Barbecue is an adventure…embrace it!
I think City Barbecue is the only ‘chain’ I’ve been to worth a revisit - but, I’m not trying to start a 'Que war.
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I feel a little guilty bumping a national chain on here, but he’s right… City BBQ is the only 'cue spot I’ve found in the area that seems to do a pretty good job with every style they carry. I generally find that most BBQ spots (not just in the Triangle) have at least one cut that they kinda suck at. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I should note that I haven’t had a chance to try Prime yet.
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On the local tip -
Lawrence BBQ is currently ‘popping up’ at Wye Hill - that is also good and moving out to Boxyard RTP.
The Picnic crew from Durham is opening Wyatt’s at Gateway but popping up at St Roch.
Sam Jones coming soon. Considering the area still has 25 mins to almost everywhere accessibility, can travel for goodness. It’s a Que’naissance… 
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RED HOT & BLUE is a chain here in North Raleigh but they have pretty good Memphis style BBQ.
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Back to your original post though, speaking of KC — BBQ Lab has the best burnt ends around unless you catch them special at Prime…and, I am not affiliated with them in any way - just a guy with a home smoker who appreciates craft and the time / technique it requires…
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Last year I emailed the North Carolina Pork council to encourage them to work with visit Raleigh to establish the Raleigh BBQ trail. I think I sent two emails and got crickets
We would have just had the NC barbecue showdown in Raleigh last month at the bluegrass festival, had we had the bluegrass festival.
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Was supposed to go here for their big St Patrick’s Day grand opening, which seems like 12 years ago, but was actually still 2020. Guess they’re opening for reals now
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I think it might simply happen organically. There is so much coming on line that both respects tradition and is going to elevate the game. The pork council will likely never focus on RAL because well, honestly, the rural / metro (small farm / conglomerate) schism - But, the folks getting after it are going to co-promote farm partner / chef relationships and the product is going to foster discourse and press which will all be good.
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Thanks everyone! I’ve got some places to try now. My office is near RTP, so when I’m back in the office I will definitely try Lawrence BBQ. If anyone has any other suggestions I’d love to hear them.
Love the idea of a BBQ trail, and it would be great if the BBQ showdown becomes more of a thing. That plus the Bluegrass festival could be our version of Memphis in May.
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Good perspective, I agree
Backyard BBQ Pit is my favorite bbq spot in the triangle. It’s right near RTP. Doesn’t look like much from the outside but the food is great.
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it’s fine, but not like the new wave…not like Lawrence, lab etc. But I am glad for what they do
Would just like to throw out a recommendation I don’t see on here, and mainly because he’s one guy (with help from his wife) who cooks out of his home/pop-up locations, but Savvy-Q is some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. Holy Schmidt. His smoked chicken is the best chicken I’ve ever had, his scalloped potatoes are so good I could eat an entire tray of them. He was planning to open a restaurant pre-pandemic, not sure his plans now. But I highly highly HIGHLY recommend his food. https://www.savvyqnc.com/
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This place is going to kill.
Utilizing the farm as an asset was always something I wished they did on the first attempt at this spot.
Plus that yard in the back is going to be packed.
Beers are 5 and 6 bucks and for now it’s food trucks but they said they want to bring in rotating chefs once they get established.
Great use of this property IMO. Beer was good as well. I’m a fan.
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that looks amazing space, wow wonder what took so long great to have this
Pelagic looks to be in the process of installing some seating in the parking spaces in front of them.
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Is it just me or is the barcode as brand/logo a trend? I feel like I’ve seen that elsewhere. Anyway It’s great to see a new hopefully high quality establishment open up.
FWIW, The bar code is at least on brand for the Triangle.
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It seemed packed there, nice great addition, what we need more of. Reminds me of Wye hill, same kind of impact. Who are those geniuses who opened those few places like this
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I’m not sure. Anyone with inside info know the real story?
Here is my guess based on the minimal information that’s been public.
Seems like the guys from Hobby Property had this spot with a concept in mind. They went and got, or were approached by Crawford to start Standard Food and Grocery. (Grocery was a big want at the time for the surrounding neighborhoods).
There was a bit of a disagreement about vision, which is what I was told. Not sure who wanted what, but my guess is that Crawford wanted ti to be more upscale, fine dining, while the owners wanted it to be more casual and accessible.
In the end, I think they went with Crawford’s vision or a version of that and for whatever reason, it never took off. (Never ate there, despite it being walkable to my house.)
With business not doing so well the two decided to split and Crawford went across the street to open Crawford and Son and eventually Jolie. Meanwhile, Standard went out and secured guys with ties to Bond Brothers to come in play out their initial vision, which was brewer/beer garden/hip -casual.
I’m 90% sure I have some details wrong, but it seems as if, however this played out, it was all for the best. Crawford has a couple smaller, cozy upscale establishments in the neighborhood where he can do what he does best, and Standard can be the more brewery/casual spot it wanted to be from the get-go…both will fill their niches well and serve the surrounding neighborhoods better than they could have done as partners.
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