Unknown BBQ Joints
This is a request for some of the less publicized but equally as good BBQ joints in the triangle.
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I had mentioned Ken's Grill in LaGrange, NC in an earlier post on this thread.
Another place, somewhat closer, is Moore's BBQ in Kenly. While not too much to look at, it is truly an excellent eastern NC bbq joint. Definitely worth a drive down there, so much so we're headed that way from Raleigh on Friday...
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re: steveindurham2
One place I 've found recently in Durham that I think is as good as any for eastern NC style bbq is Hog Heaven.... wish I'd found it long before now. To me it's the best in Durham. Fried chicken is also good, and their chicken pastry (dumplings to some of you) is outstanding...
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Well it's not in the triangle, Greenville rather, just outside of town, B's bbq had the best bbq I've ever tasted (haven't been back to greenville since I graduated from ECU in '94 but I assume it's still just as good)... you had to get there really early because they sold out quickly and then closed for the rest of the day. Little hole in the wall of a joint, but never judge a book by it's cover!
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I agree with some of the other posters that there are unlikely to be many if any unknown or undiscovered bbq restaurants in and around the immediate Triangle area. Although this may be a bit off topic, in an effort to ferret out some quality bbq when the traditional bbq joints are not convenient, I am interested in hearing recommendations of non-bbq restaurants in the Triangle that serve high quality pork bbq sandwiches.
I will open up with a recommendation for the version served at The Raleigh Times Bar. No, it's not the same as going to Coopers but it's still a very good (albeit different) bbq sandwich.
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Of the unknowns (or at least less known) I would second both Holdens in Youngville and Stephenson's in McGees Crossroad (Hwy 50 between Garner and Benson). I also like Coopers in downtown Raleigh. I used to be a big fan of Barbeque Lodge (Raleigh on Capital Blvd. at Mini CIty) for many years. Back when Don Murray owned and operated it we frequented often and used their catering many times. Later one or more of his sons ran it, but it is now under new management. The last two trips were something different. The last time (literally) I had to leave it on the plate. Squishy (mash down on the spongy pile of meat and vinegary grease runs out), greasy and only a taste of the vinegar - no taste of the meat or anything resembling a smokey flavor. A real shame as it was the closest barbeque place to home.
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re: N2Chow
If you want some bbq worth a drive, go to LaGrange (NC) on either Wednesday or Saturday, to Ken's Grill on US 70 East. Those are the only 2 days they cook bbq, but it is worth the drive. You need to be there early because it tends to sell out quickly.
You won't be disappointed.
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OrganicGal
Feb 25, 2007 10:23 AM
Quick report back on the weekend Q/motorcycle trip. Didn't make it to Grady's, needed to stay closer to home due to this, that, and the other family emergency that kept cropping up. But, we did get out in late afternoon. Stopped at Stephenson's, just north of McGee's Crossroads (south of Garner on Hwy 50 very close to Raleigh). It was a pretty busy night, when we came in at abot 6 there was only 1 table open. I thought that was a pretty good sign, and it was.
Mr. Organic got the large pork plate, with steamed cabbage and spiced apples. They have ribs on weekends, so I got that with green beans and fries. We planned on sharing, so didn't want to get the same thing. I didn't see greens listed as a side, I'd been craving collards, but no such luck. The ribs were over-sauced, as ribs all too often are, but the sauce wasn't a Kansas City style or Texas style smoky tomato sauce. It was tomato-y, but also vinegar-y, like they took their normal sauce, added some stuff, including tomato paste or ketchup, and used that for the ribs. Not too bad, and a really nice switch from the normal rib sauce...more in line with what I think of as Carolina Q. Green beans were straight out of a can, and the fries had spent too long under a heat lamp.
The Q was pretty good. Nice smoky flavor, and a really light touch with the sauce. The flavor of the pork really stood out instead of the vinegar/pepper tang. The cabbage was pretty good too, tender without being mushy, and lots of pepper. Didn't taste the apples, but they got a thumbs up when I asked.
Both meals came with hushpuppies (of course!), a basket was brought out. When we got them, they were piping hot, and light and tender. Good puppies! I will admit I'm weird and like to dip my HP in honey, these would have been perfect like that.
No liquor license, but if you order tea, they leave not only a pitcher on the table for you to refill at your leisure, they also leave an insulated container of crushed ice, so you can re-add ice as well as tea. If you have someone that wants unsweet tea, they have pitchers of that as well...keep in mind blue pitchers are unsweet, green is sweet. Kind of a rude awakening if you don't know and grab the wrong one!
