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This is just one of those things you should do, and I am glad we did. Expect a line, nice thing is it moves fast. Also nice to have table service and our server was really nice, not super helpful in guiding us, but nice kid. There is no beef, wrong state Pork and chicken. The Cole slaw was the best thing! Lots of vinegar! Loved it! The food wasn't mind blowing but I think this is a long standing, family owned, local joint that caters to locals, as it should! We enjoyed our time and are glad we went!
I stopped in at the original Parker's Barbecue on Highway 301 with a couple of work colleagues, and from the moment we walked in, it felt like stepping back in time. This place is the definition of old-school. The vibe, the building, the staff, it all felt like I'd been transported to the 1960s in the best way possible. We beat the lunch rush, but there was a steady stream of folks coming and going, which is always a good sign. It's a big dining room with plenty of seating, and the service was fast and efficient. No frills, just good food served by people who clearly know what they're doing. I went with the combo plate: fried chicken, barbecue, Brunswick stew, slaw, hush puppies, and corn sticks. Let's break it down: * The barbecue is the star. It's everything I want from Eastern North Carolina 'cue. Smoky, tangy, and packed with flavor. You can add sauce if you want, and I tried a little, but honestly, it came out of the kitchen just right. It didn't need a thing. * The fried chicken was solid. The dark meat was moist and juicy, but the breading was on the plain side. Not bad at all, just not something I'd drive back for. * The hush puppies, and I say this as someone who's usually not a fan, were absolutely delicious. Light, crispy, and flavorful. Southern ladies, you can relax. * The corn sticks were kind of odd. Not bad, not amazing. A bit of a novelty if you haven't had them before. * The Brunswick stew and coleslaw were both fine. The stew was okay, and the slaw had what tasted like a mustard kick. Honestly, it reminded me more of South Carolina barbecue than Eastern NC, but it still worked. The portion size was fair for the price. I left full and satisfied, without feeling like I'd been cheated. It just felt right. This is the kind of place where families come after church, where no-frills date nights happen, and where generations have gathered to celebrate milestones. A few of the folks I was with are Eastern North Carolina natives who know their barbecue, and they were quick to agree, this is the real deal. If you're anywhere near Wilson and craving legit, classic Eastern North Carolina barbecue, Parker's is worth the stop. It's more than a meal, it's a reminder that some traditions are still alive and well.
The food here is consistently delicious. My fried oysters were slightly overcooked but were still delicious. My wife had fried chicken which is always cooked perfectly. Highly recommend.
I stopped by Parker's as a pitstop on my way up to Washington DC for a trip. Doing some basic research, prioritizing proximity to the I-95, Parker's seemed to be the best use of my time. So we pulled over and walked in and got seated promptly. This place is a no fuss no muss, high table turnover rate kind of place obviously full of travelers and locals alike. The menu that day was very limited. I believe the options were only pulled pork, fried chicken, and then all the sides. The only other option we had was if we wanted one plate, or an unlimited amount of everything. I have regrets only getting the one plate, but what can you do. The pork was true Carolina style, lots of good little fat mixed in, little flecks of good, crispy skin, and not really any sauce on it, letting that vinegary flavor be the star of the show. I liked it a lot, it was juicy and tender and a really good pulled pork. The fried chicken was also juicy and flavorful. The crust on the breading of that chicken was just perfect. It was like a shell, strong but delicate, all the way around the piece of chicken, and you could tell it was actually seasoned well. Another banging meat. The fried sides were all pretty standard. One thing that stood out, though, were what I believe were called corn sticks, which were long, fried sticks of cornbread. I'm sure they're normally delicious, but these were fried to death, I almost cracked a tooth biting into them. But, you could dip them and soak them like a biscotti in that amazing Brunswick stew. If you read up on the lore of Brunswick stew, it's one of those dishes that everyone thinks that they made first. But whoever made it first, these Carolina people certainly made it better than the hogwash I find in Florida. Deep deep flavor, perfectly stewed veggies, and just the right amount of pork strewn throughout. I could eat a gallon of this. Actually, I think you could buy this by the gallon. Hmm.. Overall, this was a lovely little find. Definitely don't have anywhere like this near me. Wish I did. It's certainly more than just a pitstop on the ride of the road. I thought it was quality.
