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Prissy Polly’s BBQ

Prissy Polly’s BBQ is a family-owned barbecue restaurant in Kernersville, NC — genuinely distinguished by serving both Eastern North Carolina AND Lexington-style barbecue under one roof. That combination is authentically rare in the NC BBQ world, where most restaurants specialize in a single regional style rather than serving both traditions.

The menu is anchored by classic Southern BBQ fundamentals — pulled pork, baby back ribs, spare ribs, brisket, and backyard chicken breast — complemented by traditional sides including hush puppies, mac and cheese, baked beans, and both red slaw (the Lexington tradition) and sweet slaw (the Eastern tradition). Live bluegrass music on Saturday nights rounds out the experience, giving Prissy Polly’s a genuinely singular BBQ-and-live-music combination that reflects both NC’s culinary and musical heritage.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for Prissy Polly’s BBQ before you go — or to relive the visit after.

Two Regional NC BBQ Styles — Eastern and Lexington Traditions Under One Roof

North Carolina has two distinct regional barbecue traditions, and most restaurants pick a side. The Eastern NC style uses whole hog cooked with a vinegar-based sauce and served alongside sweet slaw. The Lexington style (also called Piedmont-style) uses only pork shoulder, cooked with a tomato-vinegar-based “dip” sauce and served alongside red slaw. Both traditions have devoted regional followings, and BBQ preferences can genuinely divide friends and families across the state.

Prissy Polly’s is one of the genuinely rare NC BBQ restaurants that offers both styles — giving diners the chance to sample both regional traditions in a single visit and decide their own preference. That kind of dual-style approach is rare enough that it’s become one of the restaurant’s most-mentioned features across food-focused travel content.

The BBQ menu also extends beyond traditional pulled pork to include baby back ribs (praised for being fall-off-the-bone tender), spare ribs, brisket, backyard chicken breast, fried catfish, and fried chicken — giving Prissy Polly’s genuine menu depth beyond just the two BBQ styles.

The Sides, Desserts, and Live Bluegrass Nights

The traditional Southern sides at Prissy Polly’s cover substantial ground: hush puppies (a genuinely useful practical note — hush puppies are typically served ON TOP of BBQ dishes rather than on the side, so gluten-sensitive diners should specifically request them separately); mac and cheese (topped with breadcrumbs for added texture); baked beans (praised for their flavor across countless reviews); green beans; mashed potatoes; the two-style slaw options; and Brunswick stew.

For dessert, the standouts include banana pudding (a genuine customer favorite that reviewers regularly single out), pecan pie, and rotating cobbler. Those Southern dessert classics extend the meal into a proper Southern comfort food experience rather than just a BBQ counter stop.

Prissy Polly’s most distinctive programming anchor is live bluegrass music on Saturday nights — pairing genuine NC BBQ traditions with genuine NC musical heritage. Combined with the family-friendly atmosphere and spacious interior, that Saturday night bluegrass programming gives Prissy Polly’s a genuinely singular BBQ-and-music combination that most competitors don’t match.

Good to Know

  • Location: 729 Highway 66 South, Kernersville, NC 27284 — on the Highway 66 corridor, easy interstate access from I-40; on the same road as Sixty-Six Grill and Taphouse further south
  • Ownership: Family-owned
  • Signature identity: One of the genuinely rare NC BBQ restaurants that serves both Eastern NC and Lexington-style barbecue under one roof
  • Eastern NC style BBQ: Whole hog, vinegar-based sauce, sweet slaw
  • Lexington-style BBQ: Pork shoulder, tomato-vinegar “dip” sauce, red slaw
  • BBQ menu items: Pulled pork, baby back ribs (fall-off-the-bone), spare ribs, brisket, backyard chicken breast, fried catfish, fried chicken
  • Traditional sides: Hush puppies (typically served ON TOP of dishes — request separately if avoiding), mac and cheese with breadcrumbs, baked beans, green beans, mashed potatoes, red slaw (Lexington), sweet slaw (Eastern), Brunswick stew
  • Southern desserts: Banana pudding (customer favorite), pecan pie, rotating cobbler
  • Signature programming: Live bluegrass music on Saturday nights
  • Gluten-free options: Gluten-free menu section available; owners have a daughter with Celiac disease and are genuinely attentive to cross-contamination concerns
  • Ordering options: Dine-in, drive-thru, take-out, online ordering, delivery, catering (including online catering orders)
  • Group dining: Great for large groups (spacious interior, ample parking)
  • Hours: Check the Prissy Polly’s BBQ website for current specific hours
  • Best for: BBQ enthusiasts curious about NC’s regional style differences, families and large groups, Saturday-night bluegrass music fans, gluten-sensitive diners (with the gluten-free menu), and Piedmont Triad travelers looking for an easy off-I-40 BBQ stop
  • Pair with: The full Kernersville food and beverage cluster; a Highway 66 corridor combo with Sixty-Six Grill and Taphouse; or the broader Kernersville attractions cluster, including the 1878-1880 Körner’s Folly historic home, the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, the Kernersville Auto Museum, Triad Park (including the Carolina Field of Honor veterans memorial), and the natural landscape of Cascades Preserve

A Kernersville Highlight

Prissy Polly’s BBQ is the kind of stop that stays with you for the sheer genuine rarity of serving both NC regional BBQ traditions under one roof. Between the Eastern NC and Lexington-style barbecue options, the two-style slaw variety (red and sweet), and the full traditional Southern sides menu, including mac and cheese, baked beans, and banana pudding, Prissy Polly’s offers a genuine NC BBQ education alongside a proper Southern comfort meal.

The Saturday night live bluegrass music rounds out the appeal. Pairing NC’s regional BBQ traditions with NC’s regional musical heritage gives Prissy Polly’s a genuinely singular Saturday-night dining experience that reflects two of the state’s most distinctive cultural traditions in a single venue.

Combined with the family-friendly space, the genuinely thoughtful gluten-free menu section (from owners whose daughter has Celiac), and the easy Highway 66 corridor location just off I-40, Prissy Polly’s BBQ has become one of the most consistently rewarding BBQ destinations anywhere in the greater Winston-Salem / Piedmont Triad region — and a genuine anchor of Kernersville’s food and beverage landscape.



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