Will be in Charlotte for a day or two in late August, visiting Johnson & Wales with my son (he's 21, and would be going post-graduate for a culinary certificate). We both love BBQ, and would appreciate any suggestions for great restaurants. Thanks!

We're heading to Charlotte in September and in doing my research (mainly on Chowhound.com) it appears that to get really good BBQ one needs to get out of the city. The main recommendations are for Lexington BBQ in Lexington (go figure) and Bridges BBQ in Shelby. Both are within approximately an hours drive.

My husband and I are both certified BBQ judges and will be attending the competition in Gastonia Sept 7-8, so our theme for the week that we are in NC will be "How much BBQ can you eat in one day?".

If you find any good BBQ in Charlotte please post back.

As a Charlotte resident I've not found any great BBQ here. That being said, check out Creative Loafing, they will provide some direction + I believe their "Best of..." issue just came out so you'll get the papers choice, as well as the readers choice.

Yeah you will have to leave the city to find good BBQ.....Charlotte is full of chain expensive restaurants.

The only good BBQ I've ever found in Charlotte is the BBQ restaurant in the airport that is in the center concourse.

Mac's Speed Shop on South Blvd a couple miles from downtown does a pretty decent job at BBQ. Not your typical BBQ hut but a pretty cool place to hang out. Odd mix of bikers and bankers but somehow it works. http://www.macspeedshop.com/

There's a newer place downtown called Belle's BBQ if you're staying uptown, but I haven't been so I can't comment on it other than that I've seen it full at lunch.

Lexington BBQ. Oh yeah, baby!

There was a place featured on Diners Drive Ins and Dives on FoodTv which they stopped in BBQ King on Wilkinson Blvd

We plan to eat there after I pick up DH from the airport this Saturday.

I think a friend of his always raved about Bubba's on Sunset too

http://www.bubbasbarbecue.com/

http://www.barbqking.com/