Time for some BBQ discussions

[MtnMan09]

What I've learned from this post is that we must not have any Apps living in ENC. A whole two pages of posts and not a mention of a down east BBQ joint. IMO that's a high crime.

If we are talking ultimate best B's BBQ in Greenville or Skylight in Ayden. A couple rungs back down the ladder Wilburs in Goldsboro or Coopers in Raleigh (for city bbq).

But if you've got the patience a whole hog from the Nahunta Pork Center on the smoker in the back yard is a good day as well.

[1ASU78]

I'm in whole hog but will shoulder the load as well. I love good BBQ. For Triangle & RTP the absolute best I've found is Johnson Family BBQ on Hwy 98 near Durham. Smoked & pulled. Great mayo and vinegar slaw. No sauce on meat but sauce is more eastern style. I like something between east and west style sauce. Danny's in the Triangle not good. Brisket not bad. City BBQ, pork nothing to write home about. Smoked chicken is good. They have sauces that are supposed to cover all areas of NC. Smokeys on hwy 54 Morrisville was owned by a Tenn. guy (may be still don't know) pretty good. Huey's in Mebane pretty good.

[Chaz]

I grew up in Albemarle and now live in Concord but also work in Charlotte. Within the Charlotte city limits, I haven't found a single proper Lexington style BBQ. I worked with a bunch of folks from Connecticut who would always ask for recommendations on BBQ in Charlotte, and I couldn't, in good faith, recommend anything to them. Kyle Fletcher's in Gastonia is very good. In Concord, many people swear by The Smoke Pit. It's not bad, but I compare it to the other fancy BBQ joints in Charlotte. In Albemarle, your choices are Log Cabin and Whispering Pines. I prefer the Q, slaw and pups at Log Cabin, but Whispering Pines has the better sauce (dip). My favorite Lexington joints are Smiley's and BBQ Center. Also, if you eat white slaw with your BBQ, please excuse yourself from the conversation.

[CharlestonAppFan]

I grew up in the big metropolis of Lenoir and Hannah's BBQ was a staple in our family when we didn't cook our own at our camping place on John's River in Colletsville.

Now I live in Charleston and there is some amazing new BBQ places down here. This place is becoming the new trendy American food city, and for good reason, especially BBQ. If you haven't come down here in a while (or ever), don't be afraid to try some good ol' Q (my favorite is Swig & Swine in West Ashley).

No one has really mentioned SC BBQ (except for 1 poster), but being a traveling salesman, I've found a gem in Shealy's BBQ in Leesville (just 15-20 miles south of Columbia/Lexington area). Albeit, they have that nasty "yeller mus-turd" sauce, but they do have an Eastern NC style pepper vinegar sauce that's probably the best I've had! If we can ever schedule a game with SC, then we can all make it down that way.

[ASU84]

I grew up in Albemarle and now live in Concord but also work in Charlotte. Within the Charlotte city limits, I haven't found a single proper Lexington style BBQ. I worked with a bunch of folks from Connecticut who would always ask for recommendations on BBQ in Charlotte, and I couldn't, in good faith, recommend anything to them. Kyle Fletcher's in Gastonia is very good. In Concord, many people swear by The Smoke Pit. It's not bad, but I compare it to the other fancy BBQ joints in Charlotte. In Albemarle, your choices are Log Cabin and Whispering Pines. I prefer the Q, slaw and pups at Log Cabin, but Whispering Pines has the better sauce (dip). My favorite Lexington joints are Smiley's and BBQ Center. Also, if you eat white slaw with your BBQ, please excuse yourself from the conversation.

I live just north of Lexington in Welcome. I would also recommend Lexington BBQ(The Honey Monk), and Speedy's most days. If you have not tried Little Richard's just outside Winston Salem, I would highly suggest it. Excellent BBQ chopped, course chopped or sliced.

[The Rock]

OK - let me ask it this way - If I sat down with 2 plates of unknown source BBQ in front of me - and in actuality one was from Woodlands and the other from Lexington - What would be the differences?

