For nearly three decades, Uncle Shug’s has been a name locals know by heart — and in Brooklet, the story is no different.
Owner Stacy Underwood grew up in Portal, Georgia, where his father once ran a small-town restaurant named Uncle Shug’s. Years later, when Stacy opened his own restaurant in Statesboro, locals still called him Uncle Shug — so he kept the name and carried on the family tradition.
“I was 27 when we opened,” he says. “I’ve grown up in this business. I never planned to do restaurants — it just became my path.”
Now the owner of Uncle Shug’s Chicken Barn (Statesboro) and Uncle Shug’s Bar-B-Q Place (Brooklet), Stacy says it’s all about the people. “It’s the loyal customers, the smiles when we cater a party, the folks who say it tastes just like their granddaddy’s barbecue. That’s what keeps us going.”
His insider tip for first-timers? “Start with the sample plate — get pork, ribs, chicken, even the chicken fingers or cheeseburger. Then you’ll know what to come back for. Our BBQ pork plate? That’s hands-down the favorite.”
The Brooklet location filled a major need. “Other restaurants tried to make this building work, but when we came in, we made it our own,” he says. “We took out the buffet, built a new menu from scratch, and Brooklet showed up for us. And we’ve shown up for them.”
His biggest hope? “That folks leave smiling — and come back hungry.”
Give it a taste and see what you think!
Uncle Shug’s Bar-B-Q Place Brooklet
105 US Highway 80 E, Brooklet, GA 30415
(912) 842-7484
Mon–Wed: 11–8 | Thu–Sat: 11–9 | Sun: Closed
Craving fried chicken, biscuits and breakfast cups? Visit them in Statesboro at:
Uncle Shug's Chicken Barn
12399 US-301
Statesboro, GA 30458
(912) 259-9699
Mon-Fri: 6-6 | Sat: 7-6 | Sun: Closed
Stay tuned to GC for more on the history of Uncle Shug and his BBQ, coming soon.