran out. I have another friend who comes here weekly just for the beef ribs. So my expectations were super high. Verdict? I thought they were very good - meat was super tender, flavorful, several fatty pieces but that's expected, and very black crusty outside but edible and delicious. I still liked the sausage better. OTHER MEATS Sampled Sliced Beef Brisket and St. Louis Ribs - thought they were just ok esp. compared to the more flavorful sausage and beef ribs. SIDES Absolutely LOVED their Baked Beans - I think they're the best in Atlanta. I'd heard great stuff about the Brunswick Stew too but already fell in love w/ the Baked Beans so the stew was just ok. However when I ate the stew later for dinner, I thought it tasted great. Baked Beans are more on the sweet side, Brunswick Stew more vinegary. Mac N Cheese was pretty good but didn't wow me. The Sweet Potato & Kale didn't wow me either. FYI - they're located in the same strip mall w/ Bhojanic and Pyng Ho. Next time I'd like to try their Sloppy Joe w/ Beef Brisket and their Kitchen Sink.

    (4)

  • F S.

    Not a huge BBQ person but my daughter is.. Took her here for her birthday dinner!! OMG!! This place made me realize why BBQ is a Southern treat.. Loved it, Loved it!!! Will be back. The customer service was Outstanding. Great job!!!

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    Hands down one of the best BBQ places in Atlanta. The Brisket is butter and the mac and cheese is AMAZING. I have eaten here a few times and I always leave wanting more. My only con is this place gets very crowded but its worth it!

    (5)

  • Conchata W.

    I truly love the atmosphere here at this place. I tried the 1/2 chicken plate with greens and potatoe salad. The food was soon good and it was well cooked. I am very picky with bbq joints but this one had my QUEEN approval.

    (5)

  • Athena A.

    I have to start this out with this, in case you don't want to read the entire review, the mac and cheese is NOT good! And no, I am not some cretan solely searching for the "yellow" variety made with ( dare I even type) velv****a and cheddar. Different macs call for different ingredients. Sometimes I use a variety of cheddar and maybe mix mozzarella. Sometimes a girl needs Parmesan base with some fontina and Gruyere. It depends! But what I am NEVER in need of is watery base with no flavor and no melted cheese! They can't be serious believing that this is Mac and cheese. I mean, at least if it's going to only contain the cream base, have some flavor! After all THY BASE is where you put your seasoning for the love of Alain Ducasse! Okay, Emeril, Ducasse is too far. But you get it. Banana pudding, skip it. I can tell it's not from a box, but too grainy and watery at the same time. How?? Ribs- so good! The rub is wonderful and they are cooked well. Baked beans- yes! Seasoned wonderfully, like none I've had. Overall, yes I will go back to try different things. I've got my eyes on their potato salad.

    (3)

  • Adrienne T.

    Well, I ventured in here based on my fellow Yelpers' reviews. I drive for Uber ($20 off you or your friends' first ride with code HY5TY) on weekends, and this is "my" area. I was hungry one day, so clicked the Yelp app for nearby suggestions. Delicious brisket! Not quite as tasty as my number ONE bbq place since I've been in Georgia (almost 2 years now) Big Shanty in Kennesaw, which is well worth the drive, but they are the next best, slightly edging out Sweet Auburn. The pulled pork was tasty and not dry, and the mac-n-cheese-mmm, mmm, good! I tried the blueberry bread pudding thing since a Yelper said to get it, and it was ok. Just ok. There was a line, but it moved quickly, very genuinely friendly staff, happy patrons, and a down home feel. When I'm out here, I'll definitely drop in!

    (4)

  • Jeremy S.

    This is a fine bite of BBQ. Not a destination but, hey if you're in the neighborhood, drop by. I definitely will.

    (3)

  • Ant S.

    So Community Q. I love having this in the neighborhood. And I'll admit it... I drive by for the smell sometimes. But the important stuff...The meats are really good quality que! Ribs, pork, sausages, and etc. Although I still miss when they had the beef rib on the menu. It's cliche at this point but the star side is the mac and cheese. Calling it one of the best things I've ever said eaten doesn't do it justice. Let's just say sometimes I double up on my order. The rest... I like the layout of the restaurant and parking is easy.

    (4)

  • Jason J.

    Never a miss when I visit community. The brisket is on par and I love the sloppy joe. The sides are delicious and fresh.

    (5)

  • Ariel L.

    Welcome, Georgia BBQ! Not a bad introduction. Today I tried the combination meat, which included bits of pulled pork, brisket & sausage. The meats were tasty, but not like the hankering a "walker" has for flesh. In medical sense, the arteriole blockage loomed within the lack of savoryness. Possibly just too subtle? Unlike Donald Trump's comb-over. The sauces, although "fair ball" were overpoweringly sweet. That's probably more related to the ignorance of my Midwest bias. The good ole' Midwest... The sides won out. The mac & Cheese oozed more than being slimed on the 90's version of Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards & the Cole slaw didn't pull a Mily Vanilli. (Faking it). Overall, solid BBQ, but nothing extraordinary. Sincerely, Pollen Outbreak

    (3)

  • Tiff H.

    Worth the money for the amount of meat they give you. The homemade BBQ sauces, the tender and smoky meats, and their pretty delish sides? Yes please I will be there again very soon. Downside is how early they close....

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    Just happened onto this place. It was fairly late. Service was quick and prompt. NO FRILLS..but good basic BBQ. I'm a Fan. The Mac & Cheese is some of the best I've EVER had. I will be back for a take-away order of that.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    Feel good BBQ at its best. Spareribs are very tasty--nice to see spares instead of baby backs for once. Brisket has an awesome crust and a great beefy flavor. Collards are done exactly right. The rigatoni noodles in the mac and cheese are different but good nevertheless. Cool old school atmosphere with super friendly service and a neighborhood feel. Good BBQ in a place that just feels good!

    (4)

  • Ebony B.

    i read about Community Q in the ATL Magazine's edition dedicated solely to BBQ. I had such high expectations since the guy Dave left his old spot in Marietta to start this place. I was hyped bc not only is it close to campus, it's next to all of my fave spots for when I have to run and get lunch in between class. Campus people were raving about it, Yelpers were raving about it, and so were the editors of Atlanta Magazine. Did I miss something? I was totally unenthusiastic about the food here. I absolutely loved the Macaroni and Cheese, ok, but that's not BBQ. I had the Okra Stew which tasted like Pickled Okra drizzled in oil + Tomato. It wasn't very tasty at all and quite greasy for no reason. i had the chicken and it was so unseasoned. I said to my beau, maybe this is why people make BBQ bc they don't have to season their meats, and he said "Oh no, that is NOT supposed to be how it's done. Good BBQ is rubbed, or infused via smoking or injecting/basting the meats" Ok, so what was wrong? My meat tasted like a bad repeat of HS cafeteria BBQ meat, with some GOOD sauce. The best things about this place were the Location, the Sauce (which was very thin and runny), and the ... um ... oh yeah, macaroni. I am discovering that I detest places that make me order first and then sit and wait. What if I want to add something? Then I have to get up, greasy faced and greasy fingered, stand my overweight butt in line again for 10-15 minutes and then wait for you to bring me the food. I'm just over this type of dining experience. I didn't like the food, there was no service to comment on, and to top it off, the banana pudding tasted like straight Banana flavored Jell-O pudding with some wafers thrown in there. No soft wafers, just banana flavored pudding WITH a wafer or three in there. No meshing was done in this pudding. Huge let down man. TIPS: 1. Call ahead the day before to reserve cuts of meat because they DO run out of meat selections as the day goes by. 2. No alcohol 3. Prices seemed a little high for the portions and the service (as compared to my fave BBQ spot in ATL) 4. They sell some "produce" while you wait in line, which is cool.

