“Discover Sonny’s Art of BBQ, Craftsmanship in every bite since ’68.” Since 1968, Sonny’s BBQ has crafted delectable BBQ dishes steeped in tradition and a love for authentic, Southern-Style BBQ. There is “MAGIC” behind the Sonny’s signature slow-smoked meats and the tried-and- true methods and techniques that Sonny’s BBQ utilizes. www.sonnysbbq.com states, “There are many different BBQ styles and techniques, and while we appreciate ‘em all, we have a certain way of doing things that’s given our BBQ its signature flavor since 1968. We call it The Art of BBQ.” Sonny’s opened its first BBQ joint in Gainesville, Florida in 1968. Founded by Floyd
“Sonny” Tillman and his wife, Lucille, Sonny’s BBQ has grown from a single Gainesville, Florida local BBQ joint into a thriving brand with nearly 100 locations! Every day since, Sonny’s has been smoking and serving its infamous BBQ “to hungry folks and gaining new fans in the process.” One of the secrets to Sonny’s BBQ success is its INTRINSIC PASSION for BBQ. Sonny’s Enterprise is constantly working to enhance and perfect their craft of smoking and cooking BBQ. Sonny’s endeavors to bring its expertise to the table with each and every meal prepared and served. “But above all, we put others first, and make sure everyone who dines with us feels
right at home.” “What made us GREAT in ’68 is what makes us the BEST TODAY.” Today, SONNY’S BBQ restaurants can be found in the following locations: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina!
Sonny’s BBQ has a DISTINCT Manifesto:
“This is where BBQ is made and served by those who know how to savor every moment. Where low and slow is as much a way to live as it is a way to cook. Where we make time for great food and good folks because presence is a present and a good meal is a gift. The world moves fast and changes faster, but we can guarantee that It’s Always Sonny’s Here.”
— “Enjoy the moments. Savor the moment. Share the memories!”
@SONNYSBBQ and #itsalwayssonnyshere
Sonny’s BBQ has introduced a Seasonal Menu; “We’re serving up limited time flavors inspired by the season. Check back throughout the year to see what new BBQ dishes we are firing up!”
Currently, the Winter Seasonal Menu includes delightful delicacies such as: Florida Smokin’ Citrus Wings-smoked wings tossed in a bold, citrusy, and sweet sauce, Alabama White Sauce Wings-smoked wings tossed in a creamy and zesty white sauce, Sonny’s Prime Rib Sandwich- Certified Angus Beef Prime Rib with crispy onion straws, creamy horseradish and Swiss Cheese on garlic bread, and The Smokin’ Gun Sandwich-jalapeno cheddar sausage, chopped brisket, banana peppers, red onion, mustard, and Sonny’s Sweet BBQ Sauce on a bun.
Over and above that, a few more flavorsome favorites on the special Winter Seasonal Menu at Sonny’s BBQ are: Candied Bacon Mac & Cheese-a hearty helping of Sonny’s BBQ signature Mac & Cheese topped with chopped Candied Bacon, onion straws, and a drizzle of Sonny’s Sweet BBQ Sauce, Skillet Potatoes-diced potatoes and cheddar cheese, topped with garlic bread croutons and baked to perfection, Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding-served with a side of Sweet Tea Glaze, and fortunately, still readily available on the menu are the famed Sweet Carolina Sandwich-pulled pork topped with homemade coleslaw and Sonny’s legendary Carolina Sauce on a bun, and The (enticing!) Homestyle Banana Pudding, served in a mini-skillet.
Sonny’s BBQ has a tremendous menu of TO-GO BBQ- “Bring home the BBQ. Get somethin’ everyone can agree on and let us do the cookin’ with our family meals to go.” The Family Feast feeds 4 people and includes: pulled pork, sliced brisket, BBQ chicken, and Sweet & Smokey St. Louis Ribs, plus BBQ beans, coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries, cornbread and 4 Sweet Teas! You may also create your own “Bundles”- choosing either 2, 3 or 4 meats, or a 50 piece BBQ Wings Platter!
