About Us
The Saap Saap BBQ Story
Two cultures. One fire. Endless flavour.
Where Southern BBQ Meets Lao Soul
Saap Saap BBQ consists of Clinton Spruill and Amy Watson. They elevate Southern BBQ with the influence of Lao cuisine. Drawing inspiration and direct recipes from both of their families, this combination showcases authentic Lao flavors and Southern classics.
SSBBQ was most recently a Nashville popup and Nashville Scene's Writers named it Best Popup of Nashville 2025. This concept now resides inside Harding House Brewing Co. as their sole food option.
Saap Saap BBQ aims to source food from local farmers and use few to no preservatives or seed oils in their cooking. Though they advertise as a BBQ joint, they offer many vegetarian and vegan options, always finding ways to highlight the fresh produce grown here in Tennessee.
Clinton & Amy
Co-Founders, Saap Saap BBQ
Meet the Team
The People Behind the Smoke
Clinton Spruill
Pitmaster & Co-Founder
Clinton Spruill was born in Michigan and spent his childhood moving across states due to his family's General Motors ties. In high school, he and his family settled in Franklin, TN where Clinton began his first cooking job. His passion for cooking stems from both sides of his family and he continued his culinary education in Chicago, IL where he graduated from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago Cordon Bleu and gained experience in multiple Chicago restaurants. His most influential job was at Perennial under the guidance of Paul Virant where preservation and sourcing high quality ingredients from farmers played an important role. He continues this mentality through Saap Saap BBQ, where the flavor of the food shines because the ingredients are at the forefront. Even though he is newer to the BBQ world, his experience as a chef in multiple restaurants has helped him hone his skills cooking with live fire.
Amy Watson
Co-Founder & Operations
Amy Watson is born and raised in Murfreesboro, TN. She began her hospitality journey as a hostess and has held many front of house roles, such as server, bartender, floor sommelier, and general manager. Her passion lies in guest care, beverage quality, and overall food service. Cooking was always a hobby of hers until she began working pop ups alongside Clinton Spruill, which pushed her role toward a culinary focus. In doing Saap Saap BBQ she pushes Lao culture and cuisine to the forefront of the restaurant industry, highlighting traditional recipes and bringing more acknowledgement to Lao food overall.