I grew up eating at Ralph's. I can fondly remember eating fabulous bbq, visiting with Mason Woodruff, who was good friends with my step-father. We held family reunions in the back room, had to go anytime there was a bring a dish gathering. Having given them multiple chances this year, I finally am leaving a review. For those of you who knew Ralph's food in the 80's and 90's, the food is not the same. It doesn't taste the same. 3 of us ate the buffet today. After waiting 30 minutes we finally asked the waitress could she please have some chicken brought out. Cold pulled pork, burned rolls, only thing I had that was hot was the stew (also the only good thing I ate as my meal). The banana pudding was good as well. So sad that one of my favorites, that I wanted to share with my son and one day grandkids does not exist anymore. To go may be fine, possibly a bbq sandwich, but I do not recommend the buffet. I'm so disappointed and saddened that they have not maintained the quality of the food, which is what made Ralph's THE place to eat. read more

Stopped for lunch while on 95 and it was a great find. Yummy hush puppies, potatoes salad and chopped pork!

Yes I have had better NC BBQ...it's been several years since I ate at this place so I stopped in this past Sunday for lunch. I honestly thought the BBQ was very dry and lacked taste. The vegetables were great and the fried chicken was very good, but I was disappointed in the very bland pork BBQ, I found it not even close the BBQ served at Smithfield BBQ locations in Eastern NC. The service at Ralph's is friendly and the place is clean, but they need to kick up the BBQ to the standard I remembered they served years ago. read more

Excellent Southern style BBQ! The pulled pork is the bomb. Stopped by here otw to Myrtle Beach the location is perfect right off 95. While there I noticed lots of locals, which is always a good sign. They are super busy too, another good sign. Anyway we got the BBQ chicken diner & fried chicken dinner. The BBQ was better than average & the portions were very generous. With that & a 1/2 pound helping of their Banging pulled pork, we spent less than $30. read more

Nothing really special but descent. Got a basket of hush puppies when we sat down. Good pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw. Collards and fried chicken were good too. read more

Craving NC BBQ and stopped here during a road trip. Had the buffet. It was ok. Nothing spectacular. Brunswick stew was tasty but a sodium bomb. The fried chicken was so-so. The pulled and chopped pork was flavorless. Friendly service, tho. Would eat here over the nearby chains only because it's important to help the locally owned places thrive. read more

Ok, buffet. Pulled pork and banana pudding was great. Other sides were just ok and food on buffet needed to be warmer.

My family's been eating here for years, however today was my first time ever, how funny, because I'm not that young! lol! I had a great experience. Our host was charming and nice. I specifically asked about something so random, like where I might find a place to have my car serviced (an unfortunate and random air conditioning issue on a 90 plus degree day ugh), and although the host was very busy, he made time to explain to me where I might be able to find such service in town. I grew up on Eastern NC BBQ, (by a pit in my grandparents back yard), so this place and all the fixins, are stuff I've grown up eating. I really liked the BBQ, the slaw was good and just like I like it and omg, the greens were soo good (thank you to who ever made those), and the watermelon pickles reminded me of my grandma's, they were superb. I didn't try much else, although they have chicken and pastry, which I did try and I think for most folks, it's probably pretty good, but I grew up with my grandmothers and that chicken came from her yard, so honestly, no body can touch that. The service was great and our waitress was so sweet to my mom and my aunt, both in their 80's. I spent a bittersweet weekend, visiting my great uncle, who is 101 years old with my mom and aunt, (both In their 80s) and having lunch at Ralphs with them was really special. The food reminded me of home, I mean, not exactly like my grandmother's but as close as some of us will ever get again to that meal. The staff was sweet, friendly and the food, solid good. I'll be back. read more

$ 32.90 for a plain food, no love, flavor or care. After 25 years things don't get better. Food is good, but the utensils horrible!

Have stopped several times to take a quart of BBQ back to Maryland. It was always good. Today, decided to relax and enjoy the buffet. I was born and raised in NC on BBQ. Their minced and pulled is good, slaw is good. Hush puppies are decent yet taste like fried flour dough rather than cornmeal. Lima beans and turnip greens were yum, chicken n dumplings were watery. I LOVE banana puddin but skip it. It's made with artificially flavored banana pudding and no real bananas. First BBQ restaurant I've ever been to that didnt smell like a camp fire. And yes, inside reeks of vinegar (but take out side doesn't) read more

Great Friday seafood and BBQ buffet. The price is very reasonable and the food choices are plentiful. I love there fried chicken!

