Barbeque-Smoked Meats Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

May 12, 2019 by Ron Wen

First Take: Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson, a Destination for Smoked Meat Lovers

Front of Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson - nctriangledining.com

Outside of pizza, one one of my favorite foods has to be BARBEQUE! When you’re talking about meat smoked over hardwoods, it’s hard to go wrong when barbeque is done right. From ribs, to pulled pork, brisket and sausage, meat cooked low and slow is a special treat. And I got curious when I kept on seeing Redneck BBQ Lab showing up on my social feeds as a barbeque award winner for the area. While its bricks and mortar restaurant is in Benson, they send their food truck up to the Triangle every now and then. I’ve had a chance to dine at Redneck BBQ Lab multiple times with both their food truck and their physical store. And I quickly learned that all the awards they’ve won are well-deserved! If you’re a fan of smoked meats, read on!

Order area and awards at Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson - nctriangledining.com

If you’ve got that hankering for some ribs or brisket, just head on down south on 40 east to Benson. The Redneck BBQ Lab is conveniently located right off the highway in a…. (wait for it) gas station strip mall. Yeah, part of me was surprised, part of me wasn’t! Head on into the restaurant and you’ll find a neat, clean, country cafe with a chalkboard menu in the corner, order counter in the back, along with a SLEW of barbeque awards and medals above the service area. Looks like the Redneck BBQ Lab does pretty well on the barbeque competition circuit!

Logo sign at Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson – nctriangledining.com

The Redneck BBQ Lab offers up all the usual barbeque favorites: smoked turkey, chopped chicken, pulled pork, brisket, sausage and ribs. Meats are available in 1/4 lb, 1/2 lb and 1 lb increments as well as family packs. You’ve also got some fun sandwiches like the Fat Redneck (brisket, pulled pork, collards) along with a good selection of Southern sides (collards, mac n cheese, slaw, baked beans, brunswick stew, etc) And throughout the week, the Redneck BBQ Lab offers up some interesting specials like burnt ends (brisket, double-sauced), beef ribs and even pastrami, yum! Upgrade your meat with a side and drink for $2.99 or two sides and a drink for $3.99. Most meals with a side will run you under $15, very affordable.

Burnt ends with barbeque potatoes at Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson - nctriangledining.com

Over the course of my three visits, I’ve had a chance to sample quite a bit of Redneck BBQ Lab’s menu. I’m a sucker for their burnt ends, chunks of brisket that are double-sauced for extra flavor! These dense, cube of barbeque beef will have your eyes rolling in the back of your end with their tender, sinewy chew and fat. They’re so rich, you need to counter-balance them with bites of sweet cornbread or the barbeque potatoes which are prepared in a light, tangy sauce. The pulled pork at Redneck BBQ Labs shows off the signature smoke ring and you can taste it in the meat. Nicely done with some slaw on top and paired with some baked beans. I’ve also really enjoyed their ribs, mac n cheese along with the potato salad, classic eats!

Pulled pork sandwich at Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson - nctriangledining.com

Redneck BBQ Lab food truck in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com

Prices for the Redneck BBQ Lab are right in line for most smoked meats, maybe a touch higher but worth it for what you get! Service at the Redneck BBQ Lab has been outstanding for me at both the food truck and bricks and mortar. Nice friendly folks running the counter who seem to enjoy working here and serving up great food. So a slow round of applause for the Redneck BBQ Lab. They are serving some of the best barbeque I’ve had in the Triangle even if Benson may be on the outer edge of that geo. I’ll tell you what, the food is so good here it’s worth the ride, regardless. So make your way down to the Redneck BBQ Lab and chow down on some wonderful burnt ends, you’ll be glad you made the trip!

