I wanted to love this place. If you asked a slow-cooked meat enthusiast to draw a picture of barbecue nirvana, it would look very much like Fresh Air, all gravel parking, worn-in wood paneling, slamming screen door and the smell of hardwood smoke soaked into every surface. It obviously hasn't changed since it was built in the '20s.
But I'm coining a term for places like this, and Georgia is rife with them: Barbecue Sauce Joint. You have your true barbecue joints, where the meat is the star, and then you have your Barbecue Sauce Joints, where you have nothing without the sauce.
And at Fresh Air, I didn't even like the sauce. It's red and vinegary, and just not my thing, which would be okay if their meat didn't require it. The pulled pork (which is your only option, and you can have any side you want, as long as it's slaw or stew) is dry and without much flavor. It's just dry, chopped-up pork on a plate. Just add sauce.
The simplicity of the menu is commendable; I figured if they only do pork, slaw and stew they must each be amazing. The slaw was the only thing I really enjoyed, which is why I put it on the pork to help things along.
Worst BBQ in the state of Georgia. Seriously do not understand the reviews that say otherwise. Their sign saying they are the best BBQ is completely misleading! There were 4 of us in our party and we were shocked that this place is even still in business. We looked up online when they could have possibly won any BBQ contest and it was over 20 years ago. They really need to stop calling themselves the best in Georgia. It looked and tasted about as good as dog food.
Review Source:The hubby and I stumbled upon this place while trying to avoid traffic on 75N. Luckily our gps routed us toward Fresh Air while our stomachs were growling or else we never would have stopped in.
When I see a place that has only a few items on the menu I get really excited because that means that those items are going to be dee-lish. You see, when places start introducing 5 pages of options (ahem, Applebee's).
Sorry, I had a cough. Anyhow, whats's the saying? Do a few things very well or do a bunch of stuff mediocre? Â
Yeah, they do a few things really well. Pulled pork, cole slaw, and stew. All are very old school GA BBQ, including the sauce, which is rare nowadays given that ppl seem to want to add sausage and sweet potato fries to their menus.
Since Harold's closed this is the closest remaining restaurant where you can get old school GA BBQ.
I have been eating Fresh Air BBQ from this place since I was a child. Â It's the best BBQ in Georgia hands down. Â It has BBQ joint ambience with pine paneling that's stained from wood smoke. Â White bread served with the plate is the way it should be. Â My hometown isn't far so whenever we visit we hope to find Fresh Air at my parent's and usually try to take some back with us to have later during our interim exile to the land of not so great BBQ!
Review Source:This is the essence of Georgia BBQ. Â Which is largely undocumented, unlike NC, St. Louis, Texas, etc.
You can essentially get three things here. Â Pulled pork, in pounds or sandwich form, cole slaw, and Brunswick stew. Â
Georgia BBQ is always on a soft bun, not Texas toast. Â Slaw is fresh and tangy. Â Stew is meat, tomatoes, and corn. Â Usually chicken, pork, and beef. Â Back in the day, it might inlude squirrel and rabbit. Â Some of these ingredients arent used now, but thats the Georgia origin. Although I don't know exactly what was in this stew, regardless, it was delicious.
Large dining area and friendly folks!
Worth the trip from Atlanta to get the real deal!
Only complaint, the sweet tea/unsweetened tea was a little off. Â Will be back!! Â Thanks for this great find coming home on a detour from Tybee!
Perhaps I was there on a slow day. Â The BBQ was OK but a bit dry and cold. Â I'm also not a fan of vinegar bbq sauce - they soaked the meat in it and it overpowered any flavor the meat may have had. Â Give me my sweet, tomato based sauce and let me put it on myself.
I also tried the Macon location with a group from Church and everyone in my group had a similar reaction at that location.
The Stew was excellent however.
There were very few people in the dining room on a Sunday after church lunch - I wonder if the place is going downhill since most of the reviews dated 2011 and 2012?
When you have been making one thing for 83 years it is safe to say you are doing something right! And boy howdy is Fresh Air doing something right!
I consider myself a bit of a barbecue snob. I was raised on vinegar based, open spit, Carolina barbecue and I have eaten my way through Memphis, Kansas City, and over to Texas. I have noshed on everything from brushed pigs feet to head cheese and everything in between. But barbecue is special. Now I am not going to lie and say this is the best pork I have ever put into my mouth; it isn't. But it is pretty close to authentic, smoke-flavored, chopped (or minced, as you like) pork BBQ. It doesn't need sauce or hot sauce or anything else to give it flavor. In fact, they give you the option of eating it plain or putting it on white bread. It is a standalone flavor. And at $6.85 for a jumbo plate (barbeque, coleslaw, bread, Brunswick stew, crackers, and a pickle) it is a bargain too!
The ambiance is perfect for its location; simple, low key, and relatively quiet. The only noise really is laughter from a table having a good time and people's lips smacking away. The tables are nothing more than picnic tables with chairs.
It is certainly worth driving 20 or so minutes for (perhaps not further as I am sure there are other joints along this route that are comparable) and definitely a great Sunday afternoon drive and meal.
