So I used my Groupon at Al's BBQ in Marietta, GA, I was so excited to try this BBQ spot! I circled the block several times before I could find a parking and finally when I did, I wished I hasn't even gone into the restaurant! First, as I was walking up to the restaurant, a man is pulling a trash can full with trash thru the front door across the dining area! Gross!! Secondly, I went ahead and placed my order and was told I had to pay an additional $3.00 for carry out, which I didn't mind, however, once I placed the order and sat down at an empty table, (mind you there is no customer in the restaurant) I was told I couldn't sit at the table that all to go orders had to sit at a designated spot! Really?!? Who does that?? There is no customer! But I moved and the cook yells at the waitress about allowing me to sit at the table instead of the to go designate area! Finally, the shocker and I was like I am definitely not eating this food!! The man who wheeled the trash can through the dining room area was the same man that was going to be cooking our food! I was like NOPE, not eating that!! Do not recommend this business, it was HORRIBLE!!!
(1)
Michael D.
Great barbecue just off Marietta Square. The smoker outside drew us in and it was not a disappointment. Have to try the collard greens and the brunswick stew to go along with whatever meat you choose. The pulled pork was great.
(5)
Brian C.
Wow, not sure what the other reviewers are referring to, but I had an excellent experience and the service/food was phenomenal. Location is easy to get in and out of and it's in the Marietta Square which is a nice treat in its' self. Definitely will return on a regular basis!!! Also, there is parking in the back which is a nice secret I'll remember when going to the square.
(5)
Fabian W.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. I had a totally different experience then the previous review. Stopped by for lunch, thanks Scoutmob. Talk about intimate, but who cares when the food is good. I had "fried" salmon(fried in a skillet with olive oil), yams and corn, plus a sweet tea. It was raining outside, but the Ray Charles playing on the radio, Sportscenter on TV, plus this great food; all was well in my world. I was truely surprised by how flavorful the salmon was, the corn was fresh, but the yams were incredible. The sweet tea wasn't too sweet and had a hint of something. My mind said it was a hint of lemon but my taste buds said cane sugar. Eitherway, it was worth a second glass. Al came out and we talked about the food and he was super friendly. I told him I'll be back for dinner and I plan on keeping my word. This place is worth a visit.
(4)
Beka R.
I ate here over the summer and it was gross. The service was slow, and my husband was brought out sweet tea in a glass that smelled like raw chicken. We should have left then, but stayed. The food was okay and took a while, the BBQ chicken was just a chicken breast that came with BBQ sauce. The cobbler also wasn't good. Al was there, but he didn't speak to us- we were the only guests in the restaurant...
(1)
Chanel S.
I am giving two stars for the yams and Mac n cheese but the ribs were burned to a black dry brick and the cobbler was awful. So disappointed, I was really hoping they were good.
(2)
Samantha E.
Great in house smoked BBQ and nicely done sides. Pay attention to the days and hours they are open. Nice food and nice people. Support your locally owned businesses.
(4)
Jessica O.
This place is excellent - I only wish they were open more hours! BBQ was fabulous. The place itself is tiny, with only a few tables and chairs. Al himself gave us great service.
(5)
Tricia S.
The food is amazing at this little hole-in-the-wall right off Marietta Square. You can tell great BBQ by how much sauce must be added to the meat. Here, Al adds such great flavor to his pulled pork that you don't need it, but I still do because the sauce is reallllly good. He cooks his collard greens just the way I like them...hot and spicy with the right amount of salt. The macaroni and cheese is to die for, and you have to order the peach cobbler for dessert...you HAVE to! I think his food is overpriced and his service/business skills are lacking, but I recommend the food to anyone looking for tasty local BBQ.
(4)
Grant R.
Stopped in because the restaurant we wanted to try was closed. Then, serendipity occurred. The entire staff was very friendly and the service was relaxed yet prompt. The pork is chipped more than pulled, which is my preference, and the taste was top notch. The meat was moist and tasty. Tasted so good that sauce wasn't necessary. My wife got the special of the day, fried chicken. It looked and tasted great. Both of us thought our sides where excellent (best sweet potatoes I've ever had). Great food plus friendly staff (and owner) equals great experience. Worth the trip if you live itp.
(5)
Adrienne T.
I REALLY wanted to come here and RAVE about Al's, but no. I gots to keep it one hunnit with my Yelp family because well, that's what we do, even when it hurts. First, this place isn't in a convenient spot. It's like in "mid-town" or "downtown Old Town" Marietta, which I never even knew existed. Next, we got a Living Social deal. Cool. I don't like places that ADD RESTRICTIONS TO THE GROUPONS AFTER PEOPLE HAVE PURCHASED THEM. On his door, Al has a sign taped up that says if you have a Living Social or Half Depot coupon, you can use it at lunch, but you gotta pay dinner prices. What kind of fck*(&^* is that??! The deal didn't SAY that, and how dare you, or any business, play switcheroo on the consumer. Anyway, we went at dinner time- BUT, STILL (you know?). My gf got the ribs and LOVED THEM. Loved them, I tell ya! She's a good cook, hard to please, and she loved them, and said she wants to go back JUST for the RIBS- THAT my friends, might be enough of a recommendation, if you like RIBS, to get you there with a quickness. I, on the other hand, had the brisket. It was thin, sliced, looked like turkey bacon and tasted like microwaved mystery meat. Also, there was NO fat! What's brisket with no fat? I mean, it was more like thin slices of roast beef deli meat. Gf said the yams had way too much molasses in them. The mac and cheese was decent, but the potato salad and sweet tea were GREAT! We also had a delightful server named Shaun that we REALLY LIKED! Al, himself, is quite personable too, which certainly helps. I don't know. I think we "may" go back if the gf insists on the ribs. Otherwise, it's not worth the effort to me. Even with a $20 coupon we spent around $20, so it's not cheap. I think I'd rather drop $30-$40 and drive elsewhere. Maybe it'll improve. If it does, we'll gladly go back! We really WANT to like the spot.
