Bob Sykes Barbeque

Absolutely an icon in Bessemer, Alabama. Anyone who has ever eaten at Bob Sykes Barb’Q will come back for more. There is nothing I have ever eaten that wasn’t delicious. I think I make a grilled hamburger as good as them but that is just my opinion. Their desserts are fattening beyond reality. If you are passing through or near Bessemer, Alabama, stop and eat at Bob Sykes.

Old standard for BBQ in the Bessemer area. Never disappointed. Know what you want before its your turn to order or you’ll make people mad. They could spend more time cleaning tables as they get pretty sticky. Price is average. Don’t get the big bob anything unless you can pretty much eat 2 regular sandwiches. Be careful at lunch, this place gets slammed everyday.

Just not good BBQ. The pork wasn’t flavorful even though it was covered in their BBQ sauce. Their vegetable of the day was green beans and they tasted like they were out of a can. The only thing I even remotely enjoyed was the okra which was overdone. I know this place is a staple in the area, but I personally don’t understand why. There are some great BBQ places around, just not this one.

This is a Bessemer institution in business for 60+ years. I have eaten here about once a month for the last 20. The food is consistently good, with the exception of the potato salad. On some days, it is outstanding. Other days, it seems to be missing something or is a bit crunchy like the potatoes didn’t quite cook long enough. Most of the time, the servers are polite. There have been a few times we have encountered a rude one. If it wasn’t for the occasional rude server and the sometimes under cooked potatoes in the salad, I would give them 5 stars. If you order a loaded BBQ potato, it is delicious. Go ahead and get a go box and plan on finishing it the next day for lunch. Ask for sour cream on the side as you don’t want to reheat with sour cream on it. It is even better the next day if you do this.

My date decided on stopping here for dinner after the original choice was closed for the weekend. I opted for the cheeseburger, no mustard, with potato salad and onion rings. While he ranted and raved over his BBQ beef sandwich and fries, I considered my meal to be… just average. The onion rings, while hot and plentiful, seemed to be missing something. Namely taste. I thought they could’ve used possibly some salt or some kind of other seasoning. The cheeseburger was… just ok. It was meat, cheese pickles and sauce. Nothing to write Mom about. However, it was cooked well done as i like my burgers to be cooked. Lastly, I didn’t care for the potato salad. Too tangy in my opinion.
Bob Sykes is a legend here in Jefferson County. I know. But what I ordered just didn’t hit the mark as I hoped it would. Before I get stoned for the 3 stars, I will return soon and try the pork or smoked turkey or the chicken. Maybe I’ll have better luck next time

the first time I went here I got pulled pork and it was awesome. the sides are ok. the sauce is what makes the barbecue it is so good. also the big bob burger is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had, the sauce is amazing on it. and they have some of the best red velvet cake in my opinion

My standard order is a Big Bob Special (outside sliced w/​extra pickles), slaw and onion rings but for a change I sometimes order the Mega Burger which is incredible and will feed 4, yes FOUR people!

Food is great, the ribs had a GREAT amount of meat on them (A+), the sauce isn’t too spicy but not too bland… the baked beans were hot, and the coleslaw was cold and great. I thought the combination plate was gonna be small, and very little meat (4oz is what it said on the board) the large section of the plate was piled with pulled pork :) great value for sure.

The BBQ is NOT as good as people make it out to be,.if this represents Alabama KEEP IT! The pulled pork sandwich I had from there was full of FAT! Where was the meat? and the sauce… Kraft bbq tastes so much better out of the bottle than what I’ve recieved… the ribs we’re over cooked and dry that NOTHING could have revitalized the pork… no pig should have to sacrifice itself to Bob Sikes

My family and I love this place! The ribs and chicken are good… I am not a fan of their sauce… I always get it on the side. I grew up near this place so is a bit nostalgic…

Went here years and years ago when passing through Bessemer on a road trip. Set-​up was confusing but the employees were very helpful/​patient and explained how everything worked and what different menu items included. The ribs are some of the meatiest/​largest/​most delicious ribs I have ever had in my life. The BBQ sauce is thick and vinegary but you hardly need it. Pulled pork — equally delicious with great smoky flavor. My father got brisket and a side of smoked sausage and raved about each. Everyone got different sides including mac and cheese, cole slaw, and beans and everyone was pleased. If you have room (or just take it for later) try one of the homemade slices of pie for dessert!

It is cleaner than it looks on the outside. Inside is fairly new and clean. I ordered the ¼ chicken and had potato salad and baked beans for my sides. The woman was rude when I opened my food. We did get our food fairly quickly but my chicken was over cooked. When you go to a BBQ place every kind of meat should be falling off the bone. The sauce was okay but a bit runny. The baked beans were bland as was the potato salad. Went I went to leave a different woman was just as rude when I asked for a to go box (for my dog because I wasn’t gonna eat it lol). All in all I would say drive a couple more miles and eat at Uncle Sam’s BBQ in Hueytown.

OK — to start let me say that the hospitality is good, the prices are fantastic, but when it comes to barbecue lovers… This place seems to fall a little short of the raving reviews you find on here otherwise.
I’m a barbecue enthusiast, I’ve traveled form Texas through the south sampling barbecue straight up to New York. Bob Sykes has the at home feel we all love but the love in the air does not represent the food by far. If you enjoy smokey favors this is the place to be, but the beef falls short of flavor and moisture, the ribs shortly behind as well.
The concern is the lack of moisture. The fat needed to make smoking and true barbecue work. Aside from a few bites of the rib where the balance was perfect, the meat is chewy. The sliced beef is dry and flavorless and needs big helping of sauce to go down.
As a local staple this place will survive, but for those traveling through and looking for good eats and maybe a place to rave about, I hate to say it, but this is not the place.

I have a HS friend who swears this is the best BBQ a in the world. He’s not far from wrong. I finally made it in here, although I needed to drive 25 miles out of my way after flying from ORDINARY to LIT to ATL to BHM. So it was quite a stretch to get here.
Bob Sykes’ was founded in 1957. The décor is original and rustic… nothing fancy here… just huge portions and solid Q! I ordered a combo plate, which actually arrived as a series of PLATES! I had pulled pork and beef, which was a brisket simmered to falling-​apart tender. The slaw is excellent… frequently a big miss in BBq restaurants.
The only small point of contention here is that the sauce is more smoky than tangy… a personal preference, but one that matters to me. Still, aside from betting friend Ray off of my a** by coming here, it was well worth the trip.

Bland meat with no flavor (DEFINITELY NO SMOKE) and watery/​ketchupy BBQ sauce. Don’t waste your time and don’t let the open grill fool you when you walk in, everything is pre-​cooked, I asked…

I gave ONE STAR, due to the BRISKET ONLY! This was AWFUL! I have eat here for YEARS… and always try to stop in when I am in town… a least once a month.
Yesterday, we had stopped in, and I thought I would try the BRISKET BURGER. UGH!
It was terrible. Half cooked, THIN THIN THIN BRISKET, VERY TOUGH… like thick undercooked, dried out bacon… very bad.
Of course the burger part was great!
Van, you need to take the brisket OFF the menu until you get this right… sorry… it was bad.
If this was my FIRST visit, FIRST IMPRESSION. I doubt if I would ever give them a SECOND. But, I know ALL IN ALL, they’re GREAT!
Except the brisket burger.
ugh.

This is a Birmingham original that has been serving barbecue since 1957. This was my first time at this restaurant, but it felt very similar to the many other barbecue places in town (Full Moon, Golden Rule, and Johnny Ray’s come to mind). The fire pit is just a couple feet from the dining area. You have an unobstructed view of the grill, and the smell of hickory smoke is in the air. While I was there chickens, ribs, and pork shoulders were on the grill.
I thought the ribs were solid, but not outstanding. I ordered ½ slab, and the portion was big. Six or seven ribs. The smaller ribs were tender and the meat easily pulled from the bone. The larger pieces had sections that were tough and chewy. The rub was flavorful and not too salty. Their barbecue sauce was sweet and had enough vinegar to give a slight tanginess. You can order packaged jars of the sauce, but I’m glad I didn’t because I thought it was petty common.
I’m glad I tried the ribs. The restaurant is family owned and operated, and the Bob Syles name Is well known. The customers who were there looked to be a loyal following.

This is my husband’s favorite place for ribs… sauce on the side. It has quickly became my go too for ribs as well. The meat is tender with a nice smoke ring and MAN us it juicy! I have only had their ribs so I can’t speak up for the rest of the menu but based on the lines inside and out, I think it is safe to assume they are pretty good. I got my hubby a half slab yesterday (since I wanted to savor my Red Pearl Chinese) and one bone I stole was soooo good, I’m back for more right now!
…Just devoured an order of okra from Sykes on the way home! Yum!

My father-​in-​law loves this place, always raving about it. I finally joined him and tried it out, and I was glad to say it exceeded my expectations. I loved the sauce (nice tang to it), the fries, the price, quantity of meat piled on my sandwich. A+ experience all around. Can definitely see why they’ve been doing business for so long. Will be back.

I found this «iconic», «legendary»,“historical”.etc etc etc BBQ joint to be a solid 3 star experience… Average.
The service was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was nice. The food was fine… just nothing spectacular.
Sorry, but I simply have no superlatives for Bob Sykes BBQ.