Doesn't Recommend

NancyC21

Joined 2 years ago

Major Disappointment!. Even though I live on the Outer Banks of NC, and moved from Raleigh over 20 years ago, I have been able to stop by Cooper's and get some "BBQ to go" throughout this time. I read the reviews before I left to go to Raleigh last weekend. I thought the bad reviews were written by someone who did not know what they were talking about. After buying 2 lbs. of coarse to go, spending almost $20, (no credit cards, no checks, just cash) according to the man with no social graces whatsoever behind the cash register, I could not wait to make a sandwich. Major disappointment! Whatever I got that they call BBQ, and have the nerve to say it is Cooper's BBQ are nuts! This was worthless and the waitress, who was nice, said that somebody bought it out 3 years ago. I wish I had paid more attention to the poor reviews before I wasted my money. Pathetic. Don't waste your time or money to find a parking space downtown to get that BBQ, unless you have never had Cooper's, so you would not know the difference anyway. And those who think that this is good BBQ and gave this place a good review, well, your taste is questionable.

Recommends

2u2

Joined 4 years ago

BEST BBQ THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN BOUT!!!!!!. this food is the BEST. it's clean bbq, the taste

is fresh. you can get 3 types of bbq, chopped

sliced and coarse. ALL are so good! try the

fried chicken, just like mom's!!! ribs are good too. it's an old building with a lot of history on the inside. look at all the old pictures NOT to mention all the AWARDS Cooper's have received for their great tasting bbq.

Mr. Cooper would be proud if he could see

how the new owners want it to be just like he

had it.

their people there are witty, always a good

time. sit, eat and listen. if you want great

clean southeastern style bbq, and home cookin veggies - you'll love

COOPER'S!!!!

love where the locals eat!

Doesn't Recommend

NCSUMike87

Joined 4 years ago

Worst Service and BBQ I Have Ever Had. As someone who is from Lexington, NC I have to admit that I came to this site looking for a good BBQ restaurant. I seen Cooper's and I believed all these reviews but in all honesty it was terrible. The chopped BBQ was bland, dry, and basically minced. The brunswick stew was weird and probably from a can. The best part was the hush puppies and pork skins who were lukewarm and chewy.

The service was the worst I have ever had in any restaurant I have ever been. The waitress dropped the food off and that was it. Forget about getting a refill or asking for anything because there was no service and I have to admit that I was shocked that a restaurant with this many good reviews would be so horrible. When I paid for my food at the counter I asked the OWNER if I could get a refill. The OWNER then yells to his wife across the restaurant to get me a refill but she yelled back that she was filling an order and would get back to me. I waited for 5 awkward minutes waiting for a refill and I didn't get one. If the owner who sat there and looked at me the whole time I waited for my drink was too lazy to do it himself than I will I can promise I will never go back. Don't be fooled by the other reviews!

Recommends

Jmeluso

Joined 5 years ago

Oh my god, what good BBQ!. First the disclaimers.... I am a Yankee, I am not an expert with BBQ. But, I am a CIA grad, have been in the food business for over 20 years and manage a very upscale Long Island country club with a serious, top notch chef. I have a smoker at home and am learning authentic, 10 hours on the smoker BBQ. In other words, I am a food educated Yankee.

My daughter just started at NC State and Dad (me) was planning his first visit. Foodie that I am, I did my research and was on a mission to go to Clydes.

Oh my god, what good BBQ! I had the BBQ and ribs combo with collard greens, corn and butter beans, hush puppies, pork skins and sweet tea. What a treat. I enjoyed every bite.

The BBQ was like nothing that this food educated Yankee had ever tasted. It was sweet, with a touch of sauce and a subtle, pork skin flavor. Tender does not even come close to describing the soft texture of the finely diced pork shoulder. The ribs were awesome. Nothing even close to any other rib that I have ever had. Fall off the bone tender but full of flavor and a mild, crispy crust. I was smacking my Yankee culinary lips.

Needless to say, my next trip to see my daughter is going to include Clydes. I would highly recommend it.

Recommends

galateaparty

Joined 5 years ago

Excellent NC BBQ. For anyone who is expecting sweet/sour red and thick bbq sauce, forget it. This is eastern NC BBQ, which is in a class by itself. It's tender, pulled pork slow cooked in a vinegar based sauce served up with hush puppies and slaw.

The food is simple, ample and cheap. It's not fatty...even the collard greens are not cooked in the typical pork fat. Brunswick stew is sweet and rich. Service is friendly, quick and the atmosphere is a charming bit of history with lots of photos of Raleigh and surrounding areas over the past 70 years.

If you're expecting a Find Dining Experience, go back to NYC. Coopers is a simple Southern place, and this transplanted Yankee will be happy to return again and again.

Friendly, delicious, fast, cheap and generous portions in charming old mid-twentieth century surroundings. What more could you ask for?

Doesn't Recommend

jrwncwaite

Joined 6 years ago

Avoid this Rathole. I came to this place with great expectations and found that the food was cold, tasted bland and overall feel of the resturtant was that of a outhouse. Very small and cramped sitting, service was horrible, and dirty. I was sitting in one of very very small 2 top booths with a party of 4. Of course they cram you into these extremely small spaces. When I get up to get out a screw that was out on the seat rips my pants as I am trying to get up. I tell the manager and she was very sarcastic like I am very sorry all the time laughing under her sarcastic caring attitude.

Stay away from this business and dont believe the HYPE.. There is much better barbecue around...Smthfields actually tastes better than this stuff anyways.!!!

Recommends

saphire75

Joined 7 years ago

Best Barbecue Ever!. Our family reunion was catered by Cooper's. The server, Mike, was excellent. He was concerned with our needs and even packed to go boxes for us. :) I had to go back for 2nd's, 3rd's & more. haha The barbecue is the best. It is seasoned so well, that you don't even need the sauce. The potatoes, slaw and hush puppies are awesome too!

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Dishin' out some of Raleigh's best barbecue since 1928.. In Short
You can sit at the counter or a booth in this noisy, animated barbeque joint. Get a glimpse into what life used to be like during the old days and check out the photographs lining the wall. There's nothing fancy on the menu, just good ol' barbeque. There's a handful of choices: chopped, sliced or spare-rib barbeque, or barbequed, fried or chopped chicken. Good bets for side orders are the stew and the cole slaw.

Recommends

trianglelady77

Joined 8 years ago

excellent!. I frequent Coopers weekly for their lunch special. $3.75 for a bbq sandwich, fries, hush puppies and sweet tea. You can't go wrong with that! My only gripe--parking is hard to find downtown.

Recommends

cnorkus

Joined 11 years ago

bar b que - search for the best. Cooper's Bar B Que is number one. Great, non-greasy bar-b-que, friendly staff, hushpuppies are superb, the slaw is edible, and of course the iced tea. Can't wait to get back there at Christmas. My wife, son (lives in Colorado) will all have lunch together at least once while in Raleigh visiting relatives.