Selma Lannies E1739460127679 — Lannie’s BBQ has two locations in the Black Belt. (City of Selma)

A pair of historic restaurants in Alabama were recently highlighted by media across the pond.

The BBC wrote a story about five restaurants that played a vital role in feeding the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. And on that list are two popular barbecue spots in the Black Belt including:

Lannie’s Bar-B-Q in Selma
Brenda’s Bar-B-Q Pit in Montgomery

Keep reading to see more about why each restaurant was included in BBC’s feature story.

Lannie’s Bar-B-Q

“‘My mother and my grandmother fed a lot of people in the march,’ said Floyd Hatcher, who runs Lannie’s today. His grandmother, Lannie Moore Travis, opened the restaurant in 1942 and made it one of Selma’s first racially integrated dining spaces. During the 1965 Selma march for equal voting rights – which was met with extreme violence – Lannie’s became a safe haven for protestors to gather.”
BBC

It’s no surprise that one of the best + oldest spots in Selma played a large role in the movement.

The historic restaurant is also no stranger to getting a little bit of the spotlight. Most recently, Lannie’s was included on USA Today’s annual list of best restaurants around the country, being the state’s only representative on the list.

Lannie’s has two locations in Selma including a spot that re-opened just last year, rebuilding their location that was destroyed by a tornado in 2023.

Those two locations include:

Location: 2115 Minter Ave, Selma, AL 36703
Hours: 8AM-8PM, Tuesday-Saturday | 8AM-2PM, Monday | 10:30AM-1:30PM, Sunday

Location: 205 Medical Center Pkwy, Selma, AL 36701
Hours: 9AM-9PM, Monday-Saturday | Sunday closed

The signature dish highlighted by USA Today is Lannie’s pulled-pork sandwich, which is smothered in a vinegar-based barbecue sauce. It’s then topped with crispy barks of pork skin. USA Today suggested pairing it with some fried okra.

The menu also includes ribs, wings, burgers and a popular catfish option. There is a special menu for breakfast available befor

Brenda’s Bar-B-Q Pit

“Brenda’s back room was used as a safe haven during the Montgomery bus boycott, where organisers could meet and create leaflets to hand out in support of the movement. It was also where owner Jereline Bethune taught reading and writing classes to help African Americans pass the discriminatory literacy tests required to vote in elections.”
BBC

Originally opened in 1942, Brenda’s Bar-B-Q Pit has been a staple in Montgomery ever since.

It’s easy to miss when you’re just driving through the capital city but you’ll want to find some time to follow your nose to some of the best food in the city.