COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: MEET SAM JONES BBQ
ACROSS THE BLOCK FROM THE DUKES AT CITY VIEW
Is your mouth watering yet? Don’t worry, give us a couple more photos, and it will be. Strap in your taste buds, folks, because we’re diving into Sam Jones BBQ.
Outside Sam Jones BBQ in Downtown Raleigh
Relatively new to West Lenoir street - and easily one of the most anticipated restaurants in the Triangle - Sam Jones opened its doors in early 2021.
Honestly, there’s no surprise that the BBQ is just that good - it practically runs in the family! There’s a rich history there; nearly three generations of BBQ royalty have ensured that the Jones name is renowned amongst the competitive community. Some lore even places their humble beginnings in the 1830s, where Sam’s great to the third-degree grandfather - peddled BBQ out of the back of a covered wagon.
Quick pic of a few plates at Sam Jones BBQ
“There’s a rich history there; nearly three generations of BBQ royalty have ensured that the Jones name is renowned amongst the competitive community.”
Sam's grandfather, the late Pete Jones, opened the Legendary Skylight Inn at age 17, where Sam had also been involved since early on. We won’t dive too deep into the Skylight Inn’s longstanding history, other than to say its legendary dedication to BBQ has received national, even presidential, recognition for its craft. You can read a full account here on their website.
Steps away from world-class flavor! That’s what #DCVDelivers
But enough’s enough; we haven’t shown you the BBQ in question. So let’s dive into this whole-hog goodness. One of the reasons that the BBQ is so good is that Sam takes it seriously - he understands that it’s more than just a plate of food; it’s NC history.
The craft and consideration put into every dish set this eatery apart from others. The whole hog barbecue tradition is brought directly from Skylight’s — you can smell it cooking on the open wood-fired pits when you walk up after it’s chopped to fine bits, dressed with vinegar and Texas Pete, and mixed with bits of crisp skin for the delicious crunch. When we went, we picked up the Jones Family Original BBQ Tray - and we indeed weren’t disappointed with the meat or the delish slab cornbread and gooey mac and cheese.
The slaw, which Sam Jones himself used to serve up at Skylight, and square-cut cornbread adhere to the family's original recipes. This time around, Jones expanded the menu to include more upscale recipes - including fried catfish, ribs, and smoked chicken wings. The latter of which we sampled as well - and just wow - the flavor of the smoke and the tenderness of each bite was enough to make us wish we’d ordered 12 rather than six!
Next time we stop by, we’re definitely stocking up on more food - and you should too! Open every day, 11 AM — 9 PM for to-go only; the staff is ready to help, and your food is hot and ready to pick up.
And at The Dukes at City View? You’re literally across the block from every single tasty bite. Dive into one of NC’s best ‘cue joints, and become a regular at one of the finest BBQ havens in the South East. Talk about a tasty neighbor!
Meet your neighbor - one block from The Dukes At City View.