Abrams Bar-B-Q of Tarboro

It was my first time eating here, everything was fresh and delicious! 😋 definitely would come back :)

On June 22nd, 2025, I stopped in the restaurant side to order a to-go order. I walked in, and as always I dealt with Victoria. She is always super nice, and very respectful. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese on white bread, & a cheese biscuit (add fried egg & tenderloin and gravy with very light gravy). I got home and realized the wrapping was massive. Once I opened my tenderloin and gravy, this is what it looked like. It was extremely soggy and I had to move it to a plate. The cheese biscuit looked big, but it was only bc it was all broken up and falling apart. The quality and presentation has gone down tremendously. I’m wondering if it’s bc the owner has to much going on to realize what’s happening in the restaurant business (zoo; and horse camps). For whatever the reason is, it will be a while before I return. I hate this bc Victoria is an all time favorite, but I can’t go to a place just bc we love one person! Get it together, Abrams! For a go to spot, that’s been around for ages, it has to get better.

Good Morning, Customer service is the heart of any business, and ensuring customers leave satisfied should always be the top priority. I’ve visited Abram’s of Tarboro several times, and I wanted to share some observations that I believe could help improve the overall experience: • The use of white paper bags with handwritten notes as signs doesn’t reflect the quality customers expect. Clear, professional signage with accurate prices on the display menu board would make a big difference. • The current menu board appears scratched off in places, which makes it difficult for customers to know how much food is before you purchase it • The greeting and interaction at the order counter and window could be more welcoming. A simple smile or warm tone can set the tone for the entire visit. I truly believe Abram’s has great potential, but small improvements in presentation and customer service can create a much more positive experience for everyone. Thank you for taking this feedback into consideration, and I look forward to seeing how things improve.

Best cheese biscuits, and the seafood plate is really good and a lot. Will come back.

Food was served at table in a Take out box. Max and cheese not good. Bbq and slaw ok. No buffet like it used to be. Greeted by person eating at bar. Will not be back. When I saw no one there on a Sat. I knew run. Don’t know what happened but Abram’s has gone down hill. Need serious overhaul.

I eat at this Abram’s location often on my lunch break. On September 3rd I ordered my food to go like I usually do. Once I got back to work I was about to bite into my bbq sandwich and saw a dead fly in the bbq. I took my food back & as soon I walked in the girl (light skinned with glasses) that had originally taken & fixed my order asked me what was wrong with my order & I told her there was a fly in my bbq sandwich & I would like a refund. She started saying stuff under her breath that I couldn’t hear. Once she was finished with the other customer I handed her my bag & showed her the same photo I am posting here. She had an attitude & looked at me like why was I telling her. They never apologized or anything. They don’t have any customer service skills.The girl working the drive through quickly handed me my refund & that was that. I questioned the cleanliness of this place anyway. I will never eat here again.

While visiting family, we stopped in for breakfast to go one morning. I ordered a link sausage and cheese biscuit. After arriving back at my parents' home, I sat down, unfolding the foil covering it. The oils from the cheese, sausage, and butter from the biscuit glistening on my fingers. I knew then that this was going to be magical. At the first bite, I started crying😢. Not because it was bad but because it was so damn good and I was too far away to order a second one😁. Now im back in Louisiana, and it's been weeks since I ate there. But just thinking about it is making me want to go now. So if you find yourself in Tarboro,NC then stop in and try for yourself. You can thank me later.

I am no field inspector ... but my 1st and only experience on Friday, July 25th, around 5ish was noteworthy. After ordering a takeout... a white woman drove up in a white SUV, walked into to takeout section, went behind the counter, grabbed a cup and proceeded to put her hand in the ice machine to retrieve a cup of ice... all the while making conversation with the staff a d thanking one for coming in today. She left with the cup and had another conversation with a customer about a "UTI." I asked the young lady at checkout, who she was. She replied her name is Nancy, and she is the owner. I was appalled !!! She should be the 1st to set a good hygiene example. She should not be exempt from washing her grungy hands and sticking it in places where others have to eat or drink from. Totally unacceptable and clean off the layers of dirt and dust from the light fixtures above the food !!!! Not ever coming back here !!!! Stephanie Sutton

Great BBQ, corn sticks and slaw. The people are so friendly- food is fast and it's clean and casual.

