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Labor Day weekend is a time to celebrate the end of summer. Many of us turn to hosting or attending a backyard BBQ to mark a successful summertime and gather with our friends and family one last time during the warmer months. But hosting a BBQ can sometimes be stressful and comes with a ton of work. Plus, who wants to get up at 4 a.m. just to put some meat in a smoker? Leave the heavy lifting to the pros and pick up some fantastic BBQ for your gathering from one of these amazing local BBQ restaurants this Labor Day weekend.
SLOWS BAR BQ
2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit
4107 Cass Ave, Detroit – To Go Location
Slows BBQ is a popular Detroit destination for all things BBQ that started with their Corktown restaurant. “Slows Bar BQ has served chef-driven Bar BQ since 2005. Today we operate our flagship Corktown restaurant, our catering and carryout outpost SLOWS TO GO in Midtown, a full service restaurant in Grand Rapids and a pair of food trucks that can be found nightly around the metro area,” says Terry Perrone, Co-CEO and Managing Director of Slows. They offer a wide variety of meats including brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs, and chicken thighs. You can order their meats by weight and don’t forget about their amazing side dishes and homemade sauces to go alongside.
VICKI’S BAR-B-Q
3845 W Warren Ave, Detroit
Vicki’s Bar-B-Q is an old school BBQ joint that serves up some of the best BBQ in the area. “Vicki’s Bar-B-Q has been a Detroit staple since 1964 when Fairfield and Vicki Butler transitioned from ‘Vicki’s Shrimp Hut’ and added charcoal grilled pork ribs to the menu. Now, Vicki’s is committed to keeping all the recipes sacred and preserving the rich history of this iconic Detroit original. Vicki’s has also fed legendary Detroit celebrities like Aretha Franklin, Tommy Hearns, Emanuel Steward, and Detroit-born soul singer Johnnie Taylor. To this day, Vicki’s is known for their fresh and meaty grilled charcoal-pit ribs, smoked rib tips and chicken—ready hot and fast and dripping with Vicki’s famous sauce—and their secret-recipe fried shrimp which originally put them on the map,” says Courtney Downey, Marketing Director of Vicki’s Bar-B-Q. Their menu is fairly straightforward with meats and shrimp that you can get as individual portions or enough to feed a crowd.
ROGER’S ROOST
33626 Schoenherr Rd, Sterling Heights
Roger’s Roost is the perfect place to feed everyone’s cravings. “People just feel at home at Roger’s Roost with its casual atmosphere, great service & food. We are a family owned and run business for over 50 years. The nostalgic décor throughout makes our guests think of their childhood memories. Roger’s has 35 beers on tap and a bourbon selection to suit anyone’s taste buds. Roger’s Roost is a great place for family dinners, date night & everything in between. There is no place just like this place anywhere near this place…so…this must be the place,” says Barbara Upton, Manager of Roger’s Roost. They are known for their hickory-smoked BBQ baby back ribs which are slow-cooked in their wood-fueled smoker.
UNION WORKSHOP
18 South Main Street, Clarkston
Union Woodshop is a popular spot for all things BBQ in the small downtown of Clarkston. They start all their meat with a rub and then place it on the green hickory smoker behind the restaurant that’s always running at low heat. David Mates-Knapp, Digital Media Marketing Manager says, “Union Woodshop has a menu that’s rustic in its delivery and refined in its care. Our BBQ is a ritual that starts with a careful rub and ends only when we think it is time to pull the meat from the bath of smoke we surround it with. Pork butt. Brisket. Spare ribs. Back ribs. Whole birds and chicken wings alike. And bacon. Lots of bacon. Slow cooked bacon ready to be cut in from thick slabs into magical planks. Our menu is crafted with hickory on the smoke side and apple and cherry wood on the pizza side.”
SUGARBUSH TAVERN
27900 21 Mile Rd, Chesterfield Township
Sugarbush Tavern is an area favorite for great beer and a vast menu of local favorites. General Manager Stephanie Nader says, “We embody a very “cheers” like vibe with our community and very quickly you will feel at home when you walk through our doors. We offer a vast menu of American style fare, specializing in our award winning ribs! Aside from the mouthwatering food options we are not shy to boast about our full bar featuring truly local beers on tap and by the bottle and an ever growing Michigan bourbon selection.” While their whole menu is great, their ribs are a highlight, served with your choice of sauce. You can also pair their ribs with some of their other favorites like chicken wings or grilled shrimp.
