{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox restaurant | name = Slows Bar BQ | logo = Slow's BarBQ logo.png | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = | image_width = | image_alt = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = | map_width = | map_alt = | map_caption = | established = {{Start date and age|2005}} | closed = <!-- {{End date |YYYY |MM |DD}} --> | current_owner = Ron, Phillip, and Ryan Cooley and Dean St.Souver. | chef = Brian Perrone | head_chef = | food_type = Barbecue | dress_code = | street_address = 2138 Michigan Avenue | city = Detroit | state = Michigan | postcode = 48216 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|42.331566|-83.075946|type:landmark_region:US-MI|display=inline}} | seating_capacity = | reservations = | website = {{URL |slowsbarbq.com/}} }} '''Slows Bar BQ''' is a barbecue restaurant in Detroit, Michigan, with additional locations in Ann Arbor and Berkley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slowsbarbq.com/locations/|title=Slows BBQ - Locations|website=slowsbarbq.com|language=en|access-date=2017-10-25}}</ref> The chef is Brian Perrone, and the restaurant is owned by the Cooley family. The restaurant appeared on Adam Richman's ''Man vs. Food'', and the "Yardbird", a pulled chicken sandwich from the restaurant, competed in the first season of ''Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America''.
==Description== Slows Bar BQ is located in the Corktown Historic District in Detroit, Michigan, opposite the Michigan Central Station. It was founded by former fashion model Phillip Cooley, his father Ron, brother Ryan,<ref name= nytimes/> and chef Brian Perrone.<ref>{{cite web |title= A Slows Star Is Born |url= http://www.travelchannel.com/video/a-slows-star-is-born |publisher= Travel Channel |accessdate= February 5, 2013}}</ref>
In 2023 Slows was sold to founding Chef Brian Perrone, Managing Director, Terry Perrone, and Catering Director Josh Keillor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/03/16/cooley-family-sells-ownership-stake-in-slows-bar-bq/ |title=Cooley Family Sells Ownership Stake in Slows Bar BQ |date=2023-03-16 |website=ClickOnDetroit |access-date=2024-05-30}}</ref>
The restaurant opened in 2005, and is seen as one of the first modern destination restaurants in Detroit.<ref name= nytimes>{{cite news |last= Ryzik |first= Melena |title= Detroit's Renewal, Slow-Cooked |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/dining/20Detroit.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= The New York Times |date= October 19, 2010}}</ref> During the first year in business, the restaurant took $1.8 million. The owners also own the catering and takeaway company Slows to Go.<ref name= nytimes/>
The premises were expanded during January 2013 into the next door property which formerly housed a real estate business.<ref>{{cite news |last= Wayland |first= Michael |title= Slows Bar BQ To Temporarily Close for Expansion |url= http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2012/12/slows_bar_bq_to_temporarily_cl.html |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= MLive |location= Detroit |publisher= Booth Newspapers |date= December 29, 2012}}</ref> The premises had previously been used by Slows for private events, and the expansion allowed an additional bar and kitchen space to be added to the restaurant.<ref>{{cite news |last= Rector |first= Sylvia |title= Slows Bar BQ Will Close Jan. 1 for Remodeling, Expansion |url= http://www.freep.com/article/20121228/ENT08/121228042/slows-bar-bq-will-close-for-remodeling-expansion |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= Detroit Free Press |date= December 28, 2012}}</ref>
One of the sandwiches served at Slows is the "Yardbird": a pulled chicken breast marinated in mustard, served with mushrooms, cheddar and applewood bacon, all inside a poppy-seed bun. Adam Richman, who first visited the restaurant during ''Man v. Food'' in 2009, returned to Slows in 2012 when he selected the Yardbird to compete on the Travel Channel's ''Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America''. It competed in the great lakes episode.<ref>{{cite news |title= Does Slows Have Best Sandwich in the Country? |url= http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/05/02/does-slows-have-best-sandwich-in-the-country/ |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |publisher= WWJ-TV |location= Detroit |date= May 2, 2012}}</ref> It defeated a fish taco torta in Minneapolis and a prime rib sandwich in Green Bay (and was declared best sandwich in the Great Lakes), and progressed to the finals.<ref>{{cite news |last= Block |first= Dustin |title= Detroit BBQ's Yardbird Sandwich Named Finalist for 'Best Sandwich in America' |url= http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2012/07/detroit_bbqs_yardbird_sandwich.html |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= MLive |location= Detroit |publisher= Booth Newspapers |date= July 25, 2012}}</ref> In the final it faced eleven other sandwiches for the inaugural title, and made it to the final round,<ref>{{cite web |title= Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America: Championship Finale Final Contestants |url= http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/adam-richmans-best-sandwich-in-america/travel-guides/championship-finale-final-contestants |publisher= Travel Channel |accessdate= February 5, 2013}}</ref> ultimately losing out to a roast pork sandwich from Tommy DiNic's in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news |title= Roast Pork From DiNic's Wins 'Best Sandwich In America' |url= http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/08/16/roast-pork-from-dinics-wins-best-sandwich-in-america/ |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |publisher= KYW-TV |location= Philadelphia |date= August 16, 2012}}</ref> The "Yardbird" finished in the top 3 in the competition.
