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    Prime Barbecue

    4.6 (479 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Southern
    Open 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Prime Barbecue Photos

    PRIME BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Prime Barbecue

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    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.

    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!!!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    This is the line outside in 95 degrees.
    Brian J.

    The food is better than other places nearby, but the wait time is always at least an hour to order, and the always run out of food, sometimes before 1pm. Essentially, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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!

    Apple cobbler, corn bread, cole slaw, sweet potato salad, baked beans, chopped brisket, and a full Nelson sandwich
    April R.

    Some of the best barbecue I have ever had! Well worth the very long wait, but be ready to stand in line for at least 30 minutes. The sides were all really good and the meat was super yummy. I left with leftovers and was stuffed so portions are good just a little pricey (which is understandable).

    Annie J.

    Prime Barbecue catered one of the events I attended and it was my first time trying it. Incredible. It definitely made me want to visit and try more from their menu. The standout for me was the pork belly. It was perfectly rendered and incredibly flavorful. I've also heard their brisket is amazing so I'll definitely have to go back and give that a try.

    Brisket,  mac n cheese, green beans and pickled onions, and pickle slices.

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    2 months ago

    Best KC style BBQ outside of KC. We lived in LC over 25 years, this is the real stuff

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    2 months ago

    You cannot go wrong with Prime BBQ. They have I ncredible pulled pork potatoes! Go early before they run out!

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    27 days ago

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    18 days 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

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    1 year ago

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    2 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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    Business owner information

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    Chris P.

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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

    View All 5 Questions

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    I loved it the service was definitely spectacular and they always made sure I was feeling good and…read morecomfortable at every minute , the food was AMAZING the fried chicken was crunchy and the biscuits and honey were warm and just dissolved in my mouth sweet and savory at its finest , the Ambience was beautiful the scenery the lights around us the furniture was comfortable I felt cozy and good I had a blast

    Environment: Located in the suburbs…read more Cleanliness: 2 of 5 stars; Leadership/Management should ensure the restaurant is cleaned thoroughly at close of business as well as before the start of business each day; I needed to use the restroom at the end of our visit but thought about how the restaurant was presented upon entry and waited until I got home! The Welcome mat and surrounding floor area where we were seated had scattered crumbs/debri all around them! You shouldn't "judge a book by it's cover," so instead of leaving, I sat down and gave the food a try! Maybe it was an off-day, however first impressions are everything to me and the 101 Kitchen didn't come through with me for presentation yesterday! Food: Very tasty and plentiful; yet it was something about that steak that didn't taste quite like steak or maybe it was the fact that the Steak Exquisite Meal came with flank steak which tasted like a cross between sirloin, ribeye and something undecided! The (2) steaks came on a bed of fried potatoes with an egg for about $30! I'm one and done with this meal! My wife had pork belly bowl in which she didn't like; she sent it back to the kitchen and opted into a chicken and blueberry waffle plate for about $20! The chicken was thick and flavorful as well as the delectable Belgian waffle! We each had (1) glass pineapple juice($4/glass)! We spent $65 total with a tip! They have a full-service bar which might get my patronage later on this year because once again, they have exceptional service! Service: We received very prompt fast service and we're served our food/drink within 15-20 minutes of being seated!

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    The Depot on First

    The Depot on First

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    (63 reviews)
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    I was completely blown away (in the BEST way) after our experience on Valentine's Day with the…read moreDepot on First. Firstly, the atmosphere was intimate and romantic. We were sat in the back of the restaurant and felt tucked away, but this didn't hinder service in the slightest. Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and very helpful. He knew the menu and had a confident answer to every question. Before being sat at our table, we grabbed a drink at the bar and asked the bartender about the menu. There was a woman who took special time to explain what the menu items were and how they differed from your usual "chicken or beef etc". Which was not only informative, but interesting too. Onto the star of the show, the meal. We ordered the bison & farro and the poulet rouge carbonara. Both of these dishes were phenomenal. I've never had a culinary experience even close to this one. These are meals you think about for the rest of your life. The textures and flavors together resulted in an exquisite explosion of harmony. The kitchen staff put their heart and soul into these dishes and it is obvious! I cannot wait for my next visit.

    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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    New York Diner

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    Great location! Love the decor but the food left a lot to be desired. Based off a TikTok review we…read morevisited but unfortunately we were disappointed. It was busy but we were seated fairly quickly. Our waitress was so engrossed in what was going on with other employees, we had to repeat our order several times and there were only 2 of us. The food lacked seasoning and flavor and was presented cold to.lukw warm at best.

    Imagine stepping off Main Street Smalltown and somehow landing in the middle of a love letter to…read moreNew York City. The diner's booths are cozy vinyl classics, but every inch of wall space is plastered with Time Square posters, yellow taxi figurines, and souvenir Statue of Liberties. It's like someone raided every gift shop in Times Square, tossed it all into a blender, and poured it over a classic small-town greasy spoon. The coffee's bottomless, the breakfast comes with a side of gossip, and your view is equal parts pancake stack and Empire State Building snow globe. I would recommend the breakfast where the pancake breakfast is less an event and more a ritual. The stacks of golden pancakes share the plate with sausage links that taste like they've been holding down the fort since forever, and the coffee--always hot, always refilled before you can ask--runs like traffic on a green light. It's the kind of breakfast where the comfort is in its predictability: simple, sturdy, and endlessly caffeinated, like the city itself. Worth the trip: big stacks, small town, and enough New York souvenirs to stock Times Square. Cheers!

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    First Watch

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    4.1
    (405 reviews)
    7.8 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
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    Thank you to Carl for the exceptional welcome and service during our recent breakfast visit. On a…read moreWednesday morning, our party of four was seated promptly and enjoyed perusing the ample options on the menu. This adorable restaurant had such a cozy, small town vibe, but with such a wide range of menu options from basic to refined. We were seated near the kitchen and Carl helped guide us through options, particularly one of the specials which we adored: Double Bacon Parmesan Hash -- so many layers of flavor, enticing and balanced. The waffles and pancakes were a highlight for the kids, my smoked salmon eggs Benedict was decent. For drinks, I appreciated the coffee refills to keep us warm that chilly morning and the kids loved the Tangerine Dream drink with tummy cream foam on top, while the adults tried out the Cinnamon Toast Drink, garnished with a cinnamon stick. Definitely would visit First Watch again! Although we realized it's a chain here, it definitely had small business vibes and did a great job with the food, service, and a lovely environment. Thanks y'all!

    I went to First Watch for the first time earlier this month and I was surprised at how much I…read moreenjoyed it. The restaurant is a chain that is common, but that may be for good reason. I had the pumpkin pancake with chicken sausage and eggs. I was nervous that the chicken sausage wouldn't be as good as pork but it didn't disappoint. It was great! The eggs I got were a little small. More like 1.5 eggs than 2. But overall the dish was terrific

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    Prime Barbecue - bbq - Updated August 2026

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