Sonny’s BBQ proudly declares, “Founded by a Pitmaster in ’68. Led by Pitmasters today. At the heart of every restaurant is a Certified Sonny’s Pitmaster who’s constantly perfecting their craft.” Sonny’s BBQ “THE P.I.T. ACADEMY” is a “Pitmasters in Training” Academy and is an intense educational and training program all Pitmaster hopefuls must pass before becoming a Certified Sonny’s Pitmaster. The program consists of hands-on-learning, written and practical exams, head- to-head competitions –and more! Upon enrolling in The P.I.T. Academy, this multi-day course teaches you everything about Sonny’s as well as about BBQ. Highlights from Day 1 include: tasting BBQ sauces from around the world, and how to make your own BBQ sauce, learning how to prepare and cook a whole hog, studying up on BBQ Basics such as types of wood for smoking and what/how the different cuts of meats are labeled on pigs and cows,
and a Run-Down of competitions with tips and tricks for your BBQ creations to stand out. P.I.T. Academy Day 2 starts bright and early with students applying what they have learned. Dividing the class into Teams, you will compete with your classmates to see who can prepare the best rack of BBQ ribs—slathering on the personalized BBQ Sauce recipe that you created the day prior! Former students-now-Pitmasters have commented that, “I didn’t go to culinary school, but this 2 Day training (program) has really helped me become an expert in the kitchen!” The Final Steps to getting Certified require a written test, but you are allowed a few days in
between your intense 2 Day P.I.T. Classes to “LET EVERYTHING MARINATE, JUST LIKE A GOOD BBQ SAUCE!” Everything that you learned will be questioned on your Final Certification Test, from cook times, to best practices, to culinary handy suggestions, to “THE MEAT MATTERS!” Theorem=BBQ BEGINS AND ENDS WITH MEAT! Selecting the right cuts of meats is key to a successful BBQ Dish, as is knowing how to smoke them. On May 1 st , 2024, during “NATIONAL BBQ MONTH,” it was announced that former NFL football player, Shannon Snell, would be joining the Sonny’s BBQ Franchise Company Team as “Head Pitmaster” and Brand Ambassador.
Shannon Snell has already been a part of the Sonny’s BBQ family for over 15 years, after transitioning out of his pro football career with the Dallas Cowboys. “Shannon Snell has been a pillar of Sonny’s BBQ culinary excellence… This opens the smoker doors for (both) our new and experienced Pitmasters to keep pushing their craft and expertise under the Sonny’s BBQ banner,” said Kyle Dixon, Executive VP of iServ, LLC. Shannon Snell has “brought his leadership skills and love of BBQ to the entire Sonny’s BBQ family over the years, training and mentoring up-and-coming Pitmasters and serving the Gainesville, FL community that he calls home.”
Shannon also competes statewide in Florida on iServ’s Sonny’s BBQ-Sponsored BBQ Competition Team, “Black Jack Oak,” showcasing his expert skillset and “What Sets The SONNY’S BBQ WAY apart from the rest!” Shannon Snell says, “I met founder Floyd “SONNY”
Tillman while I was a Florida Gator,” at a sports booster event during Snell’s college football days. “If Sonny wasn’t feeding the Florida Gators Football Team every Sunday with free BBQ, he was feeding entire police and fire departments around town!” Says Snell, “I realized that I could serve people as part of my career- and I have for over 15 years now. It’s an honor to continue to serve my community with good BBQ and Southern hospitality on an even bigger scale.”
Despite the growth and development of Sonny’s BBQ multitudinous restaurants, their
commitment as a company remains focused on the original goal: to offer THE BEST BBQ, slow-
smoked over oak, serving generous portions and embodying Southern hospitality.
–The WOOD: “Oak-Fueled Smoke=Flavor-Filled BBQ. We smoke with oak because it’s a hard
wood that burns slow and gives our BBQ that famous smokey flavor you love.”
–The SMOKER: “Always Loaded-Always Fresh. At the heart of every Sonny’s is a smoker, fully
loaded with meat and oak so the BBQ is always fresh when you get here.”