Customer service at its best! On our travels down to Florida Parker's is a family favorite that is requested anytime we are passing through. This place is always busy when we stop. It has such a feel of home like it's Sunday dinner every day of the week. The chopped bbq is very good along with the chicken. We love family style serving and would definitely recommend that if you haven't tried it yet. We certainly know the local crowd gets it so this review is an outsider perspective. This is a family tradition both for locals and the out of town crowd as well.
Pros: Love the simple menu. No fuss, no muss, we have what we have. What they have is very delicious. That dry, vinegar pulled pork is just blasted with flavor. Fried chicken with a crispy breading that sounds like a cracking whip when you bite into it. Cons: They are cash only, so bring some cash or suffer an ATM fee. Tips: Get the Brunswick Stew. Trust me, it's a very good regional dish.
My husband was advised from a friend that is from Wilson county that Parkers was a must stop!! He was right! I loved the atmosphere, the food, the freaking sweet tea!! Out of this world! The staff was wonderful! They are a cash only establishment! If we ever stop back down it will need to be another stop! Everything was simple and flavorful I was not a fan of the corn sticks or the boiled potatoes, but for me that was personal preference.
Parker is one of the true standing gems to NC eastern style barbecue and has been serving I think over 75 years now. Gees that's older than me. I wonder if they have the same Pitt master. Anyway you get the basic eastern style type of pork que. I always get it with the chicken breast on the side. Brunswick stew. Boiled potatoes and slaw. Also the corn sticks and hush puppies. Not much has changed except the color of the hair or for The fellows Working there the loss of hair. Well here comes my food so I need to stop tapping and start eating. More later white Combination Plate Well I've not been disappointed. The que was exceptional Just the right amount of heat and vinegar. The Brunswick stew was also tangy and tasty too. The slaw is minced and it to is a local Favorite. Mine too It's a simple white building nothing fancy but the delicious food. The service is quick and very friendly. And guess what you can get a full meal and a drink for less Than $20 I'll be back. And boy do i recommend this restaurant.
The place is rocking! Huge dining area but quick food turnaround. Servers are uniformed and friendly. They have service down to a science. We enjoyed everything! Even ordered stuff to go back home for us and my sister. Check them out! read more
7 years ago
Cash only! And, no banana pudding! Barbecue is a four but everything else is a 3. I like their mustard slaw, but the beans and boiled potatoes were cooked past the point of done. Service was good, but oddly every single server was a young guy. Nothing's wrong with it, it's just unusual especially for an Eastern BBQ joint. I love their corn sticks but they'd be better warm. The cash only thing is ridiculous in this day! They do have an ATM though that comes with a $2.50 fee. read more
2 years ago
The service was fantastic and friendly. We had the all you can each deal, but never asked for more than what was initially brought out. The fried chicken was amazing. The Brunswick stew not what I expected. It largely tasted like ground black pepper. Boiled potatoes tasted like... well boiled flavorless potatoes. The corn sticks were okay. The Cole slaw... not my thing with the mustard flavor. The chopped pork was unremarkable. All said, I was still happy to check out the place and did like the friendly atmosphere. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I'd read about this place in a list of classic NC BBQ places. I'm not a big fan of NC style BBQ but I wanted to give it a try. My wife and I were in the area so we picked up a couple of BBQ Sandwiches. I was very impressed. I went with the slaw on top. The meat and slaw really went well together. And not just in the typical richness complemented by acidity. There was a bit of sweetness that made it very interesting. The bread brought them both together perfectly. I plan to stop by again to try some of their other menu items. Nothing like a little history! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
I hope this is not what people from out-of-state think of when they think "North Carolina style BBQ" because quite frankly, the only redeeming quality of this restaurant to me, a long time North Carolinian, is that it was cheap and fast. If your goal is to eat something palatable for very little money and super fast, this place is fine for you. But if you want a real NC BBQ experience, this ain't it. Breaking it down: The pork, while tender, was mushy and overloaded with the vinegar sauce. The brunswick stew had little flavor, needed help from Texas Pete. The fries were... fries. The cole slaw was actually quite good. I liked this semi-unique taste that has mustard added. If the pork were better, it's be a great compliment. Corn straws were chewy and mealy, like stale cornbread. Hush puppies were forgettable. Sweet Tea was just straight sugar, drowned out any tea flavor. I saw fried chicken at another table, and that actually looked real good. You're probably better off there. They do offer family style service for a cheap rate as well, seems like a good place to feed a large crowd. If nothing else, this place runs like clockwork, even if the food isn't anything special. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
