Raleigh-Durham residents live in a barbecue wonderland: North Carolina is famous for its great barbecue, and Raleigh-Durham is full of fantastic barbecue restaurants. So, if you want to have a great backyard barbecue without cooking, Raleigh-Durham is the place to be. There are plenty of barbecue restaurants in the Triangle that will be happy to do the cooking for you. All you'll have to do is pick your favorite 'cue place, and pick up some barbecue-to-go!
Here's a list of Raleigh-Durham restaurants that offer barbecue take-out and/or catering
1. Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q
Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q has two locations in the Durham area: one at 2419 Guess Rd., Durham, and another at 2780 Durham Rd. in Roxboro. Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q specializes in "Eastern North Carolina handchopped barbecue" which it claims is "A taste of heaven".Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q's menu offers lots of classic home-style Southern dishes including Brunswick stew and pork chop sandwiches, side-dishes of fried okra and turnip greens, and banana pudding for dessert.
Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q will cater a party if there are going to be more than 50 people there. Otherwise, pick-up is the only option.
Restaurant Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., closed Sunday.
2. Ole Time Barbecue
Ole Time Barbecue is a locally-owned restaurant that serves up barbecue inspired by the owner's (Jerry Hart) grandpa's recipes.Ole Time Barbecue offers a "Dad's Cooking Dinner" take-out menu with offerings such as barbecue by the pound, whole BBQ chickens, Brunswick Stew and racks of barbecued ribs. If you're having a really big get together, you can have Old Time cater your party. Yum!
6309 Hillsborough St . , Raleigh (919) 859-2544
Restaurant Hours: Mon-Thu 6:00am- 8:00pm
Fri 6:00am- 9:00pm
Sat 6:00am- 2:00pm
Closed Sun.
3. Backyard BBQ Pit Restaurant
Backyard BBQ Pit offers pit-cooked pork, beef, turkey and chicken barbecue at their family-owned restaurant, which is located in the Research Triangle Park area (5122 NC Hwy. 55). The restaurant is fairly new venture for the Holloway family (it opened in April, 2007) and offers an ambitious menu as well as catering.Restaurant Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
4. Smithfield's Chicken N'Bar-B-Q
Smithfield's Chicken N'Bar-B-Q is a locally-based fast-food BBQ place where you can pick up barbecue and fried chicken "to-go". For a large gathering, use Smithfield's Chicken N'Bar-B-Q's "large order menu", which includes barbecue and a limited selection of side-dishes by the pint, as well as "Easy Party Pack" selections, which include everything you need for a barbecue party "to-go".Smithfield 's Chicken N'Bar-B-Q has about a dozen Triangle-area locations, including locations in Wake Forest (12504 Capital Blvd.), Garner (5180 NC Hwy. 42), and Raleigh (7911 Fayettville Rd.).
Restaurant Hours (hours may vary seasonally and by location):
Sun-Thursday 10am-10pm
Fri-Sat 10am-11:00pm
5. Dickey's Barbecue Pit
Dickey's Barbecue Pit is a nationwide franchise chain that sells both beef (gasp!) and pulled pork barbecue. Chicken, turkey, pork ribs and Polish sausage are also on their menu, so Dickey's is a good place to go if your group doesn't agree on what "real BBQ" is. Dickey's offers take-out "family packs" that are the perfect size for a small group, and offers delivery for larger parties". Dickey's Barbecue Pit also offers full-service catering.Dickey's has several Raleigh-Durham locations, including one at 200 Crossroads Blvd., in Cary and another at 5318 New Hope Commons Drive in Durham.
6. Red Hot & Blue
Red Hot & Blue is a national barbecue chain restaurant with two Raleigh locations, one at 1900 Hillsborough St., and another at 6615 Falls of the Neuse Rd. It has a very extensive take-out menu, which includes everything from catfish appetizers to chicken, pork or beef BBQ platters and sandwiches.Red Hot & Blue also has a catering menu with tons of different options, from barbecue "drop-off" to full-service, full-menu catering.
