Ribbon cutting at Buster's BBQ in Robertsdale

Barbecue dreams come true in Robertsdale

Posted 10/25/17

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — From writing about and promoting restaurants in Central Florida, business partners John Garrett and Mike Lowry made their dreams of owning a restaurant a reality in Central …

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Ribbon cutting at Buster's BBQ in Robertsdale

Barbecue dreams come true in Robertsdale

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — From writing about and promoting restaurants in Central Florida, business partners John Garrett and Mike Lowry made their dreams of owning a restaurant a reality in Central Baldwin County.

After opening for business on Monday, Oct. 2, Buster’s Southern Pit BBQ held a grand opening with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Oct. 13 serving a mix of Southern-style barbecue.

“We really wanted to be true to the roots of Southern barbecue,” Garrett said. “If you go west of the Mississippi (River), they are famous for beef. Then there’s pulled pork east of the Mississippi and everything in between. We wanted to bring all that together to create our own style.”

Lowry’s wife is from Fairhope, Garrett said, but the two raised their children in Central Florida. His son Kyle is a veteran of the restaurant business in the Orlando area.

“Mike and I were colleagues for years and I published a restaurant magazine in Central Florida,” Garrett said. “It has always been Mike’s dream to open a barbecue restaurant.

When the father and son team got an opportunity, they called and asked Garrett to join them.

“Together we made the barbecue dream come true here in Robertsdale,” he said.

Buster’s offers a mix of classic Southern barbecue, including pulled pork and brisket, along with chicken, smoked sausage and ribs, with a variety of sides, including baked beans, slaw, mac-n-cheese, creamed corn and green beans. You can also get a half, baked sweet potato as a side or a loaded baked sweet potato as a specialty item.

The menu ranges from sandwiches with one side, starting at $6.99, to a variety of barbecue platters, includes two sides, starting at $10.95, to a three-meat platter, which sells for $14.99. Specials are also available. Friday’s grand opening special was a pulled pork sandwich, side, drink and banana pudding (a daily menu item for just under $4), all for under $10.

There is also a kids’ menu, offering a choice of pork sliders, sausage or ribs, all with a side and a drink for $5.95.

Buster’s is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday on the north side of the Greer’s Shopping Center, 22245 Alabama 59 S. in Robertsdale. For take-out orders call 251-947-0089 or call ahead for large orders.

And why the name Buster’s?

“It’s the name of Kyle’s rescue dog,” Garrett said. “We named it after him, and because we thought Buster’s was a really good name for a barbecue restaurant.”