This review is from a very limited scope because I always get the very same thing each time I go. This is because I simply can't believe just how good their spare ribs taste. I absolutely love my BBQ ribs but I quit ordering them at restaurants because I was tired of being disappointed 95% of the time. Here in Atlanta, most places give you bland ribs and then expect you to get your flavor from the sauce. At Thomson Brothers BBQ, no sauce is required because the ribs are the most flavorful I have ever purchased in a restaurant and this is consistent nearly every time I eat at this establishment. I can also attest to the Baked Beans being top notch as well. As for the rest of their menu, other people I have dined with their tell me how good the other selections are but nothing else interests me because the ribs are JUST THAT GOOD!
(5)
Robert G.
I had Thompson Brothers for the first time on Friday last week, and I didn't expect much. I should have known better. It's always the little the hole in the wall, or the unassuming restaurant in a strip mall next to a Goodwill, that can and will most genuinely surprise you. I split half a pulled port sandwich with a friend, and ordered a large container of my beloved brunswick stew. I assumed from the awesomely low prices that the food would be mediocre at best, I could not have been more wrong. I don't even particularly like pork when I get barbeque, but this was delicious. It was moist and smokey flavored, without being over powering, and the spicy barbeque sauce was no joke. I frequently bitch in my reviews about restaurants selling things they claim to be "spicy", that are only spicy to the palette of geriatric bingo players with acid reflux and ulcers. The spicy barbeque sauce here was absolutely awesome. It had just enough heat to genuinely qualify as spicy, without being so over bearing that the profile of barbeque sauce was lost. It was just about the best barbeque sauce I'd ever eaten, with the exception of the stuff my brother in laws dad makes at home. It was great on my sandwich and I liked it so much that I added the rest of it to my brunswick stew. Speaking of the brunswick stew, it effing was delicious. It maybe could have had a few more vegetables added to the mix, but I didn't care. Despite having been cooked in the stew, the brisket retained its slightly smokey flavor, and the addition of the spicy barbeque sauce elevated the whole thing to near perfection. I ate about half at the restaurant, and intended to take the rest home to save for later. Instead I ate the rest of that damned delicious stew in the car on the way back, and had absolutely no regrets about doing so. I had almost given up on barbeque, places like Williamson Brothers, with their $15 plates of shitty boiled meat and sugary ketchup like sauces had nearly ruined it for me. Even Fat Matt's which I used to like has earned my contempt for thinking its acceptable to serve me a "barbeque sandwich", in which they can't even be bothered to pull the fucking meat off the bone before sticking it between two places of shitty plain white bread, and charging me as if it its something special. Thompson Brothers Barbeque gives hope to fans of the barbeque genre, and it does so at an almost unbelievable price point. I can't wait to go back and try every single item on their menu. If you aren't a snob, and you don't care about being coddled like a toddler, and just want good barbeque, you need to check this place out.
(5)
Foodsnob B.
This was by far the most disgusting meal I've eaten anywhere --- EVER ---- The McRib is better. Run away from this place. They MICROWAVE everything. I asked the girl behind the counter if they microwave and she said 'only to heat it up' ! Lmao. I must admit BBQ is my specialty so my bar is set high but never expected something like this. (Full disclosure - I'm a comp bbq cook) Brisket was gross - microwaved in plastic bag. No flavor and chewy. Sausage - nuked as well. So much I could not bite through the skin. Mac n Cheese was gross - microwaved so much it was dry. Lmao how can u make Mac-n-cheese dry? Neat trick! Chicken - Microwaved so dry it broke the plastic fork. Look at the pic. It's not dog turds in a basket. It's chicken. Im not from around here so I can't tell u if they have gone down hill over time or always been this way but I feel sad for the family as this place will close and all investments lost. With that said, from a BBQ perspective this place is down right disrespectful to the Q and should be ashamed to serve that garbage to the public. Pictures are worth 1000 words....
(1)
Germany G.
This was the best BBQ I've ever had in a restaurant. I rarely eat pork and the ribs were outstanding. I was so full I couldn't try dessert. The people there are extremely nice. I hate I'm moving downtown and I just found this place freshly new to ATL. I guess sitting in traffic will be worth it once I sit down to eat.
Meh. That's how I would describe their bbq. Ordered chopped pork with brunswick stew and potato salad. The pork flavor was very mild. The flavor profile was not aggresive at all. Tried adding their spicy bbq sauce which turned out to be sweet. Their brunswick stew was cold. It could have been good, but the temp ruined that opportunity. The potato salad was a southern potato salad. It was ok. Middle of the road. Good sweet tea.
(2)
Lee B.
Decided to add Thompsons Bros under my belt of bbq spots to try. They were next on the list, via word of mouth of being really good. I went last Saturday and ordered ribs, baked beans and potato salad to go. The ribs were okay, the baked beans were okay, and the potato salad seemed to be missing a few ingredients but i still ate it being one of my favorite foods. The bread was really chewy like a bagel and I got the hot/spicy bbq sauce which tasted just like hot sauce minus bbq flavor in my opinion. Probably wont go back but i did get a bang for my buck since I was full afterwards.
(2)
Ivan S.
I've been coming here for a while, but it's been a long time since I last showed my fat, BBQ-lovin' face at the door. First, I've found other places for lunch. Second, I've always had reservations about the food. Actually, not the food, the SAUCE. But I'll get to that. In a rare display of fairness and humanity, I visited again before I wrote my review. I actually didn't need to, since, for better or for worse, it's the same as I remember it. First, the good: The menu is pretty extensive. You've got pork AND beef. You have sausage too which is music to all you Texas-grown BBQ fans. That is until I told you that this is an OK-style BBQ joint and then you'd yell "Hook 'em!" make that Black Sabbath metalhead sign with your hand and then proceed to burn the store to the ground. Thompson Bros. also has BBQ bologna which I've tried and it's pretty good, even though I'm not that big of a bologna fan. The meats usually taste ok. And now the bad. I HATE their sauce. Hate, hate, hate it! Their sauce is the DEVIL! Their sauce causes global warming and is responsible for panda extinction. It's got this sweet tang to it that's not quite Kansas City, not quite smokey as Texas. I guess that's OK hickory, but there' nothing okay about it. If you order to go, ask for it on the side and then just throw it away. Blech. My trip there this week confirmed how much I hate their sauce. I feel kind of bad saying that, since it's probably some family recipe, but hey, there are things I don't like about my OWN family too. I ordered the sliced pork this go around. I like ordering sliced pork when I can get it because it's harder to hide flaws in slices than it is with chopped (or pulled) pork. Smoke ring was there. Good. Unfortunately my slices had much more fat than they should've had. Makes me think that the smoker was all wrong because the fat didn't render out as much as it should have. But everyone has an off day, so that's not an official complaint unless I see it again. Finally, the sides? The greens were good and peppery, but the mac and cheese wasn't worth the calories I spent on them. Three and a half stars for the food, one star for the sauce. Let's average Thompson Brothers out to three stars.
(3)
Kayla S.
Health inspection rating of 83 (as of 4/4/14) I like my BBQ as much as the next person but that score is kind of hard to overlook. I can only hope that it's a one time fluke and they can bring the rating up. Until then..I'll have to get my BBQ elsewhere. :-(
(3)
Steve B.
I lives in the area a long time and didn't know these guys exist. Big advocate of prices and seems reasonable. I have to try other BBQ options at this place, for sure!!! Would give the place 5 stars but how is this place not open on Sunday, what is this- chick fil-a?
(4)
Daniel W.
The ribs are awesome!! Get them.
(3)
Chris L.
Solid BBQ Joint! This is my first post on yelp and I've been using it fir years! Any place that serves Collard Greens is off to a good start. The more and more I visited this place I fell in love with the BBQ sauces. Check them out...the food is great and service is better!
(5)
Dick D.
Love this place! I admit I am from Tulsa, this is authentic Oklahoma BBQ. The baloney is an Okla tradition. You got to get the "Whole Nine" or you are a wimp ! Boomer Sooner !!
(5)
walt h.
4 stars" Yay! I'm a fan. This is not a fancy 'cue joint. This is not Korean-fusion BBQ like Heirloom. This is simple, home-style BBQ and there's a lot to be said about making simple, home-style BBQ. Good greens, decent corn bread. I usually get chopped brisket and hot links. The sliced brisket is good as well. The sauce is pretty distinctive. I personally like it, but some people might say it's a bit runny. It's a style-thing. Some people also prefer their BBQ covered in sauce and all burnt as a result of too much sauce. It all comes down to preference. I've noticed a lot of cops eat here. Cops usually eat pretty well, so I feel like I'm in good company. Try the Brunswick Stew. Not too many places have it, and I like Thompson Bros.' version a lot. I dip my Texas Toast in it. You could almost make a meal of it.
(4)
Dr. Cleve T.
This is the only place in Atlanta that reminds me of Texas BBQ. These boys know how to cook BBQ !!!!!!!!
(5)
Amanda T.
We were so happy to have stumbled upon this place during the pre-holiday madness. We had been stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half with two small children that were more than ready for dinner. Our first choice restaurant had shut down, we quickly found out, so to Yelp we went in search of anything close and not terribly expensive. Up pops Thompson's BBQ. The little, unsuspecting, tucked in the corner of the shopping center, restaurant is AMAZING and just what we needed. The food is delicious and the service is wonderful. It's the little things like wiping off the containers before they go in the bag so you don't get messy taking them out. Or using the faucet to wet their fingers, rather than their tongue, to open the plastic bag. I appreciate that. We have been on the hunt for some BBQ as good as what we found while we were living in Texas and we found it at Thompson's.
(5)
Nick S.
Very nice staff. Got there after 12 hour work shift, 20 minutes before they closed, and they were more than happy to seat us. Ribs were a little dry, probably from sitting for so long, but that's our fault for going so late. All the other food was amazing! Extremely casual setting, atmosphere that emphasized BBQ and good food. Would defiantly go again.
(4)
Michael A.
Juiciest chicken anywhere! Very friendly staff and good service.
(4)
Charisse M.
Found this place on Yelp the other day after a dibilitating BBQ craving. I ordered a chopped beef sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. The beef was very good and I am somewhat picky about my mac and cheese, so it was just decent. I SEE now what everyone is saying about the sauce. Weird city! It tastes like sweet pickles. And like not in a good way. I found myself adding vinegar to my sandwich just to balance the taste out. I do however plan to visit again and try some of the other menu items, maybe I'll ask for a different sauce if they have one. But so far, so good, my cravings were satisfied and the world was a little bit of a better place that day.
(3)
Bud C.
For openers this is another of those places wheree tthe story is almost as good as the food. Turns out that Thompson Brrothers aree not a couple or even three - but five brothers whwo came here from Oklahoma (a couple wear OU hats) andd opted to get into the barbecue business... and they do it very well thank you. The five own and operate this small restaurant in a strip center with large cement block smoker out back. St. Louis cut ribs were thick, meaty and flavorful. As good as any to be found in Atlanta. Chopped pork had good flavor, moist. Uses hickory and oak to cook. Good rub. Three sauces, taste a little too much alike, primarily a little on the sweet side. Brunswick stew is good, slaw no real taste or flavor, a poor choice. Potato salad good. Food is reaosnable priced. They have beef sausage, hot links, bologna - Oklahoma style staples. Dessert upside-down pineapple/lemon cake said to be very good. And for the Brown Shoe Gourmet, an added bonus: they have tee-shirts - I have more than 200 from barbecue joints across the country, wearing them as I strive for mediocrity on the racquetball court. You'll find tthem just a little north of I-285 on the east side of Cobb Parkway, buried in the corner of a strip center... and it'll be worth the effort.
(4)
Scott S.
Not at all what i expected. I got the whole 9 Yards, which was essentially kielbasa you could buy at a grocery store, chopped beef (which was dry with no detectable smoke flavor), 1 pork rib which was greasy, and greasy bologna. It just doesn't taste at all like bbq. Staff were friendly tho
(2)
Jason D.
Great people run this little joint. They have the best Brunswick stew around, and sometimes I go just to buy a pint of it. Meat is a little too greasy and fatty for my taste. Sauce choices are hot, sweet or mixed. I'm a fan of the mixed.
(3)
Ben C.
Staff here is great. If you've never had Oklahoma BBQ, go here. Similar to Texas. I recommend the Brisket and Sausage.
(4)
tony s.
Ehhhhhhh sums it up. Its just ok, there are better spots like williamsons bros and bubba q. Ribs are pretty good., sides were weak at best, and those sauces ehhh. The sweet everyone seems to rave about is like sugar sauce the spicy is just ok. Over all just ok bbq. I had the combo ribs, chopped bbq, greens, tater salad.
(2)
Juan M.
I tried the pork sandwich and the beans and they are pretty good. The place didn't blow mind mind but I would come back to try other things. The place has been around for 8 years so it's got to have something.
(3)
James B.
My co-workers decided to have a week of BBQ, with Thompson Bro's being the last outing. Today was probably not the day to go, and my review will be somewhat biased because they messed up all of our take-out orders. (I'll have to try it again, as two of my co-workers raved about their sausages.) I wound up getting the sliced pork platter with baked beans & macaroni and cheese along with their mixed sauce. The baked beans were average, honestly they tasted like they may have been canned, and so was the macaroni and cheese. The sliced pork was juicy and had a good smoky taste when first biting into it, however, I wanted the smokiness to continue as I ate it. (I honestly can say I like Heirloom's smoked pork, because the flavour is all the way through.) The mixed sauce was decent, though a little too sweet for my tastes...so I definitely won't be trying their sweet sauce. Prices were comparable to most BBQ places.
(2)
Kristin Z.
I am usually a little hesitant trying new barbecue places. It seems as of late, I'm let down my one or more of the following: dry meat, too much sauce, lackluster side dishes, or bad service. Well, I can definitely say that I feel dumb for not having tried Thompson brothers sooner because I live probably less than 2 miles away. We ordered the Family Meal for $34.99. It came with 1 lb of beef ribs, 1 lb of chopped beef, 1/2 lb each of sausage and bologna (whaaat? I know, I'll explain). It also came with texas toast and 3 pints of sides. We got greens, mac and cheese, and baked beans. Let me first talk about the greens. Most of the time you get this as a side, it's watery, chopped up really small, and either really salty, or really bland. These were the best collard greens I have ever eaten from a barbecue joint. Hands down, you could tell these were fresh, still hearty, (not cooked to hell). They were big leafy pieces and they packed them into the container with not a lot of water, all greens. They had a slight tang and were not overly seasoned, just perfect. The mac and cheese was so so . I was not too impressed, unfortunately. Kind of bland. And the beans were pretty good, sweet, with some spice and little bits of meat for extra flavor. The ribs were the standout stars of the show. They were BIG, tender, with a pink smoke ring, little crisp on the outside from the rub and fat. They came right off the bone. I was most surprised by how many we got. Most of the time, you can expect to pay at least $22 just for the amount of ribs we got in the family meal. We also got the chopped beef which was good as well, maybe a little dry but that's where you get a chance to use their sauce. We got the "mixed" sauce which combines their sweet and their spicy. If you like sweet bbq sauce, you'll love it. The only bologna i've ever had are those little circles of "meat" with the red tape around them. This bologna was cut into thick slabs with a crust of goodness on the outside. It was the best I've ever had, but like I said, that's not saying too much. You also received beef sausage which was good as well. For the value and the taste and flavor, you cannot do any better in Atlanta. I'm convinced. Thank you Thompson Brothers for making me believe in bbq again. I'll be seeing you again soon.
