The Alabama Restaurant Everyone Knows For Its Unforgettable Signature Plate

Picture this: you’re driving through Alabama, stomach rumbling, when you spot a place that’s been slinging legendary barbecue since 1925.

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q isn’t just another pit stop; it’s where a maverick named Robert Gibson flipped the script on sauce with his now-famous white concoction.

Nearly a century later, folks still line up for that unforgettable signature plate that put Decatur on the barbecue map.

A Century of Smoke: Born in 1925

Robert “Big Bob” Gibson fired up his first pit in Decatur back in 1925, and the rest is smoky, saucy history.

He didn’t just open a restaurant; he started a barbecue revolution that would ripple through Alabama for generations.

While most pitmasters stuck to the same old red sauce routine, Big Bob had other plans brewing. His bold experimentation with flavors turned a small-town joint into a state treasure.

Today, that original vision still sizzles on every plate served.

The White Sauce Wonder That Changed Everything

Forget everything you thought you knew about barbecue sauce. Big Bob Gibson whipped up Alabama’s now-iconic white sauce, a tangy, mayo-based masterpiece that locals guard like a state secret.

This isn’t your typical tomato-based slather. It’s creamy, peppery, and packs a vinegar punch that cuts through smoked meat like nobody’s business.

One taste and you’ll understand why people drive hours just to dunk their chicken in this legendary concoction that put Alabama barbecue on the national stage.

The Signature Plate: Hickory-Smoked Chicken Pack

Here’s the star of the show: a whole hickory-smoked chicken, cooked low and slow until it’s fall-off-the-bone tender, then completely dunked in that Original White Sauce.

It arrives as the famous Chicken Pack, loaded with your choice of classic southern sides. Watching that golden bird get baptized in white sauce is practically a religious experience for barbecue fans.

This isn’t just a meal; it’s the plate that built a barbecue empire and keeps hungry folks coming back decade after decade.

Two Decatur Spots to Get Your Fix

Can’t decide which location to hit? Lucky for you, Big Bob Gibson runs two Decatur outposts: 1715 6th Ave SE and 2520 Danville Rd SW.

Both spots serve up the same legendary barbecue that’s made this place a household name across Alabama.

Whether you’re rolling in from the north or south side of town, you’re never far from that signature white sauce.

Each location keeps the tradition alive with the same commitment to quality that Big Bob himself would approve of wholeheartedly.

Chris Lilly: The Pitmaster Behind Five Grand Championships

Executive chef Chris Lilly isn’t just running the kitchen; he’s dominating the competition circuit with five Memphis in May Grand Championships under his belt (2000, 2003, 2011, 2014, 2017).

That’s not luck. That’s mastery of smoke, fire, and flavor that few pitmasters ever achieve in a lifetime of cooking.

Under Lilly’s leadership, Big Bob Gibson has cemented its reputation as not just a great restaurant, but a championship-level barbecue powerhouse that consistently outsmokes the competition nationwide.

2025: Still Winning After a Full Century

Most restaurants are lucky to survive a decade. Big Bob Gibson just hit its centennial in 2025, and the team celebrated by snagging Pork Shoulder gold at Memphis in May while finishing second overall.

Talk about aging gracefully! A hundred years in and they’re still schooling younger competitors on how real barbecue gets done.

The restaurant marked this milestone with special events and menu items, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully on the same smoky plate.

Championship Red Sauce: Best on the Planet

White sauce gets all the glory, but don’t sleep on the Championship Red Sauce. Back in 1998, it claimed the title of Best Sauce on the Planet at the American Royal International Barbecue Sauce Contest.

That’s right: planet Earth, not just Alabama. Judges from across the globe tasted, debated, and crowned Big Bob’s red blend the ultimate winner.

So whether you’re team white or team red, this joint has you covered with award-winning options that’ll make your taste buds sing.