Business & Tech

Meaty Delights at Williamson Bros.

Side dishes don't fare as well at the venerable East Marietta barbecue restaurant.

As soon as I stepped out of my car and took a deep breath of the barbecue cooking at , I knew I was going to enjoy whatever meat I decided to order. Little did I know I wouldn't be enjoying the rest of my food.

The rustic, cabin setting of the restaurant is the perfect backdrop for some great barbecue. Soft country music, cushioned wooden booths and tables, and ranch-life decorations come together to provide a country dining atmosphere I'd love to go back and enjoy again and again.

I'm not sure if this would be the best atmosphere for a first date, but it's great for families. I should note that I was there on a Thursday, so I'm not sure what the weekend crowd is like.

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Service: The servers were all friendly. From the moment I entered the restaurant, I felt welcomed. The service was attentive, helpful and timely.

Entrees: 

I am a huge barbecue fan. My family has a cook-off every year where about 20 different people make barbecue sauces. So I had high expectations when I went in to Williamson; they didn't disappoint.

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The baby back ribs were cooked to perfection. It's cliche to say, but it's true: the meat fell off the bone. The sweet, tangy sauce lavishly applied to the tender ribs was original and savory. There was hardly any fat on the bones. The serving size was also rather generous.

All platters come with the choice of two: onion rings, french fries, corn on the cob, tossed salad, brunswick stew, BBQ beans, slaw potato salad, okra, green beans, mac-n-cheese or mashed potatoes.

The sides were small. The green beans were, simply put, disgusting. They tasted like salt, were rubbery and left a bitter aftertaste. I ended up spitting them out.

The mashed potatoes were subtly buttery with the skins mixed in and a thick, dark gravy poured on top. This was the only side I liked.

The meal also came with a mushy piece of garlic toast.

Baby back ribs are $14.99 for a half-slab or $20.99 for a slab.

The chopped chicken platter was another home run for the meat and a swing and a miss for the sides. While the barbecue sauce was sparingly applied, the chicken did not lack flavor. The generous serving of peppered meat was tender and tasty.

The corn on the cob looked and tasted overcooked. The potato salad had nothing original, or really good, about it. If you love the prepackaged potato salad you can get at a convenient store, then you'll love this.

The chicken platter was $9.99 and came with a mushy piece of garlic toast.

Dessert: There is a selection of chocolate, lemon, coconut, banana and key lime pie for $15.99/pie or $3.99/slice. Carrot cake for $18/cake or $3.29/slice as well as pecan pie for $12.99/pie or $2.99/slice are also available.

The banana pie filling was thick and chewy. The cream topping tasted like cardboard.

The chocolate pie was another disappointment. It tasted like it'd been sitting around for too long.

Bottom Line: This is a barbecue joint so expect good barbecue and subpar everything else. The prices were fair, and the atmosphere was a great backdrop for southern barbecue dining. The barbecue was good, so I will probably go back if I am having a serious craving for ribs or BBQ pork.

Hours: Monday through Thursday and Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Locations:

1425 Roswell Rd., Marietta, 30062. 770-971-3201

1600 Marietta Hwy, Canton, 30114. 770-345-9067

7040 Concourse Pkwy, Douglasville, 30135. 770-949-5058

Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q Sauce House

136 Dodd St. Marietta, 30060

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday-Saturday


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