The bbq was good and the coleslaw as well. The cornbread was really thin almost like a sheet cake had been pressed down and dry. Potato salad was okay. Smithfield's is way better. Overall the food was just alright. read more

We are visiting from Chicago. The food was pretty good. I really enjoyed the white chicken, Mac and cheese, and beans. My husband wasn't impressed with the pork bbq. Corn bread was interesting and not great. But maybe we just aren't used to how they make cornbread here. Wasn't blown away for the price. read more

The cornbread is very impact resistant. i would not consider it to be aerodynamic, but it makes a mighty thwap when dropped from the eighth story of a parking garage. Very entertaining. 10/10. For Proof: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j6HswNA-bvL6b9rc06SR1T_Mg0WeOh2a/view?usp=drivesdk The cornbread was unharmed. Very impressively designed, very sturdily built, and I highly recommend to any fellow Bread Heads. read more

I've only had the BBQ. To my taste it was somewhat dry and tasteless. The people are friendly and it a great place to people watch.

I'm definitely a fan of Sam Jones, but it in no way surpasses or meets my expectations after being loyal to Skylight. I KNOW the cue is cooked using the same methods, but there's just something about Sam Jones BBQ that isn't quite there yet, possibly because of the diversity of the menu. Don't let that stop you from going, though! There are plenty of highlights on this menu, and I'm not so much of a purist that I could ever complain about beer being on the menu at a BBQ joint! In order of favorite to least, here's what we sampled: Mac & Cheese. Lovely. Perfect. Not overly done or mushy, and some gooey cheddar mixed in, this is what good old mac&cheese should be. Like cafeteria mac and cheese, but better. Slaw. This was the one thing that I can definitely say was the exact replica of Skylight. Pretty sure it's made at the same place for both locations (not shipped in, I've seen a video of them making it. I'm that much of a BBQ nerd). Baked Beans: husband's favorite thing on the menu. He could have made a meal out of it. Ribs: I don't eat ribs. I ATE EVERY BIT OF MINE HERE. I'm pretty sure these were the best ribs I've ever had. If I was a rib aficionado, they would be at the top of the list. BBQ: Still good, classic Eastern NC BBQ. But I agree with previous reviewers that they do something different with their cracklins, because mine were soggy instead of the nice crunchy, salty surprise I get at Skylight. (I said salty surprise, heehee.) There is just *something* different. Cornbread: I swear it's not the same as Skylight. I KNOW they use the same recipe, but this seemed slightly sweet, much more dense, and overcooked. Skylight's is like a cornstick made into delicious bread form. This was...not great. BBQ Chicken: husband has always wanted to try it. It was OK. Pretty much like any standard American Legion BBQ Chicken. Maybe I have just eaten too much BBQ Chicken in my lifetime to adequately review this version. I'm not the biggest fan of it to start with. If you are, you will probably like this. Atmosphere and Service were just great, the staff was all nice, and I didn't feel like we spent too much. We all left full and happy. I would definitely visit again, but since it's an out of the way trip for me, if Skylight Inn is open, I'd pick that down home BBQ joint over Sam Jones' gussied up "restaurant" any day. If it's Sunday or a holiday, Sam Jones will hit the spot just fine. read more

As before the price has gone way up since last year,given everything has. However we drove 70 miles round trip to get ribs and sides. The main side which I love is the corn bread. Upon returning home we removed items from the bag. Much to my dismay there wasn't a crumb of corn bread. That's like a PB sandwich without the bread.we ordered at 2:49 pm on 11/18/22. For 62.03 you would expect your order to be correct. Upon calling I was told by a manager our next meal would be free as compensation for the missing 4 pieces of cornbread. We shall see? read more

I enjoyed the taste of the food. My recommendation is the original bbq tray and their sweet tea is always great.

In Greenville for the day and heard great things about Sam Jones...it was good but saving the 5th star for another Greenville staple.

Awesome food and atmosphere great place for NC barbeque. Smoked chicken and pork really cool upper scale restaurant for traditional barbeque. read more

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

I love the cornbread and the smoked turkey. The waitress are just too friendly and they make sure you are all taken care of while you're there. read more

Spare ribs are spotty, one order is perfection, next is fatty. Mac and cheese-perfect. Slaw-perfect. Sweet potato biscuits-to die for. Interior is beautiful! Do yourself a favor and order a to-go box of cornbread. These little yellow miracle bricks are my go-to around the house, perfect as replacement shingles, packing material, pavers and landscape borders! read more

Wood and smoke onsite. Best smell in the world when you park in their lot and get out of the car and take in all that glorious smoky air. Ribs are amazing. So tender and juicy and fall of the bone. Bbq pork of course is also delicious as they put some of that crispy skin in when they chop it. So good. read more

This place is the real deal when it comes to bbq. The ribs were amazing. The only complaint I had is that I didn't get an order if ribs Togo. read more

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

I come here very often and when my family that just came into town said they wanted bbq I knew they would love Sam jones. They loved their food and especially the banana pudding I would definitely recommend for anybody wanting any bbq related food. read more

Don't be fooled by the spacious, modern building, high ceilings or well-lit interior. It may not be a dive, but these guys know their Q. One of a dwindling number of places that still smoke whole hog over real wood, they also have chicken & turkey--the latter has a gorgeous smoke ring & soft smokey flavor. The pork has a deep smokiness by itself which is only enhanced by their slightly sweet but rather peppery vinegar sauce. I've been sampling BBQ all over NC & this is among the best. When you come, do tip--you order at a counter, but the staff will bring your food & keep your drinks topped off. Must try extras: homemade chips & from scratch banana pudding. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - The smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Winterville, North Carolina

Love the food and the variety. While this is in the Skylight Inn style, in my opinion B's BBQ beats them straight up for bbq pork. However, they are a very close second and this menu overall wins hands down with their chicken, wings, turkey, and amazing sides. Their smoked wings, straight up without a sauce, are my favorite, but no matter what yours is make sure to get an order of the pork skins and pimento cheese to share. It is SO good! read more

I had the ribs with a side loaded baked potato and baked beans. Lord the potato was huge! The baked beans were not what I was used to. They had hamburger in them. But the ribs were terrific. They ranked among some of the best I have ever had. I would definitely have them again. read more

A must. A above standard spot for the best of Eastern N Carolina bbq! Michael the partner/manager is super cool and welcoming. This California boy felt the love from all his staff. And spot it self classic and new at the same time! read more

This place is a shadow of what it used to be. I understand Covid has put much pressure on all types of businesses but that does not excuse the blatant rudeness and mediocre food of this establishment. The last two times I've gotten under cooked chicken. When I mentioned it there was no remedy Or even an apology. 93 sanitation score should give you pause on what health inspectors have found in the kitchen. Ambiance is good. Food, price, service and overall experience is underwhelming. If you are from out of town please do not think this is indicative of what real North Carolina barbecue should be. There are many other options out there with better quality product and a cheaper price point all with a smile. read more

We love eating at Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville. We have a great experience every time from the food to the service to the overall atmosphere. Our picky 2 year old even is pleased and cannot get enough of the chopped BBQ. Highly recommend! read more

We loved it so much, we came back the very next day! Build your own combo, three meats is key! The ribs and BBQ are enough to make you tear up! Well done, Sam Jones, well done, sir!! Love the hog and finish it off with banana pudding! You won't be disappointed! read more

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I usually do not post about restaurant experiences; however, the service my BF and I received tonight was awful. The establishment was about to close in 15 minutes so we already figured the food might not be fresh, but we didn't mind and we're understanding. What really affected this experience was the employee who brought us our food to the car since we had to pull up. Her overall demeanor was horrible (huffing and rolling her eyes). She came out twice: once to inform us that they were out of Mac and cheese and to bring us our food after we told her our alternative sides. When she came out the second time she didn't bother to lean over to pass us our food. My BF has to pull up and lean out the car to grab it from her. She also had a look of aggravation on her face that was such a turn-off. Overall, I'm not sure when I'll come back because it's disappointing when you receive awful customer service, especially from a place people always rave about! read more

Sam Jones has some Amazing BBQ and an awesome/friendly staff! Get the banana pudding, it's to die for!

Pork and chicken has a wonderful wood smoked flavor, and was well seasoned. The potato salad was lightly sweet. The baked beans had added meet, and was some of the best tasting I have had in a while. The sweet slaw was VERY sweet, and profited greatly from the addition of their Sweet Heat bbq sauce; it added vinegar. Bathroom rating: A read more

