Stacy Underwood, Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q and Uncle Shug's Chicken Barn founder, has reinvented the former R.J.'s Steakery more times than he care's to count.
However, this time, he has spared no expense. He gutted the front section of the restaurant and completely remade it. The end result is nothing less than stunning.
Underwood brought in Tim Durden, a Statesboro contractor and Summer Hodges, a local interior designer to help bring his and his wife Liz's vision to life.
Durden gutted the front section of the restaurant, taking it back to the studs and concrete. They then went to work, remaking the building into a signature Uncle Shugs Bar-B-Q Place.
Complete with acid washed concrete floors, raised ceilings, party lights, tin, brick and barnwood this place screams delicious Bar-B-Q.
Many of the booths have electrical and USB outlets so you can charge and operate your electronic devices.
They extended the porch on the front, added picnic tables, ceiling fans, barnwood, tin and tied it in with rustic accessories like wooden barrels.
The entire building received a new paint and exterior upgrades so patrons will get a feel of the changes and begin to experience the difference before they enter the building.
"We quietly opened on Wednesday, July 28th and the word has spread pretty quickly," said Stacy Underwood. "It has been great! All of our customers are amazed by the renovations and absolutely LOVE the food. Everyone is talking about the brisket, BBQ Chicken and of course the chicken fingers. Liz and I are grateful and humbled by our communities continued support of Uncle Shug's restaurants. We want to personally invite everyone to come experience Statesboro's newest restaurant."
The menu includes BBQ ribs, brisket, chicken, chopped pork and smoked wings.
You can still get the famous Uncle Shug's fried chicken fingers and hamburgers. One surprise addition is fried shrimp.
They have brunswick stew along with all of your favorite homemade sides and grandma's made from scratch biscuits.
For the healther folks, you will love the grilled chicken fingers and garden salads.
You can check out the full menu here and order online for takeout.
Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main is located at 434 South Main. They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM.
Bar-B-Q began in Brooklet
Underwood introduced Bar-B-Q to the Brooklet area a few years ago when he opened the Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place there.
This gave his team an opportunity to test menu items and perfect the taste before bringing it to Statesboro.
The Brooklet restaurant is very popular and everyone in the Brooklet area raves on the Bar-B-Q.
Underwood also owns Uncle Shug's Chicken Barn, located beside Parkers at 301 South and Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Meeting, Banquet and Event Space
Last year, Underwood updated the banquet rooms in the rear of the building and expanded the restrooms, adding a new ladies room. Local civic clubs and organizations meet weekly in the banquet rooms.
The banquet space is available for meetings, civic clubs and events now with an even more expanded menu of dining options.
Blue Mile Excitement
Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main is yet another exciting addition to the Blue Mile. Since saving the restaurant from closing years ago, Underwood has continued to tweek and experiment with a winning formula for the restaurant.
I kept encouraging him to bring his Bar-B-Q to the Boro. When Underwood called to tell me he finally listened to me, I never imagined he would go "whole hog" into this project.
But he did, and when you give it a try, I think you will appreciate the excitement this restaurant brings as one more great addition to the Blue Mile.