(3)
Michael O.
A cool lil low key spot to eat at in the Marietta Square area. You have to pay CLOSE ATTENTION to the numbers because I missed it the 1st time around. I order the Smoked Turkey Wings w/Mac & Cheese and a Caesar Salad as my 2 side items. 2 Thumbs Up! I like his sauce too!
(4)
Christina L.
My husband and I had lunch here today and it was amazing, pulled pork Sammy Mac and cheese spicy collard greens, buddddyyyyyy it was good!cant wait to go back for dinner one night for all the other goodies! Al was super nice too! Not often the owner serves u!
(5)
Antranise N.
I want to love this place so bad! Went with my co-worker and used a Scoutmob deal. The restaurant is a nice small, open space with great music playing in the background. I like that the drinks (non-alcoholic) come in tall wine glasses. I ordered the brisket with mac & cheese, black eyed peas and a side of ribs. My co-worker ordered the hot wings with string beans. My brisket looked like thick slices of turkey bacon. It did not taste like brisket to me at all. However, my co-worker liked them. The black eyed peas was wonderful. The ribs were just ok but the BBQ sauce was delicious. The mac n cheese was not the greatest. My co-worker did not like her hot wings. Actually, they were not hot at all because they were cold. The waitress took the order back, nuked them and asked if she wanted more sauce on the side. She enjoyed her string beans and my black eyed peas. Al was actually in the kitchen. He is very friendly and talked with the guests. I am willing to give this place another try because the black eyed peas were so delicious. I have hopes that there is more to this place. I will keep you posted
(2)
Jazz B.
The food was subpar. We wanted to try out a more local place and we had a restaurant.com coupon thing so why not? I got the pork ribs (they were out if beef) and a side of Mac for me and my kid, my husband had the turkey wings with collered greens and beans. My ribs were 80% bone and about 10% meant and 10% fat. They were decent at least. My husband said his food was OK but the beans were way too spicy. All and all the food was decent. Won't eat their again though didn't think it was worth the 30$.
(2)
Gary L.
We went to Marietta Square for the farmers market today. As we walked through I could smell hickory smoke and the possibility of good southern barbecue. We found Al's just off the square. Out front is a full pit cooker with the heavenly smell of hickory wood. We sat inside. Al was in the kitchen. We ordered the brisket with Mac and cheese and green beans. The brisket came out as two thick slabs that had been finished on the charcoal grill. Smoky, meaty and so tender with the perfect edge of burn and smoke. The macaroni and cheese was wonderfully gooey cheesy and full of flavor. The green beans were italian flat and with great ham bone flavor. The brisket was the best I have ever had. We finished off with blackberry cobbler. Great finish to the barbecue. We will be back again.
(5)
Toby W.
Everything is delicious! Pleasant surprise with the cobbler...returned one evening JUST for that. Prices are fair, and the service is friendly. Al can cook, baby!
(5)
Karo R.
Al's completely missed it!!! I'm very disappointed. I arrived around 4:30 on a Sunday (close @ 6 on Sunday) not a customer in sight, but yet my son and I were asked to move to a smaller table because they were expecting a crowd. I ordered pork ribs, mac n' cheese & collard greens. I was served noticeably leftover sides & torched ribs, they were completely burned. The cornbread had a refrigerated taste. Al's was a complete waste of money. No more restaurant grouponing for a while thanks to Al.
(2)
Slim M.
If you ever want to place an order in advance, unfortunately, you cannot do it by phone. You will have to drive over and place the order, which isn't so bad if you live nearby. But why can't anyone answer the phone? The one time I did get in touch with someone, he answered the phone out of breath at 5 P.M. on a weekday night, saying that everyone had already left. ? My sister and I dropped in and ordered our entrees on another occasion. We added macaroni & another side to the order. The waitress brought out the entrees with no sides. We didn't even mention it to her. My food was okay, definitely not better than Mom's or Grandma's. My sister mentioned that hers was bland, and I noticed that mine was too. I can't say that I'm losing my mind trying to return to this place. 2 stars.
(2)
Jessica B.
First impressions in a business are very important as we well know. May I start out by saying there is a lot more to the food itself than the somewhat out of the way location and small space of the restaurant itself. The food and friendly staff service makes it all worth it! I mean, I haven't been out of state very much to compare it to ''real barbecue'' in perhaps someone's hometown from beyond the state lines, but I've been around enough to say this: Al sure does know what he's doing and is giving some other local BBQ chain joints a run for their money! I rather enjoyed the serving size and the rib plate as simply awesome! Each tender, juicy bite a bit better than the last with a fantastic sauce from the table. I also must recommend trying their fresh-tasting baked beans with just the right amount of cinnamon in it and that homemade mac n' cheese is just outstanding! I'm only disappointed I couldn't try the blackberry or peach cobbler as I understand they had run out for the day but I'll be back to try that out for sure! My husband tried the turkey wings and agreed that the meat was rather juicy as well! NOTHING to worry about when it comes to your meat here! And not too much salt on the green beans either! I must say, it's rather different here in size and it seems they are still working on a few things on the inside, but in this case the food and friendly service makes it worth it! So, the next time you have hankering for some unique and mouthwatering BBQ, give Al a call and give your stomach and taste buds a REAL treat! Bring the family and watch the game on the flatscreen! Finger-lickin' good stuff! Stop on in!
