Righteous ‘Que

Wow. Soul saver sandwich was a beast of a sandwich but very good. Pork, chicken, brisket and bacon on toasted and seasoned Texas toast. My soul wasn’t saved but my appetite was filled. Great taste. Great sauce. Nice folks. Can’t wait to come back.

I recently noticed this little BBQ place in a shopping center close to my house, and I was very excited to try it, especially after reading some of the good reviews online. I attempted to grab dinner to go on a Tuesday night around 7, but was disappointed to find out that they were out of both ribs and chicken, which were two of the things I was most excited to try. I decided to cut my losses and try again the following evening, so I could actually order the meal I wanted. I showed up Wednesday evening at 6 to find out that there was a 30 minute wait for Mac and cheese, which was a little bit frustrating because it’s kind of ridiculous to be out of something like that right in the middle of your dinner rush. Still, I decided to run an errand and come back because I didn’t want to give up on eating here again. Before I left the store, I confirmed with both the manager and one of the employees that they had chicken and ribs (the ribs turned out to be spare ribs, which I’m not a fan of) and said I would be back. When I returned, I ordered a brisket plate for my boyfriend and a chicken plate for myself. To my dismay, the guy at the counter told me they had run out of chicken earlier that day. I don’t know where the miscommunication happened, but it was very unprofessional and I wouldn’t have waited around for 30 minutes if I’d known I’d end up ordering a meal (the brisket plate) that I didn’t really want. Neither the employee nor the manager were apologetic about the mix up, and it didn’t seem like this sort of thing was out of the ordinary.
As far as the food goes, it’s tasty but it is overpriced for the amount of food you get. The brisket «plate» is really only enough meat for one sandwich and their baked beans taste like Bush’s Grilling Beans (which are delicious, but significantly cheaper from the Publix next door). I did enjoy the mac and cheese, and the brisket was tender and went well with the 2 sauces they offer, but the food just wasn’t worth everything I went through to get it. All in all, this is a decent place to eat if you don’t have your heart set on a specific item because they will most likely be out of it.

Pretty good. A little overpriced for the salad w/​pulled pork ($ 11) and a pork sandwich $ 20+. Williamson’s Bros has 2x the meat and is a MUCH better salad. Step it up guys — more meat, more cheese! I commend their community efforts and such but you need to beat the best in Marietta to get my vote. BBQ1 which I haven’t had yet is next up.

My husband and I enjoy Righteous ‘Que so much that we had them cater our wedding. The catering was a big hit with our guests. Beyond the food, the service was excellent! Patrick was patient, understanding and helpful despite our many changes during the wedding planning process. They delivered right on time and the wedding lunch went off without a hitch! I wish we had more occasions to order more Righteous ‘Que!

The food hear is beyond great. The people are really nice and friendly. Portions sizes are just right.

When you pay these prices for BBQ it’s a little offensive to watch the guy mass out every milligram of chicken p onch by pinch to make sure you don’t get a smidge too much. Potato salad was really good though.

I tried Righteous Que today in my quest to find the best Brunswick stew in EC. This is it. I’ve tried the stew at all the other places and this is far and away the best. In fact, it makes my top three for Brunswick stew, which is saying something, until today, it was only a top two. I am insanely picky about my stew and there’s hits almost ever thing on my list. The one thing they missed is it’s a bit chunkier than I usually like, but the taste is fantastic enough that I’m able to overlook that small misstep.
I had the pork plate the stew and greens. The greens were good, but the pork… wowza. I hate when you go to bbq places and you don’t get any bark, which is how most places serve it. (WHY??? It’s SO good!!!) Anyways, I was pleasantly surprised to find bark in with the meat and the flavor of the rub was so well complemented by their sauce. This is my new go to place!

I have been there a few times without disappointment
I haven’t tried desserts but the chicken and ribs never disappoint as well as the sides.

Overall, pretty good. It’s more for take out and catering as there weren’t too many seats available. My husband and I were looking forward to trying their ribs and to our dismay they were all out! We opted for their pulled pork with sides of mac & cheese, collard greens, green beans, and coleslaw. We were not disappointed! The sauces on the tables were a nice compliment to the meat. The pork was slightly dry but didn’t mind too much because it still was flavorful.
We really enjoyed our meal. We’re not in the area as often, but I know we’ll make the trip back just to try the ribs.

I was in line and ordered a pork plate w/​Mac n cheese and collard greens. They tell me that they’re out of Mac n cheese but somehow the guy behind me in line gets Mac n cheese???
I opened my pork «plate» only to find enough for one sandwich AND they forgot to give me any cornbread.
I actually felt bad for the guy behind me because after I ordered banana pudding they told him that they were all out…
Fresh cooked that day is one thing, but not being able to feed your patrons is, in my opinion, not good business.

