Big Mikes BBQ Cary

Overall Score: 3.9/10 – A BBQ restaurant with a decent setting and a few unique menu options, but long wait times, inconsistent food quality, and slow service overshadowed the experience. Atmosphere and Service: 3.9/10 – The exterior looks decent with BBQ-themed decor, and the interior maintains a clean and appropriately styled BBQ vibe with a variety of tables and seating. It’s a full-service restaurant, which is a nice touch, but the service was extremely slow throughout the visit, which could have been a bad day. Water took 15 minutes, food came out after 30 minutes, and the check took another 10 to process. The restaurant didn’t appear to be busy, which made the delays more frustrating. While the staff was very friendly, the experience was held back by the lack of attentiveness and poor pace of service. There were also limited BBQ sauce options available. Nachos: 5.9/10 – Served lukewarm, which took away from the overall appeal, but the flavor itself was solid. The beer cheese and buffalo sauce blended nicely, creating a slightly unique flavor profile. The chips were crisp, and the portion was fair for the price. Mac n Cheese with Pulled Pork: 3.6/10 – A disappointing dish overall. The macaroni was overcooked, and the lack of cheese made it dry. The pulled pork was also dry and seemed hastily placed on top, without any integration or balance with the mac and cheese. Cheeseburger: 4.1/10 – An underwhelming burger that didn’t justify the price. The patty was cooked well but lacked bold flavor. The bun was overly soft and turned soggy quickly. Topped only with onions and cheese, it felt too basic and lacked character. The baked beans on the side tasted canned and didn’t help elevate the plate.

Went here the other week. I’ve been here twice and it’s one of the better bbq spots around Cary. Got the Piggy Mac. It’s really no shots at it, but it did taste a little less flavorful than the last time I got this dish. It’s still good though. And then for the main course I got the 3 meat platter, which I chose the burnt ends, brisket and chopped bbq chicken. All of them were on point, very succulent, the bbq sauce was incredible, the meats were cooked perfectly. Just amazing. I got the smoked potato salad and fried okra. Which I always love their okra. I will say the biggest disappointment I’ve had with this place unfortunately is that I really wanted to try their ribs but they were out of them. I believe both times I’ve gone has just been too late and they didn’t have any left over. There banana pudding is also out of this world, some of the best I’ve ever had and unfortunately this past go around they didn’t have any (just that popular I’m assuming). But the staff is really friendly, very down to earth and fun. They even put our picture up first on their wall, which was cool. Highly recommend this place.

Big Mike's BBQ in Cary offers a casual dining experience with a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is known for its generous portions and friendly service. The menu features a variety of barbecue options, with highlights including tender brisket and flavorful smoked wings. Many customers enjoy the sweet potato waffle fries and the delicious potato salad. While some diners feel that the food, though good, doesn’t stand out as exceptional compared to traditional North Carolina barbecue, overall, Big Mike's is a solid choice for a satisfying meal. Whether you're dining in or catering for an event, the restaurant provides a hearty barbecue experience.

Stellar BBQ as always. The sweet and tangy sauce is rock star. The wings are also rockstar. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because for $12, this is what I got from the 1/2lb wing order. Basically 4.5 normal sized wings. That’s a bit… high, price wise. Stellar service and stellar taste, though. Don’t miss the potato salad!

I should have trusted my instincts that if you can’t smell smoke outside a bbq restaurant it’s not fresh. Had the brisket sandwich. Absolutely no flavor - not a hint of bbq. Waitress raves about how good the slaw is that comes on said sandwich. As you can see in pic, I wouldn’t know how good it is cause I got about a teaspoon of that awesome slaw. Pretty sure I got yesterday’s Mac n cheese as a side as it was served cold and it was mushy. Save your $$ & skip this place.

We got a to-go order tonight and it was clear when we walked in that the staff was either new or needed more training. We order a half order of nachos and a two meat combo to go, then sat outside and grabbed our dog from the car to wait. After another person walked out with a to-go order who came in after us, we went inside and saw our order was in a hot box and they couldn't be bothered to walk it out to us even though we were right outside the front door. Ok, fine. We live 5 minutes away off of Lake Pine, and I lift up the bag to get out of the car, and the bottom rips open because it is entirely coated in grease. Our two sides from the two meat combo spill into the car and ground, and are basically inedible. I wanted to go back and request more sides, but my husband who used to work in food service said since we were off the premises, they wouldn't care. Just wanted to let the owner know you need to work on your to-go orders. The food is great, but bro, the grease on the outside of the containers is ridiculous. The bag should not rip and spill a good bit of our food in such a short amount of time.

