2816 Cheek Road, Durham, NC
919.530.1839
No Website
Hours: Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
BBQ Jew’s Grade: C
Porky Says: “Noah’s Temple didn’t make me a believer.”
“Worth Your Time to Find”
I’m embarassed to admit that I first heard of Byrd’s Barbecue fewer than 6 months ago. Byrd’s–with the motto “Worth Your Time to Find” etched onto its rooftop sign–is located in Durham within 20 minutes of my house. And it was founded over 50 years ago. (According to a recent News & Observer article, Noah and Michelle Temple bought Byrd’s in 2005. Noah used to work at Danny’s Bar-B-Que in Cary, which we’ve yet to visit but have poked fun at.) How could I have not know about Byrd’s sooner? And was it worth my time to find after all these years living in the dark?
I still can’t figure out the answer to the first question, but maybe it has something to do with the answer to the second one: No. Although it is a decent enough place, Byrd’s is nothing special. It’s one of hundreds–or thousands–of mediocre barbecue joints in NC that long ago took the cheaper, easier path and stopped cooking over wood, in the process sacrificing quality, flavor and tradition.
Looks Like the Real Deal,
If you choose to ignore the propane tank that looms behind the building (which, of course, you should not), Byrd’s has the look of a gem of a BBQ joint. Located just outside the city limits, it occupies a rural setting that is appropriate to good ‘cue. The modest wood frame building looks the part too. And the parking lot welcomed a steady stream of Continue reading
Filed under: Restaurants & Reviews | Tagged: Durham, Durham County, Eastern style, Gas/electric-cooked, Grade C, Lexington style | 3 Comments »
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