The Redneck BBQ Lab

12101 NC-210 B,

Benson, NC 27504

919.938.8334

Redneck BBQ Lab menu

Redneck BBQ Lab food truck schedule

Location on Google maps

August 12, 2018 by Ron Wen

Retake: Smokey’s Barbeque Shack in Morrisville

Front of Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Front of Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to barbeque in the Triangle, you’ve got your share of good options! Oldies but goodies like the Pit, Clyde Cooper’s, Backyard BBQ Pit and Q Shack. But one spot that I had forgotten over time was Smokey’s BBQ Shack over in Morrisville, not far from the airport. I remember driving by it from time to time and the little gravel lot in front would be packed so I put a mental bookmark in my head to stop in for a visit. And thankfully, some lunch slots freed up and I was able to finally make it back for a couple of visits to this classic que joint after MANY years…

Dining area at Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Dining area at Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

One of the first things you’ll notice as you head over to Smokey’s is its convenient location on Chapel Hill Road. Just south of RDU airport, you could do a quick BBQ run before or after a flight if you were hungry! Turn into that gravel lot and find a space but be warned, it’s usually pretty busy. In the back of the lot, you’ll find some additional picnic table seating but thankfully I haven’t had to use them yet! Open that bright red front door for Smokey’s and you’ll find yourself in its front dining area full of brights and whites. Looks like it may have been an outdoor patio at Smokey’s that was converted to a full covered dining room given the restaurant’s popularity. Step into the main dining area and you’ll now see the order counter, order window and a small amount of additional seating.

Interior of Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Interior of Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

Smokey’s feels totally like an old-school barbeque joint but with an extra dose of humor. All over the place you’ll find silly and funny signs, it’s all pretty tongue in cheek and entertaining. At the counter, choose from sandwiches and plates covering pork barbeque, brisket, pulled chicken, smoked wings and ribs! And if you can’t decide, go with a combo plate (2 meats) or the sampler. A large assortment of sides (cole slaw, potato salad, onion rings, fries, brunswick stew, mac n cheese, fried okra, baked beans and more) completes the menu, you get two with a platter and one with a sandwich basket along with some hush-puppies. Everything is between $6 to $13 so we’re talking affordable eats and smoked meats here!

Order window at Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Order window at Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

After you order, you can self-serve your drink at the soda fountain and relax until your order is prepared. And it doesn’t take long, soon enough you’ll hear your name called out and you can grab your food from the pick-up window! Find a seat at one of the small tables in the main dining room or patio area and you’re ready to eat…

Ribs and wings at Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Ribs and wings at Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

Barbeque at Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Barbeque at Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of several meals at Smokey’s I got to try out quite a bit off their menu. A big thumbs-up for the pork ribs which are nicely smoked and have a bit of rub and tasty bark. The bones are mighty meaty and the two that come with a combo plate are plenty to eat! The barbeque is more of a pulled pork and while smoked well, didn’t show off much tanginess. And the brisket is serviceable but not my favorite!

Onion rings at Smokey's BBQ Shack in Morrisville - nctriangledining.com — Onion rings at Smokey’s BBQ Shack in Morrisville – nctriangledining.com

And for the sides, it’s great to have so many choices. The baked beans, onion rings and brunswick stew are all quite good. The mac n cheese while creamy, doesn’t show off a lot of cheese flavor. And the hush-puppies here at Smokey’s BBQ Shack are solid and nicely fried. Overall you can’t go wrong with any of the food off the menu or for the quantity you’re served.

By a bit after noon, the parking lot and line at Smokey’s BBQ Shack fills up quickly. And I can certainly understand why! Good smoked meats with good portion sizes make for a perfect lunch spot. And I feel pretty comfortable in saying that Smokey’s truly does their barbeque right based upon the smoke ring in the meats. So right on Smokey, keep up that cookin!

Smokey’s BBQ Shack

10800 Chapel Hill Rd,

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.469.7624

Location on Google maps

June 2, 2018 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Take Flight with Great Restaurants and Dining Around Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU)

Terminal 2 at RDU International Airport, NC Triangle Dining

I don’t know about you but when I travel, I often take advantage of being on the road by stuffing myself full of high-calorie food. Let’s face it, when you’re flying from airport to airport, it’s hard to find meals that go beyond the local Applebee’s-TGIF-Ruby Tuesday trifecta. Burgers, quesadillas, chicken tenders, you know the deal! But if you are heading over to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) airport in Morrisville, you’ve got some good local restaurant choices to balance out all that chain food. Here’s a guide to some special restaurants that will keep your stomach happy and full before jetting off.

(Note: Dim Sum House is under new ownership) Since you’re probably driving in on I-40, head south down on Airport Boulevard, Exit 284. Pass the Hooters and Cracker Barrel if you dare, and you’ll soon find the delicious Dim Sum House. Dim Sum House is true to its name and serves dim sum (small, Cantonese chinese plates) all day long! Start off with some delicious har gow (steamed shrimp dumplings) or shu mai (pork dumplings), standard dim sum favorites. Dim sum comes in three primary categories: fried-savory, steamed-savory and sweet so you’ll find something to suit your appetite. And depending on what they have available (daily selection changes), I’d also recommend the braised tofu rolls, ribs with black bean and chinese greens.

Salt & pepper pork chops from Dim Sum House, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Namesake dishes from Dim Sum House, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Dim Sum House does table service during the week but on weekends it can get quite busy with the dim sum served on rolling carts. If you’re not in the mood for small plates, Dim Sum House also does great cantonese Chinese food. Their beef chow fun (thick rice noodles) and salt-pepper pork chops are reminiscent of what I might find in San Francisco, great stuff!

Front of Smokey's BBQ Shack, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining — Front of Smokey’s BBQ Shack, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Brisket sandwich and fries from Smokey's BBQ Shack, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining — Brisket sandwich and fries from Smokey’s BBQ Shack, Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Just a bit west of Dim Sum House is the cozy Smokey’s BBQ Shack on Chapel Hill Road! Smokey’s is the real deal with a pile of hardwoods out back. Try their beef brisket or smoked wings to get your meat on. Order at the counter and then pick up your food at the magic barbeque window. Smokey’s is all about slow-cooked meat whether it’s pork, beef or chicken with all the traditional sides: hush-puppies, brunswick stew, fried okra and mac n cheese. Inside it’s all country casual but perfect for some serious eatin’ So grab an old wooden table, plop your sweet tea down and dig in to some que! The parking lot is always busy here at Smokey’s so you gotta trust the locals.

If you’re up for pizza (and who isn’t?), check out Rosati’s Pizza on Davis Drive. Rosati’s in Morrisville is the only NC location for a popular Chicago deep-dish pizza chain.

Deep dish pizza at Rosati's, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Deep dish pizza at Rosati’s, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

We’re talking about thick, buttery crust loaded with chunky tomato, cheese and your favorite toppings: sausage, pepperoni, mushroom or whatever floats your boat. Just give your self a bit of time because Rosati’s is about six miles from the airport and their deep-dish pizza’s take a bit of time. But totally worth the effort if your up for some cheesy deliciousness!

Front of Angus Barn, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

And north of the airport off of Lumley Road is the ever popular, Angus Barn! Super popular steak house that’s usually a great choice for special events and parties, Angus Barn puts out classic eats and is renown for their cheese dip, dry-aged beef and ribs. All presented in a beautiful country and barn setting. For a casual meal, eat at their Wild Turkey Lounge which serves up a shorter food menu compared to the main dining room. Not to be missed if you’ve got some money in your expense account to burn!

Turkey wings from Angus Barn, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining — Prime rib with asparagus from Angus Barn, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Besides these fantastic choices, there are some other great restaurants like C&T Wok (Sichuan Chinese) and Randy’s Pizza further out. There’s definitely no reason to suffer when it comes to food and restaurants around RDU Airport! Great Chinese, Italian and barbeque means you’ll be saying “bon appetit” as your plane circles and lands in the Triangle. Forget about those honey-roasted peanuts my friend, it’s time to eat…

Great Restaurants Around Raleigh Durham Airport

Dim Sum House- Morrisville

Smokey’s BBQ Shack- Morrisville

Rosati’s- Morrisville

Angus Barn- Raleigh

C&T Wok- Morrisville

Randy’s Pizza- Durham

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May 23, 2018 by Ron Wen 4 Comments

Media: City Barbeque Comes to S. Durham Offering Great Smoked Meats!

Front of City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

You can bet I was excited when I got the invite to the media preview for the new City Barbeque in Durham! I’ve chased down que in Lexington, brisket in Texas and ribs in St. Louis but it’s always great to have a local spot for delicious barbeque. And as a fan of City Barbeque in Cary, I knew their food was pretty darn good but I welcomed the opportunity to be reminded of their great smoked meats and Southern eats, one more time!

