Always a favorite for our family. We stop every time we are with in an 1 1/2 away . Reminds us of home along with dependable quality . Prices are reasonable and folks are just plain helpful. Food is alway spot on. Thanks for all Your hard work serving us for so many years . read more

Two ate for $19.00 before tip. They only ate CASH, but an ATM is on the premises. The fried chicken is really good, fresh. Tons of people, covered up! read more

Parker's - Combination platter! - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

What a disappointment, read the reviews and sounded a fantastic place to go for southern food, well that is not what we got, what we got was cold super dried fried chicken, the boiled potatoes were also cold and the vegetable stew was not tasty and also cold. We did not bother complaining because what we saw at the other tables looked just as bad. Never again!!!!! read more

Parker's never disappoints! I live in VA but my dads side of the family is from Wilson. Parker's has been a part of my life since I was a kid. I even lost a necklace down the sink drain when I was very young. Anyway, this is about the food and experience. The food...EXCELLENT! Atmosphere and service...EXCELLENT! Service is super fast! I love that the traditions of the paper hats and white aprons are still a thing. We make it a point to stop every chance we get. Our friends that have tried it when we travel together also agree. One thing to note, they are cash only. Bring cash or use the ATM inside. read more

Parker's - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

See all

Small dried up looking wings. History of racism. Dont care much for the place. Food is mediocre. I miss Bill's Barbecue read more

Best BBQ in the Southeast. An icon for over 60 years. The fried chicken and Brunswick stew help complete a fantastic meal. Nothing better than "family-style" at Parker's. read more

Parker's - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

This is a really neat restaunt. The servers wear aprons and the little paper hats, like in the "old days." The staff is friendly and professional. I had the large barbecue plate, which included cole slaw, hush puppies, corn sticks, boiled potatoes and green beans. The corn sticks are awful; dry and taste like cardboard. The remainder of the meal was delicious. read more

Parker's - bbq boiled potatoes green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

It's was ok. Very friendly service, excellent iced tea, and really good slaw, but the BBQ was odd. Tasted good, but it was not pulled but finely minced. Like it was put in a blender. Almost looked like a tunafish sandwich. read more

See all

I like Parker's. They can do better on having fresh chicken though, they stay to busy not to have fresh chicken

place sucks. fat and grissle in BbQ. could not eat it. it was horrible NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN

It's Simply The Best!!! Love that Food Truck if you can't get to Wilson. Fried chicken and bbq is the specialty. Enjoy!!Parkers BBQ read more

Parker's - The Food Truck!! - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

Service is super quick. The best deal is the Small Combination where you get BBQ pork, fried chicken, barbecued potatoes (boiled fresh), Brunswick stew, hush puppies or corn sticks, and all the slaw you want. All this is just over $7.00. Green beans or French fries are also an option. The barbecue is fresh. The fried chicken is phenomenal. The Brunswick stew is best in Eastern North Carolina. The slaw is a yellowish mustard base slaw that perfectly counters the grease in the barbecue. I also enjoy their sweet tea. I regularly entertain folks at this family restaurant. read more

Hands down...best bbq in town....probably Parker's bbq is bloodline of Wilson. Still has a very 1956ish feeling in more than one way... Go in and sit one day and go in the back and get takeout the next time and juxtapose it. Love the bench area, read more

What a great find right off 795! Go hungry. I had the small fried shrimp dinner with a side of stew, boiled potatoes and coleslaw. I'd do that again, if we stop back. Dan enjoyed his pork bbq (served without red bbq sauce) and sides. He was in sweet tea heaven. They had a 97 food safety score. I wish more states posted that. Fun stop! read more

Parker's - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

Familiar but the chicken is dry just like the BBQ . Potatoes, stew blah haven't try fish and don't want to.

I'm from AZ and moved to the area. Good service and portions, good desert. Good prices. But honestly... the food is super bland and nothing pops. Totally over rated. KFC is better, I hate to say. I don't understand the good reviews. It's nothing compared to home cooking, it's more like hospital cafeteria food Ya... hospital food. Totally over rated. Pass it by. read more

One of my family members favorite places. Welcoming, fast service, great food. Shrimp delicious, fried chicken, barbecue yummy.