It may be hard to believe, that in the middle of Cary there is very good BBQ. It's true though, Mike's BBQ is very good, nothing we ordered was bad. It's actually on the higher end of good.

Great sawdust on the floor spot that’s all about the food and great local craft beer. We came with another couple who are locals and it was fantastic. Do try the potato salad and the brussel sprouts. The burnt ends were very good, the chicken was a bit dry and I needed a fair amount of sauce to be able to truly enjoy it. They had three BBQ sauces on the table and one of them was outstanding. The service was good and the restroom was clean. We all had the south line puffer IPA and it was a winner.

We ordered a lot BBQ last May for a pre-Graduation dinner at the BNB House we rented for my brother's graduation with our family. The BBQ in which we ordered everything was yummy and delicious! The side of collard greens, Mac and cheese and okra were top notch. Seriously different BBQ from CA, TX or any other state I have order BBQ. It was moist and juicy and made with quality meats. It was all superb. We ordered ahead of time and bought a few hundred dollars of BBQ and sides for 7 family members. When we arrived to pick it up, it was all there and ready to go. Service was quick and fast. Only wish was that they had rice as a side so I got some next door at the Chinese restaurant. Ambiance was typical BBQ and it was steady business. Big Mikes is an excellent representation of North Carolina BBQ which is well know. I liked it and definitely distinct from TX and MO BBQ. If you are in the area, head in there and get a platter which has samples of meats available from sausage, brisket, pulled pork and chicken! BTW I hate drowning my food in sauces.

I'm fairly new to Raleigh NC prior to June 2024 my Son came to visit me from NJ after the Thanksgiving holiday and he wanted good barbecue and someone shared with us about this restaurant. We ordered 2 meals Togo Texas Brisket and Pulled pork and 2 sides each we test tasted. First off please take Texas Briaket off your meat its n insult to my home state. The potato salad not good fried potatoes loaded with mayo no mustard, barbecue beans are canned pork beans with barbecue sauce not good too sweet Mac and cheese taste boxed brisket pretty dry I paid $63 for garbage so disappointed will never go back. P.S. The mistake I made was not checking our order upon leaving we didn't get what we order so please check your bag they throw anything in the bag and staple it opposed to allowing you to see what you ordered. I should've known the place was horrible no one was there and it was lunch time and the food taste left over seriously the food was not good it was a waste of money it went into the garbage the so call fat on the Brisket had more seasoning then the meet its like the bake it or something if you can't cook Brisket don't sale it. I'm so

Just average. If you're looking to crave your basic BBQ needs, Big Mikes does the trick. However, it's not the best in the area. Staff is great, considered to be a staple for Cary locals, but it misses the mark for my personal taste. The potato salad is fried potatoes and served hot with melted cheese and sour cream. The sauces are a bit watery for my liking. Call me old school when it comes to BBQ, but potato salad is not deep fried or served hot. I totally respect their desire to be different, but I'm more of a traditional BBQ guy.

Our first and last visit. When we walked in, they allowed us to sit at any table because they were empty. We picked a table and then waited for menus. After placing our orders I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. No soap in the dispenser and no soap in the disposal bottle along with no paper towels. Yikes! How do employees wash their hands after using the bathroom? We ordered a variety of food and the only thing that arrived hot was the chicken wings. Who eats mac and cheese cold? Brisket dry.

