Harold's Barbecue

My husband and I both ordered the pork plate ($10 each and they only take cash) which came with chopped or sliced pork, coleslaw (could trade for fries), brunswick stew, and cornbread. Brunswick stew was good. HOWEVER, the pork had obviously been baked. Completely white, no pink, and no smokey flavor. Sauce is basically ketchup cut with vinegar and LOTS of white sugar. Cornbread was very dry. If they served this crap in Alabama, they'd be kicked out of the state. Ain't no way I'm eatin' here again! more

Stopped by for the first time in several years and was very disappointed. This place used to rock and now it was a total letdown. Ordered the pork plate. The pork showed up quick but was dry and had zero smoke flavor or color. It was white with not even a touch of pink smoke color. The cornbread was bone dry as well. My wife ordered the pork ribs and while they were not dryed out like the sliced pork they had no smoke flavor either. They at least were nice enough not to charge us but it's sad to see such a great place fade away. more

best bbw in atlanta- no thrills just done right everytime Pros: Love it more

My Grandfather patronized Harold's over sixty years ago, and for decades, it's been a family tradision. \r I would eat there at least twice a month, but my last time eating there will probably be my last.\r I took a friend, we arrived early so no one was in the restaurant. Our waitress was rude and argued with me with I complained of grizzle in my sandwich the previous time I ate there. \r Portions are smaller, the pork was lame, at best, chips are no longer served with the plate and the prices have increased. \r Futhermore, the place is just dirty, (tables,walls, etc), which makes you question eating there. No soap or paper towels in the restroom, the parking lot is impossible, espesically when they have delieveries, the neighborhood is scary, at best, and the waitress was such a b it ch, even her co-workers were appologizing to me. \r Sadly, Obviously, someone has passed away and the family member who inherited the place, is simply not doing the a good job.\r \r Very sad indeed. Pros: Brunswick Stew Cons: Parking, Portions, Quality, Environment more

We drove a good distance arriving shortly after lunch. We ordered their ""SPECIALTY"" Pork Ribs only to find out they were completely out! I guess you might say that says a lot about their ribs and/or you need to do a better job of having more of your ""specialty product AVAILABLE"". Anyway we ended up going with what we thought would be the next best thing: Chopped Pork Plate & Sliced Beef Plate. Both the Pork & Beef were extremely dry and beef slices were more like beef jerky. Furthermore, the meats were completely lacking in any type of smoked/great bbq flavor. When we advised the waitress, her response was ""they must have over microwaved it ?"" GREAT, just what we need to hear at a BBQ restaurant! I then told the Manager about my beef his response was ""we specialize in pork"", wow that would have been nice to know before I ordered it, or better yet, why even have it on the menu? His response was followed up with ""well we can't please everybody."" \r Having been to great BBQ restaurants all over our great country, this place was a joke. They may have been great at one time, but we could not figure out how? In short, don't believe the hype. It was so bad, I had to take time out of my busy day to save another victim. What a joke! Truly Disappointed Pros: Decent Cornbread & Brunswick Stew Cons: Everything else, oh including the BBQ. more

My husband loves BBQ and when Harolds' was recommended to him, he jumped on it. The place is not much to look, you almost want to keep driving past it, but the food is excellent! Everytime my husband goes to Harolds', he get at least 2 full slabs of ribs and a quart of brunswick stew. The cracklin cornbread is also something to write home about. If you haven't tried Harolds' yet, you don't know what you are missing. Pros: Great BBQ Cons: Not much parking and it is in an old rundown area of Atlanta more

THE WORST barbeque we have ever had! We got combo plates. The ribs were ok - not much meat and kinda dry. My sliced pork was tough,dry and tasteless.I asked for a mix of outside and inside. I was given all inside so they brought me a small plate with outside ten minutes later which was charred fat covered shoe leather- nasty! My friend got the chopped pork and beef. Also tasteless. The bruswick stew was good and the cornbread was GREAT. The place was very dirty and rundown. I am not sure how they pass their health inspection. The place was PACKED. I don't get it?? more

I'm eating the brunswick stew while I'm writing. I've never had brunswick stew before. I have to admit the stew was good, nice flavor, but I didn't try this place for the stew or to spend $15 to try brunswick stew. Well silly me ordered the rIb plate, all I can say is NOT!! I'm upset because I tried the place based on reviews and a recommendation. The ribs are tasteless, they taste like they were boiled or cooked in the oven. The barbecue sauce has a nice taste. I guess I should have just ordered a barbecue sauce plate. This place has been around 47 year?? My question is why, how? It's not the decor, ambiance, service or the barbecue! I guess mediocre barbecue is the norm here. My ribs definitely were mediocre. I'm originally from Los Angeles, I've had better barbecue in LA-LA land than I have had in the Georgia so far. Yall who say this place is delicous, I recommend you venture out more. Well I'll have to continue my quest for decent barbecue. Can I get a Sticky FIngers Barbecue Restaurant here? Pros: The brunswick stew was delicious Cons: the look of the place, the barbecue more

