Skylight Inn

If you know good Carolina-style BBQ, you know the Skylight Inn. The Jones family has been cooking real whole-hog BBQ in North Carolina since the 1830s, and back in 1947 17 year-old Pete Jones opened a small restaurant on his family’s property in the small town of Ayden, North Carolina, just outside of Greenville. Since then, Skylight Inn has become widely renowned as the gold standard for Eastern North Carolina-style whole-hog barbecue. It’s been hailed by everyone from National Geographic to GQ Magazine as having some of the best barbecue in America, and in 2003 it was crowned an “American Classic” by the James Beard Foundation.

Pete passed away in 2006, but his legacy is still going strong. Skylight Inn BBQ is now operated by Pete’s son Bruce, nephew Jeff, and grandson Sam Jones, who continue to smoke whole pigs low and slow over oak coals for up to 16 hours, the old-fashioned way (no gas here!). It’s then chopped up with its crispy, smoky skin, simply seasoned with hot sauce and apple cider vinegar, and served with classic sides including crisp coleslaw, potato salad, beans, and cornbread. This is what BBQ pork is supposed to taste like, and along with addictively delicious smoked chicken, it’s at long last being delivered straight from the pit to your door!