It\u2019s getting cold out there, my friends.<\/p>\n
Here we feel but the penalty of Adam\u00a0
The seasons difference, the icy fang
And churlish chiding of the winter wind<\/p>\n
The icy fang and churlish chiding are only going to get worse, much worse. That is, unless you go to Florida or other points south for a break \u2014 maybe St. Thomas<\/a>, St. Kitts<\/a>, Grand Cayman<\/a>, or Costa Rica<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can fly to Florida and spend your vacation with, at best, a bad cold after spending a dismal night in a crowded airport after your flight is cancelled, or you can drive and minimize your global warming impact. The danger of driving is endless unhappy meals at the fast food chains that infest interstate exits. Fear not. I have the solution. Here are restaurants that (1) are genuinely good and often truly great, (2) are locally owned (no chains!), (3) are no more than 15 minutes off I-95, and (4) that serve the food pretty quickly so you can get on your way again. And here they are, presented in order from north to south, along with advice on options for overnight stays all along the way. There also is a link for those headed to the southwest coast of Florida.<\/p>\n The 15 minute limitation leaves out many great places I dearly love, but there have to be limits. When I follow my stomach it takes me three days to drive the six hours from Washington to the mid-Carolina beaches (near Morehead City). If you want to spread the drive over a couple of weeks, we can talk.<\/p>\n The list links to a review of each place (click on the red-text link), or if I haven\u2019t reviewed it, there\u2019ll be a link to it\u2019s website, if there is one. Be sure to check hours, inside and outside seating, and other details in advance.<\/strong> And rely on GPS as a bak-up to my directions.Ready? Here we go.<\/p>\n Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n First, a warning: aggressive Virginia State Troopers lurk between DC and Richmond, and farther south local law enforcement generates much revenue around Emporia<\/p>\n The first place you come to headed south from Washington (and the last chance when you\u2019re headed north) is Big Bad W<\/a> on US 1\/Richmond Highway in Stafford. Take exit 143A and hook back to the left on US 1 a 3249, in an unassuming shopping center on the west side of US 1. Out back is an all-wood cooker, and inside is a fine vinegar-pepper sauce. In between is Mr. Tevin Polite, who knows how to cook great pork.<\/p>\n The first city after Washington is Fredericksburg, and an old favorite barbecue place that fell into decline (they switched from wood to gas) has been reborn and the food has been upgraded by new owner Matt Deaton. Allman\u2019s Bar-B-Q<\/a> now, or once again, has delicious wood-cooked barbecue, some of the best in Virginia.<\/p>\n Another Fredericksburg gem is the Mason-Dixon Cafe<\/a>, only 10 minutes from 95 at either the US 17 or VA 3 exits, north and south of town, respectively. You can get off at one exit and back on the other. The food is tasty, the Googie architecture is striking, and Carl\u2019s, a legendary ice cream place, is right next door.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you want top notch ribs \u2014 and I don\u2019t advise eating ribs while driving \u2014 the best place near Richmond is The Original Ronnie\u2019s<\/a>, a short drive east of 95. There\u2019s a picnic table outside, but check for indoor service.<\/p>\n You can have a great meal, although it\u2019s likely to last a while, at\u00a0ZZQ Texas Craft Barbecue<\/a>. Their brisket is just sensational, a top contender for the best brisket in the East. If pastrami is a daily special, order it.<\/p>\n Just over 15 minutes from I-95 via 295, Redemption Barbecue<\/a> has probably the best pork barbecue in Virginia, and a kaleidoscope of other treats, from Cuban sandwiches to Chicago pizza to very good pastrami.<\/p>\n Another pastrami option is Perly\u2019s<\/a>, is your last shot at a Jewish-style deli until you get deep into Florida.<\/p>\n North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n The first opportunity to stop is just across the North Carolina line just before you hit Rocky Mount. Take the Dortches\/Red Oak exit and go to\u00a0Smith\u2019s Red and White<\/a>\u00a0and pick up some of their sensational air dried sausage. What the heck is air dried sausage? Read\u00a0this<\/a>. Next door is a fine meat and three<\/a>.