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    Prime Barbecue

    4.6 (486 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Southern
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Prime Barbecue Photos

    PRIME BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Prime Barbecue

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    Insta: mmmashterchef   3 meat plate
    Mike M.

    14,000 mile 48 state foodie road trip and had to return here for another bbq plate. While everything was amazing, the smoked slice beef cheek daily special was truly my favorite bite of the 49 day trip. The first time, chef Prieto was handing out lemonade to the line outside. This time, he was going table to table greeting everyone and he schooled me on the evolution of beef cheek and how he has experimented with smoking and slicing. Genuinely nice guy and clearly passionate about his refined craft!

    Brisket, Ribs, Creamed Corn, Mac n Cheese
    Jan K.

    What does Prime look like on a Sat morning? I'll tell ya... a line that snakes out the door and around the patio. Don't worry, the wait is long, but it isn't that bad. While on our hour + wait, we made friends with the people to the front and back of us, we were served some awesome beer off the tap by the owner, and we get to smell the illustrious smoky aroma that makes this bbq so famous. Service is always top notched. If you're really lucky, the servers may slip you a tender sample of brisket while you make you final decisions on the cut of meat you want for your meal. And then you get to sit down with your plate. Was it worth the wait? Oh, most definitely!!!

    2 meat plate (pork rib, and brisket with mac & cheese and beans) and 1/2 lb of pulled pork and cornbread
    Shelby F.

    lord. this sent me into a food coma after the two hour wait in the sun. my favorite items were the beans, pulled pork, and cornbread. it's definitely worth trying at least once, but I recommend showing up before they open (if its a saturday) to avoid the long wait. i went at 11 (the time they open) and didnt sit down with my food until just before 1pm. the staff were super sweet and came outside with cups of water for those of us waiting. they also answered any questions I had with patience and every employee i spoke with was very nice. they have 4 sinks near the to-go box area by the exit which was awesome, especially after my hands got sticky from the ribs.

    Merch
    Cheryl L.

    Arrived at the restaurant approximately 12:30. Before we arrived, thet were sold out of Beef Rins. While standing in line, they sold-out of the baked potato (my number 1 choice), as we approached the staff member to order, it was announced pork ribs were sold out (choice #2). I tried the brisket, it was delicious but opted for the BBQ Pork. Which was amazing, as well. Mac n cheese was ok, nothing to write home about. The baked beans were amazing. Green beans were also a hit. Eventhough there was complete pandemonium that I'm sure they're used to, the staff was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Restaurant remained cleaned, tables were cleared and wiped down as patrons left. Staff were always moving about asking if anything was needed and how we enjoyed the food. I will be back and will make sure I am there as the doors open.

    2 neat plate - brisket, pulled pork, baked beans, greens beans, and cornbread
    Eboni B.

    I came on a Saturday afternoon and had to wait about an hour in line (the line went all the way to the door). By the time we got to the front they ran out of several items that we wanted to try but the food was very tasty. Some of the best bbq sauce I've ever had. Not sure if I would wait an hour in line for it again but I would maybe place an online order next time. Also think that they need to provide more bbq sauce, only 2 sauces come with the meal and you have to pay for extra

    Interior
    Evangelina W.

    Notable for the great service and food, Prime Barbecue is 100% worth the visit and a treat. I made a special trip to Prime Barbecue even though it is almost a hour away because I had heard so many good things about the meat, but what I left with was just an incredible amount of respect for the intention behind the restaurant. From the water provided during our wait in line, to the samples at the ordering station, to the details in the bathroom every part of the experience was very intentional. I loved the modern and classic decor. As you wait you can look around at the details and you'll also notice you can ask to take a tour of the kitchen. The restaurant is situated in a great location which allowed for a post lunch walk in the park. Will be going again! Must order the brisket! It is SO JUICY.

    Brisket, sausage, pulled pork, mac and cheese, barbecue rice
    Lauren K.

    Great location next to the Knightdale station park! We ordered online for pick up then took our order to the nearby playground with pavilions to enjoy our haul and let our daughter burn off some energy. Utensils and napkins weren't automatically included so make sure to bring your own or specifically ask. The brisket was my favorite with a mix of lean and moist cuts and a nice crust on all. The sausage and pulled pork didn't slack either. The Mac and cheese was ultra creamy, and the barbecue rice was loaded with bits of meat. We meant to take home leftovers, but ended up stuffing ourselves and not having room for the bread pudding. That reheated well at home for something sweet later in the day. 10/10 would spend an afternoon like that again.

