McCall's in Clayton Reopens with First Responders Meal

The McCall's BBQ and Seafood heavily damaged by a plane crash last year is reopening Wednesday, April 23. The restaurant had a pre-opening celebration, where it honored First Responders, including EMS, police and fire fighters. During the meal, the fire department received an alarm on its pagers, so they had to leave the free meal behind, alarms blaring.

The management promised that the restaurant would reopen and it did. This is a happy conclusion to this incident that was covered in the blog.

Restaurant Ratings

Recommended Google Map to all Recommended Restaurants
Allen and Son's North - Chapel Hill
A Taste of Country - Turkey and Wilmington
Hursey's - Burlington and Graham
Danny's - RTP, Morrisville and Cary
Stamey's - Greensboro
BBQ & Ribs Co. - Graham
The Barbecue Joint - Chapel Hill
Clyde Cooper's - Raleigh
McCall's BBQ and Seafood - Clayton
Short Sugar's - Reidsville , Danville VA
Fuzzy's Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q, Madison
Jackson Brothers BBQ, Sanford
Acceptable
Jim's Famous BBQ - Chapel Hill
Rub's Smokehouse, Morrisville
Byrd's Bar-B-Que, Durham
Hog Heaven - Durham
Barbecue Lodge - Raleigh
Smoky Joe's, Lexington NC
Smithfield's BBQ and Chicken, Garner
Dillard's - Durham
Bob's Barbecue, Creedmoor
Lexington #1, Lexington
Ole Time Barbecue, Raleigh
Dixie Bell's, Apex
Ole NC Barbecue, Durham
Country Barbecue, Greensboro
Hog Heaven, Washington NC
Backyard BBQ Pit - Durham NC
Barely Acceptable
Tony's BBQ, Hillsborough
Good Barbecue from Non-barbecue Restaurants and Others
Brookwood Farms, Siler City
Cook-Out - Durham
Refreshment Stands at the Smith Center - Chapel Hill
NC Pork Producers tent at the NC State Fair
On the list to try
White Swan - Smithfield
Bon's Home Cooking - Chapel Hill
Holy Smokes, Raleigh

Allen & Sons in Esquire Magazine

Allen & Sons has been featured in The Best Sandwiches in America in the February Esquire magazine and on the web.

"Chopped Pork
Allen & Son Barbeque, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Famous among the vinegar-based smoke pits of North Carolina for its tart, smoky sandwiches. The owner, Keith Allen, still splits his own hickory in the backyard, fueling the fires that cook your meat."

A Disappointment - White Swan, Smithfield

Address - Hwy 301 South, Smithfield NC Map
Style - Sit-down Restaurant Website

White Swan has been around Smithfield for decades. This is the central location, a group of buildings that contains a small bbq restaurant open for lunch, a separate steak restaurant that is open for dinner, the smokers and the catering offices.

The web-site has a full lunch and dinner menu, but there was no sign of it in the restaurant. There was a single card menu with a few entries. These includes a barbecue sandwich, chicken and ribs. Since the only option to try the barbecue was to get a sandwich with hushpuppies and tea, that's the way I went. It is hard to judge barbecue from one sandwich, but it at least was edible. The hushpuppies were edible, but I have to reserve judgment for later.

White Swan lists six locations, including two in the immediate Smithfield area. These two are in gas stations, so obviously the barbecue is made at the main location and brought over. If I get to one of the White Swan's with a full menu, I'll do a full review then.

Recommended - Stamey's, Greensboro

Address - 2206 High Point Road, Greensboro NC Map
2812 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro NC Map
Style - Sit-down Restaurant Website

The only negative to Stamey's is the restaurant locations. The main restaurant is right across from the Coliseum, Greensboro's entertainment arena. The other is on a busy section of Battleground (US 220). At both locations, you almost can't make a left out of the restaurant's parking lot at lunchtime. Then making a U-turn takes blocks, if not miles. The food makes the hassle worthwhile.

Stamey's has a simple menu, with just chopped and sliced pork and barbecued chicken. The pork is quite tasty. A tough of sauce adds a little spice, but is not needed to taste the meat. The plates come with hushpuppies and slaw. Both sides are better than average.

Lexington Barbecue Festival This Saturday

If you can get there, this is a good day's fun. I may drop by late. More info at their web page.

Recommended - Jackson's Brothers, Sanford

Address - 2440 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Sanford NC Map
Style - Carry Out and Drive through

For years, the barbecue sign for Jackson's Brothers has been a landmark for me along US 1 in Sanford. The building is a tiny carry-out only restaurant in the middle of a huge gravel parking lot, nestled between Jackson Brothers Produce and a manufactured home sales lot. They only have carry out, but there are a few picnic tables under a tree across the parking lot in front of Ted's Wire Art Museum and Gift shop. The place has personality and darned good barbecue.

My lunch was just a sample, a sliced pork sandwich and a dozen hushpuppies. Except for a chunk of cartilage, the pork was excellent, reminiscent of Fuzzy's. The hushpuppies were great, typical of central North Carolina style.

The business has a web-site for all of the different businesses that Jackson Brothers run. It is a relic of old farm-based Southern living.

I'll definitely be back.

Plane Crashes into McCall's BBQ & Seafood, Clayton

About 10 am this morning, a single engine plane crashed into the front entrance of McCall's BBQ & Seafood on US 70 in Clayton NC. The restaurant was not yet open, so there was nobody in the dining room. About 20 employees were working in the kitchen and got out safely with no reported injuries. It appears that the pilot was killed in the crash.

Weather conditions were not favorable at the time. There was a low ceiling, fog and scattered rain showers. Eyewitnesses report that the plane came in low, apparently out of control, clipped some trees, tried to land in the parking lot, but crashed into the building.

Coverage on WRAL is here.

It is to be hoped that this excellent BBQ restaurant will rebuild and reopen.