Doug Saul's BBQ & Seafood / Nashville, NC

I had already ordered my barbecue sandwich and stepped back from the counter when I side-eyed the "B" rating hanging on the wall. Ugh. It was a "high B" I assured myself, but after all the previous health department issues Doug Saul's BBQ & Seafood had in the past, it was a toss-up if it even mattered in the overall scheme of things. I mean, shouldn't an old-fashioned BBQ joint have a little bit of something off to make it legit?

The last time I had eaten at Doug Saul's was just post COVID. It was open, with no dine-in service, and the experience left me a tad perplexed barbecue-wise. Maybe it was the paranoia of their previous shut-down by the Nash County Health Department or perhaps they'd let their quality slip over the years, but something just seemed "not right" on that visit.

I pass by Doug Saul's quite often when headed to visit my sister or meeting my Dad at Oak Level Cafe, but never really think about stopping. But this day, on the way to the courthouse for an assignment, I made the extra effort to exit off Business 64 (aka Western Avenue) and give them a chance at redemption five years after my last awkward visit and supposedly without the specter of major health code violations looming large.

So much for the health department giving them an "A" grade, right?

I asked and was told that they cook half hogs over hickory. I mean, how awesome is that, right? I have always assumed they cook over gas or electric. They must store their logs inside somewhere as there's never been a pile of wood outside that I have seen. Bonus!

Wrapped up tight in aluminum foil, the sandwich has a mighty heft to it. Unwrapped, the chopped meat bulges and sweet slaw tumbles from between the soft hamburger bun slices as a subtle smokey aroma wafts from its unveiling. This is a damn good-looking example of what a BBQ sandwich should be. Looks are not deceiving in this case as that first bite packed a punch.

Tender and properly seasoned, the pork is apple cider tangy and has the perfect amount of red pepper heat to tickle the taste buds. It's super easy to chew without any dense chunks, crunchy cracklin's, or fatty morsels. It's not quite melt-in-your-mouth perfection, but it's pretty damned close.

The coleslaw is textbook Eastern N.C. style that I grew up with and love. Chopped fine with a nice balance of sweetness and crunch, it compliments the meat without overpowering it and was just the right amount to pair with the pork.

All said, while Doug Saul's sanitation score may have been a "high B," I rate their sandwich at a solid "A+++" and more than worthy of my Top 20. 8.9/10

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Doug Saul's BBQ & Seafood

813 Western Avenue

Nashville, NC 27856