    Michelin 2025
    Neluta G.

    It is a Texas type barbecue, lines are put in the street. You wait in line for hours then you order your food, once you have the food you have a seat at a table and eat. I wish they would figure out a better way to do this to shorten the lines. Barbecue sauce too sweet but it is Texas style. The best things are jalapeño, cheddar smoke sausage, rigs and pecan pie. The pecan pie was one of the best I have ever had. Filled with delicious pecans and less of the sugary layer, crust delicious. A must try pecan pie.

    Ribs, Brisket, beans and creamed corn
    Jennifer B.

    I can't stop thinking about my meal at Prime Barbecue. I had read a TON of reviews before heading out to Knightdale to check this place out. I had prioritized my list of things to try. This is a good 30-40 minute drive from my house and SO worth it! 2 friends and I had decided to check this out on a Friday. I knew there would be a line out the door and possibly down the street, but I was not working that day and REALLY wanted to try the food, Upon arrival, there is ample parking on the street or across the street in the park. The line was outside on their covered patio (with heaters); we heard it would likely be over an hour wait from where we were, but despite the cold January weather, it was quite pleasant waiting. Carlos (one of the guys who makes it his business to make sure those waiting feel welcome) offered us water while we waited. Little things like that go a long way for me. I wanted to go on Friday because there were 2 fabulous sounding features (Beef Ribs and Burnt Ends). While Burnt Ends were my priority, I was intrigued by both. I knew I was getting Brisket (likely fatty/moist as that's what I prefer) and was hoping to get a 2 meat plate with Burnt Ends as my second; unfortunately, features can't be added to meat plates, but can be purchased as an add-on. As we waited in line, I was checking out what others had purchased including meats, sides and desserts. I don't usually buy dessert at a Barbecue restaurant, but the cobbler with vanilla ice cream was quite popular. Based upon my research, I had decided to order Mac & Cheese (with bacon) and Barbecue Rice as my 2 sides. When we finally got up to place our orders, I was given a sample "bite" (it was way bigger than a bite) of brisket, and I was instantly in a very happy state. The flavor was AMAZING! It was worth the trip just for that sample. I ordered a 1 meat plate of sliced moist brisket with Mac & Cheese and Barbecue Rice as my sides with an add-on of 1/2 lb of Burnt Ends to share with my friends. My friends (who also have great food taste) got some additional items including pork ribs, beans, creamed corn (feature of the day), corn bread, and the HUGE baked potato. During our fabulous meal, we met some of the great people who work at the restaurant. They "suggested" trying the House Made Sausage which was good, but does contain jalapeños so be prepared for a kick. In addition, it was also "suggested" we try the Texas Cobbler with vanilla Blue Bell Ice cream (Blue Bell is a Texas treasure); the flavor of the day was blueberry, and historically I have not been that into cobbler, this was AMAZING! I can't wait to try other flavors on my next visit. While you can expect to pay ~$21 for a one meat plate, 2 sides and no drink, I do feel the quality of the food makes it worth the money. The quality of the food and taste IMO is SO much better than the chain BBQ restaurants. I was so impressed and stuffed with my experience at the Prime Barbecue; I will absolutely go back. Next time, I think I will go for a 2 meat plate with chopped and sliced brisket to better compare the 2 options. For sides, I will stick with Mac & Cheese (with bacon of course) and the other side is TBD. I will also get the cobbler because I would regret it if I didn't!! Thanks so much to the team at Prime both front of the house and behind the scenes. You made my day with amazing food, and I can't wait to go back!

    Our plate.
    Michael L.

    The food was fantastic, as was the service. We had brisket, pulled pork, ribs and added a sausage. Barbecue rice, sweet potato salad sides plus a piece of cornbread. Brisket was the best I've had, everything else was only great. The employees were welcoming and engaging. More than once they came out from the kitchen or behind the counter to greet customers in line that they recognized. Of course I'll be back and want to try the entire menu.

    Meat carving
    Sarah K.

    Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! There is a line all day. It never stops from early in the morning until it sells out. But, I don't see anyone annoyed about the line. Everyone expects it and waits patiently. The service from ordering, at the cashier to the floor is top notch. I've learned almost everyone's name on the floor and felt really taken care of. The food is top notch as well. Chris, the owner, is known as a barbecue nerd and it's so true. I had the privilege to hear from him how he cooked the meat from start to finish. So much care and engineering behind it. I also got he Pit Tour and was it eye opening. You know for sure that they care about their meat and the quality. But, if you ask Chris, he's not in the barbecue business, he's in the people business. You'll see it everywhere in the store. He really care about his staff and the customers. There's a family station, which is more than a baby changing station, with all the items stocked. Their kids high chair is much better than any other restaurants' I've seen. They also have a kids play area outdoors for the warmer weathers. The sitting style is like family style. You really need to love your community and sit together. Love the atmosphere it brings and the energy. Newcomers, always get the brisket. Their burnt ends are amazing. You cannot add the burnt ends as part of the meat option of a plate, but you can get it separately a la carte. Expect to spend around $30 per person. If you're going to feast, then $45 per person.

    Bread pudding
    Adriana P.

    I have so many wonderful thing to say about Prime Barbecue. My husband and I had heard such great things about Prime BBQ that we had to try it and our first experience did not disappoint. Since we were driving kind of far, we placed a to go order not knowing how long the wait would be. The woman that answered the phone was so friendly and very patient. Upon arrival, we drove to that back to the to-go parking section that had ample parking spots. There is a nice area behind the building with plenty of seating and even a small gated play area for children. The packaging of the to-go order was nicely organized, labeled, and packaged in a way to have the food be in its best possible state upon eating. Since this was our first time, we wanted to try a variety of foods. We tried their brisket and pork ribs which had a lot of great flavors and very tender. We tried their pulled pork which was my least favor of the three meats we tried but still tasted good. For sides, we tried their mac 'n' cheese which was creamy and had a nice flavor. Their barbecue rice was so delicious! We tried their big boss beans which we were not fond of as they had an overly celery flavor. Had the bread pudding for dessert which is apparently only offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Go on those days and get their bread pudding! I am a fan of bread pudding and this is on my list of top favorite bread puddings - just yum! This was a great first experience and we will definitely be eating here again!

    Pork ribs, Whole Hog Lechon, smoked turkey
    Jack W.

    My wife and I drove 8 hours to Raleigh and made sure the very first place we stopped was Prime, and it was everything we hoped for! Five minutes after jumping in line we were offered a free beer which hit the spot on a 90 degree spring day. We've hit a number of barbecue spots all over the country so I don't say this lightly but their pork ribs were the best I've ever tried and if you go on a Saturday make a point to try the whole hog lechon! Huge thanks to Marcus & Chris for the southern hospitality!

    This is the line outside in 95 degrees.

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    16 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Easily some of the best bbq in the Raleigh area. I've never had a poor experience and all the staff know what they're talking about!

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    4 months ago

    The food was outstanding. They should give me at least three slices of brisket. The prices is so expensive but it's worth for your money

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    Prime Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Prime Barbecue

    Do any of the sides have pork in them? If so, which do and in what form (oil/fat/bacon/etc)? Thanks!

    the bbq rice - pieces of sausage (the sausage is brisket with pork casing) mac & cheese - optional bacon on top… 

    Do they serve beer?

    Yep and in true Texas style BBQ fashion they have shiners on ice for you to grab while you wait to order

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    The Depot on First

    4.2(64 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Stopped by for lunch on Saturday and had great burgers with fries and salads. Greens tasted fresh…read morepicked and delicious. Fries were tender on the inside and crisp. All around great food and service. Felt welcomed and loved hearing about the history of the building

