The Barbeque Joint

Solid, above average BBQ, though, if you must try one place in Chapel Hill, go about 5 minutes to the northwest to Allen and Sons.

If you want a greasy spoon, barbecue place with fried food from the freezer and the same menu every day, this is not the place for you.
If you want fresh veggies, perfectly fried (or pickled) and a variety of fresh meats* with homemade hot sauce, i.e. a refreshing switch on the typical mom and pop, this is your new place.
*I don’t eat pork, in all fairness. But this place won’t make you feel unwelcome even if you’re vegan. And that’s a lot to say for a barbecue joint!

It took me a while to convince my fiancé we should eat BBQ anywhere else than the Tar Heel favored Allen & Sons (which we do love, don’t get me wrong). We left the restaurant stuffed full and happy we had ventured off the beaten trail.
The portions are generous, the sides are delicious, and the hush puppies are PERFECT. They are fried to perfection, seasoned just right, and bite sized. The menu changes occasionally (especially the sides) to reflect what is in season, so you know it is fresh. The pork is tasty — ask for extra sauce if you like it super vinegary (I do not, so this was a plus for me) — with just the right balance of smokey goodness to sauce. It wasn’t loaded with chunks of fat, which I have had more than my share of in this town. If I pay for pork, I expect pork.
I can not attest to any of their food besides the pulled pork, slaw, puppies, and a few sides, but they do these so well, I’d be surprised if the rest was horrible.
The owner is a very nice man that made sure everyone was satisfied with their meal. I like it when owners are involved and care enough to say hello.
They have fish and vegetarian options as well, so there is something for everyone!
They are moving some time in the near future, so the atmosphere isn’t stellar right now, but it is classic bbq booths. Don’t go in expecting white linens.

Wonderful sides in a homey atmosphere. I prefer this to Allen and Son’s. I really liked everything I had (lots of butter! but oh so good…)

I can’t believe I lived in Charlotte and not once heard of Carolina barbecue. Having recently visited Chapel Hill and learned that yes, there is such a thing, I wonder how I ever lived without it.
Some friends and I ended up at the Joint because our first 2 choices to try barbecue were closed; a happy accident. Like other reviewers I was a bit startled by some of the selections on the menu, but I stuck to the simple barbecue and was absolutely pleased. Tangy vinegar, nicely cooked meat, good cornbread, excellent slaw and a great beer selection. But the crowning glory were the desserts. We ate off of those desserts for 3 straight days and they only got more delicious. The bread pudding, the pie — absolutely fantastic.

What a strange place the BBQ Joint is. It’s a very casual, short-​order type of place, but in addition to BBQ they have things like duck confit salad and crostini with salmon spread on the menu. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I had the small BBQ plate, which is about $ 6 and includes BBQ with vinegar sauce, white coleslaw, cornbread, and pickles. The BBQ was good even though the sauce is basically just vinegar, the coleslaw kind of sucked, and the cornbread was decent, if a little dry. What really got me was the pickles — they’re some sort of strange combination of sweet/​sour and dill, and they’re just barely pickled so it’s like eating tangy, limp cucumbers. I don’t know, I love pickles but I wasn’t a fan of these. The guy working the counter was courteous and extremely quick, but when we walked in there was another employee napping in a booth. And there were dirty tables and booths so it’s not like he didn’t have anything to do — I would probably eat at BBQ Joint again, but they lose one star just for that.

I keep getting dragged here by a BBQ-​loving friend of mine, who seems to think that BBQ is the number one way to bring me out of a funk whenever I’m feeling a little down. That means that when we walk in I’m feeling a little cheeky, so to get his goat I have not once ordered BBQ here. I always go for the most twisted thing on their ever-​changing menu.
The food here is really excellent, even on menu items that you wouldn’t expect to be well-​prepared (like duck). The décor is a little lacking (I might even call it spartan, but that’s hardly a huge complaint. I’ve found the service to be quick, if a bit disinterested.

I’ve got to admit, though I’m a Southern gal through and through (NC born and bred), I simply cannot get at the allure of barbeque. In most people’s esteems, this makes me unsuitable to review a (nay, The) Barbeque Joint). But since I’ve been (dragged) here numerous times, here goes. The BBQ Joint is a mainstay lunch spot of my colleagues’. The barbeque is tasty (again, unqualfied and inexperienced in this regard) — a little tangy and light on sauce. We always get their hushpuppies and a slice of dessert. I’m told that the Joint is undervalued in terms of its non-​bbq offerings (catfish, for one), which are apparently quite good though I’ve not tested the theory myself.

Outstanding, ha! The only way this is possible is on Monday night when it is the only BBQ place open. Yes the place was crowded with students from UNC at 7:30 PM.
I’ve eaten at tons of NC BBQ and this was bland to the point on being tasteless. There was no smoky flavor, barely a hint of vinegar, and barely warm. The bun was fresh but spongy, it too was bland.
The Baked Beans were good flavor with nice chunks of pork. The hush puppies came in a large portion were tasteless and weren’t fresh from the fryer.

