When Laura and I moved into Edgewood, we were dying to try every restaurant, shop, and store around us. You see, Edgewood is a cozy area in Homewood with a very quaint and small strip of about 7 shops or so. There are a few places that immediately caught out attention, the first one being Broadway BBQ. Being from Alabama (and also being wannabe foodies), we love BBQ, and nearly everyone you talk to in Birmingham is going to have their personal favorites. We swung Broadway one evening right before closing time. It was an interesting experience. The food was not bad, but neither was it exceptionally good. It was a small restaurant and never very popular when we saw it, and that night we happened to be the only two in the joint (which for an introvert like me is ok, but a bit eerie). I really wanted to like it, but just didn't.
So when Saw's came around sometime last fall or so, I expected much of the same. We waited about a month thinking the crowds would die down, but they never did. We ventured over one night to give the place a shot.
The first two things that struck me about the place was the way in which it was similar and different to other BBQ restaurants. It is similar in its decor, with license plates, football garb, random beer signs, and a number of other random things strewn across the wall. I'm not knocking that by any means, seeing that it is often interesting and definitely eye catching. Still, it has been done. The thing that is different is the size. The building is pretty small, seating probably 10-12 tables. I'm more used to Jim 'n Nick's or Tin Roof or Birmingham's Dreamland, places with tons of tables and a waiter or waitress coming to take your order while you sit anonymously in a booth. Typically, I like the anonymity, so I was a little nervous about the size.
We had checked out a menu online before we left, so we know what we wanted as soon as we got there. Laura ordered a pork sandwich combo and ordered a pork stuffed baker with sweet tea. We found a table in the back and within a few minutes a young man had brought us our food. First, let me tell you that portions are quite generous. I'm used to potatoes with a dab a meat to fill out the potato, but usually it is more of the other stuff. This potato however was overflowing with great looking pulled pork, had plenty of cheese and sour cream, and a good helping of Saw's sauce, a treat in and of itself. Laura's sandwich was huge! She had to take some BBQ off of her sandwich just to take a bite. Their pork is phenomenal. It is cooked overnight and pulled when they are ready to serve it, making it perfectly juicy and tender and lean. Their sides that we have tried have been great, made fresh daily and tasting wonderfully as well. We tried their chicken the other day as well and were not disappointed. I just met a friend there last night who decided to try their ribs, which he raved about long after licking the sauce off the last one.
Overall, Saw's is far and away my favorite restaurant in Birmingham. I've always had a good experience, leaving full and satisfied with both the service and the quality. If you have not tried it yet, please do so. You will not regret it and I think you will be returning very soon!
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