This review is based on a breakfast, early lunch, and late lunch, over three separate visits. Go! Not pretentious. Not hipster. Just friendly staff, generous soda refills, and basic, stick to your ribs home cooking and BBQ. The highlight: the El Rancho Brisket Sandwich. melty cheese, jalapeño and onion on tender brisket and a buttered roll. Breakfast is true greasy spoon. Eggs, biscuits, sausage. Good basic diner cooking. Friday is Mom's Pot Roast special. Two of us split it for an early lunch. Fell apart delicious. But the mashed potatoes were the real highlight. Wish I could have eaten a pile of the carrots, but they only gave me one big carrot. White chili is creamy from beans and has just the right about of heat. Fried okra is well worth it dunked in a little buttermilk ranch. Saturday Mac and cheese is a meal unto itself.
(4)
John S.
I love this place, but not for the pork, for the chicken, wings, and turkey. The BBQ chicken is not to be believed, the best I've ever had. Good variety on the menu, and all the sides are excellent, especially the fried okra spears. And save room for desert, their pies are outstanding, try the coconut cream and remember me in your Will. Just stay away from the pork.
(4)
Bruce K.
Popped in on my own for an inexpensive dinner. I was a little bummed that they don't have a beer license - barbecue is SO much better with a beer to wash it down. But without the beer, my check was much lighter. I opted for a double turkey sandwich and asked for "add slaw." What arrived was a good sized pile of turkey on a bun with a side of barbecue sauce - see the picture. The turkey was good and moist but not especially flavorful on its own (it's turkey - no surprise) but the tangyness (is that a word? it is now.) brought it out and certainly a pour of the sauce kicked it up. Comfortable. Filling. Decent service. No beer. Four stars.
(4)
Thomas H.
I personally like the ribs here. I also love the chocolate pie. The service is friendly too!
(4)
Nick B.
Good BBQ joint but nothing quite pushes it to 5 stars for me. First thing that does stand out imo however, is the chicken used for the chicken sandwich that I ordered. Typical BBQ that I'm used to has that finely chopped meat (which is cool) but here, the meat slabs reminded me of Thanksgiving leftovers. You know how you carve all the rest of the turkey from the bones and eat it for days later on sandwiches, pot pies etc. Yeah... like that... real and large pieces of meat. The standard sauce that was on the side was good but nothing amazing! Hard to stand out with a BBQ sauce in the south, but it's possible. Sweet tea was actually really good (actually sweet) and the service was outstanding! I'd definitely return here, but not sure it'd be a definite go-to or fav. You my friends at Demetri's have earned a solid 4 star rating!!
(4)
Lori T.
Demitri's has become extremely busy and ownership has been smart and brought on more wait staff and is on top of service. Food was great. Will be back. :)
(4)
Mike R.
Ugh... I love BBQ, and living in the SOHO area, I was extremely excited to have a BBQ joint within a few block radius where I could feed the cravings...Getting excited for this place was the wrong decision... I got a half slab of ribs (because are there any bad ribs in Alabama?) and some Brisket, which is normally harder to find at BBQ places around town. Well Congratulations Demitri's for having the first batch of bad ribs I have had since living here! The ribs were extra salty, dry, and just disappointing. The Brisket was in a puddle of grease, and was also over salted and just terrible. I actually threw away the food and had to get dinner elsewhere. Maybe you like over-salted gross BBQ...if so, definitely check this place out...As for me, it is Saws or Dreamland going forward! So why 2 stars and not 1?...The staff was pretty nice, so they get a bonus star, and honestly, who really reads one star reviews? Sorry if you are as disappointed reading this review as I was with the food.
(2)
Scott C.
I love eating here when I'm in the area. The BBQ and the wings are great and the breakfast is even better.
(5)
Joe G.
Very average BBQ. The ribs and wings were dry and seemed like they had been cooked a long time before serving. I will not go back for the BBQ
(3)
Ashley M.
