Parker's Barbecue

If you’re driving through on the 95, just go right on past those fast food joints and chain restaurants and get some real home cooked Southern food! The Cracker crumbles next to this place! Fried chicken that is fresh and juicy, Carolina pulled pork served with Carolina mustard Cole slaw instead of red bbq sauce. There’s a bottle of vinegar and a bottle of homemade hot sauce on the table, but it tastes delicious by itself. The prices are unbelievably affordable, cheaper that chains and you get more food. Green beans are canned, but that’s typical. It’s worth the extra ten minutes to make this trip. There’s a reason the place is always packed with locals, so make the stop. It’s well worth it!

The good news is that the fried chicken, the service, and the sweet tea were great. The bad news...I have no idea why Parker's calls itself a barbeque restaurant. They were out of barbequed chicked at 3pm. The pulled pork looked and tasted like canned dog food. The green beans were right out of the can. The Brunswick Stew had been cooked so long I couldn't identify any ingredients, it just looked and tasted like lumpy tomato sauce. The locals seem to like this place, but don't come here for barbeque.

Ample food for great price however just ok. Personally desired some BBQ sauce. Hush puppies ok and fries needed seasoning. BBQ had too many gristle pieces mixed in. Best thing was Brunswick stew. Friendly, fast service.

This is a good old barbecue restaurant! Quick and fast because you have fried chicken and chopped barbecue. Unlimited coleslaw, corn sticks, and hush puppies.

You won’t find many Indians at Parker’s in Wilson, NC — but you will find some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted. Perfectly crispy, juicy, and deeply satisfying. The pulled pork, vinegary and smoky, was a surprising hit, and the hush puppies? Mysterious, yet irresistible. It’s old-school Southern comfort, no frills, just flavor. As someone used to spice and variety, this was a delicious detour — and 100% worth the drive.

I ordered three meals to go. One meal was entirely wrong. It’s so chaotic in the pick-up area that it’s hard to check things there like requested. I ordered for myself the seafood platter. I will say the only thing I liked on it was the shrimp. It was all very soggy because of how it was packaged together. I would not order from here again.

I'm not big on "Carolina" style BBQ, but theirs is the best I've had since moving here! ( the fried chicken was very also!) The service at 5:30 pm on a Saturday was "Walk in and sit down" even with a good 80+ people there!!! The portions were great, and the price is VERY reasonable! ( Total of $30 plus tip!)

This place is a no-frills down to earth BBQ joint on the east side of NC. The food is delicious, and humble in its presentation. When asking around for NC BBQ this place popped up on the recommendation of some locals I worked with. Even before the likes of Skylight Inn, this place was recommended. And all I have to say, is they were right on the money. This was so good, that since then I have been on a BBQ pilgrimage across the US to find the best it has to offer. It is a hell of a drive to get to, and while I wouldn't book 5 hours of my trip to make it again. If I am passing by Wilson, NC you can guarantee this is where I'm gonna stop for lunch. Dated: Oct, 2023

Food portions were satisfactory and delicious. Service was great. Atmosphere was good. Problem: After eating, there was a sign on registers that said that they didn't take debit and credit cards. PARKER'S SHOULDN'T ASSUME NEW CUSTOMERS KNOW THIS! They did have an ATM over in the corner with their name on it. The young lady showed it to me because it wasn't in plain view. It cost me $5.50 to withdraw $40 to get my meal! ($3 from their machine and $2.50 from my card provider!) I DIDN'T LEAVE A TIP! After this experience, I don't think I will intentionally stop there unless I already have money in my pocket I would not plan to drive there again.

Left the interstate on the way home from DC. Loved: the barbecue, coleslaw, fried chicken. Canned green beans-enough said. Boiled potatoes-not bad, but nothing special. Brunswick stew-strong tomato, ketchup taste, and had beans? I know every area has a different flavor on that-just not my favorite. And the corn sticks-not worth the calories.

