Not long ago, we were wandering the eight lanes of Interstate 40 after a trip to North Carolina. A "Tarheel in training," someone from California who has learned to appreciate barbecue, told me that I might enjoy Allen & Sons Barbecue outside of Chapel Hill.
He warned me not to expect a fancy spot, and he was right. It's actually almost in the middle of nowhere except for the fact that Chapel Hill is rapidly growing towards the quiet country crossroads where it is located. Fortunately my GPS didn't have any trouble finding it.
My wife, Glenda, and I both enjoyed chopped pork sandwiches with slaw and a nice vinegar flavor. It's a little on the pricey side for a barbecue sandwich, but it was still a very good sandwich and much better barbecue than that provided by the fast food barbecue chains that are quickly covering North Carolina. It is one of those sandwiches that can destroy a bun from its juiciness.
I would class the interior as barbecue joint quaint at best. We did sample the desserts. Glenda's choice, a chocolate chess pie, was exceptional from the tiny taste I managed to snare.
Each barbecue joint has it's reason for survival. Allen & Sons serves very good barbecue and from a limited tasting, some really good desserts also.
I will have take my Tarheel in training friend to Bastians in Roanoke. The more I travel, the more I'm convinced we have one of the best barbecue spots around right in Roanoke. I know they're getting ready to move to a new spot just down the road a little, but I'm positive the barbecue won't change. I wrote about Bastian's in my post, "Friday night at the Barbecue Joint" and before I even started blogging in "The Great American Meal."
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