Ok this place is a hidden treat. The decor is very nice. They are fans of Primus and have many hand drawn, computer generated photos on their wall. I can't even explain, you'll just have to see. Ordered the dry rub ribs, not a good choice. It was good but the dry rub lacked the rub. I had a taste of the glazed ribs and they were on point. The brisket is soft. Right amount of fat. Mac and cheese is different. But it's great. The candied yams are candy and tasty. I had a taste of the fried okra and I don't like okra. I am a fan now. Perfectly seasoned. Not mushy at all. This place is a great place to eat and just be full. Alcoholic drinks as well so that just means you'll eat more. The service was on point. Young wait staff who were all eager to help. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Just a cool photo. The pictures are really on the wall. - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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Really good bbq. Reasonable prices and comparable to what you'd expect. Only have had take out, which is super easy with its own separate entrance. Can't really comment on the service but restaurant always seems busy with happy customers. Restaurant looks rustic and what you would want from a bbq place. read more

The second I walked in, I knew this place was the real deal--the smell of the smoke is incredible and hits you immediately. I ended up doing a 30-minute carry-out trek home, and while the brisket was a little on the dry side (likely due to the travel time), the fat render was absolutely spot on. The pork was equally flavorful and held up perfectly. The Sauces: * Spicy BBQ: This is the gold standard. Perfect balance of heat without drowning out the meat. * Vinegar Sauce: Tangy and traditional. It's exactly what you want to cut through the richness. The Sides (The real MVP): Usually, BBQ spots have one or two "filler" sides, but everything here was excellent. The Mac and cheese and jalapeño cheese grits are non-negotiable. The beans, fries, cornbread, and slaw were all top-tier as well. Verdict: I'm definitely doing a dine-in order next time to catch that brisket fresh off the block. If it tastes this good after a 30-minute drive, I can only imagine how it hits right at the table. read more

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I just spent $35 and traveled all the way from Charlotte for the ribs and sides I saw pictured on Yelp and that I had enjoyed once before. I am sorely disappointed that my ribs and pulled pork were as bland and dry as saw dust. I got the dry rub and there was a lot of dry and literally no rub; I mean extra dry. The only saving grace, in addition to my own seasonings, was the barbecue sauce, which was tasty. The baked beans tasted like canned with no barbecue sauce- kind of underdeveloped. Greens were good. Sorry Ray, won't be back. read more

Food was very good. We had the brisket and ribs. The Brunswick stew was my new Benchmark for how good that could be. Was nice meeting one of the owners who was circling among the new guests making recommendations and making sure we were satisfied. read more

Very tasty BBQ in Gastonia! Food was very good and prices are fair for the quality you get. They also serve beer and wine! Plenty of parking out front and really friendly staff members. I ordered smoked wings but they heard ribs so I just enjoyed those anyway - very tender, flavorful and good portion size. Their cheddar jalapeno grits are to die for. I do wish they had more open hours (currently Thurs/Fri/Sat for lunch and dinner then brunch/lunch Sunday). I'll be back to try some more options, including those wings! read more

Ray Nathan’s - brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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Amazing experience! The food is delicious, the service is wonderful, and the ambiance is unique. I ordered a brisket sandwich and tried all their delicious sauces. The house "sun drop" base was my favorite! The employees were mostly young adults who seemed happy and helpful. The booth seating was comfy and clean and the walls were completely plastered in cool Primus posters on every available surface! Love it and can't wait to go back. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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4 stars. Proteins were somewhat of a let down, however the sides and sauces really carried and are 5 star quality. The pulled pork and ribs were awesome but the rest of the meats did not have much flavor. The turkey and chicken were the worst, dry and I believe they used too much oregano if that was the seasoning they used. Please don't quote me on that but tasted off. Brisket was dry and was a huge let down. I'd only recommend getting the pork ribs or pulled pork. Both had lots of flavor. Ribs were juicy and had great flavor. Additionally, the pulled pork was seasoned which I like a lot. Might not be for everyone but I liked it. Sides were all A+. I tried almost everything my favorite had to be the yams. Sauces also were great the sweet sauce was by far the best and did not disappoint. Really boosted the quality of all the meats. Service was nice and friendly, but went during quiet hours so cannot give honest review if super busy. Overall 4 star experience just because of some of the proteins, I really enjoyed the sides and sauces and would still look to go back! read more

