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Allen & Son Pit Cooked Bar-B-Que
Category: Restaurants Barbeque Barbeque [Edit]
5650 US Hwy 15 501 NPittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 542-2294
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 8 pm
Sat 11 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Allen & Son Pit Cooked Bar-B-Que
Review Highlights
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"...claimed that the one in Chapel Hill is usually a wait while..." In 3 reviews -
"Hush puppies were fluffy and moist and you could really..." In 4 reviews
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"and then there was the brunswick stew." In 3 reviews
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15 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica P.
Durham, NC
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
This Allen & Son location is probably my fav. Close to Pittsboro, it's always hopping, but there's always at least an open table inside. When you arrive, the pick up window is at the front, and the door to the sit-down restaurant is around the corner on the side.
The BBQ is amazing, of course! This is not a place to diet... you have to go all out here. The BBQ plate comes with delicious chopped slaw and hush puppies (get the small version - it's plenty of food). The fries are perfect (It's surprising how many restaurants can mess up something as simple as fries) and they have a large variety of other sides to choose from. We got the friend pickles which were done perfectly (again, surprising how many places mess those up)!
The best part? Cheap cheap cheap! Cash only, but they also have an ATM there. No breaking the bank at Allen & Son... only breaking the limits of your stomach! -
Review from Joanna T.
Cary, NC
2/2/2012
If Anthony Bourdain ever came to North Carolina I would bring him here. It's essentially a roadside shack with a window dispensing magical foods. 100% authentic Carolina style BBQ. If you don't already know its pulled pork with a spicy vinegar-based sauce and coleslaw in a bun. It's not pretty but it sure does get the job done. French fries are on point. Best hush puppies I have ever had in my life. My boyfriend disagrees because he seemed to think that there should be whole corn kernels in them, but these taste like onion rings in the form of a deep-fried dumpling. I had potato salad as my side and I don't know if it was cinnamon or nutmeg or something in the family of flavors in it that totally turned my potato salad world upside down. It was awesome.
So worth the drive. Great for lunch after a morning of hiking at Jordan Lake. PS bring cash - they are too old school for plastic. -
Review from Shane S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/13/2012
Trying to taste all the BBQ styles across the country !! On the road to Pittsboro N.C. I saw this BBQ house by the side of the road. North Carolina eastern style BBQ has a vinegar based thin sauce. This sauce has a little spiciness to it. I had the large plate which was really too much for one person. It was good....however, I felt the pork was a little dry. The pork lacked the flavor and moistness I expect from pulled pork. Maybe this is how they like it here , but to me pork should be juicy and flavorful without any sauce. The pork was a little better after putting on more "sauce" , but vinegar is not my favorite either. Maybe this style is not for me..... I also thought the fried okra was way too battered, and the hush puppies plain tasting.
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Review from Rose V.
Pittsboro, NC
5/11/2012
As a vegetarian, it's probably weird to review a BBQ joint. However, I love the cole slaw, tea, and hush puppies, and they'll make an edible grilled cheese sandwich.
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Review from Guy S.
Richmond, VA
4/25/2012
Stopped here to pick up lunch on the way from Pittsboro back home to Virginia. We should have just gotten two barbecue trays, because the sandwiches had so much barbecue in them it took two hands to handle one. Don't get a sandwich and think you can eat it on the road unless you want to be wearing pork when you arrive where you are going. Great eastern NC barbecue, AWESOME hushpuppies.
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Review from Leo B.
Knightdale, NC
5/31/2011
Damn good. The homemade lemonade, the homemade chippers, the amazingly tasty hushpuppies (the best I have ever had) the fried pickles, the slaw, the BBQ (I love how they do not write pork or chopped pork... its BBQ. Its NC its pork and it is damn good. I love the sauce... and then there was the brunswick stew. I am so mad that I gave my leftovers away I want some more of that stew!
I am a fan for life. -
Review from Fred B.
Greensboro, NC
Updated - 1/23/2011 8 photos
Went back here for lunch yesterday, and the BBQ is as great as ever - moist, tender, smokey, and loaded with heat from the red peppers. We ordered the Chopped BBq tray at $6.95, which comes with slaw and hushpuppies - usually get the sandwich and a hot dog, but trying to somewhat limit those delicious carbs.
The hushpuppies are outstanding tubes of taste, with only the slightest hint of sweetness. The slaw is of the white variety, not overly moist, and loaded with black pepper which gives it zip. The tray is loaded with chopped BBQ, most will struggle to finsh it - we each ordered one, and took home half. This places just does outstanding Eastern NC BBQ.Listed in: NC BBQ Joints, Best Southern Chili Dog, Best Eastern NC BBQ
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/26/2010
This BBQ joint had a relationship (franchise?) at one point with the original Allen & Son off HWY 86… Read more »
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Review from Ron W.
Apparently I broke my barbeque seal with Allen & Son! Zero visits to Allen & Sons in my first five years here in NC and now I've been twice in the last ten days... My meal at the Chapel Hill (CH) location was AWESOME so I had to check out the other A&S spot. From the outside, this Allen & Son looks similar except for the convenient take-out window: barbeque to go, please! Inside it's a low-ceilinged, spartan space, not nearly as cozy as the other location. But hey, it's all about the food, right?
I ordered the same winner of a combo plate, que and stew along with a side of baked beans. No holding back after driving 35 minutes! They do things a bit different here and it's good in a different way. Hushpuppies come with the plate, my brunswick stew and slaw were both really good but not as tasty as the CH location. What shines here is the barbeque, it's pulled a bit finer with less stringy parts, great seasoning! Oh and the natural-cut fries were really good! And I didn't make it to dessert but they seemed to have less choices here.
Service was fine and prices might have been a touch lower than CH. Allen & Sons in Pittsboro is a great lunch stop, especially if you're focused on the barbeque. But according to my Yelp iPhone app, both locations are about the same distance away from home for me. Given the choice, I'd rather drive up to Chapel Hill for their great sides (slaw, puppies) and delicious desserts! You can't go wrong with either, it's just better versus best... -
Review from Lysandra G.
Pittsboro, NC
7/20/2010
BBQ is my best friend! That said, me and Allen get along very well. Their BBQ (which in NC means pulled pork) is quite tasty and the hush puppies are to die for. I prefer this location to the other Allen & Sons as the meat seemed more trim and meaty (versus the other that had too much gristle), the wait is also shorter.
If you want authentic NC BBQ I would recommend Allen & Sons. My boyfriend and I can share an Xtra Large BBQ plate w/drinks for less than $15 total. That's my kind of BBQ! -
Review from Adam Z.
Trumansburg, NY
2/25/2012
In town visiting firends and we wanted bar-b-q. Our friends suggested Allen and Son. It was great. My wife and I thought the bar-b-q plate was quite good. My wife thought it was a little too vinegary though, hence the 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars. Restaurant has both sit down and to-go options. Atmorsphere is VERY casual and laid back. A word of warning, it is cash only. There is an ATM on premises but it was out-of-order the night we were there.
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Review from Michael M.
Venice, CA
This is the second Allen and Son location. I personally like this one better, because you can get BBQ from a window and eat outside. Less waiting.. and it's probably the best pulled pork NC style BBQ around these parts (baring the BBQ joint or some locals doing it their own way).
One thing I will say.. Who cares about the rest of the menu anyway? BBQ and Slaw! If you want Blueberry pie, fried shrimp, or a hamburger - well you are in the wrong place - but you can order that.Listed in: Primal Blueprint Friendly
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Review from William L.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is the real deal. Everything about it lived up to the expectations. The sweet tea was delicious. The hush puppies were golden brown, had a hint of onion powder, light, and crispy. The BBQ pork sandwich was divine. So tender and juicy, it was a vinegar and red pepper slice of heaven.
This place is kinda tucked back off the highway, so be sure not to miss it. It's also pretty cheap, my cousin and I ate a full lunch for about $10. They also have a nice outdoor seating area with picnic tables.Listed in: BBQ Heaven
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Review from Don T.
Manhattan, NY
4/4/2011
I visited this place for dinner back in January 2011, while going to check at the Heels play. The restaurant was recommended by the cab driver, Joe of Red Ride. He claimed that the one in Chapel Hill is usually a wait while the one in Pittsboro would be less crowded. He was exactly right, there was only one or 2 other couples there and were seated right away.
The decor was mostly UNC memorabilia or phots on the wall, tables were picnic tables with UNC table covers. Decor doesn't concern me enough to write about it. I'm all about the food and I couldn't not complain about anything we ordered. Now, I've never had Carolina BBQ before so I'm not really sure what restaurant sets the bar, but this was one of the tastiest meals i've had down south.
I'll start off we the fried pickles. Lightly breaded, sour, and juicy. Dip it in horseradish sauce and it was the ultimate appetizer. Both my friend and I ordered the BBQ and Stew plate. The combination comes with pulled pork, slaw, hush puppies, and a bowl of brunswick stew. The slaw was something different. The cabbage was finely chopped rather than sliced. The mayo component seemed very thin, heavy on the black pepper, and the dominant taste was a sharp vinegar flavor. Tangy and delicious. Hush puppies were fluffy and moist and you could really taste the corn in each bite. It had a crunchy but sweet coating. I would go back for the hush puppies alone. Now the pulled pork and the brunswick stew are serious eats. The stew had been cooked down to the point where every shred of food converged together to create an explosion of flavors pork, sauce, corn, beans all in your mouth, You literally did not have to chew when eating this stew, it just melted in your mouth. The hickory hazed pulled pork is what i would consider the staple to the success of this place. Never have I had pulled pork like Allen & Sons. The pork was smoked to perfection and the sauce and incredible tangy vinegar based sauce.
I thoroughly enjoyed Carolina BBQ and can't want to have more. -
Review from mark s.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/13/2011
This is good NC barbecue. Traditional Eastern Style NC cue with vinegar and red peper flakes. A little expensive for pork, but tasty. They stil have the pit out back and cook daily. It's good to see these guys stick to tradition.
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Review from noah p.
Charlotte, NC
8/4/2010
This review is from a Yankee point-of-view. I have not tried any of the other BBQ in NC, so I can only compare to what I have had in NY. I got the BBQ plate which is about 10 bucks, but has enough food to feed two. The BBQ pork was great. I am not used to the vinegar based BBQ sauce, but I loved it and may not go back to the tomato based sauce that I am used too. The hushpuppies are also so good. The only other hushpuppies I have had were at Long John Silvers, and I can say Allen & Son is in a whole other league. The cole slaw was decent, I thought it had a little too much black pepper. This place was a great introduction to North Carolina BBQ.
