“You could make a living doing this.”
The suggestion from a friend altered the course of Bob White’s life. It’s how the financial planner who enjoyed cooking up barbecue dinners for neighborhood cookouts, church picnics and community events ended up being the proprietor of the popular Slope’s BBQ in Roswell.
May is National Barbecue Month.
“I didn’t plan on being in the barbecue business,” confessed the longtime Walton Gas customer. But plans change and now his restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Some say Slope’s serves the best barbecue in Atlanta.
The restaurant specializes in “authentic Georgia-style Southern” barbecue. The hickory-smoked, hand-pulled meat is cooked with a signature sauce Bob perfected over the years.
“The sauce is what sets us apart …”
“The sauce is what sets us apart and makes our barbecue so good,” he said. “Anybody can smoke meat, but the only place in the world you can get this sauce is at Slope’s.”
The menu includes a wide variety of barbecue selections delivered in what the family proudly calls “Slope’s style.” The phrase refers to their commitment to using premium meats, old-school techniques and Bob’s distinctive sauce to create satisfying food that’s served up by a friendly staff.
Though barbecue is always the star of the show, diners also note some additional favorites on the menu. Topping the list are warm-from-the-oven cheese biscuits served only in the dining room on Friday and Saturday evenings.
“We don’t sell those; we give them away,” Bob explained. “We’ve been making them since day one [at the restaurant].”
Almost every item on the menu is made from scratch.
Almost every item on the Slope’s menu is made in-house from scratch. According to some customer reviews, the banana pudding is a must-have for dessert.
Bob credits much of the success of the Roswell restaurant on its continuous focus on family. Slope’s is operated by Bob and wife Marlene, along with their daughter Mary White Hixson.
“We’re a family-run operation and we serve a lot of family groups,” Bob said. “We work to make this a family-friendly setting.”
In 1997, Bob began to spread his “Slope’s style” concept through franchising. In addition to the flagship restaurant in Roswell, there are three other independently owned locations in the Metro Atlanta area.
Find it:
Slope’s BBQ
34 Crossville Road, Roswell
The original Slope’s BBQ is located at 34 Crossville Road in Roswell. The dining room is open 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
In addition to its dine-in and carryout options, Slope’s offers catering services. A menu and details can be found at slopesbbq.com.