Fat Matt’s Rib Shack Made A Believer Out Of Me

I love ribs!  And, believe it or not, I’ve never felt inclined to eat any from a restaurant.  I’ve always been more of a home-grilled kinda girl. I’m used to somebody’s uncle putting a couple of slabs over slow-burning coals, smoking for hours to get that just right flavor for the family gathering.  Now that I’ve finally experienced Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, I may have changed my tune!

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, 1811 Piedmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30324

Price: $

I’ve lived in Atlanta for 33 years and have driven up and down Piedmont Road a gazillion times. I’d noticed the Fat Matt’s almost every time, usually with a line out the door but, never once did it pique my interest. Today, I decided I’d take a closer look.

THE AMBIANCE

I thought I’d stop by on an off hour to hopefully miss the long line.  Lucky for me, that worked out perfectly! I was able to squeeze into the building, with a couple of other folks, to get out of the drizzle. Once inside, it felt like a down-home neighborhood spot where folks in the know often frequent. Besides the food, it was obvious from the decor that blues music is also a focus here. I visited too early in the afternoon to catch the live music but there are shows nightly.

While waiting, I met a couple of friendly gentlemen who struck up a conversation and engaged with anyone within earshot so, I joined in. They were asking others in line if they’d experienced Fat Matt’s before.  I was the only first-timer, so they commenced to let me know all about what had brought them in on this rainy afternoon.

They both talked about how Fat Matt’s was THE best restaurant in the city to get ribs.  One talked about how much he knew his BBQ. He said he is from a family of men who BBQ, often attending festivals and competitions all over the country, but this was the only rib restaurant he’d patronize in Atlanta. The other guy agreed with his description of the flavor and began singing the praises of the sauce. He was there in line only to buy a couple of bottles of it…no food! When asked what I should have, I was strongly advised to get the ribs with a side of greens and macaroni and cheese.  So, that’s exactly what I ordered!

THE FOOD 

Fat Matt’s keeps it simple. There are only three meat options:  chicken, a chopped pork sandwich or ribs, traditional sides, a couple of desserts and, drinks. I ordered a half slab and sides. In less than 15 minutes, I had my goodies in the car, headed to the house to enjoy.

The ribs came unpretentiously wrapped in plain white butcher paper.  The juices had soaked through a little, revealing the treat inside: a beautiful display of slightly-charred, meaty, sauced ribs and two slices of white bread.

Just like my new line “friends” had so colorfully described, I had nice, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs! I found a corner to taste without sauce, and it was good! But, man, that sauce made them better! It was a tangy blend of tomatoes and spices with tiny chopped pieces of onion and just the right amount of heat. Thankfully, there was a little cup of extra sauce in the bag, so I happily dipped and cleaned two bones right away!

And the sides…ok, now, these greens were good! They were tender and very flavorful, seemingly with a tiny bit of sweetness to them, just how my grandma used to make hers. I normally flavor my greens with smoked turkey but the little bits of pork in these did not discourage me in the least. I was happy with the mac n’ cheese too!  It was very tasty, creamy and satisfying. My only wish was that they had larger portions of the sides.  I had to show real self-control to only eat half of each cup so I could leave enough for later.

THE VERDICT

As I stated before, I generally don’t frequent BBQ joints. There is one place that I normally visit when I need a fix but, I never order the ribs. I’ve always opted for the smoked wings and, of late, the brisket. But, since it takes a little extra effort to visit there, I’ll be headed down to Fat Matt’s to grab a slab in a hurry!

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