Nc BBQ- which place is better?

I'm going to be driving down I-95 through Nc in March and am having a very difficult time picking a BBQ joint to hit. I've narrowed it down to either Bob Melton's in Rocky Mount, Ralphs BBQ in Roanoke Rapids/Weldon or Parkers in Wilson. Most people seem to like all three places but unfortunately I can only pick one, which one out of the three is the best and why. Appreciate any help

Bob Melton's was washed away by Hurricane Floyd and reopened on a busy highway (I ate there not long after they opened). We just heard they're closed, but it may be temporary. To see if they are still in business, phone: 252-446-8513

Parker's was fun for me last summer, as I had a AYCE combo meal of bbq pork and fried chicken with several sides, served family style. The inexpensive Parker's is hugely popular in the area and you may enjoy a visit there. They don't cook their que over wood coals, so it isn't particularly memorable, but their mild vinegary red pepper sauce is great.

If you're going to detour as far as Wilson, you can drive a mile or two more on U.S. 301 to Mitchell's and get some really good soul cooking along with the barbeque. I hit Ed Mitchell's place every time I'm near Wilson. He still cooks whole pigs over wood and charcoal.

I have not been to Ralph's but just read Bob Garner's latest review. Ralph's is not a wood burner either. Garner dislikes finely chopped que and says Ralph's is minced much too fine. He does like the "sliced" que which is actually pulled (a local thing), and he likes their eastern style sauce very much. He notes that the buffet is inexpensive and offers a much better than average Brunswick stew.

A terrific little place real close to the interstate is the original White Swan in Smithfield. The que isn't cooked over wood there, either, but I'll be stopping again when in the area. Take exit 90 from I 95 and drive 1.5 miles toward Smithfield on US 301/NC 96 N. It's on the left.

If you want to try the very best que in the region and have the time, you can get great whole pig cooked over hardwood coals at Wilber's on Hwy. 70 at Goldsboro and at Pete Jone's Skylight Inn at Ayden. These are my two favorites in the eastern third of the state.

s_b_man, You have time to buy or borrow Bob Garner's Guide to North Carolina Barbecue (2002). It is very much in print ($12.95) and can even be purchased in some of the barbeque restaurants he reviews (like The White Swan). I love it as it contains recent reviews of 100 of the state's best bbq destinations.

You may want to have your library borrow it for you through interlibrary loan.

I also have Garner's first book, North Carolina: Flavored by Time (1996), the best book ever written on N.C. que.

Jim, do me a favor...save me 13 bucks and look up Charlotte for me...I'm only going to be there for a quick weekend in May. Purty pleeeez???

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Jim, do me a favor...save me 13 bucks and look up Charlotte for me...I'm only going to be there for a quick weekend in May. Purty pleeeez???

Elise,
I've never found a credible BBQ place in Charlotte (you would think there would be at least one, wouldn't you?), but there are tons of local mom-and-pop eateries, largely run by Greek families.
There's a [somebody's- Mike's?] Country Kitchen place at some number like 1313 Central Avenue that looks like a storefront dump, but is top-notch... I don't have the name right; you'll have to ask or check. It's well worth hunting out.
Gus' Sir Beef on Monroe Road is amazing. The menu is in fractured Greco-English and contains such descriptions of vegetables as "FRESH MY FARM CHESTERFIELD CO., S. C. THIS MORNING". A delight.
McDonald's Cafeteria on Beatties (no apostrophe!) Ford Road, just off I-85, is a good local institution.
If I thought long and hard, I could list a dozen more... The Athens Restaurant on Independence Boulevard; The Andersons' on Elizabeth Avenue; The Landmark Diner on out Central Avenue... the possibilities go on and on... the city must have 7 or 8 almost-New-Jersey-style diners: they're on almost every through road.
Between now and then, repost and remind us. Check what The Sterns have turned up as well.
Bon appetit!
Jamison's Livermushingly, Ort. Carlton in Athens, Georgia; 196 Miles From Queen City.

EliseT,

I worked in Charlotte a couple of years ago and tried most of the barbecue joints there.

My favorite was Bubba's Barbecue on Sunset Road. It is on the north side of town and easy to find, as it is just off I-77. It is a vinegary Eastern-NC style.

Bill Spoon's Barbecue on South Boulevard is usually considered the best on the south side of Charlotte.

Lexington Barbecue is about an hours drive to the northeast and if you have time, this would be a great place to eat.

This link gives a fair representation of barbecue in Charlotte:

http://charlotte.citysearch.com/best/results/8606/

Thanks! I don;t want to hijack this post or anything, but while we were on the subject...

