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A tray of ribs, sauced chicken, pulled pork, hush puppies, coleslaw and broccoli salad
Ribs and chicken on the racks inside a smoker
Three snapshots of Bobby Q's: the covered patio, red porch seating and the front of the building
A rack of sauced ribs labeled St. Louis Style Ribs
A tray of hush puppies labeled Hush Puppies
A tray of ribs, sauced chicken, pulled pork, hush puppies, coleslaw and broccoli salad
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
Ribs and chicken on the racks inside a smoker
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
Three snapshots of Bobby Q's: the covered patio, red porch seating and the front of the building
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
A rack of sauced ribs labeled St. Louis Style Ribs
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
A tray of hush puppies labeled Hush Puppies
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
Fried fish with mac and cheese and hush puppies, labeled Fried Fish
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
Banana pudding being topped with whipped cream, labeled Banana Pudding
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner
Bacon-wrapped stuffed peppers labeled Texas Twinkies
Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner

A combo tray at Bobby Q's. Photo: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner.

TN2580

Barbecue and catfish · East Broad Street

Bobby Q's

A Cookeville barbecue spot from 1985, brought back by Monell's owner Michael King.

Owner verifiedQ&A with pitmaster Lee Gann ↓

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Lee Gann

Pitmaster at Bobby Q's, Cookeville. Nine years at the pits, starting as a dishwasher.

Owner Q&A

Answered in writing on Oct 28, 2026. Spelling, grammar and punctuation fixed. Added words are in [brackets]. Nothing else changed.5

From the pitmaster · In Lee’s words

“Low and slow.”
Lee's answer when we asked for a saying or philosophy for the page
If a first-timer orders one thing, what should it be?
Definitely try our 3-Meat plate. Don't sleep on a side of PRS [Pool Room Slaw], which we lovingly refer to as Yee-Haw Hot Slaw.
What's the story of the spot?
We have been open since 1985. In 2022 the original owner became sick, and we had decided to close. Our story was featured on the news. Michael King of Monell's in Nashville saw me on the news, came down and saved our restaurant, and the rest is history.
How did you get started?
Original owner Mike Migliore gave me a shot. I started as a dishwasher, and now I'm the pitmaster.
What wood do you burn, and what do you cook on?
We use a select mixture of pecan, hickory and oak. We exclusively use Southern Pride pits.
Read all 5 answers

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Which other spots nearby or anywhere in Tennessee do you respect or send people to?

Why go

Mike Migliore opened Bobby Q's in 1985 and closed it in April 2022 for health reasons. Michael King, owner of Monell's in Nashville, saw a news story on the closing and bought it that day.2 King spent a year rebuilding it and reopened on April 11, 2023, with counter service, a patio and a porch.234

The menu keeps the Bobby Q's recipes, like pulled pork, St. Louis ribs and the banana pudding, and adds Monell's skillet-fried chicken and catfish.23

What to order

  • A tray of ribs, sauced chicken, pulled pork, hush puppies, coleslaw and broccoli saladPhoto: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner

    3-Meat plate

    Pitmaster Lee Gann recommends it for a first visit.

    Source: Bobby Q's (owner)5
  • A rack of sauced ribs labeled St. Louis Style RibsPhoto: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner

    St. Louis ribs

    Kept from the original menu.

    Source: Main Street Media of Tennessee2
  • Banana pudding being topped with whipped cream, labeled Banana PuddingPhoto: Bobby Q's, provided by the owner

    Banana pudding

    Back on the menu after the reopening.

    Source: NewsChannel 53

  • Yee-Haw Hot Slaw

    The hot slaw regulars love. Lee says don't sleep on it.

    Source: Bobby Q's (owner)5

  • Pulled pork

    A longtime Bobby Q's staple.

    Source: Main Street Media of Tennessee2

Good to know

  • Dine-in, takeout and catering

    All three, per the pitmaster.5

  • Catfish

    On the menu alongside barbecue.1

  • Made in house

    All sides and sauces, per the pitmaster.5

What people are saying

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In the press

What we don’t know yet

We only publish what we can source. Here’s what’s missing.

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Near East Broad Street

Distances are straight-line miles from Bobby Q's, not driving distance.

Nearest trail: Franklin and Williamson County Trail, about 67 miles away.

Own Bobby Q's? Get a Featured partner listing (paid)

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Researched by Erik Peterson, sources linked below.

Sources (5) · every fact on this page links to one
  1. BBQ and catfish menu · Bobby Q's · Checked Oct 27, 2026
  2. TN Traveler: Nashville restaurateur revives landmark Cookeville barbecue joint · Main Street Media of Tennessee · published 2023 · checked Oct 28, 2026
  3. Woman's powerful words lead to return of Cookeville's Bobby Q's · NewsChannel 5 · published Apr 2023 · checked Oct 28, 2026
  4. Bobby Q's begins new tradition on opening day · Upper Cumberland Business Journal · published Apr 11, 2023 · checked Oct 28, 2026
  5. Owner claim and interview, pitmaster Lee Gann · Bobby Q's (owner) · published Oct 28, 2026 · checked Oct 28, 2026

We don’t publish our own scores. Partner listings are always labeled and never change what we recommend. Hours change, so check before you drive.

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