I stopped by Parker's as a pitstop on my way up to Washington DC for a trip. Doing some basic research, prioritizing proximity to the I-95, Parker's seemed to be the best use of my time. So we pulled over and walked in and got seated promptly. This place is a no fuss no muss, high table turnover rate kind of place obviously full of travelers and locals alike. The menu that day was very limited. I believe the options were only pulled pork, fried chicken, and then all the sides. The only other option we had was if we wanted one plate, or an unlimited amount of everything. I have regrets only getting the one plate, but what can you do. The pork was true Carolina style, lots of good little fat mixed in, little flecks of good, crispy skin, and not really any sauce on it, letting that vinegary flavor be the star of the show. I liked it a lot, it was juicy and tender and a really good pulled pork. The fried chicken was also juicy and flavorful. The crust on the breading of that chicken was just perfect. It was like a shell, strong but delicate, all the way around the piece of chicken, and you could tell it was actually seasoned well. Another banging meat. The fried sides were all pretty standard. One thing that stood out, though, were what I believe were called corn sticks, which were long, fried sticks of cornbread. I'm sure they're normally delicious, but these were fried to death, I almost cracked a tooth biting into them. But, you could dip them and soak them like a biscotti in that amazing Brunswick stew. If you read up on the lore of Brunswick stew, it's one of those dishes that everyone thinks that they made first. But whoever made it first, these Carolina people certainly made it better than the hogwash I find in Florida. Deep deep flavor, perfectly stewed veggies, and just the right amount of pork strewn throughout. I could eat a gallon of this. Actually, I think you could buy this by the gallon. Hmm.. Overall, this was a lovely little find. Definitely don't have anywhere like this near me. Wish I did. It's certainly more than just a pitstop on the ride of the road. I thought it was quality.

Customer service at its best! On our travels down to Florida Parker's is a family favorite that is requested anytime we are passing through. This place is always busy when we stop. It has such a feel of home like it's Sunday dinner every day of the week. The chopped bbq is very good along with the chicken. We love family style serving and would definitely recommend that if you haven't tried it yet. We certainly know the local crowd gets it so this review is an outsider perspective. This is a family tradition both for locals and the out of town crowd as well.

Pros: Love the simple menu. No fuss, no muss, we have what we have. What they have is very delicious. That dry, vinegar pulled pork is just blasted with flavor. Fried chicken with a crispy breading that sounds like a cracking whip when you bite into it. Cons: They are cash only, so bring some cash or suffer an ATM fee. Tips: Get the Brunswick Stew. Trust me, it's a very good regional dish.

We stopped at the well known Parker's BBQ Restaurant in Wilson. We loved the setup: country setting with waiters wearing white long sleeve shirts, white aprons & paper hats. It was like a step back to the '50's. Everyone was so nice. We loved it! Now to the food. The BBQ was a bit dry, but very good! It was seasoned lightly with a pepper vinegar sauce. Good ENC flavor. My only dislike was the small chopped up (small squares) of gristle mixed with the meat. The sides were few, but good. Tea was a bit sweet. Glad we made the trip! Give Parker's a try.

Parker is one of the true standing gems to NC eastern style barbecue and has been serving I think over 75 years now. Gees that's older than me. I wonder if they have the same Pitt master. Anyway you get the basic eastern style type of pork que. I always get it with the chicken breast on the side. Brunswick stew. Boiled potatoes and slaw. Also the corn sticks and hush puppies. Not much has changed except the color of the hair or for The fellows Working there the loss of hair. Well here comes my food so I need to stop tapping and start eating. More later white Combination Plate Well I've not been disappointed. The que was exceptional Just the right amount of heat and vinegar. The Brunswick stew was also tangy and tasty too. The slaw is minced and it to is a local Favorite. Mine too It's a simple white building nothing fancy but the delicious food. The service is quick and very friendly. And guess what you can get a full meal and a drink for less Than $20 I'll be back. And boy do i recommend this restaurant.

My husband was advised from a friend that is from Wilson county that Parkers was a must stop!! He was right! I loved the atmosphere, the food, the freaking sweet tea!! Out of this world! The staff was wonderful! They are a cash only establishment! If we ever stop back down it will need to be another stop! Everything was simple and flavorful I was not a fan of the corn sticks or the boiled potatoes, but for me that was personal preference.

