Well at last we finally made it to Lexington, NC to try their style of BBQ. Cook’s BBQ was our choice for this trip. I’ve been wanting to try Lexington BBQ for some time so here we go. I’m not even sure how we decided to try Cook’s BBQ but I looked them up and plugged them into my GPS. Located on Valiant Drive you’ll need GPS unless you’re familiar with the area. So after some antiquing in downtown Lexington we took off for some lunch. Here’s what we found.
The Restaurant and Staff:
The restaurant is located in a residential area. It was like you went pass a few houses and there was a restaurant at the end of the street. They do have some signs from NC Highway 8 to guide you in but you still may want to use your GPS. So we pulled into their parking lot and there was this really cool looking older building. Seasoned wood slats on the outside, it just reminded me of stepping back in time a little.
Inside Cook’s BBQ has a rustic feel to it. The large dining room was very clean. It had plank board paneling, several large rough cut wood pillars and plenty of seating. The booths have wooden tables and high back wooden benches. We chose our seat and a waitress, Heather came to us.
Heather was very friendly and knew the menu pretty well. She was very helpful to a couple of newbies. When we asked about the sides she did tell us that the slaw was the only homemade side. They do season their other sides though, not like they open a can and just heat them up.
Tammy’s Choices at Cook’s BBQ:
Sliced Brisket and Smoked Turkey Breast with Slaw and Mac & Cheese.
Tammy chose a 2 Meat Plate with Sliced Brisket and Smoked Turkey Breast. Her sides were Slaw and Mac & Cheese. The slaw is Lexington Style, red with a little kick. It’s really different from what we’re use to on the East Coast. But it’s also very good. The mac & cheese was good. Like I said, it’s not homemade but still had a good cheesy taste.
The brisket had a good smoke flavor and also some burnt end meat at the bottom of the stack. It came sauced with Cook’s Lexington Sauce. The turkey also had a good smoke flavor. No special sauces, just turkey breast and smoke, Tammy loved it.
And My Choices at Cook’s BBQ:
I naturally went with a 3 Meat Platter with Pork BBQ, Ribs and Sausage. For sides I chose Fried Okra and Pintos with chopped onions. The fried okra was delicious, lightly breaded and fried golden brown. And the pintos were seasoned just right. Add some chopped raw onion and it was all good.
Pork BBQ, Ribs and Sausage with Fried Okra and Pinto Beans.
The ribs were great. Wasn’t sure at first with the sauce on them but they had a wonderful smoky flavor and nicely charred on the outside. The sausage was wonderful too. Good smoke and cooked just right. The sausage had a really good flavor. The Pork was fantastic. The smoke was outstanding along with some bark mixed in.
The smoke flavor at Cook’s BBQ is definitely different from any we’ve had in the past. I loved the flavor. I didn’t get to ask what type of wood they use but I know it was good.
Sauces:
I did get to try the sauces at Cook’s BBQ. They had a really nice Eastern NC Sauce but hey, I’m in Lexington. Their Lexington Sauce was warm and it rocked. I’ve grown very fond of Lexington Sauce and served warm was just awesome. It also has a little kick to it.
Final Thoughts:
I told Heather about the BBQ Blog when we were leaving. Told her since we were heading back home that Cook’s BBQ would be my Lexington representative until we could come back. She laughed and said she hoped they passed.
Well they did pass indeed. We will have to return some day but for now there’s a lot of restaurants for us to try out there so it will be sometime in the future. Our next trip to Lexington will have to include some new locations to try out.
This was a wonderful stop and we loved it all. The restaurant, the employees, and the food. I’d definitely recommend checking Cook’s BBQ out. I believe you’ll really enjoy your visit too.
Now For Your Thoughts:
So that’s enough from me. Let’s hear your thoughts. I’m looking for some other folks who have visited Cook’s BBQ to chime in here to let us know how their visit went. Drop some comments off and I’ll be glad to post them with this article.
What do you regulars think?
I’d love to hear from some of the regulars out there. What keeps you going back? Do you have your own favorites? Tell us about them. Fill us in on the other employees. We only had contact with Heather and one other waitress. They were wonderful but let’s hear about some of the others there. Get those comments to me so I can get them posted.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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I was unable to locate Cook’s BBQ on a website.
You can check them out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Cooks-BBQ-Still-Smoking-Inc-1970862756499730/
6 Comments
I love the fresh made chicken pie on Wednesday s. You can’t beat their flounder anywhere, it is the best.
Those choices sound great too. I usually try those type meals after I make a first visit. First has to be the que. I just may investigate more the next time we’re out there. Thanks for the input.
Love Cooks Bbq. We moved diwn to NC t years ago and have tried quite a few BBQ joints in Lexington area. Hands down they win out and mostly because the actually have ribs. They are under new management from what told and while they used go have ribs on certain days now it is every day. (Smoke Pit in Salisbury comes in second in My book). My husband always gets their pulled or chopped pork, i stick to their ribs. Great portions and prices.
Thanks for letting us know. I guess we were lucky, we just picked Cook’s by chance. I do look forward to a revisit some day and checking out some other places too. Great hearing from you.
Cook’s BBQ has been my favorite restaurant since trying them for the first time in 1980. Went there on a date with a nice guy.
Been married to that nice guy for 38 years now, and Cook’s BBQ is still our favorite restaurant. We go there at least once a week, and all of the food on their menu is always great. We love to take our out-of-town family and friends to Cook’s BBQ when they come to visit. Now all my family and friends love the food and atmosphere at Cooks, too. Best barbecue, hands down. Employees always friendly and helpful. So glad you found this wonderful , rustic barbecue restaurant, also!
First I want to thank you for the input. Always great to hear from others about the places we visit. Also congratulations to you and your husband on 38 years. Having been married for 34 years come August I know that’s a major accomplishment now days. That’s why my wife is my favorite travel buddy. Take care and thanks again.