Allen & Son Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q

I'm a Yankee, I admit it. I've lived here in NC for 6 years and I've brought every guest ever to Allen+Sons and not one of them hasn't walked out with a grin on their faces. If they come back to NC, my guests ALWAYS request a second BBQ trip here. All the whiny reviews I've read make me mad, if you want European restaurant service or a 7 course meal, don't go eat BBQ. The folks at Allen+Sons are nice, the decor is unique and super kitsch (though they probably wouldn't call it that). I love the place and their cole-slaw made me believe in that dish. My mouth is honestly watering thinking about taking my current out of towner friend there for lunch today. Pros: Best BBQ in Triangle; best cole-slaw I've ever had; fun(ny) atmosphere Cons: Closed on Mondays. Not cheap. Sweet tea addictive... more

I have traveled in 40 states and had what many places call Barbecue. One observation I have made on dining establishments of all types. If you show up at 7:30 P.M. weekday or weekend and the parking lot is empty, you sit wherever you want and the food comes up in less than 5 minutes, chances are, disappointment will raise it's ugly head. Pros: cheap Cons: cheap does not make to be good food. more

Decided to check it out after rave reviews -- they were all wrong! Half of my bbq sandwich was fat and the hushpuppies were cold (they could have even been frozen). To top it off, service was horrible - never got my straw that I asked for, wasn't given napkins, and our tea glasses never got refilled. As we were walking out the door, the waitress even made a snide remark about her bad tip - perhaps she is use to people just tipping for bad service. I will not be back. We love Old Time BBQ in Raleigh - food is 100 times better, its cheaper, and the wait staff is friendly and helpful. Check it out if you haven't already! Pros: Fast seating Cons: food and service (they even charge you extra to leave the slaw on the side!) more

I watched a documentary on PBS about barbeque (one of the trickiest things I've ever tried to make) and several barbeque places from around the country were featured. Allen and Son's was one of them. I have had barbeque from many of the famous local places in town and was never really impressed. The best barbeque I've ever had was done by my ex-neighbor Rodney Jenkins, who cooked the pig all day, over real charcoal. It was simply delicious. more

I went to Allen and Son's restaurant craving some good ribs after having some EXCELLENT ribs at Rub's on Chapel Hill Blvd in Morrisville. Unfortunately, Rub's is closed on Saturdays, so after reading all of the great reviews, I decided to give Allen and Son's a try. The ribs were really awful. They tasted like they were boiled and some really vinegary sauce was thrown on. The rib plate included cole slaw and potato salad which were also really vinegary. The whole plate tasted like nasty vinegar. I haven't regretted a meal more in a long time. Pros: friendly service, good barbecue, cute restaurant Cons: bad, vinegary ribs more

I've been to over 120 different BBQ establishments in both east and west North Carolina in the last 4 years. I've seen them come and go. Of those 120 restaurants, Allen & Son is consistantly in my top 5 in the state. What people must understand about BBQ cooked over wood is that you're not going to get consistancy. That is what makes it GREAT! You want consistancy? Go to Smithfields, or the countless places that cook with gas or electric, believe me there are plenty of them out there. But when you cook with wood, it's hard if not impossible, to create consistant Que. You can get close, but not consistant day in and day out. You want proof? Try cooking a pig over wood. I've cooked 20 pigs myself over wood and coals and each one turned out different. That's why I admire places like Allen & Son and a few others. You can taste the SMOKE in the meat. It's slow cooked to the point that it nearly MELTS in your mouth. Allen and Son put more than just time in cooking their Que...they put LOVE into it. And you can taste that love. You don't need the sause to enhance or mask the Que at Allen & Son. It comes out ready to eat. Unless you like it spicy, adding sause to Allen & Son's BBQ is insulting! They have the best homemade fries I've tasted. Oh, and just to warn you, they're not consistant either, but when you make homemade fries, they're not supposed to be like McDonalds. Their deserts are fabulous too. Pick one....any one! Pros: Excellent BBQ. Cooked over wood. Cons: They're not open 7 days a week. more

Decided to try this place out after hearing and reading so many good things about it. Man, was I disappointed. I stopped in just after the lunch hour and was met with multiple friendly greetings directing me at take any available seat. I was already full of anticipation. Pros: Good Sweet Tea Cons: Inconsistant food quality more

recently went there for lunch at around 2 pm on a sunday. the place was still packed but we didn't wait more than 5 minutes to get seated. atmosphere: country road-side joint, which it actually is. i had the typical bbq pork platter that comes with potato salad and hush puppies. everything tasted good, thats for sure! but the pulled pork really does not look that appetizing. i would prefer to get a big chunck of meat or ribs, and do the work myself. i also had a side dish of fried onion rings, not bad but on the greasy side. all in all, reasonably priced home cooked country food, but somehow lacking the extra something to make it really special. more

