GOOD NEWS IS COMING TO DINNER! We will feature a local food critic’s thoughts as they dine in Tullahoma. This month, Tabitha Buckner visited Piggy’s Place Bar-B-Que.
Piggy’s Place exudes the comforting promise of great barbecue before you even step inside. The smoke hits you before the front door does, and that’s exactly how it should be when it comes to barbecue. On a random Thursday, I decided to try it, and immediately felt at home with its no-frills atmosphere: checkerboard tablecloths, pig decor, and the hum of regulars.
I chose the combo plate with two ribs, a chicken quarter, pulled pork, and two sides, going with the barbecue classics — slaw and baked beans. The pork was smoky without being dry, saucy but not drowned. The ribs and chicken were perfectly tender — charred goodness. The slaw was crisp and a little peppery, pairing well with the beans that had that brown sugar backnote I love. All in all, it was exactly what you want out of a traditional barbecue plate.

My husband was excited for the Thursday special: turkey and dressing. The dish came with smoked turkey, dressing, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes (which he swapped for potato salad), cranberry sauce, and a roll. Each bite reminded him of childhood visits to this very spot with his grandmother, the kind of memories triggered by a single bite.
As hard as it is, try to save a little room. The dessert selection is not to be missed, with cakes lining the counter when you enter, waiting for you to begin the debate of which flavor you will be trying. And then to make matters more difficult, they have coconut cream pie on Thursdays! It is light, fluffy, and lusciously creamy — the perfect ending to the savory, smoky meal.
But what truly makes Piggy’s Place special isn’t just the food. It’s the feeling of community and comfort that fills the small-town barbecue joint. It’s the kind of place that leaves you not just full, but satisfied in ways that go beyond food, offering up the warmth of home and the flavors we always come back to. GN
PIGGY’S PLACE BAR-B-QUE:
112 N. Anderson St.
Tullahoma, TN 37388