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Old
McDonald's BBQ
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| Welcome to
THBS's first restaurant review. Each issue, we will be recommending one special eatery. Criteria include: great food, friendly service, pleasant atmosphere and close proximity to the lake. Our first review comes straight from Captain Dean, himself, and highlights Old McDonalds BBQ on
Holiday Road. |
A review of
Old McDonalds wouldn’t be complete
without mentioning owner Jimmy Benedict. Jimmy B. is an old used-car guy
who’s |
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For a southern boy like myself, there's
just nothing better than a good old-fashioned barbecue joint, and this one has been around for the past 30 years. I can recall eating at Old McDonalds about that long ago, and it's amazing how little has changed over the years.
Back in my UGA days, a couple of frat brothers and I used to visit Old McDonalds every weekend on our way to the lake.
It was 1982, and we had scraped together some money and bought this old wooden cruiser with
a frozen motor. Our restoration skills being diametrically opposed to our beer drinking skills, that cruiser never
left the sales dock at Holiday Marina. Still, we christened her 'Margaritaville' and spent countless hours aboard, basically attempting to justify the name.
An absolute MUST for any good day on Margaritaville was barbecue from Old McDonalds. And, though time seems to have changed most every other aspect of my lake experience, barbecue from Old McDonalds has remained the same great food and great value it always was.
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been
serving up barbecue and fixins around the south end of the lake for
decades. He
bought the place from Old (Bob) McDonald a while back. He’s a friendly
fellow who, like Annette, does a little of everything and is always
there.
The atmosphere at Old McDonalds hasn’t
evolved much over the years either, but that may be changing. Recently,
Jimmy B. replaced the tattered rust carpet that had been there since the
doors first opened. "We’re redecorating the place," explains
Jimmy B. I notice the cedar counter still has the same barbecue sauce
stains that I may have squirted on there back in college. This particular
makeover must be a work in progress. By nature, barbecue folks don’t do
many things fast, which is just fine with me.
Jimmy B.’s upgrades continue on to the
menu. He informs me that, "We plan to add beer soon. And we recently
brought out some daily specials and more side order selections." I do
plan to try the new stuff, of course. It’s justso hard not to order my old favorites. The Brunswick stew,
for instance, is perfectly spiced and just the |
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These days,
I'm at the lake most every day, so naturally I'm at Old McDonalds at least four times a week. As with most people,
I'm drawn to my favorite |
thing to warm me up on a
cold winter’s day, or even a rainy day in July. But, weather permitting,
I’ll get to the rib special soon.
I don’t know about you, but restaurants
these days seem to adhere to two polar philosophies when it comes to portions. There are
the pretentious-type places that serve the beautiful, if microscopic, haute |
| hangouts for a whole mishmash of reasons, but I think what really brings me back to this place is Annette Byrd.
She's the heart and soul of the place. Annette never fails to greet me with a warm smile, and she always calls me
"Baby." The fact that she calls everyone Baby does nothing to diminish its sincerity. If you walk into Old McDonalds, I can guarantee that Annette will make you feel like the most important person in the world
... at least for a little while.
And, when you do walk in, Annette will be there. As far as I know, the woman works seven days a week. And she does it all
... cooks, cleans, waits tables and takes the money. I swear, she must never sleep.
On the weekends, she's in the kitchen when we have our breakfast. Annette serves up the best breakfast you can imagine. My favorite is her cheese omelet with a side of outside sliced pork, grits and a biscuit. |
cuisine. Then, there
are the factory-types with menus the size of phone-books and entrees that
could feed a small community. Neither is the case at Old McDonalds. Food is not too little or too big.
It's enough to fill me up just right, and still leave a little room for dessert. I almost always end the meal with a chewy, chocolaty
brownie. Pure heaven.
Neither is the case at Old McDonalds. Food is not too little or too big.
It's enough to fill me up just right, and still leave a little room for dessert. I almost always end the meal with a chewy, chocolaty brownie. Pure heaven.
So, stop in and see Jimmy B. and Annette. I guarantee you will leave happy and satisfied, with a big smile on your face and, more than likely, a stain on your t-shirt. |
| I like the outside sliced pork at lunch, too. It's so tender, it melts in your mouth. Pair it with Annette's fried corn-on-the-cob, and you've got some good eatin'. |
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Old
McDonald's BBQ
5774 Holiday Rd.
Buford, GA 30518
770.945.8608 |
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