Big Mikes BBQ Cary

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Sadly they were out of the burnt ends, egg rolls, collards, and ribs when we got there at 1pm. We ended up getting chopped pork, brisket, and sausage. All of these were amazing. Our plate sides were mac & cheese and fries, which were also great. To round things out we got an order of brussel sprouts. We will be back since the stuff I wanted to try most was out of stock.

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.