(5)
Juan M.
VERY decent! You should check this place out. Owner was nice, friendly. Only thing is, I guess 'cuase I came late they ran out of specific sides I wanted with my pulled bbq chicken-I got a "to go" plate. Other than that, the food I ordered was TASTY.
(3)
Wendy L.
From the very start, the owner was rude. We were told the table we sat down at was reserved. so we moved and he bitched about us sitting there. That should have been a sign to leave. BTW, the people the reserved table was for came in as we were leaving and left just as quickly. The ribs were charcoal black and dry, the collard greens tasted like someone had over seasoned them with red pepper. They were out of mac and cheese so we ordered baked beans which were overly sweet. The corn bread...I won't even bother with that one, it was already stated by another Yelper. The chicken quesadilla tasted like it had been drop in ashes on the way from the kitchen and I think my daughter chipped a tooth on it. We took the ribs home to the dog and chalk it up to a bad experience. Needless to say, we won't be going back and I'm telling my friends to avoid the place.
(1)
Kevin R.
I had bought a Groupon for this place last year but he went out-of-business before I could use it. Luckily I was reimbursed by Groupon. This should have been the first warning strike and Yelp reviews should have been strike two. When I saw he reopened at a new location, I thought let me try to support this guy because he is really struggling and trying hard. Ok, I finally got around to using the Living Social coupon that was expiring on 7/8/2013. My son and I get here at about 12:15pm and there was only one other customer in the whole place. There was no hostess so we sat ourselves at one of 8 tables in this tiny place. After a while the hostess comes in from outdoors carrying some cups. She looked like a biker chick with really short short-shorts on. I thought to myself why do they need a hostess in this tiny dive but I went with the charade because we were hungry. Like others on Yelp said, we were told we had to order off the dinner menu. No problem there we had a $20.00 off coupon so no big deal. We both order the ribs and I had the mac & cheese and collards and he had the sweet potatoes and green beans. While we were waiting for our food, I noticed the table we were at was siting directly above and air-conditioner vent that was on the floor. Since the hostess wasn't around and there was only one other customer there so I decided to change my table to one that didn't have a vent underneath it. After we had been sitting there for about 5 minutes the owner/chef/busboy comes out an asked us to move to one of the two seat tables because he needed to 4 seat tables for his larger parties of customers. I looked around and said there is only one other customer here at 12:30 so I doubt that is going to be a problem. He insisted we moved so I did because I didn't want to get into an argument with him before I received my food. Only one other customer came in while we were there. Finally our food comes out twenty minutes later and we are both very disappointed by the portion size of everything. You only get 4 bones of ribs for 13.99 and two small 3 oz. sides. Most big name fine dining rib places give you a real half rack of ribs for that price. The food was just ok but definitely not worth the price. The total bill came to over $32.00 for the two of us. As some of my fellow Yelpers have already stated I will never ever go back to this dive that is under the delusion it is fine dining. The owner is hostile and in bad need of anger management and customer service classes. I'm positive this place will be closing up soon too!
(1)
Pam C.
Al's BBQ did not honor my Groupon discount, service was abysmal, and the fried green tomatoes were dreadful. Other than that, the pork ribs, pulled pork, and BBQ turkey wings were great, as were the black eyed peas, green beans, potato salad, greens, and Brunswick stew. Take out is the way to go.
(2)
John A.
I went to Al's at dinner time (6:15 pm) and placed a $36 take out order. When I attempted to pay using my Living Social vouchers I was told it would not be honored for take out. It was for dine in only. Nowhere in the fine print on the voucher does it say this. It is also not mentioned on his dry erase board by the door. The only limitation noted is that Living Social vouchers are for dinner only. So I canceled the order and came right home and logged on to my Living Social account and requested a full refund on the grounds that the deal was not honored as advertised. I'll never return to that establishment again. Especially after reading the other reviews saying how poor the food is.
(1)
Aisha B.
We had a coupon from restaurant.com , so we decided to try a new spot. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband tried to order the turkey wings...they didn't have any. So he ordered the pulled chicken. We ordered the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer and those came out piping hot and were pretty good. I had only eaten one tomato slice before our entrees came out...bad timing. My smoked BBQ chicken, which on the menu said was supposed to be white meat, was a leg quarter. I asked the waitress and she said that the menu was old. The chicken was cold on the inside despite the hot leg bone. It seems as if they smoke the chicken beforehand, refrigerate it, and try to throw it back in the smoker when it's ordered. The waitress offered me the menu to order something else and I tried to order the salmon...they didn't have any. I opted for another piece of chicken. When it came out, it was still cold on the inside but I was starving. The flavor was good as well as the BBQ sauce. If it was hot then it would have been good. The mac and cheese was cold as well and just average. The pulled chicken was luke warm, but flavorful and the yams and black eyed peas were ok. We ordered the peach cobbler, which was terrible and tasted like it came from a can. They should pick a few items and execute them really well instead of advertising multiple items on an outdated menu that aren't available. When I go out to eat I expect hot made to order food, not precooked and poorly reheated cold chicken.
(2)
Will J.
I haven't had a full meal here, but I can tell you one thing. The cornbread is really, REALLY good. I stopped in while I was on the square taking in the sights, for a quick snack. I will return. The staff was wonderful there. They were nice. I met Al, and he was a nice guy, too. He cares for his customers.