\u00a0 Many people spend the night in Rocky Mount, which has a zillion motels. But don\u2019t \u2014 drive on to Wilson.<\/p>\n As an aside and a public service for the health-conscious \u2014 exit east onto NC 97 and follow your GPS to Boogie\u2019s Turkey BBQ<\/a> in Elm City. This isn\u2019t smoked turkey, it\u2019s turkey BBQ a la North Carolina, chopped with a vinegar pepper sauce.<\/p>\n Wilson can be a great place to stop for the night. You can have a fantastic steak at the\u00a0Beefmastor<\/a>,\u00a0and the tailgating there while people wait for a table is an experience not to be missed. In the morning have a cat head breakfast biscuit at\u00a0Flo\u2019s <\/a>before you get back on 95. Their pork tenderloin biscuit is legendary.<\/p>\n A very popular lunch or dinner stop in Wilson is\u00a0Parker\u2019s Barbecue<\/a>. Nancy, Liza, and I are big fans.<\/p>\n Parker\u2019s has wonderful corn sticks. If you haven\u2019t tried corn sticks, definitely stop at Parker\u2019s. Parker\u2019s also has exceptional fried chicken, and their pork is graced with one of the\u00a0best sauces<\/a>\u00a0around. It also perks up the Brunswick Stew. \u00a0The prices are shockingly low and Parker\u2019s has a warm homey feel that\u2019s especially nice on a long trip. For the local competition (especially for fried gizzards and chicken pastry), head over to Marty\u2019s<\/a>, a favorite of my ex-Wilson cousins.<\/p>\n A bit farther south, a 10-minute detour takes you to\u00a0Stephenson\u2019s<\/a>. Exit onto I-40 North and take the first exit west onto 210, then a right on 50. Or use your GPS. Stephenson\u2019s serves some of the very best Eastern North Carolina Barbecue on earth \u2014 certainly the best within such easy reach of I-95. Definitely try it. Their barbecued chicken and fried okra also are standouts.<\/p>\n Farther south, Lumberton is a long-time stopping point for trips to Florida. Long-time means that a lot of hotels on the interstate are, well, beyond their sell-by date, but there are also new hotels. My Hungry Onion<\/a> food discussion group friend, vinouspleasure, likes Arnold\u2019s<\/a>, a local place just off the interstate, for their bar food (get the fried dill pickles). But you should\u2019ve stopped in Wilson.<\/p>\n South Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n Just across the South Carolina line, Schuler\u2019s Bar-B-Que<\/a> is\u00a0an excellent place to stop for lunch and a break with its deck overlooking a pond where you can sit and enjoy lunch . There\u2019s a separate \u201ccountry store\u201d next door. \u00a0Take exit 181A for Hwy 38\/Latta and, just past the old cotton press on the right, you\u2019ll notice a huge American flag. That\u2019s Shuler\u2019s. Go through the buffet, on which the barbecue (with the\u00a0best mustard based sauce<\/a>\u00a0I\u2019ve ever tasted), fried chicken, and many other foods are kept fresh and hot. \u00a0Or order a la carte. \u00a0Either way, the food is excellent.<\/p>\n Just down the road, Florence has a terrific site, Elliot\u2019s BBQ Lounge<\/a>, which is co-located with Seminar Brewing. Elliot Moss Cookes whole hogs (as well as ribs, chicken, and salmon) over wood coals with skill that made him something of a sensation in Asheville. If you choose Florence for an overnight, you can also enjoy the craft beer at Seminar Brewing. I loved their Pixel IPA. Florence also has a\u00a0Buc-ee\u2019s<\/a>, and if you\u2019ve never experienced a Buc-ee\u2019s, you have a wonder in store.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s open (11:00 to 2:00 Thursday-Saturday \u2014 plan your trip accordingly), absolutely positively stop at\u00a0McCabe\u2019s Bar-B-Q<\/a>\u00a0in Manning. It, too, is a buffet, all you can eat, and it, too, cooks whole hog over a pit and does it superbly. It\u2019s probably my favorite spot in the state. The vegetables on the buffet are sensational, and they do a brilliant job on South Carolina local specialities like hash (wow!) and purleau.<\/p>\n If McCabe\u2019s is closed, you should try D&H<\/a>, also in Manning. Their buffet has world class hash and rice, and also fried chicken, top notch vegetables, and solid pork.<\/p>\n If you have lots of time, make the big detour to Charleston, a wonderful place well worth a few days. \u00a0If you do, try Melvin\u2019s<\/a> for superb South Carolina barbecue and hash,\u00a0Rodney Scott\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0for whole hog, or\u00a0Lewis<\/a>\u00a0for Texas brisket and sausage, but definitely go to Palmira<\/a> for the absolutely best beef barbecue I\u2019ve ever had anywhere.