Ever since I moved to Fairhope, I always knew Ben Jr’s as that place that closed a week after I arrived and stayed shut for almost 10 years. But when it reopened, it came back with a bang, showcasing excellent service, a homey atmosphere and timeless barbecue. 

Fairhope has an array of restaurants to choose from. Mediterranean, Asian-fusion and seafood locations line the streets of the downtown area. But for years, Fairhope hasn’t had a staple, classic barbecue joint. That all changed when Ben Jr’s reopened after a nearly decade-long hiatus.

I had always been curious about the restaurant, having driven by its semi-abandoned frame often. So when it came back, I knew I had to see what the once sullen brown building turned into. When my friend and I arrived on a Wednesday around 6 P.M., we were met with a packed parking lot and a busy line. The restaurant was styled so that I ordered at the front, seated myself and waited for my food. But the workers made quick work of their hungry customers, and my friend and I were seated within minutes. 

The walls were covered in natural wood paneling and the rooms were alive with amiable chatter and the aroma of smoky beef. Decorations included old photos of the restaurant and trinket-loaded shadow boxes. Ultimately, I felt perfectly at home in the cabin-styled restaurant, and my friend and I couldn’t be more excited to dig in to our food.

I ordered the large pulled pork sandwich for $9 with a side of coleslaw for $3 while my friend ordered the Swiss bacon burger with mac and cheese for $15. We also got an Oreo dirt cake to share for $5. My pulled pork was perfectly cooked and delectably moist. The meat practically melted in my mouth and had a strong, smoky, savory flavor; although, it could have been a bit more salty. 

My coleslaw was well-minced, sweet, and tangy. I dislike overly sweet coleslaw, but this one struck the perfect medium. I also sampled my friend’s burger and mac and cheese. The burger had a thick patty, but the light, tender beef made it easy to chew despite its size. The patty had a smoky taste and a tangy element as my friend had added the restaurant’s Sweet Heat sauce. However, it too seemed a little dull before adding the sauce.

Her mac and cheese had the perfect cheese to noodle ratio and sweet notes. I never thought I would enjoy sweet mac and cheese, but Ben Jr’s proved me wrong! Finally, the Oreo dirt cake served as the best part of the meal. It had a lovely vanilla taste and the chocolate crumbs on the top and bottom were chocolatey and had slight hints of bitter coffee that nicely offset the sweetness. Gummy worms added a tasty variety in texture and did not take up too much of the cake. 

The service was friendly, but not overbearing. Our server made comments on what we ordered as we did so. My friend and I seated ourselves and, despite the busy state of the restaurant, received our food within ten minutes. When we got our dirt cake, the server promptly noticed we would need an extra spoon and brought us one. 

A common complaint in restaurants is servers constantly approaching diners while they’re eating. But my friend and I were only approached twice while we ate, an appropriate amount to make sure we were satisfied but not helicopter around customers. Overall, we were perfectly taken care of and attended to, but not to the point where we felt interrupted or disturbed at any point in our experience. 

At first, I was slightly put off by the prices of the restaurant, especially the burger being $15. However, the fact that the mac and cheese was included and my friend couldn’t finish it proved its worth. I also couldn’t finish my sandwich or my coleslaw and ended up eating it the next morning, and it still tasted good microwaved! Even the dirt cake was a nice portion and, despite being split between my friend and me, was still difficult to finish after our feast. The prices were a little higher than most fast-service restaurants, but the high quality and large portion sizes made the meal completely worth it. 

I can say for certain I’ll be revisiting Ben Jr’s in the future. From the homey style, to the sociable service, to the wonderful food, Ben Jr’s is an excellent spot whether you’re looking for A-Tier barbecue or just want a nice place to dine with your family. The decor and friendly nature took me back to when I was younger, relaxing in a rustic hunting camp waiting for my dad to finish cooking dinner. In the end, Ben Jr’s gets a rating of 5/5 stars from me, and I can tell its previous hibernation will be its only.