Now the debate is on! OK - if you get a SANDWICH add the slaw, but if you get a Big old platter of 'Q, which is my choice, douse it with whatever sauce they give you and dig in. Golly-gee, if you want bread get hush puppies!

Steve

Hmmmm... 20 posts. You'd think Tar Heels take their 'Q seriously. BTW, I think it was during the Reagan administration the White House wanted to serve a meal for some so-and-so totally unique to the US. North Carolina BBQ and corn on the cob made the menu. :-)

Steve

This is NC Que we talkin' 'bout.

ALL que sandwiches MUST be on a white bread bun - preferably Merita, but Bunny Bread is OK too - as long as it is your generic white bread bun you hafta tear apart.

As Steve said, ALL que sandwiches MUST have slaw atop them. As a further statement, you MUST have sweetea as your choice of beverage. (Pepsi is fine - Coke is not.)

There will be other things on the table to choose from which you must carefully select from if you get a plate.

Black pepper for the bawld or biled puhtaytuhs (depending on where you are), Texas Pete (NO NO NO Tabasco sauce) for the que and/or okra and/or Brunswick stew.

The other must-have - the vinegar-based extra bottle of suace they put on the table.

And the only fitting end to this repast?
My Aunt Ella's Banana Pudding.

What a shame you'll be too far west to get any BBQ...

On Highway 66 in Kernersville, just south of "Business 40" you will find Prissy Polly's Barbecue which I like just as much if not better than Little Richard's or Speedy's. They have BOTH eastern and Lexington style. If you answer the trivia question you can get a free banana pudding. Neat, red and white old saloon-looking building. Nice folks and an almost old country store kind of atmosphere.

Check it out since you will be driving right past it.

RP

Texas Pete, made in Winston-Salem by Garner Foods, is a must. No tabasco..EVER!

Stuck in Greensboro airport as i write. I just ate at prissy pollys for the first time as it happened to be beside the gas station at which I refilled my rental car. Great stuff.

Thanks so much everyone. I've made notes on all the places ya'll have recommended and we will make our decision based on what time Will finishes at Guilford College. In Nashville (college and a bit after) we used to go to a beer and barbecue place that served their 'cue (tomato base) on cornbread pancakes with slaw on the side - some (DH) put it on top, others ate it as a side (me). I can't remember the name, but it was the wonderful.

gut, that is our favorite place too! I can smell it now!

Any places to stay near Lexington, appropriate for a family? We were thinking of sampling multiple places (we've done some eastern NC BBQ previously), and staying 2 or 3 nights.

Or is there another town near enough (within a half hour) to make visits to Lexington?

From Lexington, going down the road toward Salisbury and Charlotte, you get alot of hotel choices (urban sprawl). I think you'll have alot of choices along that interstate.

I think it will be a smart idea to try a few different places in Lex -- it is like wine. You try a few different ones and your palate can start to taste the subtle differences.

How about Winston Salem? It is about a half hour on US 52 N from Lexington. It has an exceptional historical area worth a visit. It has great shopping, first class arts scene, and tons of excellent restaurants.

"I think it will be a smart idea to try a few different places in Lex -- it is like wine. You try a few different ones and your palate can start to taste the subtle differences."

Our feelings exactly! We have memories of BBQ sandwiches from Mitchell's (not re-opened yet?) and Duke's from further east, but we'd love to compare and contrast. Speedy's and Lexington Barbecue are on our menu, at least.

Just bought Garner's NC barbecue book, based on recommendations from this board. Great stuff! Very very close to buying a $500 electric smoker of my own...

I'll recommend you add BBQ Center in Lexington, or make the trip up to Greensboro and Stamey's.

keeping this one fresh... interesting topic.

I live in Hickory (now) but have tried BBQ all over the state from Fayetteville, Raleigh, Lexington, Charlotte area....it has been some time for most of those places but when I finally did get a chance to stop in Lexington--I don't remember being overly excited!

Around here a local favorite is Shell's BBQ. I love their hushpuppies and they make their own Pimento Cheese--which they offer with BBQ on Grilled Texas Toast. Hey, a Pregnant girl gets some weird cravings!

It is very easy to get too and on your way to Asheville off of the new exit (~127) In between Fairgrove Church Road Exit and Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. McDonald Parkway turn RIGHT and follow to Springs Rd, turn Right at the Hess Gas Station and Shell's is down on your left in a shiny diner looking building! Closed on Sunday

After all that, we ended up running late in Greensboro because Will really liked Guilford and wanted to look around some more after our tour/interview. We went to Stamey's in Greensboro - I had a great barbecue sandwich with slaw, Will had one without, and we shared hushpuppies. Yum! Now if he just decides on Guilford we will have an excuse to get up to NC to try the other places y'all have recommended....Thanks!

Bridges BBQ Lodge in Shelby is the best in my book.

Hi Bellhouse,
I know it's been a while since your visit to the area, but just wanted you to know that you made a good choice, albeit accidently. Stamey's is mad delicious BBQ. (I was in Barnes and Nobles a month or so ago, and a man visiting from Japan asked me how to get to Stamey's! He had heard about it and was trying to find it in books there)!!!! I grew up here and live down the road from Guilford. If you need any Greensboro, Guilford College, Chapel Hill (our alma mater) or UNC-G (parents used to teach there) info, let me know. I can surely help.
Good Luck to you and your son!

Klasvan - Thanks so much! Will is still waiting to hear from College of Wooster (first choice), but Guilford is a very close second. If he ends up there, I'll be sure to contact you. Funny about the Japanese tourist!