    (2)

  • Michael D.

    Good parking, good portions, good blues background music (recorded,) and good food. If I could take the best of both worlds, I would take Community Q's portion sizes, and location and combine it with Fox Bros setting, ambience, and bar.

    (4)

  • Skillet P.

    Have been looking forward to going here for months. Finally made it and was a little disappointed. Got the pulled pork, Mac and cheese, and baked beans. Pork was bland and the watery sauce did little to help it. The bake beans were so spicy my Latino boyfriend could not finish them. The Mac and cheese were excellent. My biggest problem was how the food was served (this complaint has nothing to do with Community Q). They take your name at the register and when your tray is ready they call out your name. There was another person with the same name as me and when the server called out we both answered. The guy and his (please God let that have been his daughter) companion gave me the stink eye for 10 minutes until my food came. The people I was with actually noticed without me saying a word. I don't know if they thought I was stealing or what. It was just weird and uncomfortable.

    (2)

  • Jack R.

    Probably the best BBQ on this side of town. Community does it right. The food is fresh and locally sourced when possible. I love the mac 'n' cheese even though it could prbably kill me on the spot, but there are terrific healthy options on the menu as well. If you want to beat the crowds at Honeybaked Hams around the holidays I suggest you order a ham or a turkey from Community. They catered our backyard 25th wedding anniversary party and everyone loved it. Just wish you could get a cold one here with your brisket or pork sandwich.

    (4)

  • Jaimie M.

    Mac-and-cheese. Ah! I'd come back for that alone. Everyone was super nice and accomdating to my husband's disability.

    (4)

  • Joanna G.

    Community is one of the first places I went when I first moved to Atlanta. Rare is the barbeque restaurant that also offers CSA (community supported agriculture) memberships and other local products! No hippie-dippy crap either when it comes to the cooking - their food is straight-up delicious. Nothing too fancy here: you order at the counter and food is brought to your table. Heracles strengths: Delicious barbeque with all the fixin's. I'm a big fan of the Brunswick stew, and the epic macaroni and cheese is not to be missed. I love, love, LOVE the barbeque chicken here! A friend recently had a birthday party here. The owners allowed us to 'reserve' a big table on the floor for 12 people, and their menu was served to us family style. They even included a bonus "sloppy joe" meat monstrosity that was amazing, and I don't think that's part of their regular menu (if you're reading this, owners, PLEASE make that a part of your regular menu!!). I may walk out of here with the meat sweats, and a solid 5lbs heavier, but by God, I love this place. Achilles heel: During the winter it is INEXPLICABLY smoky in here - and I do mean smoky. I guess they may close the windows to keep it warm and this affects the ventilation(??). Whatever. Doesn't stop me from coming and getting my grub on. Aphrodite factor: Not the most romantic of spots, but a great place to grab a bite with friends. On the other hand, I consider not liking Community to be sufficient grounds for a break-up. Hermes rating: Very quick service. Even when it's busy here, the food is served promptly. All of their staff is extremely polite and friendly. Libations: No liquor license here, so a full range of Coca-Cola products and (Un)/Sweet Tea are available. Bonus: lemon juice for your tea! Offerings: Super reasonably priced. Bottom line: My favorite barbeque in Atlanta. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Joseph W.

    Good not great. Portions a bit small. I would charge slightly more and bump up the portion size just a little more. Pork is cheap anyways so make sure people leave full.

    (3)

  • Will T.

    Community BBQ has a business plan that defies logic. Guess how much food you can serve without there being any leftovers. And when it runs out, close down. Which meant the closed sign got slapped on the door at 7 pm the night I ate there. It probably doesn't matter because the food's not that good anyway. We arrived at 6:40pm on July 5th. Already out of pork. I ordered a Meat Combo plate (two meats and two sides) for $11. The 1/2 chicken promised was only a leg quarter and the four slices of brisket were small, so the serving size was really chintzy. Both the meats were dry, not overly so, but the chicken looked like it'd been held in a warming box the better part of the day. Two types of sauce are offered, a vinegar sauce and a sweet honey sauce, both very thin and very tepid and unlike any bbq sauce I've ever had. And not in a good way. I ordered Brunswick stew and it was the lamest Brunswick stew I've ever eaten, a thin gruel with a teeny bit of pulled pork, about 2 kernels of corn and 2 tiny minced pieces of tomato. Oh, yeah, and no taste. The macaroni and cheese was okay, but greasy, with a little puddle of oil in the bottom of the cup. While the owners are passionate about their business, earnestness does not good BBQ make. Don't waste you time here, they'll probably be out of what you want anyway.

    (1)

  • David And Natalie S.

    Meats done right, sides not so much. I recommend just getting the delicious meats of all kinds here. The brisket, chicken, and ribs are all stellar. Sides are mall food court quality at best. Beans way to sugary, Mac n cheese swimming in grease but no flavor. Would be best BBQ in town if they could get some decent sides.

    (4)

  • Dago V.

    This place was great and very affordable. We were shocked to see the price of only $26 after we has practically ordered everything on the menu. My two favorites were the pork ribs and the Mac and cheese. I can say it's the best make and cheese I've ever had. The ribs were fall off the bone and full of flavor. The brisket and pulled pork were also great.

    (5)

  • Tennille C.

    Food is sooo very yummy. I got the Pulled Chicken sandwich, which was very very moist. The service was great and friendly. The food was soo good I went there twice in one week.

    (5)

  • A L S.

    Community is a more than decent classic BBQ house with a simple easy to understand and efficient menu and ordering system. The pricing is fair and of good value. The servings are generous and service attention is friendly & knowledgeable. Hickory smoked, the Q has a good flavor and excellent crafted bark, but for my taste was a bit lacking in flavorful rub. The two sauce options Carolina vinegar and St Louis spicy were balanced and not over sweet. It's not competition BBQ but why pay higher prices for that when you can come here and have a competitively priced meal more often. Stand outs are the Beef Ribs served daily. How often do you find long bone BBQ beef ribs outside of Texas? The meat fell off the bone. The pulled pork had a fine smoke ring and baked beans were a semi sweet molasses chuck wagon style with chunky seasoning meat. The collards were very tasty but on this day a bit salty. A cooks err. The mac & cheese was homemade style and refreshingly non commercial. For a pulled pork entrée and a two meat beef rib plate both with two sides and two teas--less than $30. Not only did we leave with a to go box of our generous remaining portions, but the lingering waft of the joints hickory aroma made my hound dog sit up rightly when we came home. This quite possibly could be the best BBQ deal in the ATL.

    (4)

  • Dan I.

    Love the BBQ here. Not very expensive. The decor leaves a little to be desired but it isn't too bad. I actually prefer it over Burnt Fork BBQ which is a little too pricy IMO.

    (4)

  • Asia L.

    The pulled pork sandwich is worth the hype. However, I think the individual side portions for the Mac & Cheese should be a bit bigger for the price. The noodles are too big, it's like 3 or 4 bites & it's gone (maybe I'm asking for too much).