Another place in Homewood with very little parking-plus side is that they actually have a parking lot. The dining area is very crowded and very loud. It doesn't have the best overall appearance either. We cleaned off our own table so we could sit at a four seater. Service was a little awkward at the beginning since you seat yourself. We waited a while to see our waitress. Someone who sat down next to us well after we arrived was waited on before us. I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich with onion rings. The BBQ was good, I ordered it chopped, and it had a well balanced smoke flavor. Sauce was thick and not too sweet. It's served on a Kaiser roll so it gives it a heartier appearance. Onion rings were outstanding. The thin, crispy crust was well seasoned. Onions were a perfect texture as well-not too soggy. They're proud of them too-if I remember correctly I was charged $3.49 for the small order that I got as a side with my sandwich. Go there for the food, yes, but don't expect to be wowed by the atmosphere. The "BEST" onion rings I've ever had. The reason it's on my "Top 100 Dishes to Try" list: Onion Rings
(3)
Brian C.
Ive been coming here for well over a decade and today I saw the ultimate gross. The runner brought food to our table and placed it in front of us and walked away before realizing it was at the wrong table. He then came back, picked up the plates and served it to other patrons. Uh, no way.
(2)
Chris G.
Good honest, no-frills breakfast and barbecue. Three stars. I'd add a half star if their fries were a little crisper. But their baked beans are really good. But I give them four stars because the waitresses call you Sweetie and Sugar and Hon. You have to like that in this day and age.
(4)
Dan D.
Nothing to warrant that fifth star, but I feel it deserves more than four. The food is great, not too expensive, and the service is quick. Lots of customers are long time regulars. BBQ chicken sandwich is amazing.
(4)
Kathryn L.
My first time trying out the well known breakfast at this place, I wasn't disappointed. We were seated immediately and service was quick. The biscuits are HUGE and obviously made from scratch, not to be missed. Reasonable prices for quick, delicious diner-style breakfast.
(4)
Roger T.
Great food. Good people. Coffee was fresh and hot. Plenty of seating. Owner greeted us at the door. Very welcoming. Heuvos rancheros was delicious with white chili. French toast was great. Looking forward to going back. Parking is fine.
(4)
Nicole J.
Demetri's is a Homewood institution and has been for many years, but it is never mentioned among Birmingham's best barbecue places. I think it should be. The pulled pork and ribs are excellent, though in my opinion they're not as good as the sides. Their Greek potatoes, wood-fired veggies, and fried green tomatoes (which are very crisp and spicy) are not to be missed, nor is their lemon meringue pie. Breakfast is good as well (and worth the wait to get a seat on the weekends). They actually know how to cook eggs, unlike many places around here. However, their biscuits are a little cold. And they would be delicious beyond words if they were warm!
(4)
Amanda B.
We ate there for lunch as crowded as it was you would think the BBQ would have been even decent. Very salty and soggy worst BBQ in Birmingham. Will not be back I guess everyone else was eating other items off their menu. Servers are rude and slow. Smells great don't let it fool you stay away!!
(1)
Ryan T.
Great food and fast, friendly service. Tuesday's Greek potatoes are my favorite. Love this place.
(5)
Bryan Z.
Too much good bbq in this town to waste time and money here again. Got a bbq pork plate and was not impressed at all. It was chopped so fine it was more sauce than meat in texture. Got a side salad and it had the core/bottom of the head of romaine in it--not offensive, just sloppy and lack of attention to detail. I've heard great things about breakfast and service was friendly so would be willing to take a chance on it in the morning but I'll go elsewhere when I'm craving bbq.
(2)
J M.
Not amazing, but solid all around.
(4)
Whitney G.
I do not understand why this place is always crowded? The waitresses are rude. Spilt drinks all over me and didn't even apologize. Would never go back! Biscuits are so hard you could break a window.
(1)
Dennis U.
We were looking for a breakfast place in Homewood on a recent trip there and we stumbled on Demetris. Good breakfast, the BBQ omelet wasn't bad with a mild sauce and a meaty omelet with cheese. I like slow roasted BBQ but this tasted a bit steamed... i missed the crunchy bits. Good biscuit!
