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Sweet Lew’s BBQ

4.0 (333 reviews)
ModerateBarbeque
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Order Sweet Lew’s BBQ Takeout or Delivery

Sweet Lew’s BBQ Barbeque Restaurant Photos

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SWEET LEW’S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Sweet Lew’s BBQ

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Ally F.

Aesthetic: Southern traditional barbecue restaurant with delicious plates and sandwiches at a reasonable price What to try: Brisket or Pork sammies and a side of boiled peanuts Service: Attentive Parking: There is some parking in the back Rating: 4/5, they are our neighbors, the food is delicious, and I love that they offer a side of boiled peanuts with their meals

Sliced brisket pork ribs collard greens macaroni and cheese hush puppy
K P.

This was my first time trying this restaurant, and I can honestly say it's a true hidden gem. From the moment the food came out, I could tell I was in for a good experience. The brisket was incredibly tender and juicy -- perfectly cooked with great flavor in every bite. You can really taste the care that goes into the preparation. The portions are also very generous, especially for the price, which is something I always appreciate. I love that they give complimentary hush puppies -- that small touch really makes a difference and adds to the overall Southern BBQ experience. The macaroni and cheese was creamy and flavorful, not dry at all, and the collard greens were absolutely amazing -- seasoned perfectly and full of flavor. Definitely some of the best sides I've had in a while. The white sauce and the sweet heat BBQ sauce were both standouts. The white sauce added a tangy kick, while the sweet heat had the perfect balance of sweetness with just enough spice to keep it interesting. Together, they really elevated the meal. Mac's Speed Shop is normally my go-to spot when I'm craving BBQ, but I decided to try something different this time -- and I'm so glad I did. This place truly exceeded my expectations. Between the quality of the food, the portion sizes, and the overall flavor, I will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend giving this place a try if you're looking for delicious, well-seasoned BBQ.

2 Meat Plate w/ Ribs and Brisket; Mac n' Cheese and Bbq Potatoes.
Stanley T.

The rating is more of a 3.5 as my experience wasn't bad, but it could have been better. The atmosphere feels as if it was a family establishment which made me have high hopes on how the food was going to be. The service wasn't terrible as there was nothing really to give an opinion on. The staff felt nonchalant, but man do they work fast! I was able to order and receive my food in less than 10 minutes. I ordered the 2 meat plate with brisket and ribs to get an experience of the place which gave me 2 sides, so of course I'm going to try the mac n' cheese and their bbq potatoes sounded interesting. The meat overall wasn't bad, but I had different expectations. The brisket was all fat, with a sliver of meat, but the ribs were fantastic, i just wish it was mover flavorful with one having to drown it in its bbq sauce. The mac n' cheese was bland, which was unfortunate because I saw reviews saying it was delicious. The potatoes just tasted as if they were soaking in italian dressing overnight. I'm glad they gave me hushpuppies because those were the saving grace side dish. I would try here again, but I'd be skeptical on what I order next.

MaryJane O.

Welcoming friendly atmosphere. Quirky authentic decor. Food is fire -- the cook left no crumbs (and neither did we). The lady serving behind the counter was sweet and adorable made us feel right at home. This BBQ got it right--we got the best flounder on the planet, barbecue ribs (of course) and yummy hush puppies. Cute neighborhood. We will be back!

Pork Sandwich
Elizabeth R.

Friendly service and timely. Appreciate the packaging of the to-go food. The bbq itself was quite dry and could use more flavor. The vibes seem good if one were to eat inside.

Liz M.

Sweet Lews's needs more love! I'm amazed this place does not come up more on lists and recs for Charlotte. On a Reddit thread I saw someone comment on how good their sides are, so I really wanted to give it a shot. We ordered a 3 meat plate (ribs, NC style pork, and brisket) with one extra side. It was an amazing mix to try for two people. Lew's is making everything from scratch and it really shows. This is what that Reddit guy was talking about!!! The baked beans, potato salad, Cole slaw, pickles, and collards were all really really good. The barbecue was solid. I really liked the ribs the most, they were perfect. Service is super friendly and the space is very cute. Would be great for a date night out or for family dinner. It's a lovely clean establishment with really nice people. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone!