    (4)

  • Jada G.

    ok...so I had a hankering for some bbq and knew that i had to try this place out. I walked in to a long long, that went pretty quickly. I liked this b/c it gave me the chance to talk to the ppl in front and behind me in line. After telling them I heard of this place on yelp, they said it was really busy that night b/c there was a write-up in the AJC. cool beans! anyways, you walk in and go to order/pay for your food. you then go sit down and they call your name and find your table to give you the food. I ordered the 2 meat plate w/ chopped pork and brisket. with a side of the special that night: black eyed peas with bacon. the black eyed peas were cool, nothing to write home about. The brisket was amazing. very tender and juicy. the chopped pork was ok. but the shiz was, drum roll please....the St. Louis sweet B-B-B-B-BBQ SAUCE. it was so good and complimented my meat just swell. it was sweet at first, then hit you in the face with it's tangy-ness. my little cousin had the kids meal "this little piggy." it was 3.50 and came with a good portioned chopped pork sandwich and a side. she got the mac n cheese. it was a little greasy, however it was really cheesy and had a good crust topping to it. I love it! the brunswick stew was to die for! the baked beans, were freaking amazing. they were spicy and sweet and dark brown. overall, the meal/service/atmosphere was pretty darn great! i will definitely come back. all they need is beer!

    (4)

  • Jeremy A.

    This place has not been open long but has alot of buzz on yelp so I stopped in to check it out. Much to my surprise they had beef ribs, Oh man these are my favorite. it was real good here and the sandwich came with the two pieces of finely toasted texas toast. It was a great rib (you only get one but its huge) and the pooch appreciated the bone later that day. A little on the pricey side the rib alone was 11 and its 14 for a combo, but it was great and ill be back to try some other stuff here.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Love it. The mac and cheese is amazing, and the beans and greens are likewise awesome. Ribs are tasty, pork is lovely, etc., etc. And the leftovers are still good from the microwave. Just so you don't get confused, you will walk in the door, wait in a line that probably extends to the door, order at the register, take a seat, and they will call out your name and bring your food to you. They also do takeout.

    (4)

  • Larry P.

    This is a great neighborhood BBQ place with wonderful food - tender, smoky, fall off the bone meats and tasty sides. The Pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, were all excellent. For sides we had mac and cheese, collards and black eye peas, which were also good. The atmosphere is the typical BBQ joint - nothing fancy, paper towels on the table, plastic chairs. You can also buy carry-out.

    (4)

  • Emily K.

    I'll preface this with the fact that I'm generally not a fan of barbecue. It's usually too fatty and the sides are too bland. Not so with Community. The mac and cheese is to die for. I probably could've eaten the whole tub without even thinking twice. It was everything mac & cheese should be. This alone would be worth a return trip. I also tried the baked beans & pulled pork. The baked beans were unexpectedly spicy, but I really enjoyed them. The heat didn't overwhelm the actual taste. I hate it when things are so spicy the flavor gets lost. The pork was tender and not at all fatty. The portion was ridiculous. It looked like it could easily feed 3 people. I liked Community better than Fox Bros and wouldn't hesitate sending someone here. I'll be back for the mac & cheese for sure.

    (4)

  • Libby D.

    Well, I have finally figured Community Q out -at least for my tastes and now it has become one of my absolute favorites. What I think of as traditional southern BBQ -pork, well smoked, great "crust" we'll it just doesn't exist here. And the traditional slaw and fries both leave tons to be desired. But the vegetables, the specials, the soups( the chef is a soup genius-turkey, wild rice and kohlrabi ? Kale, peas, smoked ham and a little spice right during flu season? Yum!!) and the salad -yes the salad at. BBQ place. And this southerner now finally understands brisket. The brisket here is what the pork should be but isn't. Flavorful, a nice,mix of fatty pieces and great, crispy " outside" or top meat. If I am feeling carnivorous, the brisket is my go to meal. The vegetables are my real favorite here though. The collards, the spicy baked beans, sautéed sweet potatoes with kale, pickled beets (yes, really) -all outstanding. From time to time they get carried away with the salt. A nice okra and tomatoes was inedible from salt once. And the black eyed peas with rosemary can sometimes be a salt lick -other times perfect. Ditto the toast. The bread is great but when toasted gets way too salty with whatever butter mixture is slathered on. The kitchen sink salad is a giant bowl of whatever is in season. Hey -please bring back that whipped goat cheese that was on the side once -much preferable to your regular dressing. So finally I get community q. A perfect BBQ restaurant for anything but traditional southern BBQ!

    (4)

  • Tom N.

    I thought the place was good. I had a beef brisket and sausage plate.

    (3)

  • Corey L.

    Overrated. The only reason the people on this post love it so much is probably because it's one of only two bbq joint in that area. Pork was so-so. Sides were okay. Nothing to go out of the way for unless this is the only place for bbq and you're in this area.

    (2)

  • Catherine R.

    The food here is great! I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was amazingly tender, my mother had the brisket and my father had the chicken. All of us enjoyed the food, the meat portions were quite large, and the prices were reasonable. I also had the incredible mac and cheese - my only complaint is that the side were all small portions. We also had the homemade lemonade, which had a ton of sugar for my mid-Atlantic taste buds, but it was still really good. The place looks unassuming from the outside (it's just in a small strip-mall), but the food is so great, I'm definitely going back soon!

    (4)

  • Will W.

    The brisket was the best ribs that I've had in the Atlanta area...lean and delicious. The ribs were probably the 2nd best and was lean and delicious also. The Mac and Cheese is great too. The greens and baked beans were good but the beans are a little too sweet for me.

    (4)

  • Charles R.

    This is my go to BBQ joint. That's what you call a BBQ restaurant....a joint. I know pretty much all the employees by name and vice versa. My typical order is: Meat Combo Plate (Beef brisket and pulled pork), Mac & Cheese, whatever the soup of the day happens to be. If I were to judge Community on the BBQ alone they'd place just under Fox Bros. However, the real star of the show here is the sides. I think most of Fox Bros sides are really lacking. Much the opposite here. Everyone should experience the ooey gooey goodness of the Mac & Cheese at least once in their life. And if they have the Black Bean Brisket chili on the menu, do yourself a favor and just pick up a quart to take home for dinner. Some folks complain about the price here and I think it's unfounded. Every time I eat here it makes for 2 meals (as it should for most human beings). So factor that into the prices you're seeing on the board. Class A joint right here!

    (5)

  • Esther L.

    What we ordered: Pulled pork sandwich w Mac n cheese Brunswick stew Sweet potato n kale Kitchen sink salad - didn't like the mix of flavors, but everything else I give a 4 Loved the cute decor with all the pigs Friendly service Clean bathrooms

    (4)

  • Winston G.

    First off, the staff here is really friendly and accomidating to any requests you might have. They even let me try a piece of the brisket before getting it! Awesome. I got the beef brisket and pulled pork plate with two sides (mac and cheese and the brunswick stew), which rings in at $11. They give you ample amounts of meat, and I'm eating the rest for dinner tonight, so yeah, lots of food. I thought the brisket was only OK, and would probably give it 3.5 stars, considering it wasn't as moist and tender as I would have liked it to be. One of the chefs told me that today was a bit of an off day for the brisket, and I appreciated the honesty. I'll probably have the brisket again at some point, since I love eating a good brisket. You can also ask for more moist pieces if you want, but of course, it comes with more fat (I can't complain about that.) The pulled pork was really good. You can tell that this has been in the smoker for hours, as it basically falls apart when you stick a fork through it. I would have liked a bit more moisture, but the BBQ sauce at the table provides for that part, and overall, this was very solid. I'm normally not a big fan of mac and cheese, but the M&C here was awesome. It is really rich and cheesy, but not too overwhelming, as some people have complained. There is just the right amount of burnt/crispy cheese on some of the pieces, and they use large pieces of rigatoni or ziti, so it's not your typical small macaroni. Really delicious. Brunswick stew was not my thing, I did not enjoy it. The two pieces of toast were awesome -- I believe it was similar to Texas toast, just not overwhelmingly buttery. I will come back here again and try some of the other meats, like the BBQ beef ribs.

