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Demetri's BBQ

1901 28th Avenue South, Homewood, AL - (205) 871-1581
Posted By Paul Pressley on 3/14/2007 6:22:00 PM
Nice enough folks, to be sure, but the Greek-style Southern BBQ just doesn't float with a real Southern boy. Two bites in, and I knew I had made a big mistake, when it came to wanting to have Alabama "Q."

The BBQ itself was OK, but the sauces just did not make me happy. It was the sides of coleslaw and baked beans that sealed the fate of my experience. They both had a compeletely Greek spice to them that was just so far removed from tradition, they might as well have not been coleslaw and baked beans. Since the folks were so friendly, I asked for a to-go box, and finished reading the paper, and drinking my iced tea. Strangely enough, it was classic tea that would have made grandma proud. I guess it's hard to make Greek iced tea.

I can't say enough about the city of Homewood. It has a lovely downtown area that is feet friendly, and sports a lot of "mom & pop" shops, filled with nifty wares.

11 out of 14 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

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Scorecard

This was maybe the densest and fudgiest chocolate cream pie I have ever encountered.
"This was maybe the densest and fudgiest chocolate cream pie I have ever encountered."
Cliff Strutz





The chopped pork on the pork platter comes in large chunks, covered in the sweet sauce.
"The chopped pork on the pork platter comes in large chunks, covered in the sweet sauce."
Cliff Strutz



""Slaw in the Raw" - instead of on the side, at Demetri's, you get your slaw on a full salad plate, with a slather of Greek dressing atop. It comes to you BEFORE the meal, like a salad, too."
Mike Stroud


Ah, one of the best things about the Deep South. A mighty good helping of sliced pork and a cup of BBQ beans; could you ask for anything better? Also, note the burger buns BESIDE the meat; in central Alabama, many barbecue joints let their customers decide whether they want to make sandwiches or not.
"Ah, one of the best things about the Deep South. A mighty good helping of sliced pork and a cup of BBQ beans; could you ask for anything better? Also, note the burger buns BESIDE the meat; in central Alabama, many barbecue joints let their customers decide whether they want to make sandwiches or not."
Mike Stroud


A sign of a true Roadfood place--the old Formica counters and malt-shop stools have been left intact after all the years. And the service is quite old fashioned, too--generous drink refills, orders served up rapidly. These two staffers show the way.
"A sign of a true Roadfood place--the old Formica counters and malt-shop stools have been left intact after all the years. And the service is quite old fashioned, too--generous drink refills, orders served up rapidly. These two staffers show the way."
Mike Stroud


One of the neatest things to this reviewer about barbecue places in the Birmingham area is that you can actually see your meat being cooked on an open pit, in full view of the dining area. Here, the cook gets a handful of pork shoulder, while his co-worker wraps up utensils in a napkin, an old Southern restaurant custom. The tea pitcher beside her is full of a favorite local brand, Red Diamond.
"One of the neatest things to this reviewer about barbecue places in the Birmingham area is that you can actually see your meat being cooked on an open pit, in full view of the dining area. Here, the cook gets a handful of pork shoulder, while his co-worker wraps up utensils in a napkin, an old Southern restaurant custom. The tea pitcher beside her is full of a favorite local brand, Red Diamond."
Mike Stroud


Going over Red Mountain into suburban Birmingham, you don't have to go far to get good barbecue. The locals in the know have patronized Demetri's since the 1960s. Even the day after Thanksgiving, the faithful show up in droves.
"Going over Red Mountain into suburban Birmingham, you don't have to go far to get good barbecue. The locals in the know have patronized Demetri's since the 1960s. Even the day after Thanksgiving, the faithful show up in droves."
Mike Stroud



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