(5)
Keith C.
I have been eating at Thompson Brothers for years. I think it is some of the best, most consistent barbeque in Atlanta. The people behind the counter are always very nice. Their brunswick stew is THE BEST in Atlanta (let it cool off before you eat it. It's always served piping hot). Their ribs are delicous. The meat they buy can be a little fatty, they are still delicous Their sauce is unique. The first time I had it, I didn't like it at all. I thought it was way too sweet. But since then, I have grown to love it. I always get their mixed sauce that has a nice blend of sweet and spicy. I really like this place and am glad that the restaurant has been successful. The brothers that own the restaurant deserve it. They work really hard and always make sure to put the customer first.
(5)
David S.
This is my favorite place for ribs. No sauce needed but I use the combination sauce. My favorite sides are the greens and potato salad. The people who run it are also very nice.
(5)
Gabriel S.
I'm glad to see a small restaurant that takes initiative doing well. I saw it on yelp and thought the name looked familiar, then remembered they are also on SkyMiles Dining. Good job getting the name out there guys. Really friendly staff here. Location is just okay, but they really made the most out of the space they had on the inside. As an added bonus, it smells fantastic as soon as you walk in. I tried the ribs platter with greens, baked beans and macaroni and cheese. The ribs were good - not great but good. The sauce did it for me though. The perfect amount of spiciness. I couldn't have made a better recipe if I had tried for a week. The macaroni was okay, the greens were great, and the baked beans were probably the best I've ever had. The sides weren't huge, but they were just the right amount of each. Great staff, great place and great food. There's really only one thing this place doesn't do right - they do not know how to price their menu. That was not only the best meal I've had in a while but it was also the cheapest. Good job guys. This is the kind of place I really want to see do well.
(5)
Patricia L.
I went to Thompson Brothers just last week, after my husband raved about their food, that he had had catered at work last week...I am soooo glad I did... This is a small place located in a shopping area on Cobb Parkway, just down fro J Geller jewelers...There are a few places to sit an eat, and they had the folks..But I think it is takeout that alot of folks go in for....And I can see why.. I ordered the chopped pork sam, thats comes with one side...This was a hugh sam, that was delicious..The pork was lean, with lots of smoked flavor, and their sauce is awesome..My husband had the chicken, and it was so flavorful..Their prices are very reasonable.... I will be back..
(5)
Jef A.
Great food, Great Service, Great choice for BBQ. When i want BBQ this is the ONLY place i go. I have had everything on the menu atleast twice and it is all delicious. You can't go wrong here.
(4)
Bill S.
Went here for lunch today since my wife and I were in the area and hadn't had bbq in a while. We both ordered the chopped pork plate and a couple sides. The pork was chopped into tiny cubes and either it was really fatty or it just wasn't cooked thoroughly, because it had a rather strange texture. Neither of us finished it, and for a pork lover like me that's almost unheard of. Their "sweet" sauce was so disgustingly sweet I honestly believe it would be better used as topping on ice cream than on meat. The "hot" sauce was very mild (and even my spice-averse wife didnt think it was spicy at all), and the "spicy" sauce they had was a joke. I'd give this place one star but I'll be generous and give two stars because the staff were friendly and the side items were delicious, but I seriously doubt I'll be returning here.
(2)
Jennifer L.
I had stumbled across this morsel with some co-workers the other week. Looking at some of the prior reviews from years past this wasn't my experience. I had the pulled pork sandwhich with the potato salad. My co-worker had the same thing with mac and cheese and another had the salad with the pulled pork. Two thumbs up for sure on the pork and the sauce. I was quite surprised since I like sauce on the sweeter side and they had that. Actually it was a bit sweeter than I'm use to and added the sauce with a bit of kick to it. I wasn't so keen on my side but the mac and cheese seemed home made. We didn't had the desserts but the pineapple upside down cake and the brownie looked delic. Looking forward to returning!
(4)
Patricia C.
I have been in search of a great BBQ restaurant in the Atlanta area for several years and Thompson Brothers has definitely come close to the BBQ my mom used to make back home in Florida. The pulled pork was to die for! The ribs were also juicy and flavorful. I used the sweet sauce on the meat and it definitely enhanced the flavor. For my sides I had macaroni n' cheese and collard greens. Both were above average. I felt the macroni and cheese could have been a little cheesier and the collard greens could have had a little more smoked flavor to them but both were still very good. To add to the already great food, the service was excellent as well. Everyone was very friendly. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Candra P.
I decided to take hubby some lunch today and stumbled across this place on my way. I walked in, the place was totally empty as they were just opening. I noticed several items on the menu that looked tempting (chicken, ribs, smoked sausage. etc) I decided upon the Chopped pork BBQ sandwich which comes with one side. I chose the mac n cheese for hubby and the greens for me. So here goes: Side Items: pretty good. The greens were seasoned well, however they shouldve been cooked just a little longer as they were a little stiff. Hubby said the mac n cheese was great. The sides are really small so if you have a big appetite you may want to order a 2nd side BBQ Sand. : pretty good and great size. I love the smokey flavor however as another person posted they need to watch out for the fat. There was a great deal of fat on my sandwich. I found it easier to eat it with a fork rather than pick it up so that i could pick the fat out. Sauce: we were split on this. Hubby liked the sweet sauce. I went for the mxed (hot and sweet) I thought it was "ok" . It was a little too sweet for me but to each his own. Price: pretty cheap. Less than $6 for a sand. and 1 side Id definitely try it again
(4)
G E.
Good BBQ! Look, it's a dump it's a dive, its BBQ! The closet thing I've found to true KC BBQ in the ATL. Not that I've been to them all, but from what I've found in the city this is it. I love their sliced chicken sandwich with the spicy (not hot) homemade sauce. I don't care for the hot they make. The beans are outstanding and I personally like their mac-n-cheese. My father in law LOVES their greens....swears by them. This is a family owned and operated business and I assure they go out of their way to make sure you are happy and that the food is good every time. Try the hot links!!! They rock! My daughter always enjoys the pulled pork and although I'm not a fan of pulled pork, she assures me it is always good. BBQ is a funny thing. People like what they like and they will argue for days over which place is best. Who knows. Give this place a try. Don't expect linen napkins or fine china. You won't find that here, but if you want good food at a fair price from really nice people show up and eat.
(4)
James K.
Heirloom was out of ribs again so I went to Thompson and I've got to say that the ribs here are outstanding. Very meaty and filling. The sides are plentiful as well. This will now be my first choice over heirloom.
(4)
Ali M.
When I'm in the mood for BBQ, this is where I go! Not only because the food is delish (bbq beef, beans, mac & cheese, banana pudding... MMMMmmmm) but because the staff is so pleasant and welcoming. Definitely give it a try if you have the opportunity!
(5)
Scott S.
I was eager to try some Atlanta BBQ so I hopped on yelp. I'm thinking Thompson Bros needs a sixth star. Great service, better food. Thanks guys.
(5)
Addy C.
We stumbled across "Thompson Brothers BBQ" only b/c our original plan to eat at "Yakitori Jinbei" was thwarted when we discovered it was closed on Mondays. None of us had heard of the place so I was relieved to see several customers dining inside the BBQ joint. Very friendly service. Ordered up front - they call your # when your food is ready. I decided to get the "Ribs Sandwich" which comes with one side - I chose the cole slaw. Seriously I was expecting a McRibs-type sandwich. But imagine my delight when it was actually 3 huge smoked BBQ ribs sitting on two slices of sandwich bread. All this for just $6.35! Sure, maybe the ribs were a little fatty but I love the taste of smoked meat so ... a little fat can't hurt, right? A good choice if you're wanting good, fast, & inexpensive smoked BBQ.
(3)
Angela S.
This is THE best place for bbq. The ribs are ALWAYS tender and meaty, the suace(mixed) is to die for and the bake beans and greans are heavenly divened and staff are always pleasant. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. !!!!!!
(5)
Heather K.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Smoked chicken salad is the best! I go a minimum of twice a week!
(5)
Caleb L.
The ribs indeed lived up to their billing. They were meaty, well smoked and pulled easily off the bone. A thick crust added just the right amount of flavor- no sauce needed. The chopped pork was poor by comparison. Though it had some smoke flavor, it had lots of gristle and unrendered fat. I tried out the sauces on the pork and they all improved it. The spicy one was my favorite, actually more like hot sauce and not as sweet as most places in this area. The chicken breast in the sandwich was thick, juicy and well cooked. All the sides we tried were good; creamy potato salad, macaroni and cheese and delicious collard greens. Tea was sweet and cold, just how it should be. Even though we were stuffed, I couldn't resist banana pudding for desert, and it didn't let me down either.
(4)
Kevin W.
I come to this place when I need some good BBQ. The whole nine yards is a platter that I recommend. I have had a turkey leg from here along with most of the desserts and everything is good. Even the sides taste very good. You also have to try their sweet BBQ sauce.
(5)
Jen K.
I came here for lunch. I got the chopped pork sandwich and thought it was just OK. The sauce was also just OK. I probably won't be back. I mean, this is the south...BBQ should be great and easy to come by.
(3)
Matt K.
I was starting to think I would have to drive back to Tennessee to get decent barbeque. Best BBQ place on the north side that i've been to hands down. This place is starting to get hopping during lunch hours now that the locals have discovered it. Tried the Mac&Cheese, potato salad, BBQ, loved them all. Warning, the chicken BBQ sandwich consists of two pieces of chicken on the bone. Common reaction "WTF? ... OMG this is F?&*ing good." Definitely worth the work.
(4)
Jessica O.
Not a fan. Went for lunch. The side items are tiny - bite sized, even. The chopped pork was half fat, so I had to pick through with my fork instead of eating my sandwich. Sauces were just OK. The workers are nice, but I won't go back. It's also small, not much seating.
(1)
Alexa G.
Single ladies may i have your attention.. go here for the eye candy! lol... voted best looking waitstaff by creative loafing.. thompson brothers is a BBQ joint owned by a man and his sons...and wow those sons..lol... neeehowww! they have a great spicy sweet BBQ sauce the BBQ is Oklahoma style and the chopped pork sandwich is the best! Skip the Mac and chesse though.. for a BBQ resturaunt I think they could've done much better... something about that velveeta-y chesse just doesnt sit well with me. You can miss the shop if you blink located across from best buy on cobb parkway.. just a little hole in the wall type place with tons of loyal customers :)
(3)
Shawn M.
mmmm... RIBS. They didn't even need the sauce, which is all brownsugary and delicious. Hell yeah on the pineapple upside down cake, too. As a lover of all things smoked and saucy, I have to say I love Thompson Bros. Didn't even need the sides, which were good, but not the *best* I've had.. but they were definitely on the upper end of things. I wish I had leftovers.
(4)
Gary T.
I had been dying to try this place for awhile and finally got the time to drive over recently and I wasn't disappointed. When I walked in I saw the phrase 'the secret is in the smoke" (or something to that effect) and they weren't kidding. The BBQ here has some of the best smoke flavor of any BBQ that I have ever had. Like most BBQ places here in the south, you order at the counter and they call out your order number when it's ready...so hang onto your receipt because it has your order number on it. One thing that threw me initially was that instead of being able to purchase the usual half or full rack, they do it by weight (half-pound and three-quarter pound for the spare ribs). I was a little worried that the half pound wouldn't be enough for me but I was say that the half-pound is roughly equivalent to a half-rack....I received four ribs, which is usually less than most half-racks that I have gotten but these were big ribs and had a lot of meat on them. I definitely got my money's worth. As I mentioned earlier, these ribs had a really nice smoky flavor to them and the meat was very tender. I only saw two types of sauces (hot and regular) and to be honest they weren't anything to write home about but the ribs were so good I didn't want to put sauce on them anyways,LOL. For my sides I had the potato salad and Mac & Cheese, both of which were really good. This is one of the better BBQ joints I have been to in the area and you get a lot of food for the price.
(3)
Bennett W.
The only entree I've ever eaten here is chopped pork and I have always left satisfied. When the BBQ bug hits, I've found this place to be a great place to stop by and get friendly, prompt service from the outstanding owners and staff, and to leave with a full belly. The menu includes beef, pork, bologna, and sausage, but I've only tried the chopped pork. The sides, like most BBQ restaurants, it seems, are nothing special. The chopped pork seems a bit more fatty than ideal, but is still very good.
(4)
Kara G.
Okay so I would come here just took look at the staff. The guys who own this place first of all are from Oklahoma which I love because that is my home state they are also FINE as hell. Even if the food sucked I would go just to look at them all sweaty and making smoked meats and what not...but I digress. The food is good, not just fantastic but good and the price is very fair. I found the turkey to be the best and the sides are good as well. This is one of the better places for bbq that I've found in the Atlanta area, I've never eaten in here, I always get everything to go. I have also had them cater for me as well which was a big hit at my event and they gave me a huge amount of food for the price.
(4)
Regina N.
i went there once and the food was so bad that i never returned. the BBQ and the greens were some of the worst that i've tasted. the greens had a weird pickle taste to them that almost made me nauseous. YUK! if you want some good BBQ..go to this is it BBQ.
(1)
Adree O.
Ok we ladies like the staff. I loved every side dish that I've tried. The meat ain't all that. I made better tasting meat at home. I liked the Greens, Macaroni and cheese, they also have stew. I like the Pineapple upside down cake. The sauce was..............different, not my cup of tea.
(4)
Ryan K.