Great food friendly service. Pork was great will definitely be back. Mac and cheese excellent, got the okra enjoyed wife got the yams and talked about them for a couple hours about how good they were. read more

Great smokey aroma when we walked in. Both pulled pork and brisket had great smoked flavor. Mac and cheese side was very good. Overall really good place for BBQ! read more

Great large space. The waitstaff are friendly. The food is great. I had the brisket take out and the spicy bbq sauce. Please always support local businesses read more

My wife and I was given an opportunity to leave our child at church and we can go out for dinner on them. We were given Ray Nathan's and we drove down the road to experience this gem. I was taken a back by how large this building is and the options that we had. We were greeted properly and was seated quickly and the server was very attentive to our needs. I ordered the quarter chicken with baked beans and mac and cheese while my wife ordered the brisket sandwich and mac and cheese. The food was very delicious and we actually had a good time here eating. I would definitely recommend this restaurant when in the area. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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This is my new favorite bbq spot! The food is absolutely incredible, there is a wonderful selection of sauces, service was outstanding, manager is very friendly and they sure know how to make banana bread pudding. Can't suggest this place enough! Will be going regularly :) read more

Incredible BBQ, and superb service and even better prices! Definitely will be back!! We got the bbq sandwiches it melted in your mouth and the sides were well balanced but tasty!! read more

Great glazed ribs! I also had the collard greens, jalapeño grits, and the banana pudding. Every bite was great! This place is incredible! The service, the vibe, the staff. And the owner is a Primus fan! You have to see the show posters. I asked to meet Stephen since I knew some of his crew from A town. He showed us around his smoker. What a beast! This place is special. Can't believe it took us this long to go. We'll be regulars for sure. I am trying the whole menu. read more

Best BBQ in North and South Carolina. Service, Food, and ambiance is a solid 11/10 every time. And when corn isn't in season, it's still a 10/10 experience without a doubt. Love this place and highly recommend read more

Ray Nathan’s - Brisket Sandwich with corn as side - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

We had heard so many good recommendations, so we couldn't wait to go here. I think we had a high expectation with so many good reviews, but it was not what we were expecting for bbq. There was a large serving of food and good service. We didn't like the seasonings that were covered on everything. It was not what we were expecting for the bbq or the Mac n cheese. There was plenty of room for the outside to wait, and inside for seating. Try it for yourself...not bad, just not what we were thinking. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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The food is great and the bbq sauce was delicious! I also recommend the chicken plate! read more

Made it to this place during a roadtrip back home. And it's are to say it was totally worth the small detour. The food was delicious and you can tell it was fresh. The Mac n cheese was hot and fresh but could have used a little bit more seasoning. The Stephen's brisket sandwich was beyond delicious. They had the perfect combination of flavors within the sandwich. We did have to eat in the car as we had 2 dogs with us, but when ordering the staff was very friendly and quick to make our meal. The restaurant was clean and kept well. Very family friendly place and I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

Ray Nathan’s - Stephen's Brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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We stopped by for lunch after landing in Charlotte as the place had great reviews. It was pretty easy to find and they had plenty of parking. Inside, they also have lots of seating. I enjoyed their pulled pork as the portion they gave me had plenty of bark. However, I found the ribs to be a little dry. I also like their sauces. I would have preferred the piece of cornbread over the roll. Their sides were tasty. They also brought me some vinegar for the collard greens. Don't get me wrong, it was good but nothing blew me away. I thought the staff could have been friendlier. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Combo plate - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

The brisket is off the chain. The service was outstanding. The atmosphere was relaxing and inviting. I will be going back again.

The best pulled pork I ever had! Not a dry bit in sight. Their sauces are amazing. I prefer a hot bbq flavor and theirs is a balance that hits the mark oh so well. But there are 4 to choose from. My son was in heaven with the banana pudding. The owner is incredibly welcoming & kind! My husband was so taken back in the best way by the chicken, I believe they were smoked. Our hands down wow winning favorite has got to be the stew! Very neat art to peep at & talk about while dining as well. read more

