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    The BBQ Lab

    4.0 (137 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order The BBQ Lab Takeout or Delivery

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    THE BBQ LAB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The BBQ Lab

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    Chopped Chicken Plate
    Elizabeth S.

    I was craving some comfort food and stopped by The BBQ Lab and was very happy with my experience. Before I even walked in, I could smell the food and it smelled fantastic. I ordered a chopped chicken plate with jalapeño mac and cheese and deviled egg potato salad. I wasn't sure which sauce I wanted, so the employee recommended 2 and gave me all 3 to try (her recommendation for the sweet or Smokey was spot on). I also got a banana pudding for dessert and it was very tasty. Will definitely be returning.

    Madelyn A.

    BBQ Lab is that spot. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender with the perfect smoky flavor that keeps you coming back for more. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy, the collard greens were seasoned to perfection, and the cornbread was soft with just the right amount of sweetness. The portions were generous and the food came out hot and fresh. The staff was friendly and welcoming which made the whole experience even better. If you are craving good barbecue with sides that taste homemade BBQ Lab is where you need to be.

    Hannah L.

    We got brisket, turkey, and sausage - all of which were 10/10! We loved each BBQ sauce that they had! We also got the coleslaw (mediocre), potato and deviled egg salad (AMAZING - would recommend), and the mac n cheese (pretty sad and flavorless actually). The staff were notably warm and friendly! I appreciated them walking around and checking in with the customers! We also appreciated the outdoor seating! Would definitely return to try more meat selections!

    Jalapeño & cheddar sausage, ribs, brisket platter with Deviled Egg Potato Salad and side of burnt ends
    Cindy N.

    Staff were very friendly and food was plated decently fast. We also ordered chili cheese fries and pork skin which are made upon ordering. The chili has a bit of a sweet taste to it so it was not one of our favorites. The ribs and burnt ends were a little bit dried to start the opening hour of the day, but overall everything else was good.

    Menu
    Ashleigh F.

    The BBQ lab is located in north hills with multiple other businesses so parking could be limited depending on the time of day. There are plenty of parking lots nearby and parking spaces in front of some of the businesses. There were several tables located inside of the restaurant. Once inside we could smell the food as we waited in line to place our order. One employee that I engaged with was very friendly during our interaction and was grateful that we dined at the business. Some food that is served is already cooked and some has to be prepared or heated. I got a rib plate with mac & cheese and baked beans with corn bread. My food was already cooked. The cornbread was ok. The other food wasn't bad but it tasted like it had been sitting while. We dined later in the evening probably about an hour or more before they closed. If I came back I would come earlier in the day and hope that the food tasted more fresh.

    French Fries
    Peyton G.

    I will preface the review by saying they sold out of most things right after we went, so what we got was most likely some of the last of those things that day. We went around 6:20 pm. The meal was just alright. The seasonings were great, but the meat was a little dry. There wasn't a huge amount of meat on the rib bones. The Mac and cheese didn't have any jalapeños, so I'm guessing it was flavoring, but I think that's what gave it the weird flavor that it had. The cornbread was good. It was sweet and a bit crumbly, so all in all pretty tasty. The fries were very good, but are $3 up charge with the 2 meat plate. Their seasoning was flavorful and the fries were crispy. The staff were super friendly and helped out whenever needed! Overall, this place was not bad, but I would recommend more as a lunch spot when the meats are fresh.

    Stephany S.

    Casual atmosphere with delicious Southern food. We went up to the counter to order from their menu of unlimited choices to pay and then we picked out a table. My smoked chicken salad sandwich took a few minutes to be served as they prepared it fresh and it was moist and tasty. Service was quick and friendly. We also ordered a brisket meal with 2 sides (baked beans and potato salad).

    Chyna R.

    customer service was alright the people were vague answering questions, the food was disgraceful, the ribs were super dry collards were bot season neither had no smoke meat , the best part of the plate presentation wise was the bbq baked beans , staff was overly stuck up ! the environment itself clean quiet and highly neat ! i wouldn't recommend this to anyone for 24.60 for 3 ribs two sides and no drinks wasn't worth it at all ( THE RED NECK BBQ LAB IS WAY BETTER IN ANGIER NC ) the original place they serve with love this place was very dry and unwelcoming even the dry food never again

    Inside
    Gloria M.