We were in the area visiting family and this was the spot recommended. We ordered food to go. The take out and/or drive thru option was unexpected. We went in to get a visual on the food. As expected it was a typical southern food style set up where the a lot of the sides are pre-prepared. We ordered trout, whiting, chopped BBQ, Lima beans, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and string beans. Everything was pretty decent. Although, we had to add a bit more vinegar to the chopped bbq and extra seasoning to everything else. Didn't take too long to doctor it up a bit more. The service was nice. They were patient as us, non regular, customers took way too long to order. Would I go back - sure. There's not many other options in the area. But I'd get it to go to, again, doctor it up a bit.

We order breakfast multiple times a week from Abrams. We always have a large order. Our food is always ready when promised. Order is correct and hot when we receive it. Thank you!

Enjoyed lunch at Abrams, Sunday, Sept 22,2024. Great southern BBQ, endless buffet, really inexpensive, and service outstanding.

There was one car in the drive thru ahead of me this morning. I waited 15 minutes to get my order. I would have just left but you can't get out of the drive thru. My biscuit was extremely dry and the tea tasted like chlorine. Food and service has been seriously declining during the past 6 months. It was my favorite breakfast spot. I also ordered a chicken plate Friday at 2pm. The chicken was so dry that it was not edible. I won't be returning. Sad, it used to be my favorite breakfast spot. Now it's just slow and disgusting.

Why is KFC famous and this place isn't?? Best chicken ever. Hushpuppies are off the chain too

Driving home from OBX we wanted some classic North Carolina BBQ. The classic "don't judge a book based on the cover" saying holds true for Abrams. You walk in and it might not look like much, the menu might look simple but the meal they give you is nowhere near average. I got the classic BBQ & fried Chicken dinner with boiled potatoes and collard greens. The chicken was juicy & crispy and tasted even better when I washed it down with sweet tea. I scarfed down my entire plate leaving full and happy. I wished I lived closer to get more meals like this - truly is a bang for your buck with such a quality meal and so many options. I hope to be back again!

We really wanted barbecue on the way home from the OBX, and we found this place on google and it had good reviews so we went. As luck would have it, they had a buffet! Normally I dislike buffets because I never get my money's worth, and I think they're nasty but an employee was up there constantly cleaning it! Plus, at a barbecue place they're perfect for me! I don't like a large serving of anything served at these joints, but I love a taste of everything! The fried chicken was moist, and fried perfectly, and I literally picked it clean (I'm aware that sounds gross!). I also loved the barbecue, the collards, the corn (Oh my god!), the chicken and dumplings, and the banana pudding. I didn't get to taste everything, but what I had was so good, I had to take some home!

this is our sunday breakfast place. staff is fantastic and food is great. everyone always leaves full and satisfied

Stopped today so we could eat something other than fast food. Hubs and I both got chicken and BBQ combo, pops, and a shared dessert for less than $30. Chicken was ok, not super. BBQ was ok but a bit vinegary. Different than what we're used to. Combo came with slaw, and 2 sides. I had mashed taters and green beans, both were good. He had fries and green beans. He said fries were not good. The slaw was unlike anything we've had, not bad at all but different. Peach cobbler was pretty good. P.S staff please don't complain in front of customers. It's awkward and unprofessional