(3)
Russ M.
Good place to have breakfast. Local flavor with straight forward food. Nothing fancy or exceptional just good cooked to order fare. I've never had the bbq but intend to give it a try.
(3)
Charlie S.
I always try to make it to Demetri's while in Birmingham. It has the best barbeque in my book. You will not be disappointed in making a side trip to eat at this place.
(4)
Christine J.
This is a solid 3 star yelp restaurant. The BBQ chopped pork was a bit bland and dry, must be covered in sauce. I had butter beans and squash casserole, which were both good renditions. The fried peach pies are really good - especially fried fresh. Wait staff was friendly and attentive.
(3)
Brandon C.
A really good local place for breakfast, wings, and veggies. For breakfast the French toast is the real deal. BBQ is good as well, though better places exist in town. Service can be slow during busy times, but it is friendly. Saturday breakfast can get crowded.
(4)
Mark E.
(NOTE: This review only pertains to breakfast!) Everybody who's anybody in the Birmingham culinary scene knows that the Greeks control everything, and I mean everything. All the barbecue joints, steak houses, seafood restaurants and even the local fast casual places like Zoe's. Well, everything that is except Frank Stitt and all the Mediterranean places like purple onion. Demitri's is no different. There are a couple things on the menu that deviate far away from the standard bbq breakfast fare and get into a far more Greek influenced genre. They have this mythical white turkey omelet that can be served Western style. And, if your palette allows you, you can taste just a hint of oregano in it. No lie. They also have a homemade salsa that you can dip it in that's incredible. It's a little odd for a bbq joint, but it's really good. Then there's my own personal dilemma with French Toast. I have a hankering for it fort-nightly. And Demitri's was a breath of fresh air. It was whole grain baguette, sliced, lightly skillet fried with egg and topped with powdered sugar. There were hints of cinnamon that worked really well with the seedy goodness of the bread. But the magic really happens when you drizzle it with honey instead of syrup. It's awesome. So if you're ever in the neighborhood in the am, give it a shot.
(4)
Erika S.
I love bbq. I thought i did until i tried Demetri's. I called a order in for pickup. I got ribs, mac and cheese, and baked beans. It was horrible. The ribs did not have any seasoning on them and the mac and cheese tasted like Kraft. I really can't believe they have been around so long with the meal I received. Maybe they were having an off day. I hope.
(1)
John H.
The meat itself was bland no smoked flavor at all this really isnt bbq at all i tried the ribs and no real bbq smoked flavor like bbq should be but I guess being from Texas I'm all about flavor
(2)
Trevvor C.
Lunch was alright. The crowd was moderate for early afternoon on a college football Saturday, and a big screen was tuned to the Georgia-Kentucky game. The tables available were grossly messy from the fallout of previous diners' explosions, which is a big part of the three-star rating. The barbecue turkey sandwich was tasty, and the fries were excellent, probably the highlight of the meal. We asked our server about the chicken fingers, and she responded that they were "really good," but upon eating them, we were inclined to disagree. They weren't terrible by any means, but they weren't a home run, either. It seems like a classic little place in Homewood with a lot of history around it, but it didn't really grab me.
(3)
Doug M.
Right near my hotel, wandered over for dinner. Great staff, homey atmosphere, super inexpensive. Had the pork bbq sandwich, baked beans and some chili, all were great, and finished it off with some lemon pie that was fantastic. Was out of there for about $16 with tip, how can you beat that for good BBQ? I've heard they serve a great breakfast, too. Good stuff!
(4)
Shaun M.
I went to Demetris for the first time last night, and I have to admit I have had better service at McDonalds. I got the feeling during dinner the waitress would have rather been somewhere else. To my understanding, Demetris is known for the smoked wings. You would think they have had more than 40 wings on hand. I was only able to order 25 wings between the 4 of us at dinner. to make matters worse, I had to get my own refills as the waitress was nowhere in site. She also brought the checks to the table as soon as we ordered....I dont think I will be making it back in anytime soon.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Janet K.