This may be my first negative review ever but I feel deceived by the reviews and needed to contribute. We got the chicken and pork and a bunch of sides. The fried chicken was very good but the pork was anything but. It had chunks of cartilage and crunchy bits (bone?) in it, which was extremely unappetizing. The pork didn't taste seasoned at all, it tasted boiled. No char, no flavor. Can you really trust a bbq restaurant where you can't smell the meat smoking from the parking lot? That should have been our first red flag. There was no bbq sauce served....there was only vinegar and hot sauce. The coleslaw tasted like yellow mustard cabbage soup. The potatoes and beans tasted canned. And within 8-24 hours, my husband and I were working through some digestive issues. I hate to say something negative about a locally owned joint but we advise against this place. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
This spot was great as a stop as we were driving down the east coast to Florida. Although a little overwhelming as a first timer, since everyone ordered extremely quickly and the menu wasn't super clear, it was definitely worth it. The value was great and we were able to try a lot of things on the menu without haven't to spend a lot. I personally liked the fried chicken the most out of all the meats and the potato salad for the side dishes. read more
Have heard about this place for a while and wanting to stop by for lunch. Fortunately we got there just after 11am so there was still plenty of seating but it got busy fast. There are a bunch of wait staff busily running around seating people, taking orders, and clearing tables. The whole vibe still feels like it's straight out of the 1950s or 1960s with their paper hats and uniforms. The good: service is super fast and the food comes out quick. You also get mini drink pitchers along with your cup so you don't have to worry about running out of drink. The food is also very reasonably priced. The ok (I won't call it bad): the food is just your basic run of the mill down east BBQ. The bbq itself was flavorful and moist but was just flat overall and I did get a few pieces of bone in mine (happens with chopped style). It did not really stand out. The green beans seemed to be right out of a can and the potatoes wear also lackluster and bland. I don't really get the appeal of the corn sticks but that's probably because I grew up with hush puppies instead. These seemed tough and maybe just overcooked. This is definitely one of those places to stop by to say you have been here but it will be more for the experience and memories than the food in my humble opinion. All that said, I would not hesitate to go back again and I enjoyed it! Oh, and make sure you have cash.. they don't take plastic. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Never tire of this! Best fried chicken on earth! A thing of beauty! Fried chicken legs and white bread. And tea in crushed ice. What more does one need? read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
We stopped for dinner on our way down 95 after searching reviews for bbq restaurants. SO glad we did! The parking lot was packed, but the service was fast!! The best fried chicken I've had in a long time! BBQ was great too along with everything else. This is one of those meals you'll think about next month and wish you could go back! Bonus for sweet tea with the good ice in a small pitcher for refills brought to the table from the beginning! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Parker's is wonderful! I grew up eating here, but it's been years since I've been. I was craving their BBQ so I made the hour drive out to get some! Their BBQ is fantastic and the coleslaw really steals the show for me. It's not for everyone - the person I ate with didn't care for it because of the spice. I don't know if it was just a bad day but their brunswick stew wasn't really great, so next time I would probably get the potatoes. Don't forget CASH only! read more
6 years ago
