Les Jones

East Tennessee > BBQ at Brackins' in Downtown Maryville

BlountToday says that Brackins' bar is adding BBQ to their menu. It turns out their cook, Cleo Scarbro, used to cook at Sarge's, which was easily the best BBQ joint in Knoxville. The article has some history of Sarge's and its owner, Theondrad "Sarge" Jackson. According to the article he was a Knoxville police detective for 25 years. I didn't know that.

Jackson’s barbecue place was a Knoxville legend, as is Scarbro’s mentor. Jackson opened Sarge’s Bar B Que on Texas Avenue in Lonsdale in 1979 and later moved to Pleasant Ridge Road and Western Ave. Jackson served legions of Knoxvillians before he retired and closed the restaurant in February of 2001. One of his most famous customers was legendary singer Ray Charles. Sarge’s Bar B Que was also featured in Southern Living magazine in 1999 in a story on Southern barbecue.