When we arrived at Sonny’s BBQ in Pinellas Park, Florida- you could smell that tantalizing, mouth-watering BBQ aromatic smoke wafting in the air, instantaneously, as soon as you stepped out of the car. It was a busy, HOPPIN’ Friday night crowd, the restaurant filled with large families at long tables and booths, Couples on Date Night, Girl’s Night Out Groups, Guys Gatherings, and many “Take-Out” Customers. We ordered “A Sonny’s Bourbon Mule,” and “A Sweet Tea Margarita,” from The Sonny’s Signature Cocktails Menu. We ordered a plethora of savory BBQ fare and shared many a bite… and of course, we simply HAD to try the temptingly luscious Homestyle Banana Pudding served in a mini skillet!…The portions were far too large for us to consume our entire dinner at the restaurant, so we gladly took boxes of BBQ home to be eaten as a piquant midnight treat! *NOTE: pictured in the collage below is an order of “CORN NUGGETS,” –Lightly fried, Sweet Creamed Corn Clusters, Topped with Powdered Sugar. THEY. WERE. DIVINE. www.ribbqnews.com readers, think “Mini-Doughboys, made with Corn-meal batter!” *It’s a distinct possibility that at 2:30 AM, I MAY have been licking the Take-Home plate clean of remnants of the aforementioned Corn Nuggets WITH POWDERED SUGAR.*
Sonny’s BBQ states that; “Our mission is to spread the spirit of BBQ through initiatives like ‘Q
the Kindness, Random Acts of BBQ, and the Pitmaster Program.”
- ‘Q the Kindness: “Every good deed has the power to inspire others to choose kindness. So we want to share it. Did you witness a kind gesture at our restaurant? Or did you participate in an act of kindness for someone else in the community? If so, let us know. Share the details of your kindness story and it may be featured on our blog, social channels and more. ‘Q the KINDNESS Core Giving Pillars: We are proud to donate over one-million dollars each year to support causes that make a real difference in our local communities in partnership with charitable organizations that share our vision for a kinder, better world.”
- Sonny’s Random Acts of BBQ: “Every day we look for ways to spread the spirit of BBQ. Join our mission to make the world better one delicious deed at a time, by recognizing those who selflessly lend their time, talents, and a helping hand to neighbors in our community.” You are invited by Sonny’s BBQ to NOMINATE SOMEONE DESERVING OF BBQ RECOGNITION. “If you know of someone who deserves a little surprise BBQ recognition, nominate them! … Nothin’ says ‘Thank You’ like a surprise BBQ FEAST!”
- The Kindest Crew in Town: “Sonny’s BBQ Team Members are passionate about having a positive impact on their communities because they know that spreadin’ the SPIRIT OF BBQ is about so much MORE than servin’ good food.”
The enormous plaque on the wall of Sonny’s BBQ reiterates Sonny Tillman’s Philosophy, it
reads:
“At Sonny’s BBQ, 1968 is a state of mind. It’s the ideals and the principles that guided Floyd “SONNY” Tillman and his wife, Lucille, when they opened their first BBQ restaurant on Waldo Road, in Gainesville, Florida. And it’s the ideals and principles we still live by today. It’s being passionate about BBQ. Respecting the time-honored, and time-sensitive, traditions. Like smoking meat for up to 12 hours in the pursuit of tenderness and flavor. It’s consistently perfecting our craft. Trying new recipes. Mastering proven techniques. And then bringing that expertise to your table with every meal we serve. It’s Southern hospitality. Being gracious hosts, serving generous portions and putting others’ needs first. It’s having fun and making sure others do the same. Smiling, Laughing. And taking our BBQ seriously, but ourselves, not so much. It’s being trustworthy and dependable. Doing what we say we’re gonna do. So people
know they can count on us for a great meal and a great time at a great value. It’s genuinely caring about our guests and each other. And making sure when people come back here for our BBQ, they feel right at home, just like they have since 1968.”
—“FOLKS CAME IN AS STRANGERS, BUT THEY LEFT AS FAMILY.”
Sonny Tillman