Best. BBQ. Ever. And don't get me started on the coleslaw, hush puppies, friend chicken, and potatoes. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I first reviewed Parker's back when I was a Yelp newbie. At the time, it didn't even occur to me to take photos. So now I've rectified this. I always said that if we should pass this way again, we would once again stop in and have a meal here. This time, we were with our daughter and her family. Before setting out on our FL road trip, I had told her about Parker's and showed her the menu. She couldn't wait to try it! We were here on a Monday in time for an early dinner. At the time, the place wasn't very busy which worked to our advantage. The sign at the door says, basically, seat yourself. When we walked in, a friendly young man (who turned out to be our server) asked how many were in our party. We told him 7 and he directed us to a large table. Had we come later, it probably would have been more difficult to find a table that would accommodate us all. Our server was very welcoming and asked us where we were from. Once we told him, he asked how the bbq was in our parts. Our daughter, who now lives in NJ, told him about the sorry state of bbq there. We started out with drink orders. I asked if they had sweet tea and he said that they had the best in the area! So, that's what our daughter and I had. My husband and son-in-law both had soda, while the kids had milk. Having already looked at the menu, we knew what we wanted to try. We ordered the "Family Style Dinner". This consists of: "All the barbeque and trimmings you can eat---with 2 pieces fried chicken each---Includes: --- Brunswick stew, boiled potatoes, cole slaw and corn sticks". I asked our server if "trimmings" refers to the chopped pork and he said it did. Kids under 8 pay less. If I recall correctly, the adult and kids over 8 cost was $8.95 each, which is a real bargain! It didn't take long for our food to arrive and once there, we started passing along dishes and self-served. The chopped pork is amazing---moist and flavorful. I will quote from the book "Road Food" by Jane and Michael Stern: "Cooked over hardwood and chopped into hash, the pork is a mix of lean inside meat and crunchy shreds from the outside of the loins and hams from which it has been cut. There is scarcely any sauce on it at all, just a hint of vinegar and peppers to accentuate the wood-smoke savor". I couldn't have said it better myself! Each table has a bottle of plain vinegar and a hot sauce that has a vinegar base. Our son-in-law was all set to try the sauce until I explained to him that NC bbq sauces are vinegar-based. Upon hearing that, he passed on trying it. We were pleasantly surprised by the fried chicken. It has a crunchy outside that is very lightly battered and the meat is very moist. Not only that, it wasn't greasy at all. Our daughter, who for some reason doesn't like chicken on the bone, caved and tried a piece and ended up raving about it. The boiled potatoes proved to be very popular at our table. They weren't mushy at all and had the right balance between being over cooked and under done. The seasonings were just right. We also liked the cole slaw which had a mustard based dressing that also had some tang to it. Again, just enough tang to keep it flavored and have you wanting more. The corn sticks had a nice crunch to it without being dried out. They added a nice texture to the meal. The Brunswick stew had a great mix of veggies plus some pork in it. Some recipes add a spicy element to it but this version was tasty without being over spiced. We left feeling quite sated. Our server checked with us from time to time to see if we wanted seconds, but we found the portions to be just enough for us. He also gave the kids their own paper hats that said "Parker's Barbeque" (the kind that kitchen workers wear) which the kids loved. If you like bbq and are passing through these parts, do consider stopping in! It's about 10 miles off I-95 using exit 119A in NC. read more
Meh! It's pretty average. I've been to a lot of BBQ joints in my lifetime. The food here isn't bad, but it's not great. The BBQ is mushy. There is nothing better than fresh chopped and topped BBQ. This BBQ must be pre-chopped and sits in sauce until it's thrown on a sandwich. Maybe I'll search around Wilson for another spot. I have to update this. My gf and I came and all the guys had to come stare at her. It made her uncomfortable to the point we had to leave. I tried the Brunswick stew, which I got to go, and it's really bad. It's more like a tomato stew than Brunswick stew. So because of the creepy dudes and the Brunswick stew I've had to update this review. read more
12 years ago
Was road tripping from dc to Florida. This place has a limited bbq meat menu. No ribs, no brisket, no wings, WHAT?? Sides were nasty, reminded me of HS cafeteria food. I had bbq chicken and (pulled) pork. Meat was the only thing I could eat. The string beans were completely leached of their beautiful green color and the potatoes were just potatoes. Corn sticks, I've never had them before, and never will again. What the heck is that concoction? I can tell this is a place for locals who don't know any better. Btw, all the customers were white. Um... Ok. Also the servers were just standing around the cashiers table.. I had a nice view of 10 of them just standing around while I was eating. I'd suggest the other bbq place- The Prime smokehouse in rocky mount which I had stopped at a week before, and it was much better. read more