Really great bbq and the service was fantastic. Not a very big menu and it's not a place for craft beers, but it's great food. Worth the distance off 95. Price is very reasonable. read more

Great fried chicken and very affordable prices and interesting sides. Weird though. In a town with a 47% African American population, there was not ONE person of color among the dozens of customers or the servers or cashiers. I'm not a local, but is that the norm around here? I thought we were well past the Jim Crow era, at least most everywhere else I've been. Also, they only take cash no credit, but for your convenience there's a high-fee ATM on site. read more

Stopped in the other day for lunch. What a let down. Food was terrible, chicken was cold, hushpuppies were cold and hard. Barbecue had no flavor and was stone cold also. And that was not Brunswick stew either. Where was the chicken in there, more like tomato stew. Cashier was rude. Don't ask how your meal was. Just don't seem to care about the customers. Needs a lot of improvement. Not like it was. Very sad. ) : read more

The best bbq joint around been coming here since I was 7 and I'm 33. The coleslaw mixed rite along with the bbq,the hush puppies are great too always in and out no wait around back read more

See all

We brought many relatives after a loved one's funeral last month, to eat at Parkers....a long time Family tradition. Sadly....we were very disappointed with the quality of most of the food. The BBQ was a delicious as ever.....but, the liver was brittle and dry, hush puppy's tasteless, the slaw awful, and some of the folks who ordered fried chicken, said it was dry as well. The seafood was very good, and enjoyed by those who had it. I hope Parkers will take note, and bring their culinary offers up the quality they once were. read more

Great, Southern-home feel, but not the best. The wait staff is the best thing as they work very fast and get food out EXTREMELY FAST. But the fried chicken is dry and flavorless, cornbread as well, the pork BBQ is just saturated in vinegar, fries have NOTHING on them (no seasoning or salt). Green beans also served plain, however the potatoes are not too bad. Overall, mediocre Southern restaurant that is lost in time. Older people seem to be the ones there when I have visited (my family loves the place), I guess because they cannot take food with any flavor. They DO NOT accept credit or debit cards in 2019 and the wait staff is only men.....not discriminating at all. read more

Parker's is must for good Carolina BBQ and chicken! I love it. I'm from VA but come here every time I'm here in Wilson. Cash only (the only down side) but good nonetheless. read more

Really disappointed! Should have probably should have read the reviews before going out of our way eat there. The food was the worst! Bland, tasteless completely no flavor and cold! My husband and I got the same thing, family style which consists of per dinner: 2 pieces of chicken Pulled Pork Brunswick Stew Cole Slaw Boiled potatoes Hush puppies And some kind of long thing that sort of resembled steak fries So the young man brought out these small containers of each and 1 breast a back a leg and a wing. Everything was cold, we ate bites of everything enough to fill us up with lots of leftovers overs to be had. I went to the counter to pay(which was $37 dollars) I asked for a box so we could at least take the pulled pork home to doctor and was told that it was against the rules to carry out on family style. I did read that on the menu, but I didn't even get seconds and it was almost 40 dollars. It made me think though, do they actually throw out the food or just re plate it? I don't know but I highly advise against it! read more

Real southern style cooking. If you like fried chicken livers then this is your place! Delicious, fresh and HOT! Cole slaw is different made with sweet pickles and mustard. The white meat fried chicken was extra crunchy yet moist. Not a fan of the fried corn sticks. Our waiter was fast and efficient. This is a VERY CASUAL family style restaurant, reasonable prices, generous portions and has a with a long history frequented by locals as well as folks like us passing thru on way to FL. read more