Another nice Eastern style BBQ joint (a small chain actually) we had not been to in quite a while - ended that drought at lunch on the way back from the OBX. They serve all 3 meals, with a lunch & dinner buffet available ($8.99 with drink included), and they're open on Sunday. We got there about 10:45, and thought like many Mom & Pop places that also serve breakfast, that lunch items would be available, but they have a clean switch at 11. These nice folks had the buffet setup, so they opened it early for us. Now that's down home Eastern NC hospitality. The buffet was almost without exception excellent. The BBQ is moderately chopped, well sauced with an Eastern style sauced, moist and tender, though there is no smokiness. This is nice Eastern pig. The Beef Stew was as good as I've had in a restaurant - the chunks of beef were falling apart tender, and flavorful. The Fried Chicken was also just superb - great crust, fried perfectly, and very well seasoned. I'm not kidding, this chicken went immediately into my top 5. The Chicken 'N' Pastry was also excellent, the collards were good as well. The Hushpuppies are as good as you're likely to find. The Banana Pudding was just so-so - no actual cutup banana there. The cheesy Scalloped potatoes were killer. Although we didn't try any on this visit, this folks also do great fried seafood. Very good BBQ, and much more here. Very nice value at $8.99 including drink, and exceptionally friendly, accommodating folks. I ask for a copy of their take out menu, and they were out, so the lady at the register gave me one of their plastic inhouse ones to take with me. We'll definitely be back, and probably soon.

We were over charged for our biscuits. We ordered one chicken and cheese, one cheese, and one sausage and cheese biscuit. Our purchase came to $17. I hadn't realized it until we left. I would have felt better about paying more had the food been exceptionally good. My chicken and cheese biscuit (tenderloin) was fried dark meat chicken! I only eat white meat. If i am being told that i will be getting a tenderloin, I expect a tender of white chicken breast. This was very dry, old fried boneless chicken thighs. I haven't eaten dark meat chicken in years. I could immediately tell the taste was off. Very disappointed!

Came here otw to the OBX. Great stop along the way! Good prices and great selection. Only negative is the amount of flies inside, but I guess is typical with country buffets.

Let me start by saying not a big fan of a buffet. Abram's was about as good as you could expect. The fried chicken was top notch and fresh, hot and moist. On this day, they had boiled cabbage, black eyed peas, green beans and sweet potatoes. I went back for black eyed peas, cabbage and an embarrassing number of hush puppies. No frills, but well worth the $8.99 that included a drink. If I am ever by there again , I would definitely stop.

Get a break platter (3 strips of bacon) a little of eggs but the person in front of me get 5 pieces of bacon on a biscuit and a large scoop of eggs

I have been to every BBQ place on the NC BBQ Trail that covers Eastern Carolina BBQ, even making the trip all the way to Ayden to eat at Skylight Inn BBQ. Abrams has the best meat. It's not a BBQ place, at least I don't consider it such, it's a buffet restaurant, but the meat and slaw are pure Eastern NC BBQ. There are no buns in the buffet, so you are basically eating pork and slaw from a styrofoam plate, but its amazing pork and amazing slaw. The fried chicken is outstanding as well. The Mac and cheese is good, not great because I think it suffers from being served buffet style. The hushpuppies are eastern style (Fingers, not balls) and the ones I had were dry and meh. But you dont come for that, you come, and everyone there on the Sunday I was there, came for the community. Abrams just FEELS like Eastern NC BBQ, from the clammy red and white table cloths, to the sweet tea. If you are driving from Raleigh to the OBX, this is a MUST stop.

Just moved here from California I love it the food is great an the people who work there are very friendly

Lunch was great. Bbq and chicken combo was great. Got fried and bbq versions excellent. Unfortunately the cheddar biscuits are only available until 11am, so I missed them. Bbq is eastern style, it was great. Good flavor but not to vinegar'ie. Worth a stop, nice and clean. Quick friendly staff...its not that far off 64 so dont settle for a fast food burger at the ramp. Drive a block.

Looking for BBQ Restaurant. Didn't find one! The lady said this is real southern food. They didn't have any greens, ribs, bbq chicken or any bbq for that matter and No cornbread. They had cornbread sticks that tasted like cereal. Yams were made with cinnamon ONLY! Shredded pork tasted expired. AND HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY COLLARD GREENS!!! I do not recommend this restaurant!!

