Taylor’d Bar-B-Q bringing smoked meats to Avondale Estates starting tomorrow

A barbecue restaurant more than two years in the making is set to make its debut in Avondale Estates tomorrow.

Taylor’d BBQ is slated to open at 4 p.m. Friday at 2759 E. College Ave. The restaurant will focus on carry-out only for now, with the plan to offer dine-in service in the future.

The restaurant’s menu features a variety of plates and bowls with protein choices including pulled pork, brisket, chopped chicken and ribs, as well as smoked wings. Side options include mac and cheese, coleslaw, tater tots and waffle fries, with banana pudding on offer for dessert.

Meats will be prepared on a Lang smoker in a smoker shed behind the restaurant.

Co-owner Josh McDowell, who started out doing competition barbecue about 10 years ago, eventually expanded into cooking at festivals and doing catering before deciding to launch his own venture. He named the restaurant for his mother’s side of the family, and said while there’s no lack of barbecue restaurants in metro Atlanta, he thinks Taylor’d will find an audience looking for simple, quality food.

“The number one priority is the food being great,” he said. “It’s not about pride or ego.”

While the initial plan was for Taylor’d to open last year, the 1950′s-era building that previously served as a convenience store and counter burger joint threw McDowell some curveballs that delayed the opening.

“There are neat parts of an old building, but they’re also a lot more work,” he said.

One surprise during buildout was unearthing an old sign from the Nifty Jifty Food Store that McDowell decided to restore and keep as part of the building’s interior.

He said his landlord, the city of Avondale Estates and the metro Atlanta barbecue community have been supportive as he’s navigated opening a business during a pandemic.

McDowell said that while the timing of the opening has been a challenge, Taylor’d Bar-B-Q is well positioned, as take-out was already going to be a big part of the restaurant’s business model. He hopes to be able to open the 30-seat interior in the near future, with plans for a patio down the road.

Taylor’d Bar-B-Q’s hours will 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Scroll down to see the menu for Taylor’d Bar-B-Q: