Whitt's Barbecue: Favorite Regional Restaurant In Alabama

If you want to try a favorite regional restaurant in Alabama – Whitt’s is it. Whitt’s Barbecue, known for its menu of regional specialties, is also long-established regionally. While there are now many franchise locations in Middle Tennessee, it all began in North Alabama with founders Floyd and Laura Whitt.

The original restaurant in Athens opened in 1966 after Floyd Whitt, a brick mason, custom-designed and built a pit to hickory smoke meats.

While the restaurant brand has expanded to many locations in North Alabama and Tennessee, the Whitt family continues to operate the original restaurant and another in Athens, two in Decatur, and another in Moulton. The fourth generation of the family is now serving many more generations of loyal customers.

And speaking of families, the family pack options are a longtime bestseller. Depending on the size of your crew, you can order from three options that include varying portions of meat, slaw, buns, chips, and sauce.

If you want to sample several of Whitt's favorites at once, get a classic plate. Take your pick of meat, three sides, a roll, and sauce. Barbecue meats include pulled pork, beef or turkey, slabs and half-slabs of ribs, and half or whole chicken. Sides include slaw, baked beans, potato salad, and corn salad. There are four sauce options – mild, hot, spicy thick, and white.

For (only slightly) lighter appetites, Whitt's scrumptious barbecue sandwiches come with mayo, slaw, and pickles. Grab a sandwich on its own or tack on sides à la carte.

For the sandwiches, you can choose from pulled pork, beef, or turkey. Tip: Go ahead and buy a couple or more and treat a friend or family member. Recently, my sister stopped by unannounced with a couple of Whitt's pulled turkey sandwiches. Random, delicious, and appreciated.

The midday crew loves Whitt's lunch boxes. They are value-priced and include your choice of sandwich, two sides, a cookie, and a large drink. A variation is the stew box, which subs a half-pint of Brunswick stew for the sides and includes a pickle spear and crackers.

I'd be remiss not to mention the massive baked potatoes. They're buttery, creamy, chivey, and cheesy – and you can top them with barbecued pork, beef, chicken, or turkey to round out your meal (or two). For dessert, the restaurants have a selection of pies available by the slice or whole. Sides and stew can be purchased in varying sizes up to a gallon, and they'll make you the dinner winner at potlucks and large family gatherings.

You’ll find street addresses, hours, and menus for each of the North Alabama locations on the Whitt’s Barbecue website. Keep up with location-specific announcements on the Whitt’s Barbecue Athens Facebook page and the Whitt’s Barbecue-DecaturAL- 6th Avenue Facebook page.

If you’re interested in exploring many of the North Alabama region’s best attractions, take advantage of the Huntsville and North Alabama Multi-Attraction Pass. They are available for durations of one, three, or five days and include deep discounts on admission to Decatur’s Cook Museum of Natural Science; Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Burritt on the Mountain, EarlyWorks Children’s Museum, and Huntsville Botanical Garden; Danville’s Jesse Owens Museum; Cullman’s Ave Maria Grotto; Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville; Tigers for Tomorrow in Attalla; and Rickwood Caverns State Park in Warrior.

What are your favorite foods and attractions in the North Alabama area? Do you agree Whitt’s takes the gold for the best local flavors and convenient locations? We’d love to hear about your favorite regional restaurant in Alabama!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Whitt's Barbecue, 1397 E Elm St, Athens, AL 35611, USA

This Regional Restaurant Is One Of Alabama's Favorite Places To Dine

Lisa Battles

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