Skylight Inn BBQ

Best NC eastern-style BBQ. Chopped pork contains crackling that can be unexpected for first-timers. The crackling adds a touch of texture and flavor that compliments the moist chopped pork. The barbecue is the star of the show. The coleslaw is tinted yellow that’s surprisingly sweet, almost too sweet for some people who might be searching for a tangy or mayo based slaw, and the cornbread is to dense for my liking - it doesn’t add any value to the meal. If I could pair Skylight’s BBQ with Parker’s coleslaw, it would be a perfect match. I didn’t order the chicken and I’m not sure I ever would, it appears to be slow cooked in a sauce, not smoked like chicken at B’s BBQ. Expect a line during peak lunch time but there is plenty of seating as long as people don’t linger too long after finishing their meal.

Worthy of its reputation. Of all the traditional NC places I’ve tried, this is the best. I’ve always been a bit of an agnostic in the great eastern/western debate, but Skylight might have swayed me for good. Menu is limited, but that’s only because everything that’s on It is fantastic. Fair proportions and great prices. Friendly authentic staff. Worth the drive from anywhere in eastern NC Yeah

🔥🐖 BBQ Royalty. 1000% Worth the Drive. 🔥🐖 This morning, I was just minding my business, driving through Ayden, when an intoxicating, smoky perfume hit my nostrils. It wasn’t just a smell—it was a spiritual experience. The unmistakable aroma of fresh wood-cooked BBQ wafted through the air, wrapped itself around me, and whispered in my ear, “You’ll be back.” I fought it. I tried to go about my day. But that scent stayed with me, haunting my thoughts like a long-lost love. By evening, I surrendered and returned to Skylight Inn BBQ, knowing full well my destiny had been sealed the moment I took that first whiff. And let me tell you, folks, this is where BBQ dreams are born and raised right. The chopped whole-hog BBQ? Pure smoky perfection with that rich, crispy skin mixed in. The slaw? A tangy, crunchy masterpiece. The cornbread? Golden, dense, and just the right amount of crumbly. Together? A symphony of flavors that could bring a grown man to tears. D & D Pest Control Co. might be experts at eliminating unwanted guests, but this BBQ is the kind of thing you want hanging around forever. The only pests in my life now are the jealous looks from folks who didn’t order enough when they see my plate piled high. If you’ve never been to Skylight Inn BBQ, go. If you have been, go again. If you drive by and smell it—well, you already know. You’ll be back.

Skylight Inn BBQ is the very best in Eastern NC BBQ in my opinion. It is simple and delicious. Wood cooked to perfection whole hog pork . Slaw,cornbread,and of course the banana pudding are a must addition to the BBQ.

Excellent pork bbq! I got the tray with the pork, coleslaw and corn pone. The pork is fine chop and delicious. You can see the years of chopping by the bow in the center of the chopping block. The slaw is a bit sweeter than I am used to but it is outstanding. I definitely would like to have that plate of cue and slaw again right about now! Go early, the place gets really busy at noon!

This is the spot for North Carolina BBQ. It's vinegar based, so a bit different than I'm used to being from the Midwest, but the meat is amazing and service was down home. Great off the grid spot to visit if you are in NC.

Great Whole Hog pulled Pork! Enjoyed a great conversation with Mr. Jones about Q, Raising daughters, and life.

Noah was amazing with his friendly smile and welcoming vibe. It was our first time. We got the pork sandwich with cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. The baked beans do not disappoint and came recommended by Noah! They sold out of the chicken. We can't wait to go back and try some. Everything was delicious.

Classic NE Carolina BBQ great to experience and see them choppin it up behind the counter, plus pick up some local plants while your there from the farmers

Skylight has been around for many years. It was one of my dad's favorite places to eat. The food is wonderful and always fresh. The catering is really good. They catered my dad's 90th birthday party!

