If you're moving to Pitt County, North Carolina, there's one local tradition you'll want to experience: authentic Eastern North Carolina barbecue.
Around here, barbecue is more than something you eat at a weekend cookout. It's part of our history, our culture, and the communities we call home.
Traditional Eastern NC barbecue is known for whole-hog pork, slowly cooked over wood coals, chopped, and seasoned with a tangy vinegar-and-pepper sauce. Unlike the thick, sweet barbecue sauces popular in other parts of the country, Eastern North Carolina barbecue lets the natural flavor of the pork take center stage.
Whether you're exploring homes in Greenville, discovering the growing community of Winterville, or spending an afternoon in historic Ayden, you'll find some of the most celebrated barbecue restaurants in North Carolina right here in Pitt County.
Here are four local favorites worth adding to your list.
B's Barbecue in Greenville, NC: A Legendary Local Favorite
If you ask longtime Greenville residents where to find authentic Eastern North Carolina barbecue, there's a good chance B's Barbecue will be one of the first places they mention.
This unassuming roadside restaurant has been serving traditional whole-hog barbecue since the 1970s. Don't expect fancy decorations or an elaborate dining room. Part of B's charm is its simplicity.
What keeps people coming back is the food.
What makes B's Barbecue special?
The chopped pork is smoky, tender, and seasoned with that unmistakable Eastern NC vinegar sauce. Their crispy fried chicken and traditional corn sticks are also local favorites.
You'll find everyone from ECU students and hospital employees to families who have been eating here for generations.
A local tip before you visit
Get there early!
B's is famous for closing when the food runs out. On busy days, that can happen around lunchtime. The restaurant is known for its limited hours and traditional approach, so plan ahead rather than assuming it will be open all afternoon.
Location: 751 B's Barbecue Road, Greenville, NC 27858
Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden, NC: The Home of Whole-Hog Barbecue Tradition
Just a short drive south of Greenville, the town of Ayden is home to one of the most famous barbecue restaurants in America.
Skylight Inn BBQ has been a cornerstone of Eastern North Carolina barbecue since Pete Jones opened the restaurant in 1947.
The restaurant is easy to recognize because of the small replica of the United States Capitol dome sitting on its roof.
Over the decades, Skylight Inn has earned national recognition, including an America's Classics award from the James Beard Foundation.
What makes Skylight Inn BBQ special?
The restaurant continues the tradition of cooking whole hogs over wood.
One of its signature features is the crispy pork skin, often called cracklin', chopped directly into the barbecue. This gives the pork a distinctive combination of tender meat and crunchy texture.
It's a barbecue experience that reflects generations of Eastern North Carolina cooking traditions.
A local tip before you visit
Keep your first order traditional. Try a barbecue tray with cornbread and coleslaw to experience the flavors that made Skylight Inn famous.
Check current payment options and hours before visiting.
Location: 4618 South Lee Street, Ayden, NC 28513
Website: Skylight Inn BBQ
Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, NC: Traditional Barbecue With a Modern Touch
If you enjoy traditional Eastern NC barbecue but prefer a more modern restaurant experience, Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville is worth visiting.
Sam Jones comes from a family with deep roots in North Carolina barbecue. His grandfather, Pete Jones, founded the legendary Skylight Inn in Ayden.
Sam Jones has carried that family tradition forward while creating a restaurant experience that appeals to both longtime barbecue lovers and newcomers.
What makes Sam Jones BBQ special?
The restaurant continues the whole-hog, wood-fired cooking tradition while offering a larger menu than many old-fashioned barbecue establishments.
Along with traditional chopped pork, visitors can enjoy other smoked meats and Southern favorites, including ribs, turkey, and macaroni and cheese.
The spacious dining area makes it a convenient option for families or groups looking to enjoy a meal together.
A local tip before you visit
Try the sweet potato muffin with your barbecue. Its sweetness pairs nicely with the tangy vinegar sauce.
If you're exploring neighborhoods or touring homes around Winterville, this is a convenient place to stop for lunch or dinner.
Location: 715 West Fire Tower Road, Winterville, NC 28590
Website: Sam Jones BBQ
Bum's Restaurant in Ayden, NC: Barbecue and Southern Home Cooking
While Ayden is famous for Skylight Inn, there's another local favorite that deserves a place on your barbecue trail.
Bum's Restaurant offers something special: traditional Eastern North Carolina barbecue alongside the kind of Southern home cooking that has brought families together for generations.
Located in downtown Ayden, this family-run restaurant is a wonderful place to experience the small-town atmosphere that makes Pitt County special.
What makes Bum's Restaurant special?
Along with its wood-cooked chopped pork barbecue, Bum's is known for traditional Southern vegetables and sides.
Depending on the day's offerings, you may find favorites such as collard greens, rutabagas, and hushpuppies.
It's the kind of restaurant where the side dishes are just as much a part of the experience as the barbecue.
A local tip before you visit
If you want to experience another Ayden tradition, consider visiting during the annual Ayden Collard Festival.
The festival celebrates the town's agricultural heritage and community spirit, making it a great opportunity to explore Ayden while enjoying local food and traditions.
Location: 566 Third Street, Ayden, NC 28513
Comparing the Best BBQ Restaurants in Pitt County
Not sure which barbecue restaurant to try first? Here's a quick comparison to help you decide.
| Restaurant | Location | What to Expect | What to Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| B's Barbecue | Greenville | Classic roadside barbecue with a loyal local following | Chopped pork, fried chicken, and corn sticks |
| Skylight Inn BBQ | Ayden | Historic whole-hog barbecue with national recognition | Chopped pork with crispy skin and cornbread |
| Sam Jones BBQ | Winterville | Traditional wood-fired barbecue in a modern setting | Chopped pork and sweet potato muffin |
| Bum's Restaurant | Ayden | Small-town restaurant with barbecue and Southern home cooking | Barbecue with collard greens and other Southern sides |
Each restaurant offers something different, but they all share a connection to the food traditions that make Eastern North Carolina special.
What Makes Eastern North Carolina Barbecue Different?
If you're new to the area, you might wonder what makes Eastern North Carolina barbecue different from other styles.
The biggest differences come down to the meat, the cooking process, and the sauce.
Whole-hog cooking: Traditional Eastern NC barbecue uses the entire pig rather than focusing exclusively on pork shoulders or ribs.
Wood-fired flavor: Cooking slowly over hardwood coals develops a distinctive smoky flavor.
Vinegar-based sauce: Eastern NC sauce is typically made with vinegar, red pepper, and seasonings rather than a thick tomato-based mixture.
Finely chopped pork: The cooked meat is traditionally chopped and mixed so that each serving contains a combination of flavors and textures.
These methods have been passed down through generations, and restaurants throughout Pitt County continue to preserve them.
Why Local Restaurants Are Part of What Makes Pitt County Special
When people think about moving to a new community, they often focus on home prices, schools, neighborhoods, and employment opportunities.
Those things are important, but there's another part of choosing where to live: discovering the places and traditions that make a community feel like home.
In Pitt County, local restaurants are part of that story.
Places like B's Barbecue, Skylight Inn, Sam Jones BBQ, and Bum's Restaurant are more than places to grab a meal. They represent family traditions, local entrepreneurship, and the pride residents take in their communities.
Whether you're attending an ECU football game in Greenville, exploring downtown Ayden, or spending a Saturday afternoon in Winterville, you'll find that food is often one of the ways people connect.
And that's one of the things I love about living in Eastern North Carolina.
Thinking About Moving to Greenville, Winterville, or Ayden?
If you're considering making Pitt County your home, exploring local restaurants is a fun way to get to know the area.
You can learn a lot about a community by visiting its neighborhoods, talking with residents, supporting local businesses, and experiencing the places people have loved for generations.
At Pitt County Living, our goal is to help you discover not just the homes available in our area, but also the communities and lifestyles that make this part of North Carolina special.
Whether you're searching for your first home, relocating to Greenville for work, or looking for a quieter lifestyle in one of our surrounding towns, we're here to help you explore your options.
Ready to see what homes are available in Pitt County?
Search Homes for Sale in Pitt County
Or explore more local stories, community guides, and helpful resources on the Pitt County Living Blog.
We'd love to help you find a place where you can truly love where you live.
Denise Davis, REALTOR®
Fresh Start Realty
Serving Greenville & Pitt County, North Carolina
Phone: 252-902-9006
Email: denisedavis@pittcountyliving.com
Website: www.pittcountyliving.com