Went for a hike at Crowders Mtn State park and was looking for some authentic Carolina BBQ on the way home. Found Ray Nathan's on YELP. As soon as we pulled up we knew it was money. We were greeted at the entrance by the "selfie log" and a rustic off the path building. You can tell by the parking lot and to-go spots that they do a lot of business. I will put this place on the higher end with a combo plate starting at $20 before drink. Here's my three things: 1) Combo meals cover it all Baby backs 1/4,1/2, full slab, chicken, brisket, pulled pork and Andouille links. I went with 1/4 slab, andouille, Nathan's stew (Brunswick without beans), and their awesome corn on the cob (BBQ eloté). Top notch BBQ especially the lacquered ribs. 2) Owner has the best staff. Super nice greeting, respectful servers, and food out fast and hot. Clean bathrooms and booths too. This is rare in today's world. Above 5 stars here if I could. 3) Felt like Carolina BBQ with options to have the vinegar sauce, house sauce (vinegar/mustard), spicy chipotle, or the ketchup based sweet sauce. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Starting in upper left: Nathan's stew, lacquered ribs, BBQ ELOTÉ, cornbread muffin, Andouille link - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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Food was freaking AWESOME!! Brisket and jalapeño girts for the win!! Will most definitely eat there again!!

Customer service over the phone was great! She was very personable and took her time to explain the menu and multiple options. I ordered the smoked wings plate with 2 sides. The wings are whole wings that I chose to get dry seasoning instead of glaze or bbq or whatever else the flavors are. The wings were pretty good. Good smoke taste, super moist and juicy. My 2 sides were okra and slaw. Both were really good although they did not carry bbq slaw. I also got the peach cobbler which was more crust than fruit which is EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE!! Overall 7.8/10 I enjoyed it. read more

Last two carry outs were not good, but we tried again. The sides were good, but the ribs were so dry, we threw them away. The muffins were also stale. It does seem to be better when you eat inside. read more

I was visiting my friend who recently moved to Belmont. She had been wanting to go to this BBQ restaurant. She's from Texas and was excited to see they served brisket. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with Mac and Cheese. The pulled pork was good and they pilled a lot on the bun. In fact so much that I pulled half of it off. I was not a fan of the bun. Next time I would get the pulled pork plate or maybe I would give the sandwich a second chance. I loved the Mac and Cheese. Of course my friend had the brisket and she said it did not disappoint. She had a side of baked beans, slaw, and potato salad. She loved all the sides. They offer several different sauces. I tried them all and my favorite was the house special. The sweet tea was some of the best! The staff is friendly and our waitress was great. We will go again. So give it a try - I don't think it will disappoint! read more

Ray Nathan’s - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Mac and Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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I wanted Ray Nathan's to have good brisket so badly... but just another let down. I chewed down what I could but I just ended up paying $23 for some dried out brisket, which is disappointing...especially when you think you're treating yourself... the service was great, the sides were even delicious(Mac and cheese and green beans). The inside was really clean too. But! The one thing you gotta nail as a bbq joint... is.. well... the bbq. I pass this place every day and always wanted to try it. Maybe... I'll go back but bbq is an expensive meal to give multiple chances read more

Ray Nathan’s - Dried out brisket plate - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

Ordered ribs, pulled pork and brisket carry out. Last 2 visits were disappointing so really hopeful good this time. But sadly no improvement. Meat very dry. Ribs were the worst. Used to be our go to place but something changed over the last year. Gave them 3 stars because of the sides,, which are good. Will get our ribs at Oldstone Steakhouse. read more

It's a hometown vibe all around with friendly service. Loved the personal touches from the owners and the signs from previous local favorites that are still hung up. The portions are huge and we were excited to discover that most of the menu is gluten free. They were more than happy to share the list of items and it's clear they care. Even their fries are cooked in a dedicated frier. Food was excellent: Pulled pork plate: 5/5 Chicken: 5/5 Yams: 5/5 Baked beans: 5/5 Fries: 5/5 They have 4 sauces on the table. Tomato based: thick and tangy. Our favorite Ray Nays signature sauce: mustard based. We liked it mixed with the tomato based one Vinegar based: traditional Carolina bbq style Spicy chipotle: spicy chipotle sauce for those who don't want bbq read more

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First time in SC so I came to this place and it didn't disappoint. All the workers were super nice. The ocra is a must get and their sauces are pretty good. I just wish I got the number from the girl that took my order. My water didn't come with a lemon unfortunately :( read more