We were near the Raleigh Durham Airport and looking for a place to eat a late lunch. We are not very familiar with the Raleigh area and decided to check Big Mike's out based on Yelp reviews. We arrived about 4pm and were immediately greeted by a young lady. She told us we could take a seat anywhere. I should note there wasn't another customer in sight. We took a seat at one of the large tables and we were brought menus. We immediately noticed the floor was very slippery. She agreed and said something about the people who mopped the floor the previous night. The menu is on the small side and we thought the prices were higher than what we see in the Triad area but they may be very comparable to the local Raleigh-Durham area. We were told they were out of fries and also a second item which I don't now recall what it was. Two of us decided on the pulled pork while the other two decided to order brisket to share along with assorted sides. The sides ordered were mac n cheese and slaw. The interior seems clean and comfortable but did have a bit of a dingy feel to it. While we waited for our food we did see to go orders being picked up but no one else came in to sit down. Our food arrived in a timely manner and looked good. We dug in and thought it was decent but not fantastic like the BBQ we had earlier in our trip which we all compared it to. Overall, this was a decent experience but did not blow our socks off. Maybe we were there on an off day but there is room for improvement in our opinion.

3rd visit. 3rd time order screwed up. Ordered rib plate with two sides. Paid extra for third side. was told (after a 20 minute wait) that they ran out of ribs ( on a Saturday night at 6 pm.) Ordered brisket as a substitute. Brisket was 1/3 fat. Did not receive my third side (potato salad). Sorry guys, I won't be back. As a small business owner I am very disappointed

We grabbed dinner one night at Big Mike's BBQ and really enjoyed our meal! Parking was very easy since there were plenty of spots right outside of the restaurant. We debated sitting inside versus outside, but ended up choosing to sit outside because the weather was reasonably nice :) We ordered our food and just as we settled in, a bee decided to come hang out at our table. Since we have a toddler, we thought it'd be better to move inside and avoid the bee, and thankfully the staff were totally cool with this. The food was tasty! I ended up getting a BBQ pork sandwich with a side of the smoked potato salad. I was kind of expecting a "mushy" potato salad but it was basically roasted potatoes covered in some kind of cheesy mayo sauce. It was very good, but also very caloric! I was stuffed after my meal, so I would definitely be wary of the portion sizes and not order a bunch of sides. Overall, we would definitely come back here.

Raleigh is a fine area to visit, but their idea of BBQ and mine are not the same. But I'd heard plenty of good things about Big Mike's and I made my way over. I sat at the bar and had a 3 meat platter. Brisket, burnt ends, and chopped BBQ chicken. Actually, I had asked for ribs, but got brisket instead. Not that I was complaining as things would turn out. I was expecting pulled chicken and instead it was roughly chopped chicken breast. I was glad it wasn't pulled but the meat was a little dry which can happen easily with chicken breast. I needed a decent amount of sauce for it. It was seasoned well though. Burnt ends were fine, not the best, not the worst. But the brisket was incredibly good. In the mid Atlantic, a lot of BBQ places do the pork well, but not the beef. Well Big Mike's does a great job with the cow. Moist meat, a nice layer of bark on the outside. I would certainly order this again. Thumbs up for the sides, the smoked potato salad is one of the best BBQ sides I've ever had. Potatoes were all dente, the dressing was super cheesy and thick. Cucumber salad was a fine refresher for the palate. Service was pretty good, though it did take a little more time than I would have wanted to get my drink refill. But the check was processed in a timely manner. If anything, maybe some more sides like mac and cheese and cornbread would be a nice addition. But a good BBQ spot for sure.

Bbq nachos and Mac n cheese were served cold. Service seems to have changed too....one server would never come by, and I had to ask for items from anyone we saw. We were charged for an item we didn't order, didnt think anything of it.....but we heard multiple people have stuff on their bill that they didn't get or did not order? .....and the flies and gnats were not any added ambiance

No consistency on product taste . For example: brisket 1st time awesome, next time dry, following time spice off. Atmosphere is good. Really wish there was a consistent bbq establishment that is not a cheap chain or "wannabe " closer to Apex area.

Food may still be good, but the new menu is not. I just visited at 12:35 on a Sunday... they are out of several items including ribs, burnt ends & sweet potato fries. This in itself isn't huge, but notable because these represent a fair amount of the menu. They have removed several items from the new menu, & rose prices quite a bit. I suggest you check out the new menu before riding out & you may want to call to check availability.

