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| - This franchised location of a Triangle staple is quickly becoming one of our go-to options in the South Charlotte / East Ballantyne / Providence neck of the woods. In fact, this barbecue joint, along with the Total Wine, Yoforia and Home Depot located nearby, is quickly making the Promenade on Providence a frequent midweek stop for our family.
First, this place fully plays to my Pittsburgh bias, so let's get that out of the way. The owner is originally from Western Pennsylvania but has been in Charlotte over 15 years, and the guy's certainly learned more than his fair share about barbecue and the delicious sides to go with it. A few small pieces of Pittsburgh sports memorabilia on the walls let you know you've found a place that embraces the black and gold, but none of the decor gets in the way of the real showpiece here: the food.
My wife and I have enjoyed every meal we've had here, including the entrees - pulled pork sandwich, mustard pork sandwich, brisket, and smoked turkey - and the sides (sandwiches come with one, platters come with two) - collards, mac n cheese, baked beans - and hushpuppies (a few are included with every meal). They offer three different sauces, too, to apply according to your taste. There's a vinegar-base, a tomato-base, and a mustard-base that's tweaked just enough to be different from the Carolina mustard sauce you may be used to.
Tea and soft drinks are your only beverage options; that, combined with a newer, more commercial location, give The Q Shack a much different feel than my other two BBQ favorites in Charlotte: Mac's Speed Shop and Sauceman's. It's a perfect place to bring our son for a quick, early evening out and it can also be especially affordable if you're a daily special kind of person.
In addition to an already fairly-priced menu, this location has a $4.95 special all day every day, and sometimes it has two. The last time we visited, for example, they had a salad topped with egg, BBQ chicken, and pulled pork as one selection and another featuring a sandwich filled with their pulled pork soaked in mustard sauce. And if the kids are coming along, Wednesday is Kids Eat for $1 Day (w/ purchase of a regular meal, natch).
So, if you're in the Promenade area and want a reliable spot for lunch or dinner that offers good taste, variety and value, give The Q Shack a try.
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