Parker's

Highway 301, Wilson, NC - (252) 237-0972

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Posted By David McCarthy on 7/7/2008 6:16:00 PM

Parker's is a great classic BBQ place in eastern NC. Some have said it is the best of the Eastern Carolinas BBQ places. Some BBQ places go the route of buffets but Parkers goes with the family-style, all-you-can-eat method (which in my book makes for fresher food). The menu is small but we knew we were going for the family-style option, so I didnt look at the other options closely. Note that it is an all-or-nothing option for the table: the entire table must order family-style.

The family-style comes with two pieces of fried chicken per person, chopped Carolina-style pork BBQ, slaw, Brunswick stew, boiled potatoes, hush puppies, and corn bread sticks. All except for the chicken is all-you-can-eat. We were really there for the pork but the fried chicken was equal to or better than the BBQ. This is classic fried chicken, crispy but really hot and moist on the inside (the wings are especially good).

The chopped pork is minced with some dark smoky pieces still visible. The vinegar sauce is mild (extra is available on the table). We usually opt for sandwiches so we asked for rolls and heaped the pork and slaw together. Hush puppies were hot and sweet and the boiled potatoes where good, with less butter and more spice than other places. Misses were the corn sticks and the Brunswick stew. The corn sticks were hard and cold. The Brunswick stew was too thick and pasty. We prefer a little more soupy stew but this may be a personal preference.

Overall, we came for the pork and got a great bonus in the fried chicken. You can also order most of the items in bulk to go. We picked up two pounds of pork BBQ to take back in the cooler on the six hour ride home.

Scorecard

Overall: Excellent - Worth a Detour

Rate this place

"Excellent chopped pork ... sided by hearty Brunswick stew and boiled potatoes. The latter are a favored BBQ side dish hereabouts."
Michael Stern

"Fried chicken livers are a food that most people either love or hate. If you are in the former category, you will like these: big, crusty, and radiant with organ-meat savor."
Michael Stern

"If you order Parker's first-rate sweet tea, you will get an entire pitcher."
Cliff Strutz

"On the side of our barbecue plate came these tubular hushpuppies and corn sticks. Good for crunching while dining on BBQ and Brunswick stew."
Michael Stern

"Cole Slaw is a vital ingredient of BBQ meals in eastern North Carolina. Parker's is bright and refreshing, the way it ought to be."
Michael Stern

"Sauce is not a big deal on this style of barbecue, but if you want to add a little spice to your meat, Parker's does provide a couple of choices: a peppery brew and straight vinegar."
Michael Stern

"Parker's serves an all-you-can-eat meal that includes their amazing fried chicken, chopped bbq, boiled potatoes, cole slaw, brunswick stew, corn sticks, and hush puppies."
Matthew Sadler

"Parker's is a huge place, its tables lined up for serious BBQ eating."
Michael Stern

"For nearly 60 years, Parker's has been a favorite restaurant among locals; and since the interstate was built, a beacon for travelers in search of local food."
Michael Stern

"Since Parker's can get extremely busy, you can pick up take-out behind the building."
Cliff Strutz