Harry’s BBQ

We visited Harry’s BBQ for lunch on Saturday with friends. The food had some bright spots, but the atmosphere unfortunately took away from the experience. The music—very loud, high-intensity “rage” music—was overwhelming both indoors and outside. We asked several times if it could be turned down and were eventually told the bartender controls the volume. It left us feeling unheard as customers and made conversation difficult. Food-wise, the Fig & Pig pizza was the highlight: great crispy crust and good flavor (though a little more meat would have been nice). My husband’s grilled chicken sandwich, however, was underwhelming with no grill marks or flavor. Service was efficient, but the overall vibe made the meal less enjoyable, and we likely won’t return unless the music/atmosphere improve

I love BBQ so we hit Harry's BBQ last time we were in New Bern. We sat on the patio even though it was cold and were super comfortable. For an app we tried the burnt end hominy tots. They were larger than the what we expected but were crispy. The burnt ends were good but a little dry. For entrees we tried the pulled pork sandwich, pork belly, house made pastrami, house made sausage and sliced brisket. All were good. Only complaint was I wish it were smokier. The brisket did not have a thick smoke ring like i had hoped. But it was all delicious! The brisket was my favorite. It had a good bark. For sides we tried the cole slaw, onion rings, mac & cheese, and hush puppies. The mac & cheese and onion rings were the best out of that group. The slaw was bland for my liking. Overall great food.

First time here under this establishment but familiar with the location. Brisket was fairly good, but not super smokey. But that a personal preference. Juicy and fork tender. Mac n Cheese was outstanding. Milk bread tasted the same as a yeast roll only slightly drier. But it was cut to a Texas Toast thickness and was really good. Tried all the sauce on that table (4), Cheerwine BBQ was the clear winner. Desert was Carrot Cake and was delicious! Both the staff and chef checked on us, but not in an annoying way. Entire staff was on point. Will return again as I need to try their Pulled Pork. Cheers

So.. I give the BBQ 4 out of 5 stars ONLY because I am from Georgia and am not a fan of the heavy vinegar taste here in NC. That is not to say that the food was not good. I started off with a Blake's Hard Cider and ordered dinner. The hostess and bar tenders were all friendly and accomodating, helping me answer any questions that I had. The pulled pork paired with the Cheerwine sauce quite well, and I liked the small kick of heat it had. The mac & cheese was fantastic, loved the bold cheesy flavors and the large macaroni shells. To top it all off, the banana pudding was just phenomenal. It's hard to come by good homemade banana pudding at restaraunts, but Harry's has nailed it. I definitely recommend this spot.

Indoor seating near the window is great for people watching as you enjoy your meal. The outdoor seating area is phenomenal, especially in the colder months as the outdoor heaters make the open-air space feel so cozy. As for the food... it's not bad, but don't serve a "Chicago Dog" to a Chi-town girl if it's not legit. We'll let you know - in our polite, yet "leave no room for misunderstanding" way.