Krambonz BBQ

Stopped in during a motorcycle trip before getting on the Cherohala Skyway and we were glad we did! Some of the best brisket I’ve ever had in the Brisket Slammer sandwich. A few of the guys had the pulled pork and said that was great as well. Cool little family run business definitely worth checking out.

Trips to the country are a blast. We were in Tellico Plains to film a trout fishing video on the wonderful stocking program the Tellico River Hatchery has created and spent two days here. Unfortunately, we struggled to find any decent food in town. Meanwhile, when we drove past Krambonz I was excited. This small town BBQ places are usually awesome. This one, however, broke the mold. And, we were warned. Our local guide (who’s lived here a long time) told us this location changed ownership a few years ago and the quality collapsed. He stopped coming here, but agreed to go with us since I was buying. We should have listened to him.
I live to eat on the road and am careful about poor reviews. Unfortunately, I feel guilty. This is someone’s livelihood and a bad review can hurt income at a small place like this. On the other hand, being fair and honest is vital, too, which is why we must say this is well below average BBQ, especially in East Tennessee where BBQ is everywhere.
We only lasted one meal here: lunch. And, at 1pm were the only people eating (it was a weekday). While the food is affordable (most would say cheap) it wasn’t too edible. I normally scarf down a plate of brisket and pulled pork in seconds. This took time just to eat a few bites. The pulled pork tasted like it had been reheated from previous days (we found no smokers going while we were there) and the brisket tasted like it had been doused in Worcestershire sauce. It had no flavor at all. The sides we blah, no taste.
Keep in mind, this is a small location. From the outside it’s inviting. And, in this town, there’s not much better. You may be stuck eating here. However, if you’ve eaten at any of the popular BBQ places in Atlanta (Fox Bros, Fat Matt’s, Moe’s), Knoxville (Sweet Pea’s, which is also way overrated, and even Calhoons) or Chattanooga (Sticky Fingers, Sugars, etc) you’ll be disappointed here.

I hate that I have to lower my rating to 3 stars. BUT…
The ribs did not fall off the bone…
The service was poor
The salad dressing was warm
Rose was not there. Maybe that’s why. Anyway… I hope next time I go, I can bring it back up to a 5 star.

Absolutely the BEST brisket we ever tasted! Loved it soooo much. The ribs and pulled pork are just as delicious, too! Not much need to add barbecue sauce, although theirs is pretty tasty. The awesome smoked flavor was all that was really needed. The place is casual and fun. The waitresses are so nice and made my husband and I feel like we’re regulars even though this was our first visit. We’re so glad we just happened to try them out. We plan to be back!

Living north of the Mason-​Dixon line, I look forward to trips down south so I can sample the local BBQ. I gave Krambonz a try twice while I was staying in Tellico Plains and had mixed results.
For the first dinner, I chose a full rack of ribs with potato salad and cole slaw. The ribs were charred black and cooked to the point where the bones pulled right out. The silverskin was still attached to the meat so I had to scrape it from the skin with a fork. These ribs would not win any prizes at a BBQ contest and at $ 25, they were on the expensive side. Neither the potato salad nor the cole slaw were memorable. Lesson learned — skip the ribs next time.
I returned the next evening and tried the pulled pork plate with baked beans. Mo bettah. Both were tasty. I’m a fan of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and that’s what Krambonz uses — fine by me.