Wilkes Bar-B-Q Co — Restaurant in Hampton

When I worked at Fort Monroe years ago, I used to treat myself to Wilkes a few times a month. I moved to Petersburg in 2015 and missed the Carolina style BBQ. Moved back to Hampton in 2019 and I forgot about Wilkes until recently. Been looking for good BBQ since. All the places around here have heavily smoked BBQ with tons of seasonings and sauce. These chain BBQ you can't tell the beef from the pork because there is so much smoke and seasoning. For folks that are familiar with Carolina style BBQ, it is totally different from that type of BBQ.

Stopped by Wilkes yesterday and it's still the best Carolina BBQ in the area. The collard greens are unmatched by any other restaurant in the area. Two dinners with sides for $20. You are going to pay more than twice that amount at the other BBQ places in the area.

I don't understand these folks from out of state giving this place a bad review. From their reviews, they obviously don't know what Carolina BBQ is. Also, I saw comments that this place buys their foods in bulk from one of the membership stores. I have personally seen the cook carrying in a fresh full side of pork and fresh picked collards from his personal vehicle. That is why you can only get the collards in winter.

Please don't trash the food if you don't understand the type of BBQ or the style of cooking. If you want food with so much smoke and seasoning that you can't tell the difference between pork, beef or chicken, go to one of those chain restaurants. If you want real Carolina BBQ and fresh from the garden greens, this place will not disappoint. This is one of the few family owned businesses that still remain in Hampton after many years. It's not fancy, in fact the building looks a little run down but the food is good and the prices are the best...

My fav BBQ sandwich point blank periodt with a t! Yes I've been going for years always great food!

Here's a little more since I've been going here for years. They have premade "buckets" of pulled pork which is exactly that. You will not get sauce because it's not a BBQ it's pulled pork and it will be cold because it made for you to go home and make up plates for your family. You can also buy buns to go with it. They then have hotpulled pork that comes as meals or single sandwiches. They have side that are hot if you get small or cold in the "buckets" they do not reheat so you don't have chewy food that's been heated and reheated a million times. The premake these to save time because this is a small family run business. A staple in Hampton Roads. You still won't be waiting for your food even at the busiest times more than 15 mins. I never have even in the lunch rush. But if you are an impatient a** you can always call ahead and have your food waiting for you. They also sell barbecue. But make sure you know what the real definitions are before you start casting stones. Always have always will love wilks. They take the time to remember their customers. I hadn't been there in a few months the They asked if my order was.... and said it all, and he was correct. The staff (family members) running ithave changed over the years but the recipe has not.

One last thing: this is not a fine dining white table cloth establishment. This is a I'm from the country, come sit at my table, I don't know you but wr feed all, that's my grandma at the stove, bring me your plate so I can fill it type of place. So get some dirt on your shoes, some calluses on your hands, and take your nose out the air before you enter...

I hadn't been in the area for years although I live in Hampton! I used to order BBQ from here when I worked at the Hampton Health Department. I just had to have some when I saw the restaurant. I asked to taste a green bean before I ordered because a lot of places don't know how to season their beans with good old side meat, streak-o-lean or ham hocks! The young lady taking my order came back with a condiment cup of awesomely delicious, perfectly seasoned green beans! She said, "I couldn't just give you one bean!" I saw collard greens on the menu but they weren't going to be available until the day before Thanksgiving as people were ordering for their T-day meal... disappointed. The potato salad tasted almost identical to my recipe so needless to say I loved it. I ordered baked beans and cole slaw for my husband and again, delicious and perfectly seasoned.

You already know how great all of the barbeque is so I'll just say that next time I'm ordering a larger amount of green beans and potato salad! The portions were just right but I'd like seconds next time!

This is definitely a hidden gem that most locals are aware of. Shhh... Thank you...