The second best bacon cheeseburger I've had in my LIFE…read more Someone local recommended this place to us so we checked it out. I wasn't too excited because it's not the type of place I'd usually pick, but I went to go along with the group. It ended up being the best place we went during the whole visit to Raleigh. First off, the biscuits and hush puppies they bring out to start were so good. They were better than the biscuits we had at breakfast at a nearby restaurant that actually specializes in biscuits, and the honey butter was intensely flavorful. I just ordered the 4 sides because I'm not a big meat person, and while they were good, once I tasted the cheeseburger someone else at the table ordered, I ended up stealing it from him. They grind the beef for the burger in house, and the quality of the meat is top notch. The service was also 10/10. I don't normally notice or care about service since I'm just in it for the food, but this is one of the few restaurants where I felt genuinely welcomed in. I will absolutely be prioritizing coming back here again next time I'm visiting.

Food 7/10 Service 8/10…read moreAmbiance 7/10 Wooooogooodddoooogiiiessss. Talk about your Carolina barbecue. It came with an enormous amount of food. I personally let the fried chicken the best. The brisket was a little fatty for me yet I like my brisket lean. And the pulled pork was tasty. Also, the deviled eggs for appetizers are a must get The service was good very fast to get your food out and the ambience was your cute. Typical Carolina barbecue restaurant.

Big back activities ! I found this place while looking for…read moreanother restaurant and decided ... why not ?! Whew ! The cornbread skillet by far was my favorite then the wings ! The ribs and sides were fairly good but I devoured the cornbread and can't stop dreaming about it lol. Service and ambiance were wonderful and I cannot wait to go back soon!

Went with a teammate from Texas, wanted to compare between her usual spots and NC style…read more Overall great experience. Brisket was a bit dry but the chicken and bbq were tasty. They offer different sauces as well. First timers get banana pudding as a thank you for trying out. Server was also really personable and answered our questions. Also at a good spot of downtown to walk around after a meal.

Another stop on my Raleigh barbecue tour, Sam Jones BBQ was well worth the visit…read more I stopped in solo and grabbed a seat at the counter, starting with a Bulleit Bourbon before settling in for dinner. I ordered the Jones Family Original BBQ Tray, which comes with slaw, their slow-smoked whole-hog pork, Skylight Inn-style cornbread, and mac and cheese. The pork was the star of the show. Smoky, tender, and full of flavor, with those delicious crispy edges you expect from properly cooked whole-hog barbecue. You can really taste the Carolina oak and hickory smoke, and the vinegar-forward Eastern North Carolina style gives the pork a nice tang without overpowering it. The cornbread was excellent and the mac and cheese was a comforting side that paired nicely with the pork. I also appreciated being able to sit at the counter and watch the place in action--it has a relaxed, unfussy barbecue-joint atmosphere that fits the food perfectly. And I enjoyed my conversation with the bartender. Sam Jones has definitely earned its reputation for Eastern North Carolina whole-hog barbecue. Another strong stop on my Raleigh barbecue tour, and one I'd happily return to.

Came in with a party of 8 on a Friday at 11 when they opened. For meats, we ordered pulled pork,…read morebrisket, and ribs. I don't love pulled pork because it tends to be dry, and it was no different in this case. The brisket was also a bit dry but the house sauce helped. I ended up dousing most of my food in it. The ribs were the best meat out of the three. It was tender and flavorful. For sides, we had slaw, mac and cheese, collard greens, potato salad, loaded baked potato, and a green salad. My favorite was definitely the slaw. I love a good slaw with BBQ meats. My least favorite was the mac and cheese, which was dry and basic. Everything else was fine. I'm glad we got to try so many sides, and got to check this spot out. But I think next time in Raleigh, I'd like to try some other BBQ places I haven't tried yet.

Back for more - this is officially my fave bbq in Raleigh. Walked in with a group of 6 and ordered:…read more + Cheerwine slush with rum + Pigpen with fries, collards and mac and cheese + Cornbread + Frito pie + Chocolate chess pie Loved the cheerwine slush. Pigpen was awesome and a great deal - fries, mac and pulled pork were highlights. Everyone loved the ribs, too. Cornbread a Frito pie were also excellent. Chocolate pie was perfect! Also got takeout for the plane ride home - half chicken, sweet potatoes and potato salad were all excellent.

