Heavy’s Barbecue Restaurant, Crawfordville, Georgia

 

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”

Ruth Reichl

If you are looking for an interesting experience and not just a restaurant to grab a bite, this place is for you. This eclectic “roadhouse” is a sight to see. William Grant, nicknamed, “Heavy” opened this restaurant in 1978. He and his son filled this building that at one time was a pole barn with taxidermy from their trophy hunting days. This rustic restaurant is located on a road less traveled outside of the quaint town of Crawfordville, Georgia, deep in the heart of deer hunting territory. The main dining area is over 200 years old and used to be a house that sat at the bottom of the hill until the Grant family moved the house and attached it to the restaurant. William and his wife have since passed away but Heavy’s is still in family hands.

Display of farm equipment with country house and barn in background.

Someone lost their boat propeller.  Where's the lake?

Neat old truck with still in the back

We pulled into the gravel driveway, first noticing all the antique farm implements and the covered area with lots of antique vehicles that were well preserved. In fact, there are over a dozen antique cars and trucks. I particularly liked the old stage coach and wagon. There was also an old Studebaker pick up truck that was decorated for Halloween with a mustached man dummy sporting a baseball cap. On the back of the pickup sat an old still.

Antique cars and old stage coach

Antique tractor and buggy

Got to climb high to get your airmail

Heavy must have been a big man to fit in that chair.

We walked to the front of the rustic hole in the wall restaurant and we noticed a black metal pig standing on the roof, and an air mail mailbox that stood up over 10 feet tall. There was also a giant rocking chair on the front porch and an old Coca-Cola truck sitting out front loaded with old bottles. On the building hung a sign that read “Stella’s Roadhouse.” They filmed the movie, “Sweet Home Alabama” featuring Reese Witherspoon at this restaurant but changed the name for the movie to Stella’s. They rented pool tables, neon signs, billiard lighting, bar tables and stools and built a bar for the movie.  There is no bar in the restaurant which changed the inner appearance of the restaurant quite a bit.

Barbeque pit

Fish anyone?

When we walked in we were surprised by the eclectic wild decor of this rustic restaurant. We walked up to the counter where a friendly lady greeted us. We started to look at the old timey menu board above the counter that appeared as if it hadn’t been changed in years, when she said, “Don’t bother looking at that. What we have today is pulled pork, chicken, and ribs.” Joe ordered the rib plate and I ordered the chicken. There was no choice in the sides but the meals came with coleslaw and Brunswick Stew and we ordered unsweet tea. We paid for our meals and she told us to go find a table and she would bring our meal to us.

Our crazy huge meals

 

As we headed back to the dining room, we saw the local sheriff and a bunch of his hunting buddies eating and enjoying a meal together. Looking around I noticed all the mounted fish, deer, boar, and other critters mounted on the walls as well as an alien creature. We sat at a long table adorned with a loaf of white bread, barbecue sauce and condiments. We were brought glasses of ice tea along with a full pitcher of tea to enjoy with our meal. The meal came out shortly and was huge. I believe they served me a full half of a chicken for my meal. The food was good but the restaurant could use a good cleaning as everything felt a little sticky and lightly smoke covered.

Fireplace

Heavy himself

Civil War Wagon

I think the wild boar is smiling at us

Heavy's bed with metal box spring

Many hunters came and went to grab a meal after a day in the woods.  There was a nice fireplace at the back of the dining room and on either side there were large stuffed animals on display such as a bobcat and a bear. A few spots in the display were missing which lead us to think, I wonder where they went. Looking high above us in the rafters, we saw an antique bed, that was said to be “Heavy’s” bed. On another portion above us of the loft was a huge Civil War wagon. How in the world did they get it up there?

If you do go to this funky country barbecue restaurant, go with an open mind and enjoy the whole experience. It is worth your trip. We met some very nice people there and the workers make you feel right at home. The restaurant is known for their mildly smoked pork and their pecan pie which is very good. The meal was so big we had to ask for a couple of to go boxes to take home with us. This is a place you will not forget. Check them out at: 2288 Sparta Road, SE, Crawfordville, Georgia.

When we went outside, we walked to the back of the restaurant and saw a number of cement picnic tables where you could take your meal to enjoy on a nice day. There was also a home and barn out back that looked lovely. What a beautiful piece of property. We enjoyed our time here.

Till next time. Bye for now.