Slows - The Best BBQ in Town

Slows Bar BQ has been a Detroit favorite, and one of my personal favorites for years now. The restaurant has been featured on Food Network, in countless magazines, and has even been mentioned by quite a few A-List celebrities after being in Detroit. It is on my list of places to take out-of-towners when they are here for a visit and every time I get the chance to eat at Slows, it's a special treat. However, there are shockingly still a few people out there that have never been to this Detroit staple.

Located on Michigan Ave. in Corktown,
Slows brings in diners from all around the city and far out into the suburbs. On any given day, at pretty much any time of day, there is a line to get into the place. Sometimes it's over an hour, but if the time is right, you only have to wait a few minutes. However, fans of this restaurant simply don't care about the wait, that's just how good it is. And, despite the time it takes to grab a seat, once you are at your table your food comes out rather quickly. That's in part because the BBQ masters at Slows cook their meat all day long, making it smokey, tender, and all around delicious.

Although Slows is known for its BBQ, which commonly includes an assortment of meat, they also have vegetarian options and a wide variety of delicious sides. That's not to say the meat isn't great too, with options including chicken, ribs, brisket, pork, and even catfish. However, there are two other things that people rave about. One is The Genius, a vegetarian version of a pulled pork sandwich that will make anyone's mouth water. The other fan favorite is the Mac-N-Cheese. We've heard more than once that this side dish is addictive and that they, "must put crack in it." It's crusty, it's gooey, and it has just a little kick to it that makes it probably the best macaroni and cheese in the world.

On my latest visit to Slows, my dining mate and I each got a side of Mac-N-Cheese (because, trust me, you won't want to share it), shared a side of Coleslaw, and each got our own sandwich. She went with The Reason, which is pulled pork butt topped with coleslaw and dill pickles. I went with my absolute favorite, The Yardbird. It features pulled chicken in a mustardy BBQ sauce, with mushrooms and cheese mixed in, and 2 slices of bacon on top. It's not exactly the most health conscious of meals, but hey, at least there are some mushrooms in there! All sandwiches are served on your choice of Texas Toast or a Kaiser Roll, I suggest the Texas Toast. You'll probably want to fork & knife it you go that route though. If you aren't into sandwiches so much, don't worry. Slows has a long list of entrees, most of which come with your selection of 2 sides. You can check out the full menu here.

If you have been to Slows more times than you can count and none of the above is news to you, here are a couple things that you may not know. Last year Slows expanded their restaurant and now has a second bar as well as some additional seating. They also host a Late Night Happy Hour every Monday night in the new bar area with free homemade chips, a rotating menu of appetizer specials, and great drink specials. Last, but definitely not least, don't forget about Slows To Go located at 4107 Cass Ave. in Midtown. This carryout location offers most of your favorites from Slows as well as a ton of other menu options. They even do bulk ordering/catering. You can check out the Slows To Go menus here. And don't forget, there are even Slows To Go satellite locations inside Ford Field and at Cadillac Square in the Summer.

So whether you've never been to Slows, it has been awhile since you went, or you were there yesterday, this is a delicious option in Detroit that you should go to very soon. Just remember to give yourself a little extra time and go hungry. I guarantee you will be stuffed when you walk out and you will rarely have leftovers because it's just too good to not finish. Slows is located at 2138 Michigan Avenue in Detroit. For hours and directions, visit SlowsBarBQ.com.

~C