Life > March 20, 2008

By Caroline Edgeton | Staff writer

When we think of the south, we think of several things. Aesthetic scenery, warm temperatures, tobacco and incredibly awesome food all seem to come to mind. Little Richard’s barbecue is definitely the place to go if you want an authentic southern experience.

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Being from Winston-Salem, I had yet to actually go to this place. Every time I’d driven by, the first thing I noticed was how crowded it always is. If you do have a desire to go, I certainly suggest going after the noon rush hour for you will not only be unable to find a place to park or sit, but you will probably be trampled once inside. It is definitely not a large establishment.

My friend decided to wait and go around 1 p.m. This was definitely perfect timing. There were several places to sit and less noise than I imagine one would encounter during the earlier lunch rush.

The moment you arrive, the first thing you notice is the southern decor. With many different tobacco advertisements on the wall (the restaurant also lack a non-smoking section), one who is opposed to smoking may worry about getting lung cancer by simply sitting in the restaurant. If you’re not from Winston-Salem or you don’t have a tolerance for cigarette smoke, this is definitely not the right place for you.

After seating ourselves, our waitress came to us quickly, ready to take our orders.

The moment she arrived, she asked us if we knew what we wanted. Clearly, they are used to regulars. While we waited for our food, we enjoyed the music. Everyone seemed to be humming along to the classic songs often featured on the oldies stations. We also enjoyed the scenery, if you will.

The walls are covered with various tobacco and Coke/Pepsi advertisements from the 50s and 60s. My friend commented that “It kind of makes you feel like you’re in a country kitchen.” It definitely doesn’t seem to be a place that’s situated in the middle of Winston-Salem.

When our food quickly arrived, we were immediately quiet. My friend ordered a cheeseburger and I ordered the sliced pork and hush-puppies.

We were quite pleased with our selections.

I can safely say that the barbecue was fantastic. I know for a fact that they slow cook their barbecue in a way that’s different from other types around the south. Whatever else they do to it certainly works, too. The flavor was delicious and was complemented by out of-this-world hush-puppies. My friend said his cheeseburger tasted like a real cheeseburger, not anything like the fast food we’re used to.

The one thing that may prevent people from going is the actual barbecue itself. If you are a southerner, you know what I’m talking about.

The type of barbecue served at Little Richard’s is Lexington style, which means it has more vinegar-based sauces and a different way of preparing the barbecue itself. People might also get thrown off by the coleslaw that’s served with the food, too. Instead of mixing in your typical white dressing, they use their barbecue sauce to make the coleslaw. It took a little getting used to, but it wasn’t too bad. I can’t imagine many out-of-towners feeling that way, though.

At the end of our meal, we were absolutely stuffed. If you don’t think you can eat a lot, I definitely recommend getting a smaller rather than a larger order. The “small” tray that I got was a substantial amount of food. My friend helped me eat my hush-puppies and definitely didn’t complain.

Overall, this was quite the experience. Everyone is very friendly there and on top of things. Like I said, the place is very smokey and if you’re not a fan of cigarette smoke, it might not be the best experience for you.

They do offer curb-side service if you’d rather do take out instead.

All in all, my friend and I enjoyed ourselves and the food very much. It was definitely a cultural experience.