Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
1715 6th Ave SE, Decatur, AL, 35601
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Decatur for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1715 6th Ave SE
Decatur, AL, 35601 - Phone (256) 350-6969
- Website https://www.bigbobgibson.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:30 am - 8:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Frances L.
Alabama BBQ cannot compare to Texas' BBQ. Even though this place has won a lot of awards for its sauces, the food was okay only. I got the pork topped baked potato. It was pretty good with a big helping of meat, green onions, butter and cheese. It was a ginormous serving size. My fiancé's beef sandwich seemed pretty tiny in comparison. The waitress was also pretty friendly.
(3)Big M.
Pork was tasty. Coleslaw tasted (and looked) like they shoved a pickle through a meat grinder. If you get a sandwich make sure you order the slaw on the side!
(2)Nikki B.
Food was incredible!!! Waitress was soo helpful and sweet! Served our party of 8 in and our in under an hour...amazing!!! A definite come see ! Fed 8 (6 teens) for under $85!! What a great deal!!
(5)Justin W.
I love this place! It's a historic feeling, looking, being establishment full of great people and great food. I have had countless great experiences here with family and friends. They never disappoint, and are always a first choice to eat at. Delicious food and desserts!
(5)Jay D.
First time visitor. Sweet tea started off on the right foot! Potato salad was pretty good. The cole slaw didn't do if for me. Had the ribs and brisket. Food was warm, barely. Hard to judge BBQ, but I have had better for sure.
(3)Eric H.
Their pork ribs are the best I have ever eaten. That being said, the brisket was very tasty, although a bit dry. The smoked turkey was outrageously thick and juicy, kind of surprising for white meat. The slaw was super-oniony, the beans were so-so. The rest room was kinda funky. After we were seated, we had to finally visit the manager's office to get some table service, after waiting for ten minutes or so.
(3)Miriam W.
Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q 1715 6th Ave. Southeast Decatur, Alabama This place is the standard bearer for truly great barbecue, and has won numerous awards to prove it. Their ribs are simply the best...perfectly smoked, served with a sauce that's not too sweet (we hate a sauce that's too sweet) and very tender. The chicken was perfectly cooked too, and the mustard slaw, yum. They put green bell pepper in the baked beans, which we were of split opinions on, but it's a small issue. Next time I'll just have something else, and there will be a next time. Decatur is the site of the original location, but they just opened up a place in Monroe, N.C. for those of you who don't get that far south. Another issue with Big Bob Gibson's is that the portion sizes aren't all that generous. From the chatter out there I understand that the 6th Ave. location is the most consistent. People love their white sauce, which has won numerous awards along with their more traditional red barbecue sauce. I tasted it and it was good, but it's a little far out there for me. Maybe it's that white sauce isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think of barbecue. I'm happy sticking to the red.
(5)Sarah S.
I recently moved to Decatur and the most well-known restaurant here is Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que. They are pretty famous for their award winning meats and sauces, and still do competitions and events regularly. My husband, Cody, and I checked them out for the first time on the fourth of July, but didn't really know what to get or what sauces to use, so yesterday we decided to give it another try. This time was a much better experience! The manager, Ken, sat with us and told us about the sauces and food. He was very friendly and it was interesting hearing about his culinary experience along with some of the history of the restaurant. Big Bob's has multiple sauces; A ketchup-based sweeter sauce, a runny vinegar-based sauce, a white mayonnaise-based sauce, a habanero sauce, and a mustard-based sauce. Cody and I actually met in high school when we both worked at the same BBQ restaurant and regularly ate at our local favorite Bob Syke's before moving here, so we feel like we know a thing or two about BBQ. Coming to Decatur was a total culture shock to us as far as BBQ is concerned. All of the restaurants have multiple sauces (we are used to only one, usually ketchup or vinegar based), and the sauce comes on the side (we are used to meat dripping with sauce when it comes to the table). A MAJOR disappointment about Decatur BBQ is no one has French fries! What is that about? My favorite part of eating BBQ is dipping fries in the sauce. Ken said that Big Bob's has plans to add more sides soon, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for some fries. This whole white sauce thing is a new concept for me too. I had heard of mayonnaise-based white sauce before, but had never tried it. It seems like it is a staple in Decatur. I tried it first on pork and hated it, but after Ken brought out some turkey for me to try I actually really enjoyed it. It is amazing the difference that eating the right sauce on the right meat can make. We visited Big Bob's during Alabama Restaurant Week so they had a great special that we wanted to try. You got an order of BBQ nachos, 2 plates (meat and 2 sides), and 2 slices of pie for only $20. The nachos were really good! They consist of a pile of tortilla chips with your choice of meat topped with lettuce, sour cream, and jalapenos. It comes with a side of yummy melted cheese like you get at Mexican restaurants too. Ken suggested that we use the habanero sauce with the nachos, and it was a great choice. I have had BBQ nachos before, but they had shredded melted cheese. The Mexican-style queso was a great change of pace and was really good with the habanero sauce. I think next time I go back I might get them as my meal. For our main course I had a pork plate with potato salad and baked beans and Cody had a chicken plate. I must say, the pork here is probably the highest quality that I have had. It is tender and juicy and has a great smoked flavor. I tried all of the sauces with it and decided that the mustard sauce was my favorite. It was really tasty and seemed to be the closest flavor to the BBQ sauces that I am used to. The sides were good, but I was really craving fries. One of the other things that Big Bob's is famous for is their pie. I had the lemon ice box and Cody had the coconut. I had a bite of his and it was really good, very creamy with a good meringue and toasted coconut on top. The lemon was good also, it wasn't too tart like a lot of lemon pies are and was creamy and rich. I was so full by the time the pie came out that I had a hard time enjoying it. I would love to go back just for dessert one day and try some of the other flavors!
(4)Ed W.
The best part about Gibson Big Bob Bar-B-Q is that it reminded me how thankful I need to be to live in Memphis, where I likely take for granted the very good pulled pork and ribs available across town. I give Gibson Big Bob's two stars only because I know they can do better than they did to me this month. In fact, I will gladly accept an invitation to their tent at MIM BBQ next May to taste the "good stuff" because I know they produce better, smokier and more tender pulled pork than what I was served one Wednesday evening. This meal was train wreck from moment one to moment end. Perhaps it was because I was alone. Perhaps it was because I was obviously not a local. Who knows. I arrived, walked in, and was told to sit where I liked. 15 minutes later, someone came to take my drink order. Five minutes later, the waitress finally figured out I did not have a menu. I ordered the ribs and pulled pork combo. I figured this would give me a chance to try my favorite two types of BBQ. On the side, I ordered beans and slaw. This would give me an easy comparison to 100s of BBQ places I have frequented in my life. Pulled pork, ribs, beans, slaw and bread. Standard meal. I glanced around while waiting for my food. Serious hardware in here from Memphis in May. Serious. Lots of trophies. In fact, the sign outside proclaimed they were the Grand Champion of Pulled Pork for the 2011 MIM contest. I expected the pulled pork to be dynamite. I was sadly mistaken. The food arrived. From glance 1, I knew the ribs would be awful, and they were. I took a bite and the ribs had no flavor whatsoever but the caked-on sauce. OK, so they aren't Memphis ribs. That's fine. But these ribs were not very good in any respect. They were too fatty, too saucy and too sweet. No smoke, no taste of the meat. But I know these cooks can do better. Too much hardware in the restaurant! The pulled pork was very dry. Very dry. No smoke flavor. No real flavor at all. I could not believe this. They just won MIM and this was what they were serving? I do not buy this. MIM is THE super bowl of BBQ. I have had the privilege of tasting some incredible foods at MIM over the past years. To win that contest, one must have some moist, smoky, flavorful pork. Not what I was served. Sauce on the table? BOTTLED! Come on. This is not a true BBQ restaurant. Who serves the sauce in what I can buy in the grocery store? OK, I get it. It's a marketing thing. You want tourists in the area to pick up a bottle to go. But sell it by the register (which they did). Put some FRESH sauce on the table that is not filled to the rim with preservatives and chemicals. There was one option on the table worth using, a nice vinegar based sauce. I used it on the pork to make the pork decent. I expected more from the MIM champion. Beans were mediocre. I read a review where someone said there were green peppers in the beans. Agreed. But I have a feeling these are canned beans. Just a feeling. Like I've tasted them before. Slaw was abysmal. I read one review that it was mustard based. Not mine. It was dry. I thought it was couscous. At least the bread was good. Very difficult though to serve bad bread. I hope Mr. Big Bob reads this review. Seriously, I will agree to amend this review if I get the chance to eat the good stuff next May. I know this restaurant is capable of better. I know it is not going to be a two star every day. Maybe it was just me. Maybe. But for someone that loves BBQ and loves eating BBQ a lot, I cannot eat here again without getting a sample of the good eats. I'm glad as I type this I am 7 miles from Cozy Corner, 2 miles from Central BBQ, 10 miles from Interstate, etc. Gibson Big Bob Bar-B-Q at least got me to re-appreciate the really good BBQ that Memphis has to offer. But I had hoped for more.
(2)Yvonne O.
They are not kidding about the "Big" here. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday and were seated right away, which was great. But, from there, it was all downhill. I was not super hungry, so I decided on a baked potato - Wow, the potato was on steroids because that thing was like 3 pounds easy. I also asked for just cheese and instead it came loaded with butter and sour cream (yuck). So, I tried to scrape things off, but there was no spare plate and Mama Potato took up the whole plate she came on. I proabbly had a whole three bites of it. Husband got the BBQ and said it was just "eh". He wasn't into the sauces. Best part of the stop was getting a t-shirt and to-go cups for our sodas. That's sad.
(2)Jireh H.
Food definitely is what I turn to whenever I'm bored and I *am* bored now in Decatur, AL while a friend attended her dart tournament. Decided to yelp for must-visit restaurants and found Gibson BBQ. I really hate to have to go against other reviewers but man, they definitely did not live up to the hype that it seemed to possess. Perhaps, in this area or in Georgia, or even neighboring states, they are the best. But its a bit sad when places like Wood Ranch back in California can tame the pulled pork and smoked chicken here. Maybe they were just having a bad day? Who knows, lol? The white sauce was nothing spectacular on the chicken as I found the peppers overpowering and the chicken rather dry. The pulled pork had some flavor; but when you have that much hype over it, I would have expected more. What I love about this place is definitely the service. Yes, Southern hospitality is always a delight. Nothing makes me happier when I tipped her more than what my meal was worth because her effort to ensure that I enjoyed my meal was impeccably enough reason for me to visit again when in the area.
(3)Mark A.
Today we had the "feast" selection which is a sample of ribs..brisket..turkey..chicken..pork. Topped off with cream pies! The staff is great! Absolutely the best barbeque we have ever experienced! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Russ M.
Yep, This is a real Deal BBQ place. All of the positive hype is true. I have to say that my lunch there today (8-12-2010) featured some of the BEST pulled pork I have ever tasted. The Decor- Top shelf- esp. all of the awards thru the years the Service- Top Shelf- I was treated like a regular even on my 1st visit the food- Top Shelf!! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Taylor G.
The food here was great, as is all southern bbq. If you ever get the chance to visit the Madison, AL area I would definitely make the trip to this restaurant.
(5)Brett S.
Chris Lilly is the master! It's like going to mecca to have his BBQ. I'm a huge fan and would walk miles to eat his cooking! Thank you, Bret and Heather Supernaw
(5)Amanda M.
Maybe my expectations were too high... I was dying to find an awesome BBQ place while visiting Alabama on business. I had the loaded baked potato and the brisket/chicken combo. The brisket was a bit dry and my entire meal was cold. I actually had to ask the waiter to heat it up. And Big Bob's award winner sauce ... meh. I've had better at the Chicago BBQ festival. It was an experience, nonetheless.
(2)Joe W.
On my last night in Huntsville, I decided to make the trek to Decatur to try what many have said is the best BBQ in Huntsville. Of course, BBQ is to Huntsville as poke is to Hawaii: everyone has very different opinions about who has the best! In my limited Alabama-inspired BBQ experience, I'd say this place had the best ribs and chicken. Big Bob Gibson is said to be the original founder of the Gibson BBQ tradition dating back to 1925, when the smell of his BBQ supposedly drew people from miles away. 75 years and 4 generations later, his family still carries on the tradition. I'd say they carry it on rather well, seeing as how they regularly win first place in NBBQA competitions for their sauces. I ordered the pork rib and chicken. My friend ordered the beef brisket and chicken, so obviously I stole some of his brisket so I could Yelp about it! The pork ribs were the most tender, flavor ribs I've ever had! The term "falling off the bone" is an understatement. The sauce tasted vinegar-based and was sweet and tangy. The chicken was tender and juicy, and tasted like it had been marinated in different vinegar-based marinade. I've never known chicken to fall off the bone, but it did! Yelpers recommend using the white sauce on the chicken, but the white sauce wasn't as great to me as the original. The beef brisket was really good by itself, having a subtle smoky flavor, and did not need any sauce at all. I've read complaints about it being dry, but it definitely was juicy when I was there. They do something pretty unique with coleslaw--It's also vinegar-based and definitely has cilintro in it. It's finely chopped, as if it was put through a food processor. This is definitely a cool take on cole slaw, but I wasn't as excited about this as their meat dishes. I wasn't too excited about thier beans either. Somehow, I was able to fit a "lemon icebox pie" in my stomach after all of that. This delicious dessert is similar to a lemon merengue pie, except the lemon filling tasted like it was mixed with condensed milk (or similar) because it was creamy, sweet, and delicious! The service was especially accomodating and pleasnt. Our server felt bad for giving me a small piece of pie, so she ended up giving me a whole extra slice for free! On the way out, we ended up buying some bottles of the Champion Gibson's BBQ red sauce! I can now go back home having tasted what North Alabama BBQ is all about.
(5)Sally H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Best pulled pork anywhere!! White sauce to die for!! Go with a big appetite!!!
(5)kevin g.
I love BBQ, I am a competitive BBQ'er and this is my Graceland. For those who have not tried white BBQ sauce please make the effort to check it out, Big Bob Gibson (the founder) is really credited with making this style of BBQ famous. I love the food here, we have been fortunate enough to get the potatoes as well as pretty much every other item on the menu. Of the 4 times I have eaten there I have only had one not awesome experience and that was staff that was just not paying attention to correct seating order and other small rookie mistakes. The other funny thing is that BBG's is world famous for the pork shoulder but in my opinion the Brisket is some of the best I have ever had, and my wife said the turkey was far superior to any other smoked turkey she had ever had. So I guess I am saying that BBG is not a one trick pony. So to sum up, the food is great, get there early and expect a line and roll the dice on service.
(4)Kevin W.
I have a co-worker. He has a Confederate flag proudly tattoo'ed on his forearm. He BBQ's competitively all over the South including at Memphis in May against the folks from Big Bob Gibson. He hates Big Bob Gibson. I asked him where I should go for good BBQ. "Big Bob Gibson." Now that's respect. The ribs were tender with meat falling off the bone and just enough flavor from the dry rub spices to not require any BBQ sauce. Ditto for the brisket - no chewing required but needed some sauce. The chicken and turkey were surprisingly moist and juicy, considering that they were BBQ'ed. The baked potato with choice of meat was huge and a meal in itself with cheese and sour cream. The famous white sauce was just ok - definitely unique being mayo-based and an acquired taste. Likewise, the cole slaw was finely diced with a vinegar-based sauce - don't get the family bucket, if you're not adventurous. The beans and potato were delicious compliments to the meaty goodness. Prices were decent - $45 for full rack rib platter, BBQ sampler, and baked potato. Yes, you can call me fatso.
(4)Donald L.
By far the best barbecue in the state of Alabama. No other joint has figured out how to smoke a brisket properly, but Big Bob's has managed to go above and beyond with theirs. I would highly recommend this place to anyone that likes the real shebang.
(5)Mike G.
This is what barbecue is about! I met Chris Lilly & Don Mclemore at a cook off in Dillard, GA many years ago. They wee so nice I decided the next time I went to Alabama I would go there. I have been going ever since when I see my family in Huntsville. The ribs are awesome. I have been to Memphis and had ribs at the most famous of places and these are better. The pulled pork is very very good. The baked potatos with barbecue are huge and a meal by themselves. This is one of the must go to barbecue spots for anyone who loves BBQ. An important note, save room for pie. The lemon icebox pie was the capstone to a phenomenal meal. If you enjoy cooking your own barbecue buy a copy of their book on the way ou the door. There is simply not a bad recipe in the book.
(5)Andrea Y.
How cow... or let me rephrase- holy pig, holy turkey, holy baked potato! 2 of us shared the BBQ Feast platter, substituting the sides for a loaded baked potato. There was enough left for 2 more people. The ribs and turkey rocked- could have passed on pulled pork and beef brisquet. Coconut cream pie was divine and actually 2 slices. Wear loose pants, preferably a mumu and don't eat for 2 days beforehand. My dining partner said that we were experiencing the local culture- I agreed on the local part- not much culture going on. Highly recommend!