My trusty companion and I were out looking for a BBQ joint and this place was on the list. After entering the address into the gps, we were in the truck and off and running for a 60 minute trot. Showing up to a nice looking restaurant, walked inside and was pleased to see a clean, well organized establishment. Knowing the menu before hand based on the website info, we walked up to the counter like a seasoned local and confidently gave our order. We wanted to split up the menu a little so that we could try each other's food. I got a 2 meat combo of chopped BBQ, smoked turkey with a side of mac n cheese, house chips and cornbread while my wife had the BBQ, mac n cheese, slaw and sweet potato muffin. Food shows up quickly by a young man that was as nice and respectful as one could be. Food looked great with good portions. I went right to the mac n cheese first and if I had stopped there, I would have given 5 stars. Like another yelp post had described, the mac was great. However, I did not stop there and moved on to the smoked turkey. This is where I was not overly excited about the meal. The turkey did have a good flavor but was very dry. I had to add sauce to the turkey so I could get it chewed. I moved on to the BBQ where it took a step up and was pleased with the flavor and texture as some other places BBQ can get a little fatty. Would I say it's great, I don't think so but it was good. The house chips were good which my wife liked a lot and mentioned how good the seasoning was. The slaw was good but very watery which was not too bad when mixed in with the BBQ. The last item was the corn bread verses sweet potato muffin. Hands down the muffin as the cornbread is an acquired taste. Just too dense for me and my teeth. Closing, I would go back to get the BBQ and tailor my choices if I had no other better options as overall it is just average. I would suggest that they have someone going around just to refill drinks as I had to flag down someone each time. 3 stars are good but to get into the 4 or 5 range, the experience has to be better than average. A couple of tweaks and attention to the food, your there. Thanks for having us. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Our plates - Barbeque Near Me - Winterville, North Carolina

Great food! Love their banana pudding. Staff is friendly and helpful. Clean dining area & restrooms.

Sam Jones BBQ is great, but my husband and I still love the original location in Ayden the best (Skylight Inn BBQ). It's where it all started and for some reason (maybe it's mental) it seems to be fresher and better. SJ in Winterville is still good food but you do have to catch it just right. The bbq can be slightly warm at times. I want mine fresh and hot. It depends on if you catch it just right. The slaw is delicious. Cornbread is good but it could be cooked more to give it a crunchy bottom and make sure the ends are crunchy. The stuffed potato is wonderful. I haven't had the chicken or turkey. Baked beans with bits of hamburger are some of the best you will ever eat. Collards would be good but way too salty. Mac and cheese is excellent. The food is pretty pricey. Always check your food if you go to the drive thru. Three times I got home with something missing or a different side item. The staff is always very polite. The restaurant is like a barn inside with a cool vibe. We love sitting in the booths with the little shaded lamps. It makes it cozy. It is pretty loud in there so anyone with sensitive hearing might be uncomfortable, but there is a lovely outdoor covered deck you can enjoy eating on if the weather is nice. You will not be disappointed by any means. Some of the best eastern NC bbq. read more

I've been to Skylight Inn and so I was excited to come here. The food was great and I really liked the many sides they offer along with ribs, turkey, and chicken options. They had some of the same signature sides that Skylight Inn has. The only issue I had was that the pork skin in the chopped BBQ was more chewy than crackling and crunchy. Nonetheless, I still think the Jones have one of the best chopped BBQ I ever had. If you ever had Skylight Inn BBQ or have ever wanted to try it but didn't want to go to Ayden, NC or if you just want to try some good Eastern Carolina BBQ, then this is the place. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Three meats - Barbeque Near Me - Winterville, North Carolina

The manager was so nice and the staff had great customer service . The barbecue, slaw, and collards were delicious! Yum!

Best BBQ I've ever had. We used to drive 1 hour to go here when my husband was in the USMC stationed at Cherry Point. So naturally when he got out of the marines we moved to Greenville to be near Sam Jones. Lol! The food here is awesome. Haven't ordered anything that we didn't like. We especially love the pulled pork, hot wings & catfish bites. SOOOO good. read more

Pretty good place. It's a little bit of a mess when it comes to the waiters. You go up and order your food and they bring it to you, but because there's no designated waiter you are sometimes left with a drink that needs refilling but no one to do it. The food however is really good and the atmosphere is unique. It's also pretty budget friendly. read more

Amazing food and service- our favorite menu items are the smoked turkey and ribs. They also have a great draft beer selection of local brews. read more

Tried this gem for the first time tonight with my family. We have always wanted to make the trip to Skylight from Jacksonville, but have yet made it out that way. We will for sure be making the trip after the wonderful experience tonight. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our needs were met and were very well mannered. Smiles, pleases, and thank yous make a world of difference in a dining experience. The food was amazing and cooked to perfection. The bbq was delicious and full of the wood flavor. Every person in my family of five ordered the mac n cheese, some of the best we have had. I also had the chicken. It was very tender and difficult to put down. My only wish is that I had more room in stomach to try other items on the menu. read more

