Pruett’s in Gadsden serves classic ‘cue and a lot more, too
Stan Pruett opened his Gadsden eatery in 1976, and all the recipes come from his family. (Jennifer Kornegay / Alabama Living)
I once read that the more active and human-like the pig is on a barbecue joint’s sign, the better the ‘cue you’ll find there. The pig pointing people to Pruett’s Bar-B-Q in Gadsden appears to have just returned from catching a catfish as big as he is, while wearing cutoff overalls and smoking a pipe. If the above assertion holds any truth, the barbecue at this longstanding spot fronting busy Rainbow Drive should be delicious.
Good news: It is. Fourteen hours in the pit renders moist, chopped pork infused with a modest hardwood smoke that balances nicely with Pruett’s thin, tangy and slightly sweet sauce, and ribs that are “teeth-not-necessary” tender. According to owner Stan Pruett, these two items are the bestsellers. “We go through approximately 4,000 pounds of pork each week,” he said. Pruett’s serves beef and chicken, too.
But many Pruett’s loyalists are drawn by the restaurant’s non-barbecue items. The turkey sandwich (a thick slice of smoked breast with crisp lettuce and tomato) is popular. Golden-fried fillets of flaky catfish (all farm raised) are beloved. Fat, juicy chicken fingers enrobed in a heavy but crunchy crust get high ratings, too. (Insiders often indulge in a delight not on the menu: a grilled cheese on Texas toast with nuggets of chopped-up chicken finger studding the melty insides.)
The sweet potato fluff (tasty tubers cooked down, whipped smooth and embellished with a copious amount of brown sugar) is served as a side but is also (appropriately) featured under the menu’s dessert section. It has earned a coveted place on the Alabama Tourism Department’s 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die list. And most patrons can’t leave without a wide wedge of lemon icebox or rich chocolate fudge pie.
All of Pruett’s recipes come from Stan Pruett’s family, which has been a fixture in northeast Alabama’s dining scene for decades. “I was born into this, and we make our own sauce and everything is homemade, just like always,” he said. His parents owned and operated the now-closed barbecue joints Touchdown in Oxford and then Goal Post in Anniston. Betty’s Bar-B-Q in Anniston is run by Pruett’s younger sister and named for his mom. Following in his family’s smoke trail, he opened Pruett’s in 1976.
Pruett’s sweet potato fluff is an award-winning side that doubles as a dessert. (Chad Allen / Alabama NewsCenter)
For regulars, Pruett’s is more than a place to get fed. They sit at the red- or black-checkered tables in the noisy dining room they’ve been frequenting for years, where they are served their favorite dishes from friendly waitresses who are like family. “We’ve got staff who’ve been with us for more than 20 years, and we’ve just got a good crew here,” Pruett said.
People keep coming to the spot where they swap news, jokes and stories with friends between every bite. “We’re a gathering place for the city, and there’s a sense of community in here,” said Christy Pruett, Stan’s ex-wife who still works at the restaurant. Stan elaborates on this point: “There are so many people who came here as kids and now bring their own kids in,” he said. “We’re kind of a tradition for a lot of people.”
Like restaurants of all kinds and sizes across the country, the Pruett’s tradition was threatened last year, with shutdowns and restrictions due to COVID-19, making an already tough business tougher. But thanks to plenty of determination and a pinch of luck – like already having a well-run drive-thru called Lil’ Pruett’s next door – the restaurant survived the worst of the pandemic. “It was never as bad as we first feared,” Pruett said, adding, “We feel real fortunate to have stayed as busy as we did, but I think it’s because our food is consistent, and people have come to rely on us being here.”
Pruett may call his restaurant a tradition, but many Gadsden residents would tell you Pruett’s is more than that; it’s a city landmark, and that’s a designation that makes Pruett smile even on the hardest, longest days. “This business is a lot of work, and I’ve been doing it for 45 years,” he said. “But it’s a really good feeling to know that what we are doing matters to so many people. I like that.”
This story originally appeared in Alabama Living magazine.
Pruett’s Bar-B-Q
1617 Rainbow Drive
Gadsden, Alabama 35901
256-547-4118
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday
