Sat at the bar, service was amazing. Ordered some BBQ and Mac n cheese (based on server recommendation), and went with the "controversial cornbread". Nothing left to take a pic of , portions were perfect. The food was amazing. The cornbread is, well, not what most expect, it's dense rather than fluffy cake. It is really very good. Highly recommend. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - What's left... - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ordered Chopped BBQ tray. Chose Sweet Slaw, Mac n Cheese, and Sweet Potato Muffin as my sides. Ordered additional Banana Pudding and Cheerwine. My sister ordered the ribs (not pictured). I think we both agreed to give 3-3.5/5 stars. Heard that the meat was the best thing and it was fine but also just a bit dry, lacking flavor. We both made ample use of the provided vinegar and sweet barbecue sauce on the table in the squeeze tube. Those two sauces saved the day! Excellent flavor. Gave much needed moisture and flavor. I would buy both those sauces outright. I'm visiting North Carolina, and this is my first time eating the Eastern style vinegar pulled pork. I absolutely loved the vinegar of the sauce when I pumped it on. But just thought the Chopped BBQ meat was underwhelming as served. Did not really taste like vinegar. Mac and Cheese was tasty because of the layer of oven baked cheddar (?) cheese mixed in. A nice homestyle Mac and cheese with a thick white cheddar type of sauce. Pretty satisfied with it, though not the best I've ever had. Sweet slaw tastes pleasant, light, milky and sugary. It's not bright or acidic like regular slaw. More mellow. I thought it was fine, though simple. Sweet potato muffin had a good bake. Moist, fluffy, with sweet potato flecks. Heard this was good, but to me it was just fine. A slightly plain muffin. A bit of taste like carrot cake. My sister said it could use butter and I agree. Maybe some more flavor. Personally thought the Chopped BBQ was on the smaller side. The ribs my sister got were more impressive in size. But she said it wasn't fall of the bone tender. And I thought it also lacked the kind of flavor that makes me go "yum!" The banana pudding was authentic with banana pieces, vanilla wafer, and maybe like some toasted marshmallow. It was pleasant but also small and expensive at $6. I do feel I've had as enjoyable or better for less. For banana pudding, you don't fancy for it to be good. Cheerwine is good to try once as it's talked about as a North Carolina staple. But admittedly it is much like cherry Coca Cola, with a little less of that distinctive Coca Cola taste. We went in the early afternoon around 2pm right when it was about to get busy. The surrounding neighborhood is quite quiet, sleepy even without much going on. Especially when there's not many customers yet. Not such a lively vibe, but still seems like a local favorite. The prices are pretty decent when compared to surrounding area. But I do think you get what you pay for as well when it comes to a slightly out of the way location. And smaller sized portions too. Everything I ordered seemed just a bit small for a bill that came out to like $21 ($15 plate, $6 dessert). I do have to say the cashier and wait staff are nice though. And I did like the simplicity of paying at the counter up front. Although there is a full waiting section too for those who want the diner experience. I think Sam Jones is perfectly fine when you add the sauces on the table on the meat. Vinegar sauce: slaps! But it's gained a reputation on Reddit for like the best barbecue Raleigh has to offer. I would say that's hype. If Sam Jones is all that's in your area, it's fine. Even good. But don't expect to be wowed. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is run by a member of an iconic Eastern NC BBQ family, the Jones - the family that started Skylight Inn! Pete Jones started Skylight in 1946 at the age 17. The family has operated Skylight for nearly 80 years now. Sam took a bigger part of the operation of Skylight when his grandfather passed in 2007, but he has never had an ownership position - Skylight is owned by his father and his uncle. He went to work revitalizing the old school BBQ joint as pit master, and he quickly did so. He left much untouched but he did upgrade the quality of the pork! What remained was cooking whole hog, chopping everything up including the crispy skin (no sliced or chunky), and thin, coarse cornbread that is much an acquired taste, and slaw that is on the sweet side. Along the way he became the consummate pit master, and in 2015 Sam opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, on the outskirts of Greenville NC. This spot was more than a little different than Skylight - while the pork was still whole hog, still chopped with skin and all, the cornbread remained firm - but other smoked meats were added, along with beer and wine service, and an array of Southern style side dishes. The same format is in play at this location, and it works just as well. The pork remains king, but the ribs, smoked chicken, wings, pork skins, and especially the smoked turkey are excellent. It may just be a mental thing due to being in a location other than the coziness of the hallowed Skylight Inn, but I felt the chopped pork was a bit off from that at the Inn - still very, very good, mind read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Chopped BBQ and Ribs with Slaw and Collards - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is my favorite place to get barbecue. The ribs, baked beans, mac and cheese and the sweet tea are delicious. Service has always been good and it's a short wait. It's also nice that there's outdoor seating. read more

Visited Sam Jones BBQ in downtown Raleigh and was pleasantly surprised! As someone from Eastern NC, I'm usually skeptical of BBQ spots because too many places try to put a "flare" on it. If you know Eastern NC BBQ, you know all you need is to cook it low and slow with a good vinegar-based sauce. As an Offline member, I decided to give it a try--and I tell you what, I'll be back again and again! The BBQ was chopped perfectly and packed with flavor. Their house sweet sauce was delicious, and the vinegar sauce was just as good. They even had Texas Pete on the table, the music was right, and the sweet tea tasted like it had a whole bag of sugar in it... just like an old school BBQ joint. Side note: the baked beans were next-level--loaded with hamburger meat and onions, just like something you'd get at a backyard cookout. And let's not forget the slaw! It's rare to find really good slaw, especially on a sandwich, but theirs was spot on. Ordering is done at the bar, and the service was amazing! I went at lunch when it wasn't busy, and the staff was friendly, the restaurant was spotless, and my food was out before I even sat down. This spot is the real deal. I'll definitely be back! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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By far the best BBQ in Raleigh. The BBQ chicken has such an intense smoke flavor, so delicious! And the Mac and cheese, it's to die for! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Raleigh is full of BBQ spots, making it difficult to select the right one for you. If you're looking for a quick service style restaurant, Sam Jones BBQ will please you. Upon entering, you order at the counter and your food is brought out to you. Ours was out within 5 minutes during lunch rush. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. My boyfriend had the pork platter with baked beans and collard greens. It was paired with cornbread, which we both agree is the worst we've ever had on our lives. As a southern girl, I'm not sure what this cornbread was going for but it wasn't it. My entree was the BBQ salad which was yummy. We would come back here, but avoid the cornbread. read more

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I've been to Sam Jones twice and I loved it both times. I know they are best known for their delicious pork barbecue, which I've definitely enjoyed, but man oh man I love their catfish bites. They are crispy on the outside, flaky and fresh on the inside with the perfect amount of seasoning in the batter. Their mac and cheese is also a favorite. If I lived closer, this would be one of my regular spots, for sure. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Catfish Bites - so good! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The service was attentive and pleasant. This was our first time visiting this location. We started visiting the Skylight Inn years ago and went to the first Sam Jones when it opened. Going to this location and seeing a picture of the original pitmaster made me smile. I remember seeing him on TV years ago, declining to speak with the TV crew, and deciding I had to go there. The macaroni and cheese wasn't as cheesy as the other location, but we ate it. It's a lovely location with limited parking. You must park on the street if you go at a popular time. Potentially blocking in front of someone's home. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Family Dinner. - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I was looking for spots to eat on my trip to Raliegh. I saw an IG post on Sam Jones BBQ, so I said I would try it. Well, I tried to pull pork, bake beans, potatoes salad it was good. But what topped it off was the service by Colin he was a blessing and well knowledgeable about the business. Well-mannered young man with a great head on his shoulder. I wanted dessert and he suggested banana pudding and boy was it a win win. I took a tour of the inside and found a lot of information, and I will go back gain when in the city. I enjoyed the dine-in and had a local soda drink and let with sweet tea. I told my friends in the area, and they said they would stop in and try out the food. read more

The first time I went, I got a to meet combo that included the pulled pork. While the pulled pork was good, I wasn't that impressed with it. I was nearby at a local watering hole and decided to give them a second chance. So I walked over to get takeout and ordered the Pete Jones barbecue sandwich with slaw. Usually I'm not a fan of the small, chopped slaw because it's usually swimming in to much Mayo or sauce. But I went for it and I'm glad I did the whole hog barbecue was perfectly complemented by the sweet coleslaw. It was a delicious sandwich. It comes with one side and I highly recommend the extra cost that it takes to get the collard greens. A tasty meal. I'll definitely be back. read more

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The service was good and the atmosphere was calm and pleasant. However, the food was disappointing. We ordered the triple combo with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. The brisket had an extra charge, but when the food arrived, they only brought two pieces of brisket that were very small and extremely dry. The ribs hardly had any meat on them and were also very dry. After we complained about the brisket, they brought us some extra wings. Those were actually the only thing that was worth it. Overall, I wouldn't come back, as I believe there are much better BBQ restaurants out there. read more

Food is dry and flavorless. Corn Bread is Awful. Everythin his terrible. Do not Recommend

Service was friendly, food consistent, flavors simple. Overall fine but ordinary, a fair three-star dinner.

For whatever reason this was still in my draft. I did a to go order at Sam Jones sometime ago. The barbecue, baked beans, mac and collards were delicious. I also enjoyed the sweet potato cornbread. read more

Emily is so nice and held the door for us on the way in! The ribs were great. Anna was also very kind and made sure we were taken care of. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Rib bone - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food was very delicious, but do NOT get the cornbread. The pulled pork was a great representation of Carolina BBQ, and the chicken was melting off the bone - meat was delicious! The sides and the banana pudding were also very good. However, the cornbread was not what I was expecting. I don't know if this is a style of cornbread that I'm not aware of, but it was tough, came out as a huge, thick block, and felt and tasted rubbery in texture. I could literally bend it back and forth, there was no crumble like a good cornbread. There was also no flavor and all together super bland. A friend likened it to hard tack which is a great description, unfortunately. read more

This place is pretty awesome. Real, authentic, NC BBQ. Great service. Great location although parking can be challenging because they don't have a lot and you might have to walk a ways. You can smell the smokers. Staff is friendly. The one thing I don't really like is no real table service. You order as you come in and then take care of yourself. Not a fan of that. You can get full service at the bar so that's where I normally sit. The pulled pork is the 2nd best of the dozens of locations I've tried around the area. I mean fantastic. It's only beaten by the Redneck BBQ lab. The Pitt is a step down and 3rd place (I tried 12 different pulled porks in one day this year to see who made the best). Their smoked chicken is pretty much the best I've had anywhere. Ribs are exceptional and the smoked turkey is a little above average. Their Mac n' cheese is really really good too as are their collards. I also love that they do bourbon flights and have their own bourbon picks. Great place to get a nice drink and enjoy some bbq, again, why I prefer the bar. Definitely the best BBQ in downtown Raleigh. read more

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One of our favorite places! They have awesome chicken and turkey and brisket. Great selection of sides and to die for Mac n cheese! The loaded potato with brisket is delicious. Seriously can't go wrong here. Highly recommend. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Turkey dinner, smoked chicken plate and chicken tenders with fries. We all love their Mac n Cheese!! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Pulled pork sandwich is "The Truth." This is whole hog at its finest. The crispiness of the finely chopped skin in contrast to the tenderness and moistness of the smoked pork on a soft potato roll with the perfect "meat to bun" ratio makes this a hit! No vinegar here - just slow cooked (20+ hours) whole hog delight with choice seasonings. I didn't use ANY sauce. WhIle I've only visited once, I'm jonesing for my next visit. The homemade mac n cheese along with the sweet potato muffins is a bonus. I haven't said anything about the ribs - you'll have to see for yourself...another hit. I'll try the smoked chicken and another BBQ pork sandwich during my next visit. read more

