Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
Luke Bryan grabs a bite to eat at beloved Fairhope restaurant, BILL-E’S
Reading time: 4 minutes
Luke Bryan made a stop at beloved Fairhope restaurant, BILL-E’s, last week on Saturday, Aug. 22. The country star was on his way to see his son, Bo Bryan, play in a nationally televised football game against St. Michael Catholic.
We got to talk to Bill-E himself, who was over the moon to hear the Bryans chose to stop at his restaurant. William “Bill-E” Stitt joked that he’s always listened to Bryan’s music, but now he’s been listening a good bit more.
Stitt was at an event at The Wharf in Orange Beach, showing off his in-house smoked bacon, when his general manager called to tell him about their celebrity visitor.
“Everybody was so excited. They said he was just so nice and cordial, and just happy to hang out with us!”
William “Bill-E” Stitt, owner of BILL-E’s
Here’s a quick look at Bill-E’s:
- What to order: BILL-E’s Bacon Cheeseburger (American cheese, Bill-E’s in-house bacon)
- Where: 19992 AL-181 Suite A, Fairhope, AL 36532
- Hours: Sun-Thurs, 10:30AM-9PM | Fri-Sat, 10:30AM-10PM
- Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Keep reading to learn more about BILL-E’s!
What is BILL-E’s?
Stitt opened Bill-E’s back in 2011 with a mission to create a “no-frills place where [locals] could kick back and enjoy an afternoon or evening of live music, lively conversation and killer grub.” More than a decade later, that vision is still very much alive at the Fairhope spot.
According to Stitt, BILL-E’s has had multiple celebrities stop in to grab a bite to eat over the years, but Luke Bryan was by far the most famous.
BILLE’s is certainly no stranger to local live music, as the restaurant hosts local artists most Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sundays during the day. Once football season starts, Saturday night live music is moved to Thursday or Sunday nights.
You’ll want to check out BILL-E’s socials for updates on who’s playing and when.
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy good food while benefiting the local community, BILL-E’s has hosted BILL-E’S Bacon, Burgers and Bikes the first Wednesday of every month for the past two years.
“During Bacon, Burgers and Bikes, we partner with a different charity every month and try to help raise money to help these organizations that are local to us.”
William “Bill-E” Stitt, owner of BILL-E’s
At each monthly event, a wide range of bikes — from classic models to the latest designs — are showcased. Visitors can listen to live music and take a peek at beautiful bikes, all while eating something from BILL-E’s extensive menu.
Last month, their chosen charity was Wreaths across America, which honors veterans by placing wreaths on their graves during the holiday season.
Local live music and fun events aside, one of locals’ favorite parts about BILL-E’s is their in-house smoked bacon. Their website jokes that “every batch is so delicious and beloved, local songwriters serenade it where it’s smoked in Fairhope, Alabama.”
Stitt tinkered with his small batch recipe for over three years before perfecting his process.
His bacon is hand-cured for eight days in curing salt and heavy-duty brown sugar made with real molasses. Then, the pork bellies are turned every other day to enrich the process before being cold-smoked in hickory.
“Highly encourage you to come do a Billy’s Bacon tour! If someone is looking for something fun to do with their family or their team at work, something kind of fun and motivating, schedule a Billy’s Bacon tour with me. It’s typically on a weekday around 9:30 or 10 in the morning, and I show our USDA bacon facility, and you get to learn how to make bacon.”
William “Bill-E” Stitt, owner of BILL-E’s
