Barbecue Bros Guide You to Authentic BBQ

Whether you’re a dedicated barbecue aficionado or a casual foodie, the Barbecue Bros blog is a go-to guide for exploring the best — and avoiding the worst — in barbecue.

Launched by three friends in 2012, the Barbecue Bros blog offers readers a taste of authentic barbecue experiences, especially in North Carolina but also in other popular barbecue stops across the U.S.

Listen to The Low & Slow Barbecue Show interview with Barbecue Bros founder, “Monk,” to learn more about the “Bros” and their backgrounds.

Keep reading for a quick overview of what makes Barbecue Bros unique. You’ll quickly discover why every BBQ lover should bookmark their site and subscribe to their newsletter.

What is the Barbecue Bros?

Barbecue Bros started as a way to fill a gap in Charlotte’s barbecue scene. Frustrated by subpar reviews on Yelp, “Monk” (Tommy), along with his high school friends “Speedy” and “Rudy,” set out to provide an honest, detailed guide for Charlotte barbecue spots.

“We went searching for barbecue so we consulted the Yelp reviews,” Tommy says during our conversation. “We came away pretty disappointed, honestly, with what was listed as the No. 1 barbecue place in Charlotte.”

And the Barbecue Bros believed they had the culinary experience to provide a better perspective.

“We kind of said, ‘We’ve eaten a lot of barbecue in our life. Why don’t we figure out what the best barbecue in the Charlotte area is and maybe other people will be interested. Let’s start a blog. … Let’s just kind of document our findings.”

What began as a humble blog quickly became a comprehensive, searchable resource for barbecue enthusiasts. With over 350 reviews and a decade of tasting, Barbecue Bros has become a respected voice in the barbecue community.

Who are the Barbecue Bros?

The team consists of three self-proclaimed barbecue experts: Monk, Speedy, and Rudy, each with a unique background. The Bros use pseudonyms tied to their barbecue roots. Monk pays homage to Lexington Barbecue and “Honey Monk.” Speedy salutes Speedy’s Barbecue (a favorite from his college days). Rudy’s pseudonym is a tribute to a Texas chain that sparked his love for beef barbecue.

The trio maintains their camaraderie from high school in High Point. Life and work separated the trio geographically, and while Monk produces the bulk of the content today, the Barbecue Bros continue to meet up for tastings and share their reviews. In September, the Barbecue Bros convened in Portland, OR, and provided a group review of Matt’s BBQ.

“I really love kind of the whole experience. I like to document. I love to take photos. I like to put my thoughts out there in just kind of the old-school blogging. I still really enjoy that,” Monk explains. “If the other guys are able to contribute occasionally, great. … I’ll probably be keeping it going as long as I still feel like it.”

The Barbecue Bros ‘Hog’ Rating System

The blog’s rating system is straightforward but thorough. Using a 0-5 “hog” scale where 5 is the best, Barbecue Bros evaluates each BBQ joint. The “hog” scale informs readers about what’s worth trying and what may not make the cut.

“That hasn’t changed in the 12+ years we’ve been doing the blog,” Monk says. “We like to rate the experience, on not only the meats and the sides. We rate each meat individually depending on what we order. We rate the sides. If there’s any desserts – which usually there isn’t any room for desserts – we group those in with the sides.

“Then we do like to comment a little bit on what we call the atmosphere or ambiance,” he continues.

Authenticity matters to the Bros – whether a place has a classic, mom-and-pop vibe or wood-fired smokers, it all contributes to the final rating. Each category – meat, sides, ambiance – is graded on the hog scale, and a final score is determined.

“It’s an inexact science. I don’t exactly average them all up,” Monk explains. “I kind of weigh them in my mind, and we’ll come up with an overall rating.”

And during a dozen years spent visiting barbecue restaurants, the rankings have ranged from 5 hogs to 0 hogs (which includes two restaurants).

Best and Worst Barbecue Days

Through the years, the Barbecue Bros have documented their share of hits and misses.

On a memorable trip to eastern North Carolina, Monk hit three iconic barbecue spots in a single weekend: B’s Barbecue, Skylight Inn, and Sam Jones BBQ. The trip underscored North Carolina’s long-standing tradition of whole-hog barbecue — a style Monk has come to favor and even replicated with Father’s Day whole hog cook on a backyard cinder block pit.

On the flip side, not every barbecue experience has been stellar. Monk recalls a particularly disappointing meal at a gas station BBQ spot in South Carolina. The meal featured dry, microwaved meat and frozen sides—a rare but unforgettable miss.

“Everything but the hushpuppies was clearly from frozen,” Monk says. “I think they did actually attempt to do kind of a house-made slaw, but everything else of that meal was completely unsuccessful.

“There’s been other places. We went to a place in Brooklyn, where I know people like to poo-poo New York barbecue, but there are some really good places like Hometown Barbecue,” Monk continues. “This was a place in Brooklyn that really just missed the mark pretty badly. The brisket was kind of roast beef consistency: very dry, rubbery.”

These candid reviews help readers steer clear of the barbecue pitfalls while celebrating the standouts.

Charlotte Barbecue Foundation Expands

Charlotte has been at the heart of the Bros’ journey from the start. Their mission to find the best barbecue in the city gave rise to their blog and remains a focal point of their reviews. As the Barbecue Bros have expanded their blog and their review footprint, the Charlotte barbecue scene has also evolved.

“Right before we had the blog, Midwood Smokehouse opened, which since has grown into kind of a regional chain. They were truly doing wood-smoked barbecue, whereas most places in Charlotte at the time were probably really using gas or maybe adding some wood,” Monk tells The Low & Slow Barbecue Show.

Barbecue options continued to expand in the Queen City.

“I think it’s stagnated for a while. It’s growing again,” Monk says. “Hopefully, more folks will continue to get inspired by the quality of barbecue that’s opened in the recent past and kind of do their own spin on it.”

Monk’s blog post “The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Charlotte” highlights some of the recent barbecue additions in the Charlotte region. The list includes Low & Slow Barbecue Show friends like Sweet Lew’s Barbecue and Jon G’s Barbecue.

Beyond Charlotte, BarbecueBros.co includes a North Carolina map that barbecue enthusiasts can use to find the top-rated places across the state. If you’re planning a delicious barbecue road trip, you’ll want a map filled with reviews of the state’s barbecue restaurants provided by a trio of bros in the know.

Follow the Barbecue Bros on YOUR BBQ Journey

Whether you’re new to barbecue or a seasoned connoisseur, you’ll appreciate the Barbecue Bros’ insider view into the rich, smoky world of North Carolina BBQ.

From thoughtful reviews and maps to tips on planning the perfect barbecue road trip, the Barbecue Bros built a resource as authentic as the dishes they review. Listen to our Low & Slow Barbecue Show conversation for more details about the Barbecue Bros. origin and their barbecue journey.

Be sure to visit barbecuebros.co and follow their adventures on Instagram — your next unforgettable barbecue meal could be just a hog rating away.