Longleaf Swine is one of my favorite Raleigh restaurants. I've been a few times for Sunday brunch…read moreand it never disappoints. The brunch menu has a variety of options, but I continue to hyper fixate on the breakfast burrito. It's delicious and loaded with brisket. Like what more can you ask for? I can also highly recommend their cold brew, smoked chicken wings, and their regular bbq platters. Their brisket in general is the best I've had in Raleigh - so tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Great BBQ and great vibes.

I heard it was the best Texas barbecue in the Triangle, and I agree that it does not disappoint…read more I've been here a couple of times, and the brisket is always tender, the flavors are solid, and the chicken is moist. It can get a bit crowded, so make sure you have enough time, but if you love Texas barbecue I think you'll love this place, too. It's no nonsense and all about the food.

I came by on a Friday for lunch. I got in line at 10:50 and had my food right at 12:00, so it…read morewasn't too bad! I got a two meat plate ($30) with smoked turkey breast, pork rib, Mac and cheese, and BBQ rice. Both of the meats were solid! I'm not a huge fan of red meat and I know turkey is always a gamble on the dryness, but it was nice and juicy! The ribs were good too. Mac was solid. The BBQ rice was pretty disappointing - super mushy texture, I didn't end up eating it. Super nice staff and clean space!

Real BBQ!! With awesome sides. And DELICIOUS and plentiful hush puppies. I was in heaven. The BBQ…read morepork was great and the fried chicken was absolutely some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Everything was delicious. The restaurant has a classic look and feel...Ole Time, just as the name suggests. We went on a Friday at lunchtime, and only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. There is a very quick turnover. Our server was wonderful! Attentive, quick and funny. As a former NC resident, and a visitor now after a long time away, this is exactly what I remembered and wanted, and Ole Time Barbeque delivered!

Food here is amazing. Service is equally as good. The restaurant is small but so cozy, and more…read morethan friendly.....kind of like extended family. I actually got emotional over the pork BBQ the 1st time I had it. Lets say I'm very far away from being a kid, but the taste and flavor reminded me of being a kid and having fresh homemade BBQ from my grandad. I am born and raised here in a part of town between Raleigh, and Durham. I always felt I'ved had the best in both cities growing up and as an adult. Somehow this place escaped me till a couple of months ago. I've now been 3 or 4 times, and food has been the same each time which is amazing! All my kids, and mom feel the say way. This is a hidden gem unless you already know!! Also first time I went there an older gentleman chatted me up. He made me feel more welcome. He was like me but he already know about this place for a while and was getting a kick out of me just stumbling onto the establishment. Mac, and cheese, Collards, Fried chicken, French-fries, Hush puppies, and the Apple cobbler were all FIRE! Hopefully I'll get to try everything soon. Sorry didn't take any pics because as soon as I got the food I started to eat the food.

I came in for a quick bite before a movie and ended up ordering a whole plate because of the…read moremouthwatering smells alone -- i was not disappointed!! Got the collards, baked beans and pulled pork at the rec of a sweet man who checked on us while we were waiting to order. Pulled pork is one of my most loved bbqs, and theirs might top my list in the area so far. We immediately started planning to come back for that alone. Orange crushes and sides were also absolutely on point. Everyone was incredibly sweet on staff, and the restaurant was clean and attentive. I'm looking forward to returning to try more, thanks to the team for the wonderful and friendly service + quick meal! Prices were also far more reasonable than what I expected and the quality of food was incredible.

I thought the service was good. The meat is vinegar-based, so be prepared for that if you're not a…read morefan of vinegar-forward flavors. Slaw can always be hit or miss for me, and it was just okay for me. Not a hit for me. The beans were good, and the meat was definitely worth mentioning. I got the 2 meat platter with choice of sausage, mine had a nice kick and good seasoning throughout. The pulled pork was good as well. A person in my party got the ribs, and I enjoyed those too. I'd definitely return if I were in that part of town.

