This, this store will forever have our undying loyalty!! More than just a "shout out" this place is…read moreamazing!! My husband needed a catered BBQ for around 50 people. Now, he is a very busy man he has a lot of places to cover, and mountains of forms (digital) to deal with, among texts and calls from the places he goes, to counterparts he works with. Anyhow, I digress, so I looked up the menu, called, the gentleman I spoke with was the nicest person!! Immediately helped me even though I confused him, and had me all set within 2 calls. The food: This food has come straight from Heaven folks!! Specifically for me, I am allergic to cayenne yep and I live in BBQ land. I cannot eat BBQ here 99% of the time. HOWEVER!!!! Rock Store has no such thing on their pulled pork or in the sauce we had ( hubby brought some home)!!! Every time he has to go to the store near there he will be bringing Rock Store BBQ home for supper!!!! The catered meal was awesome and more than plenty for everyone, to deliver it was super reasonable, and it was affordable!!! You cannot go wrong with these folks!!! Thank You Rock Store Bar-B-Q you have truly impressed us, and made it possible for me to enjoy BBQ.

I live near this BBQ place and pass by it on a fairly regular basis. On 3/13/26, while driving, I…read morebecame extremely ill (digestive issues.) it was all I could do to pull off the road and into their parking lot. I knew I needed to get "something" in my stomach, like bread. I walked in, unable to communicate I was so ill. The staff was kind, patient, and gave me the space to "get it together" to at least speak. Once I could communicate, I told them I needed to get something in my stomach, like bread. They handed me a complete hamburger bun (with nothing else) and told me to take my time, which I did. The illness was momentary and a result of poor decisions on my part, but they were kind, gracious, and understanding. Please support this small business. They are "good people" which is seldom seen in this world today.

Running in for sliders for a party...couldn't believe the huge hit they were at the…read moreparty...4-different sauces, everyone was please, especially the birthday boy. Can't wait to sit down with friends and actually eat in and try more dishes. Fun atmosphere, great selection and wonderful service.

I was on my way to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and stopped at Ray Nathan's for lunch. Overall? It…read morewas reliable NC BBQ, but nothing that changed my life or had me planning the return trip before I left the parking lot. The pulled pork was decent, but mostly made me miss Lupita's pork by the pound in Charlotte (which continues to ruin other pulled pork for me). The coleslaw needed to be chopped finer but the overall flavor was okay. The mac & cheese had strong church-potluck energy (not an insult, I've had some excellent church potluck mac & cheese) but that's about where I'd place it. Then came my biggest disappointment... No hushpuppies. They give you a roll instead which was perfectly fine, It did nothing wrong, but when I'm eating NC BBQ, I want hushpuppies. A dinner roll is not an acceptable emotional substitute. Overall, Ray Nathan's was a perfectly decent lunch stop if you're already in the area. I just didn't find anything that would make me drive out of my way for it. Good BBQ. Needs finer slaw. Needs hushpuppies. Lupita's haunts every pulled pork review I write.

I live about 5 mins from Honey Pies & every time I want to go try it, they're closed. Today was my…read morelucky day. I got there just in time to grab a plate before they began shutting down for their last call. The service & atmosphere felt like home. Very friendly staff and a wide range of ages working which tells me they keep it in the family. I love that. As for my food, I got pulled chicken, Mac & cheese, and turkey smoked collard greens. Everything was really good honestly. The collard greens were probably my favorite aspect of the plate. Great flavor. Next time I'll get the half chicken. They also gave me a piece of cornbread which was delicious & I can tell it wasn't just jiffy lol. I was looking forward to getting some peach cobbler but unfortunately they were sold out already. That just means I'm coming back on my next cheat day.

My first time here and I must say the customer service was phenomenal but the food was just OK. I…read moreordered the Chefs Special and a side of potato salad I was disappointed. After all the hype I saw about this place I was expecting something better but they just opened up and it's always room for improvement. I'm just personally comparing them to this other BBQ spot that I frequent and their food was awesome from the first time I went there and every time after that. So that's the reason my review is so critical but if you're in the area give them a try.

