Slows BBQ is one of those places that always features on the must visit list when it comes to eating out in Detroit. Opening in 2009 it's now one of the key businesses along Michigan Avenue in Detroit's Corktown. It's a causal place, popular and trendy with us young folk to say the least in one of the most up and coming areas of the city outside of Downtown and Midtown (one historically linked to Irish immigrants if you didn't guess that from the areas name).
With a menu filled with southern inspired slow cooked meats their ribs are coated and rubbed in 13 spices leaving a spicy caramelized crust, slow cooked for hours until they are delightfully trendy. But if ribs aren't your thing they have lots of other delicious dishes and sides alongside a lot of Michigan beers and fancy beers on tap too.
So what did we start with? Well first things first we shared a plentiful appetizer of sweet catfish in a tempura batter with a delightful sauce to accompany it. While Joe oped for the full plate of ribs I went for the big three - a selection of three of their best - pulled pork, pulled chicken and sliced brisket. Each entree and combo comes with your choice of two sides - so mac n cheese (the best ever) and some spicy baked beans for me (mmm) and waffle fries covered in Hoffman's cheese (rather tasty and very cheesy) and some coleslaw (nom) for him. Seriously you get so much food, pratically everyone leaves with a doggy bag full.
I should probably admit before moving to the US I had little experience eating barbecue foods so i've always been a little daunted by it, especially with how messy you can get doing so. I'm not an expert at knowing the best and the rest when it comes to BBQ but Slows certainly pushed a certain chain place I've eaten at prior to this off the radar. They know how to do their food. Everything is served pretty quick, the spice is just right. Four sauces to accompany your meal are offered on your table which take everything to next level. Service is great, friendly and there's no rush to leave if you fancy having a special drink after your meal.
Parking could a bit of an issue, especially on a busy summer evening, Michigan Avenue is a bit limited for parking but there is a lot behind the Mercury Bar literally over the road and for $3 you can park for as long as you like, plus your money goes into funding the guy who keeps an eye on your car and goes into looking after Roosevelt Park.
Slows can be found at;
2138 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, Michigan, 48216
How do you like your barbecue grub?
I love BBQs and every time I'm in Detroit I've wanted to go- but we never plan it out in advance so there's always waaay too long of a line/wait!
ReplyDeleteI guess the down side is that they only take table reservations for groups larger than 6. Luckily we walked on an early Friday night and was seated straight away, most people seemed to be, mind you if it had been night with sports on it would have been a different matter completely!
DeleteSlows is pretty good. If you ever head out towards Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, you have to try out Red Rock in Ypsi and Satchel's in Ann Arbor. Both are fairly reasonably priced and have really good food. Satchel's does not have alcohol though.
ReplyDeleteThat food looks (and sounds) amazing! I'm practically salivating over here. Good thing it's almost dinnertime here although I'm not having anything nearly as yummy sounding as that!
ReplyDeleteDebi x
OH MAAAAAAAAAAAAN!! Get in my belly!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll take three of each : D
Gemma
Faded Windmills
There's now a Slows takeout on Cass if you want to beat the line.—Jim M.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds phenomenally good! I spent a year in Naperville, IL as part of my degree and America knows how to do BBQ! That is definitely a culinary delight I miss.
ReplyDeleteMy my that's a fancy collage picture you've got there ;)
ReplyDeleteKris and I went to a BBQ place in Brugge (Ribs and Beer) for all you can eat ribs, it was AMAZING. So good, Kris chipped a tooth. You get a little vintage tin for all your bones too which is pretty cool and it's all in English which is a major bonus. BEst thing is you can switch between the four flavours of ribs each time you get more.
I'm not a fan of actual BBQ's though, I hate the taste of the charcoal but I just BBQ flavours.
Haha i'm trying to wow you with my collage skills for sure. All you can eat ribs?! I think Joe would love that, nearly as good as the all you can eat sushi. Actually though most US BBQs are paraffin cooked, which is odd, because ya know BBQ = Charcoal and rain, being British and all.
DeleteIts crazy how being from not too far away there are so many places I learn about on your blog that I have never heard of. I love it!:) And I reallyyyyy want to try this out asap. It sounds delicious and I love BBQ. I went to an awesome place in WV while on spring break and didn't know of any around here until now!
ReplyDelete:) We stalk the Metrotimes reviews and twitter for places to eat I will be honest and keep our ears low to the ground for recommendations! I hear Lockhart's BBQ (Royal Oak) is a decent place too for ribs - some say even better than Slows. I'd suggest the Trip Advisor website too but many reviews would put you off eating or visiting anywhere in Detroit because of some of the crazy "you'll all be shot" going there kind of reviews.
Deletepulled pork all the way! Oh this looks so good :) x
ReplyDelete