1:48 pm Tuesday - Abdullah the Butcher’s House of Ribs - Atlanta, GA
It was tucked in a outta the way place in a neighborhood that still had some character. The strip malls had yet to attack.
Unfortunately the Butcher was not in. Nor did they sell T-shirts. “Sometimes we do sometimes we don’t”, explained the cashier, “it all depends on the Butcher.” What struck me was that this was a rib joint first and foremost. They had nothing to sell other than food. It was down right un-American.
I ordered the rib plate. 3 bones, candied yams, mac-n-cheese, corn bread & tea. I wandered around looking at all of the old rasslin’ pics that adorned the walls while I waited for my food. Its a strange experience to look at pictures of half naked men wrestling, covered in blood and screaming and to then eat a plate of bbq sauce covered ribs.
The food was pretty good. Everything was homemade. There was a steady stream of people ordering take out. A few construction workers dining in. I was the only white person, so my sense of being a silly tourist was compounded.
All in all it was a good visit and I’m glad I stopped in. My expectations were a bit skewed though. Abdullah’s isn’t some kitschy over the top side show… no it felt more like going to a quiet church and communing with everyday life. Eating food with the working man and the families, all while the Butcher earned a living too, whether it be carving up man or beast.
