It's a nice, clean, and simple barbeque joint, and the food is always good. I'm a regular now. One of my favorites is the Triple 20 sandwich. I even got to meet Billy Sims a couple different times and shoot the breeze with him for about 10min. How cool is that?
(4)
Jess P.
This place was very good! My favorite was the Frito chili pie... the chili is made with brisket and it had just the right amount of heat. I also ordered the 1980 (2 meats + 2 sides). The sliced brisket was tender and had a nice amount of smoke. I also got the chicken which was pretty good, but I'll probably stick to getting ribs or pulled pork next time since my date's pulled pork was pretty yummy. The sauces were nice and flavorful. I had to wait on smoked corn on the cob but it was worth the wait. I also got coleslaw, while my date got coleslaw and baked beans. The tea tasted fresh (they have both sweet tea and unsweetened). The service was nice and helpful. Really want to go back and try their other proteins and sides. Another thing I like about this place is that you don't have to leave a tip. It's "cafeteria style" I suppose but that's not always a bad thing.
(5)
Christian L.
If you are looking for fancy tables, ambiance, wait staff, and atmosphere, don't go. I went here for BBQ and what I got was Excellent BBQ. It is worth the trip or stopping there if you are in the area. Ribs were fall off the bone, pulled pork was "eat with your fingers" good and there was a nice smoke ring around the brisket. The smoked chicken and corn was excellent. I reviewed a couple other BBQ places from all over the country so I have a good sample size. The portions could be a bigger but it is a good thing that they are not. If there were any bigger I would have stuffed myself.
(5)
Dale R.
In Detroit and I was looking for BBQ. Billy Sims and Oklahoma boy so you'd think anything he started would have some good que? That's why I came here. Would have been great to run into Billy Sims here. It was all you can eat rib night... tempting but I had to do my usual of sampling different meats. Note... This is a chain of restaurants. The Ribs were actually not bad. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. For the Detroit area I am thinking these are probably awesome ribs. The Pork had good flavor and a little hit of smoke and it was decently moist. Sorry but this pork needed a good Vinegar Sauce to go with it. If you like thick pasty sweet sauces you'll be ok. The brisket was a bit dry but overall not bad. The sauce did complement is nicely. Now to one of my favorite meats, the sausage. This was the best part of the meal for me. Nice spice, sauce went well with it. I very much enjoyed it. No banana pudding! I'd hit you with 3.5 stars if I could. It's worth a visit in the area and probably closer to a 4-5 star for Detroit area.
(3)
Shunda B.
Unfortunately I wasn't impressed at all - I had the day off and I wanted something different for lunch instead of a fast chain on the way home from running errands. So I've always passed this place and a couple of my job said they wanted to try it too from a previous convo. So here's my chance!!! I went with the RUNNING BACK dinner which is 4 ribs, 2 small sides and Texas toast/pickle for $9.99 plus tax. The two sides I selected was coleslaw and bake beans (pork inside) also I wanted my ribs which no sauce so I could taste the pure rib it self. Well darn it I should asked for sauce because the ribs were plain (BLAH) - not signature about the taste at all. Like they put it in the slow cooker and thats it - don't get me wrong it was tender but it should have something special basically wanting me to come back for me. Customer service was nice and the place was clean with barely people inside but it is during business hours - arrived there around 2:30pm. Not busy at all!!! I don't even wanna try any other selection because I know it isn't going to have any favor. If the owner happens to read this please my the meat unique taste without having to add sauce. Happy eating!!!
(2)
Alex D.
Food isn't really great, but it's not really bad either. Ribs taste boiled/baked, Mac n cheese doesn't have much flavor. The sliced brisket was okay, I'll probably never go back.
(2)
A P M.
BBQ by numbers. The Billy Sims chain is a franchise operation, where everything is done by the book. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a little weird to see them place your tray on a digital scale to provide for profit-maximizing portion control (especially when they take a slice or two of brisket back out of your basket if they went over). Don't get me wrong, they're entitled to sell their wares at a fair price and make their money, it just takes away from the down-home experience. The food is good low-average fare in the grand scheme of things. Nowhere near horrible, nowhere near sublime. Meats are wrapped in plastic and stored in heating racks and sliced up for you upon ordering. Such is the turn-key nature of the franchise system they run, I do wonder if the hickory smoke you smell in the parking lot on the way in is just for effect and not for cooking, and that the foods are pre-packaged and sent in from corporate HQ. No way of knowing for sure, but I have my suspicions. All told, the food is probably 2.5 star; decent quality, decent value, efficient service on the night we were there. The ribs I had were juicy, tasty, probably a little too overdone and "fall off the bone" for my preference, but certainly enjoyable. The hotter of the two sauces (which was not "hot" by any stretch of the imagination) was a good accompaniment. The regular sauce was much too sweet. The BBQ beans were great (pretty much star of the show), the mac and cheese below average, the toast was soft, flavorless, and forgettable. I'm told by others in our party that the green beans were excellent. I bump them up to 3 based on our visit. We went on a Saturday evening with a party of 9 (5 adults, 4 teenagers). The kids live a fair distance from their cousins, so every once in a while we like to find a place halfway in between where we can meet for dinner and visit. It's usually a lengthy visit so the kids can hang out and the adults can sit and shoot the shit. Obviously, this can be a problem at a lot of full-service restaurants where the waiters and waitresses are relying on a certain amount of turnover for their big money Saturday night tips. Here, that was not a problem at all. The dining area was huge, with plenty of empty tables for us to put together for our party. Everybody got to order what they wanted (ribs, pulled pork, sliced brisket, shredded brisket, sausage for entrees plus the usual assortment of sides). We all had a good meal, the price was reasonable, about what you'd expect, and we had absolutely no problem staying as long as we wanted (about 3 hours in all), and making a fair amount of noise. Never felt any pressure that we'd overstayed our welcome, the kids were more than welcome to refill their sodas as many times as they wanted, and everybody from the manager on down couldn't have been nicer.
