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Barbecue Center
900 N Main St
Lexington, NC 27292
Uber
announcement
We have moved back to our summer hours. We are now open 11a-9p Monday-Saturday!!
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LUNCH AND DINNER MENU
Soups
Vegetable Beef
- Dine In $4.50
- Take Out $5.10
BBQ Soup
Vegetable Beef Soup with Q
- Dine In $7.50
- Take Out $8.00
Pinto Beans
- Dine In $4.50
- Take Out $5.00
Chili-N-Beans
Pintos w/chili
- Dine In $5.00
- Take Out $5.55
Salads
Salads contain Lettuce, Cheese, Tomatoes. Salad Dressings: Ranch, Italian, Thousand Island, French, Oil & Vinegar, Blue Cheese, Honey Mustard, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian, Thousand Island
Tossed Salad
$5.25Ham (Chef) Salad
$8.65Turkey Salad
$8.65Barbecue Salad
$8.65Grilled Chicken Salad
$9.10Marinated Chicken Salad
$9.10Barbecue Chicken Salad
$9.10Chicken Tender Salad
$8.55Buffalo Chicken Tender Salad
$9.10Dry Rub Grilled Chicken Salad
$9.10Kids Menu (10 & Under)
Served plain with Fries, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, Hush Puppies or Chips. All Kids Meals Will Cooked Well Done
Hot Dog
$6.50Hamburger
$6.50Cheeseburger
$7.25Grilled Cheese
$6.50Chicken Tenders
- 2 Pieces $6.50
Corn Dog
$6.50Wings & More
Cheese Fries
$5.00Chili Cheese Fries
$7.10Chicken Tenders*
- 4 Pieces $9.10
Buffalo Chicken Tenders*
- 4 Pieces $9.85
Hot Wings*
- 6 Pieces $11.30
- 10 Pieces $15.60
- 20 Pieces $27.25
Trays
Served with Red Slaw and HP or Rolls (No Substitutes)
Chopped
- Small $8.25
- Large $11.25
Sliced or Coarse Chopped
- Small $9.40
- Large $12.45
BBQ Chicken Plates
Available Wednesday-Saturday
1/4 Dark
$9.601/4 White
$10.601/2 Chicken
$12.201/2 Chicken All Dark
$11.301/2 Chicken All White
$14.65BBQ / Grilled Boneless BBQ Chicken Breast
Choice of Dry Rub or Sweet BBQ Sauce on Chicken.
Chopped*
$15.35Sliced or Coarse Chopped*
$16.45BBQ & 1/2 BBQ Chicken
All white add $2.00. Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings may be substituted for $0.50
Chopped
$17.00Sliced or Coarse Chopped
$18.15Quart Special
Quart of BBQ, Pt. Slaw, 1/2 Pt Dip, Dz. Rolls
Chopped
$23.80Sliced or Coarse Chopped
$25.50Tailgate Special
3 lbs. of BBQ, Qt. Slaw, Qt. Potato Salad, 1/2 Pt. Dip, Dz. Rolls
Chopped
$52.25Slice or Coarse Chopped
$56.70Pounds
Chopped
- 1/2 Pound $7.90
- 1 Pound $13.95
- 5 Pound $64.60
Sliced or Coarse Chopped
- 1/2 Pound $8.90
- 1 Pound $15.00
- 5 Pound $68.00
Barbecue Take Out-Side Orders
Pack of Rolls
$4.50Red Slaw or Dip
- 1/2 Pt $3.10
- Pt $4.10
- Qt $5.95
- Gal $14.50
Chili or White Slaw
- 1/2 Pt $3.75
- Pt $4.75
- Qt $6.95
- Gal $21.50
Tea
- Gallon $7.70
- 1/2 Gallon $5.35
Sandwiches
Hamburger**
$4.40
chili, slaw
Cheeseburger**
$5.15
may, pickles
Hot Dog
$3.25
chili, slaw
Corn Dog
$3.25Cheese Dog
$4.00
chili, slaw
Sausage Dog
$4.15
mustard
Bacon Lettuce Tomato
$5.00
may
Lettuce Tomato
$3.20
may
Grilled Cheese
$3.65
may
Pimento Cheese
$3.65Sandwich Baskets
Served with Chips, Fries, or Hush Puppies. Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings may be substituted for $0.50
What-A-Burger**
$7.10
let, tom, may
What-A-Cheeseburger**
$7.85
let, tom, may
Double Hamburger
$8.40
chili, slaw
Double Cheeseburger
$9.90
American Cheese, mayo and pickles
Big Burger* **
$8.95
let, tom, may
Big Cheeseburger * **
$9.70
let, tom, may
Big Western Burger* **
$11.50
bacon, cheese, onions, peppers, sweet barbecue sauce
Big Pimento Cheese Burger
$11.50
6 oz. Chuck Patty, Bacon, Homemade Pimento Cheese, Let, Tom, May, Onion Seeded Bun
Ham & Cheese*
$7.75
let, tom, may
Pork Chop Sandwich
$8.95
must, chili
Flounder
$8.35
red slaw
Chicken Tender
$8.75
let, tom, may