Used to be the best bbq in cary. Just had dinner and they were out of burnt ends, bbq rolls, French fries and half their beers. Service was awful. Fried okra, which I typically love, was soggy and gross. Took my parents there who are from FL to experience NC bbq and everyone left hungry and disappointed. Horrible. Will never go back

The good: the BBQ, and honestly that's the best you could want from a BBQ joint! Really like the chopped pork. Service has also always been good. The bad: The sides, not a fan of ANY of the remaining sides. They used to have Mac n cheese and cornbread on the menu which was pretty good. My husband and I would often get platters as takeout. However, now that both of those have been removed from the menu neither of us really like any of the remaining sides we have tried. The fries are ok but not worth the overall price for a meal.

First and foremost we will remember the amazing service we had when we visited straight off the plane at RDU. It was the kindest possible welcome to the area. Beyond that the food was as great. I can't eat beef or pork, but the family raved about the ribs and the burnt ends. The chicken was very good (wings and chopped). What I will remember most though is the potato salad and the greens, both amazing the best I've ever had.

Pregnant lady approved!! Nachos were just the right amount of vinegar, heat and smoky sweet bbq! My waitress Kim was kind and attentive! Will definitely be back!

Dad wanted bbq for his 87th birthday. Where's a Gal to take him when she is unfamiliar with Cary? Yelp said Big Mikes, so that's where we showed up mid-afternoon on a Tuesday. Found it in a strip mall. Parked right out front. Seating available inside and out. We chose in. We were offered our choice of seats and chose a high top to the right when you walk in. Service was terrific from start to finish. Our guy took great care of us. His enthusiasm for the food and our experience was well appreciated. He helped birthday Dad find a beer he liked. Despite the nice variety on the menu, we both ended up ordering the same thing. Pork bbq, slaw, and the veggie of the day which was brussels sprouts with honey srihracha. I also ordered two extra sides of collards and smoked potato salad. Portions are crazy generous. I got two more meals out of mine. Pork is nice and lean which I like, but needed the sauces that were on the table. The vinegar sauce literally tasted like pure cider vinegar, but when mixed with the other slightly sweet sauce on the table, it worked well. Brussels were the star of the show. They need to keep them on the menu! Collards very good. Slaw very simple. The potato "salad" was fried tater cubes with a rich mayo sauce on top. Special kudos for giving Dad banana pudding to go for his birthday. This place cares about its customers and food quality and it shows.

Incredible food. Service was upbeat and fun. The ambiance is rustic but the food outshined everything

Dude. WTF. It's heartbreaking when your favorite bbq joint turns to dog sh*t. Bland burger. Dried out brisket sandwich. And don't get be started on the " burnt ends". What used to be a weekly special is now a menu regular. Time to rethink this. It was pile of shoe leather and grease. They apparently recook the brisket in sauce on the stoves. That is embarrassing. I made better ones on my old electric smoker. The service wasn't much better. They forgot slaw on the brisket sandwich. The burger had the wrong side. When I mentioned how horrible the burnt ends were, the waitress offered to take it off the bill. I said she did not need to do that - the place is likely in trouble. But she insisted. So i said ok. When I got the bill they had taken only half of my entree price offs. "That's the price of the burnt ends"'she said, the sides weren't removed. Fine. Whatever. I don't know what is up. We've been eating here since they first opened. Before they broke thru and expanded. I won't go back. I need a new bbq joint. This sucks.

Very pleased. I got the BBQ Nachos with pork BBQ. It was a hearty portion, very reasonably priced, and tasty. I wished I lived closer to this restaurant; I would definitely be revisiting.

I've had a few yummy dishes and a few really disappointing ones. Today was the last time. It's too expensive and there are other options. Today I got a very fatty brisket and the seasonal veggies I got are fried okra. The biggest offender was a vinegar condiment was included in my bag that was not sealed properly so I now have to clean vinegar from my passenger seat.

Best BBQ. Love their sauce. Brisket is soo good. During COVID they are doing pick up. They hav

Checking this place out as a recommendation. We're from Texas and like to try different bbq. Food was ok. Got the 3 meat plate with ribs, wings and bbq chicken. Didn't realize the bbq chicken would be chopped. Didn't care for it. Smoked wings would have been good but it was extra dry. Ribs was ok. I liked the honey siracha Brussels. Corn on the cob was really hard and dry. My son liked the Gouda Mac and cheese. We tried the banana pudding for dessert but wasn't good. Service was great!