(4)
Wendy M.
Thank goodness I missed this family dinner! Despite the many warnings here and elsewhere , my BBQ loving DH decided to give Al's a try, since it's relatively in the hood. His report: the server chose to clean every table in the restaurant FIRST rather than wait on them. The management REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR OWN GROUPON. I tasted the leftovers everyone brought home (and if DH brings home leftovers, right away, that speaks volumes!!!). The ribs were passable. The smoked turkey wing was so awful I had to spit it out. I can make better pulled pork and I don't even cook meat! If you love BBQ and expect even a modicum of service , honesty or integrity from a restaurant, STAY AWAY!!!!!!!
(1)
Monique D.
Two words! DON'T GO! Collards too spicy. Cornbread dry. Ribs burnt on the outside raw on the inside. No flavor. Sauce bad. Brisket so fatty 60% was left on plate. Food was inedible. Horrible place! Just in general a bad experience.
(1)
Brian B.
Will all the great bbq choices around, I wouldn't recommend Al's. The restaurant smelled of rotten food. We ordered the chicken and the pork, and both were clearly spoiled. Try it if you have an iron stomach...
(1)
Sandy M.
Went to Al's BBQ about a month ago with my son, daughters law and 10 month old granddaughter first they had so high chairs so we thought they just opened so ok went to car to get stroller. Were told they were out of cornbread, fish and cobbler. Ordered pulled pork BBQ beans and Mac and cheese my daughter in law ordered white chicken the owner came out to see what we wanted while we were trying to make selection to our waitress but since they were out of so much we had to keep looking there were only two other tables occupied Al was making suggestions and told my daughter in law they only had dark meat she pointed out it listed white meat on the menu he said white meat would be too dry do they only served dark meat pulled chicken he said that is what your getting you will like it very pushy it was not near closing time. They had. Discontinued several items that were still on menu the pulled pork and chicken was very good my son had greens they were spicy but good his BBQ beans were good but not very spicy mine were so spicy I could not eat them. Used my coupon from an online company with no problems. Went 5/17/14 for lunch they have strange hours. Wanted Mac and cheese was told it would be 30 minutes until it would be done so I order the special two chili cheese slaw dogs Brunswick stew and potato salad, my daughter ordered pulled pork blackeye peas and BBQ beans had to return beans way too spicy got more blackeye peas they were good potato salad was good but Brunswick stew was a big let down. The lunch menu listed tea was included in price but waitress statef it was not but clearly printed on menu. Gave them my coupon was told could not use at lunch rechecked rules attached to coupon no where did it state eat in only or cannot use for lunch the owner was not there but waitress he said no. So I have coupon that can only be used at dinner and they are only open for dinner Friday and Saturday I do not recommend Al's BBQ our service was not too friendly and they change menu and then you have to hope they tell you of rule changes and menu changes because they change a lot if owner doesn't get off his high horse and become more organized and keep food in stock and become more customer friendly he won't last long I'm not going back will try to get money back from coupon company
(2)
Herman W.
Al needs some help out front. Service was slow- all taken care of eventually. The food was good, especially yams & slaw. Pulled chicken is my moms fav! Pulled pork is smoky & flavorful, brisket sliced thicker than to my liking, but with good flavor.
(3)
Rogers E.
I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at Al's. He is personable which is fine. He wants his customers to feel at home. The price is fair and the food is flavorful. Right now Al's is featured on Half off Depot so you can't beat the deal.
(4)
Monica H.
We tried this place tonight with a groupon and were pleasantly surprised at how wonderful everything was!!! The server was so sweet and the food delicious. Also had the best blackberry cobbler I've ever had!! I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Josephine T.
My family & I were excited to try this new BBQ place on the square. To our disappointment, we had to get it to go because there are no highchairs for my one year old. Of the four sides I got (Brunswick stew, potato salad, yams, and mac&cheese), I have to say the Mac and the yams were the best. The stew was very salty and the potato salad was decent but just average. The BBQ ribs and fried pork were dry, thank goodness for the BBQ sauce the server gave us. Overall it wasn't terrible but not a place I want to go back to for seconds because the portions were *tiny* and the price ticket for two people ~ $28 before tip and no drinks for dinner and I'm still hungry after dinner! The owner came out but didn't say hello or even make any acknowledgement to any of the customers including us. There was only one other table/ person there besides us (my husband, me and child) but she was almost finished eating. You would think the owner would want to meet his new customers or say hello. I do have to say, it's the first time I've ever eaten minced garlic on my BBQ pork ribs....not sure if it's bad or good, but make sure you carry a breath mint with you if you come during lunch!
(2)
Bob E.
My wife and I ate lunch here over the weekend. Al's is located just off the Marietta Square. what brought us in was the aroma we smelled outside so we thought we would give it a try. We both orderred pulled pork sandwiches, one side salad and one side of baked beans. Presentation means an awful lot to us. The sandwiches were presented on a large white plate which made them look smaller. The buns looked like the downsized buns from the grocery store. Very small for a $7 sandwich. Surprising to us, no chips and no pickle spear. They do not have french fries or onion rings available. The side of beans was very tiny in a seperate cup and was $3. The salad was a good size. The BBQ was delicious. Al walked past us and left the store while we were eating. Never asked if it was good, or recommendations. Never saw him again. We believe when you are beginning a new business, you need to be there and observe and ask questions. We are afraid that even though the BBQ tastes great, the almost $24 (before tip) for lunch and the quantity we received will keep us from coming back.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Vee V.
