Quality food and southern hospitality; the key for Big Shanty Smokehouse

By: J.L. Floyd


Kennesaw --- Big Shanty Smokehouse has put itself in a good position amidst a struggling economy. Owner and operator Chic Dillard opened this little barbecue restaurant over a year ago and has steadily gained a reputation for excellent food and hospitable service.

When Dillard first saw the little ‘shanty’, he knew it was ideal for a barbecue place.

“I passed it one day after a golf game and thought that it would be a perfect location for a barbecue place. The small, cozy little atmosphere fit perfectly with my concept,” said Dillard.

Dillard was an Executive Chef and restaurant manager in the 1980s and 90s. He has been grilling for over 30 years and his culinary expertise can be tasted in every bite. Dillard prides himself in slow-smoking his meat using hickory wood chips. Dillard uses his homemade sauces and dry rubs to flavor the meats.

Dillard’s wife and co-owner Shannon Dillard makes every side item using fresh, quality ingredients, as well as traditional family recipes. Green beans, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and potato salad are just a few of the homemade sides that are offered.

Shannon also makes every dessert from scratch. Using quality ingredients and homemade recipes are the staples for this smokehouse. C. Dillard thinks that this is the key to surviving in this economy.

“Our secret is our quality products, consistency, and southern hospitality. We are a small place…I see a lot of the same customers sometimes three times a week…but I also see a new customer walk in every day,” said C. Dillard.

Big Shanty Smokehouse has grown so big that urbanspoon.com has named it ‘The best BBQ in the Atlanta Metro-Area’. C. Dillard has relied strictly on word of mouth advertising. He cannot afford commercials or published ads to publicize his restaurant.

Blog sites like urbanspoon.com and bbqgeek.com have really helped spread the word about this delicious barbecue joint. The Dillards have enjoyed a steady stream of customers even in this economic downturn.



C. Dillard acknowledges that he is lucky, but is optimistic for the future.

“I definitely picked a bad time to open a restaurant…but I’ve been fortunate to do as good as I am doing. I just hope people continue to give my barbecue a chance, because it really is the best quality and best tasting food around,” said Chic Dillard.

Apparently, people are recognizing the immense care and effort that is put into cooking every morsel. Jeffery Burdette is a regular customer and he really enjoys his weekly lunch at Big Shanty.

“You can’t find a better meal in town for seven dollars. The tastes of Big Shanty Smokehouse remind me of my grandfather’s cooking back home,” said Burdette.

Burdette is willing to pay a little extra to have Big Shanty Smokehouse. He did say that he is a frequent visitor of dollar menus, but even when money is tight a quality product is worth the expense.

Big Shanty Smokehouse is surviving well in this tough economy. People are seeing a quality product and they are letting their voices be heard. Urbanspoon.com has over 300 fans registered with Big Shanty Smokehouse and over 200 positive blog reviews. The attendance, like the popularity, continues to grow every day.

Big Shanty Smokehouse is located at 3393 Cherokee Street in Kennesaw Georgia. For a complete menu go to http://www.bighshantybbq.com



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My Big Shanty Smokehouse Blog site:

http://bigshantysmokehouse.blogspot.com

Chic Dillard
770-499-7444

Jeffery Burdette
404-***-****

What do I order?

The hardest thing about going to Big Shanty Smokehouse is the decision on what to order. Pulled pork and chopped pork are the classics, but the 'Killer Ribs', beef brisket, and homemade sausage are unbelievable. This is not your regular run-of-the-mill sausage. This sausage is made with only pieces of rib meat, no funny by-products like in the other guys. The sausage is served with onions and peppers and contains just the right amount of spice in every bite.

Next on the menu would be the "Q" chicken which is slow-cooked on the hickory smoker just like every other meat that they serve. It is brushed with some homemade Big Shanty BBQ Sauce (a secret delicious concoction developed by Chic Dillard) and you can get it chopped up (perfect for a sandwich) or you can order it as quarter (1/4) or half bird.

The ribs are hickory smoked and cooked slow so that the meat is falling off the bone. They are so good that just blogging about them makes my mouth water. You can get a quarter slab, half slab, or full slab. If you refer to the picture below you can see just how beautiful these ribs really are. Once you taste them...you will see why Chic Dillard calls them 'Killer Ribs'.

Did I mention Mr. Dillard also smokes fresh salmon? His specialty is the smoked salmon dip, but if you want a whole piece of smoked salmon then you are in for a treat. You can really only find this quality of cooked fish at an upscale seafood restaurant (but who wants to pay those prices?) It has just the right amount of seasoning as not to over power the taste of the fish.

The sides are made with only the freshest ingredients and using traditional Dillard family recipes. The baked beans (my favorite menu item) have 4 different kind of beans in them including pinto and black beans. The green beans, potato salad, and cole slaw make any vegetable hater change their mind very quickly. Every time I taste one of these side items I am taken back home to my mother's kitchen in South Georgia...yest it is really this good.

Big Shanty Smokehouse: The Best BBQ Around

Have you tried Big Shanty Smokehouse yet? If not then it should definitely be your next meal. This local barbecue joint prides itself on slow-cooked meats and homemade sides and desserts. Owner and operator Chic Dillard opened the restaurant about a year ago hoping to spread his delicious creations with the rest of the world. Dillard has been a chef since the early 80s and he has perfected his grilling expertise. Whether it is a slab of the signature 'Killer Ribs' or just a pulled-pork sandwich, anything you order at Big Shanty Smokehouse is excellent. The quality of food combined with the immense care that was put into making it create the best barbecue in the Southeast.