This is a real friendly place with a real low key atmosphere. There is nothing to speak of about the location and decor, it is in a old strip mall off 41, the interior is boring. But that is all made up through the que. I can't say this is the best. But it is good. I got "the Whole Nine" which has chopped pork, beef sausage, a couple of ribs, and smoked bologna. The chopped pork is good, smokey, i just prefer pulled pork. The beef sausage was really good, especially with the sweet sauce. That was hella greasy though. The ribs were impressive, they were spare ribs, which i normally don't care for, but these were great. No seriously tough spots, lots of smokey flavor with a nice hint of sweet in the rub. The bologna was weird, smokey, but still tasted like bologna. Oh, can't forget the stew. That is how I measure the quality of a que place. The brothers have got that right. Seriously good stew, meaty, tangy, and a little spicy. Good place all around and a pretty good deal for $9. Check it out if you are in the area.
(4)
Brendan S.
Do not let the strip mall location fool you. This is a good boutique BBQ. I love this place. Simple, good food. Friendly staff. You walk up to the counter and order and they bring your food to you. Similar to pig n chick. Now the food: Sweet Tea: Excellent sweet tea. Ribs: I like their ribs, good smoke and easy to eat. No need for sauce. Pulled Pork: Somewhat dry and in need of sauce. Nothing to brag about. Smoked Chicken: Their chicken really shines. Highly Recommended. Great flavor, I usually dont even put sauce on it. Greens: GREAT greens. I recommend these. Mac n Cheese. Also pretty darn good. This is a great place to try. Hassle free and BBQ that is MUCH better than Sonny's or Williams Bros.
(4)
Joe S.
im from los angeles and wanted some bbq while in atlanta for business. so i found this place on yelp and i have to say the ribs very good, chopped pork is excellent juicey tender and very flavorful!!!!! hot links were terrific also i will be going back for sure . my boss said he didnt care for the potato salad but the mac n cheese and beans were excellent! cole slaw a lil on the sweet side but good. prices here are excellent!!!!! pulled pork sandwich and a side only 5.25 and like i said the pork is off the hook! my boss is as cheap as they come and he even said that was the best sandwich he ever had and couldnt believe it was only 5.25! its a must have if in the area. a small shop family owned clean and just plain awesome!
(4)
Tim V.
Different but good. The sauce taste of sweet pickles. No french fries, or fried foods here. The pork sandwich and stew are great.
(4)
Y F.
This food was no good. Chopped pork sandwich: meat tasted reheated, wasn't hot enough, no seasoning. Tastes like oven bbq not pit smoked. Sweet Bbq sauce was like sugar syrup with cinnamon, gross. Added the spicy, which made the whole thing eatable. Bun was cold hamburger bun from grocery store. Macaroni and cheese was also gross and really bland. Coleslaw was good, tasted like standard slaw, so that's what I ate. Seems like good family run business, but the meal was a waste.
(1)
Peter Gof L.
First time here - pleasantly surprised! Family run, delicious eats. :) Very good/excellent beef brisket! No- I repeat - there was NO FAT on any of the slices! Impressed.
(4)
Robert H.
Had the BBQ chicken. Was dry and not very flavorful. Potato salad was like cold mashed potatoes and too salty. Mac & cheese was dry and not very cheesy.
(2)
Stephanie M.
I was headed to the Goodwill a few doors down and got a whiff of b.b.q. after not eating all day it didn't take but a minute to decide a snack was needed pronto. Walking in was immediately greeted by a man at the counter and wanted to know what I wanted ? I let him know that it was "my first time in" he was helpful & polite we were laughing and joking around at the counter as he gave me a few options then finally decided on the Rib Sandwich it comes with three ribs, two pieces of white bread and you pick a side "collards please". A few minutes later the order was ready damn it looked good and couldn't wait to dig in but wait, b.b.q. ribs are something to looked at first. Is there a smoke ring, how much fat is there, does it pull off the bone or does the meat stick to it when given a tug, is there any crust or charring on the outside, is the meat moist or dry ? These ribs met most of my expectations meaty, moist, you could peel off the top layer then sink your teeth into the rest and had just enough fat to keep you lickin your fingers. The side dish being collards were really tasty so much so that after eating them that I went back to the counter and bought a pint to go. Sauces - There are three of them and don't really care for any of them two are sweet the other hot so you may have to concoct your own. Upon further investigation the next visit an order was placed for a 3/4 lb. plate knowing I would get 2+ meals out of this, choices Sliced Brisket & Hot Sausage with (2) greens and mac n cheese. (No bread) Downside - The brisket came out in thick hand cut slices but was dry and in need of sauce for moisture. The mac n cheese was over cooked mush and exchanged it for more greens, btw these are flavored with turkey. Upside - Hot sausage - Yum the sausage has a nice "kick" that lingers and keeps your attention if you are shy about spicy food this is not for you. I shared this with co workers & we all enjoyed it. Still liking the greens. The "Pork sandwich" seems to be popular this will be the next item to try.
(3)
TheShoppery S.
It was OK. The portions were good, the meat had good flavour but the sauces were uninspired. Peach cobbler tasted pretty good
(3)
Kesha M.
Stopped by for 1st time today and it was the best bbq I have had besides my husbands bbq. :) Place was clean, service was great and very warm and professional. The food was finger licking good. Ribs come right off the bone and the sauce is delicious.
(5)
William G.
I'm from NJ and don't know much about southern BBQ so I'm not an expert. But to my taste buds this place is dynamite! My son and I each got this small platter with one rib, chopped beef, smoked sausage and fried baloney. Under $10 and I was totally stuffed! Generous portions. The place was very clean but definitely not new. The manager had his heart in the game and ran a tight ship. Nice folks and great food. Will you guys move to NJ??
(5)
Jay C.
When ever I'm in Marietta I have to stop in. Ribs are very tender and full of flavor. Lemonade to wash it all down with is a must. Red Velvet hunk cause its not a slice is worth the money. Great prices also.
(5)
Breno B.
Bbq was okay. Nothing amazing and felt like absolutely heated up food. Did not taste fresh.
(2)
Alex R.
This place was fantastic! I went for lunch today for my first time and had the best chopped pork sandwich I've ever had! Will definitely be going back
(5)
David E.
Hands down best spare ribs I have ever had. And I have had a LOT of ribs. Finally a real deal no nonsense bbq joint on the north side. Awesome potato salad and beans too. The rub on the ribs was incredible. Watch out Dave Poe and Williamson brothers, these guys are going to be all over your ass soon if you don't step up your game. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu, including the red velvet cake is sitting on the counter that I can't stop staring at!
(5)
Rika B.
Excellent bbq spot in Smyrna off off Cobb Pky. The guys taking my order is always so friendly. The food is excellent. I love their bbq sauce. I always get the ribs and sausage platter with 3 sides and a drink. Their desserts are amazing. Highly recommend if you're looking for good bbq.
(5)
Phyllis H.
Drew lost a bet (he always loses) and he owed me a dinner. I chose Thompson Brother's BarBQ in Smyrna in the Office Depot Shopping Center. I crave barbeque maybe twice a year and this was one of the rare times. I chose ribs, baked beans and potato salad. The potato salad was lacking but the ribs.....wow....they were delicious. I could not stop eating them. I had one bad meal from this place and had written them off. Thompson Brothers have redeemed themselves. The staff is always friendly. Yes, I would recommend.
(4)
Bill D.
Good food! Good sized portions. The spice sauce is a wonderful mixture of sweet and spicy.
(5)
Fabian W.
5 stars all day long. I ordered ribs, baked beans, mac & cheese, collards, brunswick stew, and chopped brisket. Yes, a lot of food. First off, I think I would have preferred the brisket sliced instead of chopped, but that's my preference. But the meat was really good and that sweet BBQ sauce made it even better. The sides were on point. And a special not about those dry rubbed ribs. YUM!!! Crispy outside, tender inside, and went down well that day and the next. Those Thompson boys know their stuff.
(5)
C. Tyson E.
Sliced pork was chewy and tough. Like it had been reheated in the microwave. Brunswick stew was decent. Also cheap beer on draft.
(2)
Bellamoonflower B.
Best barbeque that I've had in Atlanta since I've been here and believe me, we've been to a few spots all around Atlanta, including Heirloom, Twin Smokers and Daddy D's. Service was great, and had the chipped pork and spicy sweet barbeque sauce and it was soooo delicious! Also had the pork ribs and they were perfection as well. Just enough dry rub on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. Yum! As far as sides, had the greens, baked beans, brunswick stew and mac and cheese. Most of the sides were great, but the mac and cheese was just okay. Not much of a mac and cheese fan to begin with, but this mac and cheese was a twee bit on the bland side. Other than that, this place gets two thumbs up(and big toes too)!!
(5)
Daniel B.
I stopped by Thompson Brothers BBQ for Friday lunch with my coworkers and I'm sad to say we weren't thoroughly impressed. The food wasn't bad, but I think the other Cobb County BBQ joints (Heirloom, Williamson Bros, Dave Poe's, Sam's) have a leg up on this place. The Thompson brothers (five of them) are from Oklahoma, hence the Sooner decor inside the restaurant. It's a small establishment with seating for upwards of maybe 30 people. Mostly compact tables for two, though they can be combined. A lot of customers come in for take-out. Very much a casual setup with ordering and pickup done at the counter. There's a small TV mounted high at one end of the store. Thompson Brothers' menu includes beef brisket, pork, chicken, ribs, ham, beef sausage, hot links, and bologna. The brisket and pork come either sliced or chopped. Pulled is not an option. Sides include baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. No fried okra (!). Some of the desserts include banana pudding, peach cobbler, and red velvet cake. You can get a sandwich, plate, or platter; the difference being the amount of meat and sides. Sandwiches come with a side and are $6.99 or less. Plates and platters come with a 1/2 lb to 3/4 lb of meat, 2+ sides, and 2 pieces of Texas toast, starting at $8.99 per. Here's what I tried: Meats: Sliced beef brisket Chopped pork Sides: Collard greens Coleslaw Mac and cheese Texas toast We ordered plates and the portion sizes for the meats leaned towards the generous side. Unfortunately, the beef brisket wasn't all that great. It was rather tough and dry. Very chewy and required tons of sauce. Speaking of sauce, 3 sauces are provided at the table: hot, spicy, and sweet. The "hot" is spicier than the "spicy." I like eating spicy foods and thought the "hot" BBQ sauce was sufficiently spicy. I liked the chopped pork, though it was quite fatty. You can hear the folks in the kitchen chopping the meat. It's really loud. The sides were OK. The Texas (buttered) toast was good. The slaw and greens were fine. The slaw was fresh and crisp. The greens were plain (no meat). Luckily, Bruce's Green Hot Pepper Sauce was there to spruce it up. The mac and cheese was disappointing. Most BBQ restaurants make outstanding mac and cheese, but the version here is regrettably bland and lackluster. Nice staff and excellent service. Cashier was friendly and courteous, our orders came out in a reasonable amount of time, and an employee politely cleared out our table for us. Thompson Brothers BBQ is located in the same shopping center as Office Depot, Yakitori Jinbei, and Tacos La Villa on Cobb Parkway, across from Best Buy Cumberland.
(3)
Tina B.
The ribs were tender and delicious. The baked beans were so good. The Mac and cheese was just ok. The place was very clean. Not fancy but nice. The staff was nice.
(4)
Adam B.
Bar-b-que was okay. I have had better. Mac and cheese was dry, burnt, and very little cheese. The sweet tea was very sweet, and lastly there was mold on their base boards.
(1)
Atlanta F.
Horrible service, mediocre food. I don't know how they are open. I am only customer at 12:10 for lunch.
(1)
Laci A.
Delicious!! Went with my boyfriend last weekend and we are on our way back right now! Got ribs, chopped pork, hot links, potato salad, Brunswick stew, and mac and cheese. Ribs were out of this world! Mac and cheese could use some more flavor. Chopped pork was very good, a tad dry. But still delicious. Hot links were very spicy!! Potato salad was mustard based, which I loved because I don't care for mayonnaise, Brunswick stew was very very good!!! Our new bbq spot for sure!!
(4)
R J.
How did I not know about this place and I have lived here for 6 years!?!?!? Great place for BBQ. The quality of the food was good and you get a lot for your money.
(5)
Aaron B.
This is a good BBQ joint! I tried the two meat plate, choosing the ribs (on their recommendation) and the beef brisket. I threw in a side of beef sausage. On my first trip to a restaurant, I tend to order a lot of different things. The ribs were tasty but a bit dry. The brisket was fine. The beef sausage was REALLY good. I recommend it highly. Side were mac & cheese and beans. Both were good. Overall, this isn't somewhere I would tell people to go out of their way to visit. That being said, I''m sure I'll visit again in the future. Give it a try!
(3)
Bruce K.
I'm a Yankee, so I don't know much about the 'cue other than I live in Charlotte where they know barbecue. Thompson Brothers is good, especially since it's "hole-in-the-wall" but I have had better. I went with the chopped brisket platter, which comes with two sides. The brisket was a bit dry and needed a few good squirts of the sauce on the table. The cole slaw was also dry without enough mayo to soften the cabbage. The mac & cheese was hot and too soft, but it did have a good flavor. Maybe this is the way they do it here in the northern parts of Atlanta?
(3)
Daniel B.
Some barbecue is in a league of its own such as Heirloom Market BBQ. However, most barbecue fits in in well with 90% of all the other joints in the area. Thompson Brothers is just above the rest, but not quite in the elite category. I ordered the ribs and two sides. Very. Good. This joint's style is soul food style food, so don't be expecting fancy presentation or low calories, but do expect great flavor and high fat content. The baked beans were downhome soulful with the meat flavor and perfect balance of tang and sweet. The mac and cheese was perfect. The ribs...perfect in appearance, taste, and tenderness. Smokey, pork flavor was strong, and seasoned just right. I tried the sauces and they were not very good...and they were not needed. The ribs tasted just right without the sauce and they were wonderfully moist. I'll be back.
(4)
Sam C.
My husband and I were looking forward to eating at this one BBQ place we heard about near Cobb Pkwy. When we arrived, the tiny parking lot was full. I won't mention them because we may still give them a chance. THERE WAS NO PARKING!!! No more parking??? Who the hell put's a BBQ place inside of a tiny plaza beside a convenience store? I guess they make enough money to turn away business. Literally we were turned off that they could only accomodate 15 cars including the convenience stores customers. We decided to turn around and find somewhere else to eat. I gps'd restaurants on Cobb Pkwy and Thompson Brother's BBQ came up. We were like hmmm, BBQ spots are hit or miss but OK let's try them out. We can't say enough about how delicious this BBQ was. We ordered 3/4 lb ribs and 3 sides and the 1/2lb chicken with 2 sides. Just delicious! The ribs were bare, no sauce, and they were astoundingly tender and flavorful without sauce, which we had on the table for a little extra kick. The sauce, omg was sooo good. It was like a nice light spike of sweet but not too sweet smokey syrup with a nutmeg and cinnamon undertone that just made the ribs and chicken pop! I was tempted to smuggle the bottle of sauce out of there! The Mac n cheese was great, the Brunswick stew was awesome, the greens were awesome, the baked beans were awesome. We were so happy with every single bite of food. All we kept saying was "this is so great".The service was awesome! The place was a mom and pop type place but with great seating and the tables and place were clean. The guy who bussed the tables was using bleach and water on his cloth to clean the tables. HUGE PLUS!!! I am a huge fan of the use of bleach and water in public places. No lingering smell of bleach though. The place was air conditioned and comfortable. You know how some BBQ places are all smokey and stuffy with little ventilation? No, not here. We totally loved this place. Our total meal was like $30 and IT WAS WELL WORTH EVERY RED CENT. This will be out spot from now on. Any other BBQ place who claims to be the best will have some serious competition. We will tell everyone we know about them. We ate there at around 2 p.m. and we were full all the rest of the day!
