This Atlanta restaurant makes the ultimate loaded tater tots

The Tomminator from Fox Bros. BBQ.

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

The Tomminator from Fox Bros. BBQ.

DISH OF THE WEEK: The Tomminator and The Lopez at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Food frequently comes with a side serving of memories. Tater Tots on the plate take us back to our grade school days, of cafeteria ladies scooping a pile of golden brown taters onto our mint-green plastic trays.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q settles our hankering for this childhood favorite, but rather than keep it kiddie with squirts of ketchup for dunking, the crew at this popular local ‘cue joint goes for big flavor by smothering those crunchy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside browned potatoes with a mess of stew-y, meaty goodness and gooey melted cheese.

Fox Bros. goes whole hog with everything it does. In the case of loaded taters, it offers two blowout renditions of this meal-sized appetizer: The Tomminator and The Lopez. The former features Southern favorite Brunswick stew while the latter is made with Texas-style beef brisket chili. Both are sloppy, messy, calorie-busting – and delicious.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, 1238 DeKalb Ave. N.E., Atlanta, 404-577-4030, foxbrosbbq.com.