I haven't been to woodlands in a long time, and can't remember exactly what their BBQ is like, but here are my observations of lexington BBQ vs. BBQ:
Texture of meat. Lexington BBQ don't cook the meat until it falls off the bone. They smoke it till it's done and chop it. Other BBQ cooks till it falls off the bone and then "pull" it.

Flavor- Lexington BBQ cooks shoulders over hickory coals giving a noticeable but subtle smoke flavor. May other BBQ places cook Boston butts in a gas cooker and add smoke chips. This leads to a stronger smoke flavor that can over power the meat flavor sometimes.
Sauce- lexington BBQ has "dip" which is a ketchup and vinegar base that is thin. Other BBQ has sauces which are thick, often smokey in flavor.
Slaw- Lexington BBQ comes with red slaw. You don't have to ask for it, you don't have to specify what color slaw. If it's a tray, red slaw is right beside of it. If it's a sandwich red slaw comes in too. Other BBQ often doesn't come with slaw, and has to be ordered as a side. Then often, cole slaw is the only choice.

[fjblair]

Lexington BBQ = "then monk"

That and woodlands totally different styles. Being from lexington originally, there is no comparrison between the 2 styles.
Personally I like the BBQ center a little better than the monk. Speedy's and Backcountry are also really good

Add Cooks to those and you really can't go wrong. After growing up in Winston-Salem it's hard living in Charlotte with a bunch of big city Que joints that are all too focused on being fancy or creative instead of doing the basics right. Plus the city basically won't let anyone smoke meats in the city limits now.

Ever been to Speedy Lohr's? Read some good things about it recently.

The end is near.

[Gonzo]

I'm with Yahoo Travel:

http://abc11.com/973228/http%3A%2F%2Fab ... F973228%2F

Back Yard Pit is the best pulled pork (and mac and cheese) in this great state in my opinion.

I live in Charlotte now. For all the wonderful things in this city there isn't a single decent BBQ place. MidWood smokehouse is OK. Love their sides, but their pulled pork wouldn't make my top 10 in Raleigh/Durham/Lexington.

[fjblair]

Woodlands is a sentimental favorite, although I can't understand why they are emphasizing their Mexican menu. I'm sure it's good, but when I smell that smoke, I can't think of anything but the cue.

Whispering Pines in Albemarle used to be very good, but haven't been there in a while.

I'm curious about what you mean by "emphasizing". The burritos, nachos etc, have been on the menu since the beginning.

[Gonzo]

Did anyone ever hear about the big NASCAR group photo in Woodlands where one of the men pictured has his penis out?

It was a thing of lore (pun intended) when I was in school. I laid eyes on it once, but I think they may have since darkened it out with an ink pen.

[JTApps1]

Did anyone ever hear about the big NASCAR group photo in Woodlands where one of the men pictured has his penis out?

It was a thing of lore (pun intended) when I was in school. I laid eyes on it once, but I think they may have since darkened it out with an ink pen.

That was the poster for the first Winston (now All Star) race. The guy in question was driver Tim Richmond who was a party boy who started in open wheeled racing. He died in 1987 from Aids. A number of the original posters were made before some caught it. They edited the photo then re-released, but originals are still floating around. Can you imagine the uproar if that happened today?!?!?!

[MAD Doctor]

Woodlands is a sentimental favorite, although I can't understand why they are emphasizing their Mexican menu. I'm sure it's good, but when I smell that smoke, I can't think of anything but the cue.

Whispering Pines in Albemarle used to be very good, but haven't been there in a while.

I'm curious about what you mean by "emphasizing". The burritos, nachos etc, have been on the menu since the beginning.

I'm not in any way saying they are "emphasizing" the Mexican over the barbecue.It just just seems to me I'm noticing more space on the menu (may just be my perception), and I saw a print ad mentioning it. Also, I recently had them cater my son's wedding rehearsal dinner and when I called to order, they mentioned a Mexican buffet- Uh, no!
BTW, I highly recommend their catering. Awesome food and service.

[ukappfan]

Prissy Polly's in Kernersville is really good. They also have both types of sauces.

