McCall's BBQ & Seafood — Restaurant in Goldsboro

My wife and I walked in to get a carry out plate. The cashier at the register was handling a transaction with a customer but there was no one else in line. We stood at the counter waiting for her to finish with the previous customer.

After she finished, she moved a little bit away from us and began to talk to another employee from the kitchen. They chatted and joked around for a few minutes. After the other employee left the area, the cashier glimpsed over at us and then came back to the register and just stood there. Another couple walked to the register after completing their meal, and the same cashier spoke to them and asked if she could help them. The couple knew we had been standing there for a while, so they gestured for her to help us. She glimpsed over at us and then proceeded to talk to the other couple again.

I spoke up and said, "Excuse me." She said, "Yes, what do you need?" I said,"We would like to fix two carry out plates, and we need a pint of slaw from the back to go". She appeared to have a very negative attitude as she picked up 2 carry out plates and told us the price per pound as she appeared to key in the request for the slaw. The tone of her voice seemed to indicate that she wasn't pleased with us, and she wanted to make sure we could afford the food. I told her the price didn't matter and we had enough money to pay for our food. She rolled her eyes and resumed talking to the other couple.

After fixing our plates, we got in line to pay for it. However, when we got to the register, another lady was there and she asked us about our order. We told her we got 2 carry out plates and a pint of slaw to go. We told her we had already made the request for the slaw with the previous lady. She verified this information and told us that the first lady would have to check us out.

When we finally got to her, she took our plates without saying a word or acknowledging our presence and turned to the scales. She then turned back towards us, keyed something into the register, and only then, spoke to us again as she told me the total price. She told us we needed to wait for the slaw.

We waited about 13 minutes as she checked out 3 other groups of customers. Each one of these couples took time to speak to us and make small talk. One time, while we were chatting with these other customers, the waitress began chatting with another employee from the kitchen again. After waiting for about 15 minutes, the cashier left the area and went to the kitchen area. She returned with the slaw and did manage to say she was sorry for the wait.

I don't know if she was just having a bad moment or what. However, based on many experiences we've had over the years across this country, it appeared to be another case of non-spoken racism. The way the White waitress first ignored us, then looked at us and made a conscious decision to ignore us again as she attempted to help a White couple is not uncommon for us.

However, I will say I've been to this place many times over the years and don't recall being treated this way in the past. I've driven 70 miles one way to eat here many times. I've had them to cater meals for my teams at work, and things went well.

I hope this was just a bad day for her, but only she knows why she...

Found a hair in the cole slaw and simply let the waitress know so they could pull the batch from the buffet. Repeatedly declined waitress's offer for us to speak with the manager. Manager ends up coming to our table anyway and states, "I hear we have a problem here." In regards to the hair in the food she states, "It's a buffet and it happens sometimes." With her hands in her pockets and attitude that it's not a big deal. No one at the table was upset, but merely repeated what was said to the waitress- to make them aware so they can remove the batch from the buffet. She comps the drink and meal of the person who found the hair. We thank her. Manager leaves. We are shocked by how unprofessional the manager is and continue with our meal, even though finding the hair is making it a little harder to eat - we still are eating. Soon later the manager comes up again this time cowering over the back of the person who found the hair and has a terrible, off-put, angry attitude stating something like. "What's the problem here. I comped your meal and now we have a bad review." She shows us the review on her phone. Review only stated found hair in the food and to be careful. Posted by someone else there. So this place expects that if they comp a meal, that the review should not be your experience and you should lie about your experience. We did not ask for a comped meal and did not even ask to speak to the manager. The manager stood there shaking (seemingly in anger), hands in pockets again and was intimidating to the person who put the review until they removed it. Looking down over our table with a perturbed look on her face. Well, now the review is going to tell even more now. Neither waitress or manager said "sorry". It was never about the money. We just didn't want other people to eat out of the same batch of slaw and potentially get hair, too. Yes, hair can accidentally get food- anywhere. It doesn't mean it is acceptable. A manager should be glad to know so they can remove it from the buffet and put out a new batch, increasing caution during preparation, etc. My family and I have been eating there for years and have to drive about 45 minutes to get there. We will NEVER eat here again; not because it the hair, but because of the unprofessional bully of what a they call a "manager". It's a shame the owner of the establishment is okay with hiring managers like this. With astronomical inflation, we will gladly take our money somewhere else and have better customer experience/service and food. Will attach original photo with hair in slaw. We will not support bullying, intimidation, and horrid attitudes. That manager would be better suited to washing dishes where she doesn't have to have any interaction with people,...

This is a NC staple, an institution if you will. Especially in the eastern region of the state, all natives are aware of it's existence, and all have been a patron at least once. The food and service at this location, identical to them all, it's outstanding. It's so good in fact, the restaurant name is often referenced when comparing pulled pork barbecue to any other source. While the establishment definitely sells much more than pulled pork barbecue, it is that which it is mainly known for. For sure, there are those that find the taste of barbecue at different establishments better, and many that find other establishments to be lacking when held to The standard of McCall's barbecue and seafood. However, there are none, absolutely zero, that have ever uttered the words; "I don't like their barbecue". If you are a novice or new to the amazing taste of the jewel that is "North Carolina barbecue" this would be, the absolute best place for your first, and most likely best encounter with the dish. The cooking of North Carolina barbecue, and all that goes into the preparation is an art. It's an art that macaws has mastered, and many attempt to replicate. Just as important as the method of cooking, and the particular cut of meat from the hog used, is the sauce. That's spicy tangy vinegar based sauce that is indicative of North Carolina barbecue can make or break the dish. McCall's just does it like no other, when it comes to combining preparation, cooking, cut of meat, and sauce. You will not be disappointed. If you find yourself to have additional room in your gut after indulging in their signature dish, you will be equally impressed with their chicken, mostly fried of course, and their seafood. This restaurant also offers among regular menu items, a daily buffet that contains not only their signature barbecue, but a special dish that changes daily and is served every day they are open. It's simply the One-Stop shop for all foods North Carolinian. It would be Paramount to sin, if one deprived themselves of at least one visit to this outstanding...