Daniel B.
Yelp
Das BBQ has outstanding BBQ. I give them 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
The restaurant opened December 30, 2016 on the west side of Atlanta, near the intersection of Collier Rd and Defoors Ferry/Defoor Ave. Owner Stephen Franklin and his family have decades of Texas and Georgia BBQ experience. The name "Das" is a nod to the German and Czech settlers who first brought smoked meats to Texas. I first visited this restaurant at a Yelp event in March 2018. It was there that I met Stephen, learned the history of his restaurant, got a full tour, and sampled a large portion of the menu. As someone who lives nearby and loves good BBQ, I'm happy this place has opened and have since returned as a regular customer, bringing my fiancee in tow.
If you're familiar with this neighborhood of Atlanta, you know parking can get tight during peak times. Das has its own lot with about 15 spaces. Free street parking is available too.
This is a casual restaurant with a laid back and relaxed vibe. The smoker room doors are open and you can walk right up and take a close look at Das' two smokers, Lefty and Pancho, as well as the roaster. It smells great. The freestanding building used to be an old Pizza Hut. They've made a lot of renovations and it looks nice, definitely updated for the times. They've got a spacious, covered patio out front with TVs and fans. The inside has an open kitchen, order/prep counter, beers on tap, more TVs, and communal bench-style seating. It's not a huge space, but not tiny either. You can play cornhole in the parking lot.
When I last visited, meats on the menu included beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and sausage (spicy and mild). You could buy meats alone, plates served with 2 sides ($14 for a 1-meat plate to $26 for a 4-meat plate), and sandwiches ($10-11 each). True vegetarian sides ($4) included mac and cheese, elote creamed corn, collard greens, vinegar-style coleslaw, and potato salad. Sides with meat ($5) included Brunswick stew and brisket bark pinto beans. Desserts ($3-5) included classics like brownies, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. Finally, some specials they had were 1/2 smoked chicken with 2 sides for $14 and smoked wings, 6 for $8 or 12 for $15.
Here's what I've tried and how I'd rank everything:
Meats:
1. Beef brisket
2. Pulled pork
3. Ribs
4. Sausage (spicy)
5. Smoked chicken
To me, Das' beef brisket and pulled pork are a close 1 and 2. Both are magnificent. Das' brisket is among the best I've had anywhere. I've ended up with fatty cuts the times I've eaten it and the meat is just delicious. The charred outer crust is wonderful and the meat has been perfectly moist.
Pulled pork can really vary from BBQ joint to BBQ joint. I've been really impressed with Das' pork. They pull their pork into relatively thinner strands (some BBQ joints might consider it "chopped" instead of pulled). Both the pork's flavor and texture (nice and tender with an appetizing chew) are excellent and addictive.
The ribs are very good. While they're not the best I've had (Fox Bros. still holds that crown to me), I still think they're worth ordering. The ribs are meaty and fall-off-the-bone. They are flavorful enough on their own to not need sauce.
The sausage has been hit or miss. The first time I had it, it didn't seem very flavorful. The second time I had it, it was terrific; nicely seasoned, full of flavor, and mildly spicy. Both times, the sausages had a fantastic snap and a mouthwatering consistency.
The smoked chicken is very good too. I don't normally order smoked chicken at BBQ restaurants, but, like the ribs, Das' smoked chicken is worth ordering. It's juicy, tasty, and tender with a delightful smoky flavor.
Das provides two house BBQ sauces: yellow peach and espresso-powered. I like them both. Their consistency is not too thick and not too runny; it's a nice in-between. The peach sauce is made with pureed peaches while the espresso sauce is tomato-based. Both are sweet.
Sides:
1. Collard greens
2. Elote creamed corn
3. Mac and cheese
4. Brunswick stew
5. Coleslaw
Like the brisket and pork, Das' collard greens and elote creamed corn are a strong 1-2 for me. On any given night, one can top the other. Ultimately, I have to hand it to the greens. They are phenomenal! I love collards and Das' are perhaps the best I've had. Their greens are flavorful enough to not require any pepper vinegar sauce. I suspect they use their "secret" cane syrup ingredient in their greens, but who knows?
The elote creamed corn is a creamed corn version of Mexican street corn. It's got more flavor and kick to it than regular creamed corn. It may not look appetizing, but it's good. As for the other sides, the mac and cheese is OK while the Brunswick stew and coleslaw are fine, though not my favorites. The mac and cheese is par for the course. The stew (also hit or miss) and slaw could use more flavor. White bread, pickles, and onions are on the house.
Service is quick and efficient and Stephen is really friendly.