Big Mikes was our first NC BBQ during our visit, and had great reviews so we had high hopes. Plusses were Big Mikes corn bread and banana bacon pudding. Both were amazing and I'd go again even if I just went for these. For sure ask for the honey butter to go with your corn bread. I ordered the two meat plate with chopped pork and baby back ribs. The chopped pork was a tiny bit dry and didn't have a lot of smoky flavor - luckily Big Mikes delicious sauce helped with both. The baby back ribs were a bit meatier than baby backs we've had before, so not sure if these were actually baby backs or maybe a NC style baby back. The ribs had great flavor and I really liked the rib rub, tho they could have been more tender. Both meats also could have been served warmer. The mac n cheese was piping hot and really tasty. Our servers were amazing and so nice.

Food is over priced, not good at all, fryer wasn't working, food tasted like old leftovers, paid about $50 for 2 rib dinners, don't give you enough food for the price, don't waste your money like I did, i will never go there again, I'll eat the Wendy's across the street before I ever go there again

Pretty good bbq nice authentic place to sit and enjoy the food, liked the ribs and sauces

New menu has very few choices - asked the waitress how to get a two meat combo, and she showed me a $21 platter and $12 alacarte price to add chopped pork. $33 for a lunch plate? Fryer was broken, so even less options available (second time that's happened when I've been there). My friend had brisket and about half the slice was fat. He told the waitress and showed her the pile of fat left on the plate and she didn't have much to say. I had the brisket sandwich, which was $14 with no side. $18 check with tip, and all I had was a sandwich? Prices are out of control. I used to tell people Big Mikes was one of the best around, but it has fallen way down my list. Not sure I'll be back.

As usual, my favorite bbq restaurant around. Food came fast and was fresh and delicious! Service was amazing!

Food was delicious and service was attentive. Ambiance was laid back and is self seating. Came in around 6pm on a Saturday night and was hoping to try their special burnt ends but was already sold out. Otherwise, would come back again!

We used to love Big Mikes but it has been so inconsistent and disappointing the last handful of times we've gone. Today was our last visit. Not only was my food not warm, but it had a hair in it. Thankfully, our server was very nice and didn't charge us for that portion of our food, but that was the last straw for me. He is the only reason this review wasn't 1 star.

most amazing bbq. I was told to come here by a friend and I was glad I took their advice. Excellent Food, Excellent Service. I wanted to lick my plate

Had been coming here semi-regularly since they opened. This visit we were sad to see the prices had seemed to have doubled since spring. The sauces seemed different and overly sweet, the collards seemed unseasoned, the maccaroni and cheese had an odd almost packet taste to it. The burnt ends were not brisket and were a cheaper cut and the saddest thing was the usually excellent pork was very average. We won't be back.

I'm undecided about returning here. I'd heard raves about it, so we decided to try it. The service was terrific (quick, pleasant, and attentive) and a manager addressed the problem, but I was generally disappointed with the meals. I ordered a brisket sandwich and my partner ordered a brisket plate. Each meal had 3 generous slices of brisket. However, included were large slabs of fat on both plates equal to one of the slices. A manager comped my entire meal, but seemed to ignore what I told him about my partner's meal. Perhaps he thought removing my entire meal from the bill would comp for both and I'd accept that if he'd said it. What bothers me most is that the kitchen staff would even consider letting those plates be served. Some fat is always expected with brisket, but I've eaten it up and down the Atlantic coast and have never been served any fat amount even close to what is pictured.

The food was amazing but there was some things that I wanted to try on the menu that they didn't have in stock.

