It has taken some doing, but Atlanta Ice Shack in Atlanta, Texas, now features an open pit, which Eddie Anderson and his business partner, Janice Scott, have put to good use in menu options.
"We began cooking out of the pit earlier this year, and have slowly been introducing new things to our customers," he said. "The pit gives us new ways to make things. We've now got pulled pork, hickory-smoked burgers over charcoal with a hickory-smoked flavor."
In addition, the Atlanta Ice House features customer favorites like hot dogs wrapped in deep-fried bacon.
"We've also got some of the best burgers around, with tasty seasonings in the meat, using my secret recipe. Only the best 80/20. I have homemade barbecue sauce. And our pulled pork is slow-roasted 14, 16 hours. I even feature our pulled pork in fries and nachos."
It took a bit of doing to get their open pit operational.
"I had to get permission from the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta fire chief, Robin Betts. He had to sign off on it," he said. "The pit needed to be at least 15 feet from the building (mine is 21). It had to be enclosed and certified by the state."
Atlanta Ice Shack also sells smoked meats, which the pit makes easier to prepare.
"I have special rubs and my homemade barbecue sauce. In fact, you can bring by your meat and I'll prepare it for you with our techniques," he said.
Anderson has been in the restaurant business his whole life. He started at his father's steak house as a teenager.
"I got paid 50 cents per bathroom to clean both of them out," he said.
Since then, he has learned the trade has made an impression on the community with the Atlanta Ice Shack.
"Cass County Citizens Journal voted us the best Cass County Snow Cones for 2019, also something we do," he said.
Atlanta Ice Shack is at 110 W. Hiram. Check them out on Facebook.