Take the Barbeque Tour of Tuscaloosa
Where to find the South's favorite food in this West Alabama town
Sep 10, 2009
Tuscaloosa, Alabama is known for its football and rich Southern history, particularly George Wallace’s Stand in the Schoolhouse Door. But this city with small-town charm in West Alabama is also known for its barbeque. All Southerners know barbeque is an essential food, especially in the fall.
Dreamland Barbeque and Archibald's
Any Tuscaloosian would first recommend Dreamland Barbeque. Located off the beaten track off Highway 82 on Jug Factory Road and housed in a one-room, windowless shack of a building, Dreamland is home to the most famous ribs in T-Town. Patrons can order a half or whole rack of ribs, smothered in Dreamland’s signature sauce and accompanied by that same sauce in a dish with white bread to dip. Wash it down with sweet tea and it's the quintessential Southern meal.
Over the river into Tuscaloosa’s close neighbor, Northport, is a completely different barbeque experience. Archibald’s is an even smaller space than Dreamland, with barely enough room for all the local barbeque lovers to stand and wait for their sandwich. Patrons can watch the cook turn the meat in the barbeque pit while they wait. A plate of sandwiches to share consists of strips of rib meat on white bread topped with their vinegar sauce. This joint on the outskirts of town on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is worth the trek.
Full Moon Barbeque and Other Tuscaloosa Favorites
If chain restaurants are the desire, Full Moon is a regular restaurant right on the main drag, McFarland Boulevard. They offer choices of pork, chicken, brisket or salad, and sides like baked beans and fries are available. The restaurant also features desserts like cookies and pie. The walls are a tribute to the local college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Photos of the team’s history cover the walls and this barbeque joint is a favorite of local Alabama fans and visiting game-goers.
Barbeque restaurants feed every neighborhood in town, and each neighborhood brings the opportunity to to drop by and sample the different tastes. 15th Street has Mike and Ed’s, Northport’s 82 has Pottery Grill, and the outskirts of Greensboro have places like Tees Ribs ‘N Things. All provide a different barbeque experience.
Picking the Right Barbeque
With all these choices, it can be diffucult to choose. If time isn't an issue, visitors can pick based on what kind of barbeque they're in the mood for. Want the basic ribs and tea? Dreamland could be the destination. Fancy a unique flavored sauce and a plate to go? Archibald’s might be perfect. If the barbeque lover wants lots of choices and sides, Full Moon or Pottery Grill offer those choices.
But visitors who are in a hurry and just want to try something while they're in town can make their decision based on where they are. Chances are, none of the choices will disappoint. A great barbeque restaurant is never far away in Tuscaloosa.
Related Readings:
Regional Guide to American Barbecue Styles
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