(5)
Shenna M.
Well, I just moved here from NY and wanted BBQ. I've been craving BBQ all year, so I did Yelp reviews and decided to visit here. I ordered the 1/2 pound BBQ Chicken meal. My sides were Baked Beans and Mac and Cheese. The bad: The chicken was overcooked. The Mac and Cheese needed something. It needed more flavor and cheese, but it wasn't horrible. Just bland. Perfect for someone with High Blood Pressure & cholesterol. The good: The Baked beans were awesome which made my review a 3. Let me not forget the awesome Red Velvet Cake. I'm still eating it. I'd go back for the Red Velvet Cake anyday. Just not the regular food. Anyone looking to visit::::: I won't say it's not recommended, because we all have different palates, so explore it for yourself. I'm just one review amongst many who actually love this place. But, go for the cake!!!!! It's Yummy!!!!
(2)
David R.
I ordered a rib sandwich with collard greens as a side item and I added a chicken breast. The ribs were meaty and seasoned well. They were good without sauce however; I added one of the available sauces. It was labeled "spicy" but it was more sweet than spicy and cinnamon seemed like one of the predominant spices used. The chicken breast was good, although dry. The collard greens were good, but seemed to be heavy on the vinegar.
(3)
Jesse P.
I had the chopped pork, greens, and potato salad. Pork was tender, still juicy, slightly smoky, and delicious. Greens were incredibly delicious and had some sort of spices they must have been simmered with to taste really good. Potato salad was a "whipped" style and I tasted some mustard in there, it was really good. My wife got the ribs which were done perfectly. Tender, but not falling apart. The menu of meats is fairly extensive and I'll definitely be back to try the rest when I am in town.
(5)
Corey R.
Great bbq and great service! I got a free sandwich for buying a helmet at the motorcycle shop next store! So I figured I'd try it out! Glad I did! :-)
(4)
Anonymous A.
I frequent this spot often. I always get the rib and chicken platter with baked beans and potato salad. I have not been disappointed!!
(5)
Laura M.
I had the ribs, baked beans, and potato salad. The ribs were so delicious with a beautiful smoke ring. I loved the baked beans. The potato salad had a nice flavor, but my personal preference is to have it chunkier. My only complaint was the BBQ sauce, but I prefer a smokier Texas style sauce. Nothing against their super sweet sauce, I just prefer a different style.
(4)
Gustavo F.
I live in NY and wanted some southern BBQ on our visit to Atlanta. So my wife found this place near where we were staying. The brisket was awesome, I could have eaten a few pounds of the stuff. I also wish I could get this at home. the collard greens were good but I ate them mostly to absolve the guilt of eating way too much smoked meat. If i was in that neck of the woods I would totally eat there again, a few times before going home.
(5)
Phoebe T.
Came here for a BBQ sandwich since Heirloom is closed on Mondays (Sad!) and while the price was decent, I felt the decor was lacking and the sides were minuscule! Seriously, if you're going to just offer one side with the sandwich, why does it need to be smaller than the sides of most kids meals I've seen? That being said, meat was good, sauce was good (although, again, if you get it to-go you get the smallest sauce container in the world) and I loved the spices that they added to the mac and cheese - really gave it that extra kick. Might be back for another BBQ sandwich and that lovely mac and cheese, however, I would not come here for their bbq plates as it felt pretty overpriced based on the size of the sides and the decor of the place. In this area, I'd prefer Heirloom (although it is always crowded) and if you're trying to feed a family of 4, I'd honestly even recommend Shane's Rib over this place. Yes, Shane's is nothing special but the food and sides are more plentiful.
(3)
Adrienne T.
This is one of those times that I wish we had "half" stars. I want to give Thompson Bros. 3.5 stars, but since I can't, I'm going to go with 4 because the pineapple upside down cake and sweet tea won't allow me to do anything else! Thompson Brothers BBQ is like a land of extremes. Everything is basically extremely good and the macaroni & cheese is so extremely bad that it alone drives the ENTIRE business' rating down, and it's way out of place on the menu because of all the extremely good stuff. Let me explain. The brisket. Eh. It's definitely not the best brisket I've had (I'm a native Texan), and it's not the worst (I spent 13 years in Boston). Thompson's brisket was VERY dry (other reviewers have noted the same), and it had no fat on it. I keep asking, what is brisket with NO fat??! However, portion size is generous, and the price is RIGHT. The macaroni and cheese? Horrible. EXTREMELY BAD. It's so very bad that you just wouldn't expect something so bad to come from here since everything else is on point. This stuff is BLAND, no seasoning, odd noodles. I prefer Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in the blue box to this. I'm warning you: DON'T DO IT. Get something different for your side(s). The GF had chicken, she liked it. She also said that the baked beans were as close to HERS as she had ever tasted! Now, THAT is a COMPLIMENT, as she is a GOOD COOK (like amateur chef quality), and is very picky/critical about restaurant food. The POTATO SALAD is DELICIOUS! I prefer white potato salad, and Thompson's is yellow, but it is the CREAMIEST potato salad I can recall having. I think the secret is that they may actually take the time to hand whip it with a hand blender. Maybe. Now, the sauces. Extremes. The hot sauce is EXTREMELY HOT- you WILL need some water. Trust me. You will. That's the sauce I like best. The sweet sauce is EXTREMELY SWEET. EXTREMELY. I loved it, but I cut it with some of the hot sauce, and made my own little blend. I was kinda disappointed that he didn't have hot beef links. His links are a pork/beef mix, and they're not the red ones where when you bite grease drips out, which was what I was looking for. However, the links he has are just fine, I enjoyed mine, and it was definitely spicy. Did I mention that portion size on the sides and meats is an excellent value? You get a lot of food, which is nice these days. Another very NICE touch is that they aren't skimpy with their sauces like most places. No nickel and diming, either. I asked for some sauce to go, and the handsome gentleman (owner) GAVE me TWO nice sized cups of sauce, and even labeled them so I'd know which was which. Where do they take the time to do nice things like that anymore? The sweet tea is off the hinges GOOD! The PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE is so GOOD that I can see myself stopping in there for JUST some cake if I'm in the mood, or ordering a whole cake for a holiday or party. They do red velvet cake, too, but I say, TRY the PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE. Just TRY a slice. You SO will NOT regret it! We ate there. Clean, nothing fancy, tables, chairs, tv's on the wall, handsome Thompson brother owner working. Great service, Mr. Handsome Owner even went by all the tables to check in, he said good night to EVERY customer, and didn't come off as phony. I like the spot. It's relatively near me, so I think I'll be a regular.
(4)
Sandra B.
I had the chopped pork sandwich with Mac and cheese. The pork was juicy, soft, and delicious! The Mac and cheese tasted odd to me so I only had 2 bites. Great lunch spot.
(4)
Tristan A.
I have to say this first. I don't know much about bbq. I couldn't sit here and break down the logistics on how its supposed to taste or what I should I be looking for. One thing I do know is taste. I ordered the ribs. They were very meaty, good flavor, and also the "mix" bbq sauce they gave me was really delicious. The mac & cheese was...okay, nothing special. When it comes to the potato salad, I never seen it pretty much completely mashed. That was a first. I will definitely try it again because it seemed like they have potential...plus its pretty close to my house. Lol
(3)
Darrell W.
I am pretty big on BBQ so my expectations are high. I had the chopped beef sandwich which was great! That mixed with the spicy BBQ sauce that was on the table was a hit. Sadly I was not pleased by the sides, I had both Mac and cheese and baked beans which left a lot to be desired. OverallsI would go back, but likely stay away from the sides.
(3)
Maria D.
Cozy place. Affordable price. Take military discount friendly staffs and amazing foods. going to be back and bring my husband and friends. :)
(5)
Denise G.
I'd been hearing about this place for a while before I finally ventured in. The staff is friendly and if you're a chick or a gay dude - I guess you would say the staff members are good looking (here's some pics: thompsonbbq.com/photos.h… ) - but I'm not here trying to pick up a date - I'm here for barbecue. And I'm sorry but it just doesn't taste like real barbecue. It tastes like oven barbecue. Meaning it tastes as though the meat was roasted in an oven then covered in sauce afterwards. Which is fine at home - but not what I'm after when I'm wanting real barbecue. And the choices for sides are severely limited. The prices and portions are decent so I'm giving them 2 stars instead of one.
(2)
Richard C.
Chopped pork sandwich was OK. Sauces (sweet, spicy, and hot) weren't bad but nothing to brag about. Greens were very good. Service was nice and food came out quickly.
(3)
Nhuy W.
I had some family come over Saturday afternoon so I decided to pick up some lunch for everyone. It had been 2 years since I have been here and it was definitely what I remembered. We all had the chopped pork, collar greens, mac & cheese, and baked beans. It was so delicious that we did not have any leftovers. Glad we found a place so close and convenient.
(5)
Beau C.
Fairly mediocre BBQ. Brisket wasn't very tender but had solid flavor. Good choices for sides, my mac and cheese was ok, but I prefer a creamier style. BBQ beans tasted like they just emptied a can of Bush's baked beans. I do like those, but it's a shame to not have your own distinctive flavor/style. I should have gotten the ribs. Staff was very friendly, and the dessert options looked good (but I didn't have room and was leaving to catch a flight).
(3)
Derek L.
I've been coming here since it's inception when I lived right around the corner from it. I've been dozens of times, and it's been consistently good every time. I usually get the 1/2 chicken, greens and macaroni. The mixed BBQ sauce is the best! Being from Chicago, Atlanta definitely does not have any good 'true' BBQ joints, but this is the closest ATL will get! Good job Thompson Brothers!
(4)
Daniel R.
I thought the food was a bit bland. I got the chicken with mac & cheese and collard greens. The sauces that they have out on table was watery and could be much thicker. Maybe this is how BBQ food is supposed to be down in the South, I'm not sure because I'm from Philadelphia.
(3)
Karrie W.
Can't seem to give half stars or I'd give it 2.5. I am an avid traveler and it's hard to find good brisket outside of TX but I thought I'd give it a try. In the south it appears most people smoke the brisket with no flavor to it and expect people to add sauce. Already knowing that, the sliced brisket sandwich here was a good sized portion and it was very lean, but was chewy and bland without sauce. You can tell it wasn't smoked with any seasoning or special touches. The sauce comes on the side and you have 3 choices: sweet, hot, or the 2 mixed. The sweet was overly sweet. I also got the baked beans as my side. The sauce they were in tasted very similar to the sweet sauce I received for the brisket, but a bit of a kick. I take it that is what I would have gotten if I had ordered the sweet/hot mix for the sandwich. I would really like all my food to not taste the same. If you're a big fan of brisket I would look elsewhere.
(2)
Jonathan G.
These guys know what they're doing and the service is great. Maybe not a top spot but definitely BBQ done right.
(4)
Phil B.
Had the sliced brisket sandwich with a side of greens, EXCELLENT! Will be back. If you love BBQ, eat here. Don't let the fact they are in a strip shopping plaza from going inside. When you walk in the door, its very plain more like a Chinese take out from wanting you to leave, stay and focus on the great food that you will enjoy here and you won't regret it.
(5)
g e.
Way good. Can't go wrong here. Yes, its a dive, no they don't have anything fried. The sliced chicken sandwich rocks. I like the mac n cheese and love the beans. Closest thing to kc bbq I've found in the ATL. Go for the hot links for a spicy kick. Give it a shot. All in all a good place with a great family that truly cares you are there
(5)
Erin E.
the rib sandwich plate is a good value and the service is quick. It gets crowded at lunch so call ahead. The ribs are a little dry though and don't fall off the bone the way I had hoped. In fact there is no way you could eat it as a sandwich anyway Overall it is decent, but a little overpriced for the quality of the meat you are paying for.
(3)
Ron L.
In California we don't get good BBQ - heck, you can even say that we don't get real BBQ at all. So when my company sends me traveling the country for work, I try to search out mom and pop or regional BBQ. Oh, and I am a celiac on a gluten-free diet. So I entered BBQ into Apple Maps, and up comes Thompson Brothers Barbeque a couple blocks from my hotel. This is a hole in the wall if there ever was one, hidden next to an Office Depot in a strip mall. There was a teenager manning the front who answered my allergy questions then took my order and served it up at the counter a few minutes later in a styrofoam box. I ordered the combo with St. Louis ribs, chopped brisket, slaw, and beans. The meat had plenty of that red smoker color and taste but the brisket was a bit too dry for my taste. For around $11, I got more food than I could possibly eat and there was no place to store it if I took it home, so sadly I had to dump half a rib and some slaw. This was both quality AND quantity for an absolutely amazing price - less than half what a BBQ chain would charge for a little less quantity. Plus: A large amount of Quality food for a very reasonable price. Minus: The brisket could have been a bit more on the juicy side.
(4)
Cherise J.
What a pleasant surprise of a place on Cobb Parkway. If you're looking for BBQ and you're in the area, this is a cool place to check out. They provide dine or take out. One of their sauces is on the extreme sweet side, so be sure to taste all of the sauces before you start pouring. The portions are decent, and somewhat comparable to the price you pay. The staff is nice and the food taste very fresh. I'll be back.
(4)
Robyn C.
Love it! Nothing else! Ribs are my personal favorite with mixed sauce!
(5)
S T.
RIBS RIBS RIBS... i love ribs they are great at this place. Whenever i am close i always love to stop by here. The staff is always nice and polite and down to earth. I have never tried anything else so i cant give my opinion on that but my buddies seem to like everything else they have.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch 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 : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Geary W.
