Buddy ran that place for at least 50 years before he died. You aren't open that long if folks don't like your Q. That said, I have not stopped by there since it reopened.

I haven’t found any good bbq in the gump or surrounding that I would really compare to saw’s, Archie’s or original Dreamland back in the day.

Drive 30 mins to the Tophat in Blountsprings.

Have you ever been to Brenda's? I've heard good things but not made it out there.

Those are all well known BBQ places. I've ate at all of them. Uncle Sams in Hueytown wasn't mentioned. I know a few people who like it. Bob Sykes you need a credit application.

I've had all of those. None bad. None special.

My absolute favorite is not on that list. It's a hole in the wall in 15th Street Bessemer. I've never had anything but excellent food there.

Classic Burger

I like a bbq port sammich, outside chopped with extra sauce. That's the ONLY place that has ever delivered exactly what I ordered and it's fantastic each and every time.

It will forever be Golden Rule to me.
My go to is the Straycat Cheeseburger.
IYKYK

I haven't tried all on your list, but the top 2 of those for me is Full Moon and Golden Rule.

If you ever decide to go get some great BBQ, it just across the Kansas Line in Kansas City Ks. at Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ or at Olatha Ks. at Joe's Kansas City BBQ. Get burnt ends at either place and the Z Man at Joe's is something to write home about. It's almost worth the drive out there. Definitely worth the drive if you're within a 100 mile radius of either place.

Covid killed Bob Sykes. It’s sucks now and it used to be my favorite. Saws is bad overrated in my opinion. Drive to Tuscaloosa and get some archibalds

That burger at Archie’s is solid.

I grew up in Bham, and I've eaten at all these places for 60 years. I really believe that familiarity tends to make BBQ better. I've never been blown away by a BBQ joint the first time I walked into it. Takes me a few visits to get used to it, any of them.. My office was 2 blocks down from the Golden Rule (now Archie's) in Hoover for 5-6 years and I ate there once a week. I still make it a point to go in there if I'm in the area. I like the original Full Moon on Southside. I little bitty cinder block building with barely room for the tables seems like . what a barbeque place ought to be. Jim and Nicks are restaurants that happen to carry barbeque (averaage, at best, and pricy).
My favorite was Costa's, on Findley Avenue, and they've been gone for 25 years. There was a restaurant with a different name on Oxmoor, about a block from Green Springs that had the same Barbeque as Costa's but they shut down 30 years ago.

The Pit is also pretty good. Downtown

Way overpriced and not very good. I think you have to add carlile's in bham

Great place, sauce is great and ribs are the best anywhere around

Had Saw’s in Hoover for lunch. Always consistent. Sweet tea brined chicken is great.

Out of the area of discussion… but Dreamland in Mobile sucks ass ALL DAY LONG.

Montgomery BBQ is pathetic. I don't understand how there isn't one decent option

Johnny Ray's in Bham(yes it had a location near Sammy's on Valley) was good...had the best pies around!

Agree...their coconut cream pie was unbelievably good.

I went to high school with Johnny, Jr.; his dad started with a location at Roebuck Shopping Center. The Valley Avenue location used to pack them in at lunch.
Yes, his Mom's pie's were legendary. I liked the chocolate.

Eating Johnny Ray's was almost a guarantee to sprint to the crapper. They were always getting terrible ratings from the health department.