The food is so yummy!! I ordered the 1/3 slab of ribs, baked beans, hush puppies, corn bread, and I drank as much Cheerwine as I could get. If you've never had Cheerwine, you need to give it a try. It's native to North Carolina and is somewhat hard to find in Ohio but it's becoming more prevalent lately. The ribs were very tasty. They were moist with a great amount of char on the outside. Topped with one of 4 offered bbq sauces (located by the pop machines) it's very flavorful. The baked beans are my favorite side here. They are bbq flavored with a little shredded pork in them. The hush puppies were great also. The 4 star rating is for the sticky floors. My shoes stuck to the floor as I walked across it and it was gross. Like there was maple syrup on the floor. Please mop!!
(4)
Grace R.
This place is so delicious and not too expensive! You walk in the door and the menus are on the wall, so you can decide what you want as you wait in line. After you place your order, you find your seat and get your drinks and sauces. They have a large variety of sauces to pick from that range from mild to spicy so everyone can find something they like. You either pick up your food when they call your number, or they'll bring it to your table. The food was absolutely delicious! No complaints. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick, good lunch.
(5)
Josie M.
SOOoo tasty! several sauces to choose from with many different combos. good date night if you dont mind being messy haha
(4)
Rob C.
I went there on 5/24/15 and attempted to order two BBQ chicken dinners and was told that they had ran out of chicken. I was told that they did have chicken fingers etc...but this is a BBQ spot so thats what I went there for. Then it dawned on me as I walked emptied handed out the door one of my coworkers told me of a time when he went to a Cleveland location and they ran out of chicken. In my opinion a store running out of product thus losing customers is a poorly ran business model....needless to say I won't be back.
(1)
Rich H.
I lived in Texas, and I've been to many barbecue places all over the country. As far as Akron goes, this is an excellent place. The ribs are always good, and I have had the brisket and it's good...always difficult to cook a tender brisket. What I like is that they have their own pit and actually smoke the meat. It may not quite be a central Texas joint, but they know what they are doing.
(4)
Missy T.
We are visiting here from NC and I must say, this is better than we get at home. Generous portions, great sauces to choose from and they even serve sweet tea!
(5)
Olivia T.
Pulled pork is so good!!! Banana pudding is to die for! Great catering portions! Fast service too! Friendly staff!
(5)
M C.
We ordered the bbq bulk order and we were surprised by the massive amounts of food that was provided. That is the beginning of what turned out to be a happy family. The order was intended to serve 50 people and it did. The pulled pork is juicy and not dry, the ribs were devoured, the slider buns were excellent (though there weren't really enough - thus the only knock from us), the sides - green beans and baked beans were ok, and the beef brisket was excellent. If the sides were better and there were enough buns, they would easily be 5 stars. I would go back and expect to in the future when I'm in Ohio.
(4)
Katie B.
I love old carolina and so do my kids. They can eat the mac n cheese by the quart. It is pricey but worth the money. Ordered a bunch of food for my son's birthday party and it was so amazing especially for bulk food. The sweet tea is so good and the best! I love the pulled pork and the ribs are so so good! The banana pudding is so good and the boardwalk donuts are addicting! I love the garden salad as well. The hush puppies are so so good! I love the tar heel dogs as well so yummy!
(5)
Tanya R.
Hush puppies are to die for or kill first born. Pulled pork was great ... Daily special $6.95
(5)
Denise G.
Gepetto's finally has some barbecue competition. The ribs are great, with the original sweet sauce or even without sauce, portions are plentiful, sides are good...banana pudding is awesome. If you like barbecue, try this place...we got pulled chicken for tomorrow's lunch :)
(5)
Bill R.
Awesome barbecue!!! One of the best places to eat in Akron if you like smoked BBQ you better stop in. Sampler platter is enough to feed 2 people easily.
(5)
Mark G.
