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    The Improper Pig

    4.4 (12 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    José A.

    If you're in Plaza Midwood, The Improper Pig Central is an absolute must-visit. This spot perfectly blends classic Southern barbecue with other creative flavors, and the result is something really special. The food stands out right away--everything is packed with flavor and clearly made with care. Whether you're digging into smoked meats, or inventive appetizers, there's a great balance between comfort food and creativity. Signature items like the Smokey Bird, the Center Cut Sirloin, Jalapeño Cheese Grits, Baked Beans with the Red Sangria and mocktails really show off how well they mix traditional BBQ with bold twists. The atmosphere is just as impressive. All common areas and restrooms are clean, inside and outside seating areas feel lively and modern while still being relaxed and welcoming--perfect for anything from a casual dinner to a fun night out. It fits right into the energy of Plaza Midwood and adds to the neighborhood's already great food scene. Oh, and the service is fantastic! The only item that needs work is the dessert we tried. We went for the Raspberry Cobbler, and it was OK, but that does not mean it was terrible. It was just not was we would expect. Overall, The Improper Pig delivers on all fronts: great food, a fun vibe, and a unique take on barbecue you won't find just anywhere. Definitely one of the standout spots in Charlotte.

    Mike S.

    I must say I'm slightly ashamed of myself for never making the trip to the original Cotswold location. Sadly that location is gone, but Cotswold's loss is Plaza Midwood's gain as we now have the newest location located right in the middle of the neighborhood. The Improper Pig is a barbecue/asian fusion restaurant while I missed out on the original, I recently got to try their newest spot for dinner. While my girlfriend raves about the fried rice dish which really plays into the barbecue/asian theme, I decided to stick to the basics and ordered the pork sandwich. It comes with slaw which if you're like me you prefer on the side. From there it is up to you to sauce it up. They have six in house sauces each one a unique and delicious flavor from spicy to sweet to a little bit of both. I really enjoyed them all but my favorites were the eastern nc bbq vinegar, and the Tong's Thai. One of the least expected parts was how good their house made chips are! Usually the chips are kind of an afterthought but theirs were fresh, crunchy, and had a delicious vinegar salt flavoring on them. Overall I loved my meal and I can't wait to go back!

    The charcuterie
    Kelly M.

    Had a great meal at The Improper Pig last night. This is actually my 2nd time here. Tonight we had the Charcuterie: sausage, brisket, pulled pork, ribs, homemade salt & vinegar chips, pickled onions, hushpupies, slaw, and pimento cheese. I think that's everything. It says it's enough for two people, but probably 3 or 4 could eat off that tray! The sausage was probably my favorite. And it was fun to try all the different sause options. We had the strawbery cobbler for dessert- completely forgot to take a picture of that, but it was so good! Crust on the top and the bottom and the fruit filling wasn't too sweet.

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    Review Highlights - The Improper Pig

    This fried rice was pulled pork heavy and it was so delicious I considered not sharing any of it.

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    Mac's Speed Shop

    Mac's Speed Shop

    3.9(727 reviews)
    3.2 miSouth End, Dilworth
    $$

    Meh. When you need…read moreto be aggressive with a knife to get thru a rack of ribs, things aren't great. They didn't promise "fall off the bone" so I can't expect that, but most places I get ribs they just tear apart. This took work, and the mass of BBQ sauce slathered on makes the surgery a mess. So, that was a bummer. The tots lack creativity or any sort of seasoning which seems like an easy upgrade and a crowd pleaser. Oh well. Maybe I got there in a bad day, but if this is standard then I can't see not going to Noble Smoke next time I need ribs.

    Smoked Wings (5/5): MAJOR redemption for Mac's. These were probably the best smoked wings I've ever…read morehad. Super smoky flavor, incredibly tender (the meat slides off the bone), and very juicy. The sauces were also both delicious. I liked the Carolina BBQ slightly more than the VTX. The only thing that could've made this any better is if they were also crispy on the outside. Down South Eggrolls (4/5): I love an eggroll, and these were solid. Very crispy shell but the inside tasted mostly just like mac and cheese. I couldn't even tell there was pulled pork in it... The sauce was also very good. Sweet and tangy. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this)

    Photos
    Mac's Speed Shop - Inside Mac's Speed Shop - South End

    Inside Mac's Speed Shop - South End

    Mac's Speed Shop - Hush puppies

    Hush puppies

    Mac's Speed Shop - Mule

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    Mule

    Sweet Lew’s BBQ

    Sweet Lew’s BBQ

    4.0(332 reviews)
    0.8 miBelmont
    $$

    Came to Sweet Lew's after seeing it on Top Chef! The three…read moreof us visited for the first time. Restaurant was nice casual vibe with both indoor/outdoor seating. Serving sizes were generous. Loved the ribs, collards, hush puppies, and Mac & cheese. Great flavor and good Southern recipes. Sweet Lew's is definitely worth a visit when you're in Charlotte!

    This was one of the places we wanted to try thanks to Top Chef Carolinas. So we learned that pork…read morewas their thing here. We had high expectations; after all, they were on Top Chef, but definitely not unrealistic, we are from Texas. Here's the thing, I'm not a big meat person. I like tofu, but also turkey, but I'm gonna try all of it. So we got way too much food to actually finish, but we were going to sample some chicken (turkey was unavailable), brisket, and pork. The sides were mac and cheese, a tomato based coleslaw, and hush puppies. So let's start with who, or what, is safe (nod to Top Chef)- the hush puppies and the coleslaw. The hush puppies were crispy and soft and full of flavor. They were tiny little pops that I could eat so day. Same with the coleslaw. I do not care for coleslaw, but this magic was insane. It made every bite taste so much better. The mac and cheese was also delicious. It was al dente and creamy and rich with flavor. I think most bbq places do mac and cheese a disservice, but not here. So that's it! If you're vegetarian and not vegan and love sides. This is your place. What's on the chopping block? The meats. Maybe it was a bad day because most reviews are great, but that was not my experience. The chicken was beyond overdone. It was practically on the verge of being inedible. The brisket was just as bad. It was so inconsistent. Some was moist, but we were served mostly a brick. Literally a hard chunk that couldn't be penetrated. The pork was good. It was probably the only thing that didn't need to be drowned in sauce. That's my other issue. Why do all the places offer so many sauces?? It's not Taco Bell or McDonald's. What are you trying to hide? Unfortunately, the delicious sides don't make up for the fact that we spent a lot for meats and the majority ended up trashed.

    Photos
    Sweet Lew’s BBQ - TODAY'S MENU

    TODAY'S MENU

    Sweet Lew’s BBQ - Potato Salad Brisket Baked Beans Pork Ribs Hush puppies

    Potato Salad Brisket Baked Beans Pork Ribs Hush puppies

    Sweet Lew’s BBQ - Sweet Lew Sampler Combo Plates

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    Sweet Lew Sampler Combo Plates

    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

    3.9(694 reviews)
    12.8 miSteele Creek
    $$

    We brought the whole family out today and left completely blown away. This place is the real deal…read more no shortcuts, no gimmicks, just serious barbecue done right. Chill vibe inside. We went all in on the meats: smoked chicken salad, spareribs, pulled chicken, Carolina-style pork, and BBQ brisket. Every single protein was fall-off-the-bone tender with that perfect smoke ring and deep, layered flavor you can only get from a pit master who actually knows what they're doing. The brisket deserves its own paragraph buttery, juicy, and sliced just right. The sides are not an afterthought here, and that alone sets this place apart. Cheddar cornbread muffins are no joke. mac and cheese was rich and creamy, the baked potato was loaded and generous, and the onion rings had a satisfying crunch. The baked beans had that slow-cooked depth, the collard greens were perfectly seasoned, and the coleslaw was crisp and refreshing ,a great palate cleanser between bites. And then there was the brisket chili. Smoky, hearty, and packed with chunks of real brisket , it's the kind of bowl that makes you wish you saved more room. Everything came out flavorful and cooked with obvious care and pride. the quality was consistent across the board, and the whole family left happy and stuffed. This is the kind of BBQ spot you tell your friends about and then bring them to the following weekend. Absolutely coming back.

    It was one of my first meals after moving back to NC- delicious! I missed NC's pulled pork a lot,…read moreand this definitely was a hit! Potato salad was delicious as well, and the collard greens too! Definitely recommend this spot!

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    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q - Bar

    Bar

    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q - Onion rings

    Onion rings

    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q - The bread is to die for

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    The bread is to die for

    The Improper Pig - bbq - Updated June 2026

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