Finally drove from the ATL down to Jackson to try the venerable Fresh Air BBQ. Â Overall, it's good, but not an hours drive good, if you know what I mean. Â However, the Brunswick Stew is outstanding, no question. Â And I also liked their home made coleslaw; it's chopped fine and slightly sweet. Â The sauce is vinegar based (think N. Carolina style) and nice and tangy. Â The pork, though, was a let down. Â It's way too dry and a bit tough. But once I built my sandwich (pork piled on white bread doused with sauce and with the coleslaw) it was good. The sweetness of the coleslaw with the tangy sauce paired well. Overall, it's just OK.
Review Source:Step back into 1929 when this restaurant was founded. The brunswick stew is outstanding but the ambiance is one of a kind. We got off the beaten path on our way from tampa to augusta. Off I-75 north bound Took the forsyth monticello route 83 exit. End of exit ramp took a right. Drove into the country and took a left toward Indian Springs. 15 miles and it's on the left. Best BBQ in georgia! Yum!
Review Source:I read that this place is a must to try in GA. Supposedly it has the best BBQ.
I tasted the pulled pork sandwiche with slaw and it wasn't nothing special. Isn't the best BBQ that I have ever tried. It's just ok.
It's very cheap but the portions aren't huge.
They have an option that includes pulled pork and the stew.
I'm one of those people that rarely meets a BBQ restaurant he doesn't like, and Fresh Air does not disappoint.
I think the meat is good and smoky, but not so much so that all you taste is smoke. When I order the plate, the put some sauce on the meat but do not drown it. It's up to you to put on a little more or a little too much (and to soak it up with the white bread).
The Brunswick Stew is well above average. It might be my favorite of the places in this area.
For me the thing that sets Fresh Air apart from the rest is Location, Location, Location. It is still cool to me that a roadside restaurant that serves great BBQ exists. If this place were located in a strip mall somewhere, I'm not sure I would ever have given it a first look. It really is not too far out of the way, and once you find your way the first time you'll never get lost again.
Some of my earliest memories in life include making stops at Fresh Air Barbecue. My family has gone there since Fresh Air opened in 1929. When I was in college back in the 1970's, I always drove past FA on the way back to Atlanta and picked up some food. I've had other good bbq over the years, but nothing comes close to Fresh Air. It is superb.
And, as a side note - to eat your meal at Fresh Air - not doing takeout - is to be taken back several decades to a simpler time - picnic tables inside, floor covered in sawdust, screened in rooms.
A great place, with great tradition.
First let me say it - I really hate barbecue. Â But...I was working in the area a few years ago and had forgotten to bring my lunch so I was forced to make a local choice. Â I decided to give Fresh Air a try and it was delicious! Â It remains the only barbecue I'll eat to this day - totally worth the drive!
Review Source:I have eaten at quite a few BBQ places throughout the South. Â I just think that Fresh Air is ok. Â I know they have been in business just about forever. Â
I ordered the deluxe place and found the chopped pork to be bland. Â The sauce is in the top 20% of sauces. Â Stew was excellent.
Trust me and all the others who write about Fresh Air in Jackson. Â The comments here are spot on and no tour of Georgia BBQ joints can be complete until you've sat down in the dining room of Fresh Air. Â Some of the best barbeque you'll find in the Southeast is not an over-statement. Â
I ordered the deluxe plate which is comprised of chopped pork with a dab of sauce on top, stew, slaw, a couple pickle spears, some crackers and some white bread. Â The pulled pork is enough to make any pig proud to have made the supreme sacrifice. Â The stew is heavenly with a wonderful smokey flavor. Â The slaw will knock your socks off and you may need a second serving. Â Someday I may try the ribs or chicken which I bet are good, too.
Now as to the directions, they're wrong if you try Google maps. Â They are even wrong if you use the map on the Fresh Air website. Â Use Mapquest and you'll get the correct directions. Â Perhaps the easiest way to explain how to reach Fresh Air is to look for the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and take the road that runs around it (Macon Avenue). Â That eventually becomes Highway 42. Â If you drive further than 3 miles you've passed it. Â Coming from downtown Jackson, it will be on the right.
BBQ as good as it gets!! The menu is very basic but what they have, they do very well. Nothing fancy, just good food.
The building is old, gravel lot in front, saw dust on the floor in the main room with tables. The back room is a little nicer.
The directions on their web site and here are a little off, the restaurant is located just south (a mile or so) of Jackson, GA on Hwy 42/Us 23. Indian Springs SP and Dauset Trails (good mtn biking) is right around the corner.
By far the best BBQ in Georgia (and honestly in the South), Fresh-Air is the place.
You can get baby back ribs if you want, but for my money and stomach the pulled pork sandwiches are the way to go. Â They have a phenomenal Brunswick Stew, great Cole Slaw and Beans. Â For my time and effort, I always go for the Party Pack. Â This is a quart container of stew, a quart container of pork, and pint of sauce (understand this is vinegar based, not the gloppy stuff), slaw and a whole package of good 'ol white hamburger buns. Â
Sure, they have a location in Macon, but Jackson is the bona fide original. Â So much so, that the BBQ is driven daily from Jackson to Macon (not a far drive).
If you blink driving down Highway 42 you may miss it, so make sure and roll down your windows so you can smell your way there.
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