Ole Time Barbecue
When a barbecue restaurant sells itself as, "A Great Place to Get PORKED," you can only hope that it's more of a promise than a threat. As it turns out, Ole Time Barbecue provides the good kind of "PORKED."
The place scores plenty of character points by being one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it, roadside hole-in-the-walls that's pretty much guaranteed to pump out some good BBQ.
There aren't a ton of tables, so be prepared to wait if things are hopping. But soon as you sit down, you're welcomed with a huge basket of hushpuppies...piping hot and addictively sweet.
Being smack in the middle of Eastern North Carolina, Ole Time specializes in the tangy, vinegary, peppery sauce native to the region. Folks with a more adventurous palate can even try a HOT version of their house sauce.
The Hand-Chopped BBQ Sandwich comes out lightly-sauced, giving you the option to crank up the flavor as much as you'd like. The pork was finely shredded and formed into an almost too-neat blob of meat, instead of falling all over the place.
All the traditional sides are offered, and there are even some extra oddball options. Try the Fried Apple Sticks; they're like little apple pies, but in finger form.
It's not the best BBQ I've ever come across, but the grungy roadside character and great hushpuppies make this place a pretty dang good place to get porked.