(4)Terry N.
Been there twice both times I ordered stew. Don't waste your money it's nothing more then watered down styrofoam cup no meat or veggies. Don't even ask for extra crackers they want to charge more and wont put them in the bag.
(1)Kevin L.
The food was WAY overpriced for the portion size (BBQ plate). The waitress was just short of hateful. The BBQ is mediocre, but if you leave without tasting the potato salad, then you have lost out. I could eat their potato salad all day. I live very close to Memphis. I know Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q took swept up awards at the Memphis in May BBQ Cook-off so I was really expecting better.
(2)Daniel B.
Bar-B-Q is a funny thing to judge and/or review. It's like comparing apples to oranges. You can't really do it. Sure, Memphis and Kansas City have their judging formulas...I know all about their systems. Those systems work for competitions and Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson's has found the secret to success. What matters most is how does non-championship bar-b-q rate? What really matters is how does a joint serve up the food the masses (yep, it was busy)? If you go in expecting championship cooking you might be disappointed. I went in with realistic expectations and was really delighted. First of all, Don McLemore, the owner greeted me. Hey, now, that's cool. My first experience in any southern BBQ place is Pork Shoulder. It's the flagship for a barbecue joint south of the Mason-Dixon. If the place passes the shoulder test then on the second time around, I'll order ribs. (Rib joints are different than BBQ joints.) I ordered the shoulder sandwich they way they dress it at Big Bob's...with cole slaw. The meat was tender and possessed a mild pork flavor. The bits of bark (well seasoned outer portion) were very tasty. It would have been nice to have a little more smoke flavor in the meat, but this is hard to do when keeping shoulder warm while feeding the masses. The cole slaw was finely chopped cabbage with a sweet tangy flavor with sweetness beating the tang. No mayo in this slaw as the slaw must be a distant cousin of Carolina. The side of baked beans were ok...very sweet. The portion size of the sandwich was on the small side. We all wanted another sandwich (petite woman, growing teen boy, tiny girl, and big ole me.) The sauces were good...pretty good. None of them were much to write home about. A word about the White BBQ Sauce: when it's made fresh, it's better than when coming from a commercial jar. While I can only give 2.5 stars for the shoulder...I have to add another 1.5 stars for the service and Chocolate Meringue Pie. Good golly! That pie is worth the drive from Nashville. The chocolate pudding style pie is sweet but not over done. Much to all of our chagrin we shared slice. I'm surprised a table of the city's finest dining nearby didn't arrest me for elbowing my kids upside the head to get another bite. I'll be back. Next time, I will try the other store...it's where Chris Lilly mans the place.
(4)Frances L.
Alabama BBQ cannot compare to Texas' BBQ. Even though this place has won a lot of awards for its sauces, the food was okay only. I got the pork topped baked potato. It was pretty good with a big helping of meat, green onions, butter and cheese. It was a ginormous serving size. My fiancé's beef sandwich seemed pretty tiny in comparison. The waitress was also pretty friendly.
(3)Big M.
Pork was tasty. Coleslaw tasted (and looked) like they shoved a pickle through a meat grinder. If you get a sandwich make sure you order the slaw on the side!
(2)Nikki B.
Food was incredible!!! Waitress was soo helpful and sweet! Served our party of 8 in and our in under an hour...amazing!!! A definite come see ! Fed 8 (6 teens) for under $85!! What a great deal!!
(5)Justin W.
I love this place! It's a historic feeling, looking, being establishment full of great people and great food. I have had countless great experiences here with family and friends. They never disappoint, and are always a first choice to eat at. Delicious food and desserts!
(5)Sarah S.
I recently moved to Decatur and the most well-known restaurant here is Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que. They are pretty famous for their award winning meats and sauces, and still do competitions and events regularly. My husband, Cody, and I checked them out for the first time on the fourth of July, but didn't really know what to get or what sauces to use, so yesterday we decided to give it another try. This time was a much better experience! The manager, Ken, sat with us and told us about the sauces and food. He was very friendly and it was interesting hearing about his culinary experience along with some of the history of the restaurant. Big Bob's has multiple sauces; A ketchup-based sweeter sauce, a runny vinegar-based sauce, a white mayonnaise-based sauce, a habanero sauce, and a mustard-based sauce. Cody and I actually met in high school when we both worked at the same BBQ restaurant and regularly ate at our local favorite Bob Syke's before moving here, so we feel like we know a thing or two about BBQ. Coming to Decatur was a total culture shock to us as far as BBQ is concerned. All of the restaurants have multiple sauces (we are used to only one, usually ketchup or vinegar based), and the sauce comes on the side (we are used to meat dripping with sauce when it comes to the table). A MAJOR disappointment about Decatur BBQ is no one has French fries! What is that about? My favorite part of eating BBQ is dipping fries in the sauce. Ken said that Big Bob's has plans to add more sides soon, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for some fries. This whole white sauce thing is a new concept for me too. I had heard of mayonnaise-based white sauce before, but had never tried it. It seems like it is a staple in Decatur. I tried it first on pork and hated it, but after Ken brought out some turkey for me to try I actually really enjoyed it. It is amazing the difference that eating the right sauce on the right meat can make. We visited Big Bob's during Alabama Restaurant Week so they had a great special that we wanted to try. You got an order of BBQ nachos, 2 plates (meat and 2 sides), and 2 slices of pie for only $20. The nachos were really good! They consist of a pile of tortilla chips with your choice of meat topped with lettuce, sour cream, and jalapenos. It comes with a side of yummy melted cheese like you get at Mexican restaurants too. Ken suggested that we use the habanero sauce with the nachos, and it was a great choice. I have had BBQ nachos before, but they had shredded melted cheese. The Mexican-style queso was a great change of pace and was really good with the habanero sauce. I think next time I go back I might get them as my meal. For our main course I had a pork plate with potato salad and baked beans and Cody had a chicken plate. I must say, the pork here is probably the highest quality that I have had. It is tender and juicy and has a great smoked flavor. I tried all of the sauces with it and decided that the mustard sauce was my favorite. It was really tasty and seemed to be the closest flavor to the BBQ sauces that I am used to. The sides were good, but I was really craving fries. One of the other things that Big Bob's is famous for is their pie. I had the lemon ice box and Cody had the coconut. I had a bite of his and it was really good, very creamy with a good meringue and toasted coconut on top. The lemon was good also, it wasn't too tart like a lot of lemon pies are and was creamy and rich. I was so full by the time the pie came out that I had a hard time enjoying it. I would love to go back just for dessert one day and try some of the other flavors!
(4)Ed W.
The best part about Gibson Big Bob Bar-B-Q is that it reminded me how thankful I need to be to live in Memphis, where I likely take for granted the very good pulled pork and ribs available across town. I give Gibson Big Bob's two stars only because I know they can do better than they did to me this month. In fact, I will gladly accept an invitation to their tent at MIM BBQ next May to taste the "good stuff" because I know they produce better, smokier and more tender pulled pork than what I was served one Wednesday evening. This meal was train wreck from moment one to moment end. Perhaps it was because I was alone. Perhaps it was because I was obviously not a local. Who knows. I arrived, walked in, and was told to sit where I liked. 15 minutes later, someone came to take my drink order. Five minutes later, the waitress finally figured out I did not have a menu. I ordered the ribs and pulled pork combo. I figured this would give me a chance to try my favorite two types of BBQ. On the side, I ordered beans and slaw. This would give me an easy comparison to 100s of BBQ places I have frequented in my life. Pulled pork, ribs, beans, slaw and bread. Standard meal. I glanced around while waiting for my food. Serious hardware in here from Memphis in May. Serious. Lots of trophies. In fact, the sign outside proclaimed they were the Grand Champion of Pulled Pork for the 2011 MIM contest. I expected the pulled pork to be dynamite. I was sadly mistaken. The food arrived. From glance 1, I knew the ribs would be awful, and they were. I took a bite and the ribs had no flavor whatsoever but the caked-on sauce. OK, so they aren't Memphis ribs. That's fine. But these ribs were not very good in any respect. They were too fatty, too saucy and too sweet. No smoke, no taste of the meat. But I know these cooks can do better. Too much hardware in the restaurant! The pulled pork was very dry. Very dry. No smoke flavor. No real flavor at all. I could not believe this. They just won MIM and this was what they were serving? I do not buy this. MIM is THE super bowl of BBQ. I have had the privilege of tasting some incredible foods at MIM over the past years. To win that contest, one must have some moist, smoky, flavorful pork. Not what I was served. Sauce on the table? BOTTLED! Come on. This is not a true BBQ restaurant. Who serves the sauce in what I can buy in the grocery store? OK, I get it. It's a marketing thing. You want tourists in the area to pick up a bottle to go. But sell it by the register (which they did). Put some FRESH sauce on the table that is not filled to the rim with preservatives and chemicals. There was one option on the table worth using, a nice vinegar based sauce. I used it on the pork to make the pork decent. I expected more from the MIM champion. Beans were mediocre. I read a review where someone said there were green peppers in the beans. Agreed. But I have a feeling these are canned beans. Just a feeling. Like I've tasted them before. Slaw was abysmal. I read one review that it was mustard based. Not mine. It was dry. I thought it was couscous. At least the bread was good. Very difficult though to serve bad bread. I hope Mr. Big Bob reads this review. Seriously, I will agree to amend this review if I get the chance to eat the good stuff next May. I know this restaurant is capable of better. I know it is not going to be a two star every day. Maybe it was just me. Maybe. But for someone that loves BBQ and loves eating BBQ a lot, I cannot eat here again without getting a sample of the good eats. I'm glad as I type this I am 7 miles from Cozy Corner, 2 miles from Central BBQ, 10 miles from Interstate, etc. Gibson Big Bob Bar-B-Q at least got me to re-appreciate the really good BBQ that Memphis has to offer. But I had hoped for more.
(2)Eric H.
Their pork ribs are the best I have ever eaten. That being said, the brisket was very tasty, although a bit dry. The smoked turkey was outrageously thick and juicy, kind of surprising for white meat. The slaw was super-oniony, the beans were so-so. The rest room was kinda funky. After we were seated, we had to finally visit the manager's office to get some table service, after waiting for ten minutes or so.
(3)Miriam W.
Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q 1715 6th Ave. Southeast Decatur, Alabama This place is the standard bearer for truly great barbecue, and has won numerous awards to prove it. Their ribs are simply the best...perfectly smoked, served with a sauce that's not too sweet (we hate a sauce that's too sweet) and very tender. The chicken was perfectly cooked too, and the mustard slaw, yum. They put green bell pepper in the baked beans, which we were of split opinions on, but it's a small issue. Next time I'll just have something else, and there will be a next time. Decatur is the site of the original location, but they just opened up a place in Monroe, N.C. for those of you who don't get that far south. Another issue with Big Bob Gibson's is that the portion sizes aren't all that generous. From the chatter out there I understand that the 6th Ave. location is the most consistent. People love their white sauce, which has won numerous awards along with their more traditional red barbecue sauce. I tasted it and it was good, but it's a little far out there for me. Maybe it's that white sauce isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I think of barbecue. I'm happy sticking to the red.
(5)Yvonne O.
They are not kidding about the "Big" here. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday and were seated right away, which was great. But, from there, it was all downhill. I was not super hungry, so I decided on a baked potato - Wow, the potato was on steroids because that thing was like 3 pounds easy. I also asked for just cheese and instead it came loaded with butter and sour cream (yuck). So, I tried to scrape things off, but there was no spare plate and Mama Potato took up the whole plate she came on. I proabbly had a whole three bites of it. Husband got the BBQ and said it was just "eh". He wasn't into the sauces. Best part of the stop was getting a t-shirt and to-go cups for our sodas. That's sad.
(2)Jireh H.
Food definitely is what I turn to whenever I'm bored and I *am* bored now in Decatur, AL while a friend attended her dart tournament. Decided to yelp for must-visit restaurants and found Gibson BBQ. I really hate to have to go against other reviewers but man, they definitely did not live up to the hype that it seemed to possess. Perhaps, in this area or in Georgia, or even neighboring states, they are the best. But its a bit sad when places like Wood Ranch back in California can tame the pulled pork and smoked chicken here. Maybe they were just having a bad day? Who knows, lol? The white sauce was nothing spectacular on the chicken as I found the peppers overpowering and the chicken rather dry. The pulled pork had some flavor; but when you have that much hype over it, I would have expected more. What I love about this place is definitely the service. Yes, Southern hospitality is always a delight. Nothing makes me happier when I tipped her more than what my meal was worth because her effort to ensure that I enjoyed my meal was impeccably enough reason for me to visit again when in the area.
(3)Mark A.
Today we had the "feast" selection which is a sample of ribs..brisket..turkey..chicken..pork. Topped off with cream pies! The staff is great! Absolutely the best barbeque we have ever experienced! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Russ M.
Yep, This is a real Deal BBQ place. All of the positive hype is true. I have to say that my lunch there today (8-12-2010) featured some of the BEST pulled pork I have ever tasted. The Decor- Top shelf- esp. all of the awards thru the years the Service- Top Shelf- I was treated like a regular even on my 1st visit the food- Top Shelf!! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Taylor G.
The food here was great, as is all southern bbq. If you ever get the chance to visit the Madison, AL area I would definitely make the trip to this restaurant.
(5)Brett S.
Chris Lilly is the master! It's like going to mecca to have his BBQ. I'm a huge fan and would walk miles to eat his cooking! Thank you, Bret and Heather Supernaw
(5)Amanda M.
Maybe my expectations were too high... I was dying to find an awesome BBQ place while visiting Alabama on business. I had the loaded baked potato and the brisket/chicken combo. The brisket was a bit dry and my entire meal was cold. I actually had to ask the waiter to heat it up. And Big Bob's award winner sauce ... meh. I've had better at the Chicago BBQ festival. It was an experience, nonetheless.
(2)Donald L.
By far the best barbecue in the state of Alabama. No other joint has figured out how to smoke a brisket properly, but Big Bob's has managed to go above and beyond with theirs. I would highly recommend this place to anyone that likes the real shebang.
(5)Kevin W.
I have a co-worker. He has a Confederate flag proudly tattoo'ed on his forearm. He BBQ's competitively all over the South including at Memphis in May against the folks from Big Bob Gibson. He hates Big Bob Gibson. I asked him where I should go for good BBQ. "Big Bob Gibson." Now that's respect. The ribs were tender with meat falling off the bone and just enough flavor from the dry rub spices to not require any BBQ sauce. Ditto for the brisket - no chewing required but needed some sauce. The chicken and turkey were surprisingly moist and juicy, considering that they were BBQ'ed. The baked potato with choice of meat was huge and a meal in itself with cheese and sour cream. The famous white sauce was just ok - definitely unique being mayo-based and an acquired taste. Likewise, the cole slaw was finely diced with a vinegar-based sauce - don't get the family bucket, if you're not adventurous. The beans and potato were delicious compliments to the meaty goodness. Prices were decent - $45 for full rack rib platter, BBQ sampler, and baked potato. Yes, you can call me fatso.
(4)Joe W.
On my last night in Huntsville, I decided to make the trek to Decatur to try what many have said is the best BBQ in Huntsville. Of course, BBQ is to Huntsville as poke is to Hawaii: everyone has very different opinions about who has the best! In my limited Alabama-inspired BBQ experience, I'd say this place had the best ribs and chicken. Big Bob Gibson is said to be the original founder of the Gibson BBQ tradition dating back to 1925, when the smell of his BBQ supposedly drew people from miles away. 75 years and 4 generations later, his family still carries on the tradition. I'd say they carry it on rather well, seeing as how they regularly win first place in NBBQA competitions for their sauces. I ordered the pork rib and chicken. My friend ordered the beef brisket and chicken, so obviously I stole some of his brisket so I could Yelp about it! The pork ribs were the most tender, flavor ribs I've ever had! The term "falling off the bone" is an understatement. The sauce tasted vinegar-based and was sweet and tangy. The chicken was tender and juicy, and tasted like it had been marinated in different vinegar-based marinade. I've never known chicken to fall off the bone, but it did! Yelpers recommend using the white sauce on the chicken, but the white sauce wasn't as great to me as the original. The beef brisket was really good by itself, having a subtle smoky flavor, and did not need any sauce at all. I've read complaints about it being dry, but it definitely was juicy when I was there. They do something pretty unique with coleslaw--It's also vinegar-based and definitely has cilintro in it. It's finely chopped, as if it was put through a food processor. This is definitely a cool take on cole slaw, but I wasn't as excited about this as their meat dishes. I wasn't too excited about thier beans either. Somehow, I was able to fit a "lemon icebox pie" in my stomach after all of that. This delicious dessert is similar to a lemon merengue pie, except the lemon filling tasted like it was mixed with condensed milk (or similar) because it was creamy, sweet, and delicious! The service was especially accomodating and pleasnt. Our server felt bad for giving me a small piece of pie, so she ended up giving me a whole extra slice for free! On the way out, we ended up buying some bottles of the Champion Gibson's BBQ red sauce! I can now go back home having tasted what North Alabama BBQ is all about.
