Tucked away on a quiet street in East Ellijay, Georgia, there is a little barbecue joint that road-trippers stumble upon almost by accident. Poole’s Bar-B-Q may not sit on a busy highway, but the folks who find it often drive an hour or more just to come back.
It is the kind of homestyle spot where the meats are slow-cooked, the sauces are made in-house, and the walls are covered in playful pig decor. If you love hearty Southern food served with a friendly smile, this out-of-the-way stop deserves a place on your list.
A Hidden Corner of East Ellijay
Finding Poole’s Bar-B-Q feels a little like discovering a secret that the locals have been keeping to themselves. Sitting at 164 Craig St in East Ellijay, Georgia, it rests just off the beaten path rather than on some crowded main drag.
Plenty of travelers admit they only stumbled in while passing through town, not because it topped a must-see list.
What waits inside is a barbecue restaurant built around homestyle cooking and slow-smoked meats. Think pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brisket, and a big lineup of Southern-style sides.
The price range lands around $10 to $20 per person, which keeps things friendly on the wallet.
One foodie who has chased down small barbecue joints across the country mentioned that Poole’s was not even on their radar. They pulled in on a whim, and the meal ended up blowing them away.
That kind of happy surprise sums up the whole vibe of this tucked-away gem.
The Story Behind the Pit
Long before it became a road-trip favorite, Poole’s held a special place in the hearts of families who spent summers in the north Georgia mountains. One longtime guest remembered it as a childhood favorite from the days their family rented a cabin nearby.
Coming back years later, they found the barbecue every bit as good as they recalled.
The restaurant has seen its share of ups and downs, including a rough patch and a change in ownership that worried some regulars. Happily, folks who returned after the reopening say the place bounced back stronger than ever.
More than one visitor noted that the new owner is doing an outstanding job keeping the spirit alive.
Known affectionately as Col. Poole’s establishment, it carries the feel of a genuine mom-and-pop roadside wonder.
That blend of history and fresh energy gives the spot a story worth tasting for yourself.
Ribs and Meats Straight From the Smoker
Ribs are the headline act that pulls people in the door, and when they hit the mark, guests can’t stop talking about them. Several diners raved about tender, flavorful ribs that paired perfectly with the pulled pork and brisket on the same plate.
One happy visitor summed up their meal simply by saying the ribs were delicious.
Beyond the ribs, the smoker turns out an impressive spread. Regulars mention juicy pulled pork with a nice bark and smoke ring, tender chicken, smoked turkey, and pastrami.
A four-meat sampler platter lets you split pork, chicken, brisket, and ribs, which is a smart move for the indecisive crowd.
The brisket burnt ends earned some of the loudest praise, with one seasoned barbecue traveler calling them perfectly rendered and juicy. Not every visit is flawless, and a few guests wished for more smoke flavor, but the high notes here run genuinely high.
House-Made Sauces Worth Sampling
Ask around and you’ll hear that the sauces at Poole’s are made right in-house, not poured from some factory bottle. Guests appreciate that the kitchen took time to build flavors meant to complement the meat rather than drown it.
You’ll find a lineup that includes an original, a spicy version, a sweet one, and a mustard-based option.
The OG sauce stands out for its black pepper kick, while the mustard base wins over folks who like a tangier profile. Some visitors describe the reds as vinegary and on the sweeter side, so tastes will vary from person to person.
Here’s a fun tip from the regulars: several say the barbecue is so good it hardly needs sauce at all. Still, having four options on the table turns each bite into a little flavor experiment, and that’s half the fun of a spread like this.
Southern Sides That Steal the Show
Every great barbecue plate needs a supporting cast, and here the sides sometimes threaten to steal the spotlight. Fans gush over the baked beans, which come studded with little bits of meat that one guest said were worth the trip all by themselves.
That’s a bold claim at a place famous for its smoked meats.
Greens get plenty of love too. Diners have called the collard greens some of the best they’ve ever eaten, and the green beans earn repeat compliments as well.
Round things out with creamy mac and cheese, light and fluffy cornbread, potato salad, black-eyed peas, and a bright, crisp coleslaw.
Don’t overlook the legendary Brunswick stew, which many order by the quart to take home. A few guests felt the mac and cheese or stew missed on off days, but the overall side game keeps people coming back for more than just the ribs.
Appetizers and Unexpected Treats
Curious eaters will want to save room for the starters, because Poole’s slips in a few surprises you won’t find at your average rib shack. The BBQ Fondue tops the list of pleasant shockers, with one guest declaring it amazingly tasty and another saying it inspired new ideas for their own dinner parties.
Cheese and barbecue melting together? Yes, please.
Other fun bites include nachos piled high, cheese curds, onion rings, and a grilled cheese loaded with barbecue. The sweet potato fries and onion rings drew praise even from a guest who wasn’t wowed by everything else, thanks to their crispy, well-fried finish.
Some appetizers arrive with homemade pork skins, a nice touch that shows the kitchen’s playful streak. Wash it all down with the so-called Sugar Waters, which come in a rainbow of Coke and Dr. Pepper flavors.
Just know that Diet Coke isn’t in the lineup, so plan accordingly.
Quirky Decor and a Pig Hall of Fame
Walking into Poole’s is like stepping into a joyfully cluttered scrapbook of barbecue history. The description says it best: a kitschy, quirky pit stop, and the atmosphere lives up to the billing with touches of history scattered across every wall.
Guests describe the mood as warm, fun, and full of colorful personality.
The star attraction on the decor side is the famous Pig Hall of Fame, which visitors call neat and memorable. Families especially enjoy that kids can paint their own pigs, turning a meal into a little hands-on adventure.
That kind of playful detail sticks with people long after the plates are cleared.
A word of honesty from the reviews: a handful of guests mentioned the dining room and outdoor area could use a better cleaning. Even so, most agree the older decor and offbeat charm give the place a character that big chain restaurants simply can’t fake.
Friendly Faces and Family-Style Service
Servers here have a knack for making guests feel like part of the family, and that warmth shows up again and again in the reviews. One large, lively group credited their server with taking amazing care of them, getting every order right and hustling the food out fast.
Another guest happily named their meal a highlight thanks to a sweetheart of a waitress with great recommendations.
Over the years, regulars have returned annually and remembered their servers by name, a sign of the personal touch this crew brings. Warm, courteous, and attentive are words that pop up over and over.
Fairness matters, so it’s worth sharing that a few visits didn’t go smoothly. Some guests ran into long waits, wrong orders, or overheard tension between staff and management.
When the team is on its game, though, the hospitality feels genuine and welcoming, the kind that turns first-timers into repeat customers.
Planning Your Visit to Poole’s
Ready to track down this hidden favorite? Point your GPS to 164 Craig St, East Ellijay, GA 30540, and give them a ring at +1 706-635-4100 if you have questions before you go.
There’s plenty of parking right on site, so pulling in is easy.
Hours run 11 AM to 7 PM Thursday through Saturday and 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, while Monday through Wednesday keep shorter hours of 11 AM to 3 PM. One smart tip from the regulars: arrive earlier rather than later, since popular meats can sell out toward the end of the day.
A few guests showed up near closing only to find several items gone, so timing really pays off here.
With most plates landing in the $10 to $20 range, it’s an affordable outing. Some travelers happily make a drive of an hour or more each way, so a modest detour is nothing for barbecue this beloved.
Check out their website at poolesbbq.com for the latest details.
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