North Carolina has plenty of fabulous restaurants, but some of the best are the hole-in-the-wall spots. They’re like little hidden gems – the outside doesn’t look like much, but the food inside is delicious. Here’s one restaurant that certainly isn’t fancy, but the BBQ will blow you away. Learn more about what awaits inside this unassuming BBQ restaurant in North Carolina.
You’ll find Keaton’s BBQ at 17365 Cool Springs Road in Cleveland, North Carolina. The founder, B.W. Keaton, started selling his special BBQ chicken back in 1953, and this place lives on through his niece, Kathleen Murray.
MoBBQ/Tripadvisor
Walk right in, wait in the line (there’s usually a line), and order your BBQ at the counter.
Rob Y./Yelp
The menu is pretty straightforward, with just a few offerings. Keaton’s makes a pretty tasty BBQ pork sandwich, but what you really want is the chicken. Just order the chicken (trust us).
Peter H./Yelp
If you’re looking for a linen tablecloth kinda joint, you’re in the wrong place. Keaton’s is not fancy. Its laminate tables, vinyl-covered chairs, and 1960s paneling will not impress you. But there’s really no need to get too hyped up about the lack of ambiance, because…
Sandra C./Yelp
…Once you bite into this BBQ chicken, your heart will sing. Your tastebuds will be ecstatic. Your entire world will change. No kidding….the chicken from this unassuming BBQ restaurant in North Carolina is THAT good.
Randy S./Yelp
The chicken is fried, then hot-dipped in B.W. Keaton’s special recipe sauce. Over the years, he had cash offers for the recipe, which he declined. To get this stuff, you’ve got to drive to Cleveland.
Jefferson S./Yelp
You can purchase a bottle of the sauce to take home with you.
Jonathan T./Yelp
The hours at Keaton’s vary, and they sometimes close early when they run out of chicken.
Bill W./Yelp Usually, the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday, and hours vary day by day at this tiny establishment. For more information, be sure to check out the official website.
What’s your favorite item on the menu at Keaton’s? Have you been to this unassuming BBQ restaurant in North Carolina?
MoBBQ/Tripadvisor
Rob Y./Yelp
Peter H./Yelp
Sandra C./Yelp
Randy S./Yelp
Jefferson S./Yelp
Jonathan T./Yelp
Bill W./Yelp
Usually, the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday, and hours vary day by day at this tiny establishment. For more information, be sure to check out the official website.
For more great recommendations, check out these 10 unassuming restaurants that serve up tasty food.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: 17365 Cool Springs Rd, Cleveland, NC 27013, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
unassuming BBQ restaurant in North Carolina April 06, 2021 Beth C. Where can I find the best North Carolina BBQ? Now that you’ve learned all about Keaton’s, one of the best hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in the state, you may be curious to learn about other similar restaurants. Well, you’re in luck! North Carolina boasts some of the best barbecue in the world, and no matter where you are in the state, you’ll never be too far from some delicious Carolina barbecue. Some of the best North Carolina BBQ can be found at any of the following restaurants: B’s Barbecue in Greenville, The Honey Monk in Lexington, Little Richard’s in Winston-Salem, Allen & Son in Chapel Hill, Deano’s BBQ in Mocksville, and The Pit in Raleigh. What are the best unassuming restaurants in North Carolina? One of the best parts about living in North Carolina is the opportunity to discover new restaurants. While fine dining can be fun, sometimes, the best food is tucked away in the most unassuming spots. That’s certainly true of many North Carolina restaurants. One example is Fish Heads Bar & Grill in Nags Head. Located way out in the Outer Banks, this spot is truly off-the-beaten-path; however, it’s worth every effort to get there. The food has stood the test of time, and the views that you’ll enjoy from the restaurant are positively breathtaking. Whether you’re there for happy hour, live music, or some great seafood, you won’t regret your visit to Fish Heads Bar & Grill. Learn about some other unassuming restaurants in North Carolina. What are the most charming small towns in North Carolina? It’s hard to imagine the state of North Carolina without its charming small towns. These are the places that give the Tar Heel state its personality and character. Some of the most charming and historic small towns in North Carolina include Beech Mountain, Brevard, Banner Elk, Rutherfordton, Bath, Chapel Hill, Bethania, and Edenton. Curious to learn more about what makes these small towns so charming? Check out our list of the 10 most beautiful and charming small towns in North Carolina.
The OIYS Visitor Center
unassuming BBQ restaurant in North Carolina
April 06, 2021
Beth C.
Where can I find the best North Carolina BBQ? Now that you’ve learned all about Keaton’s, one of the best hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in the state, you may be curious to learn about other similar restaurants. Well, you’re in luck! North Carolina boasts some of the best barbecue in the world, and no matter where you are in the state, you’ll never be too far from some delicious Carolina barbecue. Some of the best North Carolina BBQ can be found at any of the following restaurants: B’s Barbecue in Greenville, The Honey Monk in Lexington, Little Richard’s in Winston-Salem, Allen & Son in Chapel Hill, Deano’s BBQ in Mocksville, and The Pit in Raleigh. What are the best unassuming restaurants in North Carolina? One of the best parts about living in North Carolina is the opportunity to discover new restaurants. While fine dining can be fun, sometimes, the best food is tucked away in the most unassuming spots. That’s certainly true of many North Carolina restaurants. One example is Fish Heads Bar & Grill in Nags Head. Located way out in the Outer Banks, this spot is truly off-the-beaten-path; however, it’s worth every effort to get there. The food has stood the test of time, and the views that you’ll enjoy from the restaurant are positively breathtaking. Whether you’re there for happy hour, live music, or some great seafood, you won’t regret your visit to Fish Heads Bar & Grill. Learn about some other unassuming restaurants in North Carolina. What are the most charming small towns in North Carolina? It’s hard to imagine the state of North Carolina without its charming small towns. These are the places that give the Tar Heel state its personality and character. Some of the most charming and historic small towns in North Carolina include Beech Mountain, Brevard, Banner Elk, Rutherfordton, Bath, Chapel Hill, Bethania, and Edenton. Curious to learn more about what makes these small towns so charming? Check out our list of the 10 most beautiful and charming small towns in North Carolina.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Now that you’ve learned all about Keaton’s, one of the best hole-in-the-wall barbecue restaurants in the state, you may be curious to learn about other similar restaurants. Well, you’re in luck! North Carolina boasts some of the best barbecue in the world, and no matter where you are in the state, you’ll never be too far from some delicious Carolina barbecue. Some of the best North Carolina BBQ can be found at any of the following restaurants: B’s Barbecue in Greenville, The Honey Monk in Lexington, Little Richard’s in Winston-Salem, Allen & Son in Chapel Hill, Deano’s BBQ in Mocksville, and The Pit in Raleigh.
What are the best unassuming restaurants in North Carolina?
One of the best parts about living in North Carolina is the opportunity to discover new restaurants. While fine dining can be fun, sometimes, the best food is tucked away in the most unassuming spots. That’s certainly true of many North Carolina restaurants. One example is Fish Heads Bar & Grill in Nags Head. Located way out in the Outer Banks, this spot is truly off-the-beaten-path; however, it’s worth every effort to get there. The food has stood the test of time, and the views that you’ll enjoy from the restaurant are positively breathtaking. Whether you’re there for happy hour, live music, or some great seafood, you won’t regret your visit to Fish Heads Bar & Grill. Learn about some other unassuming restaurants in North Carolina.
What are the most charming small towns in North Carolina?
It’s hard to imagine the state of North Carolina without its charming small towns. These are the places that give the Tar Heel state its personality and character. Some of the most charming and historic small towns in North Carolina include Beech Mountain, Brevard, Banner Elk, Rutherfordton, Bath, Chapel Hill, Bethania, and Edenton. Curious to learn more about what makes these small towns so charming? Check out our list of the 10 most beautiful and charming small towns in North Carolina.