Average typical bbq. The brisket and Mac and cheese were good but the chopped chicken had fatty pieces all in it and I couldn't eat it. The smoked potato salad? It's not potato salad. It's potatoes smothered in cheese. Really horrible and should be explained when ordering that it's not regular potato salad. Or have a description. The wait was horrendous and most of the tables had not been cleaned so it was quite and eyesore walking in there

The fist time I went I was excited to get done good bbq. The portions were good and the service was great. Went back a second time and I was highly disappointed! The server was rude! The ribs were old and the burnt ends were fatty. Won't go back

Great local BBQ spot! Food: the potato salad is insane, and I like the brisket (a bit dry), ribs, chopped pork, and wings. However, I've noticed some variance in the BBQ (ranging from very good to just okay) Service: great! Really friendly servers who are kind and nice I love that you can pick beers in the back and drink it there - only $5! They also have cool promotions (taco tuesday). I haven't had the burnt ends yet (Wed & Sat) but I heard they're the best

Hadn't been here in a while. Brought the family because we had always enjoyed Big Mikes. Wow! Has this place gone downhill! Food was less-than acceptable. Burnt ends were nothing but bites of fat. Wings were ok, but nothing else was. The staff seemed to be uninterested teenagers. Two guys who were both clearly high came and sat at the bar. They were both vaping in front of staff, who apparently thought these guys were hilarious. Then I noticed the "C" grade from a recent health department inspection. Nice. Thanks, anyways, Big Mikes. Won't be back.

This neighborhood spot is pretty good! I liked the creativity and flavor of their sides (honey sriracha Brussels sprouts! smoked potato salad!) and the portion of chopped bbq pork was great. I did think the baby back ribs in the ribs plate was only okay--the sauce was tasty and the meat could've been a bit more tender. It just didn't compare to the ribs I had at Sam Jones earlier in the month for about the same price (and Big Mike's ribs are much smaller). Service is friendly and pretty quick, and there's outdoor seating, although I took my orders to go.

Seated without menus for 5 minutes. Not busy either. Bbq place is out of ribs. Seriously? Ordered brisket. One inch thick dry af meat is not "Texas brisket". Beans were bush beans from the can. Potato salad made with taco seasoning?? Cucumbers were good. Hubs liked the beers. Disappointing North Carolina bbq experience. Dickies has better bbq hands down lolol. Signed, Texas. Ps. Y'all should visit to learn how to bbq.

My favorite BBQ in Cary! Service has always been great and I've never been disappointed. Everything I have ordered here has been excellent!

Brisket - Meh. Pretty dry. Sort of tender. Lacking flavor. Pork ribs - Well flavored. Parts of the ribs were really tender and fatty while others were dry and almost burnt. Mac n cheese - Pretty good. Thick and cheesey. Not a lot of flavor though. Throwing bbq sauce on it helped. Coleslaw - Sort of decent. On the creamier side. Slightly vinegary and slightly sweet.

Great food! Great service! Nice selection of beers on the tap! Overall a great experience

We got there a little after 4, walked in to see only one customer and a waiter just standing there. He didn't acknowledge us, just stood there with a straight face and blank stare.   OOOK - this is a little awkward.   It wasn't until another gentlemen came from the "back" that he greeted us with a loud hello and told us we could sit where ever we liked.   It was off putting at first with the first encounter - I mean did you bite your tongue? Was it off putting because of who I was?   After finding a seat, we thought was we should have turned around as it wasn't the warmest of greetings. We could see if they were busy - but they weren't. Like I said, one customer at the bar and the other two people looked to be workers having a chat on the other side of the wall. But, we decided to give it a try because of the guy who DID greet us.   I believe his name was Kaleb, he was a gentle soul. Very kind and did his best to ensure we enjoyed our experience with this establishment. He took the time to provide us with what was his favors and recommendations of things to try since it was our first time here. With this we decided on:   Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls: stuffed with smoked chicken, blue cheese, hot sauce, and buffalo blue sauce   BBQ Egg Rolls: stuffed with pork, collards, and chow chow   Smoked Chicken Wings: comes in 8 or 12 with a dry rub and sauce on the side for dipping (sauces include: booty sauce and Alabama white sauce)   Chopped BBQ Plate with Collards and Mac & Cheese   Granny's Cornbread   Everything came to $38 with tip included.   I would have to say that we selected this meal off of the recommendations of Kaleb, he did an amazing job in explaining what to expect with each item and flavor profile.   My personal favorite was the smoked wings with the Alabama white sauce. My guest enjoyed the chopped BBQ with their Eastern NC Vinegar Sauce. They are actually from Eastern Carolina, so it was spot on to what they remember from back home. The other sauce taste like the BBQ you would get from like a Cook-Out or somewhere that serves a "sweeter" chopped BBQ.   The eggs rolls were an interesting spin on some classics. I would say of the two, I liked the BBQ egg rolls the best. It reminded you of when you are finishing up your plate and you spoon everything into one corner for that last bite! If you are not familiar with chow chow, it is like a vinegary coleslaw - depending on who makes it. It can be very sweet, spicy, or in between. The buffalo chicken egg roll was good overall - no real grumbles to it.   The collards were vinegary, sweet, and spicy. Not bad - my mom cooks hers like this. If that is your thing - you will enjoy them without issue. The mac and cheese, well it missed the mark for us. Since it states smoked gouda, we were looking for a very prominent flavor of the smoked gouda, it wasn't there. It just tasted like normal mac and cheese - one you can take or leave if you had something else more tasty to choose from.   Oh and granny's cornbread. Not sure why it's called cornbread lol it's more like cake with some cornmeal lol. It was sweet, buttery, fluffy and dense at the same time, pieces of corn in each bite. It was a treat but savory at the same time. It was a good compliment to the collards. Take a piece with each bite of the collards.   Honestly, not sure if we will return to this location - not really because of the food but because of how off putting it was when we first walked in. I am not one to want to return where I don't feel welcomed. I did noticed they had another location in Apex. We might see about that - if the vibe is different.