This review is from a very limited scope because I always get the very same thing each time I go. This is because I simply can't believe just how good their spare ribs taste. I absolutely love my BBQ ribs but I quit ordering them at restaurants because I was tired of being disappointed 95% of the time. Here in Atlanta, most places give you bland ribs and then expect you to get your flavor from the sauce. At Thomson Brothers BBQ, no sauce is required because the ribs are the most flavorful I have ever purchased in a restaurant and this is consistent nearly every time I eat at this establishment. I can also attest to the Baked Beans being top notch as well. As for the rest of their menu, other people I have dined with their tell me how good the other selections are but nothing else interests me because the ribs are JUST THAT GOOD!
(5)Robert G.
I had Thompson Brothers for the first time on Friday last week, and I didn't expect much. I should have known better. It's always the little the hole in the wall, or the unassuming restaurant in a strip mall next to a Goodwill, that can and will most genuinely surprise you. I split half a pulled port sandwich with a friend, and ordered a large container of my beloved brunswick stew. I assumed from the awesomely low prices that the food would be mediocre at best, I could not have been more wrong. I don't even particularly like pork when I get barbeque, but this was delicious. It was moist and smokey flavored, without being over powering, and the spicy barbeque sauce was no joke. I frequently bitch in my reviews about restaurants selling things they claim to be "spicy", that are only spicy to the palette of geriatric bingo players with acid reflux and ulcers. The spicy barbeque sauce here was absolutely awesome. It had just enough heat to genuinely qualify as spicy, without being so over bearing that the profile of barbeque sauce was lost. It was just about the best barbeque sauce I'd ever eaten, with the exception of the stuff my brother in laws dad makes at home. It was great on my sandwich and I liked it so much that I added the rest of it to my brunswick stew. Speaking of the brunswick stew, it effing was delicious. It maybe could have had a few more vegetables added to the mix, but I didn't care. Despite having been cooked in the stew, the brisket retained its slightly smokey flavor, and the addition of the spicy barbeque sauce elevated the whole thing to near perfection. I ate about half at the restaurant, and intended to take the rest home to save for later. Instead I ate the rest of that damned delicious stew in the car on the way back, and had absolutely no regrets about doing so. I had almost given up on barbeque, places like Williamson Brothers, with their $15 plates of shitty boiled meat and sugary ketchup like sauces had nearly ruined it for me. Even Fat Matt's which I used to like has earned my contempt for thinking its acceptable to serve me a "barbeque sandwich", in which they can't even be bothered to pull the fucking meat off the bone before sticking it between two places of shitty plain white bread, and charging me as if it its something special. Thompson Brothers Barbeque gives hope to fans of the barbeque genre, and it does so at an almost unbelievable price point. I can't wait to go back and try every single item on their menu. If you aren't a snob, and you don't care about being coddled like a toddler, and just want good barbeque, you need to check this place out.
(5)Foodsnob B.
This was by far the most disgusting meal I've eaten anywhere --- EVER ---- The McRib is better. Run away from this place. They MICROWAVE everything. I asked the girl behind the counter if they microwave and she said 'only to heat it up' ! Lmao. I must admit BBQ is my specialty so my bar is set high but never expected something like this. (Full disclosure - I'm a comp bbq cook) Brisket was gross - microwaved in plastic bag. No flavor and chewy. Sausage - nuked as well. So much I could not bite through the skin. Mac n Cheese was gross - microwaved so much it was dry. Lmao how can u make Mac-n-cheese dry? Neat trick! Chicken - Microwaved so dry it broke the plastic fork. Look at the pic. It's not dog turds in a basket. It's chicken. Im not from around here so I can't tell u if they have gone down hill over time or always been this way but I feel sad for the family as this place will close and all investments lost. With that said, from a BBQ perspective this place is down right disrespectful to the Q and should be ashamed to serve that garbage to the public. Pictures are worth 1000 words....
(1)Germany G.
This was the best BBQ I've ever had in a restaurant. I rarely eat pork and the ribs were outstanding. I was so full I couldn't try dessert. The people there are extremely nice. I hate I'm moving downtown and I just found this place freshly new to ATL. I guess sitting in traffic will be worth it once I sit down to eat.
(5)Kelsey B.
My fiancé and I went here yesterday. I ordered the dark BBQ chicken with Mac and cheese and greens. The chicken was delish! The smokey flavor was very present but not overwhelming plus they gave two leg quarters. I had an Arnold Palmer to drink and the lemonade was great and homemade. For desert we got the peach cobbler (they were out of banana pudding) and red velvet cake. The peach cobbler and red velvet cake were okay but maybe it was because I have as really looking forward to banana pudding. The inside isn't much to look at however what is notable is the fact they are big supporters in the Marietta/ Smyrna community. There are appreciation certificates and plaques all of the walls from various little league baseball, basketball, and football teams throughout the years. Any place that has BBQ like this plus they give back to the community is alright in my book!
(4)Stephen M.
Meh. That's how I would describe their bbq. Ordered chopped pork with brunswick stew and potato salad. The pork flavor was very mild. The flavor profile was not aggresive at all. Tried adding their spicy bbq sauce which turned out to be sweet. Their brunswick stew was cold. It could have been good, but the temp ruined that opportunity. The potato salad was a southern potato salad. It was ok. Middle of the road. Good sweet tea.
(2)Lee B.
Decided to add Thompsons Bros under my belt of bbq spots to try. They were next on the list, via word of mouth of being really good. I went last Saturday and ordered ribs, baked beans and potato salad to go. The ribs were okay, the baked beans were okay, and the potato salad seemed to be missing a few ingredients but i still ate it being one of my favorite foods. The bread was really chewy like a bagel and I got the hot/spicy bbq sauce which tasted just like hot sauce minus bbq flavor in my opinion. Probably wont go back but i did get a bang for my buck since I was full afterwards.
(2)Ivan S.
I've been coming here for a while, but it's been a long time since I last showed my fat, BBQ-lovin' face at the door. First, I've found other places for lunch. Second, I've always had reservations about the food. Actually, not the food, the SAUCE. But I'll get to that. In a rare display of fairness and humanity, I visited again before I wrote my review. I actually didn't need to, since, for better or for worse, it's the same as I remember it. First, the good: The menu is pretty extensive. You've got pork AND beef. You have sausage too which is music to all you Texas-grown BBQ fans. That is until I told you that this is an OK-style BBQ joint and then you'd yell "Hook 'em!" make that Black Sabbath metalhead sign with your hand and then proceed to burn the store to the ground. Thompson Bros. also has BBQ bologna which I've tried and it's pretty good, even though I'm not that big of a bologna fan. The meats usually taste ok. And now the bad. I HATE their sauce. Hate, hate, hate it! Their sauce is the DEVIL! Their sauce causes global warming and is responsible for panda extinction. It's got this sweet tang to it that's not quite Kansas City, not quite smokey as Texas. I guess that's OK hickory, but there' nothing okay about it. If you order to go, ask for it on the side and then just throw it away. Blech. My trip there this week confirmed how much I hate their sauce. I feel kind of bad saying that, since it's probably some family recipe, but hey, there are things I don't like about my OWN family too. I ordered the sliced pork this go around. I like ordering sliced pork when I can get it because it's harder to hide flaws in slices than it is with chopped (or pulled) pork. Smoke ring was there. Good. Unfortunately my slices had much more fat than they should've had. Makes me think that the smoker was all wrong because the fat didn't render out as much as it should have. But everyone has an off day, so that's not an official complaint unless I see it again. Finally, the sides? The greens were good and peppery, but the mac and cheese wasn't worth the calories I spent on them. Three and a half stars for the food, one star for the sauce. Let's average Thompson Brothers out to three stars.
(3)Kayla S.
Health inspection rating of 83 (as of 4/4/14) I like my BBQ as much as the next person but that score is kind of hard to overlook. I can only hope that it's a one time fluke and they can bring the rating up. Until then..I'll have to get my BBQ elsewhere. :-(
(3)Steve B.
I lives in the area a long time and didn't know these guys exist. Big advocate of prices and seems reasonable. I have to try other BBQ options at this place, for sure!!! Would give the place 5 stars but how is this place not open on Sunday, what is this- chick fil-a?
(4)Daniel W.
The ribs are awesome!! Get them.
(3)Chris L.
Solid BBQ Joint! This is my first post on yelp and I've been using it fir years! Any place that serves Collard Greens is off to a good start. The more and more I visited this place I fell in love with the BBQ sauces. Check them out...the food is great and service is better!
(5)Dick D.
Love this place! I admit I am from Tulsa, this is authentic Oklahoma BBQ. The baloney is an Okla tradition. You got to get the "Whole Nine" or you are a wimp ! Boomer Sooner !!
(5)walt h.
4 stars" Yay! I'm a fan. This is not a fancy 'cue joint. This is not Korean-fusion BBQ like Heirloom. This is simple, home-style BBQ and there's a lot to be said about making simple, home-style BBQ. Good greens, decent corn bread. I usually get chopped brisket and hot links. The sliced brisket is good as well. The sauce is pretty distinctive. I personally like it, but some people might say it's a bit runny. It's a style-thing. Some people also prefer their BBQ covered in sauce and all burnt as a result of too much sauce. It all comes down to preference. I've noticed a lot of cops eat here. Cops usually eat pretty well, so I feel like I'm in good company. Try the Brunswick Stew. Not too many places have it, and I like Thompson Bros.' version a lot. I dip my Texas Toast in it. You could almost make a meal of it.
(4)Dr. Cleve T.
This is the only place in Atlanta that reminds me of Texas BBQ. These boys know how to cook BBQ !!!!!!!!
(5)Amanda T.
We were so happy to have stumbled upon this place during the pre-holiday madness. We had been stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half with two small children that were more than ready for dinner. Our first choice restaurant had shut down, we quickly found out, so to Yelp we went in search of anything close and not terribly expensive. Up pops Thompson's BBQ. The little, unsuspecting, tucked in the corner of the shopping center, restaurant is AMAZING and just what we needed. The food is delicious and the service is wonderful. It's the little things like wiping off the containers before they go in the bag so you don't get messy taking them out. Or using the faucet to wet their fingers, rather than their tongue, to open the plastic bag. I appreciate that. We have been on the hunt for some BBQ as good as what we found while we were living in Texas and we found it at Thompson's.
(5)Nick S.
Very nice staff. Got there after 12 hour work shift, 20 minutes before they closed, and they were more than happy to seat us. Ribs were a little dry, probably from sitting for so long, but that's our fault for going so late. All the other food was amazing! Extremely casual setting, atmosphere that emphasized BBQ and good food. Would defiantly go again.
(4)Michael A.
Juiciest chicken anywhere! Very friendly staff and good service.
(4)Charisse M.
Found this place on Yelp the other day after a dibilitating BBQ craving. I ordered a chopped beef sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. The beef was very good and I am somewhat picky about my mac and cheese, so it was just decent. I SEE now what everyone is saying about the sauce. Weird city! It tastes like sweet pickles. And like not in a good way. I found myself adding vinegar to my sandwich just to balance the taste out. I do however plan to visit again and try some of the other menu items, maybe I'll ask for a different sauce if they have one. But so far, so good, my cravings were satisfied and the world was a little bit of a better place that day.
(3)Bud C.
For openers this is another of those places wheree tthe story is almost as good as the food. Turns out that Thompson Brrothers aree not a couple or even three - but five brothers whwo came here from Oklahoma (a couple wear OU hats) andd opted to get into the barbecue business... and they do it very well thank you. The five own and operate this small restaurant in a strip center with large cement block smoker out back. St. Louis cut ribs were thick, meaty and flavorful. As good as any to be found in Atlanta. Chopped pork had good flavor, moist. Uses hickory and oak to cook. Good rub. Three sauces, taste a little too much alike, primarily a little on the sweet side. Brunswick stew is good, slaw no real taste or flavor, a poor choice. Potato salad good. Food is reaosnable priced. They have beef sausage, hot links, bologna - Oklahoma style staples. Dessert upside-down pineapple/lemon cake said to be very good. And for the Brown Shoe Gourmet, an added bonus: they have tee-shirts - I have more than 200 from barbecue joints across the country, wearing them as I strive for mediocrity on the racquetball court. You'll find tthem just a little north of I-285 on the east side of Cobb Parkway, buried in the corner of a strip center... and it'll be worth the effort.
(4)Scott S.
Not at all what i expected. I got the whole 9 Yards, which was essentially kielbasa you could buy at a grocery store, chopped beef (which was dry with no detectable smoke flavor), 1 pork rib which was greasy, and greasy bologna. It just doesn't taste at all like bbq. Staff were friendly tho
(2)Jason D.
Great people run this little joint. They have the best Brunswick stew around, and sometimes I go just to buy a pint of it. Meat is a little too greasy and fatty for my taste. Sauce choices are hot, sweet or mixed. I'm a fan of the mixed.
(3)Ben C.
Staff here is great. If you've never had Oklahoma BBQ, go here. Similar to Texas. I recommend the Brisket and Sausage.
(4)tony s.
Ehhhhhhh sums it up. Its just ok, there are better spots like williamsons bros and bubba q. Ribs are pretty good., sides were weak at best, and those sauces ehhh. The sweet everyone seems to rave about is like sugar sauce the spicy is just ok. Over all just ok bbq. I had the combo ribs, chopped bbq, greens, tater salad.
(2)Juan M.
I tried the pork sandwich and the beans and they are pretty good. The place didn't blow mind mind but I would come back to try other things. The place has been around for 8 years so it's got to have something.
(3)James B.
My co-workers decided to have a week of BBQ, with Thompson Bro's being the last outing. Today was probably not the day to go, and my review will be somewhat biased because they messed up all of our take-out orders. (I'll have to try it again, as two of my co-workers raved about their sausages.) I wound up getting the sliced pork platter with baked beans & macaroni and cheese along with their mixed sauce. The baked beans were average, honestly they tasted like they may have been canned, and so was the macaroni and cheese. The sliced pork was juicy and had a good smoky taste when first biting into it, however, I wanted the smokiness to continue as I ate it. (I honestly can say I like Heirloom's smoked pork, because the flavour is all the way through.) The mixed sauce was decent, though a little too sweet for my tastes...so I definitely won't be trying their sweet sauce. Prices were comparable to most BBQ places.
(2)Kristin Z.
