The Q Shack

Recommends

hiromura

Joined 11 years ago

Something for everyone. On my trip to Carolina the one thing I really wanted to try was Carolina BBQ. I was told that it is really vinegary. So I gave it a try at the Q shack. I didn't like it. I mean it tasted good, but the vinegar was not for me. At any other establishment this would be a problem, but not at the Q Shack. The Texas Sauce is awesome. I kept trying the carolina one, wanting to like it, but I ended up using mostly the Texas one. I figured that it would be rude not to try as much as possible, so I got the Brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. The sausage was average (Cambells in Portland has the best by far) but maybe I shouldn't have eaten all the brisket and pork first. The hushpuppies were really good too. I've never had one before. Also they had TV's showing the game. I wasn't going to leave anytime soon. Carolina or Texas style, whatever your thing is, the Q shack is where to go.

Recommends

jsrife

Joined 6 years ago

Best BBQ in the area. Outstanding mix of Texan and Carolina BBQ. The sliced brisket is amazing...and the hushpuppies alone are worth the trip.

Recommends

lala146

Joined 7 years ago

TEXAS BBQ COMES TO NC.. GET READY NC CHIILDREN, TEXAS HAS COME TO NORTH CAROLINA. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE

OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TEXAS STYLE BBQ, NOWS YOUR CHANCE. I LOVE THE COLE SLAW!

THE PULLED CHICKEN IS ANOTHER FAVORITE. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A CHOICE IN THE TRIANGLE

WHEN IT COMES TO BBQ. MY FAVORITE Q-SHACK IS THE ONE ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE. THEY

HAVE LIVE BLUEGRASS ON THE WEEKENDS, AND BEER IS ALWAYS ON TAP.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Whose barbecue is better, Texas or North Carolina? Turns out both.. In Short
You know what you're in for as soon as you spy the picnic tables topped with rolls of paper towels. Funky artwork on the walls is counterbalanced by a proliferation of squeeze-bottles full of sauce. The old debate gets played out in this menu that features both Texas and N.C.-style barbecue. Hickory-smoked pork butt makes a slam-dunk of a sandwich. Surprisingly, though, the Texas-style chili-rubbed beef brisket takes the "most popular" title.

Recommends

roastbeefalo

Joined 7 years ago

good, but no Allen & sons. good bbq, second best of the 4 I've tried in NC (Allen & Sons, Q Shack, one in Chapel Hill, and Bullocks). Highly recommended!

Doesn't Recommend

mylittlepiglet

Joined 7 years ago

don't be fooled by its history.. I have lived here for 9 years, coming up from Florida. I was looking forward to Bar B Que places. The Q Shack is NOT one of them! I can't believe the people actually go there. The ribs were under cooked, almost mushy. I also tried the Texas brisket. Believe me no Texan would eat that! Oh your sauces, you'd be further ahead to buy them off the local grocery store shelves. The onion rings were just warm, and soggy, no flavor at all. The Okra, had a crisp batter, but not that great. The french fries seemed to be good, but how hard is that! The Q Cobb salad was tried, smoked turkey cubes were tasteless. Lets not forget the glob of mac and cheese, a yellow cast over over cooked mac! Please don't bother with the Original Q Shack! Very noisy, with some horrible screaching of what was called blue grass music. Durham Folks, keep searching, Bar B Que hasn't found you yet!

Recommends

mscollin

Joined 7 years ago

Nice atmosphere and reasonable food. As a native North Carolinian ,I do love the holy swine but will occassionally turn to the dark side--beef as in Texas. Since the Q-shack offers some semblance of both and a friend was in town(recently moved to the left coast) who enjoys bbq,off we went.I opted for the pork even though my previous experience with the q-shack pork left me disaapointed.Unfortunately I remain dissappointed-dry and bland. Sauce on the table couldn't save it. Fortunately the brisket sandwhich was large enough that the wife was willing to share. This scenario(good brisket/bad pork) has been consistent the three or four times we have been there. Too bad i am slow learner. Fried okra was good-breading reasonably light and crisp,hushpuppies were good,sweet potato fries were boring,collards turned out to be a waste of greens.

Altogether a nice experience-just avoid the pork.

Recommends

dan_r

Joined 7 years ago

My favorite Durham restaurant. This place is so good. The prices are low, the food is awesome, and the atmosphere is very cool. I usually get one of the sandwiches. The burger is only $4.95 and includes hush puppies plus a side for that price. IMHO, it is one of the best burgers in the area. The smoked Sausage Sandwich is so good that I cannot articulate the pleasure derived from eating it into words! This is my favorite place to go to after a good workout to re-fuel. Sometimes they have had live bluegrass music too. It's also the perfect distance from where I live for a fun little motorcycle ride en route.

Recommends

angus_mcmanus

Joined 8 years ago

Mmm, mmm good!. The Q Shack is a great anchor to what some in Durham have started calling "Restaurant Row", the 15/501 corridor of restaurants off University Dr.

While the pasta salad is of questionable merit, no matter because you're really going to chow down on the barbeque, which is fantastic. No contest for me on The Great His Sauce/Our Sauce Dilemma: I grew up on tomato-based BBQ, so Our Sauce gets added in voluminous amounts.

The line moves quickly, the staff are friendly, and you get great food at a good price. The picnic tables make for an authentic BBQ experience. Good for kids and out-of-towners. We love it so much that we had them cater our wedding rehearsal dinner!

Recommends

yankeebumpkin

Joined 8 years ago

Rates with the best.. I have been a traveling man for many years and have set priorities appropriately. The first thing to find is a cheap but decent place to stay. The second is a really decent steakhouse with good food, service and moderate prices. The third and probably the most important is a good Barbeque place.

Barbeque reflects the atmosphere of an entire city. If you have good barbeque, you will also find friendly people and a warm atmoshphere. That is no bull. Barbeque is sustinance in its simplest form. It fills you up, satisfies your taste buds and doesn't put you in the poor house. The pork and beef at The Q Shack is cooked perfectly. The sauce is just right. And the Hush Puppies. Holy mackeral, I have found none better. I would come just for the Hush Puppies. This is one of the best places I have eaten.