Buffalo Chicken Tender
$9.10
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Chicken Filet
$8.75
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Buffalo Chicken Filet
$9.10
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Grilled Chicken*
$9.10
let, tom, mayo
Barbecue Chicken
$9.10
let, tom, mayo, sweet BBQ sauce
Marinated Chicken*
$9.10
let, tom, mayo, Italian Dressing
Grilled Dry Rub Chicken Breast
$9.10
Grilled Chicken, Dry Rub, let, tom, mayo
Turkey Breast*
$9.10
let, tom, may
Additional Toppings
Grilled Onions
$0.75American Cheese
$0.75Bacon
$2.50Ranch Dressing/Honey Mustard
$0.60Peppers and Onions
$0.75Platters
Served with 2 Sides and HP or Rolls. Additional Toppings: Cheese - $0.50, Grilled Onions - $0.40, Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings may be substituted for $0.50
Hamburger Steak* **
- 8 Oz. Angus $11.75
Mini Steak* **
- 6 oz Angus $10.60
Chicken Tender*
- 4 Pieces $11.75
Buffalo Chicken Tender*
- 4 Pieces $12.45
Flounder
- 2 Pieces $12.20
Grilled Chicken Breast*
- 2 Pieces $15.00
Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast*
Marinated in Italian Dressing
- 2 Pieces $15.00
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast*
Sweet BBQ Sauce
- 2 Pieces $15.00
Grilled Dry Rub Chicken Breast
- 2 Pieces $15.00
Pork Chop Fried or Grilled
$13.60
2 Pieces of boneless pork tenderloin
Hot Wings*
- 6 Pieces $15.00
- 10 Pieces $18.15
Side Orders
French Fries
- Small $3.65
- Large $4.25
Sweet Potato Fries
- Small $4.10
- Large $5.10
Onion Rings
- Small $4.10
- Large $5.10
Hush Puppies
- Small $4.10
Mac & Cheese
- Small $3.20
- Large $5.10
Potato Salad
- Small $3.20
- Large $5.10
Green Beans
- Small $3.20
- Large $5.10
Baked Beans
- Small $3.10
- Large $5.10
Tray of Slaw
red, white
- Small $3.20
Fried Okra
- Small $3.20
- Large $5.10
Pintos
- Small $3.20
- Large $5.10
Tossed Salad
- Small $3.70
- Large $5.24
Hand Dipped Ice Cream Flavors
Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies-n-Cream, Moose Tracks, Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Black Cherry, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Ask About Seasonal Flavors
One Dip
$4.50
Cup or Cone
Two Dips
$5.95
Cup Only
Milk Shake
$5.25
All Flavors
Banana, Strawnana Milk Shakes
$6.00Nut Sundae
$8.65
2 Dips w/Chocolate Syrup, Whipped Cream, Wet Walnuts, Cherry
Banana Split
$11.95
3 Dips w/Chocolate Syrup, Whipped Cream, Wet Walnuts, Cherry
Additional Toppings
Extra Walnuts
$1.00Extra Banana
$0.75Extra Cherries
$0.50Extra Whipped Cream
$0.50Extra Chocolate Syrup
$0.50Extra Caramel Syrup
$0.50Pies & More
Slice of Pie
$4.35
Pecan or Apple
Pie with Ice Cream
$6.85Homemade Banana Pudding
$3.70Large Chocolate Chip Cookie
$1.05Large Peanut Butter Cookie
$1.05Large Snickerdoodle Cookie
$1.05Beverages
Coffee
- Small $2.40
- Large $3.15
Milk
- Small $2.40
- Large $3.15
Tea
Sweet / Unsweet
- Small $2.25
- Medium $2.55
- Large $3.30
Soft Drinks
Cheerwine, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Pink Lemonade, Diet Mountain Dew
- Small $2.25
- Medium $2.55
- Large $3.50
*Please allow extra time for preparation. **These items may be cooked to order. Consuming raw or undercooked meats or eggs may increase your risk of food-bourne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions
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General Info
Hours
Monday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Tuesday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Wednesday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Thursday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Friday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday:
Closed
Additional Information:
