Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Golden Rule BBQ & Grill, located at 2504 Crestwood Blvd in…read moreIrondale, Alabama. While I had initially planned to visit next Friday for a particular occasion, my desire for some exceptional BBQ led me there sooner. My family has been patrons of Golden Rule since the 1970s. This establishment has a rich history, having been in business since 1891, originally under the ownership of the Williams family and the Stones. In 1969, Golden Rule was acquired by Michael Matsos, a local restaurateur from Birmingham. Mr. Matsos commendably preserved the Williams' family recipes and the high standards of their outstanding BBQ. However, in 2022, Golden Rule was sold to Brian Kemp of Kemp's Kitchen, another local figure with several (now closed) establishments in the Birmingham area. Mr. Kemp acknowledged his limited knowledge of BBQ but pledged to maintain Golden Rule in its 131-year-old tradition. Upon my arrival, I noticed the spacious parking lot, which was not overly crowded, as it was after the usual churchgoers' rush. As I approached the entrance, I passed a window sign proudly proclaiming "Birmingham's Best BBQ." I observed several individuals within close proximity as I entered, and I noticed that no one offered a greeting, which was a minor detail. I then made my way to my preferred table, the one my father and I always shared when he would call and suggest meeting at Golden Rule. The traditional book-style menus have been replaced with a more streamlined placemat-style menu. This was not an issue, as I already knew what I wished to order. Anna, my server, provided exceptional service throughout my visit. She promptly took my drink order, ensured my tea glass remained full, and was attentive to all my needs, even while managing two tables each with eight guests. Anna did a truly wonderful job. As I waited, I reflected that this was typically a place where I wouldn't need to comment on the absence of the legendary Alabama BBQ figure, the picture of The Bear. Golden Rule has always been adorned with numerous framed sports moments and memorabilia from various state teams on its walls. However, upon looking up, I noticed they were no longer there. Approximately 95% of the sports pictures are gone. The walls are largely bare, and the remaining pictures appear to be hung without any particular arrangement, suggesting that the others were simply removed from around them. I have dined here several times since the sale to Mr. Kemp, but my research indicated that family members had come in to retrieve their pictures from the walls. The establishment now has a rather stark appearance. It would be beneficial to address this. Golden Rule offers a diverse selection of meat choices, including pork BBQ sandwiches, pulled pork plates, chicken, brisket, baby back ribs, and sausage. They also feature hamburger steak, chicken tenders, and on Fridays, catfish. Additionally, soup and salads are available. With a wide array of side dishes such as green beans, baked beans, corn on the cob, slaw, chips, and fries, you are sure to find something to your liking. Dessert options include pies, cake, and cookies. My order arrived on a metal tray, which is the traditional and appropriate way to serve BBQ. I selected the jumbo pulled pork plate with a double portion of fries (a preference of mine). It looked incredibly appetizing. I would advise bringing a hearty appetite if you choose the jumbo plate, as it is quite substantial. I immediately noticed a difference in the cooking process compared to previous occasions; the meat was noticeably less coarse and dry. Previously, I often needed a knife to cut the slices, but this time it was incredibly tender, practically falling off the fork, which was truly delightful. It was some of the finest barbecue I have ever tasted. When topped with their vinegar-based sauce, it becomes absolutely irresistible. The fries are clearly cut from real potatoes and are served in generous portions. Overall, the value offered by this barbecue restaurant is exceptional. A jumbo plate of meat, fries, and sweet tea for under $20 is an offer that is difficult to surpass. Despite some changes, Golden Rule remains one of the best barbecue establishments in the area. It comes highly recommended. 5/5 -Kevin

I had to update my review since I've return back here recently. Listen!!! Their brisket is some of…read morethe best I've ever tasted! I had the small sliced brisket plate with baked beans and coleslaw. The sides were good but the brisket was the star! It also came with an obnoxious piece of bbq bread. I didn't eat it at all. Trashed it , actually. I also had a banana pudding. I spent nearly $30 on this meal. The service was prompt and friendly. It didn't take long for me to get my to- go order. The ambiance is pretty casual and a traditional bbq restaurant feel. I can't stop thinking about the brisket! It's delicious & I highly recommend!

Such a great spot for an easy grab and go lunch or finger sandwich platters for any occasion. The…read morechicken salad is the best! I always get the boxed lunch - it is a great deal and super yummy!

An oldie but always a goodie!! This family has been around a long, long time!! They make the best…read more"finger sandwiches"!! If you've ever hosted or attended a bridal or baby tea and have had the pleasure of eating one of their sandwiches you know I'm not wrong!! The chicken salad is my all time favorite, but all of their sandwiches are chef's kiss!! Pimento cheese is some if the best I've ever eaten. It's sharp and has just the right amount of pimentos. My husband's favorite lunch sandwich is the ham salad! You can get finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off for parties, but you can also get a sandwich with the crust on packaged and ready to go in lunch boxes for the week! I would also like to note that they now accept cards as payment with a 3% up charge.