My opinion of Parkers is simple - THE BEST BBQ in North Carolina! Their fried chicken and slaw are definitely worth a try too! My husband and I make the drive to their location often because the BBQ is THAT good! It's the best traditional Carolina style BBQ around. We always do their Family Style, and think that the price is reasonable. Service is quick and friendly!! Even on Mother's Day, with a line through the parking lot, we didn't wait more than 15-20 minutes. Parker's will always be a family favorite! read more

I have to start by saying if I give three or less, then that means I am not coming back. I like this place and will easily come back. The reason I am giving a four is because I can't give a three and a half. I love this place and have always eaten in. This time I didn't have time to sit, so I got to experience the other side (the take out). I was a little taken back, the restroom was outside? I guess that was surprising. To get a five the bathroom has to be usable, for staff and customer. When I ate in I am pretty sure there was a restroom inside. They were pretty busy, but they did move rather fast. I can't say I experienced the same hospitality that I got when I ate in. Just put it like this, know what you want before you get to the counter, I knew what I wanted but they were out so I had to make up my mind pretty quick lol. Also make sure you got cash money, not your phone or credit or debit card. (I get it you save money by not excepting those things), at least the young lady at the counter put my order in while I wen to the car to get my cash. Also there is just something about going to the back to pick up a to go order that just didn't sit right with me lol smh, but I am sure it keeps the two worlds of take out and eat in from coli ding. Anyway to get to the meal, No complaints. Normally I don't like coleslaw on my barbecue, but I will eat parkers with or without meat. I also got a liver bag and a chicken bag to go that was piping hot filled with grease and goodness lol, the hush puppies are the best. The tea was ok, but I went for barbecue not tea. Again had to take off for the stall outside begin used as a restroom. If there is a restroom inside, leave it open for all paying customer. read more

This is a pretty good bbq place. We got the family style all you can eat which very good for the price. Food is well seasoned. Atmosphere down home and the service here goes above and beyond. They keep the food coming and if by some slight chance they move a little manager is on top of it. I will definitely be back SOON. read more

Parker's - This is a part of the family style meal, well what's left of it. - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

See all

Parker's is my all time favorite. I don't live in NC anymore, but when I visit I go every chance I get. You don't really appreciate North Carolina BBQ until you can't get it anymore. Fried chicken livers are SO good. Great fried chicken and oysters too. Super cheap, crazy fast, and just all around great food. The ladies that work the back door are amazing and sweet. read more

One star for the fact that I have always loved eating here, probably 55 years... and the other star for the sweet tea WHEN it's good (lately it's been iffy). The last two times I've eaten here, there has been no flavor to the Bbq chicken. Tonight was the absolute worst; the Bbq chicken was so dry I could barely swallow it, the stew tasted like it had been sitting too long and was almost burned, and the hush-puppies were cold. So bad that I did not eat my meal. Our server was new and his mistakes forgivable (everyone has to start somewhere). Even though we arrived 30 minutes before closing is no excuse for terrible food. I have however recently had really good Bbq chicken and stew at Smithfield's, which is where we'll go from now on. read more

I was SHOCKED.. after all these years, for Parker's to serve up bad, ...no, Terrible Chicken! My previous review indicated that I was always Happy with the "Always Fresh and Hot" Chicken that was often purchased at Parker's. But yesterday, I stopped in on my way back to Cary and ordered two whole chickens (pieces), along with a large order of hushpuppies. $18.60; not too bad, but I can get a delicious, whole rotisserie chicken at our Costco for just $4.99! The high price is easier to contend with, if the chicken is good. But at about 4:30pm, yesterday, they sent me down the road with a bag full of very, dried out chicken. It had obviously been sitting around for a very-long time! Of course, I did not realize until I was home, and not practical to take it back... from Cary.. 60 miles away! There was No Excuse for this! The chicken was not only dry, but had shriveled up to almost nothing. Whoever bagged this order knew they were serving up Bad, no... Terrible Chicken !!! Parker's.... you can burn me once, but do it again and you will loose a tried and true customer! Oh, and BTW... that outdoor Men/Women's restroom is about Ten Years past-due for a remodel ! Seriously, one urinal left of the wall, and only the caulk is holding that one on! read more