2024 Holidays: Closed Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Closed July 15-20.
About Us
Prior to the world of technology, before the wars of the world, even before the civil war, the professions of mankind consisted of knowledge of mentors passed on to their apprentices. Some of these professions included pottery, leather, iron, and steel craftsmen. The young apprentice, typically a family member, was eager to learn the family trade. Their position was more than a job, it was a process of lifelong learning. Their advancement consisted only of themselves becoming the mentor of a younger apprentice, but still remaining one in their mentor's eyes.
One of the few professions left that requires this type of traditional "training" is "pit-cooked Lexington style" barbecue. All of the remaining pit-cooking restaurants in Lexington have a connection to Warner Stamey. Stamey learned the craft from Jesse Swicegood. Swicegood and Sid Weaver are the two gentlemen credited for the origin of "Lexington style" barbecue. They began by setting up a stand across from the Davidson County Courthouse. Rising well before dawn, they started a fire with hickory wood. While the wood was burning down to coals, they placed pork shoulders on an open pit. When the smoldering coals became available, they would scatter the coals under the meat. This process continued every 30 minutes to an hour, for 8-10 hours. After about four hours, they would turn the shoulders, similar to cooking a wild boar on a spit in the Old West. During the cooking of the shoulders, the smoke would rise into the sky and float across the town. Smelling the aroma of fresh pit-cooked barbecue, the Judge would call a recess for lunch, and go across the street to devour one of those delicious barbecue sandwiches.
After gaining a few years of experience under the tutelage of Swicegood, Stamey moved to Shelby, NC, where he opened a barbecue restaurant of his own. Several years later, he chose to return home to Lexington, to open another barbecue restaurant. This decision was the biggest influence on Lexington style barbecue, and leads us to the present day status. While at his Lexington location, he not only trained his family, but he mentored famous Lexington barbecue craftsmen such as Wayne Monk, Jimmy Harvey, Joe Cope and Doug Gosnell.
Gosnell, following the path of the others, left Stamey to open his own restaurant. Gosnell moved to North Main Street and opened a dairy bar and barbecue restaurant. Eventually, he moved farther up Main Street and created the Barbecue Center. During his career, he took his brother-in-law, Sonny Conrad, under his wing. Following Gosnell's death in 1967, Sonny ran the restaurant for Gosnell's step-mother. Two years later, Sonny bought the restaurant and has ran it with his wife, Nancy, ever since. During his long tenure as the owner of the Barbecue Center, he has passed down the art of cooking barbecue to many people, including his two sons, Cecil and myself (Michael). Thus far, none of his apprentices have followed the tradition to go out on their own or take his place, although his reign is far from conclusion.
If you visit any barbecue restaurant in Lexington, you will always find family members involved in the operation. They most likely will be learning barbecue craftsmanship from their grandfather, father, uncle or cousin.
I have been asked several times along my road to becoming a mentor "how can I learn to cook barbecue." My only response is, "you cannot learn barbecue, you LIVE barbecue."