You are crazy not to give this 4 or 5 stars...The low rating is very mis-leading. Northeast Ohio doesn't have a lot of BBQ places, but this placecan put us on the map. All the meats are AMAZING, great flavor and juicy. The sauces they have are great, they have 4 types that are full of flavor. The sides are awesome, I would suggest trying a few because you will get hooked. Please trust me, this is not a 3 star place, it is great quality BBQ and promise you will love it.
(4)
Chandler S.
My wife and I are from the Carolinas and while nothing can replicate true southern BBQ, this place is the closest I've found so far in NE Ohio. Aptly named.
(4)
Dustin J.
The ribs are smoky and have a nice bark and are great with or without sauce. Baked beans are very tasty with bits of pork. The beer is icy cold. If you are in the mood for some bbq and don't live in Texas, or Memphis or Kansas and you happen to live in the Akron area check them out. This is not fast food so if you think you are going to be in and out it's not going happen. Bbq isn't supposed to be fast.
(4)
Leah N.
Finishing up day 4 of food poisoning so not much more than 1 star. My husband and I dined on Sunday night both having pulled pork and we both had food poisoning. Would not recommend.
(1)
Dave C.
I stopped in here on the way home last Friday for a bit to eat. I've been seeing the ads around town and love a good bbq, so I had been wanting to try the place for a while. I have to say I was disappointed. First of all - the place is really clean and bright. I hate going into a place and it's really dirty or looks like the management doesn't take care of it. Staff was friendly, and as pointed out go out of there way to make sure everyone knows how the place works and where everything is. My disappointment was mostly with the food. First of all, it took wayyyy to long to get. I ordered ribs and brisket and a couple sides. The place was not busy at all and I was one of only three customers that were in the restaurant. It literally took almost 15 minutes to get my order, for food that presumably was already completely cooked. With drinks, sauces and utensils all self-serve, all that had to be done is to put pre-cooked food on a plate. Once I got my food, I just wasn't that impressed. Many others who have posted have spoken positively about the food, so take my comments with a grain of salt I guess. The brisket was somewhat tough and not very flavorful (although I was given a very generous portion). The ribs weren't smoky at all and the bark was more a completely carmelized top layer above the meat that came off in a slab. I'm also not particularly fond of the sauces - but this I know is personal preference. All the sauces taste to be primarily vinegar-based which I am not a fan of. I am not headed back, but give it a try for yourself.
(2)
Julie S.
We've eaten here twice before. The first time, it was really busy and incredibly smokey inside the restaurant. We decided to stay and eat and when we left we smelled so terrible- I cannot even describe. However, when they were busy we had the best food. When it was not busy, the food was O.K., not delicious. So if you're into BBQ, try to get it to go. The sauces are O.K. The original sauce is the best. The employees were a bad representation of the restaurant. Both times I felt they were very slow and lacked any personality. The portions are great for the amount of money, but don't expect to leave without spending at LEAST $10 per person. But, as much as I may have disliked the service, I have to admit the food is outstanding. There is no better BBQ in Akron.
(3)
Rich L.
Until this past sunday I was a huge fan of carolina bbq.. Went weekly... Sunday I noticed the "no firearms" sign on the door... So really carolina do you think that will stop a criminal from entering your store? They may have a 9mm on them, intent on robbing the place, see the no firearms sign, then choose to rob someone else? pahleeze.All this does is prevent law abiding citizens like myself from defending ourselves. Keep your liberal bs hippie policy, but you wont have my business anymore, nor any of my like minded friends. Im sure the management and patrons of cracker barrell that got shot up ly wished someone was there to stop the carnage. Check your stats: near 50 percent of US households admit to firearm possession.
(1)
D I.
You really need to try it. I don't really have anything to compare it to in the area, but Brian, the part owner/operator is very friendly. He gave us the background info behind his meat. They really put time and care into the product. I usually get the pulled pork platter and two sides. Baked beans are spicy and have big chunks of the smoky pork in them, with that amazing charred bark on the end. The garlic mashed potatoes are also tasty as are the fresh cut fries (which you can't finish). Great place up north to get BBQ. I'll disagree with the review below that says you can't get out of here for less than $10/person. The pulled pork platter includes two sides for 7.49 and it's more than you can eat. Also, if you're ordering for a family, they have the family packs starting at $20 which easily feeds four adults who aren't morbidly obese.
(4)
lizette r.
old carolina catered our 250 people backyard wedding this summer. we heard rave reviews about the food from many guests and we enjoyed it quite a bit. i worked with lesliann and she was very helpful in setting everything up. the first time i went in to talk with her she sent me home with complimentary eats so that my husband and i could figure out what we wanted to serve. their food is tasty and they are friendly and accommodating. i would definitely recommend them for their catering.
(4)
Jessica M.
I have finally figured out what i like and don't like at Old Carolina. Their pulled pork is by far the best i've ever had in the area (i mean, other than my own, which is the jam). I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, a side of the creamy coleslaw, and a large Cheerwine. i didn't eat the bun, and I used the Carolina sauce (i think that's the name? it's the mustard based bbq sauce). absolutely perfect!
(4)
Mike J.
I've never eaten BBQ in North Carolina, so perhaps were I to experience an authentic Carolina Q shack, I might have a different take on this place. That said, this is one of the best fast-ish food options Summit County has to offer, and with locations popping up all over NE Ohio, the consistency is actually getting better over time. My favorite here is the pulled pork and it comes well seasoned and moist. I like mine Carolina style with coleslaw on top. The brisket is also very tasty and recommended. They've recently added chicken to the menu which we've yet to try, but in the past they offered turkey which was disappointing - hopefully the new addition improves on their past poultry offerings. All 4 sauces are worth trying. My favorite is the Piedmont, while my wife prefers the Golden. Every side dish we've tried has been great, with the exception of the mac & cheese (meh...) I usually get the fries and hot applesauce, while my better half goes with baked beans and hush puppies and we end up sharing amongst ourselves. The overall atmosphere at this location probably leaves a bit to be desired and I feel like its always a bit cold inside no matter what time of year it is, but these are minor quibbles. I still recommend this place to anyone who likes BBQ in the Akron area.
(4)
Nick K.
Great pulled pork, ribs and chicken. The sauces are tasty - we prefer the Classic and the Piedmont - and the meats are of high quality. The weekday lunch specials are great food (and lots of it) for well under $10 and its a break from the local norm. Until very recently, my favorite here was the pulled port and hush puppies, but I have to say, while I find them to be of the highest quality and with a great taste, I've transitioned to loving the ribs and succotash. I haven't put any sauce on the ribs any time I've had them. The use a great rub and they are smoked perfectly. Another point to add is that we've had them cater group events for us and people were very happy. The only reason this isn't a 5 is because the service, while friendly, is painfully slow. Waiting for my carryout a few days ago was nearly 20 minutes. Dine in or carry out, Old Carolina is worth a visit!
(4)
Jim B.
Terrific pulled pork! Nothing artificial or extruded or over processed here! And I can't get enough of their golden mustard sauce. Reminds me of the little diners that are in the Carolina's. They have original Cheerwine too on their soda fountain. Haven't seen that anywhere here up north. And you have to try their baked beans as a side dish. Their sandwich buns aren't special at all and could use some attention.
(4)
Mark M.
Well here we go again Just tried the joint in the last ten minutes Only had the pulled pork and the brisket sandwiches and I give em 3 stars The place is nice, clean and looks busy but it's only busy because they are so unorganized, I don't think these people have ever owned a restaurant but they are trying Now to the meat The pulled pork was OK not much smoke flavor but the assorted sauces were good and the bun was just right, white and doughy. The beef was tough and cut way too thick, Again no smoke flavor. I guess they have 3 places now, but I think they might be growing to fast. If they tighten it up and work on the flavor and service problems I think they have a chance, if they only worry about selling franchises they will definitely have major problems. so go and TRY IT!
(3)
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Address :620 Ridgewood Crossing Dr
Fairlawn, OH, 44333
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Cortney R.
The food is so yummy!! I ordered the 1/3 slab of ribs, baked beans, hush puppies, corn bread, and I drank as much Cheerwine as I could get. If you've never had Cheerwine, you need to give it a try. It's native to North Carolina and is somewhat hard to find in Ohio but it's becoming more prevalent lately. The ribs were very tasty. They were moist with a great amount of char on the outside. Topped with one of 4 offered bbq sauces (located by the pop machines) it's very flavorful. The baked beans are my favorite side here. They are bbq flavored with a little shredded pork in them. The hush puppies were great also. The 4 star rating is for the sticky floors. My shoes stuck to the floor as I walked across it and it was gross. Like there was maple syrup on the floor. Please mop!!
(4)Grace R.
This place is so delicious and not too expensive! You walk in the door and the menus are on the wall, so you can decide what you want as you wait in line. After you place your order, you find your seat and get your drinks and sauces. They have a large variety of sauces to pick from that range from mild to spicy so everyone can find something they like. You either pick up your food when they call your number, or they'll bring it to your table. The food was absolutely delicious! No complaints. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick, good lunch.
(5)Josie M.
SOOoo tasty! several sauces to choose from with many different combos. good date night if you dont mind being messy haha
(4)Rob C.
I went there on 5/24/15 and attempted to order two BBQ chicken dinners and was told that they had ran out of chicken. I was told that they did have chicken fingers etc...but this is a BBQ spot so thats what I went there for. Then it dawned on me as I walked emptied handed out the door one of my coworkers told me of a time when he went to a Cleveland location and they ran out of chicken. In my opinion a store running out of product thus losing customers is a poorly ran business model....needless to say I won't be back.
(1)Rich H.
I lived in Texas, and I've been to many barbecue places all over the country. As far as Akron goes, this is an excellent place. The ribs are always good, and I have had the brisket and it's good...always difficult to cook a tender brisket. What I like is that they have their own pit and actually smoke the meat. It may not quite be a central Texas joint, but they know what they are doing.
(4)Missy T.
We are visiting here from NC and I must say, this is better than we get at home. Generous portions, great sauces to choose from and they even serve sweet tea!
(5)Olivia T.
Pulled pork is so good!!! Banana pudding is to die for! Great catering portions! Fast service too! Friendly staff!
(5)M C.
We ordered the bbq bulk order and we were surprised by the massive amounts of food that was provided. That is the beginning of what turned out to be a happy family. The order was intended to serve 50 people and it did. The pulled pork is juicy and not dry, the ribs were devoured, the slider buns were excellent (though there weren't really enough - thus the only knock from us), the sides - green beans and baked beans were ok, and the beef brisket was excellent. If the sides were better and there were enough buns, they would easily be 5 stars. I would go back and expect to in the future when I'm in Ohio.
(4)Katie B.
I love old carolina and so do my kids. They can eat the mac n cheese by the quart. It is pricey but worth the money. Ordered a bunch of food for my son's birthday party and it was so amazing especially for bulk food. The sweet tea is so good and the best! I love the pulled pork and the ribs are so so good! The banana pudding is so good and the boardwalk donuts are addicting! I love the garden salad as well. The hush puppies are so so good! I love the tar heel dogs as well so yummy!
(5)Tanya R.
Hush puppies are to die for or kill first born. Pulled pork was great ... Daily special $6.95
(5)Denise G.
Gepetto's finally has some barbecue competition. The ribs are great, with the original sweet sauce or even without sauce, portions are plentiful, sides are good...banana pudding is awesome. If you like barbecue, try this place...we got pulled chicken for tomorrow's lunch :)
(5)Bill R.
Awesome barbecue!!! One of the best places to eat in Akron if you like smoked BBQ you better stop in. Sampler platter is enough to feed 2 people easily.
(5)Mark G.
You are crazy not to give this 4 or 5 stars...The low rating is very mis-leading. Northeast Ohio doesn't have a lot of BBQ places, but this placecan put us on the map. All the meats are AMAZING, great flavor and juicy. The sauces they have are great, they have 4 types that are full of flavor. The sides are awesome, I would suggest trying a few because you will get hooked. Please trust me, this is not a 3 star place, it is great quality BBQ and promise you will love it.
(4)Chandler S.
My wife and I are from the Carolinas and while nothing can replicate true southern BBQ, this place is the closest I've found so far in NE Ohio. Aptly named.
(4)Dustin J.
The ribs are smoky and have a nice bark and are great with or without sauce. Baked beans are very tasty with bits of pork. The beer is icy cold. If you are in the mood for some bbq and don't live in Texas, or Memphis or Kansas and you happen to live in the Akron area check them out. This is not fast food so if you think you are going to be in and out it's not going happen. Bbq isn't supposed to be fast.
(4)Leah N.
Finishing up day 4 of food poisoning so not much more than 1 star. My husband and I dined on Sunday night both having pulled pork and we both had food poisoning. Would not recommend.
(1)Dave C.
I stopped in here on the way home last Friday for a bit to eat. I've been seeing the ads around town and love a good bbq, so I had been wanting to try the place for a while. I have to say I was disappointed. First of all - the place is really clean and bright. I hate going into a place and it's really dirty or looks like the management doesn't take care of it. Staff was friendly, and as pointed out go out of there way to make sure everyone knows how the place works and where everything is. My disappointment was mostly with the food. First of all, it took wayyyy to long to get. I ordered ribs and brisket and a couple sides. The place was not busy at all and I was one of only three customers that were in the restaurant. It literally took almost 15 minutes to get my order, for food that presumably was already completely cooked. With drinks, sauces and utensils all self-serve, all that had to be done is to put pre-cooked food on a plate. Once I got my food, I just wasn't that impressed. Many others who have posted have spoken positively about the food, so take my comments with a grain of salt I guess. The brisket was somewhat tough and not very flavorful (although I was given a very generous portion). The ribs weren't smoky at all and the bark was more a completely carmelized top layer above the meat that came off in a slab. I'm also not particularly fond of the sauces - but this I know is personal preference. All the sauces taste to be primarily vinegar-based which I am not a fan of. I am not headed back, but give it a try for yourself.
(2)Julie S.
We've eaten here twice before. The first time, it was really busy and incredibly smokey inside the restaurant. We decided to stay and eat and when we left we smelled so terrible- I cannot even describe. However, when they were busy we had the best food. When it was not busy, the food was O.K., not delicious. So if you're into BBQ, try to get it to go. The sauces are O.K. The original sauce is the best. The employees were a bad representation of the restaurant. Both times I felt they were very slow and lacked any personality. The portions are great for the amount of money, but don't expect to leave without spending at LEAST $10 per person. But, as much as I may have disliked the service, I have to admit the food is outstanding. There is no better BBQ in Akron.
(3)Rich L.
Until this past sunday I was a huge fan of carolina bbq.. Went weekly... Sunday I noticed the "no firearms" sign on the door... So really carolina do you think that will stop a criminal from entering your store? They may have a 9mm on them, intent on robbing the place, see the no firearms sign, then choose to rob someone else? pahleeze.All this does is prevent law abiding citizens like myself from defending ourselves. Keep your liberal bs hippie policy, but you wont have my business anymore, nor any of my like minded friends. Im sure the management and patrons of cracker barrell that got shot up ly wished someone was there to stop the carnage. Check your stats: near 50 percent of US households admit to firearm possession.
(1)D I.
You really need to try it. I don't really have anything to compare it to in the area, but Brian, the part owner/operator is very friendly. He gave us the background info behind his meat. They really put time and care into the product. I usually get the pulled pork platter and two sides. Baked beans are spicy and have big chunks of the smoky pork in them, with that amazing charred bark on the end. The garlic mashed potatoes are also tasty as are the fresh cut fries (which you can't finish). Great place up north to get BBQ. I'll disagree with the review below that says you can't get out of here for less than $10/person. The pulled pork platter includes two sides for 7.49 and it's more than you can eat. Also, if you're ordering for a family, they have the family packs starting at $20 which easily feeds four adults who aren't morbidly obese.
