Meh. When you need to be aggressive with a knife to get thru a rack of ribs, things aren't great. They didn't promise "fall off the bone" so I can't expect that, but most places I get ribs they just tear apart. This took work, and the mass of BBQ sauce slathered on makes the surgery a mess. So, that was a bummer. The tots lack creativity or any sort of seasoning which seems like an easy upgrade and a crowd pleaser. Oh well. Maybe I got there in a bad day, but if this is standard then I can't see not going to Noble Smoke next time I need ribs. read more

Smoked Wings (5/5): MAJOR redemption for Mac's. These were probably the best smoked wings I've ever had. Super smoky flavor, incredibly tender (the meat slides off the bone), and very juicy. The sauces were also both delicious. I liked the Carolina BBQ slightly more than the VTX. The only thing that could've made this any better is if they were also crispy on the outside. Down South Eggrolls (4/5): I love an eggroll, and these were solid. Very crispy shell but the inside tasted mostly just like mac and cheese. I couldn't even tell there was pulled pork in it... The sauce was also very good. Sweet and tangy. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Smoked Wings (5/5) - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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4.5/5 really great sports bar! Love Mac's! Tons of parking in South End which isn't always the case. TVs everywhere and the staff is willing to change the channel on some of them to make sure you get to see your game. Food here is always great. Pulled pork, egg rolls, hushpuppies, etc. They do such a great job. My personal favorite is the pulled pork plate. It's always perfectly cooked and comes with a side and bread. Highly recommend if you're looking to support a local BBQ joint in the South End area. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - BBQ pulled pork plater with Mac n Cheese Side and Fried Okra Side - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I love the atmosphere! The patio is heated with the window doors closed, so it's a perfect view for a chilly night. The bartender Gillian was very sweet and fun to chat with. The portions are great. I enjoyed their Caesar salad. I'm interested to come back and try their other entrees. It was slow, but I imagine it gets crowded during the summer. I'll have to come back and sit outside when the weather is warm. Their prices are reasonable, especially for the sides! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - NC Western and Caesar Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food was good. The burger was really tasty. It was cooked well and it didn't lack it all for flavor. The mac & cheese was excellent! The noodles were cooked well it had a great depth of flavor. I thought they had good cheese and spice throughout. Service was a little lacking. I never received silverware and my server didn't check back with me until I was practically done with my food. It's a nice restaurant inside well decorated and inviting. I think I must've caught them at the end of a rough shift. Hopefully next time things will be a little bit better. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Tavern burger - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I love this place! We are from out of town and this was the perfect place to have dinner! The food was absolutely amazing and our waitress Jillian was so kind and attentive! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - M.A.C MAC Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Bartenders and servers spend too much time congregating together at the server stations while customers wait either at the bar or tables. Slow to acknowledge customers. Lack of awareness to the seating area. read more

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I brought my friend to Mac's Speed Shop to celebrate her birthday, and overall, we had a great time! We both ordered burgers...despite the server's suggestions lol hers came topped with an egg and mine had jalapeños...and they were absolutely delicious. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. The mac and cheese we had on the side was creamy and comforting, a perfect complement to the meal. We also decided to try the hush puppies and apple pie eggrolls, but unfortunately, both were overly greasy and a bit too heavy. I wouldn't go for the fried items again based on that, but the core menu definitely holds its own. Our server, I believe her name was Tonya, was friendly and attentive throughout the meal, which made the experience even better. If you're heading to Mac's, I'd definitely recommend sticking to the burgers and sides like mac and cheese...they're the real stars here. Oh the $5 shots were good too I bought my friend one for her bday read more

After catching a candlelight showing a few minutes away, my family and I decided to check this place out for an app and a drink. The beers we got were literally a steal! They were only $3 which you can't beat. My mom was craving some wings, so my brother suggested this place. I'm not a big wing eater, but I had one and it wasn't bad at all! The service was spot on. Our server at the bar was super friendly and kind. Looking for a quick beer on a walk? Look no further! read more