Ort: you can email me any more suggestions you think of. We're going there for a Greek wedding, so I'm not surprised about the Greek food. My boyfriend is a Jersey native, so we'd love to hit those diners!

Thanks for the link, Ashley!

Elise , I agree with Ashley. Bubba's is the way to go. The pulled pork is wonderful as is the chicken. They do a bbq coleslaw and have awesome hushpuppies too. Huge glasses of sweetened Luzianne tea and homemade lemonade too. Very hospitable and friendly atmosphere there. Last time I was there they had a wonderful waitress there who bustled around and refilled your tea and charmed you with her stories. She was 88 years old and a treasure. I always bring quite a bit of pulled pork and sauce home too. They have it fresh or frozen to go. Don't miss it!

Didn't make it to Parker's on an NC/SC/Virginia BBQ food-fest a few years back.

We did hit Melton's, and although the new building is clean, it doesn't have much character.
I'd give the meal a 3.5 out of 5. Solid NC BBQ, great mustard slaw and Sweet Tea, pretty good hush puppies, wasn't so fond of the Brunswick Stew.

However, the winner for us was the following morning's BREAKFAST---a BBQ plate at Wilbur's in Goldsboro. As a matter of fact, I'm staring at the Wilbur's Piggy Bank on my desk right now!

Bob Melton's is defintiely closed for good. It made the year end list of the top ten news stories in the Rocky Mount newspaper at the end of last year. I posted a link to it a few weeks back. I would second JimInKY's recommendations of Parker's or Mitchell's as good substitutes.

Did they close because of bad business? We were in at 8pm on a Saturday...and there may have been two other (of say 30) tables of patrons.

quote:

Originally posted by stanpnepa

Did they close because of bad business? We were in at 8pm on a Saturday...and there may have been two other (of say 30) tables of patrons.

I was there in 11/02, and I was the only patron there. I thought it was because I arrived early on a Sunday, probably just before noon. I can't say the same for Parker's or Wilburs. I've been to Parker's once and Wilbur's twice, and they were both packed...Which thankfully is a good thing!

"Wilber's" in Goldsboro is 20 miles off I-95, but is at least that much better than the others. "Skyline" is about "Wilber's" equal, but much less convenient to I-95.

I haven't found bad NC BBQ yet (and I have tried plenty), but these 2 stand out for eastern NC style. AND IMHO the Lexington style in Greensboro, Lexington, Shelby, Salisbury, Lenoir and Chapel Hill are better yet.

I lived in Charlotte for several years, but always drove to Shelby, Salisbury or Lexington to get my BBQ fix.

quote:

Originally posted by stanpnepa

However, the winner for us was the following morning's BREAKFAST---a BBQ plate at Wilbur's in Goldsboro. As a matter of fact, I'm staring at the Wilbur's Piggy Bank on my desk right now!

stanpnepa, Your mention of the Wilber's piggy bank reminds me of my first visit to Wilber Shirley's restaurant (August 2, 2000).

I had the pleasure of meeting and enjoying Mr. Shirley's company while I ate my 4th bbq meal that day. He was astonished at my mission, but once I explained I don't get good bbq at home and was making the most of my bbq tour, he understood. I had to wait awhile before eating, though, which gave him a chance to show me his pits, tell me about the business and just visit.

I started that day with slaw, hush puppies, and a que sandwich at Bob Melton's, then had a lunch of que, ribs, and banana pudding at Ed Mitchell's in Wilson. This was followed by a tray (chopped que plus slaw and cornbread) at Pete Jones' Skylight Inn and finally, a que sandwich at Wilbur's. This was 4 meals between 11:30 and 6:00 p.m. I'll never again attempt this much barbeque. Three meals of barbeque in one day is plenty.

I really liked Wilber Shirley and think his restaurant is very worth the detour from I 95 for people wanting to try the very best of eastern style North Carolina barbeque. Wilber's cooks whole pigs over hardwood coals and their sauce is the hot vinegar style. He signed and gave me a Wilber's piggy bank when I left. Said piggy is proudly showcased on a nearby bookcase

I'm glad Hillbilly urged the detour to Wilber's. If one is willing to detour over to Wilson, what is 10 minutes longer to the outskirts of Goldsboro for some of the best que in the whole state?

quote:

Originally posted by hatteras04

Bob Melton's is defintiely closed for good. It made the year end list of the top ten news stories in the Rocky Mount newspaper at the end of last year. I posted a link to it a few weeks back. I would second JimInKY's recommendations of Parker's or Mitchell's as good substitutes.

