B's BBQ The Best in Town

"Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside."--Mark Twain

Do you enjoy barbecue that is lean, juicy, slow cooked, and seasoned to perfection?? How about great service and a family operated business that is a local legend? B's BBQ delivers on all of those levels. Every.Single.Time

(Photo by Travis Dove)

I first heard about this "hole in the wall" restaurant when I first lived in Greenville, NC from 2007-2011. I went my first time in 2010 and am so upset to say that I've only had the chance to go once more 5 years later. I'm convinced life doesn't want me to be insanely over the top food happy 100% of the time so it has to throw curveballs that keep me away from the best barbecue of my life by shoving work and school in the way. If only they delivered!

I'm getting way ahead of myself. B's BBQ is quite literally a little hole in the wall TINY restaurant in Greenville, NC. It started as a fixer upper. The owner, the late Bill McLawhorn, bought an old country store and made it in to the restaurant that it is today. The McLawhorn family is still very involved and can be found behind the counter every single day. It just wouldn't be the same without that family run aspect.

Just how good is it? Picture this. B's opens for lunch every Tuesday through Saturday and by 11 they have almost always sold out of their entire stock. This cash only business does not have a telephone so don't plan on calling ahead to check if they have run out of food! People leave with large (think microwave sized) boxes filled with nothing but the delicious BBQ and yummy sides of potatoes and green beans with some hush puppies added in for good measure. Even re-heated the food is great if that is any indicator and there's no gross greasy residue you want to avoid like most reheated dinners.

Staying true to their roots they haven't expanded or opened another restaurant. Everyone behind the counter knows the regulars by name and their orders by heart. They rely on word of mouth for their business and oh my goodness has it worked out for them. They've appeared in numerous magazines touting the title of one of the top places to eat not in the city, but in the state. These people know BBQ. I don't know about you, but most southerners like myself are picky about BBQ. Wars have almost started on the simple argument of BBQ sauce base...vinegar or ketchup. Even if you're the pickiest BBQ aficionado B's won't disappoint.

B's is not what you would call an upscale establishment.  The restaurant consists of a few booths inside and I would describe is as cozy and shabby in the most endearing way possible. The service is great, but you will almost always find a line out the door. No worries though. There are plenty of characters to talk to who will regale you with stories about their favorite meal there or just great stories in general while waiting in the relatively fast-moving line.

Everyone who knows me knows I LOVE to bring my dog everywhere. They recently added a few picnic tables outside for more seating. Lots of people end up eating in their cars that are parked in the parking lot and that line the street on both sides. Yes it is actually that popular every day. The street was even named B's Barbecue Street. This place is a legend for foodies.  Okay back to my dog. The picnic tables outside let me bring my dog and another plus? I can order from the take out window on the side of the building so my dog doesn't have to wait in my car. (Don't worry I leave the car running and the AC on in the summer).

(Photo by Travis Dove)

If your tummy is grumbling make sure you get to B's early and stock up on the super delicious and very well-priced noms that they have to offer. I know I'm going to go back soon. For the first time, I only live 10 minutes away. This could get dangerous! Check it out for yourself at 751 B's Barbecue Road in Greenville, NC.


"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." --James Beard

Knott Island Pet Sitting

"To err is human, to forgive, canine." --Anonymous



My boyfriend's dad and his wife, Carey own a beautiful house on Knott's Island in North Carolina. They have a fenced in backyard on about 1.5 acres of land. Will's dad works for the city as an electrician and Carey is a professional dog sitter who also works at a vet clinic. They have four fluffy children of their own, Leigh, Owen, Easton and Ramsey and watch anywhere from 1-7 dogs on top of that depending on the season. It is without a doubt doggy heaven.

Imagine your life as a furry, happy go lucky dog. You run in to this green yard, there's balls everywhere and someone to constantly throw them. There's other dogs who love to play and snuggle. There's even a pool they had built just for the dogs... not even kidding. Carey also makes sure they are super healthy, friendly with other dogs, gets their nails trimmed, etc. It's the bomb diggity.

We were set to move June 17th from Virginia Beach, VA to Greenville, NC. We gladly accepted their proposal of pet sitting for them from the 12th to the 15th. We didn't really want to pack anyway and who would pass up a whole 3-4 days of playing with dogs, lounging by a pool and just relaxing before a gigantic move? We were not one of those people to pass that up. We packed up some of the clothes we hadn't shoved in random suitcases already and made our way down to Knott's Island.


We were greeted by the furry brigade and 2 extras who were lucky enough to stay the weekend. We're down there enough that all the clients know who we are and their dogs know and love us as well. One of the things we were most excited about, besides the dogs of course, was the kitchen and grill set up they had. Will's family is Italian so cooking is in the genes. We both love to cook and grill so having an enormous, full stocked kitchen and grill was complete heaven for us.

Our first night there we had a few friends over to grill out with, have a couple of drinks, and just have fun playing with all the pups. It was an all around fun time seeing great friends, not thinking about packing everything we owned and transporting it only to have to unpack it all (UGH!), and just relax.

The next day was spent lounging by the pool, cooking, and playing with dogs constantly. We ended the day by cooking more and watching good movies on Netflix while all 6 dogs tried to snuggle us at once. Pure heaven.

Want to know something that's not heaven? Short story: taking a bath while 3 dogs stare into your soul THE ENTIRE BATH. Long story: Atlas loves to follow me in to the bathroom, except when I shower just in case that means he will have to have a bath as well. No matter what, if I'm just using the toilet he has to come in with me and stare at me. Turns out Easton, Ramsey and Atlas like to team up and marathon stare at whoever is in the bathroom and especially the bathtub. Easton is obsessed with anything water and will go nuts when he thinks he can get in a pool. Ramsey just likes being around people and Atlas follows me around constantly just because I'm mom.

This was my first bath in over 2 years and I was really looking forward to finishing my book and soaking in their giant jacuzzi tub. Little did I know I had an audience. The second I got in and couldn't get back out without soaking the floor the bathroom door flies open and in comes the creep brigade of Easton, Ramsey and Atlas. They didn't even lay down. I ended up just getting out early so they would stop staring at me. All I could see over the tub was 3 floating dog heads who seemed to be plotting how to best get in the tub without me noticing.



Anyway, it was a mostly uneventful, relaxing weekend full of relaxing, pool time, puppy play time, snuggling, exercising and cooking with friends. They don't go away much, but we're hoping the next time they go out of town we get to house/pet sit again and have another few days in doggy paradise. They came back and noticed the house wasn't burned down, the dogs were all happy, and we even re-stocked their fridge with beer. Who could ask for better house/dog sitters than that?




Did I mention Knott's Island has some of the best sunsets I've seen?

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." --Louis Sabin