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I've passed this place numerous times and saw how busy it is. Figured I needed to give it a try so I stopped by. The tiny lot was full but there was plenty of nearby street parking. I ordered the Pete Jones BBQ Sandwich with Slaw, with a side of potato salad. Service and quick and friendly. The bun was soft and tasty. The pork was okay, nothing special. The slaw was average. The potato salad was not unique - it tasted like an average store bought potato salad. I tried both the vinegar sauce and the sweet sauce and neither was anything I would ever choose. I would give the food a 6.6 out of 10. Everything was edible but not anything I would ever go back for. read more

Sam Jones is located downtown Raleigh. I was able to find street parking when I arrived. There is outdoor, indoor and bar seating available. If you want full service you should dine at the bar. There were TVs near the bar. We ordered our food at the counter and it was brought to us a short time later. I got the rib dinner with Mac and cheese and baked beans. It also came with a choice of bread so I chose the sweet potato muffin. The bottom of my muffin was burnt and it lacked flavor. When I brought it to an employee's attention she told me that they have been coming out like that all day. I am not sure why they would still be serving them if that was the case. She allowed me to exchange the muffin for a piece of Texas toast. The toast was better and was buttered well. The mac and cheese was ok and the baked beans were sweet with a small amount of meat. I was given a large portion of ribs and small portions of sides with my dinner. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

If you're expecting good barbecue, don't go to Sam's. In fact, not only do they not know how to do barbecue, they can't make cornbread either read more

Sam Jones BBQ is also one of your classic Carolina-style BBQ. The smoked turkey was actually juicy and flavorful, the chopped pork were a bit dry, but the sides were solid, especially the creamy mac & cheese. Cornbread muffin was soft and slightly sweet. Portions were generous and the food came out fast. A great stop for no-frills, quality BBQ at a decent price! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a last-minute need for a large dinner and boy did Sam Jones barbecue come through. The customer service was fantastic. They helped me make the right selection to feed a large group quickly. The barbecue was delicious. The burnt ends were a huge hit. As was the coleslaw one of the guests said it was as good as her mothers. read more

Good Q! This is some NC style whole hog and it is fabulous. Service is really quick and efficient (not exactly friendly but who cares). Outdoor patio is a delight but indoors has fun music and ambiance as well. Get the sweet potato bread not the cornbread! read more

Highly recommend! Best BBQ in the triangle. I got the ribs, baked potato, sweet potato muffin and coleslaw. The sweet bbq sauce is out of this world! I've heard the cornbread is very dry so I went with the sweet potato muffin, which was an excellent choice! The only downside was that the ribs could've been a tiny bit more moist. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Ribs, baked potato, sweet potato muffin - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just okay bbq. If you're looking for bbq in the area it's good, but not go out of your way good. Note the "cornbread" is a special kind with no leveners, or flavor for that matter- I did pickup so I did not see all the signage and info about their special cornbread but they do tell/warn you otherwise. read more

Extremely clean, nice and friendly amazing food will definitely be back. Awesome place to eat at!

Came from out of town and wanted a local traditional barbecue joint. This was rated high highly. It was very disappointing. The cornbread was garbage, the baked beans tasted like they were poured out of a can, and the smoked turkey and spareribs were nothing to brag home about nor was the pulled pork. I've had much better in my home state of Connecticut. read more

Stopped here for lunch with a big group. This place came highly recommended by family who lives just outside of Raleigh. We got a bunch of stuff so I got to taste a bit of everything. The wings and brisket were Amazing!!! The service was good, we sat outside so it wasn't the traditional waiter taking order system. You have to order using a QR code and the food comes out. Everything was great, I think my expectations were a bit too high. The cornbread was awful! Only reason I'm taking away a star. If you're going to have a smoke house, you have to get the cornbread right! Other than that, it was a good experience. read more

