BBQ is on every corner in North Carolina and there are three different varieties in our great state. One of my favorite places to stop in for a quick bite to eat is Queen City Q located in Charlotte, NC. The Q (as it’s known to locals) has some of the finest smoked meat I’ve eaten in the Carolina Piedmont.
Owners Bryan Meredith and Craig Utt met playing basketball with the #SCLThoops crew. This group of fellas met on social media and decided to get together, play ball and laugh. (I’ve heard a few stories about how they play, laughter was a given.) During their talks about the lack of good BBQ in Charlotte, and it being the right moment, things meshed quickly and within three months, the Q was open for business. Three months later after they opened, Charlotte magazine bestowed the honor of best BBQ in their annual BOB awards.
How serious are they about their BBQ? Both Bryan and Craig became certified BBQ judges after opening their restaurant.
Now, the Q isn’t your normal BBQ dive. They have an expansive beer list with over 40 on tap and a full traditional bar. When it warms up, I like to sit outside, watch the light rail whiz by and sip on Larken’s Patio Punch, a fruity concoction of two different Mount Gay rums and citrus. It washes down your BBQ just as well as a glass of their perfectly sweetened iced tea.
What do you order when you go to the Q? BBQ, of course. Here’s our typical order:
Appetizer: Deviled Eggs — My husband and I are deviled egg connoisseurs and these are some of the best in the state.
Entree: Hand pulled pork or smoked brisket. My son prefers the St. Louis Style Pork Ribs and my husband has consumed quite a few of the house smoked sausages.
Sauces: Eastern NC Sauce, PoPo’s Sauce, Queen City Q Sauce, and SC mustard
Sides: They’re all good, but I always go for the macaroni and cheese, collards or corn maque choux.
Desserts: If we’re able to have dessert, we either share an order of bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream or banana pudding. I’m a connoisseur of these as well.
Next time you’re in town, head over to the Q for some serious good eats.
Location:
Queen City Q
225 E 6th Street, Suite A | Charlotte, NC 28202
704.334.TheQ (8437)
Parking is in the 7th Street Station Building. After 5pm and all day Sat and Sun parking is free with validation. Mon-Fri from 6am to 5pm they validate for 2 hours.
Follow the Q:
https://www.facebook.com/QueenCityQ
http://instagram.com/queencityq
Want more local love? Head over to Dirt & Noise and visit Ilina!
Lisa is a lifestyle blogger, writer and social media strategist living in Charlotte, NC.