    (4)

  • Scott S.

    I went back last night which was a good thing as it wasn't as crowded us usual because everyone was at home watching the Oscars. I ordered their beef rib as they were out of it last time I visited. I added the fries and collards as the sides. The beef rib is one big rib with the meat on its edges. I wouldn't say it wasn't awful, but it wasn't great either. I was expecting a larger cut of meat along with the rib. It was tender and had a nice smoky flavor upon eating. I was a little disappointed with it as I am more used to a larger slab of beef rib say from One Star Ranch in Buckhead. The unfortunate thing about One Star Ranch is the lackluster and lame sides. I want to like this place but I don't know if it will work out for me. I asked the owner about their beer and wine sales but it seems to be some sort of odd zoning thingy. I don't understand it since there are 5-6 other restaurants in this strip shopping center. The search still continues for better BBQ ITP.

    (3)

  • Harley J.

    I used to live in Texas, and one of the big things I miss now that I no longer live in Texas is Texas BBQ. Community Q more than satisfies that craving. This place would be on my top 10 all-time favorite BBQ spots, probably in the top five. Barbecued sausage is wjhat I gravitate to -- which in itself isn't all that easy to find in Georgia -- but Community Q has the best barbecued sausage around. The sides can't be beat either. We love this place! It is one of our go-to spots when we have out-of-town guests as well. Casual and conducive to conversation.

    (5)

  • Tommy R.

    Awesome bbq, awesome sides (especially their baked beans). Their regular sauce is as good as it gets. Service is always great--I've used them to cater events (they're always on time or even early) and been to the restaurant (super cool and friendly people). Definitely the best bbq in Atlanta (or at least out of Pig n Chik, Fox Bros, Daddy Dz, and Fat Matts).

    (5)

  • jim b.

    Friend of mine had a party with some pans of take-out from Community Q. Great stuff. The chicken was pulled, but entirely recognizable, pieces of chicken. No skin or gristle mixed in. Nice bbq spiced flavor. The brisket was fork tender and excellent. I've smoked brisket and it never came out this tender. I'm not sure if they're brining, injecting, or what, but it was really tender and not too fatty (those are all legitimate techniques sometimes used by various pit-masters). I've had similar take-out from Burnt Fork, and BF's brisket was much tougher and fattier. Very impressed.

    (5)

  • Gary T.

    The St. Louis style ribs here are very good, I stopped by here recently when I was in the neighborhood. The ribs were very tender and the meat had a nice smoke ring in addition to a nice crust on the outside from their rub. They cook their ribs fresh everyday and you can tell, I've been to other places where I have suspected that I was eating yesterdays meat and you can definitely tell the difference. For my sides I ordered their potato salad and the macaroni and cheese. The potato salad was very good and as I have said in other BBQ joint reviews....Georgians just seem to "get" how to make good potato salad. They use large chunksof potato's and I thought that was a nice twist. I forgot to mention earlier that whatever food is not used is at the end of the day is donated to local food kitchens. While this thing is becoming more and more common, I still like seeing stories where businesses are being good corporate citizens. The staff behind the counter were very friendly and the food came out very quickly. I would definitely eat some ribs here again. These folks know what they are doing.

    (3)

  • Joey W.

    Just stopped by Community BBQ at the recommendation of a few friends who were part of their "soft" opening. Today is their first day open (November 19, 2009) and the BBQ (and sides) are DELICIOUS! I ordered a pulled pork sandwich to-go and was warned that this was not a sandwich I would be able to eat in the car, and boy were they right! This sandwich was loaded with the most delicious (and from what I hear, local) pork! I had to start with a fork before getting it down to where I could actually pick up the sandwich and take a bite, which was fine by me! I also tried their slaw and mac & cheese - both were great. The mac & cheese was awesome as they used some large noodles to make it different than what you would expect from a mac & cheese. Overall, I would highly recommend this new BBQ!!

    (4)

  • Nicole A.

    Community Q was my weekend staple! But the last few visits have just been aggravating. The sides are deeeelicious including the collard greens, baked beans, and mac n cheese (can be loaded with butter if ordered late in the day). The desserts are even better! The peach cobbler, strawberry bread pudding, and the banana pudding...all taste fresh and homemade. The Beef Rib was my favorite - until recently the meat has been extremely tough and flavorless. The chicken and pulled pork are not bad. The St. Louis Ribs made my stomach turn...literally. The ribs had an odd smell and looked strange in color. Why did I eat the ribs??? The (2) different sauces are both good - sweet or vinegar. The older gentleman at the counter has always been rude for absolutely no reasoon...perhaps a little too "Southern" but everyone else is nice. I'm going to lick my wounds and perhaps give Community another shot......or maybe not.

    (2)

  • Alexia R.

    Growing up in California will really handicap you when it comes to BBQ. I barely knew what it was when I moved to Atlanta eight years ago. After a few mediocre experiences, I was introduced to Fat Matt's and thought I had discovered what real BBQ was about. Fast forward to today, having recently moved back to the ATL from Kansas City and enduring some serious BBQ withdrawal without much relief, we saw Community Q on 'Atlanta Eats' and decided to give it a go. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster we did. I've been a couple of times now and will keep coming back. The ribs are awesome and so too are the sides (mac 'n cheese and slaw especially.) The service is great too. On my last visit a friend thought she had ordered the rib combo, but it turned out we had only paid for the sandwich combo. They brought her out ribs anyway and were sooooo nice about it. What more could you ask for?

    (5)

  • Lynn M.

    I count myself very lucky to live around the corner from Community Q! You cannot ask for better service or friendlier staff. When my work goes on too late and there's just no time to cook in the evening, Community Q is a great and reliable fallback. The pulled pork is awesome , and the ribs rock. But by all means, don't forget the veggies. You can even go all vegetable here and have plenty of choices. Do yourself a favor and dig in to a wonderful meal at Community Q.

    (5)

  • Rob C.

    I've never gone back to update a Yelp review, but it is with great pleasure I bestow upon this fine establishment the somewhat coveted 5-star rating. Went back last week and tried the rest of the menu. Based on this latest experience: Brisket 4 stars - consistent and oh so good Chicken 5 stars - bbq chicken is usually a disappointment, but theirs is succulent perfection, moist and flavorful without needing any sauce Beans 2 stars - unique and not my favorite, but a good flavor on their own Mac & Cheese 10 stars - yup, still busting the curve Service 5 star - friendly and helpful, really took care of us

    (5)

  • Eleanor S.

    This place is just so great. The portions are huge, the meat/sauce are delicious, and the people are very friendly and personable. Once they even let me try a bite of a new side because I couldn't decide if I wanted to order it. Their sandwiches are a GREAT deal. Best sides: baked beans, mac and cheese. The only possible con I could ever think of is that they only have one type of sauce...but it's amazing so it's not a con at all.