This review is based on a breakfast, early lunch, and late lunch, over three separate visits. Go! Not pretentious. Not hipster. Just friendly staff, generous soda refills, and basic, stick to your ribs home cooking and BBQ. The highlight: the El Rancho Brisket Sandwich. melty cheese, jalapeño and onion on tender brisket and a buttered roll. Breakfast is true greasy spoon. Eggs, biscuits, sausage. Good basic diner cooking. Friday is Mom's Pot Roast special. Two of us split it for an early lunch. Fell apart delicious. But the mashed potatoes were the real highlight. Wish I could have eaten a pile of the carrots, but they only gave me one big carrot. White chili is creamy from beans and has just the right about of heat. Fried okra is well worth it dunked in a little buttermilk ranch. Saturday Mac and cheese is a meal unto itself.
(4)John S.
I love this place, but not for the pork, for the chicken, wings, and turkey. The BBQ chicken is not to be believed, the best I've ever had. Good variety on the menu, and all the sides are excellent, especially the fried okra spears. And save room for desert, their pies are outstanding, try the coconut cream and remember me in your Will. Just stay away from the pork.
(4)Bruce K.
Popped in on my own for an inexpensive dinner. I was a little bummed that they don't have a beer license - barbecue is SO much better with a beer to wash it down. But without the beer, my check was much lighter. I opted for a double turkey sandwich and asked for "add slaw." What arrived was a good sized pile of turkey on a bun with a side of barbecue sauce - see the picture. The turkey was good and moist but not especially flavorful on its own (it's turkey - no surprise) but the tangyness (is that a word? it is now.) brought it out and certainly a pour of the sauce kicked it up. Comfortable. Filling. Decent service. No beer. Four stars.
(4)Thomas H.
I personally like the ribs here. I also love the chocolate pie. The service is friendly too!
(4)Nick B.
Good BBQ joint but nothing quite pushes it to 5 stars for me. First thing that does stand out imo however, is the chicken used for the chicken sandwich that I ordered. Typical BBQ that I'm used to has that finely chopped meat (which is cool) but here, the meat slabs reminded me of Thanksgiving leftovers. You know how you carve all the rest of the turkey from the bones and eat it for days later on sandwiches, pot pies etc. Yeah... like that... real and large pieces of meat. The standard sauce that was on the side was good but nothing amazing! Hard to stand out with a BBQ sauce in the south, but it's possible. Sweet tea was actually really good (actually sweet) and the service was outstanding! I'd definitely return here, but not sure it'd be a definite go-to or fav. You my friends at Demetri's have earned a solid 4 star rating!!
(4)Lori T.
Demitri's has become extremely busy and ownership has been smart and brought on more wait staff and is on top of service. Food was great. Will be back. :)
(4)Mike R.
Ugh... I love BBQ, and living in the SOHO area, I was extremely excited to have a BBQ joint within a few block radius where I could feed the cravings...Getting excited for this place was the wrong decision... I got a half slab of ribs (because are there any bad ribs in Alabama?) and some Brisket, which is normally harder to find at BBQ places around town. Well Congratulations Demitri's for having the first batch of bad ribs I have had since living here! The ribs were extra salty, dry, and just disappointing. The Brisket was in a puddle of grease, and was also over salted and just terrible. I actually threw away the food and had to get dinner elsewhere. Maybe you like over-salted gross BBQ...if so, definitely check this place out...As for me, it is Saws or Dreamland going forward! So why 2 stars and not 1?...The staff was pretty nice, so they get a bonus star, and honestly, who really reads one star reviews? Sorry if you are as disappointed reading this review as I was with the food.
(2)Scott C.
I love eating here when I'm in the area. The BBQ and the wings are great and the breakfast is even better.
(5)Joe G.
Very average BBQ. The ribs and wings were dry and seemed like they had been cooked a long time before serving. I will not go back for the BBQ
(3)Ashley M.