(4)lizette r.
old carolina catered our 250 people backyard wedding this summer. we heard rave reviews about the food from many guests and we enjoyed it quite a bit. i worked with lesliann and she was very helpful in setting everything up. the first time i went in to talk with her she sent me home with complimentary eats so that my husband and i could figure out what we wanted to serve. their food is tasty and they are friendly and accommodating. i would definitely recommend them for their catering.
(4)Jessica M.
I have finally figured out what i like and don't like at Old Carolina. Their pulled pork is by far the best i've ever had in the area (i mean, other than my own, which is the jam). I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, a side of the creamy coleslaw, and a large Cheerwine. i didn't eat the bun, and I used the Carolina sauce (i think that's the name? it's the mustard based bbq sauce). absolutely perfect!
(4)Mike J.
I've never eaten BBQ in North Carolina, so perhaps were I to experience an authentic Carolina Q shack, I might have a different take on this place. That said, this is one of the best fast-ish food options Summit County has to offer, and with locations popping up all over NE Ohio, the consistency is actually getting better over time. My favorite here is the pulled pork and it comes well seasoned and moist. I like mine Carolina style with coleslaw on top. The brisket is also very tasty and recommended. They've recently added chicken to the menu which we've yet to try, but in the past they offered turkey which was disappointing - hopefully the new addition improves on their past poultry offerings. All 4 sauces are worth trying. My favorite is the Piedmont, while my wife prefers the Golden. Every side dish we've tried has been great, with the exception of the mac & cheese (meh...) I usually get the fries and hot applesauce, while my better half goes with baked beans and hush puppies and we end up sharing amongst ourselves. The overall atmosphere at this location probably leaves a bit to be desired and I feel like its always a bit cold inside no matter what time of year it is, but these are minor quibbles. I still recommend this place to anyone who likes BBQ in the Akron area.
(4)Nick K.
Great pulled pork, ribs and chicken. The sauces are tasty - we prefer the Classic and the Piedmont - and the meats are of high quality. The weekday lunch specials are great food (and lots of it) for well under $10 and its a break from the local norm. Until very recently, my favorite here was the pulled port and hush puppies, but I have to say, while I find them to be of the highest quality and with a great taste, I've transitioned to loving the ribs and succotash. I haven't put any sauce on the ribs any time I've had them. The use a great rub and they are smoked perfectly. Another point to add is that we've had them cater group events for us and people were very happy. The only reason this isn't a 5 is because the service, while friendly, is painfully slow. Waiting for my carryout a few days ago was nearly 20 minutes. Dine in or carry out, Old Carolina is worth a visit!
(4)Jim B.
Terrific pulled pork! Nothing artificial or extruded or over processed here! And I can't get enough of their golden mustard sauce. Reminds me of the little diners that are in the Carolina's. They have original Cheerwine too on their soda fountain. Haven't seen that anywhere here up north. And you have to try their baked beans as a side dish. Their sandwich buns aren't special at all and could use some attention.
(4)Mark M.
Well here we go again Just tried the joint in the last ten minutes Only had the pulled pork and the brisket sandwiches and I give em 3 stars The place is nice, clean and looks busy but it's only busy because they are so unorganized, I don't think these people have ever owned a restaurant but they are trying Now to the meat The pulled pork was OK not much smoke flavor but the assorted sauces were good and the bun was just right, white and doughy. The beef was tough and cut way too thick, Again no smoke flavor. I guess they have 3 places now, but I think they might be growing to fast. If they tighten it up and work on the flavor and service problems I think they have a chance, if they only worry about selling franchises they will definitely have major problems. so go and TRY IT!
(3)