With stores across the Southeast, Sonny's has been in the barbecue business since 1968 when Sonny and Lucille Tillman opened their first outpost in Gainesville, Florida as a neighborhood gathering spot. The place definitely feels like the big chain it is these days (note the identical kitsch furnishing you'll find at all Sonny's shops - wagon wheel chandeliers and Americana crafts galore), but there's no denying one thing: they know how to do Southern 'cue. Meats are slow smoked for hours over a hard wood-fueled fire, and the result is fall-off-the-bone tenderness, that signature red ring and a nice smoky flavor. The price factor is another major lure - two people can eat amply for right around twelve bucks. In addition to smoked chicken, hand-pulled pork and St. Louis-style rib platters, there are burgers, steaks and salads on the menu, too. Side dishes include garlic bread, fried okra, baked sweet potatoes and crinkle cut fries. Wash it all down with an oversized glass of fresh brewed sweet tea for the ultimate Southern finish.--Terry Ward

Categories: Restaurants-Barbecue, Barbecue, Restaurants

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