Dining room at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Order area at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Up front I meet up with Corey, the regional marketing manager for City Barbeque. It looks like there will be a dozen or so lucky bloggers and media people here for the preview event. From the outside, the new Durham location looks very similar to Cary: low squat ranch-style building with rough-hewn wood giving the exterior a Texas feel. Inside you’ll find the order and meat prep area where your meals are made to order. A humble dining room paneled with barn wood where you can grab your drink, condiments and sides, City Barbeque has some great local touches here. Banners from all the local schools are pinned overhead, sports memorabilia and even some stadium seating from the old Durham Bulls Ballpark are up near the ceiling rafters!

Frank and Tim from City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Patio at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Up front our preview event is kicking off and we’re greeted by City Barbeque’s General Manager, Tim Zombech and Director of Training, Frank Pizzo. We’re given some backdrop on the City Barbeque story, (founded in 1999, 25+ company locations in OH, KY, IN with 3 in NC) and their passion for bringing all the great barbeque styles across the country for your dining pleasure.

Smoked brisket at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

After their presentation we set off on our restaurant tour starting off with the meat prep area. On the counter I spy two beautiful looking hunks of meat, a smoked brisket and pork butt. The meat is smoked for 12+ hours covered in the secret City Barbeque rub and it smells great! The brisket is cut against the grain for max tenderness and I’m pretty much salivating as samples are passed around. A quick taste and you get the happy eye-roll when the meat and fat hits your tongue, yum! Note that City Barbeque is not just a restaurant but can easily cater your group and corporate events.

Briskets in smoker at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Our next stop is the smokers. City Barbeque uses gas-fired beasties along with a lot of local hickory wood for a milder smoke flavor. It’s fun watching the briskets and ribs rotate on their racks covered in bark and one rib rack is pulled out to sample. Some sauce is slathered on and the bone I’m given is great! Good pink smoke ring around the edges and it’s cooked to tear off the bone consistency. Note: If you like burnt ends, try the Double Smoked Brisket TaQos!

Kitchen at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Next up is the kitchen where they cook up favorite sides like potato salad, corn pudding, mac and cheese, hush puppies and more. City Barbeque Durham will also be doing local seasonal sides just for their location. And let’s face it, good meat needs to be paired up with great sides to make the meal complete, awesome! And in back of City Barbeque we’re brought to the wood loading side of the smokers where there’s plenty of hickory wood (from Hickory, NC) stacked up to give the meat that great flavor. As you can guess, we’re all pretty much starving now and ready to eat!

City Sampler plate at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The group heads into the dining room and we’ve got a fantastic display of City Barbeque’s plates and sandwiches. They’ve got the City Sampler, over-flowing with brisket, sausage and turkey, a great looking More Cowbell sammich with brisket, peppers, onions and provolone along with a beautiful smoked pork butt with fat cap on display. And then we head to our tables where the feasting begins!

More Cowbell sammich at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Chicken and ribs at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

We start off our meal with a large plate of smoked chicken and a slab of ribs, delish! The chicken is juicy and tender with a dark rub that works well. While the City Barbeque rub looks a bit dark and heavy, it’s actually got a mellow and milder flavor to it. We move to a plump, spicy sausage and great looking sliced turkey. The sausage reminds me of what I tried in Texas (beef-pork) and the turkey has a very visible smoke ring on the edges indicative of the low and slow smoking method.

Corn pudding at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

But of course man and woman can not live on meat alone. I sample quite a few of their sides and loved the crisp hush puppies and corn pudding. City Barbeque’s corn pudding does the custard and corn but adds crispy corn bread crumble on top, nice! The mac n cheese is also quite good with tangy cheddar flavor and the potato salad is super fresh, well-prepared and with a hint of sweetness. We end with a tasty peach cobbler for dessert, a perfect finish for barbeque…

Peach cobbler at City Barbeque in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