It was a cold, dark, stormy night. This was the trip that would've defied all journeys, a road trip like none other. The drive was endless. She looked up into the night sky and wondered if she would survive the hellish thunderstorm that had plagued her joyous trip. It had been over 20 minutes since she last saw an exit. She brought her cold and tired hands to her stomach, hoping to stop the wrenching noise it was emitting. It had been over 4 hours since her last meal and the storm was unrelenting. She needed to find shelter...soon. She looked over to the right where a faint exit sign appeared and slowly eased off her gas petal and thanked God under her breath that she can finally leave the desolate highway she had been driving on. She looked up and saw a sign that read, "Welcome to the City of Wilson." As she made her way through, she noticed that no one was around. Not a single car passed her by. She suddenly remembered the movie Children of the Corn and wondered if she was ever going to make it out of there alive. Suddenly, a bright light appeared. She squinted and cleared the condensation from her window that had collected from her heavy breathing. Thirty or so cars were parked in this lot. "Is the whole town here?", she thought. She looked up at the bright white sign which read, "Parkers" and was excited to learn that they served BBQ. She slowly eased her storm stricken car into the lot, parked her car and gratefully turned off the engine. She waited in the car hoping the storm would ease, but it was still there, beating her and still unwavering. She takes her tired, famished and now wet body to the storefront and didn't care that every step she took made a squeaking sound. As she cleared her eyes, she looked up and noticed that all eyes were on her. Was there something on her face? Did she forget to put her pants on? She may never know. As she opened the door, a waft of sweet and tangy flavor permeated through her nostrils. Servers in their white uniform that resembled that of a1960's diner, complete with white paper hats swooshed by left and right. Then, the unthinkable happened: the once rumbustious restaurant became a room filled with curious eyes. A cricket was heard in the background, all conversations had seized and all 50 pairs of eyes were on her. She, is an average built Asian woman that so happened to stumble upon an all Caucasian community. She wondered if they thought she was lost. Homeless even. She looked at the conner of her eye, ready to thwart off the stick she imagined them poking her with. A young man, who was about six feet tall, came up to her, gave her a smile and with his best Southern drawl, welcomed her with open arms and sat her tired body down where she enjoyed the rest of her night...feasting. Food: Bah-Bee-cue, Chicken 'n things Price: Muy Cheap-o Noise: Family convo's and crickets Ambiance: Family Attire: Wet clothes Service: Boys that are over 6' tall Parking: Plenty Ordered: Large combo which include: pulled pork, fried chicken, Brunswick stew with boiled potatoes. Also ordered BBQ chicken, fries, coleslaw and green beans and corn sticks. Don't forget the sweet tea The pulled pork was tasteless, but the fried chicken was tender, juicy and very tasty. My first Brunswick stew and it was...interesting, but good. BBQ chicken was succulent with the sauce and coleslaw was mustard based which I like. Sweet tea was too sweet. Server laughed at me when I ordered a pitcher of water to dilute it. I wasn't a big fan of the corn sticks. Tasteless and kind of pointless. Tips: Order the Family Style Dinner. Well worth the $8.68 pp for all the BBQ and trimmings you can eat, plus 2 pieces of chicken! Can't beat that price! Overall: Solid 4.0 Stars read more

Parker's - The Spread - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

Sets the standard for Eastern #NCq An Institution Legendary Hate to see the negatives because folk stopped expecting Texas Q, know what you're getting into You flew here, we grew here read more