My local, go-​to BBQ place, and it’s a good one.
I usually get the brisket combo with two sides. The meat is flavorful and juicy, well seasoned. It hits the craving when you’re thinking «I want some good BBQ!» You have the option of two sauces. I prefer the red over the white. The red has more of a tomato-​tang to it. But honestly, you don’t –need– either one because the meat can stand on its own. There are several typical side options, but I always get the potato salad (great), and the green beans (well, they’re good for being green beans). You get this combo for $ 13, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a drink. It’s a hair bit pricey, but the portions are quite generous. You can usually get two meals out of it. I’ve also had their banana pudding ($ 3), and it solid enough. It’s sweet and rich, without going overboard.
Apparently there are some gripes about the consistency. I’ve been there 3 – 4 times in this calendar year already, and the food has been of the same standard each visit. I’m not saying it’s mindblowingly amazing, but it’s solid enough to keep me going back.
Service is prompt, the employees are kind, and the whole ordering and checkout process is pretty streamlined. I avoid the lunch rush, but even during down times, there’s always a handful of people in there enjoying some good food.
The inside décor is… let’s go with eclectic. It’s small and cozy, but clean and well lit with natural lighting. It’s located in a strip mall with Publix. Ample parking available.
Overall, if you’re in the mood for some good ‘ol barbeque, Righteous Que is gonna hit the spot. Bonus for me is that I barely have to go 5 minutes to get some.

I’m a regular here, so had to update my review based on my most recent experiences. It’s typically a hit, but there have been a few misses which prompted me to remove a star.
I always order the beef brisket plate. Recently, the selection has been extremely dry and sparse. The flavor is still there, but tough to eat. It doesn’t fall apart as easily as it did and I’m finding I have to add more sauce to compensate. Also, not all the sides have been available. I’ve had to re-​think what I want, but it’s never what I craved. Even items like the baked sweet potato, which I’d think is a staple…
All and all it’s still a solid place, but more recently has been a little inconsistent. Not sure if due to staffing or something, but hopefully it picks back up. I’d recommend requesting a «fattier» cut of meat or even calling ahead before you make the drive to make sure the food is available.

The brisket is significantly greater than the pork. I have always had a good bark/​fat ratio along with the meat.
The green beans are great, while the collards are just good.
The oatmeal cream pie sandwiches are great when big and flat but not otherwise. Consistency is the biggest challenge this place has. They would also benefit from the free advertising that an on-​site smoker provides.

Edited:
The BBQ was better than average. The mac and cheese was good, but it was extra greasy (see my pic). The white sauce was really good. I tried one of the other sauces too and it was great.
My original review included a complaint about the canned soda price. I was notified that they give free refills on their drinks for the high price of a can. Who knew?
I’m going to leave my 3 stars because I still think it’s about average, or slightly better than average. I wish I could give them a 3.5, but thats not an option for Unilocal.
I was happy to see the owner contact me about my first review. That shows me he/​she cares about their business and is involved in its sucess.
Give them a try and tell me what you think. Maybe you’ll like them more.

Yeeple. You’ve steered me wrong :(
Tried the chicken plate with Mac and a sweet potato. Sweet potato was the best thing of the day. Chicken was the worst. Moist but under flavored. They use a dry run but nothing permeated the meat.
Also had a pound of brisket which had good bark (essential) but not enough fat to keep it tender (equally essential!)
Not to mention that sitting there eating listening to acapella pop made me feel like I was eating in the Glee campus cafeteria. Not in a good way.
As for now looks like I’ll still be heading to the city for my Q fix

After maybe a couple dozen trips back, the guy who has spent a lifetime in pursuit of the perfect barbecue, has decided that the right thing to do is to give Righteous Barbecue its fiftth star.
Why?
Not because eveerythig they have there is world class, but because what they have there is the best brisket to be found north of Lockhart, Texas. Order it «full flavor» and grab one of their too few tables and enjoy brisket as it was meant to be… moist, nice bark and a rich, but not overwhelming smoke flavor
Yes, they have other things on their menu (see original rveiew), but why waste time with their second, third and fourth best offerings when you can enjoy their signature dish… that which folks are willing to stand in line for… and tell their friends about.
My only hang-​up about Righteous ‘Que is that they still serve up their food in those silly little take home styrofoam boxes — and as good as their brisket is, I gotta believe it’d taste even better over a thin slice of white bread on a plate.
One other thing, the owners, live their restaurant’s name and donate a percentage of their profits to a number of charities of all sorts. That alone wouldn’t make me drive across town to eat there, but it’s good that they do.

Not sure about the harsh reviews. Been here twice and had a great experience both times!
I get the posts about styrofoam take away even if dining in. Mother Earth sheds a tear for sure! Honestly though if I had to guess, it’s a catering shop with a store front.
Either way… The BBQ is awesome! Moist, savory! Sauce is the perfect blend of spice and sweet!
Staff is amazing! Super friendly! Over the top!

I’m glad there’s a solid bbq joint in Marietta. I’m a brisket lover and their brisket sandwich with some Mac and cheese is perfecto. I always get the fatty brisket because yolo (sorry couldn’t help it). Be prepared for some serious food coma afterwards.

Once again I need a 2.5 stars option, as my exact take would be, «OK, but I’ve had better.» But I do plan to give it another go, and any real BBQ fan knows finding what any joint is best at is a process.
Ours was a takeout order of a pound of pulled pork ($ 12.95), a half-​slab of spare ribs ($ 12.25), pint of slaw ($ 4.95), and a pint of mac chez ($ 6.50). Augment that with a pack of buns and a can of baked beans from the next door Publix (and a cold lager, or four) and you could feed four for around $ 40. Unfortunately the canned baked beans may have been my fave side.
Slaw is the Robin to BBQ’s Batman, the junior partner absolutely, but they must work together seamlessly. The Righteous slaw was just too dry and lacking any real flavor on its own — even the celery seed seemed rare. And this is not a plea for a chopped or a vinegar slaw, just a slaw with some heft and backbone will do.
Meanwhile, the premium price of the mac chez raised expectations and dashed them. Just tremendously overpriced. This is a fine church potluck mac chez, crunchy breadcrumbs on top, good amount of chez among the elbows — and Aunt Someone’s idea to toss in a couple envelopes of Italian dressing mix. And with that comes the secret decoder.
Alabama white sauce.
Righteous is the only OTP BBQ outpost I know of which concocts the North Alabama mayo and vinegar based sauce that some compare to warm ranch dressing. This particular take also seemed big on garlic and at once everything made sense. The default BBQ sauces are big on sugar and are in truth almost glazes, hit with a touch of white sauce they balance out. Some. I tried mixing a little white sauce with the slaw, but that tart acid really didn’t help things much.
Too bad as the pork preps had good, not great, flavor. The ribs had a rich, dry rub and a little pleasant smoky chew, which perked up with a small application of the glaze. And as full spare ribs, the tips were intact which meant for more meat, even if you have to work harder around the cartilage nibs to get it.
The pulled pork was pulled — which is important as chopped is an option at Righteous, which might not sound like a big deal, but is – to chopped fanatics. To many raised on classic Lexington cue, a chopped sammich is an absolute requirement for any BBQ joint, so bonus points for Righteous for checking this esoteric box.
However, despite a nice, moist, lean, pick of a pound, with plenty of smoky bark, I just did not get a ton of flavor from the meat. What flavor I did get seemed to yearn for a classic vinegar-​red pepper Eastern NC saww-​siss, and the sweet glaze and white sauce just couldn’t respond to that call.
Bottomline, do give Righteous a go when your cue comes calling — I plan to double back to try the brisket, chicken (THE white sauce pairing) and the greens — just be aware of the left turns ahead.

Sometimes, a five-​star experience doesn’t need a hip and eccentric location, a rockstar server, and an entrée that is completely out of this world. Ultimately, when the day is over, all people like me really want comfort, efficiency, and delicious food that doesn’t break my wallet. All a business has to really do is not do anything wrong, and excellence usually comes naturally.
Righteous ‘Que is conveniently located off of Roswell Rd., within a big shopping center anchored by a Publix. Admittedly, they’re a little easy to miss, since their sign pretty much says «BBQ» with their logo as kind of an afterthought, but frankly they do well in spite of this critique. Needless to say, there’s lots of parking, and they’re very easy to get to.
The establishment is not large, probably can seat maybe like 18 – 20 people tops inside, but I get the impression that they do quite a good bit of business as take out. It’s clean and cozy, and brightly lit.
As for the food, I just had a pork sandwich and a side of collards. They’re generous with the pork which is always a plus in my book. The pork is tender, but not dry, and tasted delicious with or without any sauce, which kind of has a vinegary flavor at first, but definitely leans towards sweet, overall. The sandwich did not last, which attests for its outright quality.
Not to be forgotten, either I got the greens at the bottom of the tray, or this particular batch was extra stewy, but I loved them. Tangy, a little bit hearty, and served piping hot and with lots of flavor.
It’s also worth mentioning that everyone that worked there was super nice and helpful. They’re quick to give good suggestions, like their oatmeal crème cookie dessert, and smart enough to give me a sample of brisket to make me realize that I should probably come back for that in the future.
With a drink, you’re looking at an easy sandwich and side meal for under $ 10. When I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to cook, this an extremely dangerous combination for me, although fortuitous for them.
Overall, Righteous ‘Que gets five stars from me. Convenient location, excellent product, friendly staff, and pretty fairly priced for convenience. They did absolutely nothing wrong, and I most certainly can see myself coming back here in the future, probably for their Soul Saver sandwich (all the meats!).