Eastern Alabama and western Georgia share a strong barbecue tradition built on slow-smoked pork shoulder, hand-chopped, served on a bun with white bread and tangy mustard-vinegar sauce. Phenix City has a handful of decent old-school joints and a growing scene of newer Southern restaurants, but for a wider selection of dinner and nightlife most travellers cross the river into Columbus.
Cash is still preferred at the older barbecue places. Most are lunch-only, closed by 3pm.