Thanks for letting us know. I wish I could have made it to the place on the river before Hurricane Floyd. My one meal at the new place compares to what stanpnepa and WJ reported. I was there from 11:30 to 12:15 on a Friday and only a few tables were filled. The slaw was grand as were the just-out-of-the-fryer hush puppies. I had great sweet tea and a wonderful waitress (when I praised the slaw and hush puppies, she brought extra orders of both and wouldn't charge me).

I didn't consider my chopped pork sandwich to be genuine que. Though it lacked smoke flavor, the meat was tender and fresh tasting. I just added a lot of hot salty, vinegar sauce and made the most of it. The que at Melton's was gas cooked pork shoulder. They started cooking with gas long before they left the bank of the Tar. A 3.5 out of 5.0 rating sounds about right.

Bob Garner gave the new place a rather lackluster review in his book, Bob Garner's Guide to North Carolina Barbecue (2002). Garner says Melton's was probably North Carolina's first real, sit-down barbeque restaurant.

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Jim, do me a favor...save me 13 bucks and look up Charlotte for me...I'm only going to be there for a quick weekend in May. Purty pleeeez???

Leesie, I'm doing some digging on Charlotte barbecue because of my own interest in the area, and will get back to this post with an update.

You should know that none of the Charlotte places cook their pork slow and low over hardwood coals. One popular place, mentioned here, misrepresents how they cook their que. Right on the menu they say they cook it over hardwood coals, but they do not.

I'm posting separately about Bridges Barbecue Lodge, a place you may want to visit if you stay over in Charlotte till Monday.

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Jim, do me a favor...save me 13 bucks and look up Charlotte for me...I'm only going to be there for a quick weekend in May. Purty pleeeez???

Leesie, if you want an authentic North Carolina barbeque experience and plan to stay over in Charlotte until Monday, you'll have a rare opportunity – a chance to eat at a North Carolina barbeque treasure that's open on a Sunday. Bridges Barbecue Lodge in nearby Shelby is one of the few, better North Carolina barbecue establishments that are open on Sundays.

In many a barbeque lover's North Carolina ratings, Bridges Barbecue Lodge is a top 3 or top 5 choices. (I personally have trouble ranking my 5 most favorite places for que in North Carolina). The Barbecue Lodge is strongly situated in my Top 4. The Sterns loved the Barbecue Lodge and wrote glowingly about them in the December '94 issue of Gourmet magazine. They included the restaurant in the last 2 dining guides and on the Roadfood.com Web site.

There's another good Bridges barbecue restaurant in Shelby. Yeah, little Shelby, N.C. has two outstanding choices, both with Bridges in their name. But the two families and their restaurants are not connected or related. At any rate, Alston Bridges is closed Sundays.

When I ate at Bridges Barbecue Lodge (2002), I planned on a standard meal, thinking I would hop over to the Alston Bridge's in downtown Shelby for seconds. Visiting two barbecue restaurants on the last evening of vacation was hugely appealing, but I never made it.

The food was so delicious, I couldn't overcome natural tendencies. First, I asked for more of the wonderful hush puppies, and here came another basket (at no charge, by the way). When I had finished the plate of pulled pork with red barbecue slaw, I had to have some more que. So, I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. Their sauce (served warm in cups) is so good, I required a second pulled pork sandwich to continue enjoying it.

So, dinner was: a full bbq plate with fries, slaw and hush puppies, a 2nd basket of hush puppies, two generous bbq sandwiches awash with stunningly good sauce (not that the que needed sauce), and sweet tea. I wasn't too disappointed that I didn't make it to the other barbecue place.

The pulled pork comes from shoulders slowly cooked over wood coals in a pit room adjacent to the restaurant. The day I was there they had cooked 40 shoulders and would sell out. Fortunately, I arrived about 15 minutes before the huge Saturday night rush. It's a real pleasure to eat dinner there, as the ambiance is as wonderful as the food and friendly servers.

The family that owns the Barbecue Lodge are nice people, and one gets the feeling the Shelby community greatly appreciates them. I really enjoyed the conversation I had with daughter, Debbie, on that busy Saturday.

I have no trouble enthusiastically recommending this piece of barbecue heaven to one and all. The barbecue gods tell me to.