(5)Sally H.
Yum, Yum, Yum!! Best pulled pork anywhere!! White sauce to die for!! Go with a big appetite!!!
(5)kevin g.
I love BBQ, I am a competitive BBQ'er and this is my Graceland. For those who have not tried white BBQ sauce please make the effort to check it out, Big Bob Gibson (the founder) is really credited with making this style of BBQ famous. I love the food here, we have been fortunate enough to get the potatoes as well as pretty much every other item on the menu. Of the 4 times I have eaten there I have only had one not awesome experience and that was staff that was just not paying attention to correct seating order and other small rookie mistakes. The other funny thing is that BBG's is world famous for the pork shoulder but in my opinion the Brisket is some of the best I have ever had, and my wife said the turkey was far superior to any other smoked turkey she had ever had. So I guess I am saying that BBG is not a one trick pony. So to sum up, the food is great, get there early and expect a line and roll the dice on service.
(4)Mike G.
This is what barbecue is about! I met Chris Lilly & Don Mclemore at a cook off in Dillard, GA many years ago. They wee so nice I decided the next time I went to Alabama I would go there. I have been going ever since when I see my family in Huntsville. The ribs are awesome. I have been to Memphis and had ribs at the most famous of places and these are better. The pulled pork is very very good. The baked potatos with barbecue are huge and a meal by themselves. This is one of the must go to barbecue spots for anyone who loves BBQ. An important note, save room for pie. The lemon icebox pie was the capstone to a phenomenal meal. If you enjoy cooking your own barbecue buy a copy of their book on the way ou the door. There is simply not a bad recipe in the book.
(5)annie h.
Best pie ever! This place should really be "Pie! Pie! Pie! & BBQ too" Drove here from Huntsville while visiting the area from work. Definitely worth the 30 mile drive. Between me and my boss we order Just about everything on the menu, BBQ was good but I've equal or better, mainly because of the style not the quality. The pies were definitely better. Meats in loose order of deliciousness: Ribs - smoked perfectly sweet red sauce that's a little tangy, no heat. Brisket - smoked meat not too much done to it. Juicy, smokey, 'nuff said. Smoked turkey breast - juicy smokey, not a huge fane of turkey but it's good. Pulled pork - toss up with the turkey. Vinegary mustard sauce kind of lowered the rating. It's like a lame version of Carolina style mustard sauce, touch of heat. Chicken - was absolutely average. Better with the white sauce which tastes like a tangy middle eastern/ mediterranean yogurt sauce. I think it's made with vinager and buttermilk. No heat. We decided to end the meal with a slice of coconut cream pie. It was amazing. Silky coconut pudding/custard, flaky pie crust, meringue topping with toasted coconut flakes. It was so good we ordered a slice of the lemon pie and a whole chocolate to go. Lemon custard was silky but on the sweet side and very rich.
(4)Tracy K.
Great food with affordable prices. They serve the biggest stuff potatoes around. They win a lot of food contest for their food and sauces. Got to try them, their great.
(5)Sandy L.
Oh dear... I'm a 100lb girl, but when I got the combo ribs & briskets here I ate like a 200lb man. And then finished it all off with a pecan pie. If you want fall-off-the-bone ribs slathered in tangy bar-b-q sauce, this is it. Every thing has big bold flavors: the cole slaw is unlike any other - a lot more shredded and tangy - which balances and cuts through the grease of the meat nicely. The baked beans is sweet and rich. We went early on a Friday afternoon and didn't have any problems getting a seat. Our server was super friendly and even gave us an extra piece of pecan pie, which was so delicious we finished it off even though we were stuffed.
(4)Charles G.
The best barbecue potato in the area. Nothing bad to say about it at all, unless it's the bread (which is free, so why complain?), but even that is fine once sopped in the white sauce!
(5)Paul H.
Really good Barbeque. I will visit again when I get back in the area. Paul
(4)Neal M.
BBQ is a very very divisive thing. At least I found this out after moving to Austin, Texas five years ago. I grew up in southern Mississippi and other than backyard bbq with the sauce slathered all over the meat and getting caramelized and crusted on, I am most familiar with smoked meat with a thick, dark, sweet sauce with a hint of heat. Upon moving to Texas I found out that depending on where you're at you could get bbq with no sauce at all or mostly a tomato based sauce can be completely two dimensional or they put a few extra spices in it for a bit more depth. This said, my favorite bbq place at home is a place with a mustard based sauce. I recently spent a week with friends in Huntsville and they decided to take me to Big Bob Gibsons on my last night there. There are a few things to note about this place. Before I even stepped foot in the building I had seen their "white sauce" they use for their chicken and their normal sauce at the store. I also heard a friend say a family member "makes" his mother bring him bbq from here every trip to the coast. Another thing worth noting is that in TX you pretty much can't get pulled pork. It's just not something they do. Also, they served a hot dish called "Brunswick stew". I believe i saw Guy Fieri eat it on some tv show and was intrigued. Needless to say, I was really excited about eating here. I opted for the three meat plate and chose brisket, pulled pork and chicken breast with double baked beans. My friends got other things like turkey, cole slaw and the brunswick stew. Something of note, they don't sauce their meat at all. It's all on the table on the side. I guess that's a good thing but man, that plate was FULL of food! The brisket was all kinds of tasty. Not too lean, good smoke flavor but not heavily seasoned. The pulled pork was outstanding! Unfortunately, I didn't finish either of those and didn't get a chance to eat my leftovers. The beans were delicious and pretty standard for southern style baked beans. I tried the stew and it was all kinds of interesting. Nothing i'd go out of my way for but definitely something i could see myself getting on a cold winter night. On to the chicken. You guys should know that I LOATHE "bbq chicken". I think it's cheating, an easy out and just typically, I find it dry and just gross. I HAD to try the white bbq chicken though. I HAD TO! That piece of chicken got CLEANED! I just tore pieces off and put the sauce on it per piece and man oh man, It was some of THE BEST chicken i've ever had. Hands down. For the price they give you a pickle spear and some dinner rolls. I would've been just fine with some white bread *I'm a Texas transplant after all*. Overall it was around $15 for three meats, two sides and a pickle and some rolls. You guys have NO IDEA how bummed I was to throw it away before leaving my buddies house for my flight. I really wish I had it right now that I'm back in ATX. One last thing! They had a MULTITUDE of sauces to choose from! Regular, Spicy, White for chicken AND a vinegar sauce for the pork, if you desire. With so many choices, how can you NOT like this place!?
(5)Christie H.
I recently moved to the Florence area and had decided to go to Decatur to look around and do some exploring of the town. With Yelp as my guide, I decided to eat dinner here. I had read many good reviews raving about the BBQ and had heard from people that I met in Florence that it was worth checking out. What I discovered is that it was all hype....it didn't live up to the expectations I had set for the place....at all! I had the regular barbecue sandwich, as did my fiance. The 1st dissapointment was the discovery of chips as a side item as opposed to french fries. Next, the barbecue was dry...very dry. I swear I had to use a half bottle of white sauce for the sandwich. I wasn't all that crazy about the red sauce. On the flip side, the service was great, the white sauce was off the chain, and the cole slaw was not too bad. It was pretty cheap too, which is always a plus for a couple of college kids! :) I've learned that as a rule, if you have more "awards" plastered on your wall than other decorations, it's usually the first sign that you will be disappointed. Did I place too many expectations on the restauraunt? Maybe. Did I hit them up on a bad night? Possibly. Will I eat there again? Idk....It's not too likely.
(2)K M.
The pork has won at Memphis in May however, I'm not a huge fan. I've tried it once but it was a little dry and didn't have a ton of flavor but maybe my expectations were just too high? The turkey is AMAZING though. I'm willing to make the 45 minute drive just for the turkey and of course I have to bring a pound or two of it home to freeze. The only sides they have are slaw, baked beans, chips, pickles, and potato salad so I wish there were a few more options however the turkey makes up for all of it. The brunswick stew is also fantastic. Definitely worth trying. Try the white sauce and the habanero sauce.
(4)Jason K.
I didn't think I'd love a mouth full of bob's white sauce, but once it was in there I swallowed. And I don't regret it.
(5)Matt W.
Awesome BBQ - certainly the best in the area and arguably the best in the country.
(5)Johnny B.
Excellent BBQ! This was my first visit to this place and I was very impressed. Despite being a busy lunchtime, the food came out quickly, hot and delicious. Easily the best pulled pork I have ever had in a restaurant. The wait staff was friendly and helpful, the place is very clean. This is the real deal folks, when in Decatur, it should be on your list of must try!
(4)Bryan H.
The dry rub ribs are as good as everyone says. We didn't have time to eat here so we called it in and picked it up. Timing was really good too, and the had the order quickly.
(4)Gordon M.
I have been several times now. I am never that impressed. I have had better BBQ elsewhere, i.e. Rendezvous in Memphis and Arthur Bryant's in Kansas CIty. This time I had the Stuffed baked potato with, what I though would be BBQ chicken. It just looked like normal white chicken and almost looked if it was on there by accident. about 4 or 5 little bits of chicken. There is nothing that special about the white sauce. I am going to look elsewhere now. Definitely not worth the 25 min drive from Huntsville.
(2)Scott K.
The only thing I have eaten here is the loaded BBQ chicken potato which is very good. I have never tried white BBQ sauce until I ate here. I am now a fan of the white sauce, but may not be for everybody. If your in the area...give it a try.
(3)Andrea Y.
How cow... or let me rephrase- holy pig, holy turkey, holy baked potato! 2 of us shared the BBQ Feast platter, substituting the sides for a loaded baked potato. There was enough left for 2 more people. The ribs and turkey rocked- could have passed on pulled pork and beef brisquet. Coconut cream pie was divine and actually 2 slices. Wear loose pants, preferably a mumu and don't eat for 2 days beforehand. My dining partner said that we were experiencing the local culture- I agreed on the local part- not much culture going on. Highly recommend!
(4)Terry N.
Been there twice both times I ordered stew. Don't waste your money it's nothing more then watered down styrofoam cup no meat or veggies. Don't even ask for extra crackers they want to charge more and wont put them in the bag.
(1)Kevin L.
The food was WAY overpriced for the portion size (BBQ plate). The waitress was just short of hateful. The BBQ is mediocre, but if you leave without tasting the potato salad, then you have lost out. I could eat their potato salad all day. I live very close to Memphis. I know Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q took swept up awards at the Memphis in May BBQ Cook-off so I was really expecting better.
(2)Chay O.
Drove here from Atlanta just to eat! And this place didn't disappoint! Great white sauce.
(5)Sharon S.
We had a group of family come to town that included 3 teenage boys and we thought this would be a good idea for them to try Big Bob's. This was our first time eating there as well. We got it for take out. We got two family packs. One was of pork and one of beef bbq. I like the flavor of the meat. The coleslaw was not bad. I hate coleslaw, so that's something. The potato salad was good. The brunswick stew was not good, to me. It tastes fine, but is not the kind I like. The pieces of veggies in it are too big and the taste is bland and not what I prefer from Atlanta, my home town. I do not like that you can not substitute sides on their family packs. That sucks! We don't like coleslaw and don't want chips, but that is what you get with the one pound of meat family packs. Sucky! Even with having to order extra sides, like potato salad and baked beans, which were pretty good( too sweet for my tastes, but the boys loved them), the price was still alright for feeding 8 people. I did not go pick it up, so unsure about all of that information. I will give them another shot on a smaller basis again.
(4)Emily M.
Yum! BBQ pork was really tasty. Had a few different sauces to complement the BBQ, and they were all very good. Had many awards posted throughout restaurant. Would most definitely visit again.
(4)Debby R.
Not sure if I should start off with the positive or negative, so here we go! The flys are very annoying and what were they thinking with the green coleslaw. The ribs were moist, meaty and delicious. The pulled pork and brisket were very good. I can definitely see why they have won so many awards.
(4)Lisa J.
Came all the way from Boston.....it was well worth it! We have been to Big Bobs Decatur location at least six times. The BBQ potato with Turkey is AMAZING! I do not eat pork so I have only had their turkey and chicken dishes which by the way are so very tasty. The most amazing thing about our visits to Big Bob's is the appetite on my two year old. He seriously would not eat food. After an hour in Big Bob's and one pork plate later my son became quite the little BBQ fan! During the remainder of of future stays, he begged us to take him Big Bob's for every single meal! In my mind, Big Bob's lives up to all the hype. The staff is ultra friendly, the patrons are very sociable and the restaurant has that down home atmosphere you would expect of a Southern BBQ joint.
(4)Jim P.
Stopped for dinner on our way down to Florida. Its about 10-15 minutes West off I-65. Very good barbeque. Unfortunately at 5:30PM they were sold out of beef brisket. Enjoyed the pulled pork. Totally surprised by the BBQ turkey, it was my favorite. Good selection of sauces. I liked their mustard sauce the best, personally not a fan of their famous white sauce. Service was excellent. Everyone very friendly, making you feel like you're a regular. Quick service too - if you need to get back on the road fast.
(4)Steve C.
Everybody has to make a visit here. BBQ I okay. Personally I'd prefer Whitt's or Perrins.
(4)Olivia D.
this is a childhood favorite of mine. So it is hard to give a bad review at all for here. The stuffed bake potato is awesome. All the BBQ is great. Gotta love the white sauce perfect for the chicken. Now here is where the review is mixed. I personal LOVE the sweet tea. My hubby says you must need a shot of insulin to drink it ... with every single drink you take.. but he isnt southern so i digress... The pies here are very good. I suggest the coconut or chocolate. Lemon not so much. This is def a place to stop and try. I make sure to stop by every time I go home.
(5)Clint M.
I've never had the chicken here...the pork is good...but this deserves 5 stars because the ribs are perfectly done, very meaty, very flavorfull and Big Bob Gibson's red sauce is the very best barbecue sauce out there. (sorry Saltlick). Oh, and get the bbq baked potato. It's legit!
(5)David P.
Does not live up to any hype you've heard from anyone who lives in Decatur. The chopped pork and the ribs are dry and nearly flavorless. HOWEVER, there is something here that is so completely exceptional that this place deserves at least 4 stars. It is the BBQ turkey sammich. It is completely juicy and has the best smoked flavor I've ever had. Hands down, it is the best (only?) reason to go here.
(4)Bo C.
This is BBQ. I can't stress this enough. Make a road trip. Do it. Pulled Pork, Beef, Turkey, Chicken, you name it. I'm pretty convinced that Big Bob could BBQ a 6 week old dead sea otter and it still be lip smackingly delicious. If it's anything I miss about Alabama it's this place. They've got the awards to back me up, and I usually have someone mail me bottles of their sauces when I run out. Hell, even Food Networks own Paula Dean did a show where she made Bob Gibson White sauce (Here's the recipe: foodnetwork.com/food/rec… ) The service is always fast, even when they are packed. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a southern BBQ joint, and I don't need to go any further about the food. My favorite: Loaded BBQ Chicken Baked Potato. Here is their website, not sure why Yelp doesn't have it listed. bigbobgibsonbbq.com
(5)antoin k.
Lunch at Big Bobs was great! Ribs well cooked, great flavor and tender. Chicken and Brisket the same. I was able to try the white BBQ sauce and didn't care for it but the regular BBQ sauce was good. Large portions for inexpensive prices. Well worth the trip and will return if in the area.
(5)David H.
definitely a staple in our town,everyone loves this place,it does have good food,but not world famous bbq you are expecting,for that u would have to follow thier bbq team around to get it.what u see on tv or elsewhere concernig them,this is totally diff. than the rest, yes its good food not great and overpriced desserts, yeah its good but c'mon its not world famous taste, but you will get world famous southern hospitality.
(3)min. r.
I'd like to write a positive, 5 star review for Gibson's. I really would. Their ribs are great, their white sauce is stocked by the bottle in our Chicago apt. for dinners of chicken, and the BF gets excited every time Gibson's is a dinner option. It's just a shame that their staff & planning is vastly inferior to their food - when you can get it. For a restaurant that's world-renowned for their bbq, has won more awards than one could count and is constantly busy, you'd think they'd have a basic idea about food prep and planning. But, alas, this simply isn't the case. In our 2 visits to Decatur in the past few months we've tried to get baked potatoes no less than 4 times at one location, and twice at the other. From snippy staff on the phone, to staff that couldn't be bothered at the drive thrus and counters, each and every time we were told that they were out of baked potatoes. If the lack of baked potatoes in 6 tries wasn't infuriating enough, the un-apologetic staff made the whole thing even worse! How is this possible at 4 in the afternoon on a Friday of a non-holiday weekend (one of the numerous times we tried)? When questioned about when they would have any, we were told that there wouldn't be any others that day. Seriously? This happened 3 days in a row, and 2 visits in a row. Then there was the time we called to see if they had any potatoes and were told on the phone that there were. When we got to the 6th Ave. location (5 minutes later), we were told there weren't any, and it wasn't their problem we were told on the phone that there were. Awesome. Well done. We've been back in Chicago for weeks now and I still can't get over it. How in the world do you constantly run out of baked potatoes? This is clearly a longstanding problem, as it happened first in December and then again in June. Time to get your staff and planning under control Gibson's. And when you're out of something, at least pretend to care and be apologetic. Or, get off your asses and go make some more damn baked potatoes.
