Bites Nearby: The Tipsy Pig

Let’s get this out of the way first: The Tipsy Pig is in a gas station. In fact, it’s several tables and a counter inside a Shell convenience store, so not your standard restaurant.

But that’s the way it is in the country, in a lot of small communities where the only sit-down hot food away from home is at the crossroads gas station. So maybe the ambience fits the fare, because what the Tipsy Pig serves is very good pulled pork bbq. Moist, smoky, and served in big portions with all the usual sides.

I went there the first time recently to pick up carry-out for the family on a week night too busy for cooking. I didn’t know what to expect, and the location inside a gas station store at the corner seemed a little odd. But the food lived up to the positive reviews I’d seen around the web, and prices were reasonable.

Pulled pork sandwiches were stacked high with juicy, lean meat, with sliced pickle and soft buns. The sauce comes in regular and hot, and the hot is pretty spicy without being impossible. One of us got the bbq plate, and the meat was a big ol’ serving that made for decent leftovers the next day, with two sides instead of the one that comes with the sandwich. The pork was pulled for us when we ordered, which may have helped it stay as moist as it was. Sides including coleslaw, french fries and baked beans were decent, nothing extraordinary but tasty. It’s the pulled pork that stood out as a reason to come back.

There’s also chicken, Brunswick stew, and on Friday and Saturday they dish out ribs, so we’ll have to go back and try those. Another item that caught my eye was the “redneck Cuban”, a sandwich made with pulled pork instead of the usual sliced ham. They also open at 6 a.m. weekdays for breakfast, like meat on a biscuit.

So, nothing fancy. A line of warming trays to keep the food hot, some café tables and chairs, and a big flat-screen TV. But it’s close by and tasty and priced right. So I think we’ll go back, and maybe even sit down to eat. For that country atmosphere.

The Tipsy Pig is located at 3020 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn. Phone 770-885-5313.