And so would North Carolina barbecue authority, Bob Garner. Like the Sterns, he loves the place: "The meat itself is some of the best I have tasted anywhere in North Carolina: moist, sweet, and incredibly tender, while still maintaining its body." He continues, "I recommend ordering your barbecue chopped or sliced – either of which will virtually melt in your mouth. The outside brown meat that's available by special order is as good as you'll find anywhere."

Shelby is about 35 miles from downtown Charlotte. Bridges Barbecue Lodge is at 2000 East Dixon Blvd. (U.S. 74 bypass), just east of Shelby. It is directly across the road from the Cleveland Mall. Lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday (or until the barbecue runs out). Phone number: 704-482-8567. Call ahead for hours of operation and don't go too late.

I live in Wilson & it's hard to not get good BarBQ here. My favorite by just a bit is Mitchell's. Not only is the BarBQ outstanding but you can get a nice variety of other down home treats. disclosure-Ed Mitchell used to be my next door neighbor but I don't think that keeps me from being objective.

quote:

Originally posted by bobthomas18

I live in Wilson & it's hard to not get good BarBQ here. My favorite by just a bit is Mitchell's. Not only is the BarBQ outstanding but you can get a nice variety of other down home treats. disclosure-Ed Mitchell used to be my next door neighbor but I don't think that keeps me from being objective.

As I love and value Mitchell's barbeque and home cooking, I have no questions about your objectivity. I happen to greatly appreciate Ed Mitchell as a person; it's a genuine treat for me to find him there when I'm able to visit. Last August, he was just returning for the supper hour when I pulled in, so I enjoyed another visit with him. And I had a fine meal, too. Alas, they were out of banana pudding. Outside my own family, I don't believe I've had better banana pudding anywhere.

I regularly recommend Mitchell's because they deserve patronage. He's had to complete with some long established and highly popular competition in Wilson and the general area. I'm always pulling for him.

I too have eaten at many of the bbq places mentioned ...... for the last 50 years. I cut my teeth on Parkers corn sticks.
My question is this...do any of these places ship there bbq? I would be willing to buy in bulk.
The only way for me to get it now is to drive 3+ hours each way...which I will do at the drop of a hat.
cwmson

Ive has good Q at Hillbillys. they have a few locals in the charlotte area.

I couln't help but jump in . . . Several Charlotte places are to be recommended: Bubba's at Sunset & I-77; Spoon's on South Blvd south of Tyvola Rd near Exit 5 I-77; Carolina Country on Tyvola near Exit 5 I-77; and Old Hickory House on US 29 (N. Tryon St.) at Tom Hunter Rd. near I-85.

Spoon's is now a second generation (same family) restaurant which gave rise to Bubba's (Bubba Ralph bought Spoon's from the first generation, then changed names, then moved before second generation re-opened in original location with original name). Carolina Country started in Gastonia and branched out into Charlotte. Old Hickory cooks on wood and has a terrific sliced beef brisket with Texas-style sauce as well as pork and a downright authentic Brunswick stew. Eat well.

I happened to have a guy from High Point call here today and I told him I was headed down his way in another month and planning to stop in Lexington to get some BBQ. He told me that Kepley's in High Point is much better in his opinion and preferred by bbq fans. Have any of you tried their bbq? I have found a couple of websites that sing their praises. I'd love to know what y'all think!
http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/jnts-d.htm

I also found the following site with UNC grads talking about who they think has the best!

But I would love to know if Kepleys is one I should try!

OOPS! I forgot that last link.

http://alumni.unc.edu/publications/bulletinlist.asp?reunionType=Barbecue

quote:

Originally posted by JimInKy

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Jim, do me a favor...save me 13 bucks and look up Charlotte for me...I'm only going to be there for a quick weekend in May. Purty pleeeez???

Leesie, if you want an authentic North Carolina barbeque experience and plan to stay over in Charlotte until Monday, you'll have a rare opportunity – a chance to eat at a North Carolina barbeque treasure that's open on a Sunday. Bridges Barbecue Lodge in nearby Shelby is one of the few, better North Carolina barbecue establishments that are open on Sundays.

In many a barbeque lover's North Carolina ratings, Bridges Barbecue Lodge is a top 3 or top 5 choices. (I personally have trouble ranking my 5 most favorite places for que in North Carolina). The Barbecue Lodge is strongly situated in my Top 4. The Sterns loved the Barbecue Lodge and wrote glowingly about them in the December '94 issue of Gourmet magazine. They included the restaurant in the last 2 dining guides and on the Roadfood.com Web site.

There's another good Bridges barbecue restaurant in Shelby. Yeah, little Shelby, N.C. has two outstanding choices, both with Bridges in their name. But the two families and their restaurants are not connected or related. At any rate, Alston Bridges is closed Sundays.

When I ate at Bridges Barbecue Lodge (2002), I planned on a standard meal, thinking I would hop over to the Alston Bridge's in downtown Shelby for seconds. Visiting two barbecue restaurants on the last evening of vacation was hugely appealing, but I never made it.

The food was so delicious, I couldn't overcome natural tendencies. First, I asked for more of the wonderful hush puppies, and here came another basket (at no charge, by the way). When I had finished the plate of pulled pork with red barbecue slaw, I had to have some more que. So, I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. Their sauce (served warm in cups) is so good, I required a second pulled pork sandwich to continue enjoying it.

So, dinner was: a full bbq plate with fries, slaw and hush puppies, a 2nd basket of hush puppies, two generous bbq sandwiches awash with stunningly good sauce (not that the que needed sauce), and sweet tea. I wasn't too disappointed that I didn't make it to the other barbecue place.

The pulled pork comes from shoulders slowly cooked over wood coals in a pit room adjacent to the restaurant. The day I was there they had cooked 40 shoulders and would sell out. Fortunately, I arrived about 15 minutes before the huge Saturday night rush. It's a real pleasure to eat dinner there, as the ambiance is as wonderful as the food and friendly servers.

The family that owns the Barbecue Lodge are nice people, and one gets the feeling the Shelby community greatly appreciates them. I really enjoyed the conversation I had with daughter, Debbie, on that busy Saturday.

I have no trouble enthusiastically recommending this piece of barbecue heaven to one and all. The barbecue gods tell me to.

And so would North Carolina barbecue authority, Bob Garner. Like the Sterns, he loves the place: "The meat itself is some of the best I have tasted anywhere in North Carolina: moist, sweet, and incredibly tender, while still maintaining its body." He continues, "I recommend ordering your barbecue chopped or sliced – either of which will virtually melt in your mouth. The outside brown meat that's available by special order is as good as you'll find anywhere."

Shelby is about 35 miles from downtown Charlotte. Bridges Barbecue Lodge is at 2000 East Dixon Blvd. (U.S. 74 bypass), just east of Shelby. It is directly across the road from the Cleveland Mall. Lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday (or until the barbecue runs out). Phone number: 704-482-8567. Call ahead for hours of operation and don't go too late.

I had lunch today at Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby. I discovered it quite by accident, driving by, and realizing I was hungry, and the place looked so interesting I stopped in. In busines since 1946. The Q is top notch for sure and the atmosphere is open and homey. In addition to Q, the menu consists of pimiento cheese sandwich, egg salad sandwich, hamburger, LT & BLT. I got a BBQ plate with the BBQ slaw and hush puppies.
They had a new guide to Carolina BBQ and I asked the owner where he rated in the book. He said,"some people say we're #1. Bob Garner, when he judges the BBQ contest held every year, stops and eats here on his way home".

We ate at Bridges on 74 and was not impressed. The locals tell us the other Bridges (no kin) is better. Haven't treid it yet. Maybe Bob judged there once, but don't think he has in a while. We have been cooking at the contest for the last 9 years, know most all the judges and have never seen him there.

quote:

Originally posted by Raine

We ate at Bridges on 74 and was not impressed. The locals tell us the other Bridges (no kin) is better. Haven't treid it yet. Maybe Bob judged there once, but don't think he has in a while. We have been cooking at the contest for the last 9 years, know most all the judges and have never seen him there.

Given your knowledge of BBQ, what are your favorite places?

Well, haven't eaten at all of them. When not cooking it ourselves we go to Lexington #1. There are a couple other places in Lexington that my husband has also eaten at.

Around Charlotte, about the only place we go is Smokehouse. Hillbilly in Gastonia isn't bad, last time we ate there. However that has been a while.

I really liked Mitchells in Wilson but heard on another forum here and on chowhounds that it is closed. The best place I have been to by far is Wilbers in Goldsboro. It is a little more out of the way for me when driving to and from the outer banks but it is definitely worth the extra time.

I am so sad to see that Mitchells is closed. Their food was wonderful. Ed Mitchell was supposed to be up here in NY for the bbq festival in June- I wonder if that is history too.

In regard to Parker's- I found that their fried chicken was even more popular than it's barbeque. It was delicious.

For great NC barbeque- go to either Wilbur's or Lexington #1. Go to both!.... just don't eat all the side dishes to save some room.

(Lamenting the fact that Mitchells has closed. No more banana pudding. Sighs!)