Pitmaster Sam Jones Brings Barbecue Legacy to Downtown Raleigh Amid Pandemic | Eater Carolinas

"Run by a third-generation pitmaster who grew up working at his family’s famed whole-hog operation in Ayden, this downtown Raleigh barbecue spot opened for dine-in on February 16 after a to-go soft launch earlier in the month. The menu mirrors the Greenville flagship and is deliberately streamlined around perfectly smoked, chopped whole-hog barbecue; other highlights include a massive smokehouse baked potato stuffed with bacon, cheese, sour cream, butter, scallions and choice of smoked meat with house barbecue sauce, catfish sandwich and bites made with locally farmed Carolina Classics catfish, smokehouse sandwiches, and a 1947 burger. The easiest way to sample the offerings is the family Original BBQ Tray (barbecue pork, a piece of the family’s longtime Ayden-style cornbread, and a side) or the three-meat/two-side/cornbread combo (with spare ribs as an upgrade). A modest bar features craft cocktails — including an Old Fashioned made with Evan Williams Black Label — plus a small, thoughtful beer and wine list. The team pivoted during the pandemic by building its own online-ordering app and perfecting curbside pickup to avoid third-party fees, finished 2020 with record sales without furloughing staff, and emphasizes focused cooking, community-minded service, and convenient takeout as permanent parts of the concept. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m." - Jenn Rice