The Inked Pig

The Inked Pig is a restaurant in Gainesville, GA, located in the Midtown area and serving classic Southern barbecue with a new age twist. It holds a rating of 4.60 and offers a full food menu centered on smoked meats, sandwiches, loaded specialties, stews, and sides, along with a kids and senior menu. Meats are sold by the half pound or full pound and include smoked pork butt, barbacoa smoked beef brisket, sweet tea smoked chicken, smoked turkey breast, and St. Louis cut ribs available by the half or whole slab. Combos let guests pick one, two, or three meats served with two sides. Sandwiches are served with Zapps chips and include the Classic Inked Pig pulled pork or smoked turkey sandwich, a barbacoa brisket sandwich with grilled onions and chimichurri, and the Triple Threat loaded with house smoked bacon, bacon jam, and slaw. Loaded specialties such as the Train Wreck and the Baker can be topped with pulled pork or chopped barbacoa brisket.

House-made sides range from Brunswick stew and smoked chicken mull to slow cooked collard greens with house bacon, creamy mac and cheese, southwestern style cream corn, buttermilk fried okra with Georgia white sauce, southern style coleslaw, and smoked baked beans. The restaurant also offers house smoked bacon sliced to order, rotational craft beers on tap, and peanut butter banana pudding with a rotating weekly dessert special. Hours run Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday from late morning, and Friday and Saturday until 8:00 pm, with the kitchen closed Monday and Tuesday.

The restaurant sits at 893 Main St SW, roughly a tenth of a mile from the Gainesville train station and about two tenths of a mile from Engine 209 Park. Its consistent customer ratings reflect the quality that has earned it a strong reputation among Gainesville barbecue diners, and its Midtown Main Street location has made it a go-to stop for smoked meats and Southern sides in the area.