Erik S.
Yelp
Walking into Mr Barbecue, I realized I have watched the movie "Spaceballs" one too many times in my life. Though I didn't voice it to anyone, after placing my order, I was internally saying things like "Time to fill up Mr. Tea, let's add Mr. Hot Sauce" or "I always have barbecue before I watch radar! You know that! Everybody knows that!"
My own personal strangeness aside, Mr. Barbecue is a Winston-Salem institution. Unfortunately, several years ago, a fire burnt their building to the ground. They have since rebuilt a fresh modern spot, but with plenty of that "we've been here awhile" flair. Inside, the people are friendly, and the vibe is perfectly North Carolina BBQ.
You order at the counter, and if dining in, they bring your food out to you. You'll also get your own drinks. No issue there at all, honestly, wish more places just did this instead of having waiter service.
I'm watching my carb intake and trying to have more protein and vegetables, so I ordered a chopped BBQ salad. Unknowingly, this came with hushpuppies, a plus indeed but I did my best to just have a few to taste. The salad itself, was a really nice size, and loaded with meat. Perfect. The ingredients all appeared fresh, as you might assume, salad is not a priority at a BBQ restaurant, so even though basic... I appreciate crisp veggies.
For the Q itself, as I said, great portion. In general, I thought it was a good representation of Lexington NC style Q. It didn't blow my mind, and I did need to help boost the flavor with a little hot sauce. Importantly though, the meat was juicy with an excellent mouth feel. Just needed more seasonings and smoke. Hushpuppies were good, they don't compare to my favorites in the area, but that is a lofty bar.
Overall. I would come back here. Maybe when I am not feeling quite so health conscious, I'd like to have more of a typical BBQ meal. I can see why this place has a lot of fans. Thanks Mr. Barbecue!