by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
I have strong opinions about BBQ. I never realized it until I left for Clemson and South Carolinians would emphatically insist that their mustard based BBQ was the best in the country. Perhaps if their insistence wasn’t so unfettered that it was the BEST in the WHOLE country or maybe if I hadn’t been so young and homesick, but alas, my opinions on BBQ began to shape with equal conviction. I recently ate at, newly opened, King BBQ in Avalon. Everyone in my family has strong BBQ feelings, so I took them all. Everything was fantastic, except the parking, that’s a real poo show. I split a brisket meat plate with one child. The brisket was Texas style with a nice smoke ring and my serving had both fatty and lean pieces. I ordered house made pickled beets and mac and cheese as sides and both were delicious. The mac and cheese was not kid approved but that was because it actually had flavor so it was definitely mom approved, more for me. My husband ordered pulled pork and it had a tasty bark and was perfectly moist. It should come as no surprise that the sauces were spot on, given that the chef/operator also owns Southern Links BBQ, a retail line of BBQ sauces and rubs. 
The sauce on the table was a Texas style sauce, but they offer an equally delicious spicier version. My husband feels the same way about Alabama BBQ as I do about Carolina and actually admitted how great the Alabama white sauce was. AND, there was a Carolina style BBQ sauce so good that I now understand why people like Carolina BBQ. It was well balanced and tangy and really brought out the flavors of the pork. 
If you are taking your kids, the kid’s meal options are a pulled pork sandwich or hand breaded corn dogs. My little person had corn dogs with juice and applesauce. It comes with two, so I ate one, for research. No surprise, it was tasty. King BBQ also offers a variety of pies and desserts with many gluten free options as well as a George Dickel and Cheerwine slushy that is basically the perfect pairing to your meal. I definitely suggest you give it a try and don’t park in the Whole Foods parking lot…seriously.
If you’ve been to Food Truck Thursday at Brook Run Park, you may have stood in line at Cousins Maine Lobster‘s food truck. You can stop stalking them on Facebook now (if you want) because they have just opened a brick and mortar location in Lenox Mall. I attended the opening, which was mostly passed menu options, so I can’t speak for how the service is, but everything tasted just as good as when it came off the truck. The bisques are good, but the lobster rolls are the real stars of the show. I prefer a warm, buttery Connecticut lobster roll, but there is no doubt that the Maine lobster roll, served cold with a touch of lemony mayonnaise is done well. They offer other items as well, like lobster tater tots and lobster grilled cheese, which were tasty but I also kind of feel is a waste of perfectly good lobster. Next time you have a hankering for a lobster roll, now you can just head over to Buckhead.
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King BBQ
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Cousins Maine Lobster |
