Two I-24 Exits of BBQ Bliss in Manchester, TN

Porky’s Pit BBQ | 402 McMinnville Hwy., Manchester | 931-728-9648

A short drive from I-24, Porky’s Pit is located in a quaint red building, with both a walk-up window and a drive-thru for diners to purchase hickory-smoked barbecue, beef brisket and turkey breast. Diners can enjoy their meal on the shaded picnic table area outside of Porky’s Pit, decorated with flowers and pig string lights, or take their food to go. Porky’s Pit offers a pork sandwich special with chips and a medium drink, and chocolate chip cookies, pecan pie and lemon meringue pie follow for dessert.

Porky’s Pit also sells family packs and half-family packs that can feed five or two, respectively. During the holiday season, the restaurant sells smoked turkeys for your Thanksgiving or Christmas feasts. Porky’s Pit does not accept credit or debit cards.

Prater’s Bar-B-Que & Catering| 620 Woodbury Hwy, Manchester | 931-954-5377

With an original restaurant that opened in Morrison, Tenn. 25+ years ago, Prater’s Bar-B-Que has been operating out of Manchester since 2013.

In addition to being recognized as the oldest vendor at the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival and being voted as the #1 thing to do at the festival by Rolling Stone, Prater’s has been the recipient of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year” award, and the winner of numerous other awards and contests.

In addition to its barbecue pork, brisket and baby back ribs, the restaurant sells wings, salads, seafood, specialty sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes, burgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders and ribeye steaks. From the beginning of the summer until October, Prater’s features live music outside on Friday and Saturday nights, which can be enjoyed with a draft beer on the back patio.

Prater’s also offers a garden salad bar, a daily lunch special, and a barbecue buffet at dinner on Friday and Saturday. Prater’s is a family-owned business, and owner and founder Gary Prater is a certified Kansas City Barbeque Society judge.

Prater’s also provides to-go orders for anyone in a hurry and caters for “small gatherings to party receptions to large corporate gatherings.”