    The BBQ was delicious! The prices were reasonable for how much food comes with the order. I got the brisket platter with a side of baked beans and deviled egg potato salad- which was the best potato salad I've ever had! The brisket was tender and juicy and the tables have a few different sauce options you can try. The line was a bit long but it moved quickly and you are served immediately. It would have been nice to have some music playing in the restaurant to make the atmosphere better.

    French Fries
    Kellie D.

    Walked in fairly early on a Wednesday evening and were the only ones in the restaurant. We were greeted warmly by three guys behind the counter who were ready to take our orders. I ordered the pulled pork plate with collards and fries. I was given everything but my fries right at the cash register. There was lovely bluegrass music playing inside but since it was a beautiful day we chose to sit outside. Wish the music was piped out there, too, but it's probably against some North Hills regulation. Pork was super tender, flavorful and the portion size was generous. Several sauces were on the table but the pork almost didn't need any. Collards were delicious. There was a $3 up charge for fries as a side but it was plenty for two. The fries were the size and crispness of McDonald's fries (a compliment) but with better seasoning. Food was a tad salty but otherwise perfection.

    Brisket with Jalapeño Mac n Cheese and Deviled Egg Potato Salad
    Toshi I.

    Was looking for BBQ before leaving NC. This was a great choice as we were not necessarily seeking a smokehouse dining experience. We ordered the Brisket meal for the Hubs and requested the Jalapeño Mac n Cheese and the Deviled Egg Potato Salad sides. I never had this kind of potato and Deviled Egg hybrid salad which was really tasty! The Brisket meal was also a great value with a good-sized portion of meat. At every table was an array of comdiment sauces to experiment with. Our fave was the Competion sauce which was just the right amount of sweetness. There's butter for your cornbread. Wish there was some honey for it as well. I ordered the Pork sandwich which was excellent. The bun was soft and I dipped in the sauces as well. They sell the sauces and other merch here. I bought a fun t-shirt for the Hubs. We'll be back again!

    Seating inside
    Katie T.

    I braved parking on a Sunday afternoon at North Hills to try the BBQ Lab. You're hit with the aroma of smoking meat upon walking in, which can be mouthwatering or a little overwhelming. There's a good sized menu so it took a few minutes to decide what I wanted. I went traditional and chose a BBQ sandwich with coleslaw and sides of macaroni and cheese and hush puppies (very nutritious). The hush puppies were very good (you get 12) as they'd just been made. The macaroni was a bit disappointing as it tasted like it came pre-made. It isn't your homemade style either baked cheese, but has more of the cheese in a can consistency. Not my favorite. Also, sides did not come with the sandwich so you had to order them extra. The sandwich wasn't bad. You get a large portion of meat and that was flavorful, but I would have liked more sauce. You have to ask for and choose from three sauces they have.

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    3 years ago

    Pulled pork and ribs were great. We got 6 sides to try a lot of what they offered. The sides were ok. They lacked flavor.

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - The BBQ Lab

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    W&Th 11am-9pm; Fri& Sat 11am-10pm and Sun 11am-9pm

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    The Pit - Pork sampler with pull pork, brisket, and chopped pork. Green beans and fried okra! Delicious!

    The Pit

    3.8(3.7k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Visited this spot for the first time in a year and it was just as it's always been, good…read more We sat at the hightop tables and had the pleasure of being served by the bartender! (She makes a good L.I.T) She had backup come in as we were gearing up to leave. It started to rain and she walked my mom to the car with an umbrella that is above and beyond service! It's one thing to do your job but that kind gesture made my entire experience that much more special. So to my servers, thank you once again!! Now, let get to the food and ambience, what were all her for. Appetizers: BBQ Cheese fries and Smoked wings ! They brought hush puppies and biscuits with their house made honey butter to the table. We ordered a couple of the Combination Plates, the BBQ Chicken Plate and the Pick two protein plates. Everything was good, and everyone left stuffed and had plenty of leftovers! The dining areas were decorated in wood and cast iron with a BBQ and Pork references throughout.