Recommended to try this place with my family while passing by. Very simple menu with a fried chicken, pulled pork bbq, BBQ chicken, fried seafood items, and veggie sides. The service was great. There was a wall of servers welcoming upon coming in and one sat us quickly and then explained the menu to us since it was our first time. everyone continued to check on us and ask if we needed anything else drinks or side wise. FYI, it is cash or check only. Food/menu wise, all plates/combos come with corn sticks, hush puppies, and Cole slaw with refills at request. I got the large combo platter which includes a fried chicken breast, pork bbq, and 2 sides. My sides were Brunswick stew and french fries. As mentioned earlier there's plenty of capability to mix and match as you prefer. The pulled pork was classic eastern BBQ with vinegar sauce available on the table. The fried chicken was well fried and a good balance of juicy and hot but I personally prefer a more Cajun/spiced flavor. read more
Dear Tom Hanks, I found Wilson- Wilson, North Carolina that is. I'll do one better, I then discovered Parker's BBQ in Wilson and absolutely loved it! I think I was the first customer there at 9:35 am. Got a great friendly greeting from Mimi the hostess and seated myself per the sign. My waiter was this young gentleman named Tre who was the nicest and most polite server I have probably ever had. The menu was a simple and small 7 by 10 one page laminate. Had this urge for seafood and so I got the two item seafood platter with the fish and shrimp as they were out of oysters. Tre recommended the popcorn shrimp and the fried Catfish filet. Out came this tray of fresh, hot food that was amazing. The popcorn shrimp were out of this world with just a smidgen of batter and just bursting with flavor. The fish was hot and very tasty. Tre brought me out some cocktail sauce and tartar sauce to accompany the bottles of hot sauce and vinegar already on the table. The piece de resistance for me was the wow cole slaw made from mustard - yes loads of mustard! Loved the kick and the flavor. So good! Lots of food: string beans, boiled potatoes( great instead of the f fries), hush puppies. Loved the sweet tea! It was SWEET and an literally an eye opener with the first sip. Loved that Tre brought me out a separate jug of sweet tea in addition to my mug with lots of lemons. He also hooked me up with a tea to go for the three hour plus drive to Bethesda. Huge inside dining area. While I was enjoying my flea food feast, five other waiters showed up at 10 and were getting ready for the Friday lunch shift. Simple menu with maybe 15 items. A sweet couple cake in to confirm their order of 15 bbq chickens for tomorrow. Mimi the hostess was very warm and very kind. She told me to make sure I stop by on my drive back south. I said absolutely!! Very tasty food, great service, sweet prices as in $14 total for this huge meal. I did only make it through half the fish and shrimp. Finger food for the drive! BBQ chicken and ribs next time, with the sweet tea but of course!!!! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
6 years ago
5 years ago
My wife and I were driving past WilsonNC, and decided to tour the historic downtown to see the whirligigs that the town has made famous. Interesting. We drive past several places where we could eat, but the only place with a lot of people was Parkers. Parking lot was almost full and we still were seated immediately. The staff was very friendly to us as "first timers". Food came in just a few minutes. The chicken and BBQ were great; along with the green beans, corn sticks and hush puppies. The boiled potatoes I will skip next time. And, as the waiter said, "we have the best sweet tea"; I agree. Great meal at a reasonable price. One key note: this is a "cash only" place. read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
Wow I was really disappointed by this place. I was just driving through and thought I'd find some really tasty NC BBQ, this place stuck out as having the best reviews. I really don't understand why, the food was okay at best. The BBQ itself tasted like a pork shoulder was put in a crockpot with the lightest of spices and steamed for 8 hours. I detected no hint of smoke at all, there was no bark or smoke ring, and as a result, no flavor. The "LQD" (Large bbQ Dinner) also came with potatoes, Brunswick stew, and corn sticks. The potatoes had a light, almost flavorless sauce and were not really worth eating. The Brunswick stew seemed like an excuse to get rid of yesterday's pork, by combining it with canned corn, canned lima beans, canned green beans, and a pitiful tomato sauce. The corn sticks were an exercise in culinary laziness -- pretty sure it's a water+corn meal dough, rolled and fried. The result is a dry log that tastes like oily corn flakes at best. Basically I would say don't waste your time, it's pretty underwhelming BBQ. read more
4 years ago
More info about Parker's
2514 US Hwy 301 S
Wilson, NC 27893
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(252) 237-0972
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Outside shipment to Mississippi?
I don't think they ship (unfortunately.) I sure wish they did!
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