The Beltline just got a serious barbecue upgrade. Lewis Barbecue opened at Ansley Mall with a setup unlike anything I've seen in Atlanta. Pitmaster John Lewis put his six 22-foot smokers upstairs in a loft with panoramic windows overlooking the new pedestrian bridge to the Beltline. It looks like the fanciest engine room in Georgia.
These aren't your typical backyard smokers either. Lewis helped weld them out of 1,000-gallon propane tanks, and they run 24 hours a day in staggered eight-hour shifts. That's the kind of serious operation that produces consistently excellent brisket. The Austin and Charleston locations have built quite a reputation, so Atlanta expectations are high.
What I love about this location is the Beltline connection. You can literally walk or bike over from the trail, grab some of the best barbecue in the city, and head back to the park. Plus, having those massive smokers visible through the windows adds some serious theater to the whole experience. It's barbecue as performance art.