    (5)

  • Keith H.

    We mourned, and mourned, and mourned some more when our beloved Maddys closed in 2010. we tried Community probably a bit too soon and before we were over the loss. Agreed that it was good but it wasn't Maddys. Fast forward a year, on a whim we go to Community at 6 pm on a Sunday, little did we know that everything but the brisket and the sausage would be sold out. We took it as a good sign and took a chance and the gf and I were blown away by the dinner, we also ordered the bread pudding and were pleased with that (both the blueberry ginger and strawberry are great). I can recommend the Pork Ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and brisket. they are all insane. Both the sweet and vinegar sauces are well balanced and hit the spot. For sides the mac and cheese, cole saw, and potato salad are uniquely prepared, they stand out but not in a crazy over the top way. Service is always fast and polite. Go early as they frequently sell out of food. Its generally a good spot for lunch but if the stars are aligned right expect a line and a wait.

    (5)

  • wayne e.

    I wan't extremely impressed. The bbq was ok, but the brisket was great! Maybe after hearing some rave reviews I thought this must be the place??!!!?? The back beans were good, but not sure I would rush to go back to this place. The staff were really really nice as well. So I guess even though I didn't leave this place thinking "I must return" the spots where it shined it really shined bright.

    (3)

  • Boris Y.

    Dave Poe didn't mess with the Sam & Dave's formula much, if at all. That's a good thing. Those two dudes alone have greatly improved the barbecue choices with all their spinoffs. Ribs and mac n cheese especially stood out.

    (4)

  • young k.

    BBQ was just good. I would of liked it if the cole slaw didn't have so much mustard and the beans didn't have so much pepper in it. The Lemonade tasted like sugar syrup. Everything was just so overly peppered.

    (2)

  • Julio G.

    Look, I really wanted to go to Mary Macs Tea House since I heard it was the best bbq but my group could not accommodate this so I ended up at CQ. The ribs were way better than anything I could make at home (this would be like 4.5 stars). The combo only gives like 4 pork ribs (babyb)- so not a ton of ribs. I got the rib combo (15$) which allowed me to pick another meat. I chose brisket. Eh, dry and brown (1.5 stars). The mac was good but it should have been called mac and butter; instead of cheese (3 stars). I got the special sweet potatoes, which aren't even really worth scoring. Overall, the ribs were awesome- but it was a small serving surrounded by a lot of food that was not that good.

    (3)

  • Ashley D.

    We live nearby and Community Q is one of our favorites. The pulled pork is consistently very good and the sides are great. I love the mac & cheese, as well as the kale and sweet potato side. Kitchen sink salad is also really good! They are always very friendly too!

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    Wow. Some of the best BBQ ever. I had the beef rib. Great marbling on rib and was fork tender. Very filling. Great Mac and cheese, they use penne which soaks up a crazy good cheese sauce. Wife had pork ribs which were sauced perfectly. Just a great experience. Loved the baked beans as well.

    (5)

  • Kristie C.

    A bit oily, the chicken was not all that flavorful, but the sauce was pretty good. If you eat there, the environment is pretty fun & friendly.

    (3)

  • Ethan T.

    Not only is the BBQ great (beef rib mmmmmm) but the employees are very nice.

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    Ate lunch at Community Q BBQ on 02/23/12.... I ordered the Rib Combo Plate (1/4 slab ribs + choice of meat - I chose pulled pork... + choice of 2 sides - I chose the Mac N Cheese & Cole Slaw). I also ordered a small side of Brunswick Stew. Food: Ribs - some of the best I've had in ATL... dry rub style, seasoned & cooked just right, smoky - but not overly so... The meat of the ribs not too lean, not too fatty.... just about right. Pulled Pork - smoked and cooked about right, albeit perhaps a touch on the dry side... overall very good (but the ribs stole the show) Mac N Cheese - good solid southern style mac Cole Slaw - just the right blend of mayo, vinegar & seasoning... again, amongst the best I've had in the ATL Brunswick Stew - B+.... a good version of the classic style, but nothing to write home about... (IMHO, Pig N Chik has the best Brunswick Stew I've tasted - to date - in the Atlanta metro) Sauces: Two types of BBQ sauces are on every table... 1) A traditional vinegar/pepper based North Carolina style sauce - this version had some tomatoes and/or ketchup (& a bit of sugar) in it, by the looks and taste of it, although it was close enough to the North Carolina traditional style 2) A Lexington-style sauce - it tasted to me like the ketchup was overly prominent in the sauce... (Now, ketchup is used in the majority of BBQ sauces to some degree, but IMHO, it has to be used in the right quantities so that it doesn't overpower the other ingredients in the sauce.... Top notch local examples would be Williamson Bros. sauce, with Pig N Chik's a close second.) Atmosphere: Located near Emory University, the interior is spacious, with BBQ & Southern memorabilia adorning the walls. Seating is at old-school wooden tables, with the sauces, condiments and racks of paper towels located on every table. There is also a nice outdoor patio, with about 6 or so tables. Service: Order at the counter & they bring it out to you. I was served promptly and one of the staff members came out to check on me a few minutes after I had been served. The whole staff seemed to be composed of very nice "good ol' southern boys".... (usually a positive sign in BBQ joints) Overall: Community Q BBQ is one of the better BBQ restaurants in the Atlanta metro area. I would rate Community Q BBQ as 3 1/2 stars if I had not had the ribs.... With the ribs, the rating goes up 1/2 star to a solid 4 star rating. Recommended.

    (4)

  • Jose P.

    There is nothing special about the place, the food was average. The cleanliness was questionable as I spotted a few roaches in the dining room. I was just happy that we got it to go.

    (3)

  • Mr. Butters ..

    how this isn't at least top 5 in ATL is upsurd. They have their bad days, but there aren't many. I would strongly recommend the st. louis ribs, mac 'n cheese, hell everything there is solid

    (4)

  • Wen L.

    Holy BBQ!!! Whenever I'm craving BBQ I go here! The food is always good and the sides are always a huge treat. Every time I go here I have to resist the desire to order EVERY side possible! The pulled pork sandwich is my go to entree. But I do have to mention the beautiful ribs, the delicious bone in chicken, and smoked sausage. Delicious! The sides are always so perfectly delightful. My favorites are the Mac and cheese, Brunswick stew, and cole slaw. One thing that I love about Community Q BBQ is that they have the sweet Georgia BBQ sauce AND the vinegar based North Carolina BBQ sauce (I'm originally a NC girl!). Needless to say, community BBQ is always on my mind!

    (5)

  • Bill A.

    So far, the best BBQ in Atlanta and at a decent price. We have been there many times. The restaurant is small and homey and the employees friendly. Sometimes we get takeout, especially on busy Friday nights. I wish they had beer to go with the ribs, which is why they don't get 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Meat is fall off the bone and the Mac and cheese is extremely good. I especially like the ribs and pulled pork. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Scott P.

    Beef Rib. That is all you need to know. Whats that? You need to know more? Ok fine. Community is a great little BBQ place close to the Emory Campus. While I would put it 2nd in the area behind Fox Bros. if you didn't know Fox Bros existed than community would be your best BBQ in Atlanta. And they do have beef ribs which Fox Bros does not- much to my dismay. You order at the counter, there are no servers and since I am used to a butler waiting on me hand and foot at home this was a little off putting but I have since learned to enjoy slumming it on occasion. They also have an impressive amount of pig memorabilia inside for decor which adds a degree of charm. The food- get the beef rib. Really. A lot of people like to hate on beef ribs and say they are inferior to pork, the meat is never tender enough, they hate America etc. If you honestly think you don't like beef ribs than I am guessing you have never actually tried one. The meat is fall off the bone tender, very beefy in taste, and generally makes you feel like the king of the world. Plus it comes on an enormous and impressive rib bone you can give to your hounds or use as a club 2001 a space odyssey style. One thing you need to worry about is that they often run out of beef ribs later in the day( I contacted Nuremburg and apparently due to some legal technicalities they do not in fact consider this a war crime) so if you arrive after say 5pm make sure you shove elderly people in the parking lot down as you run by and then cut in line to try and make sure you get one. Other than the aforementioned beef rib my next favorite meat is actually the sausage which I would not say of any other BBQ place ever but at community it is reeeeally good. Some people worry that it will be too spicy but as someone who can't handle any spice at all I can assure you it is mild. As for sides you can't go wrong with the Mac and Cheese- even if you are lactose intolerant suck it up, stop buy Sam's Club on the way home for 500 rolls of toilet paper and dig in. I don't know anyone who doesn't think community doesn't have the best Mac and Cheese of any BBQ place in GA (even better than Fox Bros it pains me to admit) so it is a must have. The 2nd best side IMO is the sweet potatoes and kale though that one isn't always available.

    (5)

  • Joel B.

    I had the combo -- St. Louis ribs and pulled chicken. Both were awesome. My sides were the Mac-n-cheese and the Brunswick stew. Both of those were awesome too. There was plenty of food but I also took home a banana pudding for desert later. I've had better but it was still very good. I will definitely go back again and look forward to trying their other selections.

    (5)

  • Zack A.

    Ever since I went to Community Q BBQ for the first time a few weekends ago, I have been wanting to go again, and I plan to as soon as possible. As far as the meat, I am not much of a ribs or brisket person. But I did try both the pulled chicken and pulled pork, and both were amazing. The BBQ sauce that comes with their sandwiches is awesome, and you get plenty even though there is a ton of meat on each sandwich. The sides are probably the best part. The fries are surprisingly good, and both the mac and cheese and the brunswick stew are probably the best I have ever had. Try it out; you won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Annie C.

    I'd been meaning to eat here for a while now, I just rarely crave barbecue. But yesterday the mood struck and off we went. We came in around 5 PM, it wasn't too busy - no line and just a few tables occupied. My first impression was that the setup is pretty similar to that of Fat Matt's (off Piedmont). There's a large menu board by the register, you order off it, and they bring your order to the table. The boyfriend and I both ordered the sammiches (individually $6.50) - he the 'beef brisket' and I the 'pulled chicken'. For $11 (drinks excluded), you have your pick of 2 sides. Together we got the: Mac & Cheese: It was really good, really cheesy - just the way I like it. The macaroni pasta is huge! Potato Salad: Also pretty solid, and it was quite a generous amount. Baked Beans: Good and sweet. The beans were a little harder than I'd prefer, but again a solid side dish. Brunswick Stew: Honestly, I don't think I'd ever had Brunswick stew before yesterday but I liked it! The meat was nice, and the broth was flavorful. On to the sammiches! These were definitely the highlight of the meal, and a lot more filling than they look. The bread was buttery and perfectly toasted. I really enjoyed the pulled chicken sandwich, and they were not stingy with the chicken. It was well cooked and tasted delicious with both of the house barbecue sauces (one's sweeter and the other is vinegar based.) However, my favorite of the two was the 'beef brisket' sandwich. It was delicious - so tender and flavorful! Before we came to the restaurant the boyfriend asked a friend what to order, and the 'beef brisket' came highly recommended. I definitely see why!

    (4)

  • Alison G.

    Yet another place I love and have forgotten to spread the word about. Boy is my face red! Literally, because I was flirting with Tron all night. Yes I'm a married lady, but he is super cute. I have to tell the internet: never before have I been served with such finesse and flair, as when Tron served me some BBQ tonight. Okay it was actually a chicken salad sandwich but the verdict stands. The smoked chicken salad sandwich is the real deal, y'all. Usually I eat half and save half for later but tonight I ate the whole ding dang thang and I don't regret it. Okay maybe a little because I'm full as HAYL but it was still worth it. I also got double macaroni because double DUH. Their macaroni is the macaroni to beat all macaronis. That is an annoying word to type a lot, I'm over it. Get the M&C, then bring some to me. I think their meats are real tasty, too, but I stick with my uzh. Sometimes I get the sausage (aww yeaah! Wait, not you Tron! I mean actual like, pork product!) and it is also super delish. The seating isn't the best, and when you leave you'll smell like smoke forever but I think that's part of the BBQ charm.

    (5)

  • Lee B.

    The only disappointment here is that they often run out of barbecue way before closing. Pulled pork is delicious, mac n' cheese always awesome. Go early before its all gone. And bring your dull knives - you can have them sharpened there.

    (4)

  • Gleni J.

    Great service, was greeted with a smile when I walked up to order. Every time I come here I just happen to luck out on finding a table to sit at. Always busy but surprised that they don't close later than they already do. I came right when they opened and there was a line that wrapped around the inside. I guess that's a good sign of good food. I love their black eyed peas and I'm not a fan of black eyed peas in general. Their baked beans were awesome and well as their mac n cheese, and collards. Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with a side. The main attraction to me was the brisket. I wish the pulled pork was pulled more but it was still tasty. What confuses me is that when you order two meats , they fill the sandwich with a mix of both. I was thinking I was missing a meat until I dug a little further. I'm not too crazy about the sauce, a little too sweet for me so I mix it with the vinegar sauce to give it a tang. Overall I'll still go back. Got a solid four star from me.

    (4)

  • C.E. D.

    Ribs so delicious and tender as they come out, no extra sauce needed. Also delicious - the mac & cheese and the black eyed peas. Quick service.

    (5)

  • Erin S.

    Best barbecue I've had in years, and I really don't like barbecue normally but this place is phenomenal. We'll be back again soon. The Mac n cheese is as good as I make, can't wait to try the other sides they have.

    (5)

  • Greg A.

    3 Stars in this case = I would try it a 2nd time. Chicken was best meat of 3 we tried. Pulled Pork was OK. Beef Brisket was sliced to thick, dry & minimal taste. Without BBQ sauce I would not enjoy the beef at all. Bright spot was the Brunswick Stew. Food came out quick & correct. Priced like it was the best around. Luke warm greeting & ZERO come back & see us again. If there was 2.5 Stars I would select it. As of this time I am neutral on Community Q. In Summary, I'd go try the blacked eyed peas, collards & other veggie sides. The Meat CAN be beat !!

    (3)

  • Charlie M.

    BEST NEW RESTAURANT IN DECATUR IN FIFTEEN YEARS. Consistent quality, standards, offerings and service. Incredibly fast "fast-food" speed of delivery of highest quality BBQ and farm-style veggies and sides. In the beginning they were still learning the ropes of service, but now it's like going over to your best friends place. I've sampled most of their offerings off-and-on since they opened (as well as just about everything else in the Decatur area since 2000) and Community wins out. Easily gives any other BBQ in Atlanta a run for taste and quality. Expect to see additional sites around town in the future. I never write reviews, but they have earned it - will post this same review to multiple sites. If you like BBQ, you will like Community Q!

