By Joni Buford

Late night bites and big back burritos… yeah, we’re talking about one of Downtown Sugar Hill’s newest BBQ spots, August Swine.

This space is checking all the boxes: Parking is easy, the walkability is a breeze and the vibe makes for a great chill spot for a low-fuss meal. It’s a well done little walk-up window situation with exclusively outdoor seating with nice wooden tables, shaded umbrellas and plenty of lighting that makes it ideal for people-watching or grabbing a bite as the sun goes down. Plus, they’re open until 10 p.m.!

We met a couple of the owners, who were incredibly kind and genuinely hyped to talk about their menu. They serve heritage-breed, pasture-raised pork straight from their farm, and you can truly taste the difference that freshness makes. But if pork isn’t your thing, don’t fret, they have plenty of other options, too.

Honestly, when the food hit the table, we immediately started chowing down on the sides. And yes, we’re starting with sides, because they were so good they nearly stole the show. We just about fought over our one side of Beans-N-Bones. Next time, we are not sharing. The Collard Greens were so yummy and salted to perfection, made with smoked turkey, natural seasonings and boasting an A+ bite and texture. As for the Mac-N-Cheese, my husband literally left no crumbs.

For the main event, we tackled the Sugar Hill Sampler and the Big Back Burrito. The sampler is the ultimate way to taste the highlights, loaded with ribs, rib tips, a chopped pork slider, Texas toast bites and smoked chicken. I’m a self-proclaimed BBQ chicken girl, and getting a leg quarter and whole wing with crispy skin and juicy meat was a total chef’s kiss moment. Don’t even get me started on the scratch-made sauces. You can choose between OG and Sweet–both were delicious, but the OG definitely won my heart (and tastebuds).

Then came the Big Back Burrito with chopped pork. This thing is wild in the best way possible, stuffed with Mac-N-Cheese, sweet pickles, pickled peppers, banana peppers, pickled jalapeños, creamy coleslaw and house dressing. We knew a concoction like that had to be stellar, and we were right. This is a star on their menu; you absolutely have to try it.

The people are nice, the food is delicious, and the prices are incredibly reasonable, especially for the quality and quantity you get. Do yourself a huge favor and head over to Downtown Sugar Hill to try August Swine for yourself. Trust me, you won’t rib-gret it!