The Nest Awards

The Nest Restaurant Review:

Two rundown modest residences in this suburban Atlanta town were completely rehabbed and joined by a generous deck to compose this cozy barbecue joint. A fieldstone fireplace centers the deck. In one of the houses, many rooms provide a variety of seating options, while the other home serves as a tavern (and allows smoking). There you'll find nearly 50 craft beers on tap, plus wines on tap. We recommend trying several of the appetizers, but go easy as you'll want to take advantage of the barbecued meats to follow. The house makes its own pepper-graced pork rinds, and they are crisp and sweet, sparked by a bit of heat now and again. Look for pimiento cheese, smoked trout dip and crisp, tangy pickles. Ribs supply tender meat beautifully smoked but not "falling off the bone" flabby, and brisket, ordered with the fat cap, is juicy and deeply smoky. All meats are dry rubbed. Sauces range from tame to crazy hot, the latter, Burnin' Sherman, stoked by ghost peppers. Carolina-style vinegar-based sauce and mustard sauce are good choices, and the white sauce (an Alabama favorite) is perked up with sriracha. Desserts vary daily, but pecan pie is a regular presence.