"Note the amber nugget to the bottom left of this close-up picture of Short Sugar's chopped pork. That's a chewy-crunchy piece of skin that provides such a nice contrast to the velvety moistness of the meat."
Michael Stern
"Trays are small, but they pack a lot of meat. While Short Sugar's pork is also available minced or sliced, chopped is definitely the way to go. The slaw is swell: bright, fresh and crunchy. Not shown: hushpuppies that are part of the tray configuration (see photo below)."
Michael Stern
"Hushpuppies are an essential side dish for barbecue in this part of North Carolina."
Michael Stern
"Short Sugar's opened as a hamburger drive-in in 1949. Not much has changed in the last half century."
Michael Stern
"Always a good sign: the image of a pig in a barbecue parlor. This oinker hangs from the ceiling above the take-out counter."
Michael Stern
"While barbecue is definitely the first thing to try on Short Sugar's menu, the chili dog should not be ignored. It is quintessential cheap eats."
Michael Stern
"Our one disappointment at Short Sugar's: pork tenderloin on a biscuit. The biscuit was undistinguished and the pork tasted pre-fab."
Michael Stern
"Known on the Short Sugar's menu simply as 'stew', this Brunswick Stew is the perfect side for a plate of North Carolina barbecue."
Cliff Strutz