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Came here for CLT wing week, the burger looked phenomenal on paper but sadly the patty was not seasoned and was dry. If the patty was better it could've been a winner. We also got pulled pork and sides which were great! Will be coming back for more BBQ! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Pulled pork Tater Tots Side Red Slaw Side - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Really enjoyed myself at this restaurant. I was visiting with some friends who live in Charlotte, and we were looking for a place to eat as we were headed down through the south end. My friends partner had tried the restaurant out before, but we had not. So we were a bit skeptical, but we were ultimately rewarded with a good experience. From the time we walked into the door this place screams hang out all night. There were very few tables available, but we were able to grab a spot near the bar. From a food standpoint I was pretty satisfied with my order, and the rest of the table was as well. I did find most of the options to be fairly heavy, so if you are looking for a place that is going to satisfy any sort of food craving this is the spot. I thought the onion strings were some of the best I had in a while, and I was also satisfied with my sides. Not necessarily my jam but definitely a place I would recommend if you're looking for some good barbecue in the south end. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Mule - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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buffalo chicken wrap was good, brisket was kinda dry.. the chicken to wet..no char on the chicken! French fries were great, the beef sausage was my favorite read more

Mac's never disappoints! Always good service and food to match. I got the beef brisket sandwich and asked for extra bbq sauce and received an entire bag full of various sauces to try. Even their special beverages were good! Take my advice and try the baked beans! read more

Great local BBQ place in south end Charlotte. Came here after flying into town on a Thursday early afternoon. Great atmosphere; Country meets dive bar type of feel. Gluten free menu was on point. Was a bit disappointed in the pulled pork but everything else was fantastic. read more

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Busy lunch spot and I see why. The pulled pork was so tender and I tried it with all their sauces. Carolina was really smoky--it was my favorite. The west Carolina one was a little sweeter but still delicious. Collards were good--I just wish they were a little more savory. It was a strong vinegar flavor. Don't get me wrong--I still ate all of them. The Mac and cheese was the best part. Gooey but not greasy, full cheese flavor (not fake processed cheese). I savored every morsel. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Pulled pork plate with Mac n cheese + collards. - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Overall, this was a pretty solid experience - food, service, atmosphere, location, etc. We were traveling through Charlotte and wanted a quick and tasty meal that wasn't fast food. We dropped on a Sunday after any lunch rush that could have happened (2pm ish) and the place was pretty empty - a few tables, but not packed. The staff was neutral in their greeting - not friendly but not unfriendly, just neutrally welcoming from the hostess and our waitress. No complaints at all :) We ordered Sampler to split with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and chicken with mac & cheese and sweet potato fries for our side. The food was delivered quickly, but it wasn't hot. Honestly, it was just a little warmer than room temp. I didn't like that it wasn't hot, but the flavor was really great!! Everything tasted wonderful! Just wish it was hot. As for the atmosphere, it has a typical sports bar vibe minus the TVs everywhere. read more

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Delicious! Mustard was our faaaaaaaaavorite in all the land. Glad we stopped here on the patio.

Mac's Speed Shop brings all the BBQ love to the city! This visit I got the pulled pork plate which came with two sides, toast, and delicious sweet pickles! I got the mac & cheese and cucumber & tomato salad as my sides. The mac & cheese was the perfect amount of cheesy goodness, def one of the best I've had in a while! The cucumber & tomato salad was quite sour with a bit too much vinegar for my liking but I still enjoyed it. It was a great spot to sit and watch College Football due to the large amount of TVs and lively atmosphere. I always enjoy my visits to Mac's and will for sure be back again soon! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Pulled Pork Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I randomly visited this restaurant and had no idea what kind of food they served, I just knew the outside looked fun. It's bbq and I had the pulled pork, Mac and cheese and slaw. The pork was delicious and they have a wide variety of sauces for you to choose from on the tables. The Mac and cheese - chef's kiss. Well made, just the right amount of crunch to the top layer of the cheeses and noodles. I didn't fancy the slaw it was a little more vinegary than I usually like it but it wasn't bad either. The pickles were very tasty. Would surely come back! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Chopped bbq, mac and cheese and slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Let's get into the food first. Delicious. I ordered a family meal for pick up which included Chicken plus 3 sides. I chose Mac and Cheese, bbq beans and collard greens. Because my family and I can eat, I ordered an additional side of the garlic mashed potatoes. This order was for pick up and when I got home, I questioned if the food portions would get the job done. Lemme tell you something. I will never let my eyes do the talking for my stomach again. I was so full. And everything was mouth watering DELICIOUS. My daughter and I had to arm wrestle for the last scoop of the Mac and cheese. She won! My only complaint is that there isn't a food description for the sides so I didn't know that the bbq baked beans and the collard greens had meat in it. While these sides were absolute delish, I couldn't share that part of the experience with my husband because he is a vegetarian. Too bad for him! I happily ate his portion lol Sharise/James/Kayla provided amazing service and mastered the art of problem solving. I highly appreciate how seamless they made this experience. read more

