Welcome to The Regulars, where we explore what it means to be a frequent restaurant patron. In this series, we’ll introduce you to everyday Atlantans and local characters who have found a sense of belonging and community at restaurants and bars around town and what keeps these regulars coming back week after week.
When family-owned McDaniel’s QN2 (formerly a Slope’s BBQ franchise) opened in 2002, Sandy Springs resident Bob Lederman was the first customer in line. Now retired from Delta Air Lines, Lederman discovered the restaurant while running errands at the Johnson Ferry Road shopping center near his home.
“I saw a sign announcing that it was the restaurant’s first day in business, and I just happened to be there five minutes before it opened for lunch,” recalled Lederman.
He’s been a regular ever since at the cozy spot known for its hickory-smoked meats and kitschy decor, which includes an entire room filled with Elvis memorabilia.
Lederman stops into the restaurant several times a month to order his usual tray: barbecue beef brisket on Texas toast with mac and cheese and coleslaw on the side. Sometimes, he grabs a quick bite before or after his job as a part-time volunteer coordinator at the nearby Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. On Saturdays, he and his wife often walk to McDaniel’s QN2 from their home to listen to live bluegrass music and hang out with friends and neighbors, also regulars at the convivial barbecue joint owned by brothers Andy and Glenn McDaniel.
“Bob is kind of a Sandy Springs celebrity and knows everyone in the neighborhood,” said Glenn McDaniel.
In fact, Lederman has been the restaurant’s first customer three times over the last 22 years, including in 2016 after it reopened following a fire, and again in 2022 when the brothers rebranded from Slope’s BBQ to McDaniel’s QN2 due to the expiration of the franchise’s contract.
Buying the restaurant gave the brothers an opportunity to expand their offerings for regulars like Lederman. They added new dishes to the menu like weekly specials of fried green tomatoes, salads, and a popular vegetarian burger. The McDaniels now host weekly events such as Thursday night trivia and live music on Saturdays.
Related Link: More stories part of Rough Draft’s series “The Regulars”
“We like to keep things fresh for our customers,” said McDaniel, whom Lederman calls “a really funny guy with a great sense of humor” and a “knack for customer service.”
The restaurant’s affable nature and clever social media promotions have helped make McDaniel’s QN2 a third space for some Sandy Springs locals. Many customers hang out for hours after they’ve eaten to work on their laptops, hold community meetings, or just chat with the brothers and their families, including Glenn’s three teenage children who’ve worked part-time there since elementary school.
Lederman believes that commitment to family and community is one of the reasons he continues to be a regular at the restaurant.
“They have quite an extensive picture gallery of armed services members that are family members of customers, which is a neat way to honor them and their service,” Lederman said. McDaniel’s QN2 also offers discounts to first responders and military service members. Recently, the brothers personally collected and delivered supplies (and plates of barbecue) to Asheville residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“McDaniel’s doesn’t just serve good food that I enjoy, but a sense of belonging that you can’t find at just any restaurant,” added Lederman. “It really is an important part of the Sandy Springs community.”
The feeling is mutual, said McDaniel.
“Every restaurant has a regular like Bob, someone who comes in almost every day and tells everyone in the community about their business. We’re so lucky to have him as our biggest fan.”
McDaniel’s QN2, 200 Johnson Ferry Road, Sandy Springs. Open Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