Horrible service. We waited 10 minutes for menus and the waitress never came back. We got up and walked out

Bbq is very tasty, I've only been once. The baked beans were great as well. They have many sauces to choose from for the bbq.

I ordered take-out for lunch for my Mom and me. I ordered the Big Mikes Platter The platter included chopped BBQ, chicken BBQ, 2 pieces of small briskets, one smoked jalapeno sausage chopped into pieces, two wings, and cornbread. I had mac and cheese and cole slaw as the two sides. I added a side of baked beans. All of this was a little under $40. It was worth it because I wasn't about to go cook up all this meat. Wings 5 star Barbecue was a 3 out of 4 Gouda Mac n Cheese 5 star Baked Beans 5 Slaw is a no for me. Cornbread 3 out of 4 Jalapeno Sausage 5 I'm more of a vinegar-based barbecue person. The barbecue was flavorful but just not as much as I would've expected. There were some sauces provided that tasted good to add to the meat. The mac and cheese were cheesy and moist. Very delicious! The cornbread was a bit overcooked on the bottom. Maybe it stayed in the oven too long. Besides that the top half was good. Maybe dark cornbread is a thing here! Not sure. The service during pick-up was great and the order was ready promptly. Would I visit again? Yes, for wings, mac, and cheese, baked beans, and the next time I'd like to try collards.

My favorite barbecue joint in the triangle. Everything I've ever had on the menu is outstanding! The service can occasionally be iffy, but the food is awesome. My wife and I stopped in the other night, and our server, Trevor, was great! He was very attentive and a super sweet kid. The piggy Mac sandwich might be the greatest sandwich I've ever had. And I'm a fat guy that loves sandwiches. Grilled pimento cheese sandwich with your choice of barbecued meat. It's the size of a small house. This might not be the most traditional barbecue in the world, and I know some people might knock it for that, but the menu and atmosphere are creative and amazing. I recommend this place to everyone.

Five star food with zero star service. I really, really, really wish there was another BBQ joint that was even close to Big Mike's in terms of the food. Let's star with the good - the brisket, pork, jalapeño sausage, and burnt ends can't be beat by any other Raleigh-area BBQ place. Hands down, this is the best. We eat a lot of BBQ, and nothing is in the same league. The sides are equally as good. We always get the blue cheese slaw. Now on to the service... Repeatedly, (this is not a once or twice issue, but a continuous issue) the service has been slow, rude, or non-existent. We will only order takeout because the service here is bad. Even when you order takeout, don't expect the food to be served with a smile, on time, or your call to go answered. Honestly, just writing this review after I sat on hold for 15 minutes with the phone off the hook (I could hear everyone talking) only to be hung up on.

First time customer, from Florida. I took the waitress's recommendations of 1/2 Rack, Smoked, Cheesy Potato Salad and smoked Brussels Sprouts. Oh!!! All of the flavors. My first time tasting authentic Carolina Rib Sauce - I'm sold! Terrific.