Old Colony Smokehouse — Restaurant in Edenton

I picked to eat here for my birthday, what a mistake. We have eaten great BBQ all over America and this could be the worst we have had. Staff was not friendly, they were just meh order your food. No smiles, no warmth. Kind of like the food. It was all room temp. More than half the menu you couldn't order. Sure we were there at 2pm, but they are only open for 3 hours a day. Green beans were from a can with no flavor. Potato salad didn't have any seasonings in it. Ribs were tiny. My wife's turkey sandwich was a small piece of turkey on a cheap white bun for $6. All the prices were 20-30% too high for how much food you got. Kids slider the lady putting the meat on put a good amount on it, then took most of it back off. My sandwich at $11 was good, but didn't have a side. For that price it should have had a side and a drink. $50 before tip, for no drinks. That was 2 weak ribs, my good sandwich, my wife's weak turkey "sandwich", two kids meals and a small pint of potato salad. Every single member of our group is hungry still. If the food would have been perfect, then yeah I will pay more. This food was mediocre and way over priced for the amount that you get. Not going to let it ruin my birthday, but I would not recommend this place.

Edit: just read your take on my review, so I thought I would give a few thoughts in reply. First, the manager was friendly and she was the only one. We were standing there discussing what to order, pretty standard when you haven't visited a place before. The manager did come by the table and ask if we wanted another table moved over to us. She didn't ask how it was or check in with us multiple times. If you look at my profile, I travel all over America and when you say I live under a rock, I find that offensive. If your green beans aren't from a can, my bad, they still had no flavor. The pricing is high, I have been to many places with bigger portions of yummy food for less. Since you have a line in the morning, don't worry about my thoughts on the pricing. I have only traveled to all 48 states over the last five years eating at places, so what do I know. I could have said something in the restaurant, but judging by your reply you are always right and don't take criticism well. I looked at other bad reviews your Google and figured it wasn't worth dealing with in the place. I am pretty sure it just is what it is and when so much is unsatisfactory there isn't a clear solution for me, the customer, to offer as a solution. We have owned a restaurant and wouldn't expect a free meal. As for couldn't wait to give a bad review, I always give reviews right afterwards because we visit so many places and I find it's the only way I will actually review places. My goal with reviewing places isn't to make the business owner feel good, but to help other people know whether they should visit a place or not. Your place is obviously for locals and any tourists in the area might want to avoid the place, or get there...

Called and spoke to Elisabeth, asked her to make strawberry crunch cake and a chocolate cake. As always, the cakes are boxed and beautiful to look at. We've been eating the strawberry cake for the last 2 evenings and it is very delicious. Looking forward to tasting the chocolate cake at or after church on Sunday where we plan to share with family God willing. Thank you Elisabeth!

7 months prior, Called and placed order for another birthday cake. The lady owner made a chocolate later cake with cream cheese frosting, pecans and walnuts. We ate most of it at my birthday party, some took slices home and it was all gone by end of the day.

1 week prior, called to place a catering order for a birthday cake for my mother. We had several conversations since it was last minute but we decided on their pig pickin cake. Placed order on Friday and picked up on Saturday. Everyone that tasted the cake, loved it.

6 months prior, Stopped in to pickup half chicken, dirt cake and the whole vanilla yellow cake with chocolate buttercream icing. There was a line of people inside and it moved quickly. Parking lot looked full to me, people that ate already were standing outside talking and there were few people sitting outside at the outside seating area on the front side of the building. I was able to order and pick-up my food in less than 10 minutes. At home, we warmed the chicken hours later and the chicken was very delicious. The dirt cake was delicious too. The whole cake which we ordered from the catering side of the business was boxed very nice and professionally. Unboxed it and ate it at and after church at my father's birthday dinner meal. Others enjoyed the cake as well and we ate most of the cake. Little leftover for my father.

2 weeks prior, stopped in today to pickup some chicken and desserts. Called wife to see what she wanted. The young lady at the checkout counter was very patient while I had my wife on the phone trying to figure out what desserts she wanted. After checking out, talked to the owner about them making cakes for special events. He said, call us and if we made it before, then we can make that for you. $40-50 for regular size cake, larger cakes cost more.

3 months prior, NEW location, address and building! They moved. Google Maps has been updated with the new address!

6 months prior, This food is amazing! Brisket is probably one of the best I ever had, it is very well seasoned and I love it. It's good and plenty. Brisket, smoked turkey, ribs, Mac n cheese, baked beans and collard greens were all delicious! Dirt cake for dessert is very delicious! We paid almost $100 including tip.

1 year prior, my first impression and review was as follows: Ribs were seasoned a bit too much, potato salad was not the best and the baked beans were...

So, we’re from Eastern NC and kept seeing these pics of Old Colony Smokehouse popping up on social media. It’s only about an hour from us in Edenton. Today, we ook a quick little road trip, and oh my gosh, it did not disappoint. We rolled out of there stuffed to the brim and already talking about when we’re coming back.

We went big and ordered the Double Smokeshouse Sampler and the OCS Classic Combo with chicken and pork BBQ. Honestly, everything was so good it’s hard to pick a favorite. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy, the turkey was cooked just right, and the BBQ chicken was to die for. The pork BBQ? Total classic.

But let’s talk about the real MVP: the Carolina Twinkie. It’s this sausage with pimento cheese and jalapeño wrapped in bacon, and I’m not kidding when I say it’s next-level. You bite into it, and it’s smoky, a little spicy from the jalapeño, and then the cheese just oozes out. It’s kinda weird in the best way possible—like, who even thinks of that? But it works, and now I’m obsessed. If you go, you have to get it.

We grabbed a bunch of sides too: green beans, collard greens, mac & cheese, smokehouse beans, and squash casserole. The mac & cheese was creamy perfection—like, the kind you dream about. The squash casserole was a hit. The smokehouse beans had this deep, smoky flavor that paired great with everything, and the greens were solid—cooked just right with a little kick.

Then there was dessert. We got the Hershey bar cake, banana pudding, and Atlantic Beach pie. That pie? Unreal. It’s got this tangy, citrusy vibe that cuts through all the richness of the meal—super refreshing. The Hershey bar cake was crazy rich and chocolatey, and the banana pudding was straight-up comfort food done perfectly. No complaints here!

The vibe at Old Colony is just right. The staff was so friendly—like, genuinely nice people who made us feel welcome from the second we walked in. The place itself has this cozy, laid-back feel that makes you wanna linger a little longer. It’s not fancy or anything, just comfy and chill, which is exactly what you want with food this good.

After we ate, we took the kids over to the playground by the lighthouse nearby. They ran around like crazy, burning off all that food, and had a total blast. It was such a nice way to...