I really don't get this place. They don't know how to lay things out, they're closed like 9/10 of the week, they don't seem to have gotten their shtick together, but they were really tasty last time I tried? And I want to support places that have good food but bad marketing chops (like, the opposite of fish hut, just pulling this out of thin air). So. Yes. Fine. Everything I've had here has been really good, with the exception of one side that i'm now blanking on. Weird seating setup. Weird all around. Weird that there's a bbq place that isn't really focused on eastern NC bbq in the first place. But I'll give it a 4* until I'm proven wrong on the next visit. read more

This was good food, but they were only open something like Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 1:30. But none of that matters, they've moved to Wilmington, no way they are returning to Emerald Isle. read more

I ordered 1/2 lb of ribs. The pickled onions were my favorite. The ribs were meaty and tasty but I expected (hoped for) at least three pieces. They keep the line moving and the wait time was short. read more

Shepard Barbecue - 1/2 lbs ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

This place was so good! It has limited hours and days but we were able to nab it before we departed home from our trip. The brisket was amazing, the sausage was out of this world, and the pulled pork is always a hit in NC (especially with their sauce). The staff was so friendly and the food was so dang good. 100% would be back here again for the sausage alone! Inside and outside seating available, limited parking so just beware of that. A must try if you like BBQ! read more

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Absolutely delicious and great customer service experience! The rib meat falls off the bone! The collards have that special WOW factor and the bake beans are definitely homemade! The line can be long; but it moves fast! read more

Shepard Barbecue - Ribs, collards and baked beans! - Barbeque Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Recently enjoyed our first visit to Shepard Barbecue. The staff was friendly and service was prompt. I had the two meat combo with pulled pork, ribs, mac & cheese and beans. The ribs seasoned with only salt an pepper were simple yet flavorful and a nice change. The pulled pork portion, while smaller than expected, was good... especially on the dinner roll with pickled onion and slaw. Beans were flavorful. However I would have enjoyed some meat mixed in with them. Mac and cheese wasn't bad but it needed just a little more flavor. Their street corn side, made with canned corn, was good. However, I feel it would be better if made with grilled corn. read more

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The best bbq I've ever had. Came here on vacation and tried it after seeing on DDD. And now, I can die happy. Tried the spicy heifer sandwich, pulled pork, Mac n cheese, slaw, and potato salad. Had to high five the chef manning the smokers since he didn't want me to mouth kiss him. All the meats were well seasoned, not over smoked, and super moist. It's order at the counter, indoor and outdoor seating, but the staff does more than the usual at similar establishments to care for their customers. Would return to Emerald Isle, with the beach as an afterthought of why I'm coming. read more

Shepard Barbecue - Spicy heifer sandwich, pimento Mac, pulled pork plate with slaw and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

BBQ and Pimento Mac n Cheese was amazing. I'd certainly go back for more BBQ. If you like Carolina style bbq, you've found the right spot. read more

Shepard Barbecue - Pulled Pork and Pimento Mac n Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

They moved...from Bogue Inlet to Emerald Drive. Bunch of girls decided to try them out. Pretty darn good. Prices reasonable. Staff friendly. So the BBQ Brisket was good, but mine was a touch dry. My friend's was excellent. She got collards and street corn and said both were excellent. I got BBQ beans which are a mixture of beans.. Tasty. and the potato salad is homemade and very good. I like sweet pickles in my potato salad but they are not included; but still good. They have several different sauces and I liked the Texas sauce. My other friend had chicken, with coleslaw and had no complaints. Meat plates include two sides for one meat $15, two meats $19 and three meats $23. Or you can buy the meat alone by the 1/2 lb. They have sandwiches, and specialty sands. I would like to go back and try the Spicy Heifer with pimento mac and cheese and street corn. I have pictures I will have to add later. read more

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So went back for round 2 : I was just as impressed with the food this time around and now they have added extra hours ! Only 2 very small ribs, was the only downside. For 16.00 lunch I was expecting a little more than what was on the plate! Probably not going to be a round 3 , but it was good for a bit! read more