(3)
Brett B.
Delicious food, service with a smile, and surprisingly inexpensive compared to BBQ in other cities. I travel every week for work, and always try to hit a barbecue place wherever I am. This place is definitely one of the better ones!!
(4)
Ken S.
The skinny: fast food BBQ, is it Slows? Not so much. Is it ok BBQ fast? Sure is. Place was clean, staff was friendly and the food was good. Great place for lunch. Nothing blew me away and nothing really disappointed. Been there more than once and will probably go back if I'm in the area craving a quick pled pork sandwich
(3)
Brenda M.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon to grab some carry-out for the hubs to try. There were only 2 cars in the parking lot, which had me worried. But, I smelled hickory smoke when I got out of the car, which reassured me. The employees were very friendly, and answered all of my questions. I got the 3-meat combo (sliced brisket, ribs, and hot link) which came with 2 sides( beans & Mac 'n cheese). I think the price was $15.99. The girl that packed up my order offered both mild and hot BBQ sauce so we could try both. The brisket was good, the hot link was really spicy(hence the name), but the ribs were just OK. The sides were good as well. Both sauces were tasty. Since this location isn't really near us in Westland, we'll have to visit again when we're in the area. Better yet, they could open a location here and offer us something other than Famous Dave's for BBQ!
(3)
Julia K.
I ordered the brisket with sides of mac and cheese and potato salad as well as their Frito chili pie. The brisket is decent, although I was rather underwhelmed. It's not cooked in any sort of sauce so it's rather dry and boring without adding BBQ sauce. The mac and cheese and potato salad were excellent. The Frito chili pie was quite amazing though. I highly recommend trying it if you come here. All in all, I don't think I'd come here again for anything but the Frito chili pie.
(3)
Ben J.
This barbecue was awful! Ribs had so much fat on them I had to pull them apart before ate them. The brisket was dry, and had been sitting there for a long time it seems like. The barbecue beans with the brisket we're okay. The macaroni and cheese was worse than a box kind. My recommendation is don't go. I'm starting to feel sick after I ate that food.
(1)
Mark Z.
I visited this place on 05/26/14 at 4:33pm. Check #81. Ok, what a eefing dump. First thing I walked in and there were only 2 people working. How do you only have 2 people working. I waited ,15 minutes in line before I gave the guy my order. The guy was sweating, how nasty. He seemed like he was displeasured in helping me. I ordered the Rookie Dinner Combo after he got the meats in the to-go box he puts the box down by the sides and starts helping other customers while my garbage food is getting cold. 2 minutes later the other employee got my sides and bagged my garbage for me. Let's see here, the brisket was way over cooked and dry, probably been sitting in the warmer all day, no flavor at all. The bologona was nasty and tastless. The polish sausage was not cooked at all, it had a funny texture, when you start chewing on it, starts to fall apart, either poor quality or not cooked at all. The ribs seemed like they were boiled, very disgusting and tastless. The Coleslaw had way to much dressing and no flavor. Mac Cheese, no flavor at all, seems like the stuff they serve to toddlers. Shame on you Billy Sims for your restaurant serving garbage and not having enough employees.
(1)
Rob P.
Awesome turkey bbq, the best of all! The Brisket was ok, felt like it was too dry. the chicken was pretty good too. My friend told me the sausage links were good, The sauces in house are good. The texas toast is not so impressive, too plain.
(4)
Ken T.
7PM Tuesday with craving for ribs. The help is nice and friendly. Well, for me the ribs were nice, juicy and the meat fell off the bones which was good but the sauce was too sweet. The hot sauce is Chucky Cheese hot, suitable for a 6 year old. If this were Oakland, the place would be rioted. BTW, Oakland, California bbq hot sauce is/was/are dangerously hot. Chicken was almost institutional so no comment. The pulled pork was dry but tasty. My son had the Triple 20 which he just devoured but then again, he's 16. Still it's a fact - it disappeared. I could not confirm nor deny the goodliness. Let's see, the beans were too sweet, the cole slaw too sweet. Well, if you're into sweet ribs then this IS the place. Just not for me. No offense to Billy.
