Paul's B-B-Q

Nothing fancy here just true great southern pit BBQ.  Starting the cooking on Friday, this slow cooked pork and southern stew has kept both locals and travelers coming back for over three generations. Coupled with southern style sides of beans, slaw, sliced bread, and sweet tea, the menu is still much the same as it was in 1970 when I first started eating there as a child. This establishment is only open on Saturday, and you should plan to come early.  Once the meat is gone you have to wait untill the next weekend.

This could well be the best barbeque place in the state of Georgia.  I have a few more to try first, but it is most definitely worth the drive and unless you live in or near Athens, chances are you'll have to go way out of your way to get to Paul's.  Come early.  I've been on a Saturday during football season and found they'd run out of some things.

Paul's B-B-Q refers to the family, the Paul's, not about a man named Paul.  In fact, I think the cook is Jimmy.  They pit-cook things every Friday and then prepare it fresh every Saturday morning.  Located in a little white store with some cute pig art on the outside, you can't miss it because, well frankly, there isn't much to see in downtown Lexington.  It is on the edge of the tiny downtown, driving away from Athens.

I always have the stew and pork.  Both are completely and totally perfect.  The stew is thick, thick enough to not need a bowl.  Perhaps a little more smoky than  what you normally eat, but this stew is the essence of Brunswick Stew, and whatever the recipe, I hope someday the Paul's will publish it.  

The pork is probably even better than the stew if that is possible.  Have it as a sandwich or by itself, this pulled pork is seasoned enough you'll not need additional sauce, but mild and hot sauce is available.  I could live on this stuff.  When I write about "melt in your mouth" barbeque, Paul's is what I have in mind.

Everyone who works here seem to be family.  I'm pretty sure I read the Paul family has been doing this for at least a couple generations.  They only open for a few hours Saturday mornings and as I said earlier, during football season they run low on some things well before the posted closing time (I think they close at 1:30).  

If you worship at the house of barbeque, this one needs to be on your list for the pilgrimage!