    The Pit Authentic Barbecue was a great experience for our group of 4 adults and 3 kids. They were…read morevery accommodating and had something for everyone on the menu. We started with the pimento cheese balls, which were super cheesy and delicious. They also brought out biscuits and hush puppies, and those were perfect to start the meal. For the kids, we ordered a hot dog with fries, mac and cheese with fries, and a cheeseburger with fries. All of the kids loved their meals. The fries were really good (even I enjoyed them!), and the mac and cheese was definitely the favorite. The adults ordered a double combo with pulled pork and brisket, and it was big enough to easily split between two people. My husband and I both got the Pit bacon cheeseburger, and it was so good and huge. I ended up taking half home for later. My husband also got mac and cheese and shared it with the kids, while I ordered the Brussels sprouts, which were amazing. The staff was really friendly, and everything came out nicely. Overall, it was a great meal and a great experience, especially for our family !

    Photos
    The Pit - Inside, very crowded

    Inside, very crowded

    The Pit - Hush puppies

    Hush puppies

    The Pit - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Plate with pulled pork and fries

    Sam Jones BBQ

    3.9(372 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Sam Jones BBQ as I've been on the search for good east Carolina bbq and this restaurant…read moredid not disappoint. When you arrive there is parking available on the street or in the parking garage across the street. Walking into Sam Jones BBQ it felt lively, casual, and family friendly. There was a bit of a line but it is definitely worth the wait. To order hop in line and order at the counter. Once you order you'll be given a number and then you'll be able to choose between sitting inside or outside. We ordered the three meat combo with the chopped bbq (this is whole hog bbq), the slow-cooked chicken, and the brisket with cornbread. For the sides we ordered fries and Mac & cheese. The slow cooked chicken was amazing and by far our favorite as it was packed with flavor and was so perfectly smoky. The brisket was our second favorite as the bark was well seasoned and it fell apart. The chopped bbq was good just needed some sauce but had a great smoky flavor. For the sides, definitely ask for the ranch and honey mustard on the side. They make these sauces in house and were excellent. The cornbread was interesting, kind of like a hybrid between a hush puppy and a piece of bread. Definitely worth trying if you haven't had the cornbread Carolina style. If you are in the Downtown Raleigh area this is a must stop. I can see why this restaurant was added to the Michelin guide.

    This was recommended by a friend who is a local and who's reccs I usually agree with. I've lived in…read moreMemphis and Houston, and think I've been spoiled by both places. Had the chopped pork and it was dry and flavorless. Had the vinegar sauce and that helped a smidge but overall it was really disappointing. Tried the potato salad and it was fine. Not bad, not remarkable. Also tried the cornbread and ...I have not had an unleavened corn bread before. I could appreciate it for what it is but wouldn't have again. Even without it being touted as "the place to go" I would be disappointed. Given its accolades, I'm totally confused.

    Photos
    Sam Jones BBQ - Interior

    Interior

    Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Plate with pulled pork

    BBQ Plate with pulled pork

    Sam Jones BBQ - Salad and brisket plate - corn bread?

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    Salad and brisket plate - corn bread?

    Longleaf Swine BBQ - Whole Smoked & Fried Chicken Wings - 5 Count guaranteed to be the best in town every time.

    Longleaf Swine BBQ

    4.0(142 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I used to go to a church just down the road so Swine had been on my list of places to try for…read moremonths. I took a seat at the outdoor bar and started with some smoked wings. 5 whole wings, so really 10 wings at most places. Meat was juicy enough, maybe I was hoping for more of a dry rub though. I used the tangy BBQ sauce and sweet BBQ sauce on them, and they certainly enhanced the flavor. I usually like mustard based sauces, but theirs was little more peppery than I wanted Then, per the bartender's recommendation, I ordered the brisket melt sandwich, and it was the undisputed highlight of the meal Muenster cheese, thinly sliced white onion, pickle chips, and a good load of horseradish sauce. The brisket had an amazing flavor, and all the other toppings came together beautifully. But that Union bakery bun is just another level. It's like brioche, it was so soft, but somehow a little more substantial. For my side dish, I went with the sweet potatoes with goat cheese, pepitas, and agave. This was just ok. For me, the potatoes could have been cooked longer, a little more crispness would have really helped. I did think the goat cheese was a unique flavor with a milder ingredient like a sweet potato, but it did work with the other ingredients pretty well. Only one unisex bathroom and it's small, so be warned!