<\/p>\n Or you can eat at one of Charleston\u2019s\u00a0famous high-end places, but Bowen\u2019s Island<\/a> will be more fun. For more, search \u201cCharleston\u201d on the blog and the Charleston Notebook on Robert Moss\u2019s invaluable Cue Sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re taking a break in Hilton Head, the best restaurant there is\u00a0Red Fish<\/a>. You\u2019ll find more places if you search \u201cHilton Head\u201d on the Blog.\u00a0<\/p>\n Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n As you enter Georgia from the north, you come to Savannah. The Campaign for Real Barbecue Georgia page<\/a> mentions three spots in Savannah or, again, you can try some great high end restaurants. For my vegan reader, whom I have not forgotten, you can almost reach the Hungry Vegan<\/a> in 15 minutes, and there are other vegan places, like Fox and Fig<\/a>, if you have more time.<\/p>\n Savannah is a logical overnight spot, but next time I take that trip, I\u2019ll go just a little farther to Brunswick Georgia. Just before Brunswick is Darien, home of the B & J\u2019s Steak and Seafood<\/a> lunch and dinner buffet and, more important, possibly the very best fried shrimp in the world. This is plenty for two for $20.<\/p>\n The Brunswick hotels are cheaper than Savannah\u2019s and you can go over to St. Simons and eat at \u00a0Southern Soul Barbecue<\/a>, which is well outside the normal 15-minute limit. Here\u2019s an 1,000 word equivalent that explains why you should go.<\/p>\n For my vegan reader, the Sea Salt Healthy Kitchen<\/a> is in St. Simon\u2019s nearby. If you don\u2019t want to go that far, Hootenanny\u2019s<\/a> in Brunswick proper is wonderful as well, with delicious brisket and Brunswick stew<\/p>\n and astoundingly good sausages like this other-worldly bologna(!), of all things, with pimiento cheese.<\/p>\n I finally made it to\u00a0Gary Lee\u2019s Meat Market<\/a>\u00a0just a mile or so west of Exit 29 near Brunswick. I have to warn you that the line can be more than 15 minutes long, but the food is worth the wait. It\u2019s a meat market that started cooking what has to be the best pre-Franklin brisket east of Texas along with other delights. And just south is another spot just off I-95, the Smoking Pig<\/a>.<\/p>\n Farther down the coast in Kingsland at Exit 3, is\u00a0Malson\u2019s<\/a>, a shack with a big cooker outside and picnic seating, right next to McDonald\u2019s. \u00a0I believe I ate there years ago \u2014 I know I ate at a similar place \u2014 and both\u00a0Dan Kenney<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Annual Beer Snob Pig Picking<\/a>\u00a0and Senior Deli Correspondent Les Wexler<\/a> liked it, and that\u2019s enough for me. \u00a0It\u2019s so close to 95 you could just about hit it with a rock from the interstate. \u00a0But don\u2019t, please.<\/p>\n Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n Once in Florida, those headed to the West Coast will head for I-75 by turning off either onto I-4 at Daytona Beach or onto 301 near Jacksonville. We once broke down on 301 and rolled to a stop at a garage across the street from a barbecue place, certain proof of a benevolent Providence. If you use I-4, you might stop at Angelina\u2019s Pizzeria<\/a> or Santorini Greek Cuisin<\/a>e, both in Deland and both recommended by Senior Correspondent Kathy Card. Regard;ess pot the route, here\u2019s where to eat in Southwest Florida<\/a>, the land of superb seaside blackened grouper sandwiches.<\/p>\n For those continuing down I-95, you\u2019ll be a frustrating distance from many beachside places, but you\u2019ll also be hell-bent on getting to your ultimate destination. I\u2019m afraid my recent experience is pretty thin in that part of the state, but David Sanders<\/a> and others have come to the rescue with a series of great local places.<\/p>\n For something better, turn east at the FL 207 exit and head to vinouspleasure of Hungry Onion<\/a> fame reports on an area barbecue trip that \u00a0\u201cCounty Road Provisions<\/a> completely blew us away. The owner is from Lockhart, they cook over wood using no gas (according to menu) and it was as good as any place I\u2019ve eaten in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh Biscuit<\/a> is a small place about 5 miles off 95, exit 183 (Eau Gallie Blvd), in Melbourne recommended by biscuit maven David Sanders. It boasts various breakfast plates, but the stars are excellent biscuits that you can enjoy by themselves or on a breakfast sandwich of your own design. (Sorry, no country ham.) Order and pick up at the counter and dine outdoors or on the go, and don\u2019t forget a cinnamon roll.