(2)G L.
Oh Big Bob how I miss you and your slathery, wonderful pig in a potato patch!!! After a short stint living in Decatur 10+ years ago, then moving of all places to Memphis - king of bbq, and then later on to Atlanta, I still miss you. The white BBQ sauce is bar none. I'd pine for you to show up at the Memphis-in-May festival for just a taste. I miss the little wooden chairs and crowded tables at lunchtime and the friendliness of the staff. This is the stuff. If you find yourself in Decatur AL, find yourself some of this!
(4)Christine O.
Have never had such tasty BBQ anywhere, before or since. The white BBQ sauce is my favorite - although the meat on its own is so tasty you don't NEED sauce. I lived in Decatur as a child but was too young to remember this place - came back on business several years ago and was hooked!
(5)Neal M.
BBQ is a very very divisive thing. At least I found this out after moving to Austin, Texas five years ago. I grew up in southern Mississippi and other than backyard bbq with the sauce slathered all over the meat and getting caramelized and crusted on, I am most familiar with smoked meat with a thick, dark, sweet sauce with a hint of heat. Upon moving to Texas I found out that depending on where you're at you could get bbq with no sauce at all or mostly a tomato based sauce can be completely two dimensional or they put a few extra spices in it for a bit more depth. This said, my favorite bbq place at home is a place with a mustard based sauce. I recently spent a week with friends in Huntsville and they decided to take me to Big Bob Gibsons on my last night there. There are a few things to note about this place. Before I even stepped foot in the building I had seen their "white sauce" they use for their chicken and their normal sauce at the store. I also heard a friend say a family member "makes" his mother bring him bbq from here every trip to the coast. Another thing worth noting is that in TX you pretty much can't get pulled pork. It's just not something they do. Also, they served a hot dish called "Brunswick stew". I believe i saw Guy Fieri eat it on some tv show and was intrigued. Needless to say, I was really excited about eating here. I opted for the three meat plate and chose brisket, pulled pork and chicken breast with double baked beans. My friends got other things like turkey, cole slaw and the brunswick stew. Something of note, they don't sauce their meat at all. It's all on the table on the side. I guess that's a good thing but man, that plate was FULL of food! The brisket was all kinds of tasty. Not too lean, good smoke flavor but not heavily seasoned. The pulled pork was outstanding! Unfortunately, I didn't finish either of those and didn't get a chance to eat my leftovers. The beans were delicious and pretty standard for southern style baked beans. I tried the stew and it was all kinds of interesting. Nothing i'd go out of my way for but definitely something i could see myself getting on a cold winter night. On to the chicken. You guys should know that I LOATHE "bbq chicken". I think it's cheating, an easy out and just typically, I find it dry and just gross. I HAD to try the white bbq chicken though. I HAD TO! That piece of chicken got CLEANED! I just tore pieces off and put the sauce on it per piece and man oh man, It was some of THE BEST chicken i've ever had. Hands down. For the price they give you a pickle spear and some dinner rolls. I would've been just fine with some white bread *I'm a Texas transplant after all*. Overall it was around $15 for three meats, two sides and a pickle and some rolls. You guys have NO IDEA how bummed I was to throw it away before leaving my buddies house for my flight. I really wish I had it right now that I'm back in ATX. One last thing! They had a MULTITUDE of sauces to choose from! Regular, Spicy, White for chicken AND a vinegar sauce for the pork, if you desire. With so many choices, how can you NOT like this place!?
(5)annie h.
Best pie ever! This place should really be "Pie! Pie! Pie! & BBQ too" Drove here from Huntsville while visiting the area from work. Definitely worth the 30 mile drive. Between me and my boss we order Just about everything on the menu, BBQ was good but I've equal or better, mainly because of the style not the quality. The pies were definitely better. Meats in loose order of deliciousness: Ribs - smoked perfectly sweet red sauce that's a little tangy, no heat. Brisket - smoked meat not too much done to it. Juicy, smokey, 'nuff said. Smoked turkey breast - juicy smokey, not a huge fane of turkey but it's good. Pulled pork - toss up with the turkey. Vinegary mustard sauce kind of lowered the rating. It's like a lame version of Carolina style mustard sauce, touch of heat. Chicken - was absolutely average. Better with the white sauce which tastes like a tangy middle eastern/ mediterranean yogurt sauce. I think it's made with vinager and buttermilk. No heat. We decided to end the meal with a slice of coconut cream pie. It was amazing. Silky coconut pudding/custard, flaky pie crust, meringue topping with toasted coconut flakes. It was so good we ordered a slice of the lemon pie and a whole chocolate to go. Lemon custard was silky but on the sweet side and very rich.
(4)Tracy K.
Great food with affordable prices. They serve the biggest stuff potatoes around. They win a lot of food contest for their food and sauces. Got to try them, their great.
(5)Sandy L.
Oh dear... I'm a 100lb girl, but when I got the combo ribs & briskets here I ate like a 200lb man. And then finished it all off with a pecan pie. If you want fall-off-the-bone ribs slathered in tangy bar-b-q sauce, this is it. Every thing has big bold flavors: the cole slaw is unlike any other - a lot more shredded and tangy - which balances and cuts through the grease of the meat nicely. The baked beans is sweet and rich. We went early on a Friday afternoon and didn't have any problems getting a seat. Our server was super friendly and even gave us an extra piece of pecan pie, which was so delicious we finished it off even though we were stuffed.
(4)Charles G.
The best barbecue potato in the area. Nothing bad to say about it at all, unless it's the bread (which is free, so why complain?), but even that is fine once sopped in the white sauce!
(5)Paul H.
Really good Barbeque. I will visit again when I get back in the area. Paul
(4)Scott K.
The only thing I have eaten here is the loaded BBQ chicken potato which is very good. I have never tried white BBQ sauce until I ate here. I am now a fan of the white sauce, but may not be for everybody. If your in the area...give it a try.
(3)Christie H.
I recently moved to the Florence area and had decided to go to Decatur to look around and do some exploring of the town. With Yelp as my guide, I decided to eat dinner here. I had read many good reviews raving about the BBQ and had heard from people that I met in Florence that it was worth checking out. What I discovered is that it was all hype....it didn't live up to the expectations I had set for the place....at all! I had the regular barbecue sandwich, as did my fiance. The 1st dissapointment was the discovery of chips as a side item as opposed to french fries. Next, the barbecue was dry...very dry. I swear I had to use a half bottle of white sauce for the sandwich. I wasn't all that crazy about the red sauce. On the flip side, the service was great, the white sauce was off the chain, and the cole slaw was not too bad. It was pretty cheap too, which is always a plus for a couple of college kids! :) I've learned that as a rule, if you have more "awards" plastered on your wall than other decorations, it's usually the first sign that you will be disappointed. Did I place too many expectations on the restauraunt? Maybe. Did I hit them up on a bad night? Possibly. Will I eat there again? Idk....It's not too likely.
(2)K M.
The pork has won at Memphis in May however, I'm not a huge fan. I've tried it once but it was a little dry and didn't have a ton of flavor but maybe my expectations were just too high? The turkey is AMAZING though. I'm willing to make the 45 minute drive just for the turkey and of course I have to bring a pound or two of it home to freeze. The only sides they have are slaw, baked beans, chips, pickles, and potato salad so I wish there were a few more options however the turkey makes up for all of it. The brunswick stew is also fantastic. Definitely worth trying. Try the white sauce and the habanero sauce.
(4)Jason K.
I didn't think I'd love a mouth full of bob's white sauce, but once it was in there I swallowed. And I don't regret it.
(5)Matt W.
Awesome BBQ - certainly the best in the area and arguably the best in the country.
(5)Johnny B.
Excellent BBQ! This was my first visit to this place and I was very impressed. Despite being a busy lunchtime, the food came out quickly, hot and delicious. Easily the best pulled pork I have ever had in a restaurant. The wait staff was friendly and helpful, the place is very clean. This is the real deal folks, when in Decatur, it should be on your list of must try!
(4)Bryan H.
The dry rub ribs are as good as everyone says. We didn't have time to eat here so we called it in and picked it up. Timing was really good too, and the had the order quickly.
(4)Gordon M.
I have been several times now. I am never that impressed. I have had better BBQ elsewhere, i.e. Rendezvous in Memphis and Arthur Bryant's in Kansas CIty. This time I had the Stuffed baked potato with, what I though would be BBQ chicken. It just looked like normal white chicken and almost looked if it was on there by accident. about 4 or 5 little bits of chicken. There is nothing that special about the white sauce. I am going to look elsewhere now. Definitely not worth the 25 min drive from Huntsville.
(2)Chay O.
Drove here from Atlanta just to eat! And this place didn't disappoint! Great white sauce.
(5)Sharon S.
We had a group of family come to town that included 3 teenage boys and we thought this would be a good idea for them to try Big Bob's. This was our first time eating there as well. We got it for take out. We got two family packs. One was of pork and one of beef bbq. I like the flavor of the meat. The coleslaw was not bad. I hate coleslaw, so that's something. The potato salad was good. The brunswick stew was not good, to me. It tastes fine, but is not the kind I like. The pieces of veggies in it are too big and the taste is bland and not what I prefer from Atlanta, my home town. I do not like that you can not substitute sides on their family packs. That sucks! We don't like coleslaw and don't want chips, but that is what you get with the one pound of meat family packs. Sucky! Even with having to order extra sides, like potato salad and baked beans, which were pretty good( too sweet for my tastes, but the boys loved them), the price was still alright for feeding 8 people. I did not go pick it up, so unsure about all of that information. I will give them another shot on a smaller basis again.
(4)Emily M.
Yum! BBQ pork was really tasty. Had a few different sauces to complement the BBQ, and they were all very good. Had many awards posted throughout restaurant. Would most definitely visit again.
(4)Debby R.
Not sure if I should start off with the positive or negative, so here we go! The flys are very annoying and what were they thinking with the green coleslaw. The ribs were moist, meaty and delicious. The pulled pork and brisket were very good. I can definitely see why they have won so many awards.
(4)Lisa J.
Came all the way from Boston.....it was well worth it! We have been to Big Bobs Decatur location at least six times. The BBQ potato with Turkey is AMAZING! I do not eat pork so I have only had their turkey and chicken dishes which by the way are so very tasty. The most amazing thing about our visits to Big Bob's is the appetite on my two year old. He seriously would not eat food. After an hour in Big Bob's and one pork plate later my son became quite the little BBQ fan! During the remainder of of future stays, he begged us to take him Big Bob's for every single meal! In my mind, Big Bob's lives up to all the hype. The staff is ultra friendly, the patrons are very sociable and the restaurant has that down home atmosphere you would expect of a Southern BBQ joint.
(4)Jim P.
Stopped for dinner on our way down to Florida. Its about 10-15 minutes West off I-65. Very good barbeque. Unfortunately at 5:30PM they were sold out of beef brisket. Enjoyed the pulled pork. Totally surprised by the BBQ turkey, it was my favorite. Good selection of sauces. I liked their mustard sauce the best, personally not a fan of their famous white sauce. Service was excellent. Everyone very friendly, making you feel like you're a regular. Quick service too - if you need to get back on the road fast.
(4)Steve C.
Everybody has to make a visit here. BBQ I okay. Personally I'd prefer Whitt's or Perrins.
(4)Olivia D.
this is a childhood favorite of mine. So it is hard to give a bad review at all for here. The stuffed bake potato is awesome. All the BBQ is great. Gotta love the white sauce perfect for the chicken. Now here is where the review is mixed. I personal LOVE the sweet tea. My hubby says you must need a shot of insulin to drink it ... with every single drink you take.. but he isnt southern so i digress... The pies here are very good. I suggest the coconut or chocolate. Lemon not so much. This is def a place to stop and try. I make sure to stop by every time I go home.
(5)Clint M.
I've never had the chicken here...the pork is good...but this deserves 5 stars because the ribs are perfectly done, very meaty, very flavorfull and Big Bob Gibson's red sauce is the very best barbecue sauce out there. (sorry Saltlick). Oh, and get the bbq baked potato. It's legit!
(5)David P.
Does not live up to any hype you've heard from anyone who lives in Decatur. The chopped pork and the ribs are dry and nearly flavorless. HOWEVER, there is something here that is so completely exceptional that this place deserves at least 4 stars. It is the BBQ turkey sammich. It is completely juicy and has the best smoked flavor I've ever had. Hands down, it is the best (only?) reason to go here.
(4)Bo C.
This is BBQ. I can't stress this enough. Make a road trip. Do it. Pulled Pork, Beef, Turkey, Chicken, you name it. I'm pretty convinced that Big Bob could BBQ a 6 week old dead sea otter and it still be lip smackingly delicious. If it's anything I miss about Alabama it's this place. They've got the awards to back me up, and I usually have someone mail me bottles of their sauces when I run out. Hell, even Food Networks own Paula Dean did a show where she made Bob Gibson White sauce (Here's the recipe: foodnetwork.com/food/rec… ) The service is always fast, even when they are packed. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a southern BBQ joint, and I don't need to go any further about the food. My favorite: Loaded BBQ Chicken Baked Potato. Here is their website, not sure why Yelp doesn't have it listed. bigbobgibsonbbq.com
(5)antoin k.
Lunch at Big Bobs was great! Ribs well cooked, great flavor and tender. Chicken and Brisket the same. I was able to try the white BBQ sauce and didn't care for it but the regular BBQ sauce was good. Large portions for inexpensive prices. Well worth the trip and will return if in the area.
(5)David H.
definitely a staple in our town,everyone loves this place,it does have good food,but not world famous bbq you are expecting,for that u would have to follow thier bbq team around to get it.what u see on tv or elsewhere concernig them,this is totally diff. than the rest, yes its good food not great and overpriced desserts, yeah its good but c'mon its not world famous taste, but you will get world famous southern hospitality.
(3)min. r.
I'd like to write a positive, 5 star review for Gibson's. I really would. Their ribs are great, their white sauce is stocked by the bottle in our Chicago apt. for dinners of chicken, and the BF gets excited every time Gibson's is a dinner option. It's just a shame that their staff & planning is vastly inferior to their food - when you can get it. For a restaurant that's world-renowned for their bbq, has won more awards than one could count and is constantly busy, you'd think they'd have a basic idea about food prep and planning. But, alas, this simply isn't the case. In our 2 visits to Decatur in the past few months we've tried to get baked potatoes no less than 4 times at one location, and twice at the other. From snippy staff on the phone, to staff that couldn't be bothered at the drive thrus and counters, each and every time we were told that they were out of baked potatoes. If the lack of baked potatoes in 6 tries wasn't infuriating enough, the un-apologetic staff made the whole thing even worse! How is this possible at 4 in the afternoon on a Friday of a non-holiday weekend (one of the numerous times we tried)? When questioned about when they would have any, we were told that there wouldn't be any others that day. Seriously? This happened 3 days in a row, and 2 visits in a row. Then there was the time we called to see if they had any potatoes and were told on the phone that there were. When we got to the 6th Ave. location (5 minutes later), we were told there weren't any, and it wasn't their problem we were told on the phone that there were. Awesome. Well done. We've been back in Chicago for weeks now and I still can't get over it. How in the world do you constantly run out of baked potatoes? This is clearly a longstanding problem, as it happened first in December and then again in June. Time to get your staff and planning under control Gibson's. And when you're out of something, at least pretend to care and be apologetic. Or, get off your asses and go make some more damn baked potatoes.
(2)G L.
Oh Big Bob how I miss you and your slathery, wonderful pig in a potato patch!!! After a short stint living in Decatur 10+ years ago, then moving of all places to Memphis - king of bbq, and then later on to Atlanta, I still miss you. The white BBQ sauce is bar none. I'd pine for you to show up at the Memphis-in-May festival for just a taste. I miss the little wooden chairs and crowded tables at lunchtime and the friendliness of the staff. This is the stuff. If you find yourself in Decatur AL, find yourself some of this!
(4)Christine O.
Have never had such tasty BBQ anywhere, before or since. The white BBQ sauce is my favorite - although the meat on its own is so tasty you don't NEED sauce. I lived in Decatur as a child but was too young to remember this place - came back on business several years ago and was hooked!
(5)Valerie C.
Dinner on a Saturday night.....large group of pre-teen girls with a softball team, completely out of control...table was completely sticky. Introduced an out of town guest who had heard about it on the Food Network. Order the beef brisket platter and the meat was good, the coleslaw was AWFUL - no taste but vinegar and the green beans were mushy and stringy. Now I remember why it's a once a year place. Server was friendly and efficient and the tea was awesome. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)Pete Z.