Their famous cheese biscuit is definitely a must. Pair it with a link of sausage or a couple of strips of bacon and it's a great tasting breakfast. Have a cup of their sweet to to wash it down. Definitely not the meal you want to have if you are trying to be healthy, but it sure does hit the spot for some southern comfort food.

As a Greenville resident I waited a long time for Abrams to open back up after a fire. This week they opened back up and the food proved to be delicious, just like before. However, the sides portion size is considerably less. The sides are the size of a toddler plates but the price has gone up. As glad as I was that they opened back up; I feel overcharged and won't continue to go. My whole group feels this way.

Just ok for NC BBQ. The service is great - everyone there is super friendly and attentive in all the right ways. But the food is really just so-so. There are many better options around eastern NC. And the thing with the cheese biscuits... you put an enormous sign in front of the restaurant advertising your famous cheese biscuits, then only sell them at breakfast? That's a little silly.

In a state filled with fabulous bar-b-q, this place was mediocre at best. I was there at lunch, and they were certainly pushing the buffet. My son ordered a hamburger and fries, and I was really wishing I had opted for that over the buffet (not something that should ever happen at a BBQ place in NC). As for the items on the buffet, the fried chicken was pretty good, BBQ was decent if you added some of their sauce to it. Corn tasted straight out of a can. Their slaw was one of the oddest concoctions I've ever tried, tasted more like a cucumber salad that had been put through the blender. For the positives- the price was decent, and I do believe I know every bit of Tarboro gossip there is to know.

This Abrams is not as good as the pinetops one. There are hardly any seat to sit. Breakfast bar is slim.

BEST CHEESE BISCUITS! But I wish they would serve them all day long!! I work in the morning so when I get off the cheese biscuits are always gone Thks

Went in at 3. Place was empty. They forgot we were there. The service was good afterward. The BBQ is simply ok. The collards and the slaw were yummy. The BBQ sauce is off putting. I don't know if I liked it or not. They had no mac and cheese and said they only do on weekends or Sunday. The food was fast and editable. I feel like we hit a off day there

Buffet Lunch did not look appealing but was surprisingly flavorful. Greens, chopped BBQ, and yams were all seasoned well. Clean dining room and bathrooms. Styrofoam plates.

Perfect Southern style food, all sides are great, Eastern NC style BBQ. Great flavor. Their slaw is my favorite kind. I like theirs better than Parkers and Dixie Queen now. Cannot wait to come back here again soon.

Placed a large phone order and get told "It'll be ready in 20 minutes." Had 3 cars ahead of us in the drive thru. Didn't mind waiting thinking our order would be waiting. NOPE! Sat at the window about 10 mins before the cashier even acknowledged us. Then another 10 while she checked out the walk-in folks before taking my payment. Then another 10,or longer waiting on the order which hadn't been made up yet. Girl comes to the window and starts asking if we had BBQ sandwiches....um no, it was a big order for my old man (I gave his name)...$60+ worth, Run a couple of errands, get home and the only combo plate is missing the white meat chicken and green beans altogether! Instead it has creamed potatoes (which I told her he didn't want) & BBQ tatters only! ???? WTH??? All I can say is, If you want your food somewhat fast...walk-in & watch everything that gets done and STILL double check every bit of your order before leaving. He was so aggravated he said to hell with calling. Can't say I blame him. I don't care for the food there much anyway.

Wow what a hidden gem. The buffet is so good. It's like your grandmothers cooking but better. I think the meat selection changes but they always have eastern style (vinegar) pork barbecue and the sides were white beans, corn, green beans, yams and a few others. The peach cobbler was amazing. Comes with a drink for like $9/person. Can't beat it.

Stopped at Abram's today after asking a local where we could find some good NC BBQ. We both ordered the BBQ dinner, which comes with slaw, 2 sides, and hush puppies. For what we paid, the quantities were very plentiful! As for taste, it sure wasn't lacking! The BBQ was a little dry, but flavorful. Veggies were good, and the mac n cheese was great! Puppies were tasty, but the only thing that had a strange texture...little rubbery. Still, the taste overrode the texture. Service was good. Only thing we had to get up and ask for was ketchup. I would very much go here again. One note: this is not diet food!