Another place in Homewood with very little parking-plus side is that they actually have a parking lot. The dining area is very crowded and very loud. It doesn't have the best overall appearance either. We cleaned off our own table so we could sit at a four seater. Service was a little awkward at the beginning since you seat yourself. We waited a while to see our waitress. Someone who sat down next to us well after we arrived was waited on before us. I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich with onion rings. The BBQ was good, I ordered it chopped, and it had a well balanced smoke flavor. Sauce was thick and not too sweet. It's served on a Kaiser roll so it gives it a heartier appearance. Onion rings were outstanding. The thin, crispy crust was well seasoned. Onions were a perfect texture as well-not too soggy. They're proud of them too-if I remember correctly I was charged $3.49 for the small order that I got as a side with my sandwich. Go there for the food, yes, but don't expect to be wowed by the atmosphere. The "BEST" onion rings I've ever had. The reason it's on my "Top 100 Dishes to Try" list: Onion Rings
(3)Brian C.
Ive been coming here for well over a decade and today I saw the ultimate gross. The runner brought food to our table and placed it in front of us and walked away before realizing it was at the wrong table. He then came back, picked up the plates and served it to other patrons. Uh, no way.
(2)Chris G.
Good honest, no-frills breakfast and barbecue. Three stars. I'd add a half star if their fries were a little crisper. But their baked beans are really good. But I give them four stars because the waitresses call you Sweetie and Sugar and Hon. You have to like that in this day and age.
(4)Dan D.
Nothing to warrant that fifth star, but I feel it deserves more than four. The food is great, not too expensive, and the service is quick. Lots of customers are long time regulars. BBQ chicken sandwich is amazing.
(4)Kathryn L.
My first time trying out the well known breakfast at this place, I wasn't disappointed. We were seated immediately and service was quick. The biscuits are HUGE and obviously made from scratch, not to be missed. Reasonable prices for quick, delicious diner-style breakfast.
(4)Roger T.
Great food. Good people. Coffee was fresh and hot. Plenty of seating. Owner greeted us at the door. Very welcoming. Heuvos rancheros was delicious with white chili. French toast was great. Looking forward to going back. Parking is fine.
(4)Nicole J.
Demetri's is a Homewood institution and has been for many years, but it is never mentioned among Birmingham's best barbecue places. I think it should be. The pulled pork and ribs are excellent, though in my opinion they're not as good as the sides. Their Greek potatoes, wood-fired veggies, and fried green tomatoes (which are very crisp and spicy) are not to be missed, nor is their lemon meringue pie. Breakfast is good as well (and worth the wait to get a seat on the weekends). They actually know how to cook eggs, unlike many places around here. However, their biscuits are a little cold. And they would be delicious beyond words if they were warm!
(4)Amanda B.
We ate there for lunch as crowded as it was you would think the BBQ would have been even decent. Very salty and soggy worst BBQ in Birmingham. Will not be back I guess everyone else was eating other items off their menu. Servers are rude and slow. Smells great don't let it fool you stay away!!
(1)Ryan T.
Great food and fast, friendly service. Tuesday's Greek potatoes are my favorite. Love this place.
(5)Bryan Z.
Too much good bbq in this town to waste time and money here again. Got a bbq pork plate and was not impressed at all. It was chopped so fine it was more sauce than meat in texture. Got a side salad and it had the core/bottom of the head of romaine in it--not offensive, just sloppy and lack of attention to detail. I've heard great things about breakfast and service was friendly so would be willing to take a chance on it in the morning but I'll go elsewhere when I'm craving bbq.
(2)J M.
Not amazing, but solid all around.
(4)Whitney G.
I do not understand why this place is always crowded? The waitresses are rude. Spilt drinks all over me and didn't even apologize. Would never go back! Biscuits are so hard you could break a window.
(1)Dennis U.
We were looking for a breakfast place in Homewood on a recent trip there and we stumbled on Demetris. Good breakfast, the BBQ omelet wasn't bad with a mild sauce and a meaty omelet with cheese. I like slow roasted BBQ but this tasted a bit steamed... i missed the crunchy bits. Good biscuit!