Really good stuff here. Brisket and pork combo plate was awesome. Greens and kettle beans very good as well. The star was the smoked wings, really good. And the 2 meat combo is like 10 bucks with 2 sides. But shame on me I forgot to try the white sauce!
(4)Adam B.
This place reminds me of my childhood growing up in Decatur! I have always had a love of Big Bob Gibson's bbq. I've enjoyed them since i was very little. We use to get their bbq, beans, slaw, and pies for family functions, always pleased! Their loaded baked potatoes are HUGE and stuffed full of bbq! I hope to go back here soon and try it out, hope its still as good as it was last time I ate there! BTW, the smoked chicken is world famous, GET THE WHITE SAUCE!!!
(5)Bob K.
Great BBQ! Top 10 restaurant in Decatur for sure, especially since Wendy's closed. But seriously...don't miss it.
(5)Brian C.
Despite the walls of trophies, don't expect much in terms of flavor. I went for the pork plate and while generous, there was no smoky flavor, just tender, bland meat. The greens were good. The potato salad was WAY too mayonnaise rich for me. The best thing for me was the service and the coconut cream pie.
(2)Been B.
Of all the BBQ places we tried in our 6 day south journey, Big Bob's had the best ribs. The sides were good, but not the best though. Here are the scores: Ribs: 8.5/10 (great dry rub flavor and tender rib meat) BBQ sauce (red); 7/10 (too tangy for me) BBQ sauce (white): 8/10 (good and interesting) Brisket: 7/10 (I prefer it more tender and forked apart) BBQ chicken: 8/10 (tender and good with the white BBQ sauce) French fries: 7/10 (I prefer a crispier fry) Coleslaw: 6/10 (not for me but I could see how many would like it- waitress even admitted that it isn't for everyone) Rolls: 8.5/10 (really enjoyed the dense soft rolls) Mac and cheese: 7/10 (needed more flavor and stiffer noodles)
(4)Harry H.
BABBQBP 2015: Pulled pork sandwich, spicy mustard coleslaw for $9 was quite satisfying but lacked the white sauce. "There's no better place to sample Alabama-style white sauce than at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, where it was invented. Gibson started cooking pork shoulders and chicken in his backyard in 1925 and over the years migrated through a succession of ever-larger restaurants. Pitmaster Chris Lilly carries on the tradition today, cooking pulled pork, St. Louis-cut ribs, beef brisket, and turkey on long brick pits fired solely with hickory coals. Most famous of all is the smooth, smoky barbecued chicken, a splendid stage on which that legendary white sauce can shine."
(4)Julie L.
Finally had a chance to stop in here after reading/seeing so much about it. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. I had the stuffed baked potato with pulled pork - while the overall portion size was big (it's a big potato), the amount of pork on top was kind of sad. The meat was also a little on the dry side and didn't have much flavor. The bacon bits on the potato also tasted and looked like imitation. I know bacon isn't BBQ, but that's not what I expected from a place where meat is their specialty. Service was prompt though, and my food came out quickly. I wanted to like this place, and while I wouldn't call it bad, I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Maybe the chicken or ribs are better.
(3)Paul W.
Had the half rack of ribs. Tasty and perfectly cooked. Fries were very good, if lukewarm. Slaw was different. At first I didn't like it. Then, it grew on me. I ended up eating all of it. LOL! Half rack platter with diet pepsi: 17.41 with tax. I guess when you are on food network, you command a good price. Will try Smokey Cs next time -- very inexpensive according to Yelp. I recommend Big Bobs, however.
(3)Gayle B.
What a great find as we traveled through Alabama on our way to Florida. The portions were more than you could eat and the pork was absolutely delicious. Their special made sauce is just right combination of sweet and tangy. You get to choose two sides along with your meal and a plate full of dinner rolls as well. Total came to $20 even, a great bargain.
(4)Tom D.
If I could give Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q more than a 5 Star Yelp rating, I would. I've had a hankering for a baked potato with Pulled Pork on it for some time now. Well, Big Bob Gibson satisfied that craving today for me at lunch, I was very happy with my "overstuffed masterpiece" (as appropriately described in their menu). But I felt the combo platter that my fiancee ordered for her lunch was even better than my potato. She went with the Big Bob Gibson Combo -- 4 St Louis style ribs and a 1/4 piece of chicken. Chicken was very good, but the ribs were Out-of-this-World Awesome, extremely tasty. A thicker cut rib, fall of the bone meat, some of the best ribs I've ever had. Her collard greens on the plate were very good too. I also had ordered a side dish of Mac & Cheese which I had a hard time finishing because of the generous portion of my potato and the couple of ribs I eaten off my fiancee's plate. But it was excellent also. The best part was yet to come, we decided to order a slice of pie to share for dessert, a piece of coconut custard pie. WOW, you would be hard pressed to find a better slice of pie, extremely tasty. Merengue topping instead of whipped cream, a nice change for a cream pie, we throughly enjoyed it. Also, Crystal, our server was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, it's a must stop when in Decatur.
(5)Holly J.
If you order barbecue pork have them mix in some outside meat. It is much better than the other barbecue joints in town. The coconut pie is absolutely delicious
(4)Meghin E.
Would have been 5 stars but service was lacking on a Saturday. The food here is phenomenal. Honestly, the smoked turkey is the reason I come and keep coming back. Also the homemade pies are to die for. The prices are good for what you get. Regular turkey plate with two sides, pie, and a drink was 20$ with tip. All of the BBQ sauces are great too. I love it here.
(4)Jessica H.
I will not return here. I have no idea how this has won any awards. I was not impressed and I rarely give bad reviews. I met some friends here who heard this was the best of the best so we scoured the menu and made our selections. I heard the smoked turkey was awesome so I got that. They have very few side options, not even fries, so I opted for baked beans and potato salad. When our food arrived, I immediately snapped up the award winning sauce to dunk the turkey in. Fail. That stuff is nasty! All in all, the turkey was very delicious. The sides were not. They weren't even classic flavors, they were just not good. Sorry Big Bob's but I won't be returning. Of all the things on my plate, the turkey was the only thing I did enjoy. And the service. The gal was very on top of things. Andy P. from Hanover (reviewed earlier) said it perfectly: Overall, Big Bob's is a local favorite but both of us wondered if that was more for the service and ambiance rather than for the food itself. Don't get me wrong--this isn't bad BBQ. It just didn't live up to the hype.
(1)Taylor H.
I grew up in the Ozarks and now live in Buffalo, NY, so whenever the whole family is in Decatur for holidays or family reunions, Big Bob Gibson is on the menu. Usually we do take out since the family is so large, but as I'm 1 of two extended-family members who prefer vegetarian meals, I have to say going in and dining was the better experience. As I can expect from most Bar-B-Q places, their vegetarian options are pretty thin, but what is there is excellent! Their salad was fresh and large (well, I thought it was large, my Dad was not impressed) and the side of Mac and Cheese I ordered with it might have been in the top 3 best mac and cheeses I've ever had in my life! It was so good! Not only was the food excellent, but the prices rocked. It goes to show that good food doesn't need to be flashy; really good food just needs to be basic, respected, and it comes out as some of the best eats you'll eat at a great price. Not only that, but the amount of that delicious basic food was more than met the eye. It's dense and very filling; the value is fantastic. The service was great even though the place was packed and our table was a pretty big one. Granted, most of us are women and teenage girls, so a majority of the meals were split, but the guys were really happy with the sampler platters and they got to enjoy a spread of different meats. We also took a chocolate pie to go: So good, that was awesome. My family will always go to Big Bob Gibson, but I can say now that I've been there and got to check out the full menu, I'll be happy to go back!
(4)Sebastian B.
I came here because I purposely visit joints featured on TV, to date I've been to more than 200. I just spent 10 days in KC and went to several noted BBQ joints and sad to say I miss KC. Although Big Bobs meat is overall moist there is little flavor beyond the sauce. I got the big sampler and tried everything except the pulled pork and its good but far from the best. The staff is great the place is dated from the 1950's and the only green thing on the menu is a pickle so don't expect a balanced meal. I'm fighting off flies from my table and the drive thru speaker is really annoying. It's not bad though just get take out. I sort of like the white sauce on the chicken and turkey but not interested in buying a bottle of it. In closing if you want good barbecue and can't do it yourself come here but bring a fly swatter. Here's is a little update, the next day I felt a little weird and by the end of the day I was sick. The gastric distress lasted a solid week and as of today I am not completely back to normal. I have stepped up the acidophilus and controlled my fun food intake along with a daily dose of a probiotic Greek yogurt. This is sad because there were the trappings of some decent meat prep, my guess is the low and slow is to low allowing bacteria growth. I knew the flies were a sign to get up and walk away.
(2)Steven L.
Absolutely the best bar b q in Decatur. I got here about 45 minutes before closing so, I hope they didn't mind. I just got a bar b q pork sandwich and a coke. This order was brought out to me almost immediately. Thus, 5 stars because I was for some reason craving bar b q. They have tables and booths in here. The dining room is a big square cafeteria type setting where you can see everybody. As I was traveling through on my way back to Tennessee, I Yelped the most reviewed restaurant in Decatur. It was also their number one business, and number one restaurant by a long shot. Big Bob Gibson certainly deserves being Number One. Enough said and see ya again.
(5)Barbara P.
8/21/15 My family of 3 decided we wanted to try this famous white sauce that we kept seeing on the Food Network. The chicken did not look like I expected it to with the sauce on it, you really did not see anything except pepper on it. I did not try the chicken but the others in the party must have liked it since it was all picked from the bones. Ages 53, 73 and 35.....driving time from Nashville TN 2 hours each way -TOTALLY worth it. Not many people will drive 4.5 hours to eat lunch but if you are ever close stop in and try it yourself. My mother tried the 1/2 chicken w/ M&C and cole slaw, also got a stuffed potato (no meat) I got the large pork plate with fries and beans and a baked potato (no meat) My son also got the 1/2 chicken w/ beans M&C and a potato stuffed with pork cheese sour cream bacon and chives. That had the be the best pork I have gotten in a long time, absolutely no fat at all in it, was great with or without the BBQ sauce. Had a good smoke taste and was not dry at all. The potatoes were out of this world, wondering where they get them, I was disappointed that I could not finish it but I had to save room for a slice of pie. Hey if I drove that far I wanted to try it all. Got a slice of chocolate and a slice of the peanut butter one. The chocolate one was the best but both were good, you could tell they were homemade from the crust up. 08/22/15 ON a side note, today we went to Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous in Memphis for ribs and BBQ, total failure. inedible food, 8 hour round trip drive and total bill $100.00 Wish I had went back to Alabama, Go Big Bob!!!!
(4)Lori T.
Been coming to this place since before I can remember. Very little has changed...paneling on the wall, simple decor and the trophies. Oh the trophies from all sorts of bar b Que competitions, but most importantly Memphis in May. There are a lot more of those..pork shoulder mainly. The pulled pork is delicious., but in my humble opinion the chicken is truly where it's at...succulent smoked chicken with Bob Gibson's white sauce. I can't help but order It every time. The turkey is great too...it all is. The pies....just yum. Its hard to save room, but you are missing out Of you pass on the lemon ice box. The Mac & cheese is on point as well. Its not overly priced. Hope to go here for many more years to come.
(4)Scott W.
Our first time in Alabama and Big Bobs was recommend. Did not disappoint! Best brisket I've had in a while. White sauce was a nice treat as well. We shared the nachos also very good. Loved the ribs!
(5)G Frank M.
Nothing to write home about. Everything we had, pulled pork, ribs, and sides was only average or less. Was even charged 40 cents for a slice of onion. I would not drive off the interstate to eat there again.
(3)Don S.
I love their white BBQ sauce
(4)Brenda W.
My all time favorite place to eat! EVERYTHING is great! Food, service, price, it's all wonderful! Never come to town without eating here!
(5)Vince H.
The best BBQ in the land. The white sauce is good on the pork, too. Chris Lily is a BBQ genius!
(5)Jared K.
This weekend my wife and I found ourselves heading south to Birmingham so that she could play fairy godmother at the baptism of our friends' cute new baby. As if that wasn't exciting enough on its own, I also managed to talk my way into a lunchtime pit stop (pun very much intended) at Big Bob Gibson's. I've seen Chris Lilly compete on television countless times, and I even have one of his cookbooks on my shelf at home. I was certain that it wouldn't be Chris at the helm today, and I realize that competition barbecue is vastly different from its restaurant-quality cousin. With that in mind, I made sure to temper my expectations appropriately. Given Big Bob Gibson's fame and popularity, I was expecting a hefty Saturday lunch crowd, but we walked in and got a booth at 12:30 with no wait at all. This place has kind of a diner vibe going on. Their awards are prominently displayed right as you walk in the door. There's no need to be humble when you have their credentials. Naturally, I went for the Big Bob Gibson combo: St. Louis-style spare ribs and a quarter chicken. This way I'd get to try both their red and white barbecue sauces. I'm not normally a big sauce guy, but I made an exception today. For my sides, I picked their red skin potato salad and kettle baked beans. The beans were nice and sweet. I found a few bits of pepper mixed in, but I couldn't find any spiciness. The mayo-based potato salad was also fairly tasty. It had a hefty amount of onion, which gave it a good bite. These were both decent sides, but nothing all that special. I was expecting to have my chicken pre-dunked in white sauce, like it is in every television show about Big Bob Gibson's I've ever seen. When I asked the waitress about it, she instead pointed me to the bottle of white sauce on the table. Really? The room-temperature bottled sauce didn't come out as thinly as I had hoped. At least it had a nice vinegary tang to it. The chicken had a crispy skin, though it could have been seasoned a little more. I got dark meat so it didn't dry out very much. There was only a mild smoky taste here. These ribs had a sweet glaze and a good crust, though not much bark. I liked the seasoning blend on the crust too, but there wasn't enough of it. I only found a minimal amount of smoke in the ribs. I was also disappointed that the meat fell right off the bone, while properly cooked rib meat should stay put until each subsequent bite. I added their "championship" red sauce just for kicks. It came from a bottle on the table too. It was good, but there wasn't anything that jumped out at me as overwhelmingly delicious. When we left, we stepped outside into a veritable fog of pit smoke. I wish more of it had found its way into our food. Sadly, I may have once again fallen victim to hype.
(3)Liz D.
Big Bob Gibson's barbecue was the first barbecue place that I had tried when I moved to Alabama and still the only place that I've tried as far as barbecue goes since I've been here. Their food is cooked to perfection the only thing I don't love is the staff can sometimes be rude through the drive-through and I'm not really a fan of the white sauce but I think that's a southern thing.
(4)Buzz D.
Pork sandwich was tender and tasty topped by a unique to me slaw, red sauce was a good complement! Dark meat chicken was tender, juicy and flavorful with a dip in the 'famous' white sauce! Brisket sandwich was ok but needed more smoke for me. Turkey was great, juicy with a little saltiness that was offset perfectly by a dab of the red sauce Lemon pie was the perfect end
(4)Tiffany N.
Went here expecting great things, after seeing things on Food Network about their white sauce. The only thing I can say is, NO to the BBQ sauce. It is nothing more than a slightly more spicy, more liquid ranch dressing. I tried the vinegar based and the tomato based BBQ's too, and I swear they came from Costco. As for my meal I order a soup and a pulled pork platter. The Brunswick stew was mediocre, but the pulled pork was actually nicely smoked and juicy. The BBQ sauces did nothing for the flavor, I ended up eating the pork plain. The sides of hush puppies and fried okra were awful, and the beans were inedible. The highlight of Big Bob's is their super friendly staff. Would not recommend.
(2)Frenchelle T.
First time here and was not surprised. Like most "famous" places the hype was greater than the reality! Did not care for any of their sauces, but their pulled pork was exceptional and the brisket had good flavor but a bit dry. The star of this place are the ribs...they are succulent and so tender you don't have to chew. I will come back for the ribs alone. All in all, it was not a wasted trip.
(3)Eric R.
Best barbecue restaurant I've ever been to so far. This is the most award winning restaurant in Alabama and one of the most award winning barbecue restaurants PERIOD. Love there stuffed potatoes filled, with tons of whatever meat you want in them. There nachos are the best or second best nachos I've ever had in my life.
(5)Teri D.