(2)
Tamara Y.
We've been wanting to check this place out, and I'm glad we did. I had the two-meat combo with pulled pork and turkey. The portions were quite large and the meat was good. Hubby had brisket and pulled pork. I thought the brisket was a bit dry, but otherwise tasted good. The meals come with either two "sideliners" or one "super side." Some of the sides that are commonly found in BBQ places are nowhere to be found here -- like mac & cheese or french fries. I had baked beans and green beans. The hub had a baked potato. The staff was friendly and helpful, advising me to get the smoked turkey. I would definitely return to check out more of the menu!
(3)
Julian B.
Slows and Famous Daves and Parks are my fave ribs in the Metro Detroit area. Memphis Smoke was my top fave, unfortunately they closed. These Billy Sims ribs are meaty, tasty and cooked nicely. St Louis not baby back. Heard the smoke flavor is liquid smoke but regardless, the ribs are worth the reasonable price and multiple eatings. Solid. I got 8 bones in a Half Rack. They are near fall off the bone with a little bite. Im one of the few who like a bit of bite and not total fall off the bone. The back membrane is left on and chewy if you try to eat it, which I like to do yet cant with this rib's membrane. The packaged sauce has two choices: Sweet and Boot Kickin. Sweet is like other's sauce and more sweet as name says. It was solid. Boot Kickin has little kick and I didnt care for its taste much. The sides leave much to be desired. I liked the green beans and the corn. The smoked corn is tasty but suffers from trying to be kept warm and small size. The "okie" toast is tasty but somewhat small for a twist on thicker texas toast. I havent had anything else here yet.
(4)
James B.
Unique options and generous servings that never disappoint (maybe I just get great treatment since I'm always excited to visit :) Amazing BBQ!!!!!!
(5)
Justice X.
Went with the wife tonight. We each had the Detroit barbecue salad with smoked turkey. Staff was friendly. Service was quick. The we both deemed the salads as excellent.
(5)
John G.
After Hoggers in Berkley closed, I've been looking for a great pulled pork sandwich. This place is outstanding and all of the Lions and Billy Sims memorabilia is great. Try it.
(5)
Liz R.
We were there on a weekend for lunch, and the place was empty. Not having done my yelp homework before coming here, that got me a little worried. Caferia trays and metal rails... a little more nervous. All the meat in a warming oven, most of it wrapped in plastic wrap, visible to the patron... scared now. (perhaps this is how all places work, but I can't see in the kitchen...?). The food. I ordered a Baker Loaded, with brisket. The baked potato was huge and perfectly cooked. They loaded it with all the fixings, with a scoop of chopped brisket laid on top. $7, and I was full. Well, I was able to shove one of Ken's ribs in. And I'm glad I did, because that MADE the trip for us. They only have St. Louis-style, which I understand are preferred by many, yet we like the tender, fall off the bone-ness of baby backs - but the ribs on Ken's plate looked exactly like the picture-perfect ribs on their website. And they fell off the bone. And they had a smoke ring. And the meat was tender and so damn flavorful. If we go back, I'll only get their ribs. Ken went with the four meat platter to get 4 ribs (2 ribs are considered one meat option), the sliced brisket and the smoked bologna (gack). The sliced brisket wasn't great - my shredded on top of the potato was better, likely because it got shellacked in the BBQ sauce I drenched my tater with. The bologna - meh. He got it on the off chance it would be an amazing find for you yelpers, and it wasn't. The place never filled up. It had a slow, steady trickle of take outs, but we were only joined for eating in by another couple. Get the ribs.
(3)
Tony H.
Not one unforgettable memory besides how bad it was for the price. The chicken and beef brisket were smoke flavored processed lunch meat sliced thick. The green beans were very bland and tasted like canned Del Monte green beans right out of the can. The Boot Kicken Hot Spicy BBQ sauce was tangy not hot or spicy. The bread, the slaw and pickle were your typical generic brands that you find at a cafeteria or a cheap buffet. Never experiencing that again.
(1)
Judith O.
I'm actually surprised by all the 5 star ratings. The meat (we had brisket and pulled pork sandwiches) was pretty good, but that's the best thing I can say. You pay 7 bucks for a sandwich and a side. It's a small sandwich reminiscent of a normal McDonald's cheeseburger. The sides were not good. Depending on their prices, I might buy just brisket or pulled pork from them and make the side dishes at home.1.5 stars.
(1)
Adela B.