This passed the gluten-free, picky husband test. He loved the different kinds of BBQ and the cole slaw. The vinegar pepper sauce was a tad too sweet but still very good. The turnip greens were great. I'm vegan so my options were limited. The salad was very fresh. They had some kind of sweet pickle that tasted almost candied. It was GREAT. Our server was a gem. Ask to sit in Anna's section if you want some comforting NC southern hospitality. read more

We plan our trips down South to coincide with Ralph's hours of operation. Year after year, trip after trip, Ralph's never disappoints. Whole everyone raves about her bbq, which is superb, no doubt, their Mac and cheese and fried chicken is out of this world!!! read more

Decent bbq place, the sauce on the table was almost straight vinegar (I enjoy Eastern Carolina sauce) however this was not my favorite. Pork didn't have much of a smoke flavor. Decent dinner buffet at $11.95 however they do not accept AMEX. Hush puppies were probably the best item of the night. read more

This is a great barbecue spot if you're traveling along I-95. The food was really good, especially the chicken. I'd definitely go back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

This place is retro. Not retro like Johnny Rockets, retro like it's been around forever. I think the decor was updated recently- like the 1970's. But who cares when it serves up decent pulled pork and fried chicken. The sides were just OK, and the hush puppies would have been a lot better if they had been warm. Still, it is a good place to stop if you are hungry and don't want to mosey too far off of 95. read more

We stopped at this place after visiting at Chowan College. This was the first time we stopped there and we were highly disappointed. First, they bought my 2 young daughters cold hot dogs and a spoonfull of fries and charged $2.85 each(hot dog and fries). They brought them back but this time it was microwaved, bubbles all over the hotdog. The buffet HOTMESS!! Mac n cheese tasted like warmed over burnt from last week, rice n gravy was horrible. The stew beef look like they mashed it and it was from 2 weeks ago. The total for our bill was $53.00, they charged everything seperate. No wonder there was no prices on the menu. I wouldn't recommend this place to a starving man on the street. Top it off, couldn't pay with our card. They ask us about the service we told them nicely, they did nothing to make it up or to make us happy. read more

Eastern NC BBQ at it's finest. I'm 51 years old and can remember the hushpuppies at age 2. My family made the trip from Maryland to visit relatives in Eastern NC for years and a stop at Ralph's was mandatory (coming and going!). Ralph's should be a National Landmark... Minced BBQ, Pulled-Pork, Fried Chicken, Homemade sides, and Nana Puddin are my personal favorites, but there is plenty more to choose from. Now my golfing buddies make the annual pilgrimage to Ralph's on the way home from Myrtle. Don't cheat yourself. The Buffet is well worth the price and I recommend the sweet tea to wash it all down... Bring a cooler so you can purchase a pint or quart of BBQ to bring home for the freezer. read more

This was hands down the best barbeque I have ever had. We found this place by accident while driving through the area and I'm so glad it worked out that way. The staff was pleasant and extremely attentive which made the experience all the better. I will definitely be returning when my travels take me to this area again. read more

Ralph's is OK, but in my opinion, nothing about it stands out. On the negative side, I was in there a couple years ago and had to walk by a stinky mop bucket sitting around before walking ingo dining room. read more

Some of the best eastern NC bbq I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Delicious home cooked style sides and the choice of bbq sauce on the buffet is nice for those who don't care for a vinegar based sauce. Two thumbs up! read more

Best N.C. BBQ around, and right off I-95, (just a few miles S of the VA line). Good place to park RV's, easy in/out in front or side lot. They have a take out counter on the left side of the building. We time our trips to pass by here at meal times. They even sell bottles of the N.C. BBQ sauce! read more

I have tried barbecue from all over the country!! I have yet to find a better barbecue place on the planet than ralphs barbecue!!! I love this place!!! read more

3/10/2016, If you are looking for good tasting pork barbecue varieties in North Carolina near I-95 & taste the fare at "Ralph's Barbecue", Weldon, NC 27890. Suggest trying the menu for specific dishes or go for the buffet option where they have three types of barbecue including chopped pork, tomato based, sauce based meat & many of the southern style tasty dishes. All three types of meat are good so best deal is to try all of them as a tasting experience at the buffet. The service is excellent and facilities were clean and well kept. read more

Great food!!! Great hospitality. I went with my family on vacation and we all got the buffet. The pulled pork was great with the cole slaw and fried chicken. Banana pudding was the best. Very affordable. read more

Best food around Littleton. Must go here. It's like thanks giving dinner 7 days a week!