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    Have tried a lot of different BBQ places during multiple visits to Atlanta and I usually come away thinking "eh". This place is at the top of my list now for options out there. The portions are huge and they had some of the best Mac n' Cheese I've had. Brisket was better than most places as I personally like Texas style and this was pretty close, but I found it a bit tough and dry for my liking. The BBQ beans had a nice spicy kick to them and the chopped brisket was a tasty addition, probably benefiting from the extra moisture. I found the St. Louis ribs to be my favorite; the meat was fall-off-the-bone and had that requisite smoke ring and flavor. I do recall the fries being nothing special.

    (4)

  • Patricia S.

    "I wish I would have found this a long time ago!" Some of the best BBQ in the ATL! Yes, it is true! We had the pulled pork, with sides. Lots to choose from on the menu, reasonably priced and friendly staff. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Barbara A.

    I've lived in the area for 10 years but just happened to notice this restaurant in a strip of restaurants. Made a mental note and checked reviews when I got home. Oh, yeah, this place CAN'T be as good as everyone said....but it IS!!!! I had my favorite 'try it out' meal of a pulled pork plate with the two sides of cole slaw and potato salad. As a new customer, they added a taste of Mac and cheese. WOW! The pork was moist with a couple of nice chunks of bark, but no fat/gristle. The sandwich was constructed with two perfectly grilled pieces of Texas style toast. Potato salad chunky with red skin potatoes and the right combo of mayo/mustard, etc. love the cole slaw, tart and sweet and crunchy. The Mac and cheese??? SINFUL. I thought my Mom was in heaven - obviously she's hanging out in the kitchen here! I love the piggy decor and the music must have been programmed right out of my iPod. Everything from Dave Matthews All Along the Watchtower to Led Zepplin. I've been back and tried other dishes including the collards -oh, yeah- they are GOOD, pickled beets...perfectly sweet and tart. The ribs - yes!!!! BEWARE!!! When they run out of something, it's gone, so don't wander in 20 minutes before closing counting on a specific item. I did that recently and the man in front of me got the LAST of the pulled pork. I drowned my sorrows with a half rack of ribs AND banana pudding.

    (5)

  • Aly C.

    Absolutely best sloppy joe and lemonade! The food comes out quick, and the staff are very friendly. Ordered this for a business lunch and everyone loved it!

    (5)

  • Joy J.

    Ordered: 2 meats with 2 sides (macaroni & cheese and smoked sweet potatoes & kale) Pulled chicken was great. Beef brisket was ok. I've had brisket more tender. I wish the collards and baked beans were vegetarian because I don't like pork in sides. This limits the no pork patrons to a few starchy sides. :-( Macaroni & cheese was creamy and delicious. Smoked sweet potatoes with braised kale...one word, SCRUMPTIOUS! Overall, good eatin!

    (4)

  • Renel G.

    Great flavor and price! Beans have brisket chunks and quite spicy. Mac & cheese is as good as the other reviews stated. The sauces to add, not as great as the rest. Incredible service!

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    Whatever you do, order the mac and cheese!!! I could be a vegetarian if it weren't for places like Community Q. I now live in Connecticut and suffer with next to no good BBQ after growing up in SC and eating plenty of good southern BBQ. My dad was in the hospital at Emory and I wanted to find some BBQ so I yelped it and found this awesome little spot. I ate there several times over the weeks my dad was in the hospital and it is the bright spot in an otherwise negative time. I had several things while I was there, but my favorite was the hillbilly sloppy joe. This wasn't on the regular menu, but it was on a separate sheet of paper for several weeks. I also had a pulled chicken sandwich, a few bites of my husband's pulled pork sandwich, a meat combo sandwich (any 2 meats) with brisket and chicken. Every sandwich I had was amazing. This is my all-time favorite BBQ joint ever. Now for the sides: Let me start by saying I hate, hate, hate going to a BBQ place and having a great sandwich with really bad out of a box mac and cheese. Well, I asked about their mac and cheese before I ordered it and the guy assured me it was homemade and delicious, so I tried it. HOLY AMAZING CHEESY GOODNESS!!! I love my own recipe, but this is the best mac and cheese I've had anywhere made by anyone! I'm sure it had enough fat in it to send me in to cardiac arrest, but it would have been worth it! I also loved the sweet potatoes and kale. Their baked beans were also amazing. I put some of them on my pulled chicken sandwich and those flavors went well together. Warning, the baked beans have a kick, so if you don't like them real peppery, then don't order them. The dry rub on the chicken was great. I also liked the sweet BBQ sauce on all the meat. So to sum up: Get any meat- they are all amazing. And you must get the mac and cheese and baked beans! Also, the house made lemonade is really good as well!

    (5)

  • Dio S.

    This relatively new Q joint seems to be doing just fine, already establishing itself as one of the best BBQ in the city according to many. Its rustic, hogs-adorned interior is relatively spacious (compared to other in town BBQs). The whole place has a way of making you feel like you are out in the country, like everybody should be in overalls. My favorite was the beef short rib. Its almost completely smoked-black exterior belied meltingly tender meat laced with fat once you bite into it. Full of flavor and called for modest sauce use. Of the sauce two kinds sat on tables. A vinegary one and a tomato based one. Both were on the mild side and pretty good. Above average pulled pork and smoked sausage. Brisket was okay. Combo plates were presented like open faced sandwiches. I think the overall portions are smaller than most places. Sadly, the sublime short ribs tend to run out often. Mac and cheese was very good. Brunswick stew not so much, too watery and somewhat bland. A special of the day chicken chowder also was kind of bland. Brunswick stew was a big deal to me but the beef rib makes up for it. *Added 8/9/10: Baked beans are unbelievably good...transcendentally good, get it. Overall, like pretty much every BBQ around, you can get some great items, and some meh ones. Nobody has great everything.

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    I have no idea how I have managed to avoid coming here for as long as I have. But I have been here twice in the past week and I am a fan. The first time I was here, I had the pulled chicken plate, with mac & cheese and collards as my sides. Seriously, everything was delicious. The mac & cheese wasn't super creamy and cheesy, so I was expecting to be disappointed in the taste. But man, I was glad to be wrong. It was very flavorful, sharp cheddary goodness. The chicken was moist and not drenched in sauce. Which is a good thing, since preference varies from person to person. I, for one, like my BBQ drenched in sauce. And I vastly prefer sweet BBQ sauce over vinegary. Their sweet sauce was everything I could want, sweet but tangy with just enough kick. The second time we came, we were entertaining my parents and sister. Everyone got different sides and we all sampled each others. The beans and cole slaw were good, not great. The brunswick stew was more like chili, but still delicious. I liked the potato salad enough to have it again in the future. This time, I got beef ribs, which were delicious. A nice crust on the outside, juicy on the inside. The service is good, the cashier and servers are friendly and prompt. This is place is so close to where we live, I really can't believe we hadn't tried it sooner. Probably because Maddy's is even closer. But sorry to say, I don't think I'll be hitting up Maddy's anytime soon knowing about Community Q what I do now.

    (5)

  • Leroy Z.