First time vist, after memorial day no ribs was available so settle for the all u can eat pork. She gave me a plate of cheap white bread and potato chips along wit brunswick stew ,in which the stew could have been the best I ever had if wasn't cold. And also the pork, wow the slices was nasty,dry,no flavor at all. Was looking for the bbq sauce, and found some homemade ketup mix with some tabasco , freaking nasty. The hype over the cornbread, whew ooo, could have been great to if only it was serve to me hot instead of cold, and not over cook. Ask for togo box because i didn't eat my first plate paid left and gave the box to the first available homeless guy on the street. By the way, the tea tasted like it was mix with artifical sugar and the cole slaw was nasty too... Pros: Will cause you to have the shakes at night ,think bout this nasty bbq joint!!! Cons: food, food, food, is freaking nasty. They don't know how to serve u hot food to the table more

I was excited to visit Harold's after seeing the restaurant being featured on a TV show off the Food Network. I was very disappointed when it came to the food. I had never tasted Brunwick Stew and was not impressed, and the BBQ POrk was not impressive at all either. There was very little flavor. However, the cracklin cornbread was some of the 2nd best I have ever tasted (1st being my mother and and my aounts). II would only return if I were in the neighborrhood, and that would only be for the cornbread. I drove all the way from Woodstock 30-40 minutes just to eat at this place. Pros: Awesome crackling cornbread Cons: food was very bland more

Harold's is just a standard in the Atlanta area, and in fact, in Georgia. Many workers at the now defunct Chevrolet plant, spent many lunch hours here. Just basic Georgia Barbeque, white bread, and no frills. We usually just add Tobasco sauce. Many like the Brunswick Stew and Cracklin Cornbread. Just give us the basic chopped que, and we are happy campers! Good basic waitress service, and sweet tea for the Southern purist's. Pros: Good Chopped Que Sandwiche's! Fast Service! Cons: Run-Down Area! That's O.K.! It's A BBO-Joint! more

The neighborhood was run down, but no worry. The building is what is to be expected for a bar b q joint. Our waitress was experenced and knew her business, and kept our glasses filled. The chopped pork was just meat, no flavor, no smoky taste, even though the meat was clearly cooked on the pit. The sauce was less than hoped for. Overall, we were dissapointed. Pros: service Cons: tasteless "smoked" pork, average sauce more

The pork was oustanding along with some of the best stew I have ever had. The meat was most , flavorful, and the sauces were outstanding. They can keep their cornbread, and the slaw need to be served cold, not room temp. Overall, well worth the visit, I will return often. Pros: Barbecue, stew, price Cons: cornbread, slaw not cold more

Harold's Barbeque is the classic example of fine southern barbeque. The portions are huge, the staff is quick and friendly, and you usually need a to-go box! One of my favorite sides is the crackling cornbread. Just like my Great Grandma used to make! This restaurant is also fine for kids, or large groups. A must-try! Pros: Huge Portions, Fast, Friendly Staff, Great Value Cons: Limited Parking, Crowded, Only Location more

Oh give me a break. Mabey fifty years ago, but those days are gone. The building is an indication of things to come. The meat was dry and had no flavor. The sauces tasted like ketchup and hot sauce, the cole slaw was grocery store deli and the Brunswick Stew... well never mind. Flava Real Pit Bar B Q in Ellenwood is the real deal. Don't see reviews for southside restaurants often, but this ones worth a try. Cons: Food, Location, Food more

If you want real barbecue in this town, this is the place. Never mind the fact that half the staff is packing heat, they have to in that neighborhhod. The ribs are great, the sandwiches divine, the brunswick stew exquisite and the crackling cornbread the best thing this side of heaven. Lewis Grizzard swore by Harold's and that's good enough for me. Pros: Cracklin' cornbread, brunswick stew, pork sandwich Cons: location, location, location (again) more

Harold's is OK but drive a couple of miles further through Jonesboro (down Main Street) to Dean's. It's a hole-in-the-wall that's been there forever. Don't expect a great sit-down resaraunt- just friendly faces and great barbque. Buy a couple of sandwiches or enough to serve the whole family. Oh, and a word to the wise, they only serve pork (""If you want chicken, beef or ribs- go to Sonny's"" says one of their handmade signs). more

If you like ketchup instead of barbecue sauce, Harold's is what you're looking for. more

I go there with other salesman. no clients unless they ask. I will go with them. Dam clean up a little bit. 50 years and the same old table clothes. Just kidding but they are hard on a white shirt if you know what aI mean. My uncle Ben Brown the boxer. When there every day for tea. Its was his meeting place. Im 47 and I have been eating there 45 years. Its great food and great people. Pros: Crowed means somethin Cons: wear a dark shirt more

Rough neighborhood, rough staff, overhyped, nasty, craklin bread full of gristle and fat back.eat at your own risk! more