Raleigh, NC Brethren - Help!
 

A family member is escaping from CA and moving to Raleigh. Told them that I’d ask here for good bbq places to eat.

Help!

My favorite spot is Picnic in North Durham. Whole Hog, delicious food, and they'll soon be opening up a spot in Raleigh. Lawrence BBQ will be opening up in the next few months, and I've been impressed by the food they've put out.

Sam Jones BBQ will be opening up in the area, which is in the lineage of Skylight Inn in the eastern part of the state.

The Pit is pretty decent, other than that I never found any good BBQ up there (went to NCSU).

https://www.thepit-raleigh.com/

Like a lot of areas, we’ve lost some of our classic joints like Allen & Son (he cut/split his own hickory right up to when he closed) and the original Clyde Cooper. If Sam Jones can open in Raleigh I’ll be there on day one as Skylight (referenced above) is my favorite. They should make a pilgrimage to Ayden, NC to experience Skylight in person. I’ve never tried Picnic so thanks for the intel WhitesideJC that they are coming to Raleigh. I just joined the brethren so nice to meet some Raleigh folks.

Hate to hear that Clyde Cooper's closed down. Remember watching them cooking on Pit Masters and they seemed like really nice people. Unfortunately this pandemic is really hurting restaurants.

I guess he did say good bbq which is average in most books or 49 other states. If this is a family member you value then allow the person to eat excellent bbq at Redneck BBQ Lab. I’ve had better BBQ at gas stations in Tennessee and the Midwest than anything outside of Redneck.

My favorite place is the Original Q Shack (this is not NC BBQ, but Texas style. Bring on the brisket and ribs). Their hushpuppies are great and love their spinach.

I also love the Blue Note for entertainment (and ribs). Best place to spend a Tuesday night, listening to live Blues.

It looks like Clyde Cooper's is still operating:
https://clydecoopersbbq.com/

Thanks to all for the replies. I’ll compile a list. Looking forward to their reviews!

I've been to Rednecks place 3 times...first time the food was good and well above average. The next 2 times it was dry, stale, and bland across the board. My Dad got a pulled pork sandwich, took one bite, and threw it out the window (we were driving back to Jacksonville). I got a slice of brisket and it was hard to eat because it was dry and gray...100% reheated from the day before...bark was good though.

I run a BBQ food truck on Camp Lejeune and we get a lot of contractors who come by. One of them mentioned Redneck's place and I happened to be serving brisket that day. He came back the next day and told me mine was much better than anything he had gotten from Rednecks.

Mind you I've met Jerry a few times and competed against him as well ; he won grand the first time and took a top 10 the 2nd time while I was in the bottom. haha He's a nice guy and I've also utilized some of his techniques from videos he put out years ago. I'm just not a fan of his restaurant and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is looking for "good BBQ."

To each their own of course. Out of the 50+ BBQ restaurants I've been to only 2 of them have really given me amazing BBQ. Tuffy Stone's place in Virgina, Q BBQ, is fantastic and I've been there a few times and it's always a positive experience. Swig and Swine in Charleston, SC is also on point and has some of the best BBQ in the region (in my opinion, of course).

They were shut down for a long time...shut down in March and then opened back up in October, but they are still doing "shorter operating hours."

I have been to Redneck BBQ Lab one time and I'm afraid to go back. I really shold give them another chance because any place can have an off day. I was in line at the door when they opened to make sure I could get burnt ends. The burnt ends were OK, the brisket was dry and had no flavor and I can't remember what the pulled pork was like.
We have always went to Stephenson's in Willow Spring if I did not have time to cook BBQ. Right now they are take out only and you order from your car. We did stop right before Christmas and the BBQ is still good. The smoke was rolling where pork shoulders are being cooked. I would not recommend ribs though and I'm not sure how the chicken would be since you are not getting it at your table