Road trip pit stop! It's just 10 minutes from I-95 & though there isn't much else around, there is a McDonald's within another 5 minute drive for any picky eaters in your tribe. Walked in to Parker's and we were instantly transported back in time to the 1950's. Loved the charm of servers wearing paper hats and the cafeteria-style plates. We went on a Sunday and luckily arrived before the late lunch rush. The seating was efficient and service was friendly. The real stars for us were the fried chicken, pulled pork, slaw, hush puppies and the sweet tea. The family style choice is absolutely worth it to try a little bit of everything. And it was all so tasty! We were approached by friendly patrons who could tell we were there for the first time & chatted us up about the history of the place. One of the three owners also stopped by & we learned that they cater all the way to New Jersey! This owner was working, seating guests the entire time we were there. He didn't just come out from a back office. Very impressive. We nearly had to be rolled out of the place and will happily return one day.

The service was fantastic and friendly. We had the all you can each deal, but never asked for more than what was initially brought out. The fried chicken was amazing. The Brunswick stew not what I expected. It largely tasted like ground black pepper. Boiled potatoes tasted like... well boiled flavorless potatoes. The corn sticks were okay. The Cole slaw... not my thing with the mustard flavor. The chopped pork was unremarkable. All said, I was still happy to check out the place and did like the friendly atmosphere.

This was my second time here and I brought my mom along so she could try Parker's also. She said basically she remembers hearing about this place as a young kid and I was like what? Yeah y'all. Parker's has been around forever and it's for this right here. Just straight up good food. We have never had any issues while being here everyone helps everyone and it's just a great environment with good people. Please stop here if you are looking somewhere to eat some good BBQ.

Another delicious meal from Parker's BBQ in Wilson, NC. I had a combination of fried shrimp and oysters. They were cooked perfectly. The service here is always outstanding. Their BBQ is always good. I highly recommend.

Grew up 1/2 between Parker's and Wilbur's. To me, it is an easy decision. Gimme that corn stick, baby! It is a casual sit-down restaurant at a fast-food pace. The staff are always friendly and courteous. The food is always hot and fresh. This eastern Carolina style BBQ(vinegar base)has a very fine chop which makes every bite a delight. My Dr won't agree but the sweet tea is a must. The near shaved ice in a sweat glistening glass make "THE Shuga" worth it. 2 warnings--- they only take cash. (ATM on site) The Sunday afternoon crowd will stare you down with their good Christian eyes.

Best barbecue ever been eating it for over 50 years. Have it shipped to me quarterly. Have the craving and only Parker's will do

always friendly and can accommodate large groups. They wait at the door for you. Menu prices are excellent and not typical for today's menus. They keep the atmosphere friendly and family oriented.

Have heard a lot about Parker's and how it's an institution in Wilson. There were constant lines so thought I'd give it a go since I'm in town. Got some take-out from their no-frills take out shack in the back. Cash is king here. No credit accepted. The lines at the counter is a melting pot of all demographics which gave me hope for some delicious Q since what else brings people together more than delicious food??? Ordered the family meal with bbq chicken. We love chicken & was expecting moist falling-off -the-bone chicken. Maybe I should've opted for fried chicken since most of the menu is fried. The food to me was bland overall. The chicken was dry & not flavorful...very very disappointing. Slaw was mustard based & way too sharp & tart. The corn sticks were hard & dry. Was expecting great Brunswick stew but like everything else, it lacked flavor. Overall, this wasn't the right experience for us.

I can't say enough nice things about Parker's. The service was absolutely fantastic. Everyone from the front door to the table were just as nice and polite as they could be. The food was all fresh, tasty and homemade. You could definitely tell the food was made with love. The restaurant itself is also a testament to the local history with their photos and placards depicting the stories of each picture. We will definitely be back!