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I'm a subscriber to Southern Living Magazine and when I saw Sam Jones BBQ was on the list of Top BBQ Joints in the South, I knew I would have to make a trip over. I went for lunch with my husband, 2 year old, and 3 month old. We arrived before the lunch rush so there was plenty of seating and no line to order. The parking is limited (small lot behind the restaurant and street parking) so we are glad we went outside of peak hours. I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich with slaw and my husband ordered the Original Family Tray. Each came with one side and the tray comes with a sweet potato muffin as well. I got Mac and Cheese and my husband got the Potato Salad. Honestly, both of us thought our meals were just average. We weren't blown away. For almost $30 for lunch and the honor of "one of the best in the South", we were expecting to be much more impressed. The ambiance is great though. There's a bar, plenty of indoor seating, and lots of outdoor seating as well. There's a covered patio area as well as a turf area with picnic tables and umbrellas. There's a "Doggie Diner" area with water bowls and given the open turf area, I would say the restaurant is dog friendly. I would give Sam Jones BBQ a try, but in my opinion, there are better tasting BBQ establishments around. read more

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I went here with my fiancé,absolutely absurd prices,watered drinks and rude service all for the most mid and below average quality I think I've ever had living down south. They may look and smell good but the floors,bathrooms and bar were completely disgusting and sticky I have continued to try and give this place benefit of the doubt but after 3 years it's no different than the first bad experience I had. Especially rude staff,the bar maid and host were not doing their jobs and distracted by boys or their cellular devices. I spent a lot of money hear for some bad food and some snickering high school girl to half ass her job. Absolute shame. read more

Sam Jones BBQ is the best around. Many choices of BBQ's & sides. I have never had a bad or even average meal here. The sweet potato bread/ muffins are delicious! Try the desserts also, especially the banana pudding! The service is top notch! The atmosphere is clean & homey. Love this place! read more

Food is just average. Our Mac and Cheese was not really warm. The pork was good. I will warn you about the cornbread, which was not edible for me. It must be an acquired taste, which is not a taste I want to acquire. Service was good for self order. Food came out quickly, even for being busy at lunch. Ambiance is good, very open and lively, I can see it getting loud during busy times. read more

Sam Jones serves up some really fire Carolina Style bbq! Their chopped roast pork is their signature and it shines! So different from other styles of bbq, I love the use of vinegar to give the rich pork some acid and sharpness. The dicing of the crispy skin into the meat provides fantastic textural contrast. The cornbread is also quite unique compared to other places. Trending on the less moist and more dry side, it does a great job soaking up the vinegar sauce without falling apart. The people working here are very hospitable and I love the ambiance and vibes this place gives off. If you are on the bbq trail and you want some excellent Carolina Style bbq, put this place on your list :) read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Excellent chopped pork bbq :) - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food is great! Have eaten there twice! The baked potato is the best! I brought home to my husband the catfish nuggets!! He says they are the best he has ever eaten! Great job Sam Jones!! read more

This place is now my favorite bbq spot. The young lady at the register was so kind, she helped me decide what to order and she was very patient with me as it was my first time visiting. I got the sweet potato muffin because she informed me that the cornbread was a family recipe and that it would be dense and unsweetened and it was absolutely delicious. For my meal, I got a barbecue sandwich and I got the fries for the side. It was delicious. 5 minutes after sitting down I got my food. The same young lady who took my order brought me my food and she asked me if I needed anything else. This is how all restaurants should be. Great customer service, great food, and the place is sparkling clean. read more

Always get BBQ from Sam Jones when in Raleigh. Best in town. Pulled pork and brisket are our go to. Sides are good regardless of what you choose read more

The positives: Great spot -- spacious and open with plenty of eating areas inside and out. Located in an area of downtown where parking is not that difficult. Order at the counter -- employees are friendly and service is fast. Food was not overly salted as it sometimes is at barbecue restaurants. The not so positives: Food was just okay to me. Nothing stood out. After seeing them featured in Southern Living as fifth best barbecue joint in NC I expected more. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Pork plate with collards and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina