Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Recommended - The Barbecue Joint - Chapel Hill

Address: 630 Weaver Dairy Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Restaurant Style: Pick-up at counter Web-site

This place has a funky decor and menu. The chopped barbecue is excellent, with large chunks and a definite smoky crust. On my first visit, the excellent chili sauce on the table has a Chinese name and Chinese script on the bottle, but made in California. The second visit had a very good hot sauce which apparently was homemade.

Saturday, November 13, 2004

Recommended - Hursey's, Burlington

Hursey's is all over the place in the Burlington area. They make the barbecue at the main central restaurant on US 70 in town (a visit reviewed below) and at a wholesale place north of town on NC 87. They ship the barbecue to various outlets they own ( a visit to one reviewed below) and to noncompany restaurants.

Main restaurant on US 70
Address: 1834 S Church St, Burlington, NC Map
Restaurant: Table Service

Good sliced pork. Outstanding slaw and baked beans.Their signature apple turnover is a good value, but the crust lacks character. I was in a bookstore in Burlington just before lunch and browsed through Bob Garner’s Guide to North Carolina Barbecue, which had three barbecue joints in Burlington. I tried Hursey's because it was convenient. On the table was a ad for the book, which you could buy at the restaurant. I recommend the book for the serious barbecue fan.

Hursey's Bar-B-Q: Dairy Castle
Address: 880 Highway 87 N, Gibsonville, NC Map
Restaurant: Steamtable

This is a little brick building just south of the main bulk retail and wholesale outlets for Hursey's. It is counter service with a fast food feel. The barbecue plate comes with hushpuppies, slaw and french fries, but I just had the tray, which has no french fries. The minced pork is excellent, especially for delivered barbecue. The sides were good.

Hursey's Bar-B-Q: Graham
Address: 1234 N Main Street, Graham NC Map

The other main Hursey's restaurant is a large barn-shaped building on NC 87 south of town. It is at least twice as large as the main Burlington restaurant and the parking is better.

When I ordered a sliced tray, which comes with hushpuppies and slaw, with a side of baked beans. The waitress upgraded it to a plate, substituting for french fries (which I do not like with barbecue any). The pork was a little blander than at the other main restaurant, but the sides were great.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Acceptable - Dillard's, Durham

Address: 3921 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC
Restaurant: Steamtable

Dillard's has obviously expanded. The kitchen and serving line fill an older building. The seating area has been added, wrapping around the front of the building. They've left the old exterior wall as it was, which is a little strange. The food is served in the serving line in disposeable dishes. Catering and carry out seems to be the rule with dine-in as an afterthought.

I had a chopped pork plate with slaw and yams. The chopped pork seemed a little pasty, which is usually not a good thing, but the meat had a definite flavor. There was a small cup of very good barbecue sauce, whch made the meal. The sides were average. There were only three hushpuppies with the plate, which was disappointing.