I was on the hunt for some good, classic Southern fried chicken and had heard that Clyde Cooper's…read moreis one of the places to try in Raleigh. The restaurant has been serving Southern food since 1938, and there's something appealing about stepping into a place with that kind of history. The fried chicken lived up to the reputation--crispy, well-seasoned, and juicy without being greasy. The sides were equally satisfying and had the comforting, old-school quality you hope for in a traditional Southern meal. The service also exemplified Southern charm and hospitality. I decided not to sample the smoked meats on this visit. I had read that Clyde Cooper's no longer relies exclusively on wood for smoking and now uses a combination of wood, electricity, and gas. For me, the smoking method is an important part of the barbecue experience, so I stuck with the fried chicken. That said, for classic Southern cooking, the fried chicken alone makes Clyde Cooper's worth a stop. It's a Raleigh institution with plenty of history--and the chicken still has the goods.

Stopped by Clyde Cooper's Barbecue last weekend and they might have some of the best fried chicken…read morein the NC triangle! When you arrive parking can be a bit tricky in this area depending on what time you arrive. We parked on the side street and walked over vs. parking in the lot out front. Walking in the restaurant feels historic, unpretentious, and casual. To be seated you'll check in with the host and then be shown to your table. We opted to sit outside as the inside dining room is a bit small. To start I ordered the Cherry Poppins cocktail (cape fear frying pan bourbon, lime curd, cheerwine soda) which had a pretty heavy bourbon pour but was good. For food we ordered the Meats & the fixins sampler with chopped bbq pork, fried chicken dark, brisket, and smoked wings (tossed in lemon pepper). For sides we ordered fries and the Mac & cheese. Wow, the stand out item by far was the fried chicken as it fell apart, was super moist and wish I ordered more of it. Our server even jokingly mentioned the fried chicken was better than the fried chicken she makes at home. Overall this was a great experience and definitely check out Clyde copper's bbq if you are in the north Raleigh area.

Wow.... YUMMY I LOVE RIBS and they make them perfect. I…read moretried the different sauces too. They are all good but I like the FIRE the best. Great service, fun upbeat environment. No problem getting in and order came up quickly. All around 5 star place. My photo was half way through my endurance. So it's not pretty after I ate half but super good tasting.

Horrible. I've eaten at 4 different City Barbecue restaurants & the one on Lake Boone Trail was, by…read morefar, the worst. The pulled pork tasted good but, was full of fat. Also, the greens tasted like someone had dumped an entire shaker of salt in them--totally inedible, even after rinsing them with water. I called the restaurant to let them know about the greens and was on hold for almost 15 minutes. When I finally reached someone he said, "Yeah, sorry 'bout that." I guess that I'll try Mission BBQ or drive to Clayton for some Smithfield Chicken & BBQ. I was really hoping that I'd found a good BBQ place in Raleigh.

The most delicious chicken and waffles on earth! i've been here a couple times, the dining room…read moreroom is small and cozy, service is great and the food is excellent

I went back to Beasley's Chicken & Honey one last time as they close January 25th. Even on a cold,…read morerainy morning, there was a line outside before opening. I understand as if you aren't seated when they open, you can expect a 90-minute to two-hour wait. I was hoping to get the Chicken Pot Pie this time and thought my prior visit was just off. I was thrilled that most of the menu was available. They were just out of the banana pudding. So I got to try the pecan wings I read about with the white sauce. It was so good. Then I got the chicken pot pie and biscuits. The pot pie had old biscuits for the topping, but the creamy mixture with large chunks of chicken was delicious. My biscuits came with honey and were served warm. I left with a slice of the chocolate-caramel-coconut cake, a side salad without onions, and a fried boneless thigh. The salad was made correctly, and the dressing was included. The salad was full of veggies, and the cake was rich and moist. Service was friendly and as soon as I finished my iced tea, another appeared. My wings were brought out first and it was a while for the rest of the meal as the restaurant was full. But they didn't rush me at all. I actually liked the space between the dishes, as I might not have been able to eat it all otherwise. I couldn't finish both biscuits and was even provided a container for the honey. I am going to miss Beasley's, but I'm glad I got a positive experience to remember the restaurant.