Billy Sims BBQ is a convenient place to stop in for a quick bite if you are in the area. This is not one of those places you would make a trek to visit, but it is a pretty good choice if you are headed down Telegraph. I have tried their brisket and turkey. The brisket is very tasty and smoky. I enjoyed it immensely with the sides of macaroni and cheese and potato salad. The turkey was a little drier and saltier. Maybe I went on an off day, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The macaroni was highly rated by my daughter and I thought it was decent. It was definitely not artesan, organic macaroni and cheese crusted with gruyere and butter glazed baguette crumbs, but it was cheesy, creamy and thick. The potato salad was also quite tasty and served nice and cold. The day we went was quite stormy and not many people were in the restaurant, but the place was clean and service was efficient. Our dinner for three came to around 30 bucks, which I didn't feel was outrageous for a barbeque dinner, but there were no leftovers. If you are in the area, give Billy Sims BBQ a try, it's miles better than the rib tips at Happy's across the street.
(3)
Dino L.
I had the Brisket and it was excellent. For a side you get two choices or a cup of chili I got the chili with cheese and onions and it also was excellent. I ate too much though! Going to take a nap now at my desk!!
(5)
Ellen N.
I frequent this restaurant about once a month. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is very helpful.I like to order the tailgate pack to take home when I entertain. The quality of meat is excellent. The sauce is fantastic. You can even buy it by the bottle! You will not be disappointed by Billy Sims!
(5)
Tom K.
This was my third trip here. The cafeteria service line and the meats taken from plastic wrap scared me. I was wrong I ordered the 1980 which was two meats and two sides. I ordered pulled brisket and pulled pork. The large serving was split with my wife and filled us up. Our sides were baked beans with large chunks if pulled pork in them and coleslaw which was delicious. I loved the sauce on the table. This was a Tuesday at 5 pm and there was only one person there besides us.i recommend Billy's as well worth the money
(4)
John N.
Brisket was good and even the bologna was suprisingly tasty. Ribs and hot links drew rave reviews from others at the table. Suprisingly no mac n cheese at a BBQ joint. The chili was not worth eating and the sauce was tepid. Service was close to awful.
(3)
Food L.
Meat was very tender, and SMOKED to perfection. The Pulled pork, smoked chicken, and beef brisket were all outstanding! However, the ribs while smoked to perfection were lacking on the seasoning, and they forgot to give me BBQ sauce with my order. The sides are not very flavorful at all and appear to be an afterthought to the menu. But I went there for the BBQ and will continue to go and support them!! Best BBQ in Southfield, PERIOD!
(3)
Anthony B.
Went today for lunch. Paid $6.99 for a sandwich and a side, with a pickle wedge. All sandwiches are this price, pulled pork, beef, chickem, polish sausage. They charge extra for a premium side, but standard sides include baked beans (very good), corn, coleslaw, green beans, etc. The beef brisket on the sandwich was moist and tender, cooked there, and very good. The meat portion was crummy, not worth the $6.99. The guy making the sandwich today was very stringent on the amount of meat. he couldn't keep his eyes off the scale, making sure not go over 1/10 of an ounce. It was like Billy was watching over his shoulder. Obviously Billy loves his signature, it is on everything, the staff hats, etc. Nice environment, has a Billy Sims mini gift shop, with all things Billy for sale. I saw some sandwiches that looked like they had more meat, maybe they paid the extra $2 for more meat. Seems pricey for the amount of food. I will go back someday.
(3)
Vic D.
Another new BBQ joint in the area. Not bad. My brisket sandwich was tasty; the sauce I added at the table didn't do much for the sandwich. Baked beans were average. Nowhere near the top of the charts, but it's close by and if I need to satiate a BBQ fix, this place will be on my list.
(3)
Dave G.
Fantastic ribs! I have been a once-a-week regular since they opened. Ribs are thick, meaty and juicy. Delicious! Much better than over-hyped Slow's. $11.99 for a 1/2 slab dinner can not be beat. The rest of the menu looks good too, but I wouldn't know. I always get the ribs. I'm getting hungry just writing this review. Please ignore negative reviews and try it yourself. Everybody I've told about Billy's loves it once they try it.
(5)
Surya R.
Apart from the long lines, this place has great food and its very reasonably priced. They will never give you any extra meat on your sandwiches or your order though. The guy handling the meat was very particular about taking extra off and saving it for the next order. Food wise we got the brisket and the pulled pork. Both were really tasty but their hot sauce was pretty week for being called super spicy.
(4)
N F.
Came from West Bloomfield to sample ribs. Carry out ready within minutes. The door was opened and greeted when arrived. I was offered xtra sauce without being charged. Ribs were the best. I am an amateur smoker, been working for years on the ends and outs of smoking. These are the best! Service was great, even exceptional. I also ordered baked beans, which were good. Coleslaw and green beans just ok. I'll be back.
(5)
Kathryn L.
Cafeteria syle ordering which makes for long lines. I had the beef brisket sandwich and a side. The beef brisket was dry and tough (per cooked sitting in warmers) Billys beans well just let me say Van de Kamp pork and beans. Will not be going back. If you have ever had Slows or Famous Daves this will be a GREAT disappointment.
(1)
Dee J.
The best thing here is the toast and packaged bbq sauce. The chicken tasted artificial, the beef brisket was dry, the ribs had no seasoning, actually the chicken and the beef brisket were as well as the corn and string beans. Don't waste your money this place is awful.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Chuck H.
