Roadside 'Que — Restaurant in Fort Payne

Got to try this place out last weekend while in Fort Payne. It's got pretty solid bbq!

As the name suggests, it's more or less Roadside - we were driving along the main drag with Google maps open when suddenly we were instructed to turn right into our destination. We saw the smoker out front and knew we were in the right place!

Upon entering, we were greeted by a very friendly older gentleman who asked us if it was our first time. We confirmed that it was and he gave us a helpful, in-depth explanation of all their offerings, as well as their philosophy on locally grown ingredients.

Fiancé got ribs, I got a pulled pork sandwich with macaroni and cheese, fiancé's sister got the mac and cheese meal with pulled pork on top, and her husband also got the pulled pork sandwich meal with slaw, if I remember correctly. Fiancé and I also split a side of the green chili, as neither of us had ever had it before and wanted to try.

Overall, the bbq was good. My dining companions liked it more than me, but I'm a good bit pickier than they are when it comes to 'que. The pulled pork I would describe as closer to chunked pork, which is not my preference. The pieces were large, square shaped, and piled upon the sandwich bun. The meat itself was tender and flavorful, though the bun didn't stand up to it and the sauce super well so I wound up eating it with a fork. Fiancé and his family all stated they were very happy with their meals. I tried a bite of his ribs and found them flavorful albeit a little chewy. The sweet and tangy bbq had a decent flavor but was a little thin for my tastes.

Neither of us were super fond of the green chili, but I suspect it was more just not to our palates rather than there being anything wrong with the dish. It's unique, full of meat and veggies, very thick with a friendly kick. I'd be interested to know what people more familiar with the dish think of this version.

To me, the best thing by far was the macaroni and cheese. Perfectly cooked noodles, creamy, complex cheese sauce, and a perfectly sized portion with some grated cheese on top to add texture. If I visited again, I would absolutely...

We were on our way home from the mountains and decided to stop for dinner but wanted something local. Trust me when I say this is so worth the stop off the interstate for really good food. The ski theme I like, just not a lot of table options, very small dining area. There is a bar which was nice. We were greeted by one of the owners, and he did a great job informing us about the menu and options available (meat wise).

My husband ordered the brisket, mac n cheese, and the beans. I ordered the chicken, the warm potato salad, and I was intrigued with the Brussels sprout hash so I wanted to try that too. The brisket was excellent! It had a great smoky flavor, and not too fatty, our preference is lean brisket. The red sauce with the brisket had a slight bit of heat to it, just enough, and was very tasty. Definitely not a bottled sauce. The beans were really good also, unlike a traditional baked bean at a bbq joint. We were informed when we ordered that the Mac n cheese had a homemade sauce and you could definitely tell it was! So flavorful and the type noodle used holds all that flavor in. The warm potato salad may not “look” visually appealing, but again, trust me when I say it was soooo good. The chicken also had a great smoked flavor, and the white sauce that accompanied it was a bit different than any I’ve had, but very tasty. The Brussel hash was good, but probably the thing I enjoyed the least, if I had to say. All in all, well worth the stop and would love to stop here again whenever we may be passing through. The outside does not give justice to the amazing food being...

Good atmosphere. Good folks. Strong (or one might say "uncompromising") food quality all the way around. Typically some good tunes on, too. Some of the flavors might be a bit different from what people have come to expect at a regular BBQ joint, but this is not those places and they are not trying to be. Not that other places don't, but these folks do care about their product, their customers and their community. The sauces are good. They are not "typical" ketchup based volume, however. They are meant to compliment and let the meat quality and flavor stand out. The meat is not meant to be a simple avenue for sauce, like a chip with salsa. They have options for eating light, heavy and in-between. Salad that isn't just a pile of iceberg or romaine (quite the opposite with arugula and/or fresh, tasty seasonal greens with flavor and nutritional value, freshly shredded cheese, onion straws, etc.), shrimp po'boy with the baguette being from Gambino's, ribs, brisket, nachos, Springer chicken, green chile (with hatch chiles), mac & cheese (cavatappi and house beer cheese), brussels hash, slaw that has flavor to complement the meat and isn't just a cup of vinegar or mayo... the list goes on. Each menu item is unique to Roadside Que and can either stand on its own or hop right in concert with whatever you or the rest of the table is having. One of the best spots in the area, in my opinion. Go check them out and remember there is more parking...