Got take out......bbq plate with corn sticks, hush puppies, Cole slaw and fries. Barbecue was excellent, nicely seasoned, the Cole slaw had a bold flavor which complimented the bbq. The fries, corn sticks and hush puppies were good. Next time I want to eat in!!

I love eating family style at Parker's. Their fried chicken is the best ever! I'm glad it close to our house.

We stopped for dinner on our way down 95 after searching reviews for bbq restaurants. SO glad we did! The parking lot was packed, but the service was fast!! The best fried chicken I've had in a long time! BBQ was great too along with everything else. This is one of those meals you'll think about next month and wish you could go back! Bonus for sweet tea with the good ice in a small pitcher for refills brought to the table from the beginning!

Never tire of this! Best fried chicken on earth! A thing of beauty! Fried chicken legs and white bread. And tea in crushed ice. What more does one need?

Google reviews are in the 4star range. And would agree with it, whichis better than the Yelp star rating. Donald Williams who has been there for 61 out of the 77 years greeted us at the door. His favorite is the fried catfish. And everyone agrees. It is the best catfish we ever had. Everyone recommends the fried chicken and BBQ pork(mixed it with the coleslaw and it is great!). The fried shrimp is also great. Brunswick stew, hush puppies, and sweet tea are also good. Mr. Williams reports the restaurant has been unchanged during this time. Great for families with and 1950s vibe. Very clean and spacious.

Always delicious best fried chicken & bbq around & don't forget there good sweet tea . Them servers are awesome. Keep up the good work . Only in eastern North Carolina

Hello. I was expecting to give a better review. Parker's has been a NC staple for decades. I often stop by for chopped BBQ or a wing bag and hush puppies. However my last two visits left a lot to be desired. I ate in the restaurant which needs NEW EVERYTHING. It's so dark and drab and the menu could use some upgrades. The food was lackluster with little to no seasoning. Not even salt on the fries. The food out of the takeout in the back is better. Which doesn't make sense as it's the same kitchen.

I have been eating at the restaurant over 50 years!!! I remember going with my Dad and I couldn't look over the counter. The food is always Delicious and Hot. The Best Fried Chicken & BBQ ever!! The service is great and quick. The atmosphere is a local BBQ joint.

An NC classic and must visit when traveling the NC BBQ Trail. I have been visiting this location since childhood as has my family for generations. Parker's is anchored in Eastern NC history and classic vinegar based Eastern NC BBQ. The pork BBQ is good but so are the many other classic southern menu items. The vegetable sides, the fried chicken, and most of all the corn sticks (a variation of fried corn bread). The service is quick and friendly. Highly recommend a visit to this historic dining institution.

Stop reading and just get over there! There's a reason it's been around forever. Get one of everything

I love Parkers! The chicken is moist yet crispy and the barbecue is spot on. I love their fries also. Alot of times sides are an after thought but not here, they are good. Service is quick and the waiters are all nice and professional. It is odd that they are all guys waiting tables. This place reminds me of a 50's place maybe because if the aprons and hats the waiters wear. Prices are good and the servings plentiful.

The best popcorn shrimp. But everything is good, we know this. Great family atmosphere and polite employees

This may be my first negative review ever but I feel deceived by the reviews and needed to contribute. We got the chicken and pork and a bunch of sides. The fried chicken was very good but the pork was anything but. It had chunks of cartilage and crunchy bits (bone?) in it, which was extremely unappetizing. The pork didn't taste seasoned at all, it tasted boiled. No char, no flavor. Can you really trust a bbq restaurant where you can't smell the meat smoking from the parking lot? That should have been our first red flag. There was no bbq sauce served....there was only vinegar and hot sauce. The coleslaw tasted like yellow mustard cabbage soup. The potatoes and beans tasted canned. And within 8-24 hours, my husband and I were working through some digestive issues. I hate to say something negative about a locally owned joint but we advise against this place.

What a disappointment, read the reviews and sounded a fantastic place to go for southern food, well that is not what we got, what we got was cold super dried fried chicken, the boiled potatoes were also cold and the vegetable stew was not tasty and also cold. We did not bother complaining because what we saw at the other tables looked just as bad. Never again!!!!!

Let's get to the not so great parts first. They only take Cash! No plastic! At least for take out this is the situation. Inconvenient and pretty archaic. The other not so great thing is that most menu items are fried. Not the healthiest place to eat. There are green beans, Cole slaw and Lima beans and corn in the Brunswick Stew. That completes the vegetable choices, unless you count corn sticks--deep fried cornmeal. Tasty, but not a good for you vegetable. Wish I knew that only on Wednesdays you can get BBQ Turkey. We ordered a BBQ chicken dinner. They also have fried chicken of course. The BBQ sauce was sweet and the meat so tender it fell off the bone. It came with slaw, stew and corn sticks. We also had a lb. Of pork BBQ. $20.50. Fed two adults for two days! Pork was moist, but would have loved BBQ sauce in the takeout bag. Only packets of Texas Pete hot sauce was offered. There is also an ATM machine if you don't have any hidden cash in your car for emergencies. Very popular place and easy to find. I'd return. Next time I want to try the Turkey!!!

Great Food And the Service Was Great I will definitely visit again soon and I usually bring some back home to DC

The place is rocking! Huge dining area but quick food turnaround. Servers are uniformed and friendly. They have service down to a science. We enjoyed everything! Even ordered stuff to go back home for us and my sister. Check them out!

I'd read about this place in a list of classic NC BBQ places. I'm not a big fan of NC style BBQ but I wanted to give it a try. My wife and I were in the area so we picked up a couple of BBQ Sandwiches. I was very impressed. I went with the slaw on top. The meat and slaw really went well together. And not just in the typical richness complemented by acidity. There was a bit of sweetness that made it very interesting. The bread brought them both together perfectly. I plan to stop by again to try some of their other menu items. Nothing like a little history!

When you're driving along 95, heading up north, and sick of fast food and last stop was the oh so campy South of the Border stop, this place is not a bad idea. We were hungry so it definitely filled us up but can't say I'd make this a must stop. Service was quick yet hospitable, menu was simple enough, and rest rooms were clean. Cash only but good price (or is it because I'm so used to DC/NYC pricing)? Either way, we were in and out in less than 20 minutes. Not too bad for sitting down and eating. I'm not the biggest bbq fan but my husband is and even he thought it was ok. Not saying it's bad, not at all! Just that... it was ok. Really enjoyed the hush puppies and got to try Brunswick stew for the first time. Sweet tea wasn't bad either. Side note but even though place was packed, we were the ONLY Asians there! Ha! We had a good chuckle. I guess this is a good stopping point if you want to try to NC style bbq. Will have to try another place to compare when in the area.

Have heard about this place for a while and wanting to stop by for lunch. Fortunately we got there just after 11am so there was still plenty of seating but it got busy fast. There are a bunch of wait staff busily running around seating people, taking orders, and clearing tables. The whole vibe still feels like it's straight out of the 1950s or 1960s with their paper hats and uniforms. The good: service is super fast and the food comes out quick. You also get mini drink pitchers along with your cup so you don't have to worry about running out of drink. The food is also very reasonably priced. The ok (I won't call it bad): the food is just your basic run of the mill down east BBQ. The bbq itself was flavorful and moist but was just flat overall and I did get a few pieces of bone in mine (happens with chopped style). It did not really stand out. The green beans seemed to be right out of a can and the potatoes wear also lackluster and bland. I don't really get the appeal of the corn sticks but that's probably because I grew up with hush puppies instead. These seemed tough and maybe just overcooked. This is definitely one of those places to stop by to say you have been here but it will be more for the experience and memories than the food in my humble opinion. All that said, I would not hesitate to go back again and I enjoyed it! Oh, and make sure you have cash.. they don't take plastic.

Cash only! And, no banana pudding! Barbecue is a four but everything else is a 3. I like their mustard slaw, but the beans and boiled potatoes were cooked past the point of done. Service was good, but oddly every single server was a young guy. Nothing's wrong with it, it's just unusual especially for an Eastern BBQ joint. I love their corn sticks but they'd be better warm. The cash only thing is ridiculous in this day! They do have an ATM though that comes with a $2.50 fee.

