306 Barbecue — Restaurant in Athens

2.5 out of 5 but I can't bring myself to round up.

I made a special trip to 306 after work just to try the bbq. Been hearing about this place for years but it was never super convenient and so a visit never came to fruition. But it wasn't too far out of the way on my drive back from Decatur and 1:30 wasn't quite too late for lunch, and so I came by.

The location is kinda nondescript and the parking lot is a little bumpy -- and very hard to turn left out of when you leave, as I learned. But luckily it wasn't crowded so that made things easier. I got a faint smoke smell on my walk inside but not enough to instill a ton of confidence.

It's fairly spacious inside and the restaurant, including the women's bathroom, looked clean. There was a faint smell that reminded me of, like, a hardware store though, especially in the hallway by the bathroom. I've certainly smelled worse and it wasn't concerning but just kinda odd.

Anyway, I placed my order at the counter for a loaded pork potato, which is my go-to when feeling out a bbq place for the first time. The girl at the register was extra friendly and bubbly and patient with me, so I appreciated that. The self-serve sweet tea I got was fine, and another employee brought my potato to me at the booth where I sat.

It was a large potato, and it looked good, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. The topping ratio was good, but the pork was okay at best -- not fatty or gristley, at least, but pretty dry and not very flavorful or smokey. Even that would've been okay, but unfortunately a cardinal bbq potato sin was committed: the potato was unevenly cooked. My biggest pet peeve in all of bbq potato-land is an uneven/underdone potato. It is so frustrating to be enjoying hot, steamy, buttery soft goodness and then be interrupted abruptly by a crunchy, watery, dense chunk of potato. I hate it so much - it triggers a visceral yuck feeling in me that makes me insane!

After a lot of poking around fork-testing doneness, I made the most of my meal and pitched what remained. What a huge bummer! One other thing that bears mentioning is that the whole time I was eating, I could hear several staff members loudly complaining about and bad-mouthing a fellow employee who wasn't present. I get it, honestly, and I'm far from above some occasional gossip, but this conversation went on almost the entire time I was eating and it didn't give the best vibe ever.

Unfortunately, this is not the new barbeque hookup for me. On the bright side, I can consider my...

We have been eating at 306 BBQ in Athens for years. We live very close and it is convenient and we also like to support local businesses. Today, my husband was treated like dirt by an older woman who said “she runs the place.” I have food allergies and have been ordering a special stuffie tater with just pulled pork in it for over a year now. I cannot have dairy. They give us a special price of $6 for this. We have never had any issues until today. This lady was extremely extremely rude and venomous in the way she spoke to and treated my husband and in return treated my family. She made a big fuss/scene and told him no one should have ever given us a special price and would never do so again. She demanded he tell her who authorized it. Since we have been receiving this deal for over a year, I suppose everyone has. It made my husband very uncomfortable. It was very crowded and there were many people watching. I expect management or ownership to reach out to us and rectify this. No one should be treated like this, it’s hard enough finding restaurants that cater to food allergies, and discrimination...

Had a craving for some southern BBQ. I looked online at the menu and ordered ahead over the phone where they confirmed my order. I was splitting a full rack of ribs and two full sized sides. I got there and they gave me a different total which was $15 more than what it showed online. The cashier was a young girl and when I brought it up three middle aged women showed up beside her and started going off about how they can't change their online menu and the pricing is what it is. I was told to "take it or leave it". As I was hungry and promised my partner dinner we paid for it and left. I got home and the rack was decent in size but the sides where made for one... the ribs where okay but not something I would pay that price for again. I didn't eat in so I can't say too much about atmosphere only that we didn't want to eat there with they way we were treated at check out. I think being apologetic would have gone a long way but all in all I won't...