I respect the art and skill that goes into cooking a whole hog, but if Skylight Inn is one of the best examples of Eastern North Carolina BBQ, then it's just okay for my tastes. For example, when you go to Kreuz Market or Franklin BBQ in Texas, their briskets will change your perception of bbq. However, when I tasted the bbq at Skylight, it wasn't very compelling and didn't make me want to come back for more. The chopped pork at Skylight lacked any notable smoke flavor. The most compelling parts of the bbq were the crispy bits of skin scattered among the pork. The cole slaw is sweet and not very compelling. I ordered a sandwich and four pounds of meat with slaw and bread to go. A pound of meat fits in a one pint deli container. If you order the bulk meat with slaw and bread, you get a pint of slaw and small slab of corn bread with each pound of meat. For the bulk meat, they pulled the pork from the main pile of fresh bbq that was being served - there were no issues with the bulk meat being pre-packed or old. The only caution - the containers are thin plastic and of one them was cracked. Check the containers for cracks before you leave to avoid any leaks. I also visited Sam Jones BBQ. Similar, but more upscale bbq restaurant given it's shopping center location.

I drove a few hours to come to skylight inn. I arrived around 2 pm on a Saturday, and they were all sold out of Pork BBQ. You can imagine my disappointment. The restaurant closes at 7 pm on Saturday, so who isn't doing their job? Or is there a shortage on hogs?

This visit was a long time coming and we finally crossed it off our bucket list! My partner saw Skylight featured on a Munchies episode years ago and has since then tried hard to find a reason to go to NC to try it, so we figured why not just make a whole trip just for Skylight! It's a bit of a drive from Raleigh/Durham where we were staying but a nice way to get a mini road trip in. We really appreciated that they stay so true to the Carolina bbq method and walking around you can see the piles and piles of wood they use for smoking. We both got the whole hog bbq tray with cornbread and coleslaw and the banana pudding. Love the bbq and both sauces are uniquely delicious!! The sides were ok, cornbread was yum when hot but a bit oily when cold and the coleslaw had a bit of a strange texture to me, almost like it was pre-chewed, but just my interpretation. The banana pudding is very sweet, but nice to round out the meal.

This was my first visit, based on a recommendation, and I'm so glad I stopped for lunch! I had the "medium" tray with a side of slaw, and it was a very generous portion. It's counter service, and there was a line to the front door when I arrived, but it moved quickly. Skylight Inn is about 90 minutes from home, but I wish it were closer!

My son and I decided that we would make the pilgrimage to Ayden NC to taste the offerings of this iconic Eastern NC BBQ restaurant, then we will travel a few miles into the town and stop at Bum's, another venerable BBQ joint and more. A17-year-old named Walter B. "Pete" Jones began cooking whole hogs over hard wood at this location in 1947, becoming the cornerstone of Eastern style NC barbecue. Moore came from a long-time barbecue cooking family, beginning with his great-great-grandfather, who sold pork barbecue from a wagon beginning in the mid 1800's! References to whole hog cooking goes back as far as the early 1700's in North Carolina. This iconic BBQ restaurant is still going strong today operated by Pete's grandson, Sam Jones. This is a simple, worn, barebones barbecue joint with no table service, with a plain but serviceable dining area, built not for comfort but for eating. You order at the register and the food will come out quickly, grab it and head for a table. All the barbecued pork is chopped, and that means hand chopped. The pig is moist, nicely flavored from the hard wood smoke and the vinegar basting sauce, with crunchy pieces of pork skin included. Add the fresh, crunchy slaw with just the right amount of mayo, and a slab of rather dense, crunchy cornbread made with white cornmeal from a recipe dating to the 1800's, and you are good to go. There is a fine house made BBQ sauce on the tables, it is the best I've tasted, but only a small amount is needed. For me this is as good as it gets, and I've eaten pig at almost every Eastern barbecue restaurant, I just wish you could get sliced or coarse chopped here. Now on to Bum's, just a short drive down the road into Ayden.

Amazing BBQ, world renowned in fact. It's a local place in Ayden just off Hwy 11 bypass. Plenty of parking. They are famous for their slow cooked chopped bbq, when it's chopped some parts of the skin(crackling) are included. You can order trays, sandwiches which come with corn slaw, and a cornbread block. You can go wrong here and will leave fully content.

Very good, we enjoyed it. Every bbq place is different of course. I liked the pork bbq and the corn bread was different than I've had before but it was good and I would look forward to ordering it again when I go back! I thought mustard potato salad was the best of the sides w ordered.

For years I've read about Skylight in Southern Living and Garden and Gun. Many times well publicized restaurants fail to meet expectations, but Skylight exceeded them! Great crunch from the pork skin and the slaw. The cornbread reminded me of hot water cornbread. Great experience all around! Can't wait to come back!

What an interesting little spot. You feel like you are stepping back in time. The food was delicious, hot, and fresh. The staff was very friendly. The part I enjoyed the most!?! Watching them chop up the fresh BBQ in front of you. All the food is right there and you know what's available... We ordered a pint of bbq, slaw, and cornbread. Look, don't come here if you are on a health kick! Don't come here looking for anything fancy! Do NOT a come here looking for a lot of variety! It's a simple menu and it's country food at its finest lol Yep! That means the cornbread is skillet cooked and greasy. The meat is lean, smoked, not saucy, and fresh. They actually chop up fried pork skins into the chopped BBQ. The slaw is simple - don't look for no carrots! If you come with that in mind - you will leave satisfied.

I eat here about once per week! It's a local favorite for many locals. When arrive, you see the White House capital building...your at the capital of BBQ! The Jones family has deep roots to Ayden, and to the legendary BBQ craft. The menu is simple...BBQ (pork) or BBQ Chicken, or mix it up. Baked beans are my favorite--sweet with meat combined into the beans. It's a meal by itself. The slaw is slightly sweet, but not strong vinegar (like some BBQ places). It goes well with the pork and on the sandwich. You have a choice of small/medium/large tray options. Comes with BBQ (pork), side, and a slab of cornbread. The cornbread is not a "hush puppy." It is a literal slab, oven baked, dense, but hearty. Honestly, you either love it or hate it. I like mine with a splash of Texas Pete. Go inside, wait in line (if not lined up outside), order at the counter. Hopefully you'll watch the men chop the pork right in front of you. The chopping is almost musical. Grab a drink (fountain or bottle) and don't forget the banana pudding or cake. Avoid the lunch rush (1130-1). It can be very busy and not enough seating inside. Take it out to the picnic area (left of the parking lot) or eat on the tailgate!

There is no place like this place. Best Eastern BBQ pork. No fills just old time pork BBQ cooked over hardwood. The favor really can be tasted in the bbq.

My friends and I drove two hours to visit Skylight Inn BBQ and had a great experience. No frills place and the people were very nice. The chicken and pork were very good. I loved the vinegar sauce. The corn bread I got was very thin/hard (not pictured), but the one my friend got was nice and fluffy. Definitely worth trying. Taste: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Service: 5/5

The best BBQ you will ever eat and their sides are just as good. I highly recommend giving them a try. You will be surprised at the amount of BBQ they put on their sandwiches.

The best bbq in the state of North Carolina. The skin mixed in with the chopped pork makes the flavor extremely good. Add a side of sweet slaw or baked beans and enjoy.

If you like Eastern North Carolina BBQ mathis is my favorite. They leave the cracklin' in. Be sure to bring cash.

What can you say about a legend. Service great! Food is perfect! Get some pig or yardbird and some sides and enjoy. Free parking. Cash only. Be ready to stand in line on a Saturday, worth every second. Sweet tea is delicious. Old school Eastern NC BBQ joints are disappearing each year, not The Capital. Get there get a meal and thank me later.

The Skylight Inn BBQ was featured in a recent PBS documentary. I stopped by to see what makes them renowned. You will be in for a unique take on Carolina BBQ. The wind blew toward me as I stepped out of the car. The wood smoke from the pit out back tells me that this place is genuine. I go inside and order at the counter. Previous reviews mention cash only. That is no longer the case. I came in today and saw that they take credit cards and digital wallets. I called them beforehand to be sure. The ba-dump ba-dump ba-dump of the butcher chopping pork can be heard throughout the dining space. You can see the butcher in action when you order. He chops the pork meat and blends in pieces of pork skin to add some crunch. I've never had pulled pork with pieces of skin mixed in. It's BBQ with a unique twist. The meat is on the thicker and drier side but packs good flavor. Their cornbread is flatbread style. It's on the hard side. If you get dessert, get their banana pudding.

I saw this place on the TV show: Moonshiners Smoke Ring when I was living in Washington state and said I was going to go here when I moved back to North Carolina. I'm back. I lived in North Carolina from 2009 to 2016 and love North Carolina bbq. I drove 1 hr and 15 mins to get here. I ordered the bbq and chicken combo. So let me give you my honest opinion.... 1) The chopped pork with crisp pig skin was delicious. I can see why people come here. 2) The staff were extremely pleasant and helpful. 3) The interior was clean and simple. Just what you need for the small town feel. 4) The exterior dirt/gravel parking lot was packed with cars. It had just finished raining, making the lot muddy. 5) The building itself stood out. Had I seen this without knowing what it was, I would've just drove right on by. 6) The chicken was slimey and seemed like it was boiled and dipped in sauce. I couldn't taste any smoke. (This is why i gave the place 4 stars). Otherwise, it was good eatin. 7) The sides were just okay for me. The slaw was so fine that it was like sand. The baked beans seemed like they came from a can. The cornbread had a texture like no other. It was dense and thin. It was good. I wish they would serve collards, fried okra, and fried pickles here too. Overall, I would eat here again if I was in the area but I would not go out of my way and drive over an hour to get to it. Give it a try and see what you think.

If you are visiting and want to experience the best NC barbecue, look no further than this place, Skylight Inn. There is nothing that compares to the experience of the cleavers being swung in harmony from the left arm and the right arm, as it strikes the pork on the butcher block. We enjoyed a barbecue plate with a side of beans and potato salad. It was finished off with their signature cornbread.

The food is great and the experience is interesting. The smoke smell. Watching them chop the barbecue behind the counter. Old photos on the walls and you never know who you may see. People from all over stop in to see this iconic restaurant.

Simply the best barbecue in eastern NC. They have been doing whole hog barbecue over wood for a very long time. And it shows. Worth the drive.

Skylight Inn BBQ is the capital of bbq on the east coast and this place did not disappoint! I really enjoyed my detour here on a trip from South Carolina to Maryland. The flavor explosion you get from the pork by the way they cook, season, and serve it is like something I've never experienced. Skylight Inn has a rich history having been there for over 70 years and being featured in several magazines, on food network, and on the internet and YouTube. It is so very interesting how they prep and cook their whole hog and seems very labor intensive with the smokehouse and oak wood coals. They keep true to their roots by offering a small menu of either chicken or pork and only a few sides. The OG pork tray platter is what I came for-pork served in a tray with coleslaw and a piece of cornbread on top. My partner got the pork on a sandwich which is their other option. She said is was excellent bbq. The flavor profile I got from the pork was like something I've never experienced. It was flavored well-savory, smoky, and juicy. Then you get this flavor pop that's kind of like pop rocks. The best part is the crunchy crisp skin. I wish there was more of that and I wish I would of ordered another tray or two. All and all I enjoyed my stop here. Apparently there is a NC BBQ trail that you can follow that starts around this particular place-Skylight. But it's easy to tell why this place is the capital. It's all about the bbq and the process here. They take great pride in that and you can tell.

Went to skylight because we had seen it on one of the food channel series and it did not disappoint. I've had bbq in lots of places and called different things but this one was very tasty! It's called whole hog because they chop it up with skins on and skins extra crunchy so you get those bites mixed in with it. Corn bread is a thin and dense cornbread but it's really good too!! Had some banana pudding too it was a big portion so ended up bringing it home. The restaurant sits off new hwy 11 between kinston and ayden. I believe it was 15 miles outside of kinston so not far from us in jacksonville nc. I will definitely go back bring a big portion home for sandwiches!!

Best Bbq I've ever had. Amazing food and the coleslaw is great, I don't even like coleslaw but I eat theirs. People are friendly and fill your bowl/plates, I live about 12 hours away now and if in that part of the state, we will stop.

Bought 3 lbs and two trays of bbq yesterday 8_3 2024 drove 180 miles round trip.bbq was old had been in refrigerator. Skins were like rubber been eating there since the 60s worst experience I ever had.spent $70and had to throw it all in the garbage

In 2019, and again in 2023, Southern Living ranked Skylight fourth in its survey of the top 50 BBQ restaurants in the South. All the way back in 2015, in his The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America, Johnny Fugitt ranked the chopped pork second only to Payne's in Memphis, the cornbread the 7th best side, and the vinegar and tomato based sauce the best in the land. Skylight is one of the most heralded 'cue joints in America, and its reputation is well deserved. We agree with Johnny's evaluation of the chopped pork (it's melt in your mouth good), and the sauce is far and away the best of its kind that we have ever sampled. Indeed, it is so good that something extraordinary happens when you add it to the otherwise fairly ordinary baked beans, which we chose as a side. The cole slaw was also unremarkable, but the cornbread, which is made from white corn meal, is exceptional. Our recommendation is that you skip the sides in order to leave as much room as possible for the pork and cornbread.

Bbq, coleslaw and cornbread were some of the best I've had in Eastern NC. Staff was efficient and very nice. Ambiance was old school bbq restaurant. I loved it! My wife said said they bake an awesome chocolate cake, too.

I don't believe that I can say anything about Skylight Inn that hasn't already been said 100 times overs. The smells alone are worth a visit, and the BBQ is unlike any I've ever had (which says a lot for being NC born and raised.) The way they cook the whole hog causes the skin to blister and turn to crackling. They also chop the crackling and mix it in with the pulled pork, which gives a surprising, delicious crunch! This place is absolutely steeped in tradition and history. The line can be long at times, but it moves fast so don't be discouraged by that. Skylight Inn is worth the pilgrimage, and we'll definitely find an excuse to visit again.

I was lucky enough to have lunch here while traveling on vacation with my family. What a great experience. Everyone was friendly and helpful and their whole hog BBQ was the best I've ever had. The slaw and cornbread were also very good. My wife had the beans and my daughter had the potato salad and they both said they liked them. You could taste the pride that is in the BBQ here as well as the sides. I was so impressed that I bought a t-shirt and hat that I will wear with pride when I smoke a pork shoulder back home.

6 of us drove 40 minutes to Ayden to get some famous bbq. Arriving Thurs at 4:45pm we are told no more bbq! Only chicken was available. We Should have left then but since we drove all that way, we ordered chicken. Everyone's chicken was cold and tough. My guess is they took all the front bbq for a backend catering order. Trash cans were overflowing, it was a terrible experience. This joint is a "has been" icon of past. Never will I set foot in it again.

Rode down to try the food on a friend recommendation. The food is really good and the price is pretty reasonable. It was definitely worth the ride down from VA.

Great food in a casual setting. We had pork , chicken and beans. Very, very good. Also had a chance to tour the pit. Highly recommend! Great service!

I've lived in NC for 8 years now and never had Eastern style BBQ. It's not exactly conveniently located to Charlotte. We knew we needed to fix this on our way to the Outer Banks. A quick Google search will tell you that this is the #1 place to go for Eastern NC BBQ. We pulled up at 4pm on a Friday and were surprised that there was a line of 5-10 people. Covid-19: no online ordering here. We waited in line inside. It moves fast. Everyone wore masks and respected socially distancing. They have picnic tables outside that no one was eating at so we enjoyed our meal there. We ordered the family meal which is supposed to feed 3-4 people. I fully trust that this is accurate, but my husband and I only eat once a day, so we pretty much finished it all by ourselves. For $25, the family meal gets you a 1.5 lb portion of whole hog chopped pork, two pint size sides, and 4 pieces of corn bread. For our sides, we got potato salad and coleslaw. The BBQ here is amazing. I absolutely love the crispy skin pieces. It added a great texture that I'm not used to with a regular pulled pork. The sauce is perfect and everything I want from a vinegar sauce. The sides are on point too. The coleslaw is light and a little sweet. Eat it with the pork--it's a great combo. We don't usually love potato salad, but we really enjoyed their mustard base. Like other have said, the cornbread is very dense and we really liked the flavor. Check in on Yelp to get a free drink too! It's really hard to beat the price. It's rare that my husband and I can eat an entire day's worth of food for $25 at a restaurant and be full. Note: they're cash only! If you're driving east to the beach or are anywhere in the area, you should definitely stop here.

This has been on my bucket list for a very long time, and it did Not disappoint! It's exactly as I expected. A very simple down home place in the middle of a farming community! We arrived about 30 minutes prior to closing on a Saturday night. The young men up front very polite and friendly. I had the Chopped Pork sandwich, or I should say I inhaled it! Love the vinegar sauce on the table! My hubby had the plate and Loves the slaw and beans. They were out of Banana pudding, but we got two pieces of Strawberry cake to go, and it was Delicious! This is not some pretentious BBQ place in a city where you get Pork Shoulder, this is the Real Deal, Whole Hog! Love the cracklin's!!! Thank you for being exceeding my expectations!

Made to this legendary BBQ joint for the first time over the weekend. Even at 2:30 p.m. on a Saturday, there was a line, but it moves fast. Great chopped pork BBQ (is there any other kind?).

Its always fun to try new bbq spots when traveling, especially ones with a history like the Skylight. We definitely enjoyed watching the interview on their website before we stopped in-highly recommend watching this. We ordered 2 medium pork meals, which came with corn "bread" and coleslaw - and were definitely grateful they still had some pork left when we stopped by an hour before closing on a Thursday evening The star is definitely the pork, it had nice flavor, was moist and full of pieces of cracklings which added a fun crisp we've never had in our Q before. Also enjoyed both the North Carolina vinegar sauce and more traditional thicker sauce. The coleslaw is the sweet style, and chopped as fine as I've ever seen, and the sweetness nicely complemented the pork. The corn "bread" isn't like any I've had before. It had good flavor, but not sure I'm fond of the extra firm style.

Pretty good! My husband said it is some of the best he had! I was not the biggest fan of the corn bread but the banana pudding was delish! I don't eat potato salad so i was limited on the sides but baked beans was good.

Great place tucked in a small town in North Carolina that serves some delicious barbecue! When you pull up to this establishment, there's a large dirt parking lot on the side of the road with many cars that you cannot miss. Be sure to come to the restaurant as soon as you can because they only stay open until their barbecue runs out. Once you enter, there are a bunch of tables. You wait in line and order your food from their main counter. They serve their barbecue by the pound or you can opt for the sandwich or other types of barbecue. I ordered the medium plate that comes with one side and their cornbread. If you check in on yelp, you will get a free fountain drink! You can watch as the stuff behind the counter chop up the fresh pork. There are a bunch of sides they offer, and I highly recommend getting their potato salad! The potatoes are well cooked and the potato salad has just the right amount of mayo to relish ratio! At each table you'll find three main sauces. They offer their vinegar-based sauce, a sweet barbecue sauce, and Texas Pete hot sauce. Their vinegar-based sauce has a slight thing in heat to it and it is delicious if you splash some on your barbecue! If you like more of the traditional or sweeter style that is commonly found at restaurants, you will like their sweetheart barbecue sauce. The only thing I was not used to was their style of cornbread. It is very thick and chewy. I am used to more of a fluffy type of cornbread, similar to the consistency of a muffin. It is very dense and I was told that it is a common way to make cornbread in North Carolina. It was not what I was expecting, but I still recommend you try it if you've never had it before. Lastly, I highly recommend trying the cheer wine soda if you have not tried it before! It's not commonly found on the west coast and is tasty!

We made the drive from Greenville to eat here so that I could receive a stamp for my Passpork (side note: if you don't know what that is, look it up). Immediately upon pulling up to the restaurant, you can just tell the place is making some good barbecue. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was how busy they were. That's a good sign! My friend and I each ordered a barbecue sandwich topped with coleslaw and served with a side. We chose cornbread and potato salad. I had to select the cornbread because my friend ordered the last of it. The potato salad a mustard-based style, and the cornbread standard. Two different barbecue sauces are served on the table for patrons to use at their will. Each of them were killer, and I'd recommend them to anyone. (I think they might also be available for purchase at the restaurant?) My only qualm about this place is how they really use all pieces of the meat in their barbecue- skin and all. I am weird about meat, so that is something that I personally don't like but do recognize that many people do.

I was disappointed! I'm a BBQ connoisseur, Carolina born. After all the hype, I would only give the BBQ a 3 due to it being too dry. Additionally the smoke was lacking. The cornbread was barely edible because of it's density. I wouldn't drive out of my way to eat here. They use Oak instead of Hickory and that's the difference.

Best Q in ENC. I won't buy a drink because it comes in styrofoam or plastic but the rest of it comes in paper. Ditch the plastic!

What a uniquely North Carolina experience. It looks just as a 75 year old, family owned restaurant should, well-worn but clean. The US Capital facade is an added touch that you won't find anywhere else. The menu is simple and walk up ordering is easy and efficient. I ordered a large tray with coleslaw and a sweet iced tea. It came out promptly stacked with a piece of their signature oven-fried cornbread sandwiched between. Two styles of Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce were provided on the table along with a bottle of Texas Pete. Good NC BBQ is hard to describe, but you know it when you have it. This is maybe the best I've ever had (and I've had lots, from mountains to coast). Moist, flavorful, perfectly spiced, with some crunchy bits of pork rind mixed in. The cornbread was unique by being all at the same time crispy, chewy, and dense. The slaw was serviceable with a dash of salt, but it was only there as a supporting act to the stars of the show anyway. I was staying In Greenville for a conference, but this would definitely be worth the two hour road trip when I need a fix. So glad I tried this place and can't wait to get back.

Being born and raised in Eastern NC, BBQ pork is maybe something I've just taken for granted. I've never really been into the territorial BBQ game, or fussing over who does it best. I am sure, however, that I've never had it quite like this. The smoke flavor is evident from bite one and it really does set it apart. The slaw was also really good, but the baked cornbread is just not for me (too dry; it should just always be fried, my opinion). There are 2 different sauces to choose from if that's your thing; it was a big bummer to see they are bottled in a factory and not made in house as evident by all the preservatives and Red 40 food dye added (yuck). It was plenty to eat and a super casual, easy going atmosphere. Now I can say I've been.

Dericious sandwich and pleasant service. Sandwich was awesome and very flavorful. Good choice of bun too.

Love this place!! Best BBQ ever!! And absolutely love the baked beans...they have hamburger in them...they are good enough to eat as a meal!! The atmosphere is perfect!!

BEST BANANA PUDDING EVER!!!! So happy to try this legendary place. Been looking forward to it for years. Place was line out the door at 3pm on a Saturday but we made it thru fairly quickly. Friendly helpful staff. Used the Yelp deal to check in to receive a free drink. Tried pulled pork BBQ & BBQ chicken combo. Pork was awesome - literally fresh with some skin & few bones. So good, probably my favorite anywhere. I also normally really like BBQ chicken but was not a fan. Nothing wrong with it just not to my taste so no penalty on their part. I like Smithfield's BBQ Chicken & sauce better. The cornbread is either a love or hate. I like it. And yes banana pudding was amazing- thick, warm. Had already tried Sam Jones in Raleigh which has more menu choices. Love both locations.

This is a local BBQ place that has seen its day. The dining room and bathrooms are run down and very dirty. Food and grease are splattered on the walls and it needs a serious make over. Our chopped BBQ was cold and the corn bread was barely cooked dough. We stopped because this place has had some excellent write ups, but all in the past. This place needs to be closed.