Ray Nathan’s - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

Ray Nathan's is a hidden gem for anyone that wants the best barbecue in the Charlotte area. It's worth the drive to come and try it. The atmosphere is great along with all of the servers. If you try the banana pudding, it's guaranteed that you'll come back! read more

Ray Nathan’s - Brisket Plate with Fried Okra and Mac 'n Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

The family and I dined here several times, and I am absolutely in love with the brisket plate with potato salad and southern-style green beans. It's the best I've had in a long time! On our last visit, my mother-in-law ordered the Stephen brisket sandwich, not realizing it had ghost pepper cheese. The waitress kindly informed her and promptly replaced it with a regular brisket sandwich. The staff here are incredibly attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere is always welcoming. I highly recommend this place to all my friends who love barbecue, ribs, and brisket. I definitely can't wait to go back again! read more

Ray Nathan’s - This is a delicious brisket plate with a side of potato salad, homestyle green beans, and a yummy corn muffin. - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

The place was clean and busy. The service was friendly and the wait was short. They kept the tea filled up. The pulled pork plate was tasty and the brisket sandwich was delicious, but needed coleslaw. I carried it home, made some slaw, and added sweet dills, onions, and Phil's Alabama White sauce (in Black Mountain) with a hint of horseradish. Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking Ray Nathan's chopped brisket or sauce. It was excellent. It just needed coleslaw. read more

BEST BBQ IN TOWN, hands down. It's the best we've had since moving to the Carolina's. We go to this place every time we have visitors in town because it's that good we have to show off! The service is always top notch and has the best vibe. Will forever be our fav bbq spot. read more

Delicious. Some of the best BBQ I've had, and I've had it in multiple parts of the country.

Best wings and ribs I've had besides the ones my grandad used to make. The sausage is a++ too.

If you want bbq, but don't want to do the work, head on over to Ray Nathan's. They're only open Thursday-Sunday (check their site for times), and that parking lot stays full. First, pretty cool space with large family style seating and smaller booths. They can accommodate a pretty big party, you'd have to contact them for details on that, but, something I noticed. The menu is combos, plates, kids meals, salads, and sandwiches. Eating in, your order as you enter, pay, and sit down for your food to be brought to you. I've also ordered pick up online and it was fast, easy, convenient and tasty! Always go for the brisket. Always. It's perfectly smoked, nice fat/meat ratio, tender and it's delicious. I've had the pulled chicken, very moist and good as well. I added smoked wings, which turned out to be 2 Whole smoked wings. I'm funny ackin' with my chicken, so, it wasn't done enough for me to eat at the moment. I took them home with the intention to cook them more, but my daughter got to them, heated them in the air fryer, and exclaimed it was the best smoked chicken she'd ever had. I also got the potato salad and baked beans, and when you eat in, you get a biscuffin. I don't know what it's called, but, it's a muffin shaped baked good that tastes like a biscuit...a good biscuit. I wish they'd serve some apple butter and/or honey with them. I could subsist on the brisket and biscuffin (let me trademark that name), with some apple butter...oh mah goodness, oh mah goodness. Anyhoo, the potato salad, pretty good for one I didn't make. I'm a bit of a potato salad snob...This passes for me. The baked beans-a little runny, but, good. They serve the purpose of a little baked bean with a little potato salad bite, for me. They could stand some gussying up. My husband got the leg quarter and brisket meat combo with green beans and fried okra. He enjoyed all of it! The okra was crispy, seasoned and fresh. The green beans had great flavor. All of the sauces are on the tables with a roll of paper towels. All of the sauces are very good, my favorite is to mix the sweet red sauce with the spicy chipotle...Mm mm good! They also have a vinegar sauce and a mustard sauce. We didn't do dessert this time, but the banana pudding and the Granny Smith apple cake are solid dessert options. They also have a peach cobbler, but I've not had...next time. Ray Nathan's is a solid bbq option if you're in the Belmont area, or if you aren't and are willing to travel for some good cue. You won't be disappointed! read more

Ray Nathan’s - Leg quarter and brisket with fried okra, green beans, and a biscuffin. - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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Great pork great chicken, great beans, good Mac n cheese, sauces were amazing. Especially the spicy and the sun drop. read more

These ribs are banging!!!! The portions are good and the bbq brisket is moist a little thick side. The peach cobbler is a delicious side. read more

Ray Nathan’s - Glazed ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina