Their Story
Mike Wilson never planned to be a restaurateur. He was a test-kitchen chef at Cooking Light magazine, quietly perfecting his craft — and his barbecue. Word spread so fast among coworkers and friends that he bought a closing Homewood restaurant, took two weeks of vacation, and never went back to the magazine. He went straight to the pit. SAW's is an acronym for Wilson's high school nickname — a name he called the perfect fit for "a product developed over the course of so many good times with good friends of days gone by." There's something deeply Birmingham about that. No pretense. Just good smoke, good sauce, and good company. The original Homewood location is the heart of it all — the only Saw's fully owned and operated by the Wilson family, and they wear that with pride. When Mike passed away unexpectedly in 2020, the community's grief said everything about what he built. Southern Living called Saw's the best barbecue in Alabama. His kids are now carrying the legacy forward. When you walk into Saw's, you're not just getting Carolina-style pulled pork and homemade sauce. You're getting a piece of Birmingham's story. And you're going to tell someone about it.
Community Impact
When Mike Wilson passed away unexpectedly in 2020, the community's grief said everything about what he built. His kids are now carrying the legacy forward at the original Homewood location, the only Saw's fully owned and operated by the Wilson family.
Why They Were Selected
Restaurants thrive on local referrals and Saw's BBQ is a word-of-mouth powerhouse in the Birmingham dining scene. Southern Living called it the best BBQ in Alabama.
In Their Own Words
"A product developed over the course of so many good times with good friends of days gone by."