Allen & Sons is absolutely the best bbq in NC.....I guess that's why the place is always packed!! The pulled pork is tender, juicy with just the right amount of succulent sauce...just the way us eastern North Carolinians like it. The joint is a dive, but truly part of the ambience, the way the old southern cook shacks used to look like. Walking in the door actually takes me back 30 years. My husband and I love this place. Wish they would open up one in Cary. Pros: Awesome food, great atmosphere, service with a smile more

We went to Allen and Son last night after seeing a t.v. documentary about bbq that featured this restaurant. We were the only ones there at 5:00 on a Thursday night. As soon as we walked in with our toddler the waitress brought over crayons and toys. I was really pleased by that. The food came out fast and was good - the bbq was moist and tender, the sauce nice and spicy, and the slaw was great. The fries were a little undercooked. And the hushpuppies were not fresh. We'll probably go back - if only for the meat, slaw and great service. Pros: Great service, good meat and slaw Cons: cold hushpuppies more

I've been in NC 1 year now, and have tried 4 bbqs (Allen and sons, Bullocks, Q shack, and one other). Allen and sons beats them all by a mile. The pig is awesome, tender, good flavor, and piled on. I usually order a sandwich, and though I was not used to cole slaw on it at first I loved it after the first taste. It complements the taste perfectly. The vinegar based sauce was new to me too, but it was great. The hush puppies are great too, and if you leave room desserts are awesome. This place is highly recommended, they are one of the few places that still uses a wood stove, and you can taste the difference. Pros: bbq, food more

One visit to Allen & Son converted me into a barbeque fanatic. I have yet to find that same depth of flavor anywhere else. It is consistently outstanding, along with the homemade desserts you can only find in down-home, country restaurants. I hope the techniques and tradition live on forever! Pros: Irresistable!, Best desserts, Down-home friendly Cons: too far away more

I've eaten here for 15+yrs and can attest that Allen's is, sauce-dripping hands down, simply the best 'que in the Triangle. A key reason for the great taste is the pork is still cooked the traditional way--slow-roasted over hardwood coals. This remains standard practice in Lexington, where NC 'que was born, but has nearly vanished in the Triangle, where most restaurants (e.g., veterans like Bullock's) long ago switched to electric/gas. Using hardwood is more time-consuming and costly than the shortcuts other restaurants take, but the result is well worth the effort. Allen's reputation has spread in recent years, dinnertime crowds have surged, and it has raised its prices considerably. Simply put, the last few years have brought about barbecue gentrification, with wealthier barbecue newcomers from Chapel Hill descending on Allen's. Great for business but not for regulars who face increased prices. Still, with 'que this good, it's a small complaint. Pros: Succulent swine, Friendly Service, Hardwood-cooked Cons: Increasing prices more

This is easily the best in the Triangle. Pork is cooked over hickory coals, great slaw, great potato salad, and made-from-scatch pies. The only thing that could stand improvement is the tea. But really, nothing else comes close to this pork in the Triangle. Pros: Pork, slaw, pups Cons: tea, price more

Allen & Son Barbecue may not be pretty, but it suuuure is good. Though a transplanted Yankee, I have lived in the South almost 25 years and I've eaten a ton of barbecue. Allen & Son's is the real deal; tasty, consistent, and always accompanied by the appropriate ""sides"", slaw, hush puppies, baked beans, etc. It's made by people born and raised here and they haven't lost that family-oriented, one location at a time feel. The dining room surroundings aren't that great, but the people are and the food is more than worth it. Pros: Great food, Authentic, Consistent Cons: Dining atmosphere more

I like Bullocks, don't get me wrong, but for the finest barbecue in this part of NC, nothing comes close to the hickory-smoked cue from Allen & Son. It's the real deal. more

I've lived in NC, GA, AR, and NE: Allen and Son is what smoked pig is all about. A little pricey for cue, but the home-made fries are worth it. Pros: Quality, Service Cons: Pricey, Drink refills - extra, No substitutions more

BBQ sandwiches are the best -- stacked high with meat & slaw. Absolutely mouth watering. Add Alan & Sons special BBQ sauce to add a touch of heat. Pros: Great value, easy access more

Allen & Son is top notch. The north Chapel Hill location is wood-fired, essential for true flavor. Nothing better for 50 miles around. Using the old Washington Post rating scale of ""crummy but good,"" I'd give Allen & Son 3 out of 4 C's and 4+ G's. Pros: Awesome food, Prompt service more

Great barbecue! This restaurant is just what it's name says, Barbecue. The best in this area. If you are looking for a waitstaff in tuxcedos, crystal and china .This not your place, If you are looking for the best barbecue in this area you can't go wwrong. Pros: great bar-b-q, great bar-b-q, great bar-b-q Cons: no pasta dishes, just the best barbecu more