So I used my Groupon at Al's BBQ in Marietta, GA, I was so excited to try this BBQ spot! I circled the block several times before I could find a parking and finally when I did, I wished I hasn't even gone into the restaurant! First, as I was walking up to the restaurant, a man is pulling a trash can full with trash thru the front door across the dining area! Gross!! Secondly, I went ahead and placed my order and was told I had to pay an additional $3.00 for carry out, which I didn't mind, however, once I placed the order and sat down at an empty table, (mind you there is no customer in the restaurant) I was told I couldn't sit at the table that all to go orders had to sit at a designated spot! Really?!? Who does that?? There is no customer! But I moved and the cook yells at the waitress about allowing me to sit at the table instead of the to go designate area! Finally, the shocker and I was like I am definitely not eating this food!! The man who wheeled the trash can through the dining room area was the same man that was going to be cooking our food! I was like NOPE, not eating that!! Do not recommend this business, it was HORRIBLE!!!
(1)Michael D.
Great barbecue just off Marietta Square. The smoker outside drew us in and it was not a disappointment. Have to try the collard greens and the brunswick stew to go along with whatever meat you choose. The pulled pork was great.
(5)Brian C.
Wow, not sure what the other reviewers are referring to, but I had an excellent experience and the service/food was phenomenal. Location is easy to get in and out of and it's in the Marietta Square which is a nice treat in its' self. Definitely will return on a regular basis!!! Also, there is parking in the back which is a nice secret I'll remember when going to the square.
(5)Fabian W.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. I had a totally different experience then the previous review. Stopped by for lunch, thanks Scoutmob. Talk about intimate, but who cares when the food is good. I had "fried" salmon(fried in a skillet with olive oil), yams and corn, plus a sweet tea. It was raining outside, but the Ray Charles playing on the radio, Sportscenter on TV, plus this great food; all was well in my world. I was truely surprised by how flavorful the salmon was, the corn was fresh, but the yams were incredible. The sweet tea wasn't too sweet and had a hint of something. My mind said it was a hint of lemon but my taste buds said cane sugar. Eitherway, it was worth a second glass. Al came out and we talked about the food and he was super friendly. I told him I'll be back for dinner and I plan on keeping my word. This place is worth a visit.
(4)Beka R.
I ate here over the summer and it was gross. The service was slow, and my husband was brought out sweet tea in a glass that smelled like raw chicken. We should have left then, but stayed. The food was okay and took a while, the BBQ chicken was just a chicken breast that came with BBQ sauce. The cobbler also wasn't good. Al was there, but he didn't speak to us- we were the only guests in the restaurant...
(1)Chanel S.
I am giving two stars for the yams and Mac n cheese but the ribs were burned to a black dry brick and the cobbler was awful. So disappointed, I was really hoping they were good.
(2)Samantha E.
Great in house smoked BBQ and nicely done sides. Pay attention to the days and hours they are open. Nice food and nice people. Support your locally owned businesses.
(4)Jessica O.
This place is excellent - I only wish they were open more hours! BBQ was fabulous. The place itself is tiny, with only a few tables and chairs. Al himself gave us great service.
(5)Tricia S.
The food is amazing at this little hole-in-the-wall right off Marietta Square. You can tell great BBQ by how much sauce must be added to the meat. Here, Al adds such great flavor to his pulled pork that you don't need it, but I still do because the sauce is reallllly good. He cooks his collard greens just the way I like them...hot and spicy with the right amount of salt. The macaroni and cheese is to die for, and you have to order the peach cobbler for dessert...you HAVE to! I think his food is overpriced and his service/business skills are lacking, but I recommend the food to anyone looking for tasty local BBQ.
(4)Grant R.
Stopped in because the restaurant we wanted to try was closed. Then, serendipity occurred. The entire staff was very friendly and the service was relaxed yet prompt. The pork is chipped more than pulled, which is my preference, and the taste was top notch. The meat was moist and tasty. Tasted so good that sauce wasn't necessary. My wife got the special of the day, fried chicken. It looked and tasted great. Both of us thought our sides where excellent (best sweet potatoes I've ever had). Great food plus friendly staff (and owner) equals great experience. Worth the trip if you live itp.
(5)Adrienne T.
I REALLY wanted to come here and RAVE about Al's, but no. I gots to keep it one hunnit with my Yelp family because well, that's what we do, even when it hurts. First, this place isn't in a convenient spot. It's like in "mid-town" or "downtown Old Town" Marietta, which I never even knew existed. Next, we got a Living Social deal. Cool. I don't like places that ADD RESTRICTIONS TO THE GROUPONS AFTER PEOPLE HAVE PURCHASED THEM. On his door, Al has a sign taped up that says if you have a Living Social or Half Depot coupon, you can use it at lunch, but you gotta pay dinner prices. What kind of fck*(&^* is that??! The deal didn't SAY that, and how dare you, or any business, play switcheroo on the consumer. Anyway, we went at dinner time- BUT, STILL (you know?). My gf got the ribs and LOVED THEM. Loved them, I tell ya! She's a good cook, hard to please, and she loved them, and said she wants to go back JUST for the RIBS- THAT my friends, might be enough of a recommendation, if you like RIBS, to get you there with a quickness. I, on the other hand, had the brisket. It was thin, sliced, looked like turkey bacon and tasted like microwaved mystery meat. Also, there was NO fat! What's brisket with no fat? I mean, it was more like thin slices of roast beef deli meat. Gf said the yams had way too much molasses in them. The mac and cheese was decent, but the potato salad and sweet tea were GREAT! We also had a delightful server named Shaun that we REALLY LIKED! Al, himself, is quite personable too, which certainly helps. I don't know. I think we "may" go back if the gf insists on the ribs. Otherwise, it's not worth the effort to me. Even with a $20 coupon we spent around $20, so it's not cheap. I think I'd rather drop $30-$40 and drive elsewhere. Maybe it'll improve. If it does, we'll gladly go back! We really WANT to like the spot.
