The Original Q Shack

Stopped in for lunch and was completely enamored with everything. The staff was patient (menu is expansive but manageable) and friendly (was greeted and thanked multiple times). Great atmosphere and the food was incredible! I usually post a photo but we devoured the food almost immediately lol Had the brisket, ribs, chopped pork and wings, all of them were delicious!Fantastic restaurant, I wish I didn't live 9hrs away! Definitely will be returning the next time I'm in town.Amazing experience. Thank you for the delicious bbq!

Unimpressed? That's like saying a cat has a mild interest in a laser pointer. I was on my way to a different BBQ joint, but it was closed Monday-Wednesday, which by the way, is a weird time to take a vacation from BBQ. So, I did what any sensible person would do: I searched for "BBQ places near me." Spoiler alert: I should've brought a parachute.Upon entering, I was greeted by an ambiance that can only be described as "post-apocalyptic diner chic." Everything looked like it hadn't seen a paintbrush since the last time the local team won the championship. But hey, the locals seemed to love it, probably because they were busy eating... or planning their escape.After 15 minutes of trying to make a decision (and contemplating whether I could just order takeout from the place I originally wanted), I decided to embrace my inner BBQ explorer. My friend advised against the mac n' cheese, which looked like it had survived a nuclear fallout. But who are we to judge? We don't turn down squid based on appearance, right?I finally settled on the 1/4 chicken, greens, and yes, the infamous mac n' cheese. Why, you ask? Because I believed that BBQ magic would transform it into gooey goodness, and maybe, just maybe, I would find the holy grail of cheese. Spoiler alert: I did not. When my tray arrived, I was greeted by a leg and thigh combination that screamed, "Surprise! I'm dark meat!" Not my favorite, but I was on a mission of culinary bravery. The chicken looked like it had just come back from a pink-tinted vacation and was not quite ready for the plate. I took a bite and felt like I was playing a game of "Is it done yet?" If anyone viewing the picture, please let me know if it's done or am I too picky. I need a second opinion.Now, the mac n' cheese was my second mistake of the day. Imagine if six boxes of Kraft mac n' cheese had a party in a giant bowl and decided to invite a sprinkle of pepper. That's what I got. Zero flavor, zero cheese, and definitely a zero on the "this is acceptable" scale.The greens, however, were the shining stars of this culinary train wreck. I would return just for a side of those delightful greens, but that's the highest praise I can muster.So, if you're expecting grandma's BBQ, you might want to rethink your life choices. Just remember to take this review with a grain of salt--one that should have been generously sprinkled on the food!

It's a real BBQ place, so the vibe is low key no ambiance, at counter service, and great food. Had the cut brisket, spicy TX pinto bean and mac&cheese. Very good all around if you like none Carolina style BBQ.Will be back to try the ribs, turkey and all the other good food. Great BBQ!

The food was okay. The brisket was all point and very fatty. The ribs were pretty good but no rub on them and lightly smoked. The okra was tasteless. I was expecting better visiting the area for the first time.

I love this barbecue place, and I think it was a great value for the price. Me and my family came here, we got our food very fast, and everyone was super friendly. There was plenty of seating for us, and we all agreed this barbecue was really well-made! Definitely one to check out if you were in the area!

Let me start with the staff. (Very straight to the point... "May I help you with your order?" Though it's written in LARGE letters infront of me I asked what do you have for sides. Without hesitation or Tude I was told every side there was with the biggest smile (almost like it was being sung) AND the line was full. In a nutshell these people were professional and pleasant. Picnic styling, VERY clean and neat. The hostess (who I'm assuming is taking care of the family business, so much care and friendliness almost like you're in there living room. NEED I say I love it here. Came for lunch. Now the FOOD.You see my TRAY? I HAD TWO meats, the Ribs which were tender and tasty, the meat fel off the bone into my mouth. (Cooked to perfect) The Beef brisket... WOW AMAZING (I'm really picky) the fat on this brisket was even heavenly. (

First off, this is an extremely BUSY restaurant around dinner time. The parking is insane. There are not enough parks for the number of diners. I definitely do NOT recommend parking across the street, because judging from their signage, they are tow happy. Anyway, the line was a bit long when I arrived, but it moved pretty quickly. Once I got to the front of the line, I was served my food cafeteria style. I told them I wanted to, and then plop. The staff did not really interact with customers outside of the ordering process. As for the food, I had the pork sandwich with collard greens. The pork was just ok. It tasted like it had a vinegar like sauce on it, which usually enhances the flavor of the meat. It just didn't in this case. It did not have enough smoke on it for me. I will say the portion size was generous. The collards were okay too. They were seasoned with meat and tasted okay. They were not amazing but fine. On the other hand, the hushpuppies were really good., especially since they were nice and hot. So overall, it was just average. In my opinion, there are too many better BBQ options in the area. This is an okay option, but definitely not my go to.

Food, mouth water good. Efficient service. Ambiance more than VG for a shack. We were here on a Saturday evening at 4-ish. No waiting line. FYI, none of the 4 BBQ joints in Durham on our list opened on Sundays we discovered on Sunday. Plan ahead if Q is on your menu and you don't live nearby.Two of us shared the 3 meat combo which includes 2 sides and it was plenty filling. We had spareribs, pulled pork and brisket-all excellent choices. Our 2 sides were fried okra and Mac & cheese plus 2 beers. We ate there. It's an excellent BBQ joint type vibe. Plenty of togo orders (large and small) went of the door while we ate also. It's a very efficient operation.I need beer with my BBQ and they did not disappoint me (see photo).

Came by for a late lunch around 1PM.No line, so we were able to order right away. Let the staff know and they will quickly prep your order. The highlights for me were the brisket, ribs, and mac and cheese. I wasn't a fan of the pulled pork. On the really dry side. Portions are large. There is seating inside and outside.Limited parking in the lot, but we were lucky enough to get a few.

Portions were very big! Brisket is good, potato salad and Mac and cheese were amazing sides, but the coleslaw was a bit lackluster.