Carlile's Barbecue traces back to 1945, when brothers Herman and Warren Carlisle opened Carlile Brothers after returning from World War II service. The restaurant's name carries the family's own origin story: an Armed Forces clerical error had misspelled Herman's last name as "Carlile," and the brothers ran with it. The restaurant now operates out of what was once the founders' home and a former gambling pub in Birmingham.
In 2007, the Collat family purchased Carlile's with the stated goal of preserving its place as a Birmingham institution while keeping it running for the next generation of regulars. That continuity shows in how the neighborhood talks about it — as a community staple known for homemade comfort food, reasonable prices, and a warm, familiar welcome from the owners and staff.
Carlile's has reportedly served its share of political, civic, business, and sports figures over the decades, but its foundation has always been the families and regulars who keep coming back for barbecue in Avondale.
In 2007, the Collat family purchased Carlile's with the stated goal of preserving its place as a Birmingham institution while keeping it running for the next generation of regulars. That continuity shows in how the neighborhood talks about it — as a community staple known for homemade comfort food, reasonable prices, and a warm, familiar welcome from the owners and staff.
Carlile's has reportedly served its share of political, civic, business, and sports figures over the decades, but its foundation has always been the families and regulars who keep coming back for barbecue in Avondale.