    We Yelped the best BBQ in the area and this place also registered with Atlanta's top 50 places to eat. We decided to give it a shot on May 16th as we were in town. It's a hole in the wall place in a fsmall strip mall with a sign that looks like a teenager designed it but that wasn't why we were here. I had the Pork Ribs (St. Louis style) and Brisket combo with beans and potato salad as the sides. The BBQ sauce itself comes in 2 flavors. One is a strong vinegar based and the other a little sweet but none were great but the sweet one was what all 3 of us used. The Ribs, Brisket were juicy and very flavorful and I give them 4 1/4 stars. The beans were very good as well and 4 1/2 stars! Very different than any that I've ever tried. I'd defintely eat there agin when I'm back in town. If you like Q, then you need to try this place.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    I'm always a bit nervous of new BBQ joints in the ATL. As Georgia doesn't really have it's own specific style of BBQ, you never know which style of BBQ you're going to get with a new restaurant. Although the restaurant and location are new, the owner of Community Q BBQ, Dave Roberts, has been a BBQ man in Marietta for a number of years, as part owner of the now defunct Sam & Dave's BBQ. I was not aware of this until recently, so when I first tried Community Q BBQ earlier this spring, I went in with an open mind. The secret is out on Community Q BBQ, this place is always packed. Location, location, location. Community Q has it, being located right near Emory, giving it an endless supply of customers. The space is kind of small, as they are located inside a strip center. On this occasion we had to sit outside in the summer heat, which kind of sucked. I've heard on any given day they smoke 700 - 1,200 pounds of meat, and consistently sell out. If you're going by for a late dinner, you probably should call ahead to see if your favorite meat is still available. On previous trips, I have put this restaurant up to my standard BBQ test. Pulled/Chopped pork sandwich, brunswick stew, and sweet tea. Community Q passes this test with a solid score, but didn't blow me away. The Brunswick stew is on the runny side, and not too flavorful. They have two sauces, a vinegar based and a ketchup/molasses based. On this trip, I decided to give the brisket a shot, and it did not disappoint. Similar to the pork, the brisket was quite good, but not amazing. The wife went with the rib plate this trip, and gave the ribs a very high compliment stating, "they're better than Fox Brothers." Where Community Q BBQ really shines is side dishes. The sides here complete the meal, and they are typically huge. The mac & cheese is probably some of the best I've had in a long time. I love it here, and it's probably my favorite item on the menu. The baked beans and black eyed peas are pretty damn good too. One of my friends told me that she thought the fries were the best she's ever had, which surprised me because I rarely think to order fries with bbq. A common complaint I've heard about Community Q is the lack of fried okra on the menu. This doesn't bother me, but some Georgia folks want that fried okra. This has actually been one of the harder reviews for me to write. I'm torn with Community Q BBQ. I like it, but I don't love it. I haven't had anything here that inspired me to the point that I had to write about it, but it is definitely better than average bbq. The location will keep me coming here, but when I must have the best bbq in town, you'll still find me at Fox Brothers.

    (3)

  • Adrian R.

    ANOTHER AWESOME BBQ JOINT!! Loved the fact that you could choose between a sweet or vinegar sauce. Mac n Cheese was DELICIOUS!!! The collards were surprisingly tasty! Brisket was tender and had great flavor. The smoked sausage was KILLER!!

    (5)

  • David F.

    A lot of word of mouth has spread about Community BBQ and Fox Brothers. The latter was a disappointment both times, the former was highly satisfying and I'm looking forward to round two! You walk up and order your items. I got the meat combo (pulled pork and pulled chicken) platter, which comes with two sides (mac n cheese and Brunswick stew) for $11 (including tax). The sandwhich only is $6.50. Within 5 or so minutes, I received a heaping portion of meats between two pieces of nicely toasted texas toast. I squirted some sweet BBQ sauce on it and my taste buds danced. The mac n cheese was spectacular creamy goodness, although I've read several reviews wishing it had more kick (but that wouldn't be mac n cheese, now would it?). The Brunswick stew was solid as well. I'll be back. I've seen several coupons for it on Half Off Depot, so if you are ensure, check for deals there first. Kudos for being one of the few restaurants in Atlanta that includes tax in the price listed.

    (4)

  • Dwayne H.

    It's just OK to me...3.5 stars. Why? Maybe its that I expected so much more than a three and a half star "food" experience from Community Q being that they have a steadfast stellar Yelp rating; maybe its because I have tasted far superior BBQ in lesser BBQ popularity-s and populous-es; maybe I'm just a BBQ snob that expects perfection from such a high heralded establishment but for the life of me, I really can't condone more than a three and a half star for their BBQ...and here's my reasons why: #1 The Pulled Pork (the heart of Georgia BBQ), 3 star: although some of the leanest and tenderest Pork I have encountered in my BBQ quests (it literally fell apart or "cut" with the slightest pressure from my fork) it was just too dry on the tongue and nearly devoid of any flavor (there was a hint of smoke in the meat and that's all); quite honestly, it tasted more like a regular baked pork roast; one of very little seasoning and cooked a little too long in the oven only to remove the fat content. Really, one can easily tell this is high quality pork as it simply cuts as such, but I think the problem belies to the super lean quality of the meat as pork with some fat in it simply tastes better (especially for BBQ). Alright, kudos to Community Q for using very lean and high quality pork (a pork diet with this stuff would be very health conscious) but boo to the smidgen of BBQ flavor given. #2 The Beef Brisket, 3 star: another beautiful presentation of a very lean and high quality meat, but yet again, it was supremely fork tender, close to dry on the tongue and nearly flavorless; it had a very slight hint of pink left in the middle with a really nice but thin dark crust that would suggest more time needed in the smoker at a lesser temperature. #3 The Mac & Cheese, 4.5 star: good stuff and high quality with lots of flavor; I really like that they use the Penne regate style noodle in this dish as it simply holds the cheese better than your standard macaroni. This dish is easily discerned as a home baked and homemade Mac&Cheese far superior than any sloppily thrown together artificial cheese sauce induced glop that many BBQ establishments serve. I added a little salt to mine to enhance the flavor (I'm sure it is prepared with less sodium for dietary purposes) but for all intensive purposes, I could eat a big tray of this and be very happy! #4 The Brunswick Stew, 5 star: the simply southern non chunky type with just the right amount of vegetable and meat served HOT and steamy; yes, this is the real deal of homestead Brunswick stews and I really like the slight punch it has as well. Throw me in a big pool of this and I guarantee I will not drown! #5 The Sauces, 5 star: two sauces (one a tomato base and one a vinegar base) are on the table and ready to add at leisure. Community Q has it going on in the sauce department as each hit-the-taste-bud-sweet spot with me full on! The vinegar based sauce may even have been my favorite and that says a lot being that I don't enjoy most vinegar sauces! Each sauce is fluid in disbursement and unique in flavor to themselves with a tang to them. Yes, I liked them! 5star. OK, so much for the food evaluation of which I will again say was an OK overall experience. Granted, I really enjoyed the sides and the sauces, but lets face it, the MEAT is the real reason for BBQ and I only wished that the Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket I had made a better impression; I went through six drink refills in order to stave off the meat[s] dryness factor. I will have to try the Ribs and Chicken some time as well as some of the other Yelper reviewed food crave offerings, but until then, my 3.5 star food rating will have to do for my visit. As for the service and ambiance I give Community Q a full 5 stars; the people where all very friendly and the surroundings where clean and well kept with a decidedly homey feel; maybe this is truly why so many Yelpers rave over this place--- it feels welcoming and comforting within the perimeter (ITP).

    (3)

  • Jake V.

    Incredible. In a class all it's own, the brisket and sausage were fantastic. I will be thinking about those ribs for days. All around a great spot!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Community Q BBQ

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