Back to Their Roots
By David Walton | Photos by Evermore Photo Co.
Family recipes are the heartbeat of many local restaurants. The love of food and sharing family recipes inspired brothers Ramon Funes and Alejandro Tamez to open Tamez Barbeque in May 2020. Upon returning to Athens, Tamez brought with him a wide variety of experiences as a cook and BBQ expert. The brothers discussed it, knowing that Funes can be impulsive, they decided to give it a shot. From the beginning the duo has been influenced by the experiences of their childhood, in everything from the menu to the restaurant’s ambiance.
When looking for a location, Funes decided on 1660 West Broad Street. To Funes, this was a perfect location when they opened during Covid in 2020. While the central but smaller location provided a wonderful space for to-go customers, the limited parking and seating at their original location was the catalyst for the brothers to consider a second location. In May 2025, they opened a second location in Watkinsville off Hog Mountain Road. The Watkinsville location is an expanded space where Funes plans to grow his vision of a hometown bar and pub, serving familiar Texas BBQ favorites in a relaxed atmosphere. This year, Tamez has plans to add a full bar to complement their traditional dishes. By doing this, Funes envisions adding several televisions to host watch parties for sports like football and soccer, including plans for a large Tamez-style event for this summer’s soccer festivities.
Some of Tamez Barbeque’s most popular dishes include the breakfast burrito and brisket burger. The breakfast burrito is a morning favorite for customers, with their Tamez-style brisket rolled into homemade flour tortillas. Their most popular breakfast burritos also combine their chorizo and eggs with cheese. The burger is made from trimmings of their brisket, which is prepared for up to 14 hours by their pitmaster Jesus, and features a homemade family sauce. The Tamez brisket is unique to the restaurant, cooked to perfection and served with house-made cowboy beans and cornbread.
While Funes’ brother Alejandro is the primary innovator of many of the menu items, the entire family is involved. They enjoy adding their own style and culture that they also regularly prepare and eat at home. When asked if they had any specific memories or special guests, Funes recalled a gentleman that comes in weekly every Thursday afternoon and orders a breakfast burrito with a brisket sandwich to go. This particular gentleman knows all about Funes and his family, and takes interest in their dreams, successes and plans for the future. Regular customers are the cornerstone of what Funes is seeking to build in the community in which he also lives and raises his family. Tamez serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with hours and days varying by location.
Learn more about what Tamez offers at tamezbbq.com
--
As seen in the Summer 2026 issue of Athens Magazine.