(3)Michael O.
A cool lil low key spot to eat at in the Marietta Square area. You have to pay CLOSE ATTENTION to the numbers because I missed it the 1st time around. I order the Smoked Turkey Wings w/Mac & Cheese and a Caesar Salad as my 2 side items. 2 Thumbs Up! I like his sauce too!
(4)Christina L.
My husband and I had lunch here today and it was amazing, pulled pork Sammy Mac and cheese spicy collard greens, buddddyyyyyy it was good!cant wait to go back for dinner one night for all the other goodies! Al was super nice too! Not often the owner serves u!
(5)Antranise N.
I want to love this place so bad! Went with my co-worker and used a Scoutmob deal. The restaurant is a nice small, open space with great music playing in the background. I like that the drinks (non-alcoholic) come in tall wine glasses. I ordered the brisket with mac & cheese, black eyed peas and a side of ribs. My co-worker ordered the hot wings with string beans. My brisket looked like thick slices of turkey bacon. It did not taste like brisket to me at all. However, my co-worker liked them. The black eyed peas was wonderful. The ribs were just ok but the BBQ sauce was delicious. The mac n cheese was not the greatest. My co-worker did not like her hot wings. Actually, they were not hot at all because they were cold. The waitress took the order back, nuked them and asked if she wanted more sauce on the side. She enjoyed her string beans and my black eyed peas. Al was actually in the kitchen. He is very friendly and talked with the guests. I am willing to give this place another try because the black eyed peas were so delicious. I have hopes that there is more to this place. I will keep you posted
(2)Jazz B.
The food was subpar. We wanted to try out a more local place and we had a restaurant.com coupon thing so why not? I got the pork ribs (they were out if beef) and a side of Mac for me and my kid, my husband had the turkey wings with collered greens and beans. My ribs were 80% bone and about 10% meant and 10% fat. They were decent at least. My husband said his food was OK but the beans were way too spicy. All and all the food was decent. Won't eat their again though didn't think it was worth the 30$.
(2)Gary L.
We went to Marietta Square for the farmers market today. As we walked through I could smell hickory smoke and the possibility of good southern barbecue. We found Al's just off the square. Out front is a full pit cooker with the heavenly smell of hickory wood. We sat inside. Al was in the kitchen. We ordered the brisket with Mac and cheese and green beans. The brisket came out as two thick slabs that had been finished on the charcoal grill. Smoky, meaty and so tender with the perfect edge of burn and smoke. The macaroni and cheese was wonderfully gooey cheesy and full of flavor. The green beans were italian flat and with great ham bone flavor. The brisket was the best I have ever had. We finished off with blackberry cobbler. Great finish to the barbecue. We will be back again.
(5)Toby W.
Everything is delicious! Pleasant surprise with the cobbler...returned one evening JUST for that. Prices are fair, and the service is friendly. Al can cook, baby!
(5)Karo R.
Al's completely missed it!!! I'm very disappointed. I arrived around 4:30 on a Sunday (close @ 6 on Sunday) not a customer in sight, but yet my son and I were asked to move to a smaller table because they were expecting a crowd. I ordered pork ribs, mac n' cheese & collard greens. I was served noticeably leftover sides & torched ribs, they were completely burned. The cornbread had a refrigerated taste. Al's was a complete waste of money. No more restaurant grouponing for a while thanks to Al.
(2)Slim M.
If you ever want to place an order in advance, unfortunately, you cannot do it by phone. You will have to drive over and place the order, which isn't so bad if you live nearby. But why can't anyone answer the phone? The one time I did get in touch with someone, he answered the phone out of breath at 5 P.M. on a weekday night, saying that everyone had already left. ? My sister and I dropped in and ordered our entrees on another occasion. We added macaroni & another side to the order. The waitress brought out the entrees with no sides. We didn't even mention it to her. My food was okay, definitely not better than Mom's or Grandma's. My sister mentioned that hers was bland, and I noticed that mine was too. I can't say that I'm losing my mind trying to return to this place. 2 stars.
(2)Jessica B.
First impressions in a business are very important as we well know. May I start out by saying there is a lot more to the food itself than the somewhat out of the way location and small space of the restaurant itself. The food and friendly staff service makes it all worth it! I mean, I haven't been out of state very much to compare it to ''real barbecue'' in perhaps someone's hometown from beyond the state lines, but I've been around enough to say this: Al sure does know what he's doing and is giving some other local BBQ chain joints a run for their money! I rather enjoyed the serving size and the rib plate as simply awesome! Each tender, juicy bite a bit better than the last with a fantastic sauce from the table. I also must recommend trying their fresh-tasting baked beans with just the right amount of cinnamon in it and that homemade mac n' cheese is just outstanding! I'm only disappointed I couldn't try the blackberry or peach cobbler as I understand they had run out for the day but I'll be back to try that out for sure! My husband tried the turkey wings and agreed that the meat was rather juicy as well! NOTHING to worry about when it comes to your meat here! And not too much salt on the green beans either! I must say, it's rather different here in size and it seems they are still working on a few things on the inside, but in this case the food and friendly service makes it worth it! So, the next time you have hankering for some unique and mouthwatering BBQ, give Al a call and give your stomach and taste buds a REAL treat! Bring the family and watch the game on the flatscreen! Finger-lickin' good stuff! Stop on in!