Overall, pretty good meat, and average-to-below sides. I'd go back if we were in the area, but not sure I'd make a special trip, since there's good options closer by.›1 Reply -
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rossgrady
Feb 21, 2007 05:59 PM
Many of the ones I've seen listed so far I wouldn't consider to be "unknown," particularly the Triangle ones. However, if you're looking for "unknown" ones, you can't expect folks to be able to provide full reports in advance ;-)
I would probably go out on a limb and suggest that, given the quantity of Q-hounds on this board, any BBQ place in the Triangle that hasn't been mentioned to death is probably not worth driving more than 5-10 minutes to check out. I've read about the "destination" joints dozens of times each here, and I suspect places that haven't come up that often are more like neighborhood joints, good enough for a quick bite, but not worth the drive.
Having said that, if you're up for a trek to/around Durham, you might could check out AW's Pit BBQ (formerly Lewis Family BBQ, and I should mention, currently for sale again) on highway 55 about a half-mile south of where it crosses highway 54. I don't recommend their pork, but they do weird & interesting stuff with beef.
You might could also check out Hog Heaven, which is on Guess Road in Durham, next to the vietnamese restaurant, just south of I-85. I've only ever had their ribs, which weren't outstanding, but it was my mistake to not try their chopped pork first. I need to go back & rectify that.
Oh yeah: the guy wasn't kidding when he said Rub's is only open 11-3 M-F. Don't head out there this weekend or you'll be disappointed.
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re: rossgrady
Thanks for thte response. I am new to the Chowboards, I will check previous posts about Q. I have looked at some of the previous posts and it seems that the same places are mentioned with endorsement. It also appeared that most of these are in Durham, I was hoping for some suggestions closer to Raleigh. I guess I will have to make the drive for some good Q. Thanks again.
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re: Raleigh Guy
rossgrady
Feb 22, 2007 05:01 AM
Well, to be honest, I think if there's a possibility of finding some unheralded BBQ, it's probably in/around the outskirts of Raleigh (Garner, Knightdale, etc) . . . it seems there's a lot of activity on the South board from Chapel Hill & Durham-ites, compared to that from Raleigh/Caryites, at least expressed as a function of population.
If you haven't been to Clyde Coopers in downtown Raleigh, that's a place to start, and even though Dixie Belle's is in an old Hardees or something & has the vibe to match, I thought the Q wasn't bad. Not worth driving more than 15 minutes for, maybe, but if you're in the neighborhood.
Generally speaking, though, even if you factor in the wildly conflicting views of the different sects, the "top rank" BBQ in the Triangle may include the Chapel Hill Allen & Sons, Bullocks, and not much else. I fall on the side of those who wouldn't include Bullocks on that list, but if you look at the recent & still-running NC BBQ thread, you'll see that a lot of folks will defend it to the death.
The next notch below, of respectable hometown BBQ you could take your out of town friends to, might include the BBQ Joint, the Q Shack, Coopers . . . and here's where I think we need *you* to hit the back-roads of rural Wake County to fill in the holes ;-)
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Allen and Sons in Chapel Hill, BBQ Joint in Chapel Hill, BBQ Lodge in Raleigh, Bullocks in Durham, DixieBelles in Apex.
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re: Raleigh Guy
I have only been to Allen and sons once and to BBQ Joint once (it was featured on Rachel Rays $40 a day). Bullocks -- BBQ plus a variety of menu items. Def. gives you the mom and pop feel -- hushpuppies are very good. They only take cash so be warned and the lines can get long. Dixiebelles - good eastern style (vinegar) - I think it is more pulled than chopped - BBQ and fried chicken also a variety of sides, good hushpuppies. BBQ lodge - haven't been there in a while but eastern style BBQ (chopped) with slaw, hushpuppies, fries.
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Old Time was nothing to write home about. Not worth a second visit, IMO.
Holden's in Youngsville definitely has good cue but they have a special place in me heart because, on the stressful day before Thanksgiving, their prototypical Southern restaurant waitress, bless her heart, cheerfully served me a plate of chicken and dumplings, one of the best homey comfort foods known to mankind. And they're certainly closer than Goldsboro, although OrganicGal, getting the bikes out and road tripping sounds like a good idea.
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OrganicGal
Feb 21, 2007 07:07 AM
I haven't heard many mentions of Old Time BBQ in Raleigh. It's on Hillsborough St. as you're going toward Cary. I haven't been there myself, and have heard up and down comments. One of the most common comments is surly service. But, then again, it's a barbecue joint, not a white-linen place.
If you're willing to drive, and you haven't tried it yet, there's Grady's south of Goldsboro, near Mount Olive (probably about an hour, hour and a half from Raleigh), still cooking with wood, not gas, and amazing sides. Since the weekend is supposed to be beautiful, Mr. Organic and I have been talking about getting the motorcycle out Saturday and heading out there for lunch.
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Rub's in Morrisville probably fits. Their hours are quirky. Only open from 11-3 on weekdays.
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re: Raleigh Guy
They're only open open on weekdays, and even then not int he evenings. I've expressed my dismay about this to Kevin but he says that he does better by doing catering events on evenings and weekends.
I mostly frequent Allen & Son and the Barbeque Joint in Chapel Hill since they are so close to my house. Not sure if they quality are unknown BBQ joints though.
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