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I've been eating at Mac's Speed shop for years & remain a big fan. I absolutely love their smoked wings. The wings are meaty and tender with a nice char on the outside. I am really into their Down South eggrolls stuffed with pulled pork, cole slaw, mac & cheese. Honestly, put anything in an egg roll and I'm eating it. Recently, I tried their buffalo chicken wrap with Hot Gold sauce and it was pretty good! The chicken was a little over cooked and chewy but other than that, great flavor. I've actually never had their BBQ but would be open to trying it. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Buffalo chicken wrap - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Customer Service: 3 stars: came towards the end of the night, the service was neither great nor bad. People were decent... customer service was average for a place like this. Working stiffs just trying to make a buck and get ahead. Our waiter was cheery but very scatterbrained and often times we had to look around for him or request items from the bar. He was preoccupied with closing duties. Price point: 1 stars: typical portion sizes you get with nc BBQ with a huge price point. In Texas if I got the $40 platter I wouldn't be able to finish it. Here it's laughably small if you have an appetite. My check was $70 for my platter entree, 1 appetizer, and 2 kids meals. Had the food been great then I probably wouldn't have cared about the price; but subpar food with a hefty price tag is atrocious. Food: 2 stars: I hate to ding this place that hard but everything is seasoned with vinegar. The coleslaw tasted like straight apple cider vinegar, the greens tasted like vinegar, the sauces offered tasted like vinegar, its too much. The mac n cheese tasted like Velveeta cooked too long and lacked any real flavor besides "mush", i couldn't even taste any cheese. The greens weren't bad but they weren't good either. The baked beans weren't anything special and the best part about the meal was the meats, but the portion sizes were small. The brownie dessert was run of the mill and the egg rolls were ok, maybe if they came out piping hot they would've tasted better. The kids meal is reasonably priced and comes with a drink, apples, 1 side, and 1 entree. Cleanliness: 4 stars: I came towards the end of the night and everyone was cleaning. The bathroom was tidy as well. I would be generous and 3 stars but this place didn't even earn with it customer service or great food, my dining experience was a solid 2. I wouldn't come here again, at least with a 3 rating I would come back, but I should've known the food was going to be suspect when they couldn't get the sweet tea right. Sure people could say it was 1.5 hours until close, OK fine... you slack and put out gruel 1.5 hours to close and had I got there at noon food would've been better lol is that it? read more

Mac's Speed Shop - The eggrolls I give them a 2 out of 5 stars. - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Had a great meal! Went around 7:45 on a Thursday and got a table right away. We had our dog and got a table outside, they even gave him his own water bowl. They were on an abbreviated menu due to kitchen problems but they communicated that up front and still had what we wanted. They have sooooo many beer options and the food is delicious!! We got so much food for a low price. We got the tacos and the small pulled pork. They gave us 3 different bottles of their own barbecue sauce to choose from: western style, eastern style and South Carolina style. Would go back and would recommend! read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Small Pulled Pork and Mac n Cheese Side - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Tried so much food here and everything was delicious! Fried pickles, onion rings and hush puppies for appetizers were all delicious and was a lot of food! Had the ribs for my entree and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately multiple people in my group ordered beers and were given incorrect ones. We let our waitress know and she got drinks but again one was still incorrect. Otherwise we had a really enjoyable experience. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Half Rack St Louis Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Food was delivered, left at the door without notice or contact. This is second contact . We had one pork sandwich with fries and a chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. We found both of the sandwiches dry and inedible. The fries tasted stale and the sweet potato fries tasted like they had been cooked since the morning. This is way I reluctantly gave it a second chance after the food was poor the first time. It made me wonder if people go there mainly to check out the crown. Big waste of money. Save some cash where the food won't be dry and the fries had been cooked in the am. Hard to spend money in this economy already. Won't be spending there. read more

The bbq is very average. Not up to NC standards. Have tried several times because the service is great and the many TVs make it a great choice. Sadly the meats are fatty, not cooked to tenderness and small portions. Too many other great options in the area. read more