Whenever we go to Tarboro, we eat at least one meal there. We love this place and have always had good, friendly service. If you go for breakfast remember the grits! (OK, I was raised in Tarboro and love grits with my eggs......) My favorite for lunch is the good ole eastern NC Barbecue (yes, there is a western NC version also), cole slaw (chopped, vinegar based), brunswick stew and hush puppies. (makes my mouth water just typing that) or the BBQ sandwich w/cole slaw. There are other many items on the menu (southern fried chicken!), so anyone can find something to order. The food is dependably good for this laid back, small southern town. You get good portions for very reasonable prices,

Great seafood buffet on Friday nights! The staff are friendly and helpful as well. :)

Service this morning was not very good. Waited 10 minutes before anyone came over to our table. Very slow service on coming back to the table with coffee. Took order and food was not hot. Will be awhile before we come back.

I ate at your restaurant in Greenville just before Christmas and I was so disappointed that you did not have Brunswick stew. I thought the Brunswick stew I ate at Pinetops when my daddy pastored Edgewood Church was soooo good, and I was so looking forward to getting some for my daughter for Christmas. The chicken tasted as good as when your daddy used to cook it around 1956 and '57, and the collards were so tasty. They told me that Gerald would be there in a little while for their Christmas party but I needed to get home. Would love to see all of you again. Do you have Brunswick stew at your Tarboro location? If so, I will stop in when I am on my way to Rocky Mount to see my daughter. Lexa Edwards McMicken

You shouldn't go to this restaurant. So why the five stars you may be asking yourself? Because the food transcends delicious, that's why. The fried chicken is perfectly crispy, the pulled and chopped pork BBQ was seasoned perfectly and the Cherry Cobbler was some of the best I've had. It's so good, in fact, that food you used to find enjoyable and tasty will no longer bring you any joy because you've found the pinnacle of southern buffet. I accidentally wandered into this trap while returning to Charlotte from the coast. Now I find myself uncontrollably sneaking away from my family every Sunday only to drive 4 hours to get my fix so I don't get the shakes and break into cold sweats. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Very good eastern NC BBQ. not the best but very decent. I had the dinner BBQ plate which was fine chopped without sauce and had a faint smoke flavor. once topped with their house sauce it was delicious. my wife had the BBQ sandwich with the collard greens and said the collards were some of the best she's ever had. the lemonade had so much sugar it could give you diabetes. very friendly staff with good service.

I grew up eating Abrams, and to be honest, I've never found another Southern-Style restaurant that could top it. On a Sunday, you're guaranteed a crispy and moist piece of fried chicken, barbecue, pulled pork, chicken and pastry, and the various southern vegetables, including okra, mashed potatoes, collards, coleslaw, green beans, and more. On Friday, Abrams has a seafood buffet that, again, is a really great value. You can basically get whatever you want for under $10, and probably won't find better food or a better value unless you cook it yourself (if you like to fry food, that is). Weekdays are good, but definitely not as good as the Friday and Sunday experience, so try to stop by if you're ever in town. Also, the one in Pinetops is just as good; I haven't been to any of the others.

We stopped in on the way to the beach on a chilly, rainy day. I think it had just recently opened, but when we walked in there was no direction on where to sit and we were basically ignored by the staff. We decided just to sit at the closest table. At that point my wife said that we may have made a mistake, but it all went up from there. After that the service was much better. The hushpuppies brought to the table was excellent. The mashed potatoes could have been better but the french fries were great! My wife didn't like the collards, but I did so that just depends on preference I guess. The pork and the sauces were good. I probably won't be back in Tarboro ever, but I recommend Abrams to anyone passing through the area.

Great NC barbeque. Had the pulled pork sandwich with fries and hush puppies. Really enjoyed it. Service was fantastic. I'll eat here again when I'm back in the area. I can't wait!