Lexington BBQ, Lexington, North Carolina

After a hefty breakfast and a great lunch at Bar-B-Q King (try their rings!), Nancy and I were off to Lexington again to try Lexington BBQ, the second of the elites we had scheduled for the day. For those unfortunates who’ve never been there, it sits up on a hill at 100 Smokehouse Lane. Like B’s it has its own street name. It’s certainly one of the Grand Old Places in western North Carolina, and so good it occasionally has lifted me to poetic thoughts.

It was about noon, so Nancy was ready to eat and we both went in and ordered — barbecue trays for each of us plus a tossed salad for Nancy. First to arrive were North Carolina’s ubiquitous hushpuppies. Here’s a rare shot with only one gone before the photo. Mmmm! Are these the best in the state? Feel free to weigh in on the issue.

That’s beautiful crust, and it has all the crunch you could want before you hit that delicious center.

Hard on the heels of the hushpuppies came Nancy’s salad.

Nancy likes to eat a lot of vegetables, and I must admit I eat far fewer collards in the Western than in Eastern North Carolina. You’ll note that they added pickles at Nancy’s request. Vinegar is your friend.

Enter our trays, to enthusiastic applause.

That’s some heavenly chopped pork, wood-cooked shoulder with a proper leaven of outside meat, so tender, rich and smoky! Lexington’s sauce has some ketchup, as do all of the Piedmont sauces, but they’ve achieved close to the idea balance of tomato and vinegar. The same balance characterizes the red slaw, which delivers a moderate tang and crisp texture. This tray, preceded by hushpuppies, is one of the great meals of the barbecue world. Like the Eastern tray at the Skylight Inn, it embodies the regional cuisine.

If you search “Lexington #1” on this blog, you’ll find four or five reports. Each is a little different, if only in the choice of poetry, but taken together, they tell the story of a spot that hits the mark every single time, with top quality barbecue and good, friendly service. Go see for yourself.

***

And while you’re at it, click “follow” on our front page to receive blog posts in your email box. Or bookmark us and check in from time to time. We’re on  Instagram  (johntannerbbq)  and  X/Twitter  (johntannerbbq1). If you’re planning a trip, you can “Search” the name of the destination city, state, or country for good restaurants (in Europe, often close to sites, like the Louvre, Prague Castle, Vienna’s Old City, or the Van Gogh Museum, that you’ll want to visit in any event.  We welcome comments and questions, and eagerly seek suggestions of places to eat and stories to cover.