And as you can guess, we were all stuffed silly at this point and time. Boxes are handed out and leftovers are packed up in doggie bags (Thankfully I have no dog! Uhm, leftovers…) Thanks are extended to the City Barbeque team for throwing such a wonderful and filling media event for us. I’ve had the chance to eat on my own dime at the City Barbeque in Cary and my experience for this preview mirrors my meals there. City Barbeque is doing well above-average smoked meats with excellent quick-casual services. With meals in the $7 to $16 range, you should be able to enjoy their perfectly smoked meats and fresh sides without breaking the bank. So enjoy, enjoy it Durham! City Barbeque opens today (Sunday, 5/22). You’ve got a new contender on the list for best barbeque and smoked meats for the Bull City…

City Barbeque Durham

208 W. Hwy 54

Durham, NC 27513

919.237.9509

Location on Google maps

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May 13, 2018 by Ron Wen

First Take: Cool Ambiance and Tasty Meats at Southern Charred in Raleigh

Dining room at Southern Charred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dining room at Southern Charred in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

With all the building going on in Raleigh downtown, it feels as if areas like Glenwood South gets left out but that’s certainly not the case. While there may not be many high-rise buildings going up here, there’s plenty of construction at a lower level. And a recent spate of new restaurants in this hood has brought a new barbeque and meats offering to the area, Southern Charred! Brought to you by the folks from Bunch of Fives Hospitality (Anchor Bar, Milk Bar, MOFU Shoppe), Southern Charred is doing things quite differently when it comes to que joints. Here’s how my visits have gone down!

As a fairly long-time resident to the area, you’ll recognize Southern Charred’s location as the old Red Room tapas bar. But there have been SIGNIFICANT changes to the space. Brick pillars have been removed at the sidewalk opening up the patio. Inside you’ve got several roll-up garage doors for air and sunshine and a large, slick white bar has been put in back. Wood paneling, floors and tables complete the look for a more mod and hip space. And there’s a handful of TVs to catch the latest game, overhead. And I’ll admit, it threw me for a bit. In my head I was trying to decide if Southern Charred was more of a bar or restaurant. Let’s just say it walks a fine line between the two.

Bar at Southern Charred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Southern Charred in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Southern Charred has one menu but is open for both lunch and dinner serving up a good variety of Southern barbeque (pork, brisket, chicken, ribs) along with a selection of sides (collard greens, Carolina slaw, baked beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato tots, mac n cheese, cucumber-onion salad, brunswick stew and potato salad). Meats are available as plates, combo plates and sandwiches! And prices are quite reasonable with appetizers from $6 to $12 and sandwiches-plates from $9 to $20. Southern Charred is open for lunch but does not have a special menu for your mid-day meal.

Smoked wings at Southern Charred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Smoked wings at Southern Charred in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

For my visit I decided to stick to the basics ordering up the smoked wings and a barbeque sandwich. My smoked wings comes out, five on a brown-paper lined tray and served up glistening with some Alabama white sauce. The chicken meat is nicely cooked and the skin is scored with dark char marks. But I’m curious about exactly how the meat is prepared here, how it’s smoked and prepared. Overall a nice job, the meat is tasty but a bit plain and simple on the flavor.

Barbeque sandwich at Southern Charred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Barbeque sandwich at Southern Charred in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The barbeque sandwich looks great, served up on a puffy, sweet brioche bun and topped with slivers of carrot and slaw for some texture. Southern Charred is serving up some tender pork but again, I’m finding it hard to find much flavor or smokiness that you would usually find in some good que. I toss on some sauce to amp up the flavors a bit but I usually try not to sauce my meat up, too much. But definitely a thumbs-up for the hushpuppies and honey butter that come with the sandwich! The beans and bread-butter pickles are pretty solid sides to the overall meal here.

A second visit turns up a decent brisket sandwich covered in pimento cheese. The meat is reasonably tender but again, doesn’t show off much flavor so I find myself reaching for the barbeque sauce again. Service for both my visits was ok but a bit unseasoned and overly casual (IMO), they still seem to be finding their legs here. Southern Charred is doing a decent job with its food but I definitely see room for improvement. While the food is reasonable along with the prices charged, there are some misses with the food (watery white sauce, smokiness to the meat). There are also opportunities to improve the service, which could be more professional. So I’m curious to see what happens over time. I’m not entirely sure if Southern Charred is more restaurant or bar, only time will tell…

Southern Charred

510 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 101

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.758.8851

Location on Google maps

First Take: Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson, a Destination for Smoked Meat Lovers