Bullock's Bar B Cue Inc

10/10/08

Best BBQ in the 919 by Tommy A. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

No trip to Durham is without a visit to this temple of North Carolina barbecue. Fast for 24 hours and then bring your A-game as the friendly waitstaff at Bullock's serves up the best pulled pork, fried chicken and hush puppies your taste buds have ever encountered. Go with the family dining option when you are in a large group.

11/04/09

The Thing I Miss Most About the South

by ess8 at Citysearch

You don't go to Bullock's for the decor or if you want something fancy, you go for the home-y, delicious comfort food. Bullock's has the best BBQ I've found anywhere, and I eat a lot of BBQ! If you've never tried NC BBQ (instead of Texas or Memphis BBQ), you really should try it. It's not for everyone, but you really taste the actual meat instead of just the sauce and it can be fantastic if done right - like they do it at Bullock's and have been for many, many years! Bullock's also has great sides (the best are the hush puppies, another souther mainstay). Personally I think their greenbeans are over cooked, but I know a lot of people who like them like that and swear by them. Whenever I make it back to NC, Bullock's is the first place I go. It's truly a taste of home! Don't miss it!

• Pros: the best BBQ anywhere, great sides, family-style servings
• Cons: lackluster decor and long lines

09/22/09

Great Eastern NC BBQ

by Msmstry at Citysearch

My favorite BBQ restaurant. I took Jamie & Bobby Deen there last week and they were delighted with the food, menu, Tommy's visit to our table.

• Pros: Great Q & Stew, hushpuppies, long menu

08/24/09

From Colorado

by MrP2222 at Citysearch

This BBQ is so good, my Mom had it shipped out to CO for my birthday !! It arrived frozen & in a styrafoam container .....in perfect condition. It is unusually good -- not like the BBQ smothered in ketchup-y sauce that I find here out west. Not only is the BBQ great -- but the Brunswick Stew is unbelievable! Sweet, salty, & tangy all at the same time -- the perfect combination! Yes....Mom sent some stew, too !!! Great Birthday!!

• Pros: They ship !!!!
• Cons: There's no Bullock's in Colorado!

08/15/09

Spectacularly bad

by durhamdan at Citysearch

Tonight I brought an out-of-town guest to Bullock's for his first taste of eastern NC BBQ. He ordered a BBQ plate with fries and slaw, I ordered a plate of cold boiled shrimp with baked potato and slaw. I cannot imagine an easier order. After waiting more than 35 minutes for our food to arrive, his fries were cold and had to be sent back, my baked potato was just barely baked long enough to eat, and I was served seven shrimp for my meal. That's right - seven. I have had more shrimp in a shrimp cocktail. When asked by the cashier how our meal was, we were honest. She did not apologize or offer any compensation. I will not be back. Ever.

• Pros: I'm not still there
• Cons: Bad service, mediocre food, long wait

01/08/09

Great food, especially great for leftovers!

by Erically96 at Citysearch

Our family has taken to getting our food to go. 1.5 lbs of barbecue (sliced is our favorite), 3 pints of our favorite sides, and some of those amazing hushpuppies! We're out the door for around 27 bucks, but we usually get 8 meals out of it! I have a child with dietary issues also (gluten & dairy) and he's thrilled at how many different things he can eat there. Truly a Durham staple. Love it!

12/21/08

Over 120 lbs. and knows where to find the best food in the Raleigh-Durham area

by HomeTownGirlSRC at Citysearch

Although I went to college in Durham, I have lived in and/or visited many places...to name a few...San Fransico, Atlanta, Rochester (NY), Cincinnati and Europe (Spain, France and Italy). When I really want some "pleasure food", I don't think of the foods from Europe that I never learned to pronounce, but I look closer to home... Bullock's. When visiting my sister in Durham, I don't feel that my visit is complete unless I have had a taste of Bullock's Barbecue. The midwest and north make a good attempt at making "southern barbeque", but if you want the really good stuff, go to Bullock's. Since my sister is a regular visitor, she knows some of the staff. Our visits always seem like we are sitting in a relative's kitchen. It you want a big dose of southern charm with some really great food, go to Bullock's.

• Pros: Food is always good
• Cons: Unless you arrive early, parking and getting seated may be a problem

11/11/08

Great food and a great family.

by williamhoopes at Citysearch

I have know the Bullock family for nearly 18 years and send many hours with them in their restaurant.I know of no one who shows the passion and dedication like this family does to feed and please the public.Running an independently owned family business against the larger chains in this day and time is extremely difficult.The Bullock family's survival is a testimate to their quality food,hard work and love for what they do.

• Pros: quality home cooking at very reasonable prices.

11/06/08

never again

by boomchickamom at Citysearch

We planned ahead and arrived before the lines (5:15), but despite this it took 1:30 to get our food from our incompetent waitress who was flustered by the simple request for a check. Eating with 2 kids is never easy, but this long wait was unbearable, and for what? The food was nothing better than any of the other places in town and more expensive. Q-shack is a better all around experience. The woman at the cash register is clearly unhappy with life, as is every member of the wait staff as far as you can ather from the frowns all around. There is no reason to waste your time on this place.

09/15/08

The long lines at the door should be a clue.

by BobbyMoe at Citysearch

I've been eating at Tommy Bullcok's since I was a kid. The poster below has obviously signed in under several different names to unfairly bash this Durham landmark. Bullocks is a slice of Durham. A great example of "down east" style, vinegar based pork barbecue. The service is excellent and the people are friendly. People are lined up outside the door every day before the doors are even open. That should be enough of a clue that this place is special.

08/07/08

Old Reliable, well, is getting

by HogNuts at Citysearch

If you are on a low sodium diet, you had better eat somewhere else. The salt shaker flies freely here. The fried chicken is pretty good if it is fresh. I hear "Old Man" Bullock likes to hang out in the back cooler and dunk the older chicken in clorox in a 5-gallon bucket, so he doesn't have to throw it away. This is a known fact. Employees have caught him doing it. Hear that Durham Health Dept.?

The brunswick stew is to die for, some of the best I have ever had. The pulled B-B-Q can be a little too heavy on the vinegar some days, all in all it is pretty good though. The cole slaw is good. The green beans are excellent, but very salty. Beware, if you are on a restricted diet. The hush puppies are great. Not dry and they have just the right amount of sugar in them to make you want to make a meal out of them before your meal comes out.

The service is excellent. I have never had any problems with my service there and I have eaten there many times. The older lady that takes the money up front, seems like she can be a real witch sometimes, just what I have gathered with my dealings with her. But, she took my money everytime, minus a smile!

I was on WRAL's website today, and it seems that Bullocks didn't make the survey list for the best barbeque in the eastern part of the state. I was not surprised to see Allen and Son on there, which is not too far down the road from Bullocks. Seems Bullocks was left off the list for Durham, but there were other barbeque restaurants in Durham, on this list. I wonder if the menu has something to do with it? Seems like Bullocks just isn't what it used to be, regardless of how many celebs have eaten there and gotten their pictures taken. Time for a change at Bullocks, out with the old and in with someone new. Maybe it is time for someone to step down and let the kids run things now, you think?

• Pros: Great service from the waitresses, even the gay dude!
• Cons: Some of the food is just too salty, a menu revamp is needed.