Allen & Son Pit Cooked Bar-B-Q

Doesn't Recommend

4plusdog

Joined 4 years ago

bleh. We've lived all over the country and our last two stops Norfolk, VA and Kansas City, MO had dives that were incredibly good. Expectations were high with Allen & Son. I first saw it getting lost trying to take a short cut and soon there after read the reviews. I've been excited to eat there for a month or more. What an incredible letdown. The rub which I think is the most important part of bbq before you cook the meat is terrible and quite frankly I've never had such dried out ribs (yet the sause was dripping with oil) and pulled pork that was so fatty. Maybe it was an off night, but $30 for a small serving of ribs, some pulled pork and some slaws--I'll find another dive.

Doesn't Recommend

sherric

Joined 4 years ago

wasted a trip. My nephew came up for a visit from his native Florida, and "loves good barbeque". After a visit to the local, award-winning Hog Heaven (Roxboro), which we all rated as great, I wanted to take him to the famous Pit in Raleigh - I've never been, either. My husband substituted Allen & Son instead. After checking the reviews, we went, highly expectant --

We could barely pull out our chairs to sit down. My nephew couldn't get his legs under the table, it was so low. The waitress appeared harried, even though the restaurant was far from full when we got there. Apparently "unsweet tea" doesn't exist. Then the meals arrived --

The top piece of meat on my serving was pure cartilage. The first bites of meat were okay, the sauce was okay, the sides (my nephew ordered French fries) were overcooked and totally soaked in oil. That includes the hush puppies. The more pork I ate, the saltier it became. The slaw was pale, runny, and too peppery to be a "cool" accompaniament to BBQ. My nephew's review is one word, which is apparently inappropriate for this site, although comparatively mild - think parc, backwards. Mine is just - total disappointment, don't have a clue why this restaurant is so highly rated by so many. We won't waste our money again.

Recommends

CSMobileUser

Joined 5 years ago

Heavenly. Best BBQ in the Triangle

Doesn't Recommend

antonioego

Joined 4 years ago

NO comparison to Bullock's in Durham!. My first review had been triggered by a sad example for hospitality. Coming from the Waldorf school I tried to pick up a nice picnic for my folks. Nothing on the outside of the building served as an indicator for a special culinary experience. Unfortunately, the whole experience turned out to be rather dreadful. The only glimpse of light was the cole slaw that was dripping on my car seat since they only gave me a paper bag (but I blame myself, as well). You probably could have punctured body armor with the hushpuppies they served me as left-overs from last night - "triple-fried ashpuppies". The BBQ apparently had been pulled by a tree saw since all the limbs were still present. I am still flossing my teeth. And I am also confident that Pete's Texas Sauce doesn't belong in a good BBQ. Do you want friendly customer service and great BBQ? Go to Bullock's in Durham. It's Day vs. Night at Allen and Son's.

Recommends

Ander

Joined 4 years ago

Best NC BBQ. Great palce to bring friends that want to eat NC BBQ. I am a fan of all BBQ styles, but Allen and Sons is my favorite.

Recommends

BBQMeister

Joined 4 years ago

BBQ great, Ribs worst ever. I thought the BBQ was some of the best I have ever had - tender, juicy, good flavor. The warm butter-vinegar-pepper sauce was really good. The sides were average at best. The peanut butter pie was very good. But the ribs??? Hands down the worst I have ever had. They were tough to the point of being uneatable. The sauce (different from the BBQ sauce) was disgusting. The prices are too high for the amount of food you get. There are so many tables jammed in the place it's hard to move. The sweet tea is below average - doesn't taste fresh brewed. Overall? Go for the Q and pie and nothing else!!!

Recommends

mystikallimitz02

Joined 8 years ago

Great BBQ. I've eaten at just about all the BBQ places in the triangle and this one takes the cake...easily. To the people that said it wasn't good...your taste buds must have left you long ago or you're just a complete moron who doesn't like good food.

Recommends

kanadakid

Joined 11 years ago

From Someone who know BBQ. Pay no attention to the reviews that stated dissappointment or expecting a tomato based sauce. This is a cross between Eastern style and Lexington.

Wood smoked port shoulders with a vinegar based dip /sauce. Hush puppies and cole slaw are excellent sides to accompany your slow roasted shredded pork.

Leave a little room for the home made pies served warm. The service is a freindly as it can get. Our waitress

was genuinely concerned that we were pleased with our meal. You can't fake real hospitality ! This is a very good BBQ place that I highly recommend.

I live in the north and have taken to smoking my own pork shoulders and making my own dip and mustard based South Carolina style BBQ because I can't get the real thing in the north.

Allen & sons is the real deal !

Hope this is helpful,

DH

Doesn't Recommend

BigGates

Joined 5 years ago

Stay Away!. I'm sorry, but I really have to question the people who have claimed this was the BBQ they've ever had. At best, Allen&Son's BBQ was no better than something you can find prepackaged in any grocery store in the frozen section. Ok, maybe the BBQ was tender... but it seriously lacked favor and any originality. So, to the other reviewers, I beg you... please take time to explore the other local BBQ restaurants, before you try to give the "Crown" to this dive. And, as far as their ribs go... disgusting! I took two bites and the meat was so tough, I just left my plate sitting there. The owner's wife refused to accommodate me with either another plate of ribs or something else of my choosing. I was totally shocked, as I never had experienced this kind of poor customer service in any other restaurant, when I've been dissatisfied. Needless to say, I'll NEVER visit this place again. And I will recommended the same to all my friends and coworkers. DO NOT WASTE YOUR GAS GOING THERE!

Recommends

violagurl2008

Joined 5 years ago

Best BBQ I've ever had. My husband and I are visiting the area, and we found this place on Citysearch. It's definitely a local "hole in the wall" place but very clean in side, and very nice, friendly people. Don't be intimidated by the outside, the inside is very clean and nice. It's definitely a little country, but the BBQ is so good. The sauce is really good, and the meat wasn't obviously fatty like most BBQ. Baked beans taste homemade, the sweet potato pie is a really good dessert if they have it. I highly recommend this!