It's a nice, clean, and simple barbeque joint, and the food is always good. I'm a regular now. One of my favorites is the Triple 20 sandwich. I even got to meet Billy Sims a couple different times and shoot the breeze with him for about 10min. How cool is that?
(4)Jess P.
This place was very good! My favorite was the Frito chili pie... the chili is made with brisket and it had just the right amount of heat. I also ordered the 1980 (2 meats + 2 sides). The sliced brisket was tender and had a nice amount of smoke. I also got the chicken which was pretty good, but I'll probably stick to getting ribs or pulled pork next time since my date's pulled pork was pretty yummy. The sauces were nice and flavorful. I had to wait on smoked corn on the cob but it was worth the wait. I also got coleslaw, while my date got coleslaw and baked beans. The tea tasted fresh (they have both sweet tea and unsweetened). The service was nice and helpful. Really want to go back and try their other proteins and sides. Another thing I like about this place is that you don't have to leave a tip. It's "cafeteria style" I suppose but that's not always a bad thing.
(5)Christian L.
If you are looking for fancy tables, ambiance, wait staff, and atmosphere, don't go. I went here for BBQ and what I got was Excellent BBQ. It is worth the trip or stopping there if you are in the area. Ribs were fall off the bone, pulled pork was "eat with your fingers" good and there was a nice smoke ring around the brisket. The smoked chicken and corn was excellent. I reviewed a couple other BBQ places from all over the country so I have a good sample size. The portions could be a bigger but it is a good thing that they are not. If there were any bigger I would have stuffed myself.
(5)Dale R.
In Detroit and I was looking for BBQ. Billy Sims and Oklahoma boy so you'd think anything he started would have some good que? That's why I came here. Would have been great to run into Billy Sims here. It was all you can eat rib night... tempting but I had to do my usual of sampling different meats. Note... This is a chain of restaurants. The Ribs were actually not bad. Not the best I've had but far from the worst. For the Detroit area I am thinking these are probably awesome ribs. The Pork had good flavor and a little hit of smoke and it was decently moist. Sorry but this pork needed a good Vinegar Sauce to go with it. If you like thick pasty sweet sauces you'll be ok. The brisket was a bit dry but overall not bad. The sauce did complement is nicely. Now to one of my favorite meats, the sausage. This was the best part of the meal for me. Nice spice, sauce went well with it. I very much enjoyed it. No banana pudding! I'd hit you with 3.5 stars if I could. It's worth a visit in the area and probably closer to a 4-5 star for Detroit area.
(3)Shunda B.
Unfortunately I wasn't impressed at all - I had the day off and I wanted something different for lunch instead of a fast chain on the way home from running errands. So I've always passed this place and a couple of my job said they wanted to try it too from a previous convo. So here's my chance!!! I went with the RUNNING BACK dinner which is 4 ribs, 2 small sides and Texas toast/pickle for $9.99 plus tax. The two sides I selected was coleslaw and bake beans (pork inside) also I wanted my ribs which no sauce so I could taste the pure rib it self. Well darn it I should asked for sauce because the ribs were plain (BLAH) - not signature about the taste at all. Like they put it in the slow cooker and thats it - don't get me wrong it was tender but it should have something special basically wanting me to come back for me. Customer service was nice and the place was clean with barely people inside but it is during business hours - arrived there around 2:30pm. Not busy at all!!! I don't even wanna try any other selection because I know it isn't going to have any favor. If the owner happens to read this please my the meat unique taste without having to add sauce. Happy eating!!!
(2)Alex D.
Food isn't really great, but it's not really bad either. Ribs taste boiled/baked, Mac n cheese doesn't have much flavor. The sliced brisket was okay, I'll probably never go back.
(2)A P M.
BBQ by numbers. The Billy Sims chain is a franchise operation, where everything is done by the book. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a little weird to see them place your tray on a digital scale to provide for profit-maximizing portion control (especially when they take a slice or two of brisket back out of your basket if they went over). Don't get me wrong, they're entitled to sell their wares at a fair price and make their money, it just takes away from the down-home experience. The food is good low-average fare in the grand scheme of things. Nowhere near horrible, nowhere near sublime. Meats are wrapped in plastic and stored in heating racks and sliced up for you upon ordering. Such is the turn-key nature of the franchise system they run, I do wonder if the hickory smoke you smell in the parking lot on the way in is just for effect and not for cooking, and that the foods are pre-packaged and sent in from corporate HQ. No way of knowing for sure, but I have my suspicions. All told, the food is probably 2.5 star; decent quality, decent value, efficient service on the night we were there. The ribs I had were juicy, tasty, probably a little too overdone and "fall off the bone" for my preference, but certainly enjoyable. The hotter of the two sauces (which was not "hot" by any stretch of the imagination) was a good accompaniment. The regular sauce was much too sweet. The BBQ beans were great (pretty much star of the show), the mac and cheese below average, the toast was soft, flavorless, and forgettable. I'm told by others in our party that the green beans were excellent. I bump them up to 3 based on our visit. We went on a Saturday evening with a party of 9 (5 adults, 4 teenagers). The kids live a fair distance from their cousins, so every once in a while we like to find a place halfway in between where we can meet for dinner and visit. It's usually a lengthy visit so the kids can hang out and the adults can sit and shoot the shit. Obviously, this can be a problem at a lot of full-service restaurants where the waiters and waitresses are relying on a certain amount of turnover for their big money Saturday night tips. Here, that was not a problem at all. The dining area was huge, with plenty of empty tables for us to put together for our party. Everybody got to order what they wanted (ribs, pulled pork, sliced brisket, shredded brisket, sausage for entrees plus the usual assortment of sides). We all had a good meal, the price was reasonable, about what you'd expect, and we had absolutely no problem staying as long as we wanted (about 3 hours in all), and making a fair amount of noise. Never felt any pressure that we'd overstayed our welcome, the kids were more than welcome to refill their sodas as many times as they wanted, and everybody from the manager on down couldn't have been nicer.