(3)Russ M.
Good place to have breakfast. Local flavor with straight forward food. Nothing fancy or exceptional just good cooked to order fare. I've never had the bbq but intend to give it a try.
(3)Charlie S.
I always try to make it to Demetri's while in Birmingham. It has the best barbeque in my book. You will not be disappointed in making a side trip to eat at this place.
(4)Christine J.
This is a solid 3 star yelp restaurant. The BBQ chopped pork was a bit bland and dry, must be covered in sauce. I had butter beans and squash casserole, which were both good renditions. The fried peach pies are really good - especially fried fresh. Wait staff was friendly and attentive.
(3)Brandon C.
A really good local place for breakfast, wings, and veggies. For breakfast the French toast is the real deal. BBQ is good as well, though better places exist in town. Service can be slow during busy times, but it is friendly. Saturday breakfast can get crowded.
(4)Mark E.
(NOTE: This review only pertains to breakfast!) Everybody who's anybody in the Birmingham culinary scene knows that the Greeks control everything, and I mean everything. All the barbecue joints, steak houses, seafood restaurants and even the local fast casual places like Zoe's. Well, everything that is except Frank Stitt and all the Mediterranean places like purple onion. Demitri's is no different. There are a couple things on the menu that deviate far away from the standard bbq breakfast fare and get into a far more Greek influenced genre. They have this mythical white turkey omelet that can be served Western style. And, if your palette allows you, you can taste just a hint of oregano in it. No lie. They also have a homemade salsa that you can dip it in that's incredible. It's a little odd for a bbq joint, but it's really good. Then there's my own personal dilemma with French Toast. I have a hankering for it fort-nightly. And Demitri's was a breath of fresh air. It was whole grain baguette, sliced, lightly skillet fried with egg and topped with powdered sugar. There were hints of cinnamon that worked really well with the seedy goodness of the bread. But the magic really happens when you drizzle it with honey instead of syrup. It's awesome. So if you're ever in the neighborhood in the am, give it a shot.
(4)Erika S.
I love bbq. I thought i did until i tried Demetri's. I called a order in for pickup. I got ribs, mac and cheese, and baked beans. It was horrible. The ribs did not have any seasoning on them and the mac and cheese tasted like Kraft. I really can't believe they have been around so long with the meal I received. Maybe they were having an off day. I hope.
(1)John H.
The meat itself was bland no smoked flavor at all this really isnt bbq at all i tried the ribs and no real bbq smoked flavor like bbq should be but I guess being from Texas I'm all about flavor
(2)Trevvor C.
Lunch was alright. The crowd was moderate for early afternoon on a college football Saturday, and a big screen was tuned to the Georgia-Kentucky game. The tables available were grossly messy from the fallout of previous diners' explosions, which is a big part of the three-star rating. The barbecue turkey sandwich was tasty, and the fries were excellent, probably the highlight of the meal. We asked our server about the chicken fingers, and she responded that they were "really good," but upon eating them, we were inclined to disagree. They weren't terrible by any means, but they weren't a home run, either. It seems like a classic little place in Homewood with a lot of history around it, but it didn't really grab me.
(3)Doug M.
Right near my hotel, wandered over for dinner. Great staff, homey atmosphere, super inexpensive. Had the pork bbq sandwich, baked beans and some chili, all were great, and finished it off with some lemon pie that was fantastic. Was out of there for about $16 with tip, how can you beat that for good BBQ? I've heard they serve a great breakfast, too. Good stuff!
(4)Shaun M.
I went to Demetris for the first time last night, and I have to admit I have had better service at McDonalds. I got the feeling during dinner the waitress would have rather been somewhere else. To my understanding, Demetris is known for the smoked wings. You would think they have had more than 40 wings on hand. I was only able to order 25 wings between the 4 of us at dinner. to make matters worse, I had to get my own refills as the waitress was nowhere in site. She also brought the checks to the table as soon as we ordered....I dont think I will be making it back in anytime soon.
(2)