This is classic southern bbq place with a twist, all the food is perhaps the best most consistently…read moregreat in the city. The twist is the white sauce I recommend the pork plate with tater salad and turnip greens use the white sauce on everything you won't regret. It's as legit as real bbq gets and if your really lucky you get to say hey to Pearl

Down and gritty is what comes to mind when you walk into a place like this. It's all about the…read moremeat! And the meat is good. I had the small pork plate with greens and baked beans. The greens were good and the baked beans were average. The pork was good, a little dry, but nothing BBQ sauce won't fix. The star of the show was the Brunswick stew. It was delicious. Chicken and pork and vegetables in a savory base. If you like local small town places that have preserved their charm, you are at the right place!

They normally aren't open on a Saturday, so we took advantage and brought the kids over on one of…read morethese rare occasions so they could have the opportunity to watch the flights land and take off from the restaurant. They definitely have a great spot to watch and our kids loved it. The food itself was fairly good. I liked the burger with the brisket the best. My wife and I got two different burgers and split them so we could try several options. The other burger was the one with the mac and cheese. I liked it, but the brisket won the day. The mac and cheese side though was better than the mac and cheese on the burger and it was a great side to try as it had a good flavor - not something all burger places can say. I'd definitely come back, but make sure you look up flight times to try and time it to watch the flights if possible!

I haas lunch here last Friday with two coworkers. It was a nice day, so the patio was full of…read morefamilies letting their children watch the planes take off. We placed our orders at the kiosk and then sat outside to wait for our food. Which was quite a while... an easy 15 minutes or more. Once our food arrived it was pretty unimpressive. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with fries. The fries weren't my favorite. They were like thin steak cut fries. The chicken sandwich was pretty dry, so a long wait for mediocre food. I doubt I'll be back.

Amazing food, beautiful presentation. Could not ask for…read moremore, they can do veggie grilled right, and their dishes have the most wonderful sauces

Awesome local catering company with a fantastic staff!! The food is amazing! The menu items you can…read morechoose from are always so creative and seasonal, and you can tell that the chefs use fresh, local ingredients. Some standout dishes: "Bacon Bites" - Conecuh sausage wrapped in bacon and served with a tangy barbecue sauce, "Cuban Crostinis" - simple but soo good, and "Cali Steak Skewers" - Tri-Tip Steak perfectly seared with an amazing sweet and savory steak sauce. Chae and Nico are so fun and easy to work with, and Richard Bishop and the back of house team do a exceptional job. I've seen them do buffets for intimate groups to MASSIVE wedding receptions to seated dinners for over 300 people and absolutely kill it. Seriously the only catering company you ever need to know. Thanks guys!

This was not my first time here, but I had the best pie that I have ever had here!! I will say that…read moreI love all of their pies but the Saw's barbecue pie is exceptionally delicious!! It featured and was made with Saw's barbecue pulled pork!! When I say that it was the best barbecue pizza I have ever had, please believe me!! Most barbecue pizzas that I've had were made with chicken. For those who don't know, Cher

Went last week for a late lunch and I was pleasantly surprised in some changes they have made. They…read moreare now full service. No more standing in the line to wait to order. Also, the server and other wait staff were incredibly attentive. I ordered the margarita pizza which was loaded with fresh basil, tomatoes and mozzarella. Fresh and extremely tasty. Also, the price is excellent! Go check it out!

4.5 stars!!! So yummy and so fresh. You can tell that the ingredients aren't canned. I came for…read morebham restaurant week to try the red snapper dish over succotash and boy do I hope they add this one to the standard menu! It's fantastic! The sear on the snapper was perfect and had perhaps a slim layer of cornmeal breading which held up nice over the saucy succotash. I am a soup girl and couldn't decide which one to get, so much to my surprise, one of the servers allowed me to try them both. Tomato basil and a veggie. I ultimately went with TB because I wanted creamy today. They are open for lunch Tuesday through Friday. The only reason for the 4.5 was just service was slow (although everyone was incredibly nice). I think maybe they were just swamped. I'll still be coming back to try more of their dishes!

Saturdays only you can get these biscuits! Great way to start the day. The owner will greet you…read moreeach time. There was a book signing and homemade dog treats set up at the coffee shop too! Cute nooks to sit and enjoy your coffee and sweet treats.

Always amazing! Staff friendly and welcoming, doing their best to remember names and greet…read moreregulars. Couldn't help but get the caramel apple refresher that's back in season again! My top favorite is always the nostalgic and relaxing playlist .