(3)Brett B.
Delicious food, service with a smile, and surprisingly inexpensive compared to BBQ in other cities. I travel every week for work, and always try to hit a barbecue place wherever I am. This place is definitely one of the better ones!!
(4)Ken S.
The skinny: fast food BBQ, is it Slows? Not so much. Is it ok BBQ fast? Sure is. Place was clean, staff was friendly and the food was good. Great place for lunch. Nothing blew me away and nothing really disappointed. Been there more than once and will probably go back if I'm in the area craving a quick pled pork sandwich
(3)Brenda M.
I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon to grab some carry-out for the hubs to try. There were only 2 cars in the parking lot, which had me worried. But, I smelled hickory smoke when I got out of the car, which reassured me. The employees were very friendly, and answered all of my questions. I got the 3-meat combo (sliced brisket, ribs, and hot link) which came with 2 sides( beans & Mac 'n cheese). I think the price was $15.99. The girl that packed up my order offered both mild and hot BBQ sauce so we could try both. The brisket was good, the hot link was really spicy(hence the name), but the ribs were just OK. The sides were good as well. Both sauces were tasty. Since this location isn't really near us in Westland, we'll have to visit again when we're in the area. Better yet, they could open a location here and offer us something other than Famous Dave's for BBQ!
(3)Julia K.
I ordered the brisket with sides of mac and cheese and potato salad as well as their Frito chili pie. The brisket is decent, although I was rather underwhelmed. It's not cooked in any sort of sauce so it's rather dry and boring without adding BBQ sauce. The mac and cheese and potato salad were excellent. The Frito chili pie was quite amazing though. I highly recommend trying it if you come here. All in all, I don't think I'd come here again for anything but the Frito chili pie.
(3)Ben J.
This barbecue was awful! Ribs had so much fat on them I had to pull them apart before ate them. The brisket was dry, and had been sitting there for a long time it seems like. The barbecue beans with the brisket we're okay. The macaroni and cheese was worse than a box kind. My recommendation is don't go. I'm starting to feel sick after I ate that food.
(1)Mark Z.
I visited this place on 05/26/14 at 4:33pm. Check #81. Ok, what a eefing dump. First thing I walked in and there were only 2 people working. How do you only have 2 people working. I waited ,15 minutes in line before I gave the guy my order. The guy was sweating, how nasty. He seemed like he was displeasured in helping me. I ordered the Rookie Dinner Combo after he got the meats in the to-go box he puts the box down by the sides and starts helping other customers while my garbage food is getting cold. 2 minutes later the other employee got my sides and bagged my garbage for me. Let's see here, the brisket was way over cooked and dry, probably been sitting in the warmer all day, no flavor at all. The bologona was nasty and tastless. The polish sausage was not cooked at all, it had a funny texture, when you start chewing on it, starts to fall apart, either poor quality or not cooked at all. The ribs seemed like they were boiled, very disgusting and tastless. The Coleslaw had way to much dressing and no flavor. Mac Cheese, no flavor at all, seems like the stuff they serve to toddlers. Shame on you Billy Sims for your restaurant serving garbage and not having enough employees.
(1)Rob P.
Awesome turkey bbq, the best of all! The Brisket was ok, felt like it was too dry. the chicken was pretty good too. My friend told me the sausage links were good, The sauces in house are good. The texas toast is not so impressive, too plain.
(4)Ken T.
7PM Tuesday with craving for ribs. The help is nice and friendly. Well, for me the ribs were nice, juicy and the meat fell off the bones which was good but the sauce was too sweet. The hot sauce is Chucky Cheese hot, suitable for a 6 year old. If this were Oakland, the place would be rioted. BTW, Oakland, California bbq hot sauce is/was/are dangerously hot. Chicken was almost institutional so no comment. The pulled pork was dry but tasty. My son had the Triple 20 which he just devoured but then again, he's 16. Still it's a fact - it disappeared. I could not confirm nor deny the goodliness. Let's see, the beans were too sweet, the cole slaw too sweet. Well, if you're into sweet ribs then this IS the place. Just not for me. No offense to Billy.