Another notable sandwich, one tried by Richman during his 2009 ''Man v. Food'' visit to Slows, is the "Triple Threat Pork": a 1-pound sandwich stacking together applewood-smoked bacon, pulled pork, and grilled ham, on a poppy-seed bun.
==Reception== [[File:Slows BBQ.jpg|thumb|Slow's Bar BQ in Detroit, MI.]] Actress Erin Cummings said of the menu "you can’t go to Slow’s and eat healthy... you have to go to Slow’s ready to knock it back".<ref>{{cite news |title= Erin Cummings Talks Detroit, Filming with Winona Ryder |url= http://cwdetroit.cbslocal.com/2013/01/30/19193/ |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |publisher= WKBD-TV |location= Southfield, MI |date= January 30, 2013}}</ref> Adam Richman described the food at Slow's as "a truly life-changing experience",<ref name= mac>{{cite news |last= Sterling |first= Justine |title= Best Mac and Cheese in the U.S. |url=http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-mac-and-cheese-in-the-us#12 |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |work= Food and Wine}}</ref> while trying the triple threat pork sandwich in his show ''Man vs. Food''.<ref name= manvfood>{{cite news |last= Nunez |first= Jessica |title= 'Man v. Food's' Adam Richman Takes on 190-Pound Burger in Detroit |url= http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2009/11/man_v_foods_adam_richman_takes.html |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= MLive |location= Detroit |publisher= Booth Newspapers |date= November 3, 2009}}</ref> Richman also described the macaroni and cheese as "transcendental",<ref name= lifechanging/> and included it on a list of five meals "not to be missed" from around the United States in a segment on NBC's ''The Today Show''.<ref name= lifechanging>{{cite news |last= Wattrick |first= Jeff T. |title= Video: Travel Channel's Adam Richman Calls Slow's Mac-n-Cheese a Life Altering Experience |url= http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2010/12/travel_channels_adam_richman_c.html |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= MLive |location= Detroit |publisher= Booth Newspapers |date= December 7, 2010}}</ref> Justine Sterling listed the mac n cheese as one of the top ten in America for ''Food and Wine'' magazine.<ref name= mac/>
Raymond Sokolov of ''The Wall Street Journal'' approved of the food at Slow's while travelling around the area tasting burgers. He said that it was "my best sandwich of the day. The beef is charred. The cheese is gouda with a nice snap. The bun doesn't ooze away under finger pressure."<ref>{{cite news |last= Sokolov |first= Raymond |title= The Best Burger |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117348069193432668 |accessdate= February 5, 2013 |newspaper= The Wall Street Journal |date= March 10, 2007}}</ref>
==See also== * List of barbecue restaurants *{{portal-inline|Michigan}}
==References== {{reflist |30em}}
Category:2005 establishments in Michigan Category:Restaurants in Detroit Category:Barbecue restaurants in the United States Category:Restaurants established in 2005 Category:American companies established in 2005