This place is amazing. I come from Charlotte, NC on my way to visit family and I stop here all the time. The flounder plates are awesome, the cole slaw is amazing, the bbq is on point. I've eat bbq all ove this great and lovely state and this is one of the top places on the list. It's good down home country good food. I have had people I know that pass through this area to stop and eat here and they love it as well. It's a great hidden gem of the great state of NC. read more

We had stopped here for dinner because of all the reviews on how great their barbecue was. We walked into the dining room and walked back out. Don't waste your time. The food in the buffet looked like it was leftovers from the lunch buffet that had been sitting there all day long. There were not many people but half the tables had never been cleaned off. The tables that were cleared, when the sun shined in, looked as if they were smeared with grease. read more

We have stopped at Ralph's for the last 10 years when coming and going to Florida . This year was very disappointing. First, the place was NOT busy at all..maybe 5 tables w/ the wife and I. Fried chicken was at best luke warm, brunswick stew was also just luke warm....both were tasty but not up to par. The cashier asked "how was everyuthing", I told her not very good at all compared to previous visits. She replied "oh, i'm sorry"...thats all, nothing more. I will give them one more try next spring... read more

Bought 2 pounds to go and just weighed them and one was 12 ounces the other 10.8 with the tin foil. RIP OFF!!!!!

Pretty good for barbecue. Kind of the only place to in this town so you hope the quality is there - and it is. The restaurant needs a little updating but the food makes up for it. read more

Keep driving... Don't stop here. My sister and I stopped here on Dec 23, since we've tried Ralph's in the past. Thought it was fairly decent back in 2016, since our goto place [in Tarboro] went downhill. What a BIG mistake that was. Waited for 20+ mins for [1] chopped pork sandwich, [2] fried chick platters, a quart of collards & some crappy hush puppies! Cost us almost $50 bucks...for this garbage! My chopped pork sandwich was saturated with vinegar! No hickory smoke flavor.. but plenty of sour vinegar.... So much so the bun & paper it was wrapped in became too soggy to hold or even eat it! After two bites we knew they had ripped us off... The fried chick was the color of a blond brownie or somekinda watered down flavorless light tempura batter, mac & cheese was no better than microwave Stouffers... YUK! To make matters worse the collards tasted like they'd put sugar on them...Yes, sweet collard greens OMG!! This was the worst BBQ we've had in a long time. What's up with the BBQ in [eastern] NC? It is the pig these days or the people fixin the pig? Just know we won't be back to Ralphs... read more

Mention Ralph's and I began to salivate like Pavlov's Dog. During the 60's I used to visit my Grandparents' living in the neighboring town of Weldon. Ralph's was a once/week event. My grandparents would regularly purchase the Cole slaw, Brunswick stew and of course the minced BBQ pork. Those visits became spread out after moving to CT and then FL....but the taste buds remembered. A few months ago during a conference, at Williamsburg I realized that I was ONLY 2 hrs (125 miles) away and that it was doable for an early dinner. My daughter and I took off for Roanoke Rapids, feasted on the buffet (limited my selection to the above 3 items and some incredible fried chicken) and after purchasing a couple of Ralph's T-shirts we headed back completely satiated. My daughter was disappointed that I wouldn't purchase a cooler and take a mess of that good eating back with us to Long Island NY. We both look forward to our return. Highly recommended! If you are there for lunch say hello to KIM the owner. Tell her Jack says "Hi!" read more

lived in Roanoke Rapids for two yrs while stationed at the 632nd radar sqdn. we ate at Raplh's at least twice a week. born and raised in Greenville NC and Ralph's BB"que is the best I've ever eaten. Parkers is good but not as good as Ralph's read more

Ate lunch at Ralph's BBQ today Never Again will I ever give them another Dollar Ever The Food the Service And The Management sucked to say the least I have always Loved that place have been a loyal customer for many years but never will I be treated like that again by them !!!! Feeling very upset don't care if they would go OUT Of Business... The Manager was very rude and Not a good manager at all .......... the customer is always right I know this from 12 years of working at Pizza Hut and he tried to be a smart but being loud and arguing with me when i wasn't even trying to argue with him I was stating the facts old and Cold food on the bar and such the waitress was as rude as he was it is very expensive so you would think they would keep Fresh food out I would be willing to bet that food had been up there on the buffet since they opened nothing was fresh or good for that matter I would advise people to save there money and go somewhere that they would be apprieciated as a customer not treated with disrespect as I was today!!! read more

Pleasantly surprised! Heard about Ralph's from a family member's recommendation and decided to give it a try on our way down to NC. We are foodies and fairly particular about our restaurants. We read recent reviews and frankly were not that excited to try the food. One of us ordered the chopped BBQ plate from the menu and one of us ordered the lunch buffet. We both enjoyed the BBQ (pulled and chopped) along with the accompanying sides (Brunswick stew, beans, etc.) The buffet had a nice variety of choices (fried chicken, chicken salad, seafood, salad, dessert etc.) and was stocked so that all the dishes were kept at their proper temperatures. The staff was courteous and vigilant in making sure that the buffet was kept clean and stocked. Overall the restaurant was very clean, neat, and roomy. There was a faint smell of vinegar when we came in but it did not carry through to the dining area. Not sure why other reviewers complained about the cleanliness. The wait staff was great and the service was speedy. Good food at a good price. We'll be back!! read more