[UPDATE: Sorry in advance for the 1-month hiatus! Here's to hoping I'll have more time to blog soon!]
It's probably no surprise by now, but you all know that I've been trying my best to make my way around to some of Atlanta's best BBQ spots. And while I think I've done pretty well in terms of hitting the major players that many Atlantans are familiar with such as Heirloom Market BBQ, Fox Bros BBQ, Bone Lick BBQ, Smokebelly BBQ and Community Q BBQ to name a few, I know that I've barely scratched the surface of all the incredible BBQ spots not only in Atlanta and the surrounding metro areas, but in the state of Georgia as well. Not to worry though, I'm hoping that'll change some time in the near future. So on my quest to discovering new BBQ joints, I accidentally stumbled upon Praise the Lard BBQ one afternoon after completing a few hours of community service in the Buford area. Just as I was headed towards the highway on my way home, I drove past an aptly named BBQ restaurant that just so happened to be located right next door to a church. Since the name of the restaurant and the location immediately caught my interest along with my grumbling stomach and the thought of being stuck in rush hour traffic, I made a quick yet possibly illegal u-turn as soon as I could to grab an early dinner before making the trek home. I have to admit though, that's probably not the first time I've broken a few traffic laws for the sake of food. I'd never heard of PTL prior to this visit, so I wasn't sure of what to expect. All I could hope for was that their BBQ be on par with some of Atlanta's greats! Seeing that one of my favorite Buford BBQ spots, Bastie Boys BBQ, had closed a while back, I certainly had some high expectations and may have said a little prayer or two if you know what I mean ;).
Let's get started:
☮Exterior
☮Interior
☮Order Counter
☮Brisket Sandwich and Collard Greens
☮SERVICE (2/5): In regards to service, there's not much at PTL since it's mainly a self-service establishment where you place your order at the counter, take a number/placard and wait for your meal to be brought to your table by a "food runner." You help yourself to condiments, beverages, utensils and whatever else you may need by the drink station where everything is already neatly laid out. The reason why I rated their service 2 out of 5 stars is because the lady taking my order was just very rude and had a nasty attitude towards me. I was standing at the counter for a good 10 minutes or so after she had already acknowledged and made eye contact with me. She never once mentioned "I'll be with you in a moment" or even made the slightest inkling that she'd wait on me whenever she had a free second. Rather, she ignored me several times and when she finally did come back around to take my order, she was just very unpleasant and short, saying something along the lines of "Are you ready to order yet?" in a rather demeaning tone. When it comes to dining out or just about any scenario in general, I'm a very patient and understanding person. It would've been a completely different story if she had at least taken half a second to say that she'd be with me when she acknowledged me rather than just stare at me and have me standing there like a dodo bird. In contrast, the food runner offered great service. He brought out my order to me and as he was making his rounds, made sure to check up on me several times to see how I was enjoying everything, all with a smile on his face. Had it not been for him, I'd definitely say my dining experience here would've been ruined.
☮DECOR (4/5): Not only is their location brilliant in that they're right next door to a church, but the inside is rather spacious and there's plenty of parking available. Upon entering, you'll notice a fun sign that lights up (I think?) "Praise the Lard" along with what looks like a vintage shoe shine stool and rustic signs adorning the wall. In the center of the restaurant is the order counter complete with playful decals depicting a pig and chicken's BBQ parts and random paraphernalia. To the left of the entrance is the main dining area, which is sectioned off, allowing for both large and small tables. There's plenty of seating throughout the restaurant, a couple of TVs here and there, vintage photographs adorning the walls and dainty light fixtures dangling from the ceilings. It's a nice mix of fun and antique in one.
Overall, while I very much enjoyed my meal at Praise the Lard, I hope that my next experience, especially in regards to ordering, will be much better. Despite initially being disappointed, the food and service of the "food runner" certainly helped make up for what would have been a bad first time here. I frequent the Mall of Georgia area often and do a lot of community service in this area, so I'll definitely be back to try their other menu offerings much sooner than later. If you're in the area and don't like to make the trek to Atlanta (I wouldn't blame ya either!) for BBQ, then I'd highly recommend checking out PTL-just don't forget to say a little prayer before you gobble down!
Have a fantastic day,
-Sandy
FTC: I was not paid or compensated for this review. All reviews and opinions expressed are my own.
If you'd like to invite Bella Vivere to your restaurant's media events, tastings or parties, feel free to shoot me an email at bellavivere {at} gmail {dot} com-Thanks!
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