If you are skeptical about the possibility of making legit NC barbecue out of turkey, just got…read moreahead and release your anxiety. It works. Boy does it work. Tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned. And before I go any further, I'm more on the Lexington side of the great barbecue debate, and while this is very Eastern NC, I STILL loved it. I had a tray which came with a generous amount of barbecue, tasty hush puppies and really good slaw. I took a bite of my wife's barbecue egg roll and nearly stole it. A perfect combo of collards and barbecue with a great sweet and spicy dipping sauce. We will absolutely be return customers. And get a load of this banana pudding!

The barbecue and slaw were good, and the woman taking the orders was sweet. But I'm a big food…read moretruck person, and to me it was too slow for a food truck and the portions were a little too small for the cost.

Sweet Lew's had been bookmarked on my Yelp list for a return visit after I saw it featured during…read moreTop Chef's time in Charlotte. I'd eaten here before and had good food memories, so after returning from Memphis with barbecue still on my mind, it seemed like the perfect time to go back. First, know what you're walking into--in the best possible way. Sweet Lew's is rustic, casual and charming. This is not fancy barbecue. They have their own private parking lot, which is a huge plus, but it's gravel. Ladies, leave the high heels at home unless you want to risk an ankle before you even get to the brisket! There's a screened-in porch/patio dining area and a small air-conditioned dining room inside, where you'll also find the restrooms. And when I say small, I mean small. It adds to the neighborhood barbecue-joint charm, but I can easily imagine this place getting packed during peak hours and weekends. I apparently hit the sweet spot because it wasn't crowded during my visit. The setup is equally casual. You line up, order and pay at the counter, grab your sauces and utensils, find a table and settle in. There's no wait staff. If you want a beverage, you'll head to the bar area and order that separately. Everyone I encountered was friendly, and service moved quickly. My usual order is the one-meat/two-side combo, which is $17 and includes hush puppies. This time I ventured away from the pork shoulder and ordered brisket with barbecue beans and potato salad. I also added the boiled potatoes as an extra side and a sausage link because I wanted to sample more of the menu. Unfortunately, the brisket didn't hit the same way the pork shoulder did on my previous visit. It was heavily peppered, not particularly moist, and had a thick fatty layer that peeled away from the meat. I was also missing that flavorful exterior bark I look forward to with brisket. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable. I sampled several sauces trying to find the right match. The mustard-based sauce was far too mustard-forward for my taste, and one of the sweeter sauces had a thick texture I didn't care for. The spicy barbecue sauce remains the winner for me. I'd enjoyed it previously with the pork shoulder, and it was the one I kept coming back to. The boiled potatoes looked delicious on the line but were underwhelming once I tasted them. They'll need a little doctoring up at home. The sausage took a few extra minutes, which I didn't mind since it came out fresh. Then came my biggest surprise: the bill was almost $35. Once I looked at the menu again, the math made sense. The combo was $17, but an additional side is $5 and the sausage link is $10. Lesson learned! The combo plates are clearly the better value rather than building your meal à la carte. I still like Sweet Lew's. My first meal here was stronger than this one, and next time I'll go straight back to the pork shoulder, spicy barbecue sauce and a combo plate. One disappointing brisket isn't enough to erase those good food memories. If you're around Belmont just outside Uptown and craving some barbecue, head over to Sweet Lew's. Wear sensible shoes, grab a combo, find your favorite sauce and enjoy the rustic charm. Life is too short not to sleep well, travel well or eat well. So get out there and find your next meal.