<\/p>\n At the next exit down I-95, for US 192 in Melbourne, another David Sanders is Pane E Vino<\/a>, an Italian bakery\/deli\/restaurant with an Italian chef using lots of imported ingredients, and pleasant outdoor seating. They have a worthy wine list if you\u2019re stopping for the night. It\u2019s just four or five miles off 95.<\/p>\n In northern Palm Beach County, you can spend the night in Jupiter and head to the 706\/Indiantown Road exit east to U-Tiki<\/a> for dinner. It\u2019s right on the water and serves well-cooked fresh local seafood, and they have those U-Tiki Potatoes. Just a little farther south in Juno, the Donald Ross Road exit takes you to an even better place for dinner, again if you\u2019re spending the night, Captain Charlie\u2019s Reef Grill<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Palm Beach Gardens, take the PGA Boulevard exit to Cod and Capers Seafood Market and Cafe<\/a> for lunch, or for dinner if you\u2019re staying the night. Take the PGA Boulevard exit and then turn right on US 1. The marketplace is a seafood market, with fresh-as-can-be seafood, while the Cafe serves it up beautifully cooked.<\/p>\n A little farther down 95, you can take the Norhtlake exit and a right on US 1 to The Pelican Cafe<\/a>, which serves a casual lunch and more formal dinner. The seafood and Italian specialties are terrific.<\/p>\n It you take the Palm Beach Lakes exit east and then go left on N. Tamarind, you\u2019ll arrive at\u00a0Off Tha Bone<\/a>\u00a0in West Palm Beach for a delicious lunch. It\u2019s a small, friendly place with ribs cooked over wood and reasonably priced. <\/p>\n The best Cuban restaurant in Palm Beach County is Havana<\/a> in West Palm Beach. Just take the Forest Hill Blvd. exit east and when you hit US 1, you\u2019re there. Get the lechon asado with extra mojo or, if you\u2019re in a hurry, a Cuban sandwich. If you\u2019re in a real hurry, just go to the carryout window. Farther south, another good Cuban restaurant near I-95 is Little Havana in Deerfield Beach<\/a>. You can take the West Hillsboro exit east and then a right on US 1, then enjoy your lunch, and after lunch and take US 1 south to 10th Street right back to I-95.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going on to the Keys, you\u2019ll leave I-95 and jump over to the Turnpike, which will be much faster and dump you off after the end of I-95 in Homestead where the Keys begin. You\u2019ll be within 15 minutes of a whole lot of good Cuban restaurants but, alas, I can\u2019t remember any of their names. Just search \u201cCuban near me.\u201d If you ever overnight in Miami eat at Versailles<\/a>.<\/p>\n At least once, drive all the way down to Key West.\u00a0\u00a0Here<\/a>\u00a0are some places along the beautiful drive through the Keys. There\u2019s a wonderful (and pricey) place to stay in Key Largo at the top of the Keys,\u00a0Playa Largo<\/a>, and here are a couple of really interesting places to stay in Key West itself:\u00a0Havana Cabana<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Barbary Beach House<\/a>, now rebranded as the Margaritaville Beach House. Once you\u2019re in Key West, be sure to have breakfast at La Creperie<\/a>, <\/p>\n of have a more casual but still delicious breakfast at The Best Coffee in Town<\/a> or Kim\u2019s Cuban<\/a>. <\/p>\n For a fantastic waterside lunch or dinner go to\u00a0Salute on the Beach<\/a>,\u00a0Louie\u2019s Backyard<\/a>, or upstairs for dinner at\u00a0Louie\u2019s Cafe<\/a>. The seafood is fresh and expertly prepared. And visit nearby Stock Island for Cuban Food at\u00a0El Siboney<\/a>\u00a0and, to the\u00a0Hogfish Bar and Grill<\/a> for first class seafood at lunch and, if you can find a place to park and don\u2019t mind the wait, dinner. If you\u2019re looking for a, uh, dive with good seafood, B.O.\u2019s Fish Wagon<\/a> is the perfect place. At Hurricane Hole<\/a> on Stock Island you can have top notch seafood and sleep in one of the rental houseboats.<\/p>\n Key West is a great place for Cuban sandwiches.<\/p>\n