[Appsolutely]

Not that National Geographic is necessarily a reliable source for BBQ information, but I think they nailed this one.

http://myfox8.com/2017/05/27/2-lexingto ... -magazine/

[BUTCH1991]

I grew up in Albemarle and now live in Concord but also work in Charlotte. Within the Charlotte city limits, I haven't found a single proper Lexington style BBQ. I worked with a bunch of folks from Connecticut who would always ask for recommendations on BBQ in Charlotte, and I couldn't, in good faith, recommend anything to them. Kyle Fletcher's in Gastonia is very good. In Concord, many people swear by The Smoke Pit. It's not bad, but I compare it to the other fancy BBQ joints in Charlotte. In Albemarle, your choices are Log Cabin and Whispering Pines. I prefer the Q, slaw and pups at Log Cabin, but Whispering Pines has the better sauce (dip). My favorite Lexington joints are Smiley's and BBQ Center. Also, if you eat white slaw with your BBQ, please excuse yourself from the conversation.

My son played in a showcase tournament this past weekend at Pfeiffer, so we tried out Whispering Pines on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, we left disappointed. Plenty of food, just wasn't very good in our opinion. It didn't help that it was 77 degrees in the building. Plus, you could tell portions of the food had been re-cooked and wasn't fresh.

[Apptiger]

Q Talk -
For those around Charlotte- Try Spoon's on South Blvd. Eastern style, whole hog. Maybe Bubba's on Sunset Rd. the north end. Bill spoon trained Bubba before he passed.
Lexington and Monks- Family stopped at Lexington more so I have to give it the nod.
Bridges in Shelby- maybe the best hush puppies on earth.
Woodlands- Of course
Wilbur's- Goldsboro
The Pit - Raleigh - was a bit inconsistent.
Fuzzy's- Madison agree it ain't what it used to be but Fuzzy's son took over the restaurant again. May be improved.
Parker's and B's - Greenville
King's - Kinston ( with a nod to the defunct BBQ Lodge)
Haven't been to some of these in decades but oh the memories.....

If you find yourself in west central Florida,
Johnson's BBQ - Plant City
!st choice - Tampa/ Brandon
It ain't home but it'll do.. for now

[Chaz]

I grew up in Albemarle and now live in Concord but also work in Charlotte. Within the Charlotte city limits, I haven't found a single proper Lexington style BBQ. I worked with a bunch of folks from Connecticut who would always ask for recommendations on BBQ in Charlotte, and I couldn't, in good faith, recommend anything to them. Kyle Fletcher's in Gastonia is very good. In Concord, many people swear by The Smoke Pit. It's not bad, but I compare it to the other fancy BBQ joints in Charlotte. In Albemarle, your choices are Log Cabin and Whispering Pines. I prefer the Q, slaw and pups at Log Cabin, but Whispering Pines has the better sauce (dip). My favorite Lexington joints are Smiley's and BBQ Center. Also, if you eat white slaw with your BBQ, please excuse yourself from the conversation.

My son played in a showcase tournament this past weekend at Pfeiffer, so we tried out Whispering Pines on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, we left disappointed. Plenty of food, just wasn't very good in our opinion. It didn't help that it was 77 degrees in the building. Plus, you could tell portions of the food had been re-cooked and wasn't fresh.

I hate to hear that, but it's not surprising. Whispering Pines is loved by many, but I can't say that I'm one of them. We recently had a BBQ dinner catered for my wife's graduation, and we bought a gallon of sauce from the Pines. Other than the sauce, I'll pass.

[NoLongerLurking]

Lexington is best, as long as you go to the correct place. I grew up on Cook's hidden back near High Rock Lake in Southmont/Lexington....... they are pretty much perfect. Those hushpuppies, too. Now I'm considering driving 2 hours for dinner.

[goapps]

Gary's BBQ in, someone 'cue' up the Doobie Brothers...........China Grove.

[scatman77]

Gary's BBQ in, someone 'cue' up the Doobie Brothers...........China Grove.

I have found a little place between Florence and Dillon (no, not South of the Border!). It's called Shuler's; family owned, home slow cooked Q, and a nice buffet where you can get other non-traditional BBQ fixings: pintos, roasted corn, fried chicken, mac and cheese. They don't have red BBQ slaw (that hurts the rating for me) but the pulled pork is quite tasty. No sauces on it other than cooked in vinegar base. One more thing: the collards are outstanding.