(2)Tamara Y.
We've been wanting to check this place out, and I'm glad we did. I had the two-meat combo with pulled pork and turkey. The portions were quite large and the meat was good. Hubby had brisket and pulled pork. I thought the brisket was a bit dry, but otherwise tasted good. The meals come with either two "sideliners" or one "super side." Some of the sides that are commonly found in BBQ places are nowhere to be found here -- like mac & cheese or french fries. I had baked beans and green beans. The hub had a baked potato. The staff was friendly and helpful, advising me to get the smoked turkey. I would definitely return to check out more of the menu!
(3)Julian B.
Slows and Famous Daves and Parks are my fave ribs in the Metro Detroit area. Memphis Smoke was my top fave, unfortunately they closed. These Billy Sims ribs are meaty, tasty and cooked nicely. St Louis not baby back. Heard the smoke flavor is liquid smoke but regardless, the ribs are worth the reasonable price and multiple eatings. Solid. I got 8 bones in a Half Rack. They are near fall off the bone with a little bite. Im one of the few who like a bit of bite and not total fall off the bone. The back membrane is left on and chewy if you try to eat it, which I like to do yet cant with this rib's membrane. The packaged sauce has two choices: Sweet and Boot Kickin. Sweet is like other's sauce and more sweet as name says. It was solid. Boot Kickin has little kick and I didnt care for its taste much. The sides leave much to be desired. I liked the green beans and the corn. The smoked corn is tasty but suffers from trying to be kept warm and small size. The "okie" toast is tasty but somewhat small for a twist on thicker texas toast. I havent had anything else here yet.
(4)James B.
Unique options and generous servings that never disappoint (maybe I just get great treatment since I'm always excited to visit :) Amazing BBQ!!!!!!
(5)Justice X.
Went with the wife tonight. We each had the Detroit barbecue salad with smoked turkey. Staff was friendly. Service was quick. The we both deemed the salads as excellent.
(5)John G.
After Hoggers in Berkley closed, I've been looking for a great pulled pork sandwich. This place is outstanding and all of the Lions and Billy Sims memorabilia is great. Try it.
(5)Liz R.
We were there on a weekend for lunch, and the place was empty. Not having done my yelp homework before coming here, that got me a little worried. Caferia trays and metal rails... a little more nervous. All the meat in a warming oven, most of it wrapped in plastic wrap, visible to the patron... scared now. (perhaps this is how all places work, but I can't see in the kitchen...?). The food. I ordered a Baker Loaded, with brisket. The baked potato was huge and perfectly cooked. They loaded it with all the fixings, with a scoop of chopped brisket laid on top. $7, and I was full. Well, I was able to shove one of Ken's ribs in. And I'm glad I did, because that MADE the trip for us. They only have St. Louis-style, which I understand are preferred by many, yet we like the tender, fall off the bone-ness of baby backs - but the ribs on Ken's plate looked exactly like the picture-perfect ribs on their website. And they fell off the bone. And they had a smoke ring. And the meat was tender and so damn flavorful. If we go back, I'll only get their ribs. Ken went with the four meat platter to get 4 ribs (2 ribs are considered one meat option), the sliced brisket and the smoked bologna (gack). The sliced brisket wasn't great - my shredded on top of the potato was better, likely because it got shellacked in the BBQ sauce I drenched my tater with. The bologna - meh. He got it on the off chance it would be an amazing find for you yelpers, and it wasn't. The place never filled up. It had a slow, steady trickle of take outs, but we were only joined for eating in by another couple. Get the ribs.
(3)Tony H.
Not one unforgettable memory besides how bad it was for the price. The chicken and beef brisket were smoke flavored processed lunch meat sliced thick. The green beans were very bland and tasted like canned Del Monte green beans right out of the can. The Boot Kicken Hot Spicy BBQ sauce was tangy not hot or spicy. The bread, the slaw and pickle were your typical generic brands that you find at a cafeteria or a cheap buffet. Never experiencing that again.
(1)Judith O.
I'm actually surprised by all the 5 star ratings. The meat (we had brisket and pulled pork sandwiches) was pretty good, but that's the best thing I can say. You pay 7 bucks for a sandwich and a side. It's a small sandwich reminiscent of a normal McDonald's cheeseburger. The sides were not good. Depending on their prices, I might buy just brisket or pulled pork from them and make the side dishes at home.1.5 stars.
(1)Adela B.