(5)Juan M.
VERY decent! You should check this place out. Owner was nice, friendly. Only thing is, I guess 'cuase I came late they ran out of specific sides I wanted with my pulled bbq chicken-I got a "to go" plate. Other than that, the food I ordered was TASTY.
(3)Wendy L.
From the very start, the owner was rude. We were told the table we sat down at was reserved. so we moved and he bitched about us sitting there. That should have been a sign to leave. BTW, the people the reserved table was for came in as we were leaving and left just as quickly. The ribs were charcoal black and dry, the collard greens tasted like someone had over seasoned them with red pepper. They were out of mac and cheese so we ordered baked beans which were overly sweet. The corn bread...I won't even bother with that one, it was already stated by another Yelper. The chicken quesadilla tasted like it had been drop in ashes on the way from the kitchen and I think my daughter chipped a tooth on it. We took the ribs home to the dog and chalk it up to a bad experience. Needless to say, we won't be going back and I'm telling my friends to avoid the place.
(1)Kevin R.
I had bought a Groupon for this place last year but he went out-of-business before I could use it. Luckily I was reimbursed by Groupon. This should have been the first warning strike and Yelp reviews should have been strike two. When I saw he reopened at a new location, I thought let me try to support this guy because he is really struggling and trying hard. Ok, I finally got around to using the Living Social coupon that was expiring on 7/8/2013. My son and I get here at about 12:15pm and there was only one other customer in the whole place. There was no hostess so we sat ourselves at one of 8 tables in this tiny place. After a while the hostess comes in from outdoors carrying some cups. She looked like a biker chick with really short short-shorts on. I thought to myself why do they need a hostess in this tiny dive but I went with the charade because we were hungry. Like others on Yelp said, we were told we had to order off the dinner menu. No problem there we had a $20.00 off coupon so no big deal. We both order the ribs and I had the mac & cheese and collards and he had the sweet potatoes and green beans. While we were waiting for our food, I noticed the table we were at was siting directly above and air-conditioner vent that was on the floor. Since the hostess wasn't around and there was only one other customer there so I decided to change my table to one that didn't have a vent underneath it. After we had been sitting there for about 5 minutes the owner/chef/busboy comes out an asked us to move to one of the two seat tables because he needed to 4 seat tables for his larger parties of customers. I looked around and said there is only one other customer here at 12:30 so I doubt that is going to be a problem. He insisted we moved so I did because I didn't want to get into an argument with him before I received my food. Only one other customer came in while we were there. Finally our food comes out twenty minutes later and we are both very disappointed by the portion size of everything. You only get 4 bones of ribs for 13.99 and two small 3 oz. sides. Most big name fine dining rib places give you a real half rack of ribs for that price. The food was just ok but definitely not worth the price. The total bill came to over $32.00 for the two of us. As some of my fellow Yelpers have already stated I will never ever go back to this dive that is under the delusion it is fine dining. The owner is hostile and in bad need of anger management and customer service classes. I'm positive this place will be closing up soon too!
(1)Pam C.
Al's BBQ did not honor my Groupon discount, service was abysmal, and the fried green tomatoes were dreadful. Other than that, the pork ribs, pulled pork, and BBQ turkey wings were great, as were the black eyed peas, green beans, potato salad, greens, and Brunswick stew. Take out is the way to go.
(2)John A.
I went to Al's at dinner time (6:15 pm) and placed a $36 take out order. When I attempted to pay using my Living Social vouchers I was told it would not be honored for take out. It was for dine in only. Nowhere in the fine print on the voucher does it say this. It is also not mentioned on his dry erase board by the door. The only limitation noted is that Living Social vouchers are for dinner only. So I canceled the order and came right home and logged on to my Living Social account and requested a full refund on the grounds that the deal was not honored as advertised. I'll never return to that establishment again. Especially after reading the other reviews saying how poor the food is.
(1)Aisha B.
We had a coupon from restaurant.com , so we decided to try a new spot. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband tried to order the turkey wings...they didn't have any. So he ordered the pulled chicken. We ordered the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer and those came out piping hot and were pretty good. I had only eaten one tomato slice before our entrees came out...bad timing. My smoked BBQ chicken, which on the menu said was supposed to be white meat, was a leg quarter. I asked the waitress and she said that the menu was old. The chicken was cold on the inside despite the hot leg bone. It seems as if they smoke the chicken beforehand, refrigerate it, and try to throw it back in the smoker when it's ordered. The waitress offered me the menu to order something else and I tried to order the salmon...they didn't have any. I opted for another piece of chicken. When it came out, it was still cold on the inside but I was starving. The flavor was good as well as the BBQ sauce. If it was hot then it would have been good. The mac and cheese was cold as well and just average. The pulled chicken was luke warm, but flavorful and the yams and black eyed peas were ok. We ordered the peach cobbler, which was terrible and tasted like it came from a can. They should pick a few items and execute them really well instead of advertising multiple items on an outdated menu that aren't available. When I go out to eat I expect hot made to order food, not precooked and poorly reheated cold chicken.
(2)Will J.
I haven't had a full meal here, but I can tell you one thing. The cornbread is really, REALLY good. I stopped in while I was on the square taking in the sights, for a quick snack. I will return. The staff was wonderful there. They were nice. I met Al, and he was a nice guy, too. He cares for his customers.