Got in. Got served. Got my BBQ and got home. Great tasting pork. I think the quality matches the price I paid. The staff is friendly and Shepard himself thanked me for dropping by to try it out. Parking and seating is limited but exists. I think it was about $37 for a bbq sandwich, a side of beans and a pint of bbq pork to-go. I am a pretty big fan of their choice of buns. Would recommend. read more

Shepard Barbecue - Half eaten BBQ sandwich and beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Really good meat and Pimento mac and cheese. I just wish they had a few other side options for kids.

WOW! Just absolutely amazing deliciousness! We love coming to Shepard BBQ when we visit EI. It's seriously the best! Have tried many of the menu items and nothing fails to impress. The staff are awesome and they shave lots of indoor/outdoor seating. Get there early or order ahead to avoid missing out! PS. They added cornbread and it is awesome! THANK YOU! My son's favorite and he was thrilled! read more

Best smoked meats you can find. Brisket is amazing. I am a seasoned home cook and travel to find fine dining restaurants I want to experience and this place in my own backyard is such a find. Get there when they open and enjoy amazing food with elevated sides. Just great. read more

Had the three plate meal(Ribs, Brisket, and pulled pork) with two sides(pit beans and collard greens). Everything was cooked to perfection. I'm sad I don't live near SB. I've never had anything approaching this good in Maryland. I highly recommend getting a plate. read more

Best BBQ ever! I can tell you everything on the menu is fabulous. My husband and I bought two plates with all the meats on each one and two different size so we tried the coleslaw the potato salad the baked beans and the greens. I do not eat greens but he said they were the best he'd ever had. My favorite were the ribs. They were fabulous fall off the bone marvelous smoke taste. The barbecue chicken, pulled pork were all fabulous also. It is a place we go to every time we're down at our house in Emerald Isle, we highly recommend it to all our renters, and when I'm down for just the day I order to take back to Raleigh. Highly recommend you will not be disappointed but get there early or pre-order read more

It is a deeply stupid business model to have people get there early, wait an hour in line, and then run out of items an hour into a 4-hr open time. read more

Love love love this place! Best food on the island. Customer service was great. They now have indoor seating which is great on rainy days. My husband ab I got the combination tray so we could try it all and it was so much food we eat all weekend. Small family owned and the owners are super friendly give them a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Pulled pork was very good. Great flavor with the pit beans and the Mac and cheese also. Definitely a must on the island.

WOW! We have been wanting to try Shepard Barbecue for awhile and I wished we would've come sooner! It is definitely worth the hype! We arrived 10 min before they opened and there was already a line. They are super efficient and organized with getting customers in and out quickly. We ordered 3 spicy heifer sandwiches and then basically all the meat they offered (except Turkey which they were out of that day). The Spicy Heifer sandwich was a hit! So delicious! Loved the Mac and cheese, beans and street corn! The Mac and cheese is so good but not too heavy, which I loved, My husband is an experienced "smoker" so we have sampled A LOT of bbq/smoked meats and this was hands down the BEST we have tried! Don't miss out if you are in the area! Great food and great people! read more

Great food. Authentic BBQ. Was highlighted last year on Food Network DDD. Homemade sauces. Beans are great!

Came here because of the reviews. I love pulled pork. Not sure where the reviewers ate but my experience was not even remotely close. The brisket order was one piece of fat and one of brisket. The pulled pork was about 1/8th fat. Nothing special about the non fat portions of brisket or pulled pork. Out of stock on nearly half the menuand most sides at 12:30. Beans, potato salad, cole slaw were edible but nothing special, but the corn was "yuk". Drinks were individual purchases rather than a fountain drinks with refills. Definitely a mistake to eat here on my part.. read more

Shepherd Barbecue is a great place to go to if you are in the area. The service is amazing and it doesn't take long at all! I personally like the ribs but overall a great place to try! read more

