“I first tried Fatso’s BBQ sauce at a family reunion back in 2022, and it was the best BBQ sauce I’d ever tasted,” Brad Darnell says. “Just a few weeks later, my dad (David) and I ended up buying the entire BBQ sauce company.”
That sauce-first origin still shows up in how Fatso’s BBQ & Catering presents itself in Pickens, where the Darnells stepped into the former Broke Leg BBQ space.
In an Aug. 23, 2025 post on Broke Leg BBQ’s Facebook page, the restaurant announced “Broke Leg BBQ officially has new owners,” naming Brad Darnell and David Darnell and noting their connection to “Fatsos BBQ Sauce.”
Pulled pork is the daily backbone here, cooked from butts and finished with a little extra attention on the cutting board. “Our pork is pulled, and then mildly chopped fresh every order,” the Darnells say.
Ribs are St. Louis-cut, dry rubbed, then finished with a light coat of sauce at the end of the cook. Chicken shows up chopped, turkey comes as smoked turkey breast, and Saturdays bring USDA Prime brisket.
Fatso’s keeps multiple South Carolina lanes open at once: a light tomato sauce (vinegar-pepper with a little tomato), a mustard sauce, and a heavier tomato sauce.
They also describe their lineup in plain terms: “Sweet With Mild Heat, Moppin Sauce, Smoky Mustard.” If you like to mix and match, this is a good place to do it.
Plates keep it classic: meat with bread and two sides, with choices that include pulled pork, chopped chicken, ribs, sliced smoked turkey, and brisket on Saturdays. Sandwich options cover pork and chicken, plus a smoked bologna sandwich that can be dressed with lettuce, tomato, or onion.
A signature move is the Fatso’s Sandwich: smoked bologna topped with pulled pork, then finished with slaw or mac and cheese and fried onion straws.
There are also crowd-pleasers like loaded nachos (chips topped with pulled pork or chicken, cheese, and BBQ sauce, with add-ons like jalapeños or mac and cheese) and a mac and cheese bowl topped with pulled pork or chicken and BBQ sauce.
The meats are cooked over hickory wood, and the Darnells frame their approach as a continuation of family know-how.
Brad says his dad learned a lot alongside his brother Butch Darnell, “helping out and learning from him,” and that “we knew we wanted to honor him by incorporating some of those same techniques into what we serve today.”
The sides roster runs from the expected to the comfort-food favorites: coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, green beans, sweet potato soufflé, fries, and chips. For dessert, they keep it simple and homey with homemade banana pudding.
If you’re feeding a group, pulled pork is also sold in bulk, and the “& Catering” in the name is a real clue to how they’re thinking beyond the counter.
Among the many Google Reviews, Local Guide Tasha Kiser shared the following:
The chopped chicken and ribs were amazing! They had the best flavor, not just smokey but also a little sweet. I guess it’s in the rub. Wish I had grabbed a bottle of that on the way out.
Was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to try the smoked turkey, because they were sold out, but not so disappointed that I would give a bad review. This place is a breath of fresh air in a town that mainly thrives on fast food restaurants.
I hope this place stays for a very long time… I’ll definitely be back to try that turkey, maybe even the brisket…
Over on Facebook, Kevin Kelly shared this after his visit:
The brisket is very flavorful and tender along with the Mac and cheese. The pulled pork doesn’t even need sauce it is on point. The smoked turkey is also on point looking forward to the one we are having smoked there for Thanksgiving. The service is great also never had a bad experience here since Fatsos has taken over looking forward to many more trips here.
Note: Menu prices and options are subject to change over time. Contact the restaurant for the most up-to-date information.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | |
| Friday | |
| Saturday | |
| Sunday | Closed |
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