After a heroic hike OTP, we stumbled upon a great little barbecue joint. Unfortunately, it wasn’t on the trail. That would have been nirvana, but Mother Nature is cruel. We researched Yelp for nearby spots and selected the second closest to us in Cumming––Socks' Love Barbecue. With bellies growling and interests piqued, we raced there.
Socks' Love Barbecue is in a nondescript little strip center. It’s not a big place, but inside it was hopping as a young, vibrant, helpful staff dished out some terrific barbecue. There are community tables inside and a string of picnic tables outside on a grassy strip for the sun lovers.
The manager saw we were first-timers by our gaping mouths and curious stares at the menu board. She immediately recommended the side special of the day––Squash Casserole. While that’s not a typical barbecue side, it tasted terrific, made from scratch with no Campbells cream of something soup. The brisket was mighty fine.
The young man with a knife asked, “Fatty or Lean?” A choice, a reason to rejoice! The chopped brisket sandwich, the slabs of brisket, the pork –it was all delicious. The meats were smokey and flavor-filled, and slaw balanced the meats perfectly. Socks' Love Barbecue even offered Frito Chili Pie. Chili poured into a small bag of Fritos. That’s heaven on a spoon.
So, what’s up with the place’s name? We asked and found out Socks are the owners’ nickname, and they love barbecue! The business has operating hours, or whenever the barbecue runs out (always a good sign). We loved the food and the friendly people and will be planning a hike nearby to indulge again.
Rating: Four Ribs*
Socks' Love Barbecue
1050 Buford Highway, Suite 104 Cumming, Ga 30041
*About Our Barbecue Rating System
Trailheads do not claim to be food experts, epicureans, or sophisticated palettes. We are hungry hikers who attack a selected barbecue venue and ravage our way through whatever smoked fare and fixings they’re dishing.
Our reviews feature what we believe are the highlights of the menu we sampled. So our intent is not to trash talk the saintly folks who tend to smoldering smokers on hot, humid summer days. They are sacrificing themselves in the noble art of smoking meats and feeding the drooling masses. Many are independent entrepreneurs who are the backbone of this humming American economy.
Now that you know our standards, you may wonder why every barbecue place gets a four ribs rating. The answer is easy: we have acclaimed designers in our group, and they think the ribs graphic looks cool.
Who are we to argue? Enjoy.
Comments