The first time I brought my mom here she was hooked. She decided she wanted her birthday dinner here. I made reservations which were easy. The challenge is that there is limited seating for large parties, just a few tables located in a direct line from the door. The restaurant always has cold temperatures when we visit but for a December evening it was freezing! We all had to keep our coats on. As far as service it was great. We had an issue with a few meals being room temperature upon arrival but our server took care of it. I've been wanting to try the catfish but they've been out in previous visits but it was worth the wait!! I know MACS is known for their bbq but I I'm pescatarian. I bring my mom here because she loves it so there's not a lot on the menu I can eat. But that catfish....oh boy! Delicious! Great flavor, melts in your mouth. My mom got a complimentary bday dessert. Her favorite: banana pudding and she said it was delicious. I probably wouldn't return without my mom because I don't like being cold when I eat but I'd order takeout. There's no hot beverages on the menu so I couldn't order coffee or tea to warm up. But definitely check them out. The food is good and location by the mall is convenient. read more

This is one of my go to spots for catering to big groups. I have never eaten inside but I often pick up catering when I have group functions at my house. I can easily get a variety of meat and sides for around $100 and feed 4-6 people. The wings are usually one of my go to's and the pulled chicken which comes by the pound. I have never had issues with my order and they usually give a good amount of sauces to go with everything. If you're looking to feed a big group I would definitely check out there catering menu online. read more

Well.... it's a sad thing in the South when a BBQ place stops serving freshly brewed iced tea. And that's what MAC's has done. Bad business decision. And for all the markup/ROI on a tea, it makes no sense. Not everyone drinks beer and sodas. Been a customer for years. But oh well. read more

Good bbq for a decent price. They revamped the menu a little so be ready for some changes. We were disappointed in some of the new items (see below) but for the most part everything else was delicious! Here is what we ordered. Our favorites are first! BBQ Sampler with sausage - Jalapeño & cheese is the best! Pulled pork - cooked perfectly even though it was missing at first. Half Rack St Louis Ribs were super moist and flavorful Brisket - came with a lot of meat but a little on the dry side Mac n Cheese Side Sweet Potato Fries Side Broccoli salad side Dirty Rice side (not our favorite) Banana Pudding - DO NOT ORDER if you are excepting the delicious original banana pudding - it is no longer the same. The manager said they changed the recipe and it is now maybe one piece of banana, no banana pudding and mainly whip cream and wafers. We always enjoy Macs and love taking our out of town guests here. read more

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The bbq was ok. Service was really great. This is a happening place with high energy. Tons of beers of draught. The outside sitting area is really nice. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Brisket Burnt Ends - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I've lived in Charlotte for five years and decided to branch out and try a new BBQ spot. Mac's in south end is a great location with indoor and outdoor dining. The ambiance is awesome during the summer, but bbq and heat don't mix well with me personally. The honey butter was my favorite part of this meal. It was subpar at best and a majority of the meat was a bit dry. The service was friendly, not speedy (punny). There's better options in the Charlotte market for good BBQ. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great food! Intense bbq selection and even service! Highly recommend the brisket tacos. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Wings...amazing Brisket sandwich sauce on side..... more amazing ditch the bun annnnddddddd DUMP IT in the Max and cheese......most amazing Ashanti provided great service! read more

Noah was a great server! Food was great! Beer was cold! Come here often and it's always great! Great place to visit when in Charlotte

The service is terrible and the drinks are weak. Came in here on an NFL Sunday took 25 minutes to get a drink because folks just aren't hustlin. The cocktails tasted virgin. Great location great setup, horrible execution. read more

Doug F is not a good server. If you get placed in his section ask to be moved because we waited 15 minutes to be greeted, another 10 after that for our waters and was told that the restaurant was out of hush puppies yet every single table around us got hush puppies. Once we got our food, we were not checked on until he came up and said "y'all ready for the check". After we left we called the restaurant to place an order to go for hush puppies and the hostess was rude and said "I'm busy can you place the order online" My family and I have always loved Mac's and go there frequently but after this experience we will be rethinking that. read more

Great service and good spot to hang, especially since it is right next to Music Yard. The bbq is on point, meat was smoked perfectly. And obvi, the mac, you have to be GREAT at that if you're calling yourself max speed shop read more

We had a great meal here. Start with the Bloody Mary, priced right at $7 and garnished with brisket and fried pickles. Sounds weird, tastes great. We had some yummy hush puppies to start and then brisket sandwiches and the Big Pig. Sides were a mixed bag with the fried okra kind of boring, the mac and cheese delish, and the slaw unremarkable. Service was good and the outdoor seating was lovely; especially with great song selection from the guitar and banjo duo (Neil Young and Shawn Colvin were on the set list). Go and enjoy! But not for vegetarians, even the salads have pork everywhere. read more

Mac's Speed Shop - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Food is amazing! Taste straight out of the smoker. The waitress handled our table with ease.