Tried this place tonight at the recommendation of a friend. Overall the food was pretty good but I have to say that several things didn't really impress me. I ordered the sampler platter (3 meats/2 sides). The flavor and smoke level on the BBQ and turkey was good but the ribs were pretty hammered and tough. I ordered mine to go but had to ask for sauce and was only offered one tiny container even though I had a huge tray of food. The baked beans were really good and so were the fries but the cornbread was horrible (see picture). It seemed like it never had a chance to rise as it was only about half an inch thick and as dense as concrete. It was inedible... not sure that is how it is normally but if so I would never try it again and I am disappointed that it made it into my tray. Thought this place would be very similar to Mission BBQ but I have to say I was just not impressed. Debated on rating 2 or 3 stars but in the end I just can't get over the cornbread. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - I hope this isn't how the cornbread normally looks & tastes... it was terrible. - Barbeque Near Me - Winterville, North Carolina

Pulled Pork was very dry (came in around 1pm). The cornbread was interesting (polenta like). Cole slaw was good. Expected more considering the big hype. Would not return. read more

I am so happy that I found Sam Jones BBQ during my business travels. I found myself in Greenville for one night, and happened to be in a hotel about ten miles away. The woman at the front desk recommended a few different restaurants in the area, and remembering that I was in BBQ country, I asked her for a recommendation for a BBQ place. She told me about Sam Jones, but said that it was a bit of a drive at that time of night. Well, I am glad that I made the drive. The restaurant itself looks to be brand new. I didn't realize that I needed to order at a counter and then sit, but that was no problem. I took a few minutes to look at the big board, and went with the BBQ pulled pork and a pound of ribs. I took a seat, enjoyed a beer, and waited. After only about five minutes, my dinner was ready. I liked the pork as it was seasoned from the kitchen, but since I love different sauces, I added some of the BBQ sauce that they had at the bar. That made it unreal. The ribs were big and saucy, just as I like them. I complemented those two selections with mac and cheese and baked beans. The only thing that I was not crazy about was the cornbread. It was really dense for my taste. I probably should have asked for some butter to spread on it, but by the time I got around to trying it, I was completely stuffed from everything else. Overall, this is a great place. There were business guys like me in there, families, old folks, and everything in between. I was there on a rainy Monday night, but the place was happening. The staff was super nice, and the place is clean. I now have a reason to get back to Greenville in the near future. read more

Short and sweet, this place and its food is prepared by people that care about what other people think. Hands down the finest in eastern NC. Moist and not overcooked and dry like a lot of BBQ that I have had in eastern NC. Whole hog is the only way, eat your heart out Lexington your not even close....keep up the good work and worth the drive from Oriental. NC. read more

Awesome food and service!The ribs in the barbecue are second to none... The sides are amazing as well!

Always delicious. Great value, hearty meals. Best pulled pork I've ever had. Order at the counter and they bring food to your table. We buy the sweet sauce to bring home. Doing a great job with social distancing read more

I was in town with a business friend on Tuesday Night and wanted to try Sam Jones BBQ because I had seen him complete in BBQ Competitions on Destination America TV. I was raised in Eastern N.C. and whole hog BBQ is the style of Q I knew until I lived in other parts of the country. Many of the reviews on this site are written by folks that are obviously not familiar with traditional, Eastern N.C., whole hog barbecue. The hog is cooked over hot oak coals (not gas or charcoal) and the meat is typically favored with salt, vinegar and red pepper - nothing else! Crisp, finely chopped pork skin was always added for a little additional flavor and crunch to the BBQ. So, when you decide to go to Sam's restaurant understand in advance that is the style of BBQ you are going to be served. When we drove up to Sam Jones BBQ Restaurant my first impression was that this is not your typical Eastern NC BBQ joint. It is a very large, new building reassembling a Texas Road House. When you walk in you are directed to a counter to place your order. There may have been more but I believe the meat choices are Chopped BBQ, Smoked Chicken, Catfish, Ribs and Chicken Wings. My friend selected the BBQ Plate with side salad, corn bread and baked beans. I selected a special meal of 1/4 white chicken and 6 ounces of chopped BBQ with French fries, cole slaw and sweet potato muffin. We ordered smoked chicken wings as an appetizer. The food was delivered to our table quickly and service through-out the dinner was excellent. The chicken wings, chicken and chopped BBQ were excellent. The BBQ is an excellent example of traditional Eastern N.C. BBQ. I also liked the Slaw and the Sweet Potato Muffin. My friend did not care for the corn bread and only ate a bite of it. Banana Pudding and Chocolate Eclairs were options for dessert but we both passed. I travel all of North America and have learned that BBQ preferences are extremely varied from one location to another. If you are in the mood to try traditional Eastern N.C. BBQ I recommend you try the chopped BBQ at Sam Jones. I think I would have rated my experience with 5 stars except they are missing hush puppies and the price is slightly steep. read more