Moonie's Texas BBQ — Restaurant in Flowery Branch

As a BBQ hunter in every area I travel, I don't say lightly that this is one of the better (if not best) places I've been over the past 30yrs. Been to Texas, NC, TN, GA, SC, VA, ST. Louis, and New Orleans, and parts in between for BBQ.

The pulled pork was moist and had the perfect crusty char and medium smoke. They blend the mix just right with chunk, shred, outside and inside meat.

Brisket was very tasty, but a touch dry. However dry, it was extremely tender and took sauce very well, which nullified the naked dryness it started with. The beef flavor and smokiness came through the sauce with perfect balance.

I tried their signature sides according to staff recommendations: jalapeño mac & cheese, and baked beans, plus I always get cole slaw because it varies so much from place to place. I am usually not impressed by mac because I make mine like Lady & Sons in Savannah (I worked there for a few years in the early 2000s) and it is pretty down-home perfect. BUT, this one was delicious in it's own right. Just enough minced jalapeño to give it a little smoky zip without the need to cool off after multiple bites. Elbow pasta was cooked al dente with an off-white creamy cheese blend that had a just sharp-of center cheesiness. No stringiness, but that is a chef's choice IMHO. I like mac either way.

Beans were ah-MAZE-ing! They had a touch of actual cinnamon apples blended in, along with a heavier molasses presence. Not meaty, didn't matter. I was impressed by the result of the variation that I haven't seen before. Nicely done.

Cole slaw was shredded then minced, Perfect texture. I prefer mine a little more on the creamy side, but the flavor was complex and I didn't mind that it was not very saucy. It contrasted the beans and mac in that way pretty well. It had a touch of celery seed and sweetness without pickle, and no spice or pepperiness. It was vsry good, but would have been A+ if a little bit creamier.

Regarding the atmosphere, it is a small place (of course) with a great porch to sit on and plenty of booths and tables inside. You order at the counter and pick a seat after getting your choice of 4 sauces, pickle & onion condiment bar, plasticware and self-serve drinks. It is a non-descript grey painted wooden interior that is very back-porch BBQ shed feeling. They have various hot sauces to use, but the standard 4 BBQ sauces they offer were perfect. They have Carolina Gold, Texas Red (hickory smoke with a touch of spice), Georgia Sweet (similar to NC vinegar based with celery seed and sweetness, but it was red as well), and a Spicy Sauce which was just below jalapeño hot sauce heat. I liked the Texas best because of the balance.

Staff was friendly and helpful.

When anywhere nearby, GO CHECK...

We were looking for 'something new' to try. Had heard of this place from a friend. Online reviews give it RAVE reviews so we decided to give it a try. A quaint and small little place. Has a nice 'feel' to it. Reminded me of days at the lake when i was a child. Staff at the counter were all super friendly and nice as they could be. We ordered 'sandwich plates. A little shocked to have a typical burger sized bun with a minimal amount of pulled pork stuffed between the top and the bottom of the bun. (hubs had meager amount of brisket for his sandwich) then our 2 sides of mac n cheese and coleslaw, served in small styrofoam cups, and an additional $2 for a cup of fries. $3 per soda. Our bill was almost $30, and it was pitiful to pay that for the amount of food we had rec'd. Tables are too low. Great for children but not so much for adults. Sandwich meat was BARELY warm. We had some concern about this (afterall , their are requirements for what temperature the food is to be kept at , and this was not at all hitting the mark) It tasted good, the pulled pork and the brisket were delish, despite being barely luke warm in temperature. Definitely not 'freshly made'. Coleslaw tasted 'funny'..almost rancid. I didn't eat but 3 bites of mine. Hubs ate his. Mac and cheese was barely warm but tasted good. The portion size versus the cost ,not a 'good value'. the lukewarm temperature of the meat of the sandwiches. not good. The funny tasting coleslaw. well, we both ended up with 'digestive issues' later that evening and into the morning. No. We won't be returning to this place anytime soon. If ever. Maybe if we hadn't gotten food poisoning from food that was obviously not being kept at the proper temperature. It...

For the past several months, my husband (who smokes his own BBQ) and I have driven every weekend to try a new BBQ restaurant. We drove an hour and a half to get to Moonies, and man was it worth it. This is the best one of the 15 restaurants we've been to thus far.

I had the brisket and pulled pork, my husband had the brisket and sausage. The brisket was perfectly cooked and had awesome bark, the pork had perfect texture and awesome flavor with just enough smoke, and the same goes for the sausage. The meat was cooked so well and was so flavorful, it didn't need sauce.

As for sides, I had the creamed corn and Brunswick stew, while my husband got the beans and potato salad. Like the meat, it was all fantastic. The beans are made with apple pie filling, which gave the beans a great consistency and interesting sweetness.

We wrapped it up with banana pudding, which, (spoiler alert) was also delicious. It was rich and fluffy, and you could taste the vanilla though the banana, and it was delicious.

So, my husband and I would give this place 6 out of 5 stars if we could. Every bit worth the drive from Douglasville, and would HIGHLY recommend it. Well...