    So, didn't start out well. New to the area, I didn't realize you had to enter via patio. Would…read morehave parked accordingly with my foot issue. Anyway, Was shown to my table, a male server showed up, lit the candle, and I didn't see anyone for 18 minutes while two tables around me were greeted, cleared the table of extra dishes not needed and was served water, and their plates for the dinner buffet. The server that lit the candle, came back, asked if my server showed up. Uh, no. Finally, a woman server came by, went to the other table. Can't make this up. Then she realized they were being taken care of. She finally made it to me. I informed her I was dining alone, she cleared extra dishes, asked if I needed salt or pepper. Interesting question considering I didn't have any food. She filled my water glass, then brought my plate, as it was a dinner buffet night. Their first dinner buffet. No excuse for the poor service, though. Make me feel important, valued whether dining alone or with a group, please. The buffet had a great variety of proteins and sides. A couple of beef strip choices, shredded chicken, crisp tortillas to build your own nachos for the kids, fried catfish, fried chicken patty, salmon, swordfish, all cut into small portions. Proteins were the perfect size to try everything without filling up. A carving station consisted of sirloin, pork loin, sausage and baked salmon. The seasoning on every protein at the buffet and carving station was different. Excellent. Sides included mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, a squash medley, Brussels Sprouts, and mashed potatoes. A nice spread for a salad included mixed greens, large leaves of them. All the veggie toppings, two kinds of shredded cheeses, house made croutons, four dressings and fresh fruit that blew me away. Every bite of the fruit was ripe, sweet. Not the hard, no flavor offerings at some establishments/groceries this time of year. The gumbo had large pieces of shrimp, crawfish, sausage, potatoes, and smaller pieces of mussels, mini shrimp, etc. The breads selection was biscuits, baguette and others. All fresh, soft and crunchy. Great to dip into the gumbo broth. Dessert offerings included brownies and cookies. I opted to enjoy a brownie along with the fresh berries/fruit. They also offer a Sunday brunch buffet. The other nights they have a full menu. Be aware, they automatically add in a "brunch gratuity" of 20% to the bill. Overall, I would visit again.

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    The Depot on First
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    Saltgrass Steak House - Silver Star Porterhouse

    Saltgrass Steak House

    3.4(261 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    I was a little harsh in my initial comment. The hosts did say it was going to be a 15 minute wait…read morebut it ended up being over an hour with empty tables visible from the lobby. When we were eventually seated and I ordered my burger it came with fries instead of the potato soup. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if I didn't have a gluten allergy and fries didn't share a fryer with food that contain gluten. I had to wait even longer for my burger to be remade. Fortunately the food was good and our server was very attentive and communicative. We also talked to one of the managers afterwards and she was very nice and professional. The hosts were for the most part professional, but it did look like they were just standing around doing nothing at times. I don't know if all three of them are supposed to stay at the front desk, but it seemed like maybe at least one of them could have helped out the kitchen staff more to speed things up. I think I will give this restaurant another shot. Just maybe not on a Saturday night.

    I am puzzled as to why this restaurant has such an overall low star rating. Our first visit to…read moreSaltgrass Steak House was exceptional - both the flavors of our lunches and our service. Becky (on our receipt at Rebecca) provided us with genuine Southern hospitality during our entire dining experience. She was efficient and friendly with many great suggestions regarding food items. I enjoyed the grilled shrimp along with a loaded baked potato and delicious Caesar Salad. The dressing on the salad had fantastic flavor, and it was not drenched in the dressing as some places tend to do. My husband enjoyed the blackened redfish dish which featured shrimp, lump crab meat, tomatoes, green onions, lemon butter, and red pepper flakes. He exclaimed over the fabulous flavors. We were pleasantly surprised by the delicious and airy yeast rolls (at least I believe they are yeast rolls) that were accompanied by a decadent and addicting honey, cinnamon butter. Becky brought 4 of them for the 2 of us, and I wish she had not because I could not resist having part of a 2nd roll. We will return soon as we look forward to enjoying their lunch/early dining menu that runs only Monday - Friday!

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    Soul's Kitchen

    4.5(13 reviews)
    10.1 mi

    My first visit was on a very hot day for this food truck. The Ouster Mushroom Po' Boy was…read moredefinitely worth the ride for me! They were lightly fried and the roll was overflowing just like my first "Shrimp Po' Boy" in New Orleans, years ago. This was definitely a hit, for me, with a side of Mac n cheese! My 2nd visit, I tried the "Smakin Mac Bowl"! A very nice helping of their Mac & cheese, topped with Carolina BarbeQ, underneath a portion of lightly fried onions! It did not disappoint! The owners are very friendly and make sure you are satisfied with their offerings! The ambience is "the food", due to it being a food truck! I check their schedule for local locations and make it my business to drop in to please my palate! If you are looking for a tasty vegan meal, find their truck and drop in! Tell them Reggie sent you!

    I haven't tried a lot of vegan food in my life, but I was really impressed by Soul's Kitchen! They…read morehave a beautiful food truck (which is actually a bus) and they put out a cute table with menus and examples of some of their food. I tried their Oyster Shroom Po'Boy and it was really good! I don't particularly like mushrooms, but it didn't taste like mushrooms at all. The mushrooms were seasoned and fried to perfection. My box was packed full of food, I couldn't even see the bun they put so many fried mushrooms on top of it! The fries were okay.

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