Lawrence Barbecue - Cary — Restaurant in Cary

Prepare your taste buds for an uplifting experience at the just-opened Lawrence Barbecue in the heart of downtown Cary. This isn't just another Carolina barbecue joint; it's a testament to culinary innovation, top-quality ingredients, and a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

Having recently relocated from the Research Triangle Park area and expanded (big-time) into a shiny new building in Cary, Lawrence is about to build on its well-deserved reputation with a buzzing, "intergalactic surf cowboy" vibe.

The menu is a delicious elevation from the standard BBQ joint norm. Here, owner/chef Jake Wood blends Carolina tradition with a Texas-style influence. 

The Texas-style brisket is already legendary - it is so juicy and tender, you can cut it with a plastic spoon. The smoke rings are perfect, and the bark is packed with a delectable blend of salt and pepper.

But the brisket is just the beginning...

The chicken wings have been called "some of the best" ever eaten, and the ribs are sticky, sweet, and perfectly smoked. No wonder Southern Living named Lawrence as one of the best new barbecue joints in the South.

Jake Wood doesn’t limit himself to one style of barbecue. You can also expect smoked chicken and turkey, carnitas-style pulled pork, and who knows what else they might add along the way.

Old timers, cheapskates, whiners, and complainers might gripe about the missing “BBQ purity”. But owner Jake Wood says, “We are not a Texas BBQ Joint, we are not an NC BBQ Joint... we just love cooking delicious food that comes from our soul.”

And I say “amen” to that!

The inventive menu features plenty of unexpected delights, like fresh, local oysters served raw or grilled, and a Smash Burger made with chopped brisket – all of which I tried the first 2 days the new location was open, and they were great.

But perhaps my favorite is the birria tacos. I’d had them before at the old location as part of Leroy’s Taco Shop, yet they’re perhaps even better now. (See photos).

Beyond the food, there’s a full bar, plenty of soft drinks and cold beer… and then the friendly and attentive staff elevate the entire experience. Regulars at the previous location may recognize a bunch of familiar smiling faces.

The casual yet trendy, bright open space – with full table service - has ample seating, and the energetic atmosphere is contagious.

Whether you're a barbecue purist looking for some elevated takes on the classics… or just a food lover looking for a fun new culinary adventure…

Lawrence Barbecue will not disappoint. It is a genuine...

We loved Lawrence BBQ when they were located at Boxyard RTP and were beyond thrilled when we found out they were opening a brick and mortar in Cary just minutes from our house. We finally got to check out the new location tonight and it exceeded our expectations!! From the minute we walked in the door, the staff was warm and welcoming. We had about a 30 minute wait (which for a Friday night wasn’t bad at all). When we were seated we were served very quickly. Our waiter was beyond amazing! A medical emergency occurred while we were there and the staff handled it with the upmost respect. As far as the food goes everything was a 10/10. We ordered both the raw and bbq oysters and as someone who grew up on the coast of NC, I feel confident in saying these were some of the best oysters I’ve ever had (which is saying a lot!). I would go back just for those. The brisket tots were amazing and we loved our platter. That mac and cheese is what dreams are made of. The brisket is the best you’ll get in NC and the pulled pork was my boyfriend’s favorite. We are so excited to have Lawrence BBQ in town and cant wait to make it a...

I read great things about Lawrence BBQ and was really looking forward to trying them. Sadly, it didn't live up to expectations. The dining room is open and gets very loud quickly. Our service was good and the food arrived quickly but was disappointing. I tried the Chopped Adobo Brisket Sando which looked awesome. Unfortunately the bun was hard and the brisket had large lumps of fat. My wife said the bun on her sandwich was also hard. I don't think they were stale, I think it was the way they were toasted. Our friends ordered the Leisure Lord Sampler Platter with brisket and turkey. They liked both but the portion was small for the price. They provide several sauces self-serve but the sauces were all very thin and runny, I prefer a thicker sauce. On a positive note, the brisket cue beans and all purpose fries were both very good.

We have no shortage of good bbq in Cary (Danny's, Big Mikes, City BBQ, etc.), I don't think I will be trying Lawrence again...