    Fabulous blue skies found us walking downtown Raleigh on a Friday afternoon. Hunger struck and…read moreLongleaf Swine BBQ was within sight! What a fantastic lunch experience we had with Kelly as our server. We people-watched while we I enjoyed a smoked chicken salad sandwich that was so hefty, I brought half of it home. I chose the best side dish of roasted (and fried though they did not taste fried) sweet potatoes with a sprinkling of pepitas & goat cheese to create amazing flavors. My husband loves a great chicken pot pie, and the one at Longleaf Swine BBQ does not disappoint. Warning: The pot pie comes out steaming hot. Do not burn your tongue - poke holes in it to allow the extreme heat to escape.

    Photos
    Longleaf Swine BBQ
    Longleaf Swine BBQ - Whole hog pork with Mac n cheese and collard greens

    Whole hog pork with Mac n cheese and collard greens

    Longleaf Swine BBQ - Outside. Lots of outdoor covered seating with heaters

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    Outside. Lots of outdoor covered seating with heaters

    Ole Time Barbecue - Quality bbq and fried chicken

    Ole Time Barbecue

    4.1(471 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    Food here is amazing. Service is equally as good. The restaurant is small but so cozy, and more…read morethan friendly.....kind of like extended family. I actually got emotional over the pork BBQ the 1st time I had it. Lets say I'm very far away from being a kid, but the taste and flavor reminded me of being a kid and having fresh homemade BBQ from my grandad. I am born and raised here in a part of town between Raleigh, and Durham. I always felt I'ved had the best in both cities growing up and as an adult. Somehow this place escaped me till a couple of months ago. I've now been 3 or 4 times, and food has been the same each time which is amazing! All my kids, and mom feel the say way. This is a hidden gem unless you already know!! Also first time I went there an older gentleman chatted me up. He made me feel more welcome. He was like me but he already know about this place for a while and was getting a kick out of me just stumbling onto the establishment. Mac, and cheese, Collards, Fried chicken, French-fries, Hush puppies, and the Apple cobbler were all FIRE! Hopefully I'll get to try everything soon. Sorry didn't take any pics because as soon as I got the food I started to eat the food.

    Ole Time Barbeque is now on our must list when visiting Raleigh. We stopped by for the first time…read moreand were blown away by how delicious everything was and how friendly and helpful the staff was. I ordered a combo plate of chicken pastry and bbq pork, with sides of fried okra and potato salad. Everything was served piping hot, just as it should be. The Chicken Pastry (chicken and dumplings) had wonderful flavor and was comfort food at its finest with thick and wide chewy noodle dumplings. So often chicken and dumpling dishes can be overly salty but Ole Time Barbecue's was perfectly seasoned. The barbecue pork also had great flavor and also was seasoned perfectly, though unfortunately I can't do even the most mild of spicy, so even tho there were only a few red pepper flakes, they made it a little bit challenging for me to eat. The fried okra was cooked and seasoned perfectly and not at all oily and the potato salad was also really tasty. I also tasted their coleslaw and mac and cheese from Hubs dinner and both were delicious as well. Also loved their sweet tea, I got it 25% sweet . The biggest surprise was the large basket of tasty hush puppies brought to our table the minute we sat down, and refilled. Also delicious and seasoned perfectly. The location is very homey and diner like, with just a handful of tables so you may have to wait, though luckily we didn't. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was they served their sides in styrofoam containers versus reusable dishes like they use for their main courses. I do love that they're using reusable dishes for their mains so it seems like they could also do this for their sides. Less trash for the restaurant and better for the world... .

    Photos
    Ole Time Barbecue
    Ole Time Barbecue - BBQ heaven!

    BBQ heaven!

    Ole Time Barbecue - St. Louis Style Ribs half rack

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    St. Louis Style Ribs half rack

    Beasley's Chicken & Honey - Packed on opening night.