OMFG. I have been a BBQ Ho my entire life. I NEVER pass up a chance to eat good smoked 'cue and spare ribs. EVER. I have a bucket list of all the really famous BBQ joints in America that I want to try. Big Bob's was on the list because white 'cue sauce sounded weird and impossible so I have been dying to eat here for 15 years. I was in Decatur Alabama to get my new Siamese kittens to see my cousin who is the BEST veterinarian in Alabama. I had some time to kill before I could pick them and I asked my Garmin to find me a place for breakfast and BBG BBQ popped up as 2/10s of a mile away and they open at 930 am. So I headed there and ordered a rack of ribs and some of the white sauce that I had heard so much about but was skeptical of trying. Well, I got my ribs and OMFG were they good. I ate 5 ribs plain (rub here is great--meat tender but with a little "tug") savoring the smoky flavors in the meat and the rub and then ONLY in the spirit of food journalism did I dip a tiny corner of rib in the famous "white sauce" to try. WOW!! It was really really really good and for all the people who think this is a mayo-based sauce, they are wrong. This tangy sauce is not based on mayonnaise at all and that's all I have to say about it. It is delicious and was great on those ribs, but it would be great on any smoked meat and a lot of other things too. I ate that entire slab of ribs for breakfast and then went and bought 2 MORE racks to take back to Louisiana with me. Beloved husband who only eats Troy's ribs pronounced these delicious and so did dearest Mother in law, so we ate them up. It's 475 miles away and WELL worth the trip! This place was worth the wait, worth the drive and WELL worth the money. I'm going to have to come visit my cousin more often!!
(5)Cara K.
I had the brisket it was so juicy and tender best BBQ ever! Tried the white sauce yummy... tried the BBQ sauce yummy! Staff friendly made me feel right at home. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kathleen D.
There's a chance that I'm an annoying person to travel with. Example: I will call Alabama, "Alabam," the whole time we're driving through the state. The whole entire time. So we took a little barbecue detour on our road trip way through Alambam and I'm glad that we did and I'd do it again. If for the ribs and the chocolate pie alone, I tell you. Our early afternoon stop at Big Bob Gibson's coincided with a visit from The Danish National BBQ team. They were honored with a welcome message on the big reader-board outside, under the neon lit trotting pig wearing a toque. If not for the sign, we might have wondered, "What's with all these very happy, very Danish people?" So, as we enjoyed our barbecue samplings, it was an oddly fun added bonus to watch the team take photos all over the restaurant, grinning. I loved that. Loved the idea of this group of Danish barbecue masters and aficionados traveling around and geekin on smoked meats all through the Southlands on the way to a competition or whatever. Taking liberties with reality I quickly drummed up a nice documentary style gimmick for what I imagined might be their story. Wouldn't it be a weird Lifetime movie plot twist if this chance meeting sparked some kinda curiosity-turns-deranged obsession with the Danish BBQ team? A stalker or something? Let's just say we're already friends on facebook. So, as I was trying to tell you, for us this was a good detour. Since we pretty much wanted to try everything, we split one of the big plates; "The Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Feast," I believe they called it. $20.99 gets you a half slab of ribs, plus three meats and two sides, rolls and pickles. Our sweet baked beans and coleslaw were pretty standard stuff. High fives on the dry rub seasonings on the meats, all around. Really good. The smoked turkey was straight up dewy and delicious, the beef brisket was a little less so, but definitely flavorful with good smoke too. Really, really dug the pulled pork, but to me, the ribs were the absolute best. Every bite of tender smokey rib. To repeat the requisite phrase, "fall off the bone," they were, but with enough good pork meatiness too. We keep talking about them. On the tables you'll find all of Big Bob Gibson's celebrated sauces. I liked em just fine, though about the white one, I'm doing the so-so hand gesture of ambivalence. Ehhh I dunno, maybe if you caught me on the right day... Our server was WONDERFUL. She reminded me a lot the excellent character actress Beth Grant; I thought that she looked so much like her. (Look her up if the phrase, "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion," doesn't ring a bell.) The restaurant was busy, hubbub and hopping, and she was all over it! Very sweet and friendly too. Though I had no intention of ordering dessert after all that barbecue grubbin, when she asked, "So what kinda pie y'all having?" I heard myself ask her which one was her favorite. Chocolate pie. Split that too. So good. Chocolate Meringue Pie. She definitely didn't see us as those without commitment to pie, and she was right.
(4)Andrew B.
It was very good barbecue. I'm a little confused how southerners think this is the best barbecue in the world. Too each their own, obviously. But, definitely not the best. Would I go back again? Yes, in a heartbeat! Had a wonderful lunch there with family. Great service.
(4)John M.
As Someone born and raised in Decatur this place is Overrated! The potatoes are bomb, as is the white sauce;as far as the BBQ there are better places in Decatur.
(2)Frank R.
Not sure why all the rave reviews. My wife and I ate there today. Both had the standard pork barbque sandwich and shared an order of fry's. The fry's were some of the best we have ever had. Both sandwiches were lukewarm to cool and "wet"! Pork had no taste and cold slaw bland. They both had good portions of meat. Tried all sauces. Agree with another writer that the white sauce was best. Other two OK. Maybe the other offerings are their best as their pork sandwich did not measure up. The staff were all very nice and the service quick. Our waitress was quick, checked back often (not overboard) and was very good. We detoured off I65 traveling from Nashville to Birmingham and were disappointed. Not a detour we will make again! Unfortunate, as we were really anticipating the best but it was not to be.
(2)Dan W.
Solid but not legendary like I was led to believe. Went outside my norm and ordered chicken. Pieces were not very meaty. Hate to say it but I like my white BBQ sauce better as theirs was very thin. On the other hand, their red sauce was better than I expected. Chocolate pie was good but not awesome. Maybe my expectations were too high. Would definitely go back, but next time I will order something else.
(3)James B.
Mmmmm Meat! I love this place. The ribs are my favorite thing on the menu. They are competition style, so not everyone will be a fan. They are known more for their award winning sauces and I love love love some good Alabama white sauce. Another one of my favorites are the potatoes. Crazy large baked potato stuffed with BBQ. The deserts are excellent. My favorites are the coconut pie and the lemon ice box pie. The only thing missing in my opinion are hush puppies. I really wished this place had hush puppies instead of the regular dinner rolls. As far as decor, there isn't much to look at except for their trophies. Yes, the old wood paneling is outdated but I haven't really been to an old BBQ place that didn't look like that.
(5)Douglas W.
I've been eating here for several years now and have since been to quite a number of great BBQ restaurants across the country. I don't think the food here has changed but my taste and experience in BBQ has. I still think it's terrific but there are things about it I don't think are as good as some other BBQ I have had and so am writing an update to my previous review. The bottled sauce on the table is a problem for me. The first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. I doubt highly that 70 years ago they used this ingredient. The last ingredient is a cancer causing preservative and likewise I doubt the founder would have approved. I ordered the pulled pork today. The flavor was great but it was pretty dry. I tried the vinegar sauce on it but it's pretty spicy and I didn't love it. The ribs are the porkiest i have ever had and I like how meaty and succulent they are but am not in love with the sauce anymore and the ribs could use a little more smoke flavor for me. Splitting hairs, these are very good ribs. I still really like the beans and am just ok with the slaw. They serve a nice dill on the side too. I am still a fan but really felt the need to temper the enthusiasm of my earlier review.
(4)Scott N.
The legendary Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is located right off 6th Avenue in Decatur. The restaurant itself is very well marked and easy to find. There's plenty of parking around the building. Actually there needs to be. This place does a phenomenal business. Especially at lunch time. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is a homey and comfortable restaurant. It's a seat yourself kind of establishment. Upon entering Big Bog Gibson's my server said in her Alabama accent, "Y'all by yourself hun?" She melted my heart. Wanted to bring my server and the whole restaurant with me back to Oregon. Actually all the staff at Big Bog Gibson Bar-B-Q was friendly, helpful, and accommodating to me. I felt like an honored guest in their home. The prices here are fair and the proportions are large. On my visit I opted for the combination meat plate. This brought me a half chicken artfully placed on top of a plate of pulled pork. Big Bob Gibson's makes the best Alabama white sauce period. I think I could drink the stuff straight. My side dish was cole slaw and it was outstanding. Big Bob Gibson's serves up a finely grated cole slaw with two slices of pickle on the top. Alabama makes the best cole slaw and Big Bob Gibson's version was the best I had in Alabama. At the conclusion of my meal my guts were bursting but I had heard how good the pies are at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q. At the suggestion of my server I ordered the lemon pie. Best lemon meringue pie I have ever had. The taste still lingers on my taste buds. If I've ever had a better meal on this planet I sure can't remember when or where. Sometimes the legend does not live up to the hype. In Big Bob Gibson's case it's better!
(5)Van B.
The BBQ is hit or miss. When its fresh Its good. I like the new sides. Their chicken is probably their best offering, its pretty good on a daily basis.The Danville Rd. Location has a unfriendly staff and really makes it hard to want to come back for average BBQ.
(2)Andy P.
While on a layover to Huntsville, I asked one of the locals about the best BBQ joints in town. Without hesitation, he said Big Bob's--so my colleague and I stopped in after we arrived. Right away this place seemed legit. It was exactly how I imagined--could smell the smoke down the road, the interior felt right, and the staff was very down home. I had ribs, brisket, beans, and slaw. Colleague had pulled pork, ribs and slaw. We both agreed the ribs were very flavorful but too dry. My brisket and his pork were the same. Great flavor, but just not moist enough. The slaw is a vinegar based slaw (rather than cream based). It also has kale in it--between the vinegar and kale, it's just too bitter. It is also very finely chopped, almost minced; for my taste, it needed something sweet and crunchy. The beans, which had a great shot of sliced jalapenos, were first rate. We also tried the sauces including the white sauce. Not being from Alabam, we were both surprised by the white sauce. It was acidic (vinegar) rather than creamy. I can see how it'd be exceptional on smoked bird. Overall, Big Bob's is a local favorite but both of us wondered if that was more for the service and ambiance rather than for the food itself. Don't get me wrong--this isn't bad BBQ. It just didn't live up to the hype.
(3)Karl S.
Ate at Big Bob Gibsons for the first time in several years yesterday. I've became a big fan of Jim and Nicks over the last few years and was looking forward to the comparison... Well, the really isn't much of one. First, the good. The ribs were fantastic and they topped Jim and Nicks. The pulled pork was fine but unremarkable, however, the red sauce was tremendous. The bad- the sides were totally unremarkable. A bag of chips, beans out of a can I guess, and some fair potato salad. The chicken was very dry and the white sauce too sweet. The ugly- service was horrible. We almost walked out before we were served as no one seemed to notice us forever. Once we were finally acknowledged it got a little better but it already set the mood. All the waitresses seemed either very old and slow and only concerned with getting onto the younger waitresses and the younger waitresses seemed to be none to interested in working. The worst of the food was the brisket. Just fatty and chewy. Flavorless. Probably the worst brisket I've ever had. Over all it was hit and miss. If you go for the ribs or pulled pork and get an attentive waitress you'll probably have a good experience. Otherwise, good luck.
(3)Rick T.
All the reviews here explain better than I can how could the food is here. The only thing I didn't like was the slaw, it tasted like a bunny rabbit might be more interested in it. And none of the traditional sides I expect like mac cheese, greens, etc. My snobby Georgia BBQ critic friend said it was the best BBQ he's had in Alabama, high praise from someone who is usually looking in disdain on the food I like.
(5)Ashley M.
Both meals I've had here were picked up by a family member so I can't say how the dine-in experience is. I have seen the parking lot during lunch and I can't say I would willingly fight the crowd for a meal here. The chicken stew was good for a warm, belly filling lunch. Plenty of chicken and chunky vegetables to make you feel satisfied. The bbq pork sandwich was OK but I know that the BBQ from Whitt's is more flavorful. Maybe I'm just missing the enthusiasm for this place since I haven't been a dine-in customer. It sure has won enough awards and notoriety to keep the doors open and the crowds coming.
(3)Tony G.
Overrated. The pulled pork was dry and needed a lot of sauce for flavor. the competition cooks that won Memphis in May obviously did not cook this meat. The potato salad was warm and the baked beans not hot. The turkey was good though and went well with the white sauce. But very disappointing overall.. I will not return.
(2)Rob R.
Pretty standard BBQ fare. They may win a lot of competitions, but I just don't believe the A-team is in the kitchen most days. Ordered the Pork Potato - probably big enough for a family of five, but I managed to eat about three-fourths of it. Good, tender pork but didn't seem all that smokey. I'm definitely not a fan of the sauces - just not enough flavor in the red sauce. Tried a rib too - was expecting a little hotter and a little more tender. Definitely a good place to visit, but I wouldn't go too far out of the way. For dessert, totally get the chocolate pie!
(3)Susan S.
For many years this has been my go to place for brisket. I still think Whitts makes much better pulled pork, but I'll go to Big Bobs for brisket fairly regularly. My only beef with them (pun intended) is the quality of the brisket is inconsistent...sometimes melt in your mouth moist and tender, sometimes very tough and dried out. But my last two drive thru experiences mean I'll be sticking to Whitts from now on. I went through the drive thru several weeks ago for lunch, got there right at 11, I was the first at the drive thru. Ordered a salad, pulled straight to the window, paid....and then SAT there for 23 minutes, waiting on a salad!! While staff milled around inside, seemingly oblivious. The final straw was this past week, I went to the very busy drive thou, inching along slowly until I finally got to the window after about 15 minutes, cars bumper to bumper stretching around the building. PAid for my ribs, saw my bag sitting there by the worker at the window, and instead of getting it I sat there and listened to her, through the glass, take three more complicated drive thru orders before finally handing me my ribs - 10 minutes later!!! - which, no surprise, were cold by the time I got them home. They weren't understaffed, there were others milling around, so I can't blame this on understaffing, just poor execution of "customer service." I'll stick to Whitts from now on, it's just not worth the frustration to visit Big Bobs. I'll leave it to the tourists.
(3)Cari K.
Best BBQ place in North Alabama! Their white sauce is a pantry staple in our house.
(5)Jeff B.
I was so excited when I saw an award winning BBQ restaurant while traveling through AL. I ordered the Rib and pulled pork combo with baked beans and slaw. Let me start with the slaw. OMG it's possibly the worst I have ever tasted. It doesn't even look like slaw! The pulled pork was decent but nothing to write home about. The ribs were pretty much tasteless and the biggest disappointment. Now the good, the sauce is good and trust me you will need it!
(2)Jason G.
The real deal. No need repeating all the accolades. I was very impressed with the service during a busy time. The service suffers at other BBQ like Rendezvous & Corky's in Memphis.
(5)Brian H.
I'm an average bbq fanatic and it's one of my obsessions. I got the ribs and pork combo, the ribs were good competition style and already sauced, good flavor but a little dry not bad though. The pork wasn't sauced which is great but it was a bit bland and dry, also didn't have much smoke flavor so it was like eating a pork roast with burnt ends. Not terrible though. I don't use sauce it's a crutch to cover bad bbq and this wasn't bad it was good but dry.
(3)chuck b.
Solid barbecue. Best I have had on quite some time. Service is outstanding.
(5)Dan L.
So there I was in Huntsville, Alabama for work, and one night my buddy Chuck says, "Are you up for Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q?" I had heard wonderful things about BBG, and my answer was "Oh hell to the yes!" So off we went. This place is located right off 6th Avenue in Decatur, nice little hole in the wall place, rustic interior, and he first thing you see when you walk in is the 10,000 trophies this cat has won for his BBQ. The place had cred, people. But man, the star of the show was the BBQ, hands down. I had the ribs and meat sampler (with brisket, as my second), and let me tell you that was more food than a human being should be allowed to ingest. My pal Chuck got the chicken and put some of this white sauce on it ... HOLY CATS!!!! I almost took it from him it was that good! (You really need to go to their web site and buy that sauce ... I'm not kidding, it'll change your life! Well, being that I was already so full I felt like that guy from Monty Python's Meaning of Life, of course I had to have a slice of Coconut Pie. A-MAZE-ING!!!! Thank goodness I had a diet Coke, or else I would have felt like a total pig. Bottom ,line, if you live in the South, you probably already know about BBG. If you do and you haven't, then go now!! If you don't live close by, for god's sake go get an airplane ticket and got your BBQ on, stat!
(5)Daniel B.
Bar-B-Q is a funny thing to judge and/or review. It's like comparing apples to oranges. You can't really do it. Sure, Memphis and Kansas City have their judging formulas...I know all about their systems. Those systems work for competitions and Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson's has found the secret to success. What matters most is how does non-championship bar-b-q rate? What really matters is how does a joint serve up the food the masses (yep, it was busy)? If you go in expecting championship cooking you might be disappointed. I went in with realistic expectations and was really delighted. First of all, Don McLemore, the owner greeted me. Hey, now, that's cool. My first experience in any southern BBQ place is Pork Shoulder. It's the flagship for a barbecue joint south of the Mason-Dixon. If the place passes the shoulder test then on the second time around, I'll order ribs. (Rib joints are different than BBQ joints.) I ordered the shoulder sandwich they way they dress it at Big Bob's...with cole slaw. The meat was tender and possessed a mild pork flavor. The bits of bark (well seasoned outer portion) were very tasty. It would have been nice to have a little more smoke flavor in the meat, but this is hard to do when keeping shoulder warm while feeding the masses. The cole slaw was finely chopped cabbage with a sweet tangy flavor with sweetness beating the tang. No mayo in this slaw as the slaw must be a distant cousin of Carolina. The side of baked beans were ok...very sweet. The portion size of the sandwich was on the small side. We all wanted another sandwich (petite woman, growing teen boy, tiny girl, and big ole me.) The sauces were good...pretty good. None of them were much to write home about. A word about the White BBQ Sauce: when it's made fresh, it's better than when coming from a commercial jar. While I can only give 2.5 stars for the shoulder...I have to add another 1.5 stars for the service and Chocolate Meringue Pie. Good golly! That pie is worth the drive from Nashville. The chocolate pudding style pie is sweet but not over done. Much to all of our chagrin we shared slice. I'm surprised a table of the city's finest dining nearby didn't arrest me for elbowing my kids upside the head to get another bite. I'll be back. Next time, I will try the other store...it's where Chris Lilly mans the place.
