About four hours after being treated to our first East Carolina, Vinegar based BBQ experience at Wilbur's we headed to downtown Raleigh to sample Clyde Coopers BBQ.
Apparently voted one of the 10 best BBQ joints in America and best in Raleigh. They have catered to U2 on their private plane and have a growing list of other accolades.
The shops is a throwback, they serve BBQ on the first floor in a 50 cafeteria style setting, which provided a nice ambiance and cook all the meat on the second floor (we tried to get a look, but our efforts were in vain).
The first big difference at Coopers is they serve hush puppies and pork skins, where were awesome. We of course ordered the BBQ which included some BBQ ribs in a sweet sauce with coleslaw and collard greens.
After our meal we talked with one of the owners about the history of Coopers, how awesome their pork skins are, how the catering business is keeping them busy and their recently added BBQ Challenge, which no one has won yet - apparently Man vs. Food will be coming soon to film.
Ratings:
Memorable Quote:
Cashier - "You have to try the Pork Shoulder Skins covered in Hot Sauce - They are SINFUUUULLLLL"
Ambiance - 8 - Simple, clean, good stuff, looks like it's straight out the 50's
Overall Rating - 7.25
After eating so much BBQ, we took a stroll through downtown Raleigh. It is a nice, quaint place with a lot of history. Unfortunately, still very car dominated and really dead on a Friday afternoon, but a great respite.
Apparently voted one of the 10 best BBQ joints in America and best in Raleigh. They have catered to U2 on their private plane and have a growing list of other accolades.
The shops is a throwback, they serve BBQ on the first floor in a 50 cafeteria style setting, which provided a nice ambiance and cook all the meat on the second floor (we tried to get a look, but our efforts were in vain).
The first big difference at Coopers is they serve hush puppies and pork skins, where were awesome. We of course ordered the BBQ which included some BBQ ribs in a sweet sauce with coleslaw and collard greens.
After our meal we talked with one of the owners about the history of Coopers, how awesome their pork skins are, how the catering business is keeping them busy and their recently added BBQ Challenge, which no one has won yet - apparently Man vs. Food will be coming soon to film.
Ratings:
Pork - 7 - less vinegary than Wilbur's, couldn't taste the smoke, very good but not betterRibs - 9 - Fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, sublet sweetness and hints of spiciness - really goodColeslaw - 5 - chopped finely, a bit vinegary but overall forgettableCollard Greens - 8- these were really good, braised all day and had lots of flavor for greensPork Skins - 9 - honestly have you ever met a pork skin you didn't like
Memorable Quote:
Cashier - "You have to try the Pork Shoulder Skins covered in Hot Sauce - They are SINFUUUULLLLL"
Ambiance - 8 - Simple, clean, good stuff, looks like it's straight out the 50's
Overall Rating - 7.25
After eating so much BBQ, we took a stroll through downtown Raleigh. It is a nice, quaint place with a lot of history. Unfortunately, still very car dominated and really dead on a Friday afternoon, but a great respite.
Shingai, full of meat!
I was so uncomfortably hot in this picture. It was like I was walking through the fiery pits of hell. That explains the expression on my face.
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