Potato Salad Brisket Baked Beans Pork Ribs Hush puppies
Felicia R.

The staff was great and its cute bbq spot. The food was fresh, well seasoned, and hot. The ribs were super tender. You get a lot of food so I recommend getting different meats and sides to share if going with a group. Will definitely go back when in town again.

Half Chicken Combo Plate Collard Greens Boiled Peanuts
Karlie C.

Had a 10/10 experience here today. I love bbq chicken but it can either be cold or dry and this was neither! It was fresh and the rub on it was really good. The collards had a good balance of vinegar to sweet. They make their own boiled peanuts and you can tell by the taste of them. The hush puppies are great. The tea is brewed strong enough. I loved everything I had. The service was also great. The lady who took our order was nice. The owner came by to check up on us and we yapped at him for a bit. I'd absolutely come back again sometime.

1 lb. Pork Ribs Mac and Cheese were great as were the hush puppies, that's about it
Mark G.

This was really like a 2.8 star rating. We came in on a Sunday morning in December right when they opened and we were their first and only customers. I've been to all of the Top 50 bbq joints in Texas and I was excited to try some Carolina pork. According to multiple websites, Sweet Lew's was one of the highest rated in Charlotte. Good news first. The mac and cheese was absolutely phenomenal. Perfect mix of creamy and cheesy and the pasta was not overcooked. The ribs were actually pretty good too. They were dry rubbed and had a good tug to it. They ate like some of the best jerky you ever had which I realize sounds like a bad thing, but I really enjoyed the texture on them. Also don't skip the hush puppies, some of the best I ever had. However when I noticed that they held all their meat in a hot box and all the meat was kept in plastic ziploc bags, my heart sank. My chopped pork had such a chemical flavor to it. It was super dry and I couldn't taste any smoke at all. I was embarrassed for them when I saw that's how they held their meat. The cauliflower casserole, which was on special, should just be left off their menu. The cauliflower was harder than al dente and it was sitting in some soupy sauce, had no flavor, I didn't get it at all. The red slaw was fine, nothing to write home about. The thing that sent me over the edge though was the sauces in the squeeze bottles on the table. They were sour and not in a good way. They were off. They turned. They were spoiled and expired. The vinegar sauce tasted fermented like kombucha and the Alabama sauce had to be spat out. What a disappointment.

My order was the brisket sandwich, red slaw & Mac. The brisket was dried out, there were many parts of hard meat & very spicy from the ovepepper. The Mac was nothing more than over-cooked noodles and lots of pepper. Surprisingly the lemonade was very good. First time here, but I'll stick to Smoke Pit

Sampler
Brian P.

On my second trip to Charlotte I convinced my coworker to join me for some authentic NC BBQ. This joint is a great find. Pulled pork- really really tasty. Even better with their house bbq sauce. Brisket- Good taste, but texture was slightly soggy. Ribs- Good. Nice bark. Sides- really really good especially the mac and cheese. Other positives: -Best peach cobbler id ever eaten hands down. -Super clean restaurant. Spotless bathrooms.

Beef Ribs, BBQ Hash, and Hush Puppies
Ian N.

Beef Ribs (5/5): Big, meaty, and delicious. The bark may have been a tad over seasoned, but otherwise no complaints.

Munah H.

5 STARS HANDS DOWN!! I visited this place daily during my trip to Charlotte. The customer service is impeccable from everyone, I met the owner too and he was so kind! I dined in and also did to-go orders and both experiences were great. They have so many amazing options to choose from!! One of my trips there I got Italian style burnt ends, brisket and rib tips. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection my goodness!!! I took some food back home to Boston and my mother couldn't stop raving about it! You must check this place out!!

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11 days ago

Used door dash. The pulled pork & brisket were excellent. Was ready within a few mins and was delivered quickly. Highly recommend.

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Lewis D.

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Ask the Community - Sweet Lew’s BBQ

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Meh. When you need…read moreto 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.

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Sweet Lew’s BBQ - bbq - Updated May 2026

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