(4)Tom D.
If I could give Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q more than a 5 Star Yelp rating, I would. I've had a hankering for a baked potato with Pulled Pork on it for some time now. Well, Big Bob Gibson satisfied that craving today for me at lunch, I was very happy with my "overstuffed masterpiece" (as appropriately described in their menu). But I felt the combo platter that my fiancee ordered for her lunch was even better than my potato. She went with the Big Bob Gibson Combo -- 4 St Louis style ribs and a 1/4 piece of chicken. Chicken was very good, but the ribs were Out-of-this-World Awesome, extremely tasty. A thicker cut rib, fall of the bone meat, some of the best ribs I've ever had. Her collard greens on the plate were very good too. I also had ordered a side dish of Mac & Cheese which I had a hard time finishing because of the generous portion of my potato and the couple of ribs I eaten off my fiancee's plate. But it was excellent also. The best part was yet to come, we decided to order a slice of pie to share for dessert, a piece of coconut custard pie. WOW, you would be hard pressed to find a better slice of pie, extremely tasty. Merengue topping instead of whipped cream, a nice change for a cream pie, we throughly enjoyed it. Also, Crystal, our server was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, it's a must stop when in Decatur.
(5)Holly J.
If you order barbecue pork have them mix in some outside meat. It is much better than the other barbecue joints in town. The coconut pie is absolutely delicious
(4)Meghin E.
Would have been 5 stars but service was lacking on a Saturday. The food here is phenomenal. Honestly, the smoked turkey is the reason I come and keep coming back. Also the homemade pies are to die for. The prices are good for what you get. Regular turkey plate with two sides, pie, and a drink was 20$ with tip. All of the BBQ sauces are great too. I love it here.
(4)Jessica H.
I will not return here. I have no idea how this has won any awards. I was not impressed and I rarely give bad reviews. I met some friends here who heard this was the best of the best so we scoured the menu and made our selections. I heard the smoked turkey was awesome so I got that. They have very few side options, not even fries, so I opted for baked beans and potato salad. When our food arrived, I immediately snapped up the award winning sauce to dunk the turkey in. Fail. That stuff is nasty! All in all, the turkey was very delicious. The sides were not. They weren't even classic flavors, they were just not good. Sorry Big Bob's but I won't be returning. Of all the things on my plate, the turkey was the only thing I did enjoy. And the service. The gal was very on top of things. Andy P. from Hanover (reviewed earlier) said it perfectly: Overall, Big Bob's is a local favorite but both of us wondered if that was more for the service and ambiance rather than for the food itself. Don't get me wrong--this isn't bad BBQ. It just didn't live up to the hype.
(1)Taylor H.
I grew up in the Ozarks and now live in Buffalo, NY, so whenever the whole family is in Decatur for holidays or family reunions, Big Bob Gibson is on the menu. Usually we do take out since the family is so large, but as I'm 1 of two extended-family members who prefer vegetarian meals, I have to say going in and dining was the better experience. As I can expect from most Bar-B-Q places, their vegetarian options are pretty thin, but what is there is excellent! Their salad was fresh and large (well, I thought it was large, my Dad was not impressed) and the side of Mac and Cheese I ordered with it might have been in the top 3 best mac and cheeses I've ever had in my life! It was so good! Not only was the food excellent, but the prices rocked. It goes to show that good food doesn't need to be flashy; really good food just needs to be basic, respected, and it comes out as some of the best eats you'll eat at a great price. Not only that, but the amount of that delicious basic food was more than met the eye. It's dense and very filling; the value is fantastic. The service was great even though the place was packed and our table was a pretty big one. Granted, most of us are women and teenage girls, so a majority of the meals were split, but the guys were really happy with the sampler platters and they got to enjoy a spread of different meats. We also took a chocolate pie to go: So good, that was awesome. My family will always go to Big Bob Gibson, but I can say now that I've been there and got to check out the full menu, I'll be happy to go back!
(4)Sebastian B.
I came here because I purposely visit joints featured on TV, to date I've been to more than 200. I just spent 10 days in KC and went to several noted BBQ joints and sad to say I miss KC. Although Big Bobs meat is overall moist there is little flavor beyond the sauce. I got the big sampler and tried everything except the pulled pork and its good but far from the best. The staff is great the place is dated from the 1950's and the only green thing on the menu is a pickle so don't expect a balanced meal. I'm fighting off flies from my table and the drive thru speaker is really annoying. It's not bad though just get take out. I sort of like the white sauce on the chicken and turkey but not interested in buying a bottle of it. In closing if you want good barbecue and can't do it yourself come here but bring a fly swatter. Here's is a little update, the next day I felt a little weird and by the end of the day I was sick. The gastric distress lasted a solid week and as of today I am not completely back to normal. I have stepped up the acidophilus and controlled my fun food intake along with a daily dose of a probiotic Greek yogurt. This is sad because there were the trappings of some decent meat prep, my guess is the low and slow is to low allowing bacteria growth. I knew the flies were a sign to get up and walk away.
(2)Barbara P.
8/21/15 My family of 3 decided we wanted to try this famous white sauce that we kept seeing on the Food Network. The chicken did not look like I expected it to with the sauce on it, you really did not see anything except pepper on it. I did not try the chicken but the others in the party must have liked it since it was all picked from the bones. Ages 53, 73 and 35.....driving time from Nashville TN 2 hours each way -TOTALLY worth it. Not many people will drive 4.5 hours to eat lunch but if you are ever close stop in and try it yourself. My mother tried the 1/2 chicken w/ M&C and cole slaw, also got a stuffed potato (no meat) I got the large pork plate with fries and beans and a baked potato (no meat) My son also got the 1/2 chicken w/ beans M&C and a potato stuffed with pork cheese sour cream bacon and chives. That had the be the best pork I have gotten in a long time, absolutely no fat at all in it, was great with or without the BBQ sauce. Had a good smoke taste and was not dry at all. The potatoes were out of this world, wondering where they get them, I was disappointed that I could not finish it but I had to save room for a slice of pie. Hey if I drove that far I wanted to try it all. Got a slice of chocolate and a slice of the peanut butter one. The chocolate one was the best but both were good, you could tell they were homemade from the crust up. 08/22/15 ON a side note, today we went to Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous in Memphis for ribs and BBQ, total failure. inedible food, 8 hour round trip drive and total bill $100.00 Wish I had went back to Alabama, Go Big Bob!!!!
(4)Steven L.
Absolutely the best bar b q in Decatur. I got here about 45 minutes before closing so, I hope they didn't mind. I just got a bar b q pork sandwich and a coke. This order was brought out to me almost immediately. Thus, 5 stars because I was for some reason craving bar b q. They have tables and booths in here. The dining room is a big square cafeteria type setting where you can see everybody. As I was traveling through on my way back to Tennessee, I Yelped the most reviewed restaurant in Decatur. It was also their number one business, and number one restaurant by a long shot. Big Bob Gibson certainly deserves being Number One. Enough said and see ya again.
(5)Lori T.
Been coming to this place since before I can remember. Very little has changed...paneling on the wall, simple decor and the trophies. Oh the trophies from all sorts of bar b Que competitions, but most importantly Memphis in May. There are a lot more of those..pork shoulder mainly. The pulled pork is delicious., but in my humble opinion the chicken is truly where it's at...succulent smoked chicken with Bob Gibson's white sauce. I can't help but order It every time. The turkey is great too...it all is. The pies....just yum. Its hard to save room, but you are missing out Of you pass on the lemon ice box. The Mac & cheese is on point as well. Its not overly priced. Hope to go here for many more years to come.
(4)Liz D.
Big Bob Gibson's barbecue was the first barbecue place that I had tried when I moved to Alabama and still the only place that I've tried as far as barbecue goes since I've been here. Their food is cooked to perfection the only thing I don't love is the staff can sometimes be rude through the drive-through and I'm not really a fan of the white sauce but I think that's a southern thing.
(4)Jared K.
This weekend my wife and I found ourselves heading south to Birmingham so that she could play fairy godmother at the baptism of our friends' cute new baby. As if that wasn't exciting enough on its own, I also managed to talk my way into a lunchtime pit stop (pun very much intended) at Big Bob Gibson's. I've seen Chris Lilly compete on television countless times, and I even have one of his cookbooks on my shelf at home. I was certain that it wouldn't be Chris at the helm today, and I realize that competition barbecue is vastly different from its restaurant-quality cousin. With that in mind, I made sure to temper my expectations appropriately. Given Big Bob Gibson's fame and popularity, I was expecting a hefty Saturday lunch crowd, but we walked in and got a booth at 12:30 with no wait at all. This place has kind of a diner vibe going on. Their awards are prominently displayed right as you walk in the door. There's no need to be humble when you have their credentials. Naturally, I went for the Big Bob Gibson combo: St. Louis-style spare ribs and a quarter chicken. This way I'd get to try both their red and white barbecue sauces. I'm not normally a big sauce guy, but I made an exception today. For my sides, I picked their red skin potato salad and kettle baked beans. The beans were nice and sweet. I found a few bits of pepper mixed in, but I couldn't find any spiciness. The mayo-based potato salad was also fairly tasty. It had a hefty amount of onion, which gave it a good bite. These were both decent sides, but nothing all that special. I was expecting to have my chicken pre-dunked in white sauce, like it is in every television show about Big Bob Gibson's I've ever seen. When I asked the waitress about it, she instead pointed me to the bottle of white sauce on the table. Really? The room-temperature bottled sauce didn't come out as thinly as I had hoped. At least it had a nice vinegary tang to it. The chicken had a crispy skin, though it could have been seasoned a little more. I got dark meat so it didn't dry out very much. There was only a mild smoky taste here. These ribs had a sweet glaze and a good crust, though not much bark. I liked the seasoning blend on the crust too, but there wasn't enough of it. I only found a minimal amount of smoke in the ribs. I was also disappointed that the meat fell right off the bone, while properly cooked rib meat should stay put until each subsequent bite. I added their "championship" red sauce just for kicks. It came from a bottle on the table too. It was good, but there wasn't anything that jumped out at me as overwhelmingly delicious. When we left, we stepped outside into a veritable fog of pit smoke. I wish more of it had found its way into our food. Sadly, I may have once again fallen victim to hype.
(3)Buzz D.
Pork sandwich was tender and tasty topped by a unique to me slaw, red sauce was a good complement! Dark meat chicken was tender, juicy and flavorful with a dip in the 'famous' white sauce! Brisket sandwich was ok but needed more smoke for me. Turkey was great, juicy with a little saltiness that was offset perfectly by a dab of the red sauce Lemon pie was the perfect end
(4)Tiffany N.
Went here expecting great things, after seeing things on Food Network about their white sauce. The only thing I can say is, NO to the BBQ sauce. It is nothing more than a slightly more spicy, more liquid ranch dressing. I tried the vinegar based and the tomato based BBQ's too, and I swear they came from Costco. As for my meal I order a soup and a pulled pork platter. The Brunswick stew was mediocre, but the pulled pork was actually nicely smoked and juicy. The BBQ sauces did nothing for the flavor, I ended up eating the pork plain. The sides of hush puppies and fried okra were awful, and the beans were inedible. The highlight of Big Bob's is their super friendly staff. Would not recommend.
(2)Gayle B.
What a great find as we traveled through Alabama on our way to Florida. The portions were more than you could eat and the pork was absolutely delicious. Their special made sauce is just right combination of sweet and tangy. You get to choose two sides along with your meal and a plate full of dinner rolls as well. Total came to $20 even, a great bargain.
(4)Frenchelle T.
First time here and was not surprised. Like most "famous" places the hype was greater than the reality! Did not care for any of their sauces, but their pulled pork was exceptional and the brisket had good flavor but a bit dry. The star of this place are the ribs...they are succulent and so tender you don't have to chew. I will come back for the ribs alone. All in all, it was not a wasted trip.
(3)Eric R.
Best barbecue restaurant I've ever been to so far. This is the most award winning restaurant in Alabama and one of the most award winning barbecue restaurants PERIOD. Love there stuffed potatoes filled, with tons of whatever meat you want in them. There nachos are the best or second best nachos I've ever had in my life.
(5)Scott W.
Our first time in Alabama and Big Bobs was recommend. Did not disappoint! Best brisket I've had in a while. White sauce was a nice treat as well. We shared the nachos also very good. Loved the ribs!
(5)Brian C.
Despite the walls of trophies, don't expect much in terms of flavor. I went for the pork plate and while generous, there was no smoky flavor, just tender, bland meat. The greens were good. The potato salad was WAY too mayonnaise rich for me. The best thing for me was the service and the coconut cream pie.
(2)Brenda W.
My all time favorite place to eat! EVERYTHING is great! Food, service, price, it's all wonderful! Never come to town without eating here!
(5)Don S.
I love their white BBQ sauce
(4)Vince H.
The best BBQ in the land. The white sauce is good on the pork, too. Chris Lily is a BBQ genius!
(5)Teri D.
OMFG. I have been a BBQ Ho my entire life. I NEVER pass up a chance to eat good smoked 'cue and spare ribs. EVER. I have a bucket list of all the really famous BBQ joints in America that I want to try. Big Bob's was on the list because white 'cue sauce sounded weird and impossible so I have been dying to eat here for 15 years. I was in Decatur Alabama to get my new Siamese kittens to see my cousin who is the BEST veterinarian in Alabama. I had some time to kill before I could pick them and I asked my Garmin to find me a place for breakfast and BBG BBQ popped up as 2/10s of a mile away and they open at 930 am. So I headed there and ordered a rack of ribs and some of the white sauce that I had heard so much about but was skeptical of trying. Well, I got my ribs and OMFG were they good. I ate 5 ribs plain (rub here is great--meat tender but with a little "tug") savoring the smoky flavors in the meat and the rub and then ONLY in the spirit of food journalism did I dip a tiny corner of rib in the famous "white sauce" to try. WOW!! It was really really really good and for all the people who think this is a mayo-based sauce, they are wrong. This tangy sauce is not based on mayonnaise at all and that's all I have to say about it. It is delicious and was great on those ribs, but it would be great on any smoked meat and a lot of other things too. I ate that entire slab of ribs for breakfast and then went and bought 2 MORE racks to take back to Louisiana with me. Beloved husband who only eats Troy's ribs pronounced these delicious and so did dearest Mother in law, so we ate them up. It's 475 miles away and WELL worth the trip! This place was worth the wait, worth the drive and WELL worth the money. I'm going to have to come visit my cousin more often!!
(5)Cara K.
I had the brisket it was so juicy and tender best BBQ ever! Tried the white sauce yummy... tried the BBQ sauce yummy! Staff friendly made me feel right at home. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Pete Z.
Really good stuff here. Brisket and pork combo plate was awesome. Greens and kettle beans very good as well. The star was the smoked wings, really good. And the 2 meat combo is like 10 bucks with 2 sides. But shame on me I forgot to try the white sauce!
(4)Adam B.
This place reminds me of my childhood growing up in Decatur! I have always had a love of Big Bob Gibson's bbq. I've enjoyed them since i was very little. We use to get their bbq, beans, slaw, and pies for family functions, always pleased! Their loaded baked potatoes are HUGE and stuffed full of bbq! I hope to go back here soon and try it out, hope its still as good as it was last time I ate there! BTW, the smoked chicken is world famous, GET THE WHITE SAUCE!!!
(5)Bob K.
Great BBQ! Top 10 restaurant in Decatur for sure, especially since Wendy's closed. But seriously...don't miss it.
(5)G Frank M.
Nothing to write home about. Everything we had, pulled pork, ribs, and sides was only average or less. Was even charged 40 cents for a slice of onion. I would not drive off the interstate to eat there again.
(3)Kathleen D.