An outstanding brand of North Carolina’s signature pulled-​pork is just the beginning here. Not long after you walk in the door and begin surveying the chalk-​board menu posted behind the register, you’ll realize that this isn’t your average Q-​Joint.
If you’re looking for curb appeal, luxury, or any such frills save The Barbecue Joint for another night, because this Chapel Hill eatery promises good eats and not much more. You’ll find a casual eclectic décor once you walk in the front door. Unfortunately, you’ll also find a line sometimes. However, that should tell you something; it’s worth the wait.
The Barbecue Joint’s ever-​changing menu is written on chalkboard behind the register. Ordering is done at the register, then the personable staff brings your order to you at your seat.
On one half of the board you’ll find their signature barbecue and all the fixings. Their brand of this great dish is certainly a notch above local competitor Allen and Son’s, and they’ve got all the traditional sides to go along with it. If you’re looking to eat cheap you can keep the tab under $ 10 by ordering one of their trays (BBQ, pickles, slaw, and corn bread) or a BBQ Sandwich.
On the other side of the Chalkboard is where The Barbecue Joint separates itself from others in the Q-​industry. Depending on the night you’ll find any number of inventive dishes that aren’t available anywhere else in the area, from frog legs to a gamey assorted liver dish. Even most of these dishes by themselves will keep you under $ 15. Their more adventurous portion of the menu provides patrons with some variety and newcomers with some unexpected excitement.
All of this is accompanied by a huge beer selection with great variety. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in their case, try something new because most of what they have you won’t find at other restaurants.
Last but not least, The Barbecue Joint has a great dessert menu. Their bakery case might not be that impressive to look at, but I never go without picking out something sweet to finish off the meal. Most of their choices here are traditional favorites with a twist; like chocolate pecan pie, sweet potato cranberry bread pudding with whiskey crème sauce, or even peanut-​butter banana pudding. Each of these stays under $ 5.
The Barbecue Joint might be a bit off the beaten path, but it’s worth the trek. Their brand of traditional North Carolina Barbecue is outstanding, and you won’t soon find a menu as adventurous and creative as theirs at another Q-​shack.

I had heard wonders about The Barbeque Joint, but after trying it several times, I have to say that it does not measure up to the other bbq options in the area. The pulled pork itself is good, but the sides are expensive and have to be shared, the hush puppies are stale and have no flavor. Plus, there is always a wait, and the food it just not good enough to justify it.

While the Barbecue Joint may not be the best looking place, it’s got really good food! First challenge is finding it, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven right by without seeing it. The restaurant is tucked up in a nondescript plaza on a hill. Watch carefully for it while you’re driving or you’ll zoom right past it.
It’s a small place, 6 or so wooden booths, you order at the counter off the chalkboard menu. They’ve got beer and wine in addition to soft drinks. Grab some cutlery, a glass and find a seat. I pretty much always get the NC barbecue plate or sandwich, the sides are pretty good (pickles, baked beans, hushpuppies, cornbread, etc). But what’s really great is the barbecue: flavorful, tender and chopped just right, deelish! I brought a friend from out of town to the Barbecue Joint and he said «I think this is the best meat I’ve ever had…» Given that he had never had NC barbecue, it was high praise!
But there’s more on the menu (brunswick stew, catfish) than just barbecue. Portions are good but I’ve always tried to make it to dessert (either bread pudding or banana pudding). I’m pretty sure the owners run the place, they are busy and dedicated people and deserve some accolades for the good food they put out.

I knew this was my kinda place when I walked in and saw two petite older ladies — probably in their 70’s — eating big platters of pork and drinking down some beers at 11AM on a sunny afternoon. Awesome!
And good Q! But not my favorite as their pork is really really lean — it’s juicy, but I what I love about eastern carolina barbecue is a little bit of fatty richness that makes the tangy vinegar taste sooo much better. So minus one star. But, if I were to rate based solely on their fried squash… so amaazingly good. Kosher salt scattered over a shatteringly crisp batter coating perfectly cooked pieces of squash — not too raw– not too squishy. The best EVER! Good basic hushpuppies, not overpowered with oniony flavor, just basic cornmeal.
Mmmm — now if only I can figure out how to get good fried squash now I live in California?
FYI: this is not the classic NC bbq place — the menu here is more upscale with items like salmon salad, duck — i.e. protein other than pork and chicken. The prices are a little more upscale too. My personal fave for classic NC bbq? Allen and Sons.

At the risk of generalizing, if basketball is NCs first love, then barbecue is a close second, and if you’re anywhere near Duke, The Barbeque Joint serves up true eastern North Carolina style barbeque. Here, that means a well-​seasoned, slow-​roasted pork in a vinegar base. The culinary result is a pure focus on the meat rather than the more commercially understood style of masking taste by drowning in heavy bbq sauces. The Joint, next door to The Good Beer Store, serves a good pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw in a bun for about $ 8.95. Also worth ordering is the gumbo and the triple layer chocolate cake and banana pudding should not be missed!