6 oz. Chuck Patty, Bacon, Homemade Pimento Cheese, Let, Tom, May, Onion Seeded Bun
Ham & Cheese*
$7.75
let, tom, may
Pork Chop Sandwich
$8.95
must, chili
Flounder
$8.35
red slaw
Chicken Tender
$8.75
let, tom, may
Buffalo Chicken Tender
$9.10
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Chicken Filet
$8.75
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Buffalo Chicken Filet
$9.10
lettuce, tomato, mayo
Grilled Chicken*
$9.10
let, tom, mayo
Barbecue Chicken
$9.10
let, tom, mayo, sweet BBQ sauce
Marinated Chicken*
$9.10
let, tom, mayo, Italian Dressing
Grilled Dry Rub Chicken Breast
$9.10
Grilled Chicken, Dry Rub, let, tom, mayo
Turkey Breast*
$9.10
let, tom, may
Additional Toppings
Grilled Onions
$0.75
American Cheese
$0.75
Bacon
$2.50
Ranch Dressing/Honey Mustard
$0.60
Peppers and Onions
$0.75
Platters
Served with 2 Sides and HP or Rolls. Additional Toppings: Cheese - $0.50, Grilled Onions - $0.40, Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings may be substituted for $0.50
Hamburger Steak* **
8 Oz. Angus$11.75
Mini Steak* **
6 oz Angus$10.60
Chicken Tender*
4 Pieces$11.75
Buffalo Chicken Tender*
4 Pieces$12.45
Flounder
2 Pieces$12.20
Grilled Chicken Breast*
2 Pieces$15.00
Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast*
Marinated in Italian Dressing
2 Pieces$15.00
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast*
Sweet BBQ Sauce
2 Pieces$15.00
Grilled Dry Rub Chicken Breast
2 Pieces$15.00
Pork Chop Fried or Grilled
$13.60
2 Pieces of boneless pork tenderloin
Hot Wings*
6 Pieces$15.00
10 Pieces$18.15
Side Orders
French Fries
Small$3.65
Large$4.25
Sweet Potato Fries
Small$4.10
Large$5.10
Onion Rings
Small$4.10
Large$5.10
Hush Puppies
Small$4.10
Mac & Cheese
Small$3.20
Large$5.10
Potato Salad
Small$3.20
Large$5.10
Green Beans
Small$3.20
Large$5.10
Baked Beans
Small$3.10
Large$5.10
Tray of Slaw
red, white
Small$3.20
Fried Okra
Small$3.20
Large$5.10
Pintos
Small$3.20
Large$5.10
Tossed Salad
Small$3.70
Large$5.24
Desserts
Hand Dipped Ice Cream Flavors
Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies-n-Cream, Moose Tracks, Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Black Cherry, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Ask About Seasonal Flavors
Cheerwine, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Pink Lemonade, Diet Mountain Dew
Small$2.25
Medium$2.55
Large$3.50
*Please allow extra time for preparation. **These items may be cooked to order. Consuming raw or undercooked meats or eggs may increase your risk of food-bourne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions
2024 Holidays: Closed Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Closed July 15-20.
About Us
Prior to the world of technology, before the wars of the world, even before the civil war, the professions of mankind consisted of knowledge of mentors passed on to their apprentices. Some of these professions included pottery, leather, iron, and steel craftsmen. The young apprentice, typically a family member, was eager to learn the family trade. Their position was more than a job, it was a process of lifelong learning. Their advancement consisted only of themselves becoming the mentor of a younger apprentice, but still remaining one in their mentor's eyes.
One of the few professions left that requires this type of traditional "training" is "pit-cooked Lexington style" barbecue. All of the remaining pit-cooking restaurants in Lexington have a connection to Warner Stamey. Stamey learned the craft from Jesse Swicegood. Swicegood and Sid Weaver are the two gentlemen credited for the origin of "Lexington style" barbecue. They began by setting up a stand across from the Davidson County Courthouse. Rising well before dawn, they started a fire with hickory wood. While the wood was burning down to coals, they placed pork shoulders on an open pit. When the smoldering coals became available, they would scatter the coals under the meat. This process continued every 30 minutes to an hour, for 8-10 hours. After about four hours, they would turn the shoulders, similar to cooking a wild boar on a spit in the Old West. During the cooking of the shoulders, the smoke would rise into the sky and float across the town. Smelling the aroma of fresh pit-cooked barbecue, the Judge would call a recess for lunch, and go across the street to devour one of those delicious barbecue sandwiches.
After gaining a few years of experience under the tutelage of Swicegood, Stamey moved to Shelby, NC, where he opened a barbecue restaurant of his own. Several years later, he chose to return home to Lexington, to open another barbecue restaurant. This decision was the biggest influence on Lexington style barbecue, and leads us to the present day status. While at his Lexington location, he not only trained his family, but he mentored famous Lexington barbecue craftsmen such as Wayne Monk, Jimmy Harvey, Joe Cope and Doug Gosnell.
Gosnell, following the path of the others, left Stamey to open his own restaurant. Gosnell moved to North Main Street and opened a dairy bar and barbecue restaurant. Eventually, he moved farther up Main Street and created the Barbecue Center. During his career, he took his brother-in-law, Sonny Conrad, under his wing. Following Gosnell's death in 1967, Sonny ran the restaurant for Gosnell's step-mother. Two years later, Sonny bought the restaurant and has ran it with his wife, Nancy, ever since. During his long tenure as the owner of the Barbecue Center, he has passed down the art of cooking barbecue to many people, including his two sons, Cecil and myself (Michael). Thus far, none of his apprentices have followed the tradition to go out on their own or take his place, although his reign is far from conclusion.
If you visit any barbecue restaurant in Lexington, you will always find family members involved in the operation. They most likely will be learning barbecue craftsmanship from their grandfather, father, uncle or cousin.
I have been asked several times along my road to becoming a mentor "how can I learn to cook barbecue." My only response is, "you cannot learn barbecue, you LIVE barbecue."