We brought many relatives after a loved one's funeral last month, to eat at Parkers....a long time Family tradition. Sadly....we were very disappointed with the quality of most of the food. The BBQ was a delicious as ever.....but, the liver was brittle and dry, hush puppy's tasteless, the slaw awful, and some of the folks who ordered fried chicken, said it was dry as well. The seafood was very good, and enjoyed by those who had it. I hope Parkers will take note, and bring their culinary offers up the quality they once were.

Familiar but the chicken is dry just like the BBQ . Potatoes, stew blah haven't try fish and don't want to.

I hope this is not what people from out-of-state think of when they think "North Carolina style BBQ" because quite frankly, the only redeeming quality of this restaurant to me, a long time North Carolinian, is that it was cheap and fast. If your goal is to eat something palatable for very little money and super fast, this place is fine for you. But if you want a real NC BBQ experience, this ain't it. Breaking it down: The pork, while tender, was mushy and overloaded with the vinegar sauce. The brunswick stew had little flavor, needed help from Texas Pete. The fries were... fries. The cole slaw was actually quite good. I liked this semi-unique taste that has mustard added. If the pork were better, it's be a great compliment. Corn straws were chewy and mealy, like stale cornbread. Hush puppies were forgettable. Sweet Tea was just straight sugar, drowned out any tea flavor. I saw fried chicken at another table, and that actually looked real good. You're probably better off there. They do offer family style service for a cheap rate as well, seems like a good place to feed a large crowd. If nothing else, this place runs like clockwork, even if the food isn't anything special.

This spot was great as a stop as we were driving down the east coast to Florida. Although a little overwhelming as a first timer, since everyone ordered extremely quickly and the menu wasn't super clear, it was definitely worth it. The value was great and we were able to try a lot of things on the menu without haven't to spend a lot. I personally liked the fried chicken the most out of all the meats and the potato salad for the side dishes.

Takes credit cards and cash inside but I believe take out .May be cash and debit only . I miss our old tobacco farm out there. Been stopping here since I was a child. Do they have lines ahh yes. Does everyone have a bad day of course .I've not had and experience like that in many many years of service. They treat people with kindness and serve the best BBQ and chicken around. Oh, don't for get about the corn sticks yummy! Thank you all For years of good memories and wonderful food. Sincerely The Livingston's , The Brantley's and the Stancil's

Real southern style cooking. If you like fried chicken livers then this is your place! Delicious, fresh and HOT! Cole slaw is different made with sweet pickles and mustard. The white meat fried chicken was extra crunchy yet moist. Not a fan of the fried corn sticks. Our waiter was fast and efficient. This is a VERY CASUAL family style restaurant, reasonable prices, generous portions and has a with a long history frequented by locals as well as folks like us passing thru on way to FL.

Small dried up looking wings. History of racism. Dont care much for the place. Food is mediocre. I miss Bill's Barbecue

It's Simply The Best!!! Love that Food Truck if you can't get to Wilson. Fried chicken and bbq is the specialty. Enjoy!!Parkers BBQ

Parker's is wonderful! I grew up eating here, but it's been years since I've been. I was craving their BBQ so I made the hour drive out to get some! Their BBQ is fantastic and the coleslaw really steals the show for me. It's not for everyone - the person I ate with didn't care for it because of the spice. I don't know if it was just a bad day but their brunswick stew wasn't really great, so next time I would probably get the potatoes. Don't forget CASH only!

Best. BBQ. Ever. And don't get me started on the coleslaw, hush puppies, friend chicken, and potatoes.

Visited establishment for dinner. The initial waiter served the drinks with his hands over rim of glass. When asked to bring back another drink glass, he caught an attitude. He tossed the straws on the table when we asked for straws. He never returned to the table to see if we needed anything. We fortunately were able to have a different server to bring the food and although that was not his table, the second server was attentive. Recommend Parker's BBQ but will definitely ask for a different server if we ever get the first one we had.