Any person, place or thing that makes it to 100 years old has earned some respect. Especially if barbecue’s involved.

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q turns the big one-oh-oh this year. Southern Living highlights this famous Decatur restaurant in their “The South’s Best Barbecue Joint In Every State 2025” list.

The blurb, with the incorrectly apostrophized subhead of “Big Bob Gibson’s,” calls Big Bob Gibson “the oldest restaurant on this list.” Southern Living lauds the eatery’s smoked chicken and Alabama-style white barbecue sauce. Founder Robert “Big Bob” Gibson and latter day pitmaster Chris Lilly are also noted.

Other entries in the best barbecue joints list include: Owensboro, Ky.’s Moonlite Bar-B-Que Inn; St. Simons Island, Ga.’s Southern Soul Barbeque; Ocean Springs, Miss.’ The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint; and Memphis’ Charlie Vergos Rendezvous.

The methodology for the magazine’s The South’s Best 2025 lists, as indicated on the magazine’s website: “An online survey was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South. The survey was fielded from July 10 to August 21, 2024, and had over 10,000 respondents.”

Besides barbecue, other The South’s Best categories include “seafood dives,” beach bars, and restaurant of the year. Johns Island, S.C. eatery Lost Isle received the latter honor.