(4)Wendy M.
Thank goodness I missed this family dinner! Despite the many warnings here and elsewhere , my BBQ loving DH decided to give Al's a try, since it's relatively in the hood. His report: the server chose to clean every table in the restaurant FIRST rather than wait on them. The management REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR OWN GROUPON. I tasted the leftovers everyone brought home (and if DH brings home leftovers, right away, that speaks volumes!!!). The ribs were passable. The smoked turkey wing was so awful I had to spit it out. I can make better pulled pork and I don't even cook meat! If you love BBQ and expect even a modicum of service , honesty or integrity from a restaurant, STAY AWAY!!!!!!!
(1)Monique D.
Two words! DON'T GO! Collards too spicy. Cornbread dry. Ribs burnt on the outside raw on the inside. No flavor. Sauce bad. Brisket so fatty 60% was left on plate. Food was inedible. Horrible place! Just in general a bad experience.
(1)Brian B.
Will all the great bbq choices around, I wouldn't recommend Al's. The restaurant smelled of rotten food. We ordered the chicken and the pork, and both were clearly spoiled. Try it if you have an iron stomach...
(1)Sandy M.
Went to Al's BBQ about a month ago with my son, daughters law and 10 month old granddaughter first they had so high chairs so we thought they just opened so ok went to car to get stroller. Were told they were out of cornbread, fish and cobbler. Ordered pulled pork BBQ beans and Mac and cheese my daughter in law ordered white chicken the owner came out to see what we wanted while we were trying to make selection to our waitress but since they were out of so much we had to keep looking there were only two other tables occupied Al was making suggestions and told my daughter in law they only had dark meat she pointed out it listed white meat on the menu he said white meat would be too dry do they only served dark meat pulled chicken he said that is what your getting you will like it very pushy it was not near closing time. They had. Discontinued several items that were still on menu the pulled pork and chicken was very good my son had greens they were spicy but good his BBQ beans were good but not very spicy mine were so spicy I could not eat them. Used my coupon from an online company with no problems. Went 5/17/14 for lunch they have strange hours. Wanted Mac and cheese was told it would be 30 minutes until it would be done so I order the special two chili cheese slaw dogs Brunswick stew and potato salad, my daughter ordered pulled pork blackeye peas and BBQ beans had to return beans way too spicy got more blackeye peas they were good potato salad was good but Brunswick stew was a big let down. The lunch menu listed tea was included in price but waitress statef it was not but clearly printed on menu. Gave them my coupon was told could not use at lunch rechecked rules attached to coupon no where did it state eat in only or cannot use for lunch the owner was not there but waitress he said no. So I have coupon that can only be used at dinner and they are only open for dinner Friday and Saturday I do not recommend Al's BBQ our service was not too friendly and they change menu and then you have to hope they tell you of rule changes and menu changes because they change a lot if owner doesn't get off his high horse and become more organized and keep food in stock and become more customer friendly he won't last long I'm not going back will try to get money back from coupon company
(2)Herman W.
Al needs some help out front. Service was slow- all taken care of eventually. The food was good, especially yams & slaw. Pulled chicken is my moms fav! Pulled pork is smoky & flavorful, brisket sliced thicker than to my liking, but with good flavor.
(3)Rogers E.
I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at Al's. He is personable which is fine. He wants his customers to feel at home. The price is fair and the food is flavorful. Right now Al's is featured on Half off Depot so you can't beat the deal.
(4)Monica H.
We tried this place tonight with a groupon and were pleasantly surprised at how wonderful everything was!!! The server was so sweet and the food delicious. Also had the best blackberry cobbler I've ever had!! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Josephine T.
My family & I were excited to try this new BBQ place on the square. To our disappointment, we had to get it to go because there are no highchairs for my one year old. Of the four sides I got (Brunswick stew, potato salad, yams, and mac&cheese), I have to say the Mac and the yams were the best. The stew was very salty and the potato salad was decent but just average. The BBQ ribs and fried pork were dry, thank goodness for the BBQ sauce the server gave us. Overall it wasn't terrible but not a place I want to go back to for seconds because the portions were *tiny* and the price ticket for two people ~ $28 before tip and no drinks for dinner and I'm still hungry after dinner! The owner came out but didn't say hello or even make any acknowledgement to any of the customers including us. There was only one other table/ person there besides us (my husband, me and child) but she was almost finished eating. You would think the owner would want to meet his new customers or say hello. I do have to say, it's the first time I've ever eaten minced garlic on my BBQ pork ribs....not sure if it's bad or good, but make sure you carry a breath mint with you if you come during lunch!
(2)Bob E.
My wife and I ate lunch here over the weekend. Al's is located just off the Marietta Square. what brought us in was the aroma we smelled outside so we thought we would give it a try. We both orderred pulled pork sandwiches, one side salad and one side of baked beans. Presentation means an awful lot to us. The sandwiches were presented on a large white plate which made them look smaller. The buns looked like the downsized buns from the grocery store. Very small for a $7 sandwich. Surprising to us, no chips and no pickle spear. They do not have french fries or onion rings available. The side of beans was very tiny in a seperate cup and was $3. The salad was a good size. The BBQ was delicious. Al walked past us and left the store while we were eating. Never asked if it was good, or recommendations. Never saw him again. We believe when you are beginning a new business, you need to be there and observe and ask questions. We are afraid that even though the BBQ tastes great, the almost $24 (before tip) for lunch and the quantity we received will keep us from coming back.
(2)