Parker's - Parkas - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

I stopped in here with a co-worker this evening and was greeted with lots of Southern Hospitality. Several young men are all lined up helping you find a table. The building seems stuck in time but that is also part of the charm of this place. I don't think I would change it...it made me feel like I was somewhere iconic. It is cash only so for those of us who come from states where restaurants are moving towards not accepting cash, cash only seems dated. Good thing they have an ATM on site. So tack on an extra $5 for our meal ($2.50 from the ATM on site + $2.50 from my bank) and you still have a very reasonable priced meal. While I am excited that they advertise their trucker hat on their website perhaps they should have mentioned being cash only instead. While I am not too familiar with "North Carolina style BBQ" it seemed to lack a bit of flavor. It was tender but I was expecting more vinegar and maybe some sort of red coloring...definitely not the expert there. However, the fried chicken was great! Tasty batter and really moist chicken. It was also my first time trying Brunswick stew. It too seemed to lack some flavor...as a side note, I've also never had stew on a plate before, is that the norm? The fries were really plain but at least they weren't soggy. I was also new to corn straws. Are they supposed to be that hard? To me it was like stale cornbread shaped into a stick. I've never had hush puppies that tasted like they had lots of sugar in them but these definitely did. Overall, I am glad I went once but I am not sure I will be back anytime soon....but I did buy the trucker hat because it is pretty cool. read more

See all

Don't waste your time. Traveling through NC and wanted an authentic southern meal and everything was tasteless and bland - even the hush puppies! Flounder and shrimp tasted like it was fried with no seasoning. The shrimp must have been farm raised - no shrimp flavor at all. BBQ mediocre so DISAPPOINTED. The one star was for the sweet tea read more

Sunday lunch at Parker's was definitely an experience. In my jeans and plaid shirt, I felt underdressed next to the church crowd. We stood in line for about 15 minutes. It was clear that Parker's is a Sunday tradition for many families. The inside is all wood-paneled. It reminded me of my grandfather's house. The servers and busboys all wore white paper hats. Everything seemed to run smoothly. My chopped BBQ was some of the best I have ever eaten. The horseradish-based cole slaw and the hush puppies were also very delicious. My only disappointment was the corn sticks, which were edible, but hard. Maybe I just don't like corn sticks? Maybe they were fried too long? At $6.32/plate, you can't go wrong at Parker's. The "Family Style Dinner" looks like a good deal, too. For takeout, you can go around to the back of the building. There are some picnic tables set up next to the parking lot if you want to eat your food outside (without waiter service). read more

Parker's - Barbeque Near Me - Wilson, North Carolina

See all

Well, I made it to Parker's. Service is excellent. Questions were answered and the server was very patient. We ordered take out and thus had a few questions about the menu regarding sizes of the containers and such. The takeout entry is on the side of the building, almost around the back. I did not enter the dining room. You open the screen doors and walk up to the counter to place your order. You can't be shy. There are plenty of other customers standing around waiting for their orders. And just behind the order counter is the kitchen and deep fryers. You can see everything! And everybody is working like busy bees. Everyone is doing their specific task. The place was buzzing! Being that the kitchen and deep fryers are "right there", it smells like grease and cooked food. Just know that if you stand in there for any amount of time, you will come out smelling "fried". You know that smell. And if you have a sensitive nose, you will be better off waiting outside. Bathrooms are located in a detached building. They seemed more like latrines. I enjoyed the hush puppies. I didn't care for the slaw, which is just a personal preference. Many people enjoy their slaw tremendously. It is yellow, mustardy and vinergary with a bit of horseradish. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It was just okay in my opinion. I really wasn't all that impressed, but I certainly had a respect for how popular it is and the history of the restaurant. The place was very busy and it is a local treasure. Personally, I won't be going out of my way to return. read more

This place was very much overhyped. I hated the corn sticks people rave about. The bbq was mushy. The cole slaw was fine. The fried chicken is good. The brunswick stew was fine. I did like the employees wearing paper hats. Normally, when I got to a cash only place the food is epic. Not the case here. Oh well. I will try another bbq place until I find something good. read more

Entering this restaurant feels like entering a time machine back to the 60s. After seating yourself you can choose from dozens of combinations of meals and sides for ~$7 per person. I got the half chicken, half pork with potatoes, coleslaw, and stew. It also came with corn sticks and hush puppies. Ordering a sweet tea earned me a whole pitcher. One of the best meals of our Southern Roadtrip. Cash only. read more

See all