I am usually a little hesitant trying new barbecue places. It seems as of late, I'm let down my one or more of the following: dry meat, too much sauce, lackluster side dishes, or bad service. Well, I can definitely say that I feel dumb for not having tried Thompson brothers sooner because I live probably less than 2 miles away. We ordered the Family Meal for $34.99. It came with 1 lb of beef ribs, 1 lb of chopped beef, 1/2 lb each of sausage and bologna (whaaat? I know, I'll explain). It also came with texas toast and 3 pints of sides. We got greens, mac and cheese, and baked beans. Let me first talk about the greens. Most of the time you get this as a side, it's watery, chopped up really small, and either really salty, or really bland. These were the best collard greens I have ever eaten from a barbecue joint. Hands down, you could tell these were fresh, still hearty, (not cooked to hell). They were big leafy pieces and they packed them into the container with not a lot of water, all greens. They had a slight tang and were not overly seasoned, just perfect. The mac and cheese was so so . I was not too impressed, unfortunately. Kind of bland. And the beans were pretty good, sweet, with some spice and little bits of meat for extra flavor. The ribs were the standout stars of the show. They were BIG, tender, with a pink smoke ring, little crisp on the outside from the rub and fat. They came right off the bone. I was most surprised by how many we got. Most of the time, you can expect to pay at least $22 just for the amount of ribs we got in the family meal. We also got the chopped beef which was good as well, maybe a little dry but that's where you get a chance to use their sauce. We got the "mixed" sauce which combines their sweet and their spicy. If you like sweet bbq sauce, you'll love it. The only bologna i've ever had are those little circles of "meat" with the red tape around them. This bologna was cut into thick slabs with a crust of goodness on the outside. It was the best I've ever had, but like I said, that's not saying too much. You also received beef sausage which was good as well. For the value and the taste and flavor, you cannot do any better in Atlanta. I'm convinced. Thank you Thompson Brothers for making me believe in bbq again. I'll be seeing you again soon.
(5)Keith C.
I have been eating at Thompson Brothers for years. I think it is some of the best, most consistent barbeque in Atlanta. The people behind the counter are always very nice. Their brunswick stew is THE BEST in Atlanta (let it cool off before you eat it. It's always served piping hot). Their ribs are delicous. The meat they buy can be a little fatty, they are still delicous Their sauce is unique. The first time I had it, I didn't like it at all. I thought it was way too sweet. But since then, I have grown to love it. I always get their mixed sauce that has a nice blend of sweet and spicy. I really like this place and am glad that the restaurant has been successful. The brothers that own the restaurant deserve it. They work really hard and always make sure to put the customer first.
(5)David S.
This is my favorite place for ribs. No sauce needed but I use the combination sauce. My favorite sides are the greens and potato salad. The people who run it are also very nice.
(5)Gabriel S.
I'm glad to see a small restaurant that takes initiative doing well. I saw it on yelp and thought the name looked familiar, then remembered they are also on SkyMiles Dining. Good job getting the name out there guys. Really friendly staff here. Location is just okay, but they really made the most out of the space they had on the inside. As an added bonus, it smells fantastic as soon as you walk in. I tried the ribs platter with greens, baked beans and macaroni and cheese. The ribs were good - not great but good. The sauce did it for me though. The perfect amount of spiciness. I couldn't have made a better recipe if I had tried for a week. The macaroni was okay, the greens were great, and the baked beans were probably the best I've ever had. The sides weren't huge, but they were just the right amount of each. Great staff, great place and great food. There's really only one thing this place doesn't do right - they do not know how to price their menu. That was not only the best meal I've had in a while but it was also the cheapest. Good job guys. This is the kind of place I really want to see do well.
(5)Patricia L.
I went to Thompson Brothers just last week, after my husband raved about their food, that he had had catered at work last week...I am soooo glad I did... This is a small place located in a shopping area on Cobb Parkway, just down fro J Geller jewelers...There are a few places to sit an eat, and they had the folks..But I think it is takeout that alot of folks go in for....And I can see why.. I ordered the chopped pork sam, thats comes with one side...This was a hugh sam, that was delicious..The pork was lean, with lots of smoked flavor, and their sauce is awesome..My husband had the chicken, and it was so flavorful..Their prices are very reasonable.... I will be back..
(5)Jef A.
Great food, Great Service, Great choice for BBQ. When i want BBQ this is the ONLY place i go. I have had everything on the menu atleast twice and it is all delicious. You can't go wrong here.
(4)Bill S.
Went here for lunch today since my wife and I were in the area and hadn't had bbq in a while. We both ordered the chopped pork plate and a couple sides. The pork was chopped into tiny cubes and either it was really fatty or it just wasn't cooked thoroughly, because it had a rather strange texture. Neither of us finished it, and for a pork lover like me that's almost unheard of. Their "sweet" sauce was so disgustingly sweet I honestly believe it would be better used as topping on ice cream than on meat. The "hot" sauce was very mild (and even my spice-averse wife didnt think it was spicy at all), and the "spicy" sauce they had was a joke. I'd give this place one star but I'll be generous and give two stars because the staff were friendly and the side items were delicious, but I seriously doubt I'll be returning here.
(2)Jennifer L.
I had stumbled across this morsel with some co-workers the other week. Looking at some of the prior reviews from years past this wasn't my experience. I had the pulled pork sandwhich with the potato salad. My co-worker had the same thing with mac and cheese and another had the salad with the pulled pork. Two thumbs up for sure on the pork and the sauce. I was quite surprised since I like sauce on the sweeter side and they had that. Actually it was a bit sweeter than I'm use to and added the sauce with a bit of kick to it. I wasn't so keen on my side but the mac and cheese seemed home made. We didn't had the desserts but the pineapple upside down cake and the brownie looked delic. Looking forward to returning!
(4)Patricia C.
I have been in search of a great BBQ restaurant in the Atlanta area for several years and Thompson Brothers has definitely come close to the BBQ my mom used to make back home in Florida. The pulled pork was to die for! The ribs were also juicy and flavorful. I used the sweet sauce on the meat and it definitely enhanced the flavor. For my sides I had macaroni n' cheese and collard greens. Both were above average. I felt the macroni and cheese could have been a little cheesier and the collard greens could have had a little more smoked flavor to them but both were still very good. To add to the already great food, the service was excellent as well. Everyone was very friendly. I will definitely be back.
(4)Candra P.
I decided to take hubby some lunch today and stumbled across this place on my way. I walked in, the place was totally empty as they were just opening. I noticed several items on the menu that looked tempting (chicken, ribs, smoked sausage. etc) I decided upon the Chopped pork BBQ sandwich which comes with one side. I chose the mac n cheese for hubby and the greens for me. So here goes: Side Items: pretty good. The greens were seasoned well, however they shouldve been cooked just a little longer as they were a little stiff. Hubby said the mac n cheese was great. The sides are really small so if you have a big appetite you may want to order a 2nd side BBQ Sand. : pretty good and great size. I love the smokey flavor however as another person posted they need to watch out for the fat. There was a great deal of fat on my sandwich. I found it easier to eat it with a fork rather than pick it up so that i could pick the fat out. Sauce: we were split on this. Hubby liked the sweet sauce. I went for the mxed (hot and sweet) I thought it was "ok" . It was a little too sweet for me but to each his own. Price: pretty cheap. Less than $6 for a sand. and 1 side Id definitely try it again
(4)G E.
Good BBQ! Look, it's a dump it's a dive, its BBQ! The closet thing I've found to true KC BBQ in the ATL. Not that I've been to them all, but from what I've found in the city this is it. I love their sliced chicken sandwich with the spicy (not hot) homemade sauce. I don't care for the hot they make. The beans are outstanding and I personally like their mac-n-cheese. My father in law LOVES their greens....swears by them. This is a family owned and operated business and I assure they go out of their way to make sure you are happy and that the food is good every time. Try the hot links!!! They rock! My daughter always enjoys the pulled pork and although I'm not a fan of pulled pork, she assures me it is always good. BBQ is a funny thing. People like what they like and they will argue for days over which place is best. Who knows. Give this place a try. Don't expect linen napkins or fine china. You won't find that here, but if you want good food at a fair price from really nice people show up and eat.
(4)James K.
Heirloom was out of ribs again so I went to Thompson and I've got to say that the ribs here are outstanding. Very meaty and filling. The sides are plentiful as well. This will now be my first choice over heirloom.
(4)Ali M.
When I'm in the mood for BBQ, this is where I go! Not only because the food is delish (bbq beef, beans, mac & cheese, banana pudding... MMMMmmmm) but because the staff is so pleasant and welcoming. Definitely give it a try if you have the opportunity!
(5)Scott S.
I was eager to try some Atlanta BBQ so I hopped on yelp. I'm thinking Thompson Bros needs a sixth star. Great service, better food. Thanks guys.
(5)Addy C.
We stumbled across "Thompson Brothers BBQ" only b/c our original plan to eat at "Yakitori Jinbei" was thwarted when we discovered it was closed on Mondays. None of us had heard of the place so I was relieved to see several customers dining inside the BBQ joint. Very friendly service. Ordered up front - they call your # when your food is ready. I decided to get the "Ribs Sandwich" which comes with one side - I chose the cole slaw. Seriously I was expecting a McRibs-type sandwich. But imagine my delight when it was actually 3 huge smoked BBQ ribs sitting on two slices of sandwich bread. All this for just $6.35! Sure, maybe the ribs were a little fatty but I love the taste of smoked meat so ... a little fat can't hurt, right? A good choice if you're wanting good, fast, & inexpensive smoked BBQ.
(3)Angela S.
This is THE best place for bbq. The ribs are ALWAYS tender and meaty, the suace(mixed) is to die for and the bake beans and greans are heavenly divened and staff are always pleasant. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. !!!!!!
(5)Heather K.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Smoked chicken salad is the best! I go a minimum of twice a week!
(5)Caleb L.
The ribs indeed lived up to their billing. They were meaty, well smoked and pulled easily off the bone. A thick crust added just the right amount of flavor- no sauce needed. The chopped pork was poor by comparison. Though it had some smoke flavor, it had lots of gristle and unrendered fat. I tried out the sauces on the pork and they all improved it. The spicy one was my favorite, actually more like hot sauce and not as sweet as most places in this area. The chicken breast in the sandwich was thick, juicy and well cooked. All the sides we tried were good; creamy potato salad, macaroni and cheese and delicious collard greens. Tea was sweet and cold, just how it should be. Even though we were stuffed, I couldn't resist banana pudding for desert, and it didn't let me down either.
(4)Kevin W.
I come to this place when I need some good BBQ. The whole nine yards is a platter that I recommend. I have had a turkey leg from here along with most of the desserts and everything is good. Even the sides taste very good. You also have to try their sweet BBQ sauce.
(5)Jen K.
I came here for lunch. I got the chopped pork sandwich and thought it was just OK. The sauce was also just OK. I probably won't be back. I mean, this is the south...BBQ should be great and easy to come by.
(3)Matt K.
I was starting to think I would have to drive back to Tennessee to get decent barbeque. Best BBQ place on the north side that i've been to hands down. This place is starting to get hopping during lunch hours now that the locals have discovered it. Tried the Mac&Cheese, potato salad, BBQ, loved them all. Warning, the chicken BBQ sandwich consists of two pieces of chicken on the bone. Common reaction "WTF? ... OMG this is F?&*ing good." Definitely worth the work.
(4)Jessica O.
Not a fan. Went for lunch. The side items are tiny - bite sized, even. The chopped pork was half fat, so I had to pick through with my fork instead of eating my sandwich. Sauces were just OK. The workers are nice, but I won't go back. It's also small, not much seating.
(1)Alexa G.
Single ladies may i have your attention.. go here for the eye candy! lol... voted best looking waitstaff by creative loafing.. thompson brothers is a BBQ joint owned by a man and his sons...and wow those sons..lol... neeehowww! they have a great spicy sweet BBQ sauce the BBQ is Oklahoma style and the chopped pork sandwich is the best! Skip the Mac and chesse though.. for a BBQ resturaunt I think they could've done much better... something about that velveeta-y chesse just doesnt sit well with me. You can miss the shop if you blink located across from best buy on cobb parkway.. just a little hole in the wall type place with tons of loyal customers :)
(3)Shawn M.
mmmm... RIBS. They didn't even need the sauce, which is all brownsugary and delicious. Hell yeah on the pineapple upside down cake, too. As a lover of all things smoked and saucy, I have to say I love Thompson Bros. Didn't even need the sides, which were good, but not the *best* I've had.. but they were definitely on the upper end of things. I wish I had leftovers.
(4)Gary T.
I had been dying to try this place for awhile and finally got the time to drive over recently and I wasn't disappointed. When I walked in I saw the phrase 'the secret is in the smoke" (or something to that effect) and they weren't kidding. The BBQ here has some of the best smoke flavor of any BBQ that I have ever had. Like most BBQ places here in the south, you order at the counter and they call out your order number when it's ready...so hang onto your receipt because it has your order number on it. One thing that threw me initially was that instead of being able to purchase the usual half or full rack, they do it by weight (half-pound and three-quarter pound for the spare ribs). I was a little worried that the half pound wouldn't be enough for me but I was say that the half-pound is roughly equivalent to a half-rack....I received four ribs, which is usually less than most half-racks that I have gotten but these were big ribs and had a lot of meat on them. I definitely got my money's worth. As I mentioned earlier, these ribs had a really nice smoky flavor to them and the meat was very tender. I only saw two types of sauces (hot and regular) and to be honest they weren't anything to write home about but the ribs were so good I didn't want to put sauce on them anyways,LOL. For my sides I had the potato salad and Mac & Cheese, both of which were really good. This is one of the better BBQ joints I have been to in the area and you get a lot of food for the price.
(3)Bennett W.
The only entree I've ever eaten here is chopped pork and I have always left satisfied. When the BBQ bug hits, I've found this place to be a great place to stop by and get friendly, prompt service from the outstanding owners and staff, and to leave with a full belly. The menu includes beef, pork, bologna, and sausage, but I've only tried the chopped pork. The sides, like most BBQ restaurants, it seems, are nothing special. The chopped pork seems a bit more fatty than ideal, but is still very good.
(4)Kara G.
Okay so I would come here just took look at the staff. The guys who own this place first of all are from Oklahoma which I love because that is my home state they are also FINE as hell. Even if the food sucked I would go just to look at them all sweaty and making smoked meats and what not...but I digress. The food is good, not just fantastic but good and the price is very fair. I found the turkey to be the best and the sides are good as well. This is one of the better places for bbq that I've found in the Atlanta area, I've never eaten in here, I always get everything to go. I have also had them cater for me as well which was a big hit at my event and they gave me a huge amount of food for the price.
(4)Regina N.
i went there once and the food was so bad that i never returned. the BBQ and the greens were some of the worst that i've tasted. the greens had a weird pickle taste to them that almost made me nauseous. YUK! if you want some good BBQ..go to this is it BBQ.
(1)Adree O.
Ok we ladies like the staff. I loved every side dish that I've tried. The meat ain't all that. I made better tasting meat at home. I liked the Greens, Macaroni and cheese, they also have stew. I like the Pineapple upside down cake. The sauce was..............different, not my cup of tea.