The restaurant having national recognition, via Food Network, I expected more. Arriving prior to opening, my party was 2nd in line. I appreciated only the first four parties in line being admitted at open and then by one as customers left, controlling the line and supporting the staff in preparation of the food. That however is where my praise ends. The main large party platter was NOT available and I ended up having to order all meats and sides as individuals (to serve 5). This costed well over $35 more in comparison to two of the platters. In addition, a meat, side, and cornbread were all not being served that day; limiting the choices even more. Once the food was ordered and paid for, upon arriving at the house, there was not enough food to reasonably feed 5 as guaranteed by the employee behind the register. Finally, being from Texas and living most of my life in Oklahoma; the meet flovors were not above par but average. All-in-all, price was extremely high for quantity and quality of food given. No one in my party was willing to choose Shepherd's again over other food options on the island. read more

Great food, great service. Everyone was very helpful with ordering since that was our first time. Order early because food runs out quick.

Absolutely horrible service. Don't expect to actually get food unless you go when it just opens. Their hours are from 11 till we run out yet they run a restaurant. The owner got snippy with me when I said I tried to call at 1 to order in advance. Well they don't take that. So good luck. Try the trading post down the st. So much better and they are ACTUALLY open according to their hours. Oh and I added a review on fb. Not only did they take it down so they can be 5 stars but they blocked me lol read more

Expensive!!! Do not waste your money or time. The food had no flavor, I understand good BBQ takes time and is often expensive, but this place is ridiculous. After paying all that money you expect it to be good. read more

6 rib bones and 2 sides was $48.00 and to top it off the food was awful! The ribs were very fatty and pink. The collards had no taste and the mac and cheese was dry. Worst ribs ever! read more

Excellent Q. Perfect collards. Please support this local business. Hard working people!

Good bbq food. My brisket was very tender and flavorful. I've had their food several times, but I just can't get myself to like their cole slaw and potato salad-- they're both too plain; Publix is just as good, and that ain't saying much, right? Another complaint (sorry to pile on)? The "offer to tip" thrown in your face when you carry-out food. Tip? For what? Putting the food in a bag? I know I'm not alone because other businesses do it and customers have been complaining about it. There's always that implicit but subtle pressure to add the tip, otherwise you feel like you're being cheap. Anyway, not a big deal but I wish they'd get rid of it if you're gonna be selling carryout. read more

This restaurant is new to the location. I am expecting they will be successful; can't ignore that good smoke smell. The kitchen set-up is good and the menu right on for a good BBQ joint. There is outside seating, somewhat limited; however, we live close to the restaurant so take home is a nice option. I had the sausage which was excellent. We tried 4 of the sides - corn, beans, cole slaw, & pimiento Mac & cheese; all were tasty. The beans could be a meal themselves. Looking forward to trying other meats and hoping Shepard's becomes a dining establishment. read more

Been in Emerald Isle for several days vacationing. A lot of eating spots haven't fully opened for the season yet. Don't sleep on this place. Once we found out they had limited hours and the possibility of menu items running out, we headed right over. Their indoor dining area was closed so we had to dine outside at covered picnic tables. A sunny day at the beach, didn't mind it. Had the (2) item plate...brisket & babyback rib w/collard greens & potato salad. Multiple selections of barbecue sauces for those who like a mustard vinegar or ketchup base. Something for everyone. Brisket slice was tender with practically no fat, rib was a tiny bit dry but still ate it. Potato salad was definitely not store bought. Collards were good but I like mine with a touch of sweetness. But ate those too. Baked beans were so good someone else in our party went back and got a larger order so we could all share. DELICIOUS!!! All of it was worth every penny. Oh and the owner's provided excellent service. Can't beat it. Check them out if you have time. You'll walk away full and happy. read more

the only good thing here is the brisket sandwich. the potato salad has NO flavor. the ribs are barely even edible. the coleslaw has NO flavor. worst bbq i've ever had. read more