This was one of the places we wanted to try thanks to Top Chef Carolinas. So we learned that pork…read morewas their thing here. We had high expectations; after all, they were on Top Chef, but definitely not unrealistic, we are from Texas. Here's the thing, I'm not a big meat person. I like tofu, but also turkey, but I'm gonna try all of it. So we got way too much food to actually finish, but we were going to sample some chicken (turkey was unavailable), brisket, and pork. The sides were mac and cheese, a tomato based coleslaw, and hush puppies. So let's start with who, or what, is safe (nod to Top Chef)- the hush puppies and the coleslaw. The hush puppies were crispy and soft and full of flavor. They were tiny little pops that I could eat so day. Same with the coleslaw. I do not care for coleslaw, but this magic was insane. It made every bite taste so much better. The mac and cheese was also delicious. It was al dente and creamy and rich with flavor. I think most bbq places do mac and cheese a disservice, but not here. So that's it! If you're vegetarian and not vegan and love sides. This is your place. What's on the chopping block? The meats. Maybe it was a bad day because most reviews are great, but that was not my experience. The chicken was beyond overdone. It was practically on the verge of being inedible. The brisket was just as bad. It was so inconsistent. Some was moist, but we were served mostly a brick. Literally a hard chunk that couldn't be penetrated. The pork was good. It was probably the only thing that didn't need to be drowned in sauce. That's my other issue. Why do all the places offer so many sauces?? It's not Taco Bell or McDonald's. What are you trying to hide? Unfortunately, the delicious sides don't make up for the fact that we spent a lot for meats and the majority ended up trashed.

Great service, hot food,, smack your lips happy!!!! Fun little find in the city where the locals…read morego. I haven't had a fried bologna sandwich in 40 yrs. Enjoyed it w/just mustard!!

Takeout only. Nice ambiance. Service 4/5…read moreFried Pork Chop Sandwich 4/5 Fried chicken 4.3/5 Just good fried chicken. No thrills. Coleslaw 4/5 Macaroni and cheese 4/5 61 years of service and dedication!!!

Long story short, the BBQ sandwich with pimento cheese may change everything I believed about BBQ…read more Get it! I came to Heist and didn't plan to eat but Square Peg dropped off a menu at our table. It was mostly BBQ and I have a rule about BBQ that has never steered me wrong: If I don't see the smoker, I don't trust the BBQ. It doesn't mean I won't eat it, it just means I have low expectations for it. However, in this instance hunger eventually took over and we ordered BBQ sandwiches. I added pimento cheese to mine, because if the BBQ wasn't good, the pimento cheese could make up for it. We also added something called the Hope Box, which raises money for the Union County Community shelter. The chef himself brought out our sandwiches and thanked us for the donation with the Hope Box. He explained he himself was at one time homeless and has now been sober for over 18 years. I plucked out a piece of BBQ off my sandwich and ate it plain. It was fantastic! we all said before our sandwiches were brought out the good BBQ could stand on its own without a sauce. This BBQ definitely stood out on its own. The pimento cheese kicked it up a notch that I never realized could complement BBQ so well. it took me a while to get to the dollop of BBQ sauce. And that again took it to another level. Overall, I can only think of one other BBQ sandwich I was so impressed by and caught off guard. Side note: they were at Yelp's Wing Fling and I did not realize it until hours after my sandwich. But definitely remembered their wings once the connection was made. Especially, since I thought the chef that night was one of the more passionate people about his cooking. The wings they made were really good. This food truck is definitely one to visit again no matter what is on the menu!

Yesterday I attended a seafood boil hosted by Square Peg and Heist Brewery Barrel Arts by Camp…read moreNorth End. I was very impressed with the boil.. The boil includes blue claws, corns, mussels, shrimp, potatoes and crawfish. Everything is well seasoned.. and there were plenty to go around.. I came with my friend and we mingle with 4 other people at my table.. Mr. Earl was the one who bring food to our table and he was greats I'm hoping that's his name. But all and all. I'm overall satisfied with my meal. Worth $30. We have 3 full trays for the 6 of us. It was definitely nice for the chefs to try to accommodate us the best way they can. I thought at first we were going to get plastic gloves and those things to crack the claws with but realized it's too much people to provide those things. Hope if they do this type of events again to let people know to bring our own cracker.. All and all the event was great. Easy to check in. Easy to be seated and everything was timely. If they host an event again. I'll be there.

Made my way to Improper Pigs newest spot in the Plaza Midwood area of Charlotte & it did not…read moredisappoint! The restaurant has great outside seating space & the food is always great! Would recommend!

I came back with my wife and friends, and it was fantastic! The service was great, the food was…read moredelicious and the vibe even better. I can't wait to come back!