Hootenanny’s offers award-winning craft barbecue and scratch-made regional fare under the direction of pitmaster Judd Foster and his wife Kate. Judd has been “playing with fire” since he was a kid, making maple syrup in upstate New York. He turned a syrup kettle into a grill, entered a local barbecue competition under the name “Hootenanny’s,” and ended up beating a bunch of pros, fueling a passion and career.
The couple opened their first brick and mortar barbecue restaurant, South of Heaven, in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018. COVID brought them from Atlanta to southeast Georgia, with their son Charlie. The doors of the “Hoot House” opened in Brunswick, Georgia in January 2024, in a 150-year-old-house across from the historic Glynn County Courthouse. Judd’s smokers are out back, in a cute backyard, and the smell of live-fire cooking has quickly warmed up the downtown neighborhood.
Hootenanny’s menu is scratch-made to order. Offerings include the traditional brisket, pork, chicken and ribs, but the Hootenanny smoked brisket tacos always top the favorites list. Popular specials include the birria tacos, house smoked pastrami Reubens, brisket smash burgers, and a house-made “weekly grind” sausage. Sunday includes several brunch items, including brisket birria breakfast tacos and “redneck” Benedict. Every side—charro beans, esquites-style street corn, Mac n cheese, smoked potato salad and “nana’s slaw”— is homemade. Hootenanny’s always offers vegetarian and kids options.
Hootenanny’s is a family-friendly destination. With the smokers going, live music every weekend, picnic tables, firepit for s’mores, backyard games, and TVs to watch your favorite teams, and historic courthouse setting, the Hoot House is great place to hang out.
Hootenanny’s also offers catering and custom BBQ experiences, onsite and offsite. Menus include BBQ basics, an elevated “taco bar” and other speciality items such as peach barbecue pork belly skewers. Hootenanny’s can even bring a smoker and all the good stuff to your event location. Hootenanny’s also has its wine and beer license, and offers a broad range of budget friendly options, craft beers, mimosas on Sundays and specialty sodas and NA options.