    Beasley's Chicken & Honey

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    I went back to Beasley's Chicken & Honey one last time as they close January 25th. Even on a cold,…read morerainy morning, there was a line outside before opening. I understand as if you aren't seated when they open, you can expect a 90-minute to two-hour wait. I was hoping to get the Chicken Pot Pie this time and thought my prior visit was just off. I was thrilled that most of the menu was available. They were just out of the banana pudding. So I got to try the pecan wings I read about with the white sauce. It was so good. Then I got the chicken pot pie and biscuits. The pot pie had old biscuits for the topping, but the creamy mixture with large chunks of chicken was delicious. My biscuits came with honey and were served warm. I left with a slice of the chocolate-caramel-coconut cake, a side salad without onions, and a fried boneless thigh. The salad was made correctly, and the dressing was included. The salad was full of veggies, and the cake was rich and moist. Service was friendly and as soon as I finished my iced tea, another appeared. My wings were brought out first and it was a while for the rest of the meal as the restaurant was full. But they didn't rush me at all. I actually liked the space between the dishes, as I might not have been able to eat it all otherwise. I couldn't finish both biscuits and was even provided a container for the honey. I am going to miss Beasley's, but I'm glad I got a positive experience to remember the restaurant.

    I can't believe this place had to close and the only reason was pure greed from the landlord. I've…read morebeen going here since 2017 but recently when they switched to gluten-free fried chicken we started going more because my girlfriend has celiac. On Wednesday's they were doing all gluten-free menu and it was amazing...no crazy unreasonable upcharges, just honest menu pricing and great food. As of this review they are the #2 most reviewed place in Raleigh only behind the Pit. When we went last week for a farewell dinner it took us 3 weeks to get in. We got turned away 2 other times. The place was always packed and busy yet cozy and calm with great service. Hopefully they relocate or put some of the items from the menu at Pooles. Fuquay could use a nice place like this and it would be way cheaper than Raleigh! Best of luck to the staff in the future as they all look for work.

    Photos
    Beasley's Chicken & Honey - Courtesy of @NewRaleigh

    Courtesy of @NewRaleigh

    Beasley's Chicken & Honey - Chicken + Honey!

    Chicken + Honey!

    Beasley's Chicken & Honey

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    Whiskey Kitchen - Cracklin' Biscuits

    Whiskey Kitchen

    4.0(801 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Whiskey Kitchen is a solid spot for great food and cocktails…read more If you are a whiskey drinker then you definitely want to check this place out. They have a huge selection of whiskey! Not a whiskey drinker, they have other cocktails and beer as well. For food, my to-go is the Lamb Burger or the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Both are a hit! Not a lot of places serve Lamb Burger in the area and this is one of my favorites! Whiskey Kitchen doesn't disappoint! Highly recommend!

    My boyfriend and I dined here for a date night and I had really hoped for better. The first thing I…read morenoticed upon arriving was how dead it was, especially considering we went on a Friday night at 6:30PM. My boyfriend is a huge whiskey drinker and had been wanting to visit here for a while. He had heard that the best Old Fashioned were here (he said that it was not that great), and while they did have bougie cocktails, I settled for a margarita. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere and decor were great! I am a plant person, so I loved seeing all of the plants. I love the open concept and exposed ceiling. But the food......was displeasing and unappetizing. I ordered the lamp burger, and while I ordered it as well done, I did not know that it would be presented overcooked with a charred outside. If you know lamb, this caused the meat to be extremely dry. The burger itself was very bland and lacked much flavor. My boyfriend ordered the Fireman's Chicken and by the looks of it when it came out, someone should have called the fire department while it was cooking! It was so burnt it was black. The only flavor present was charred meat and it was the most dried out chicken we have ever had (unfortunately I tried it). The collard greens were bitter with little flavor and the black-eyed peas still had crunch to where they weren't cooked all the way. To say all this, to have a $100 bill was HIGHLY unappreciated as it was one of the worst meals we have had in a LONG time. I definitely could see why they were not busy. The food was cooked terrible. And I will note that it isn't that I am picky, the couple next to us barely ate their meal and looked just as dissatisfied as we were. We would NOT recommend!

    Photos
    Whiskey Kitchen - Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Flights

    Whiskey Kitchen - Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Smoked mozzarella salad with fried chicken

    Whiskey Kitchen - The Botanist and Paper Plane

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    The Botanist and Paper Plane

    The BBQ Lab - bbq - Updated September 2026

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