Lawrence Barbecue is helping make downtown Cary a destination

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Name: Lawrence Barbecue
Date: 4/10/26
Address: 150 E Cedar St, Cary, NC 27511
Order: Sliced brisket, pulled pork, sweet n spicy collards, deviled egg potato salad, red slaw (link to menu)
Pricing: $$$

Monk: A favorite past time of the Monk family is me forcing them to eat barbecue while on vacation. For Spring Break 2026, we started with Green Street Smoked Meats in Chicago on a Monday before checking out Lawrence Barbecue in Cary on our way to Greenville for a gymnastics meet; they were spared from B’s Barbecue the next morning.

Lawrence Barbecue opened their in Cary location in September 2025, adding to what has become quite the bustling downtown scene. On this Friday night with some beautiful spring weather, after meeting some friends at nearby Bond Brothers Brewing we walked the two blocks to Lawrence Barbecue. Lawrence itself was also quite busy but we managed to to snag a table outside on the patio. Ordering was done via QR code and before not long the food came out.

While I still would have loved to see whole hog on the menu (as was initially the plan for the first location), but Lawrence Barbecue still does a great job with their pork they smoke on the Lang offsets. The pulled pork tasted fresh and flavorful at the dinner hour. The brisket was also another winner in terms of proteins. Next time I’ll try the ribs and the turkey.

Lawrence doesn’t slack on the sides either. The sweet n spicy collards were Mrs. Monk approved and the deviled egg potato salad captured the essence of its namesake. I would take a minor nitpick of the red slaw in that I would have preferred the cabbage to be diced a little more.

On the other hand, I had no nitpicks with the banana pudding, though. It was up there with the best banana puddings I’ve had in recent memory.

Jake Wood and the Lawrence Barbecue gang have consistently knocked it out of the park each time I have checked them out: my original visit to their previous Boxyard RTP location in 2022, the beef fat caramel wings at the Jon G’s Jubilee in 2024, and now my first visit to this downtown Cary location. Highly recommended if you’re looking for legit barbecue in the Triangle.

Ratings:
Atmosphere/Ambiance – 4 hogs
Pulled Pork – 4.5 hogs
Brisket – 4.5 hogs
Sides – 4.5 hogs
Overall – 4.5 hogs

Saturdays at B’s Barbecue – A Tradition Unlike Any Other in Eastern North Carolina

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Monk: My dad spent 3 years at Eastern Carolina University in the early 1970’s before transferring back home to Raleigh to finish up his studies. His last time there was approximately 4 years before Bill McLawhorn set up a barbecue restaurant in a former grocery store on the edge of town. Nearly 52 years later on a Saturday morning in mid April, I was happy to introduce him to the majesty of B’s Barbecue.

Of course, I’m no expert when it comes to B’s, having been for the first time just four years ago. But knowing his tastes when it comes to barbecue I knew he’d be a big fan. Him and my mom were coming from an overnight stop in Wilson and we were staying a mile down the road for a gymnastics meet so I told him to meet me there at 8:30 Saturday morning to put us in good shape for the line that would eventually form. Turns out that put us first in line by a good 10-15 minutes before anyone else started showing up.

Dad put me in charge of the order for everyone (including a couple of pounds to bring back west) and we took it back to the lobby of our hotel to eat a good old fashioned eastern Carolina barbecue breakfast.

But not before I snapped a few photos in the smokehouse, which I didn’t do last time but the guys were more than happy to let me do. I get the feeling that this isn’t a unique request by visitors.

My dad was rather taken by the barbecue and ate it up, with some contented sighs along the way. It was every bit as good as I recalled and I was happy I was able to introduce it to him. I don’t know how much longer the McLawhorn daughters will keep the business running as they have since their dad retired early 2000’s but I hope to get another time or two in myself. Truly a 5 hog meal.

Green Street Smoked Meats is Thriving in Chicago’s West Loop Neighborhood

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Name: Green Street Smoked Meats
Date: 4/5/26
Address: 112 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
Order: Pulled pork, sliced brisket, hot link, broccoli salad (link)
Pricing: $$$

Monk: On a Sunday night in Chicago during our spring break trip to the Windy City, after a weekend of Hamilton, museums, and riverboat tours I convinced the family to take an Uber to the West Loop neighborhood to Green Street Smoked Meats. GSSM is a joint I actually went with Mrs. Monk way back in 2016 where we had a decent meal on a cold, rainy day in late April.

This time around with the Monkettes in tow, we ordered just a little more food than we did back in 2016 but stuck to brisket, sausage, and pulled pork. Similar to last time, the brisket and hot link outshone the pulled pork, however just slightly this time around. If I ever make it back I’m going to try and remember to order the pastrami.

The broccoli salad was once again ordered and a hit with the missus and I loved the slightly sweet cornbread.

In 2024, Green Street Smoked Meats was included on Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn’s list of best Texas barbecue outside of Texas. It may have been doing well before but on this Sunday night the place was hopping (particularly the bar), perhaps in small part due to that recognition. It remains a solid destination in the Windy City for those looking for Texas barbecue.

Ratings:
Atmosphere – 4 hogs
Pork – 3 hogs
Brisket – 4 hogs
Sausage – 3.5 hogs
Sides – 4 hogs
Overall – 4 hogs

The Five Best Bites from the Carolina BBQ Fest Kickoff

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Monk: While I wasn’t able to attend the full Carolina Barbecue Festival this year due to parental duties on Saturday, I wanted to be sure to check out the kickoff on a beautiful Friday night at Victoria Yards in uptown Charlotte. In-between bites I was able catch up with Garren and Kelly from Jon G’s, Chigger from the Low and Slow Barbecue Show, and Rodolfo and Craic representing Southern Smoke Barbecue. Hopefully next year’s timing works out for me to go to to the main event on Saturday.

That said, here are the best bites from the Friday kickoff:

  1. Brisket and Sausage link from Union Barbecue – perhaps not the prettiest plating but excellence as usual from Union Barbecue.
  2. Brisket Bun from Improper Pig – this was the biggest surprise for me from a barbecue place who’s most recent restaurant opening was in the former Pizza Peel location in the heart of Plaza Midwood. Maybe I should give them and their asian-influenced barbecue another chance in their new digs.
  3. Double Smoked Burnt End Street Taco from Midwood Smokehouse – it was close between this and the bun from Improper Pig bun this still had great flavors in an easy to eat package.
  4. Chopped Pork Tray from BBQ King – the lone pork offering from the kickoff, this was a typical tray of barbecue from the ever-dependable long-time Lincolnton restaurant.
  5. Brisket, queso fresco, and street corn salad (no tostada) from Mac’s Speed Shop – the tostadas were gone by the time I had my sample and I would’ve loved the crunch from the crispy tortilla. Great flavor from what was served, though.

Bonus bite: banana pudding ice cream from Golden Cow Creamery. I love banana pudding and this ice cream version of it from Golden Cow Creamery was so, so good with large chunks of vanilla wafers and bold banana flavor. Also, a special shout out to the youngest Monkette for being my hand model for the night.