Billy Sims BBQ is a convenient place to stop in for a quick bite if you are in the area. This is not one of those places you would make a trek to visit, but it is a pretty good choice if you are headed down Telegraph. I have tried their brisket and turkey. The brisket is very tasty and smoky. I enjoyed it immensely with the sides of macaroni and cheese and potato salad. The turkey was a little drier and saltier. Maybe I went on an off day, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The macaroni was highly rated by my daughter and I thought it was decent. It was definitely not artesan, organic macaroni and cheese crusted with gruyere and butter glazed baguette crumbs, but it was cheesy, creamy and thick. The potato salad was also quite tasty and served nice and cold. The day we went was quite stormy and not many people were in the restaurant, but the place was clean and service was efficient. Our dinner for three came to around 30 bucks, which I didn't feel was outrageous for a barbeque dinner, but there were no leftovers. If you are in the area, give Billy Sims BBQ a try, it's miles better than the rib tips at Happy's across the street.
(3)Dino L.
I had the Brisket and it was excellent. For a side you get two choices or a cup of chili I got the chili with cheese and onions and it also was excellent. I ate too much though! Going to take a nap now at my desk!!
(5)Ellen N.
I frequent this restaurant about once a month. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is very helpful.I like to order the tailgate pack to take home when I entertain. The quality of meat is excellent. The sauce is fantastic. You can even buy it by the bottle! You will not be disappointed by Billy Sims!
(5)Tom K.
This was my third trip here. The cafeteria service line and the meats taken from plastic wrap scared me. I was wrong I ordered the 1980 which was two meats and two sides. I ordered pulled brisket and pulled pork. The large serving was split with my wife and filled us up. Our sides were baked beans with large chunks if pulled pork in them and coleslaw which was delicious. I loved the sauce on the table. This was a Tuesday at 5 pm and there was only one person there besides us.i recommend Billy's as well worth the money
(4)John N.
Brisket was good and even the bologna was suprisingly tasty. Ribs and hot links drew rave reviews from others at the table. Suprisingly no mac n cheese at a BBQ joint. The chili was not worth eating and the sauce was tepid. Service was close to awful.
(3)Food L.
Meat was very tender, and SMOKED to perfection. The Pulled pork, smoked chicken, and beef brisket were all outstanding! However, the ribs while smoked to perfection were lacking on the seasoning, and they forgot to give me BBQ sauce with my order. The sides are not very flavorful at all and appear to be an afterthought to the menu. But I went there for the BBQ and will continue to go and support them!! Best BBQ in Southfield, PERIOD!
(3)Anthony B.
Went today for lunch. Paid $6.99 for a sandwich and a side, with a pickle wedge. All sandwiches are this price, pulled pork, beef, chickem, polish sausage. They charge extra for a premium side, but standard sides include baked beans (very good), corn, coleslaw, green beans, etc. The beef brisket on the sandwich was moist and tender, cooked there, and very good. The meat portion was crummy, not worth the $6.99. The guy making the sandwich today was very stringent on the amount of meat. he couldn't keep his eyes off the scale, making sure not go over 1/10 of an ounce. It was like Billy was watching over his shoulder. Obviously Billy loves his signature, it is on everything, the staff hats, etc. Nice environment, has a Billy Sims mini gift shop, with all things Billy for sale. I saw some sandwiches that looked like they had more meat, maybe they paid the extra $2 for more meat. Seems pricey for the amount of food. I will go back someday.
(3)Vic D.
Another new BBQ joint in the area. Not bad. My brisket sandwich was tasty; the sauce I added at the table didn't do much for the sandwich. Baked beans were average. Nowhere near the top of the charts, but it's close by and if I need to satiate a BBQ fix, this place will be on my list.
(3)Dave G.
Fantastic ribs! I have been a once-a-week regular since they opened. Ribs are thick, meaty and juicy. Delicious! Much better than over-hyped Slow's. $11.99 for a 1/2 slab dinner can not be beat. The rest of the menu looks good too, but I wouldn't know. I always get the ribs. I'm getting hungry just writing this review. Please ignore negative reviews and try it yourself. Everybody I've told about Billy's loves it once they try it.
(5)Surya R.
Apart from the long lines, this place has great food and its very reasonably priced. They will never give you any extra meat on your sandwiches or your order though. The guy handling the meat was very particular about taking extra off and saving it for the next order. Food wise we got the brisket and the pulled pork. Both were really tasty but their hot sauce was pretty week for being called super spicy.
(4)N F.
Came from West Bloomfield to sample ribs. Carry out ready within minutes. The door was opened and greeted when arrived. I was offered xtra sauce without being charged. Ribs were the best. I am an amateur smoker, been working for years on the ends and outs of smoking. These are the best! Service was great, even exceptional. I also ordered baked beans, which were good. Coleslaw and green beans just ok. I'll be back.
(5)Kathryn L.
Cafeteria syle ordering which makes for long lines. I had the beef brisket sandwich and a side. The beef brisket was dry and tough (per cooked sitting in warmers) Billys beans well just let me say Van de Kamp pork and beans. Will not be going back. If you have ever had Slows or Famous Daves this will be a GREAT disappointment.
(1)Dee J.
The best thing here is the toast and packaged bbq sauce. The chicken tasted artificial, the beef brisket was dry, the ribs had no seasoning, actually the chicken and the beef brisket were as well as the corn and string beans. Don't waste your money this place is awful.
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