There's a chance that I'm an annoying person to travel with. Example: I will call Alabama, "Alabam," the whole time we're driving through the state. The whole entire time. So we took a little barbecue detour on our road trip way through Alambam and I'm glad that we did and I'd do it again. If for the ribs and the chocolate pie alone, I tell you. Our early afternoon stop at Big Bob Gibson's coincided with a visit from The Danish National BBQ team. They were honored with a welcome message on the big reader-board outside, under the neon lit trotting pig wearing a toque. If not for the sign, we might have wondered, "What's with all these very happy, very Danish people?" So, as we enjoyed our barbecue samplings, it was an oddly fun added bonus to watch the team take photos all over the restaurant, grinning. I loved that. Loved the idea of this group of Danish barbecue masters and aficionados traveling around and geekin on smoked meats all through the Southlands on the way to a competition or whatever. Taking liberties with reality I quickly drummed up a nice documentary style gimmick for what I imagined might be their story. Wouldn't it be a weird Lifetime movie plot twist if this chance meeting sparked some kinda curiosity-turns-deranged obsession with the Danish BBQ team? A stalker or something? Let's just say we're already friends on facebook. So, as I was trying to tell you, for us this was a good detour. Since we pretty much wanted to try everything, we split one of the big plates; "The Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Feast," I believe they called it. $20.99 gets you a half slab of ribs, plus three meats and two sides, rolls and pickles. Our sweet baked beans and coleslaw were pretty standard stuff. High fives on the dry rub seasonings on the meats, all around. Really good. The smoked turkey was straight up dewy and delicious, the beef brisket was a little less so, but definitely flavorful with good smoke too. Really, really dug the pulled pork, but to me, the ribs were the absolute best. Every bite of tender smokey rib. To repeat the requisite phrase, "fall off the bone," they were, but with enough good pork meatiness too. We keep talking about them. On the tables you'll find all of Big Bob Gibson's celebrated sauces. I liked em just fine, though about the white one, I'm doing the so-so hand gesture of ambivalence. Ehhh I dunno, maybe if you caught me on the right day... Our server was WONDERFUL. She reminded me a lot the excellent character actress Beth Grant; I thought that she looked so much like her. (Look her up if the phrase, "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion," doesn't ring a bell.) The restaurant was busy, hubbub and hopping, and she was all over it! Very sweet and friendly too. Though I had no intention of ordering dessert after all that barbecue grubbin, when she asked, "So what kinda pie y'all having?" I heard myself ask her which one was her favorite. Chocolate pie. Split that too. So good. Chocolate Meringue Pie. She definitely didn't see us as those without commitment to pie, and she was right.
(4)Andrew B.
It was very good barbecue. I'm a little confused how southerners think this is the best barbecue in the world. Too each their own, obviously. But, definitely not the best. Would I go back again? Yes, in a heartbeat! Had a wonderful lunch there with family. Great service.
(4)John M.
As Someone born and raised in Decatur this place is Overrated! The potatoes are bomb, as is the white sauce;as far as the BBQ there are better places in Decatur.
(2)Frank R.
Not sure why all the rave reviews. My wife and I ate there today. Both had the standard pork barbque sandwich and shared an order of fry's. The fry's were some of the best we have ever had. Both sandwiches were lukewarm to cool and "wet"! Pork had no taste and cold slaw bland. They both had good portions of meat. Tried all sauces. Agree with another writer that the white sauce was best. Other two OK. Maybe the other offerings are their best as their pork sandwich did not measure up. The staff were all very nice and the service quick. Our waitress was quick, checked back often (not overboard) and was very good. We detoured off I65 traveling from Nashville to Birmingham and were disappointed. Not a detour we will make again! Unfortunate, as we were really anticipating the best but it was not to be.
(2)Dan W.
Solid but not legendary like I was led to believe. Went outside my norm and ordered chicken. Pieces were not very meaty. Hate to say it but I like my white BBQ sauce better as theirs was very thin. On the other hand, their red sauce was better than I expected. Chocolate pie was good but not awesome. Maybe my expectations were too high. Would definitely go back, but next time I will order something else.
(3)James B.
Mmmmm Meat! I love this place. The ribs are my favorite thing on the menu. They are competition style, so not everyone will be a fan. They are known more for their award winning sauces and I love love love some good Alabama white sauce. Another one of my favorites are the potatoes. Crazy large baked potato stuffed with BBQ. The deserts are excellent. My favorites are the coconut pie and the lemon ice box pie. The only thing missing in my opinion are hush puppies. I really wished this place had hush puppies instead of the regular dinner rolls. As far as decor, there isn't much to look at except for their trophies. Yes, the old wood paneling is outdated but I haven't really been to an old BBQ place that didn't look like that.
(5)Scott N.
The legendary Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is located right off 6th Avenue in Decatur. The restaurant itself is very well marked and easy to find. There's plenty of parking around the building. Actually there needs to be. This place does a phenomenal business. Especially at lunch time. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is a homey and comfortable restaurant. It's a seat yourself kind of establishment. Upon entering Big Bog Gibson's my server said in her Alabama accent, "Y'all by yourself hun?" She melted my heart. Wanted to bring my server and the whole restaurant with me back to Oregon. Actually all the staff at Big Bog Gibson Bar-B-Q was friendly, helpful, and accommodating to me. I felt like an honored guest in their home. The prices here are fair and the proportions are large. On my visit I opted for the combination meat plate. This brought me a half chicken artfully placed on top of a plate of pulled pork. Big Bob Gibson's makes the best Alabama white sauce period. I think I could drink the stuff straight. My side dish was cole slaw and it was outstanding. Big Bob Gibson's serves up a finely grated cole slaw with two slices of pickle on the top. Alabama makes the best cole slaw and Big Bob Gibson's version was the best I had in Alabama. At the conclusion of my meal my guts were bursting but I had heard how good the pies are at Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q. At the suggestion of my server I ordered the lemon pie. Best lemon meringue pie I have ever had. The taste still lingers on my taste buds. If I've ever had a better meal on this planet I sure can't remember when or where. Sometimes the legend does not live up to the hype. In Big Bob Gibson's case it's better!
(5)Douglas W.
I've been eating here for several years now and have since been to quite a number of great BBQ restaurants across the country. I don't think the food here has changed but my taste and experience in BBQ has. I still think it's terrific but there are things about it I don't think are as good as some other BBQ I have had and so am writing an update to my previous review. The bottled sauce on the table is a problem for me. The first ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. I doubt highly that 70 years ago they used this ingredient. The last ingredient is a cancer causing preservative and likewise I doubt the founder would have approved. I ordered the pulled pork today. The flavor was great but it was pretty dry. I tried the vinegar sauce on it but it's pretty spicy and I didn't love it. The ribs are the porkiest i have ever had and I like how meaty and succulent they are but am not in love with the sauce anymore and the ribs could use a little more smoke flavor for me. Splitting hairs, these are very good ribs. I still really like the beans and am just ok with the slaw. They serve a nice dill on the side too. I am still a fan but really felt the need to temper the enthusiasm of my earlier review.
(4)Van B.
The BBQ is hit or miss. When its fresh Its good. I like the new sides. Their chicken is probably their best offering, its pretty good on a daily basis.The Danville Rd. Location has a unfriendly staff and really makes it hard to want to come back for average BBQ.
(2)Andy P.
While on a layover to Huntsville, I asked one of the locals about the best BBQ joints in town. Without hesitation, he said Big Bob's--so my colleague and I stopped in after we arrived. Right away this place seemed legit. It was exactly how I imagined--could smell the smoke down the road, the interior felt right, and the staff was very down home. I had ribs, brisket, beans, and slaw. Colleague had pulled pork, ribs and slaw. We both agreed the ribs were very flavorful but too dry. My brisket and his pork were the same. Great flavor, but just not moist enough. The slaw is a vinegar based slaw (rather than cream based). It also has kale in it--between the vinegar and kale, it's just too bitter. It is also very finely chopped, almost minced; for my taste, it needed something sweet and crunchy. The beans, which had a great shot of sliced jalapenos, were first rate. We also tried the sauces including the white sauce. Not being from Alabam, we were both surprised by the white sauce. It was acidic (vinegar) rather than creamy. I can see how it'd be exceptional on smoked bird. Overall, Big Bob's is a local favorite but both of us wondered if that was more for the service and ambiance rather than for the food itself. Don't get me wrong--this isn't bad BBQ. It just didn't live up to the hype.
(3)Karl S.
Ate at Big Bob Gibsons for the first time in several years yesterday. I've became a big fan of Jim and Nicks over the last few years and was looking forward to the comparison... Well, the really isn't much of one. First, the good. The ribs were fantastic and they topped Jim and Nicks. The pulled pork was fine but unremarkable, however, the red sauce was tremendous. The bad- the sides were totally unremarkable. A bag of chips, beans out of a can I guess, and some fair potato salad. The chicken was very dry and the white sauce too sweet. The ugly- service was horrible. We almost walked out before we were served as no one seemed to notice us forever. Once we were finally acknowledged it got a little better but it already set the mood. All the waitresses seemed either very old and slow and only concerned with getting onto the younger waitresses and the younger waitresses seemed to be none to interested in working. The worst of the food was the brisket. Just fatty and chewy. Flavorless. Probably the worst brisket I've ever had. Over all it was hit and miss. If you go for the ribs or pulled pork and get an attentive waitress you'll probably have a good experience. Otherwise, good luck.
(3)Rick T.
All the reviews here explain better than I can how could the food is here. The only thing I didn't like was the slaw, it tasted like a bunny rabbit might be more interested in it. And none of the traditional sides I expect like mac cheese, greens, etc. My snobby Georgia BBQ critic friend said it was the best BBQ he's had in Alabama, high praise from someone who is usually looking in disdain on the food I like.
(5)Ashley M.
Both meals I've had here were picked up by a family member so I can't say how the dine-in experience is. I have seen the parking lot during lunch and I can't say I would willingly fight the crowd for a meal here. The chicken stew was good for a warm, belly filling lunch. Plenty of chicken and chunky vegetables to make you feel satisfied. The bbq pork sandwich was OK but I know that the BBQ from Whitt's is more flavorful. Maybe I'm just missing the enthusiasm for this place since I haven't been a dine-in customer. It sure has won enough awards and notoriety to keep the doors open and the crowds coming.
(3)Tony G.
Overrated. The pulled pork was dry and needed a lot of sauce for flavor. the competition cooks that won Memphis in May obviously did not cook this meat. The potato salad was warm and the baked beans not hot. The turkey was good though and went well with the white sauce. But very disappointing overall.. I will not return.
(2)Rob R.
Pretty standard BBQ fare. They may win a lot of competitions, but I just don't believe the A-team is in the kitchen most days. Ordered the Pork Potato - probably big enough for a family of five, but I managed to eat about three-fourths of it. Good, tender pork but didn't seem all that smokey. I'm definitely not a fan of the sauces - just not enough flavor in the red sauce. Tried a rib too - was expecting a little hotter and a little more tender. Definitely a good place to visit, but I wouldn't go too far out of the way. For dessert, totally get the chocolate pie!
(3)Cari K.
Best BBQ place in North Alabama! Their white sauce is a pantry staple in our house.
(5)Susan S.
For many years this has been my go to place for brisket. I still think Whitts makes much better pulled pork, but I'll go to Big Bobs for brisket fairly regularly. My only beef with them (pun intended) is the quality of the brisket is inconsistent...sometimes melt in your mouth moist and tender, sometimes very tough and dried out. But my last two drive thru experiences mean I'll be sticking to Whitts from now on. I went through the drive thru several weeks ago for lunch, got there right at 11, I was the first at the drive thru. Ordered a salad, pulled straight to the window, paid....and then SAT there for 23 minutes, waiting on a salad!! While staff milled around inside, seemingly oblivious. The final straw was this past week, I went to the very busy drive thou, inching along slowly until I finally got to the window after about 15 minutes, cars bumper to bumper stretching around the building. PAid for my ribs, saw my bag sitting there by the worker at the window, and instead of getting it I sat there and listened to her, through the glass, take three more complicated drive thru orders before finally handing me my ribs - 10 minutes later!!! - which, no surprise, were cold by the time I got them home. They weren't understaffed, there were others milling around, so I can't blame this on understaffing, just poor execution of "customer service." I'll stick to Whitts from now on, it's just not worth the frustration to visit Big Bobs. I'll leave it to the tourists.
(3)Jeff B.
I was so excited when I saw an award winning BBQ restaurant while traveling through AL. I ordered the Rib and pulled pork combo with baked beans and slaw. Let me start with the slaw. OMG it's possibly the worst I have ever tasted. It doesn't even look like slaw! The pulled pork was decent but nothing to write home about. The ribs were pretty much tasteless and the biggest disappointment. Now the good, the sauce is good and trust me you will need it!
(2)Jason G.
The real deal. No need repeating all the accolades. I was very impressed with the service during a busy time. The service suffers at other BBQ like Rendezvous & Corky's in Memphis.
(5)Brian H.
I'm an average bbq fanatic and it's one of my obsessions. I got the ribs and pork combo, the ribs were good competition style and already sauced, good flavor but a little dry not bad though. The pork wasn't sauced which is great but it was a bit bland and dry, also didn't have much smoke flavor so it was like eating a pork roast with burnt ends. Not terrible though. I don't use sauce it's a crutch to cover bad bbq and this wasn't bad it was good but dry.
(3)chuck b.
Solid barbecue. Best I have had on quite some time. Service is outstanding.
(5)Dan L.
So there I was in Huntsville, Alabama for work, and one night my buddy Chuck says, "Are you up for Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q?" I had heard wonderful things about BBG, and my answer was "Oh hell to the yes!" So off we went. This place is located right off 6th Avenue in Decatur, nice little hole in the wall place, rustic interior, and he first thing you see when you walk in is the 10,000 trophies this cat has won for his BBQ. The place had cred, people. But man, the star of the show was the BBQ, hands down. I had the ribs and meat sampler (with brisket, as my second), and let me tell you that was more food than a human being should be allowed to ingest. My pal Chuck got the chicken and put some of this white sauce on it ... HOLY CATS!!!! I almost took it from him it was that good! (You really need to go to their web site and buy that sauce ... I'm not kidding, it'll change your life! Well, being that I was already so full I felt like that guy from Monty Python's Meaning of Life, of course I had to have a slice of Coconut Pie. A-MAZE-ING!!!! Thank goodness I had a diet Coke, or else I would have felt like a total pig. Bottom ,line, if you live in the South, you probably already know about BBG. If you do and you haven't, then go now!! If you don't live close by, for god's sake go get an airplane ticket and got your BBQ on, stat!
(5)Jay D.
First time visitor. Sweet tea started off on the right foot! Potato salad was pretty good. The cole slaw didn't do if for me. Had the ribs and brisket. Food was warm, barely. Hard to judge BBQ, but I have had better for sure.
(3)Valerie C.
Dinner on a Saturday night.....large group of pre-teen girls with a softball team, completely out of control...table was completely sticky. Introduced an out of town guest who had heard about it on the Food Network. Order the beef brisket platter and the meat was good, the coleslaw was AWFUL - no taste but vinegar and the green beans were mushy and stringy. Now I remember why it's a once a year place. Server was friendly and efficient and the tea was awesome. Not sure what all the fuss is about.
(2)Been B.
Of all the BBQ places we tried in our 6 day south journey, Big Bob's had the best ribs. The sides were good, but not the best though. Here are the scores: Ribs: 8.5/10 (great dry rub flavor and tender rib meat) BBQ sauce (red); 7/10 (too tangy for me) BBQ sauce (white): 8/10 (good and interesting) Brisket: 7/10 (I prefer it more tender and forked apart) BBQ chicken: 8/10 (tender and good with the white BBQ sauce) French fries: 7/10 (I prefer a crispier fry) Coleslaw: 6/10 (not for me but I could see how many would like it- waitress even admitted that it isn't for everyone) Rolls: 8.5/10 (really enjoyed the dense soft rolls) Mac and cheese: 7/10 (needed more flavor and stiffer noodles)
(4)Harry H.
BABBQBP 2015: Pulled pork sandwich, spicy mustard coleslaw for $9 was quite satisfying but lacked the white sauce. "There's no better place to sample Alabama-style white sauce than at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, where it was invented. Gibson started cooking pork shoulders and chicken in his backyard in 1925 and over the years migrated through a succession of ever-larger restaurants. Pitmaster Chris Lilly carries on the tradition today, cooking pulled pork, St. Louis-cut ribs, beef brisket, and turkey on long brick pits fired solely with hickory coals. Most famous of all is the smooth, smoky barbecued chicken, a splendid stage on which that legendary white sauce can shine."
(4)Julie L.
Finally had a chance to stop in here after reading/seeing so much about it. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. I had the stuffed baked potato with pulled pork - while the overall portion size was big (it's a big potato), the amount of pork on top was kind of sad. The meat was also a little on the dry side and didn't have much flavor. The bacon bits on the potato also tasted and looked like imitation. I know bacon isn't BBQ, but that's not what I expected from a place where meat is their specialty. Service was prompt though, and my food came out quickly. I wanted to like this place, and while I wouldn't call it bad, I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. Maybe the chicken or ribs are better.
(3)Paul W.
Had the half rack of ribs. Tasty and perfectly cooked. Fries were very good, if lukewarm. Slaw was different. At first I didn't like it. Then, it grew on me. I ended up eating all of it. LOL! Half rack platter with diet pepsi: 17.41 with tax. I guess when you are on food network, you command a good price. Will try Smokey Cs next time -- very inexpensive according to Yelp. I recommend Big Bobs, however.
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