Raleigh BBQ

[dukelenoir]

Will be in Raleigh early November for granddaughter’s soccer tournament
Where is best bbq? Have seen The Pit with great reviews
Thanks for any advice

[ClemmonsDevil]

https://thisisraleigh.com/best-bbq-in-raleigh/

Sam Jones is a legendary figure. The Pit is good. Not great.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Jump on I-40 and head over to Durham. Backyard BBQ Pit on Hwy 55 is the only “Pit” you should visit.

[CameronDuke]

The Pit is good. But if you want eastern style gotta drive East to Parker’s BBQ in Wilson. Best I know of.

[Section 15]

The Pit is good. But if you want eastern style gotta drive East to Parker’s BBQ in Wilson. Best I know of.

I grew up on Parker's back when you could only find Eastern (aka "real") BBQ east of Raleigh. Realistically, I have to admit that there are many more venues that produce acceptable barbeque now than there were back then. Still, its nice to see someone acknowledge a real touchstone of true BBQness. CD, my memory thanks you.

Section 15

[mpj96]

I grew up on Parker's back when you could only find Eastern (aka "real") BBQ east of Raleigh. Realistically, I have to admit that there are many more venues that produce acceptable barbeque now than there were back then. Still, its nice to see someone acknowledge a real touchstone of true BBQness. CD, my memory thanks you.

Section 15

Plus cornbread sticks!

[roge054]

Smokey's just off 540 in Morrisville is awesome. You could drive by without noticing. Focus is on food not decor. Looks like it could fall down at any minute.
Very popular with RTP crowd.

[moonpie23]

vinegar on a pig is not BBQ...it's just sour pig...

if you're looking for something OTHER than sour pig, i suggest City BBQ in Cary (a small crossroads just outside of Raleigh) they have excellent smoked meats with a variety of sauces to apply.

if you want REAL BBQ, as mentioned before, you'll need a plane...

[Acymetric]

^Surely this is a violation of forum policy.

[moonpie23]

^Surely this is a violation of forum policy.

don't kill the messenger

[sagegrouse]

Smokey's just off 540 in Morrisville is awesome. You could drive by without noticing. Focus is on food not decor. Looks like it could fall down at any minute.
Very popular with RTP crowd.

From its web site:

Well, it is often said all good things must come to an end. It has been a great 14+ years serving you BBQ and fixins and getting to know you! Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to make the difficult decision to close operations on Friday, September 3, 2021.

[Section 15]

Plus cornbread sticks!

Only if you want to break your teeth! Those things are hard and virtually inedible. Think they would make good construction material. Mrs Section 15 (who won't eat meat) tried the fried flounder at Parker's once and now refuses to ever go back. Said it tasted like cardboard. I wouldn't know as the only reason to go to a real BBQ place is for the Q and the slaw, and maybe the sweet tea. Anyone who thinks that sides or deserts are part of the experience, just doesn't understand.

And that goes double for any sauce other than red pepper soaked apple cider vinegar. The point of it is to cut the grease in the meat, not to obscure the taste of the whole hog. All those sweet, clammy, gooey concoctions that people slather on their meat either just hide badly cooked BBQ or shows that the person eating it doesn't really like BBQ. Anything else is heresy. (and moonpie, I will pray for you)

I have spoken (well... written)

Section 15

[mpj96]

Only if you want to break your teeth! Those things are hard and virtually inedible. Think they would make good construction material. Mrs Section 15 (who won't eat meat) tried the fried flounder at Parker's once and now refuses to ever go back. Said it tasted like cardboard. I wouldn't know as the only reason to go to a real BBQ place is for the Q and the slaw, and maybe the sweet tea. Anyone who thinks that sides or deserts are part of the experience, just doesn't understand.

Strongly disagree although the greater weight of evidence (glaring lack of cornbread sticks outside the Wilson - Rocky Mount area) militates in your favor and in my opinion condemns the masses to a less flavorful, albeit more healthy, existence.

Grew up visiting family in Wilson and we'd usually get bbq and fried chicken from Parkers along with cornbread sticks at least one night when the grown ups were tired of cooking. There are two kinds of cornbread sticks - the first is warm and crunchy at the ends but soft and hotter in the middle. The second derives from the same white greasy bag and leftover in the fridge from the night before. A kind of bbq fugue and variation on a theme by cold pizza.. Both are good but the second requires a little experience to educate the palate.

Section 15, your appreciation of Parkers does you credit, but your judgment on sides in general and cornbread sticks in particular makes me question that old French maxim about defending one's right to expression however distasteful the expression might be. Different strokes, I suppose. More sides for me please and thank you.

[Section 15]

Strongly disagree although the greater weight of evidence (glaring lack of cornbread sticks outside the Wilson - Rocky Mount area) militates in your favor and in my opinion condemns the masses to a less flavorful, albeit more healthy, existence.

Grew up visiting family in Wilson and we'd usually get bbq and fried chicken from Parkers along with cornbread sticks at least one night when the grown ups were tired of cooking. There are two kinds of cornbread sticks - the first is warm and crunchy at the ends but soft and hotter in the middle. The second derives from the same white greasy bag and leftover in the fridge from the night before. A kind of bbq fugue and variation on a theme by cold pizza.. Both are good but the second requires a little experience to educate the palate.

Section 15, your appreciation of Parkers does you credit, but your judgment on sides in general and cornbread sticks in particular makes me question that old French maxim about defending one's right to expression however distasteful the expression might be. Different strokes, I suppose. More sides for me please and thank you.

Won't argue with you (different strokes and all). Perhaps I am just a militant minimalist and only want to consume what the house does best. In fact, I would posit that a place that branches out too much into non-BBQ items isn't sticking close enough to its knitting. I would worry that they aren't paying enough attention to their true purpose.

Parker's story: A waiter there once told me that when he approached a table and was asked for a menu, he knew that the customers weren't local. The only real choice was whether you wanted a plate or a dinner, or maybe a sandwich if it was lunch time. Of course that was before the interstate and 301 funneled all the New York to Florida traffic past Parker's.

Yours in Parker's BBQ,
Section 15

[weezie]

Plus cornbread sticks!

Hah! Just made those tonight to go with Monday Red Beans and Rice.

[mpj96]

Hah! Just made those tonight to go with Monday Red Beans and Rice.

Now that sounds like a GREAT meal!

[Acymetric]

https://thisisraleigh.com/best-bbq-in-raleigh/

Sam Jones is a legendary figure. The Pit is good. Not great.

That list included Olde Time BBQ, so it has credibility with me (that would be my recommendation, although the address might technically be Cary, it is right on the border).

[ClemmonsDevil]

That list included Olde Time BBQ, so it has credibility with me (that would be my recommendation, although the address might technically be Cary, it is right on the border).

Never been, but thanks for sharing.

[ClemmonsDevil]

Dude. Guys. Stick to Raleigh. Focus here people.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Dude. Guys. Stick to Raleigh. Focus here people.

I don’t know of good BBQ in Raleigh. If there is some, The Pit definitely ain’t it.