(4)Ryan K.
This is a real friendly place with a real low key atmosphere. There is nothing to speak of about the location and decor, it is in a old strip mall off 41, the interior is boring. But that is all made up through the que. I can't say this is the best. But it is good. I got "the Whole Nine" which has chopped pork, beef sausage, a couple of ribs, and smoked bologna. The chopped pork is good, smokey, i just prefer pulled pork. The beef sausage was really good, especially with the sweet sauce. That was hella greasy though. The ribs were impressive, they were spare ribs, which i normally don't care for, but these were great. No seriously tough spots, lots of smokey flavor with a nice hint of sweet in the rub. The bologna was weird, smokey, but still tasted like bologna. Oh, can't forget the stew. That is how I measure the quality of a que place. The brothers have got that right. Seriously good stew, meaty, tangy, and a little spicy. Good place all around and a pretty good deal for $9. Check it out if you are in the area.
(4)Brendan S.
Do not let the strip mall location fool you. This is a good boutique BBQ. I love this place. Simple, good food. Friendly staff. You walk up to the counter and order and they bring your food to you. Similar to pig n chick. Now the food: Sweet Tea: Excellent sweet tea. Ribs: I like their ribs, good smoke and easy to eat. No need for sauce. Pulled Pork: Somewhat dry and in need of sauce. Nothing to brag about. Smoked Chicken: Their chicken really shines. Highly Recommended. Great flavor, I usually dont even put sauce on it. Greens: GREAT greens. I recommend these. Mac n Cheese. Also pretty darn good. This is a great place to try. Hassle free and BBQ that is MUCH better than Sonny's or Williams Bros.
(4)Joe S.
im from los angeles and wanted some bbq while in atlanta for business. so i found this place on yelp and i have to say the ribs very good, chopped pork is excellent juicey tender and very flavorful!!!!! hot links were terrific also i will be going back for sure . my boss said he didnt care for the potato salad but the mac n cheese and beans were excellent! cole slaw a lil on the sweet side but good. prices here are excellent!!!!! pulled pork sandwich and a side only 5.25 and like i said the pork is off the hook! my boss is as cheap as they come and he even said that was the best sandwich he ever had and couldnt believe it was only 5.25! its a must have if in the area. a small shop family owned clean and just plain awesome!
(4)Tim V.
Different but good. The sauce taste of sweet pickles. No french fries, or fried foods here. The pork sandwich and stew are great.
(4)Y F.
This food was no good. Chopped pork sandwich: meat tasted reheated, wasn't hot enough, no seasoning. Tastes like oven bbq not pit smoked. Sweet Bbq sauce was like sugar syrup with cinnamon, gross. Added the spicy, which made the whole thing eatable. Bun was cold hamburger bun from grocery store. Macaroni and cheese was also gross and really bland. Coleslaw was good, tasted like standard slaw, so that's what I ate. Seems like good family run business, but the meal was a waste.
(1)Peter Gof L.
First time here - pleasantly surprised! Family run, delicious eats. :) Very good/excellent beef brisket! No- I repeat - there was NO FAT on any of the slices! Impressed.
(4)Robert H.
Had the BBQ chicken. Was dry and not very flavorful. Potato salad was like cold mashed potatoes and too salty. Mac & cheese was dry and not very cheesy.
(2)Stephanie M.
I was headed to the Goodwill a few doors down and got a whiff of b.b.q. after not eating all day it didn't take but a minute to decide a snack was needed pronto. Walking in was immediately greeted by a man at the counter and wanted to know what I wanted ? I let him know that it was "my first time in" he was helpful & polite we were laughing and joking around at the counter as he gave me a few options then finally decided on the Rib Sandwich it comes with three ribs, two pieces of white bread and you pick a side "collards please". A few minutes later the order was ready damn it looked good and couldn't wait to dig in but wait, b.b.q. ribs are something to looked at first. Is there a smoke ring, how much fat is there, does it pull off the bone or does the meat stick to it when given a tug, is there any crust or charring on the outside, is the meat moist or dry ? These ribs met most of my expectations meaty, moist, you could peel off the top layer then sink your teeth into the rest and had just enough fat to keep you lickin your fingers. The side dish being collards were really tasty so much so that after eating them that I went back to the counter and bought a pint to go. Sauces - There are three of them and don't really care for any of them two are sweet the other hot so you may have to concoct your own. Upon further investigation the next visit an order was placed for a 3/4 lb. plate knowing I would get 2+ meals out of this, choices Sliced Brisket & Hot Sausage with (2) greens and mac n cheese. (No bread) Downside - The brisket came out in thick hand cut slices but was dry and in need of sauce for moisture. The mac n cheese was over cooked mush and exchanged it for more greens, btw these are flavored with turkey. Upside - Hot sausage - Yum the sausage has a nice "kick" that lingers and keeps your attention if you are shy about spicy food this is not for you. I shared this with co workers & we all enjoyed it. Still liking the greens. The "Pork sandwich" seems to be popular this will be the next item to try.
(3)TheShoppery S.
It was OK. The portions were good, the meat had good flavour but the sauces were uninspired. Peach cobbler tasted pretty good
(3)Kesha M.
Stopped by for 1st time today and it was the best bbq I have had besides my husbands bbq. :) Place was clean, service was great and very warm and professional. The food was finger licking good. Ribs come right off the bone and the sauce is delicious.
(5)William G.
I'm from NJ and don't know much about southern BBQ so I'm not an expert. But to my taste buds this place is dynamite! My son and I each got this small platter with one rib, chopped beef, smoked sausage and fried baloney. Under $10 and I was totally stuffed! Generous portions. The place was very clean but definitely not new. The manager had his heart in the game and ran a tight ship. Nice folks and great food. Will you guys move to NJ??
(5)Jay C.
When ever I'm in Marietta I have to stop in. Ribs are very tender and full of flavor. Lemonade to wash it all down with is a must. Red Velvet hunk cause its not a slice is worth the money. Great prices also.
(5)Breno B.
Bbq was okay. Nothing amazing and felt like absolutely heated up food. Did not taste fresh.
(2)Alex R.
This place was fantastic! I went for lunch today for my first time and had the best chopped pork sandwich I've ever had! Will definitely be going back
(5)David E.
Hands down best spare ribs I have ever had. And I have had a LOT of ribs. Finally a real deal no nonsense bbq joint on the north side. Awesome potato salad and beans too. The rub on the ribs was incredible. Watch out Dave Poe and Williamson brothers, these guys are going to be all over your ass soon if you don't step up your game. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu, including the red velvet cake is sitting on the counter that I can't stop staring at!
(5)Rika B.
Excellent bbq spot in Smyrna off off Cobb Pky. The guys taking my order is always so friendly. The food is excellent. I love their bbq sauce. I always get the ribs and sausage platter with 3 sides and a drink. Their desserts are amazing. Highly recommend if you're looking for good bbq.
(5)Phyllis H.
Drew lost a bet (he always loses) and he owed me a dinner. I chose Thompson Brother's BarBQ in Smyrna in the Office Depot Shopping Center. I crave barbeque maybe twice a year and this was one of the rare times. I chose ribs, baked beans and potato salad. The potato salad was lacking but the ribs.....wow....they were delicious. I could not stop eating them. I had one bad meal from this place and had written them off. Thompson Brothers have redeemed themselves. The staff is always friendly. Yes, I would recommend.
(4)Bill D.
Good food! Good sized portions. The spice sauce is a wonderful mixture of sweet and spicy.
(5)Fabian W.
5 stars all day long. I ordered ribs, baked beans, mac & cheese, collards, brunswick stew, and chopped brisket. Yes, a lot of food. First off, I think I would have preferred the brisket sliced instead of chopped, but that's my preference. But the meat was really good and that sweet BBQ sauce made it even better. The sides were on point. And a special not about those dry rubbed ribs. YUM!!! Crispy outside, tender inside, and went down well that day and the next. Those Thompson boys know their stuff.
(5)C. Tyson E.
Sliced pork was chewy and tough. Like it had been reheated in the microwave. Brunswick stew was decent. Also cheap beer on draft.
(2)Bellamoonflower B.
Best barbeque that I've had in Atlanta since I've been here and believe me, we've been to a few spots all around Atlanta, including Heirloom, Twin Smokers and Daddy D's. Service was great, and had the chipped pork and spicy sweet barbeque sauce and it was soooo delicious! Also had the pork ribs and they were perfection as well. Just enough dry rub on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. Yum! As far as sides, had the greens, baked beans, brunswick stew and mac and cheese. Most of the sides were great, but the mac and cheese was just okay. Not much of a mac and cheese fan to begin with, but this mac and cheese was a twee bit on the bland side. Other than that, this place gets two thumbs up(and big toes too)!!
(5)Daniel B.
I stopped by Thompson Brothers BBQ for Friday lunch with my coworkers and I'm sad to say we weren't thoroughly impressed. The food wasn't bad, but I think the other Cobb County BBQ joints (Heirloom, Williamson Bros, Dave Poe's, Sam's) have a leg up on this place. The Thompson brothers (five of them) are from Oklahoma, hence the Sooner decor inside the restaurant. It's a small establishment with seating for upwards of maybe 30 people. Mostly compact tables for two, though they can be combined. A lot of customers come in for take-out. Very much a casual setup with ordering and pickup done at the counter. There's a small TV mounted high at one end of the store. Thompson Brothers' menu includes beef brisket, pork, chicken, ribs, ham, beef sausage, hot links, and bologna. The brisket and pork come either sliced or chopped. Pulled is not an option. Sides include baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. No fried okra (!). Some of the desserts include banana pudding, peach cobbler, and red velvet cake. You can get a sandwich, plate, or platter; the difference being the amount of meat and sides. Sandwiches come with a side and are $6.99 or less. Plates and platters come with a 1/2 lb to 3/4 lb of meat, 2+ sides, and 2 pieces of Texas toast, starting at $8.99 per. Here's what I tried: Meats: Sliced beef brisket Chopped pork Sides: Collard greens Coleslaw Mac and cheese Texas toast We ordered plates and the portion sizes for the meats leaned towards the generous side. Unfortunately, the beef brisket wasn't all that great. It was rather tough and dry. Very chewy and required tons of sauce. Speaking of sauce, 3 sauces are provided at the table: hot, spicy, and sweet. The "hot" is spicier than the "spicy." I like eating spicy foods and thought the "hot" BBQ sauce was sufficiently spicy. I liked the chopped pork, though it was quite fatty. You can hear the folks in the kitchen chopping the meat. It's really loud. The sides were OK. The Texas (buttered) toast was good. The slaw and greens were fine. The slaw was fresh and crisp. The greens were plain (no meat). Luckily, Bruce's Green Hot Pepper Sauce was there to spruce it up. The mac and cheese was disappointing. Most BBQ restaurants make outstanding mac and cheese, but the version here is regrettably bland and lackluster. Nice staff and excellent service. Cashier was friendly and courteous, our orders came out in a reasonable amount of time, and an employee politely cleared out our table for us. Thompson Brothers BBQ is located in the same shopping center as Office Depot, Yakitori Jinbei, and Tacos La Villa on Cobb Parkway, across from Best Buy Cumberland.
(3)Tina B.
The ribs were tender and delicious. The baked beans were so good. The Mac and cheese was just ok. The place was very clean. Not fancy but nice. The staff was nice.
(4)Adam B.
Bar-b-que was okay. I have had better. Mac and cheese was dry, burnt, and very little cheese. The sweet tea was very sweet, and lastly there was mold on their base boards.
(1)Atlanta F.
Horrible service, mediocre food. I don't know how they are open. I am only customer at 12:10 for lunch.
(1)Laci A.
Delicious!! Went with my boyfriend last weekend and we are on our way back right now! Got ribs, chopped pork, hot links, potato salad, Brunswick stew, and mac and cheese. Ribs were out of this world! Mac and cheese could use some more flavor. Chopped pork was very good, a tad dry. But still delicious. Hot links were very spicy!! Potato salad was mustard based, which I loved because I don't care for mayonnaise, Brunswick stew was very very good!!! Our new bbq spot for sure!!
(4)R J.
How did I not know about this place and I have lived here for 6 years!?!?!? Great place for BBQ. The quality of the food was good and you get a lot for your money.
(5)Aaron B.
This is a good BBQ joint! I tried the two meat plate, choosing the ribs (on their recommendation) and the beef brisket. I threw in a side of beef sausage. On my first trip to a restaurant, I tend to order a lot of different things. The ribs were tasty but a bit dry. The brisket was fine. The beef sausage was REALLY good. I recommend it highly. Side were mac & cheese and beans. Both were good. Overall, this isn't somewhere I would tell people to go out of their way to visit. That being said, I''m sure I'll visit again in the future. Give it a try!
(3)Bruce K.
I'm a Yankee, so I don't know much about the 'cue other than I live in Charlotte where they know barbecue. Thompson Brothers is good, especially since it's "hole-in-the-wall" but I have had better. I went with the chopped brisket platter, which comes with two sides. The brisket was a bit dry and needed a few good squirts of the sauce on the table. The cole slaw was also dry without enough mayo to soften the cabbage. The mac & cheese was hot and too soft, but it did have a good flavor. Maybe this is the way they do it here in the northern parts of Atlanta?
(3)Daniel B.
Some barbecue is in a league of its own such as Heirloom Market BBQ. However, most barbecue fits in in well with 90% of all the other joints in the area. Thompson Brothers is just above the rest, but not quite in the elite category. I ordered the ribs and two sides. Very. Good. This joint's style is soul food style food, so don't be expecting fancy presentation or low calories, but do expect great flavor and high fat content. The baked beans were downhome soulful with the meat flavor and perfect balance of tang and sweet. The mac and cheese was perfect. The ribs...perfect in appearance, taste, and tenderness. Smokey, pork flavor was strong, and seasoned just right. I tried the sauces and they were not very good...and they were not needed. The ribs tasted just right without the sauce and they were wonderfully moist. I'll be back.
(4)Sam C.
My husband and I were looking forward to eating at this one BBQ place we heard about near Cobb Pkwy. When we arrived, the tiny parking lot was full. I won't mention them because we may still give them a chance. THERE WAS NO PARKING!!! No more parking??? Who the hell put's a BBQ place inside of a tiny plaza beside a convenience store? I guess they make enough money to turn away business. Literally we were turned off that they could only accomodate 15 cars including the convenience stores customers. We decided to turn around and find somewhere else to eat. I gps'd restaurants on Cobb Pkwy and Thompson Brother's BBQ came up. We were like hmmm, BBQ spots are hit or miss but OK let's try them out. We can't say enough about how delicious this BBQ was. We ordered 3/4 lb ribs and 3 sides and the 1/2lb chicken with 2 sides. Just delicious! The ribs were bare, no sauce, and they were astoundingly tender and flavorful without sauce, which we had on the table for a little extra kick. The sauce, omg was sooo good. It was like a nice light spike of sweet but not too sweet smokey syrup with a nutmeg and cinnamon undertone that just made the ribs and chicken pop! I was tempted to smuggle the bottle of sauce out of there! The Mac n cheese was great, the Brunswick stew was awesome, the greens were awesome, the baked beans were awesome. We were so happy with every single bite of food. All we kept saying was "this is so great".The service was awesome! The place was a mom and pop type place but with great seating and the tables and place were clean. The guy who bussed the tables was using bleach and water on his cloth to clean the tables. HUGE PLUS!!! I am a huge fan of the use of bleach and water in public places. No lingering smell of bleach though. The place was air conditioned and comfortable. You know how some BBQ places are all smokey and stuffy with little ventilation? No, not here. We totally loved this place. Our total meal was like $30 and IT WAS WELL WORTH EVERY RED CENT. This will be out spot from now on. Any other BBQ place who claims to be the best will have some serious competition. We will tell everyone we know about them. We ate there at around 2 p.m. and we were full all the rest of the day!
(5)Shenna M.
Well, I just moved here from NY and wanted BBQ. I've been craving BBQ all year, so I did Yelp reviews and decided to visit here. I ordered the 1/2 pound BBQ Chicken meal. My sides were Baked Beans and Mac and Cheese. The bad: The chicken was overcooked. The Mac and Cheese needed something. It needed more flavor and cheese, but it wasn't horrible. Just bland. Perfect for someone with High Blood Pressure & cholesterol. The good: The Baked beans were awesome which made my review a 3. Let me not forget the awesome Red Velvet Cake. I'm still eating it. I'd go back for the Red Velvet Cake anyday. Just not the regular food. Anyone looking to visit::::: I won't say it's not recommended, because we all have different palates, so explore it for yourself. I'm just one review amongst many who actually love this place. But, go for the cake!!!!! It's Yummy!!!!
(2)David R.
I ordered a rib sandwich with collard greens as a side item and I added a chicken breast. The ribs were meaty and seasoned well. They were good without sauce however; I added one of the available sauces. It was labeled "spicy" but it was more sweet than spicy and cinnamon seemed like one of the predominant spices used. The chicken breast was good, although dry. The collard greens were good, but seemed to be heavy on the vinegar.
(3)Jesse P.
I had the chopped pork, greens, and potato salad. Pork was tender, still juicy, slightly smoky, and delicious. Greens were incredibly delicious and had some sort of spices they must have been simmered with to taste really good. Potato salad was a "whipped" style and I tasted some mustard in there, it was really good. My wife got the ribs which were done perfectly. Tender, but not falling apart. The menu of meats is fairly extensive and I'll definitely be back to try the rest when I am in town.
(5)Corey R.
Great bbq and great service! I got a free sandwich for buying a helmet at the motorcycle shop next store! So I figured I'd try it out! Glad I did! :-)
(4)Anonymous A.
I frequent this spot often. I always get the rib and chicken platter with baked beans and potato salad. I have not been disappointed!!
(5)Laura M.
I had the ribs, baked beans, and potato salad. The ribs were so delicious with a beautiful smoke ring. I loved the baked beans. The potato salad had a nice flavor, but my personal preference is to have it chunkier. My only complaint was the BBQ sauce, but I prefer a smokier Texas style sauce. Nothing against their super sweet sauce, I just prefer a different style.
(4)Gustavo F.
I live in NY and wanted some southern BBQ on our visit to Atlanta. So my wife found this place near where we were staying. The brisket was awesome, I could have eaten a few pounds of the stuff. I also wish I could get this at home. the collard greens were good but I ate them mostly to absolve the guilt of eating way too much smoked meat. If i was in that neck of the woods I would totally eat there again, a few times before going home.
(5)Phoebe T.
Came here for a BBQ sandwich since Heirloom is closed on Mondays (Sad!) and while the price was decent, I felt the decor was lacking and the sides were minuscule! Seriously, if you're going to just offer one side with the sandwich, why does it need to be smaller than the sides of most kids meals I've seen? That being said, meat was good, sauce was good (although, again, if you get it to-go you get the smallest sauce container in the world) and I loved the spices that they added to the mac and cheese - really gave it that extra kick. Might be back for another BBQ sandwich and that lovely mac and cheese, however, I would not come here for their bbq plates as it felt pretty overpriced based on the size of the sides and the decor of the place. In this area, I'd prefer Heirloom (although it is always crowded) and if you're trying to feed a family of 4, I'd honestly even recommend Shane's Rib over this place. Yes, Shane's is nothing special but the food and sides are more plentiful.
(3)Adrienne T.
This is one of those times that I wish we had "half" stars. I want to give Thompson Bros. 3.5 stars, but since I can't, I'm going to go with 4 because the pineapple upside down cake and sweet tea won't allow me to do anything else! Thompson Brothers BBQ is like a land of extremes. Everything is basically extremely good and the macaroni & cheese is so extremely bad that it alone drives the ENTIRE business' rating down, and it's way out of place on the menu because of all the extremely good stuff. Let me explain. The brisket. Eh. It's definitely not the best brisket I've had (I'm a native Texan), and it's not the worst (I spent 13 years in Boston). Thompson's brisket was VERY dry (other reviewers have noted the same), and it had no fat on it. I keep asking, what is brisket with NO fat??! However, portion size is generous, and the price is RIGHT. The macaroni and cheese? Horrible. EXTREMELY BAD. It's so very bad that you just wouldn't expect something so bad to come from here since everything else is on point. This stuff is BLAND, no seasoning, odd noodles. I prefer Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in the blue box to this. I'm warning you: DON'T DO IT. Get something different for your side(s). The GF had chicken, she liked it. She also said that the baked beans were as close to HERS as she had ever tasted! Now, THAT is a COMPLIMENT, as she is a GOOD COOK (like amateur chef quality), and is very picky/critical about restaurant food. The POTATO SALAD is DELICIOUS! I prefer white potato salad, and Thompson's is yellow, but it is the CREAMIEST potato salad I can recall having. I think the secret is that they may actually take the time to hand whip it with a hand blender. Maybe. Now, the sauces. Extremes. The hot sauce is EXTREMELY HOT- you WILL need some water. Trust me. You will. That's the sauce I like best. The sweet sauce is EXTREMELY SWEET. EXTREMELY. I loved it, but I cut it with some of the hot sauce, and made my own little blend. I was kinda disappointed that he didn't have hot beef links. His links are a pork/beef mix, and they're not the red ones where when you bite grease drips out, which was what I was looking for. However, the links he has are just fine, I enjoyed mine, and it was definitely spicy. Did I mention that portion size on the sides and meats is an excellent value? You get a lot of food, which is nice these days. Another very NICE touch is that they aren't skimpy with their sauces like most places. No nickel and diming, either. I asked for some sauce to go, and the handsome gentleman (owner) GAVE me TWO nice sized cups of sauce, and even labeled them so I'd know which was which. Where do they take the time to do nice things like that anymore? The sweet tea is off the hinges GOOD! The PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE is so GOOD that I can see myself stopping in there for JUST some cake if I'm in the mood, or ordering a whole cake for a holiday or party. They do red velvet cake, too, but I say, TRY the PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE. Just TRY a slice. You SO will NOT regret it! We ate there. Clean, nothing fancy, tables, chairs, tv's on the wall, handsome Thompson brother owner working. Great service, Mr. Handsome Owner even went by all the tables to check in, he said good night to EVERY customer, and didn't come off as phony. I like the spot. It's relatively near me, so I think I'll be a regular.
(4)Sandra B.
I had the chopped pork sandwich with Mac and cheese. The pork was juicy, soft, and delicious! The Mac and cheese tasted odd to me so I only had 2 bites. Great lunch spot.
(4)Tristan A.
I have to say this first. I don't know much about bbq. I couldn't sit here and break down the logistics on how its supposed to taste or what I should I be looking for. One thing I do know is taste. I ordered the ribs. They were very meaty, good flavor, and also the "mix" bbq sauce they gave me was really delicious. The mac & cheese was...okay, nothing special. When it comes to the potato salad, I never seen it pretty much completely mashed. That was a first. I will definitely try it again because it seemed like they have potential...plus its pretty close to my house. Lol
(3)Darrell W.
I am pretty big on BBQ so my expectations are high. I had the chopped beef sandwich which was great! That mixed with the spicy BBQ sauce that was on the table was a hit. Sadly I was not pleased by the sides, I had both Mac and cheese and baked beans which left a lot to be desired. OverallsI would go back, but likely stay away from the sides.
(3)Maria D.
Cozy place. Affordable price. Take military discount friendly staffs and amazing foods. going to be back and bring my husband and friends. :)
(5)Denise G.
I'd been hearing about this place for a while before I finally ventured in. The staff is friendly and if you're a chick or a gay dude - I guess you would say the staff members are good looking (here's some pics: thompsonbbq.com/photos.h… ) - but I'm not here trying to pick up a date - I'm here for barbecue. And I'm sorry but it just doesn't taste like real barbecue. It tastes like oven barbecue. Meaning it tastes as though the meat was roasted in an oven then covered in sauce afterwards. Which is fine at home - but not what I'm after when I'm wanting real barbecue. And the choices for sides are severely limited. The prices and portions are decent so I'm giving them 2 stars instead of one.
(2)Richard C.
Chopped pork sandwich was OK. Sauces (sweet, spicy, and hot) weren't bad but nothing to brag about. Greens were very good. Service was nice and food came out quickly.
(3)Nhuy W.
I had some family come over Saturday afternoon so I decided to pick up some lunch for everyone. It had been 2 years since I have been here and it was definitely what I remembered. We all had the chopped pork, collar greens, mac & cheese, and baked beans. It was so delicious that we did not have any leftovers. Glad we found a place so close and convenient.
(5)Beau C.
Fairly mediocre BBQ. Brisket wasn't very tender but had solid flavor. Good choices for sides, my mac and cheese was ok, but I prefer a creamier style. BBQ beans tasted like they just emptied a can of Bush's baked beans. I do like those, but it's a shame to not have your own distinctive flavor/style. I should have gotten the ribs. Staff was very friendly, and the dessert options looked good (but I didn't have room and was leaving to catch a flight).
(3)Derek L.
I've been coming here since it's inception when I lived right around the corner from it. I've been dozens of times, and it's been consistently good every time. I usually get the 1/2 chicken, greens and macaroni. The mixed BBQ sauce is the best! Being from Chicago, Atlanta definitely does not have any good 'true' BBQ joints, but this is the closest ATL will get! Good job Thompson Brothers!
(4)Daniel R.
I thought the food was a bit bland. I got the chicken with mac & cheese and collard greens. The sauces that they have out on table was watery and could be much thicker. Maybe this is how BBQ food is supposed to be down in the South, I'm not sure because I'm from Philadelphia.
(3)Karrie W.
Can't seem to give half stars or I'd give it 2.5. I am an avid traveler and it's hard to find good brisket outside of TX but I thought I'd give it a try. In the south it appears most people smoke the brisket with no flavor to it and expect people to add sauce. Already knowing that, the sliced brisket sandwich here was a good sized portion and it was very lean, but was chewy and bland without sauce. You can tell it wasn't smoked with any seasoning or special touches. The sauce comes on the side and you have 3 choices: sweet, hot, or the 2 mixed. The sweet was overly sweet. I also got the baked beans as my side. The sauce they were in tasted very similar to the sweet sauce I received for the brisket, but a bit of a kick. I take it that is what I would have gotten if I had ordered the sweet/hot mix for the sandwich. I would really like all my food to not taste the same. If you're a big fan of brisket I would look elsewhere.
(2)Jonathan G.
These guys know what they're doing and the service is great. Maybe not a top spot but definitely BBQ done right.
(4)Phil B.
Had the sliced brisket sandwich with a side of greens, EXCELLENT! Will be back. If you love BBQ, eat here. Don't let the fact they are in a strip shopping plaza from going inside. When you walk in the door, its very plain more like a Chinese take out from wanting you to leave, stay and focus on the great food that you will enjoy here and you won't regret it.
(5)g e.
Way good. Can't go wrong here. Yes, its a dive, no they don't have anything fried. The sliced chicken sandwich rocks. I like the mac n cheese and love the beans. Closest thing to kc bbq I've found in the ATL. Go for the hot links for a spicy kick. Give it a shot. All in all a good place with a great family that truly cares you are there
(5)Erin E.
the rib sandwich plate is a good value and the service is quick. It gets crowded at lunch so call ahead. The ribs are a little dry though and don't fall off the bone the way I had hoped. In fact there is no way you could eat it as a sandwich anyway Overall it is decent, but a little overpriced for the quality of the meat you are paying for.
(3)Ron L.
In California we don't get good BBQ - heck, you can even say that we don't get real BBQ at all. So when my company sends me traveling the country for work, I try to search out mom and pop or regional BBQ. Oh, and I am a celiac on a gluten-free diet. So I entered BBQ into Apple Maps, and up comes Thompson Brothers Barbeque a couple blocks from my hotel. This is a hole in the wall if there ever was one, hidden next to an Office Depot in a strip mall. There was a teenager manning the front who answered my allergy questions then took my order and served it up at the counter a few minutes later in a styrofoam box. I ordered the combo with St. Louis ribs, chopped brisket, slaw, and beans. The meat had plenty of that red smoker color and taste but the brisket was a bit too dry for my taste. For around $11, I got more food than I could possibly eat and there was no place to store it if I took it home, so sadly I had to dump half a rib and some slaw. This was both quality AND quantity for an absolutely amazing price - less than half what a BBQ chain would charge for a little less quantity. Plus: A large amount of Quality food for a very reasonable price. Minus: The brisket could have been a bit more on the juicy side.
(4)Cherise J.
What a pleasant surprise of a place on Cobb Parkway. If you're looking for BBQ and you're in the area, this is a cool place to check out. They provide dine or take out. One of their sauces is on the extreme sweet side, so be sure to taste all of the sauces before you start pouring. The portions are decent, and somewhat comparable to the price you pay. The staff is nice and the food taste very fresh. I'll be back.
(4)Robyn C.
Love it! Nothing else! Ribs are my personal favorite with mixed sauce!
(5)S T.
RIBS RIBS RIBS... i love ribs they are great at this place. Whenever i am close i always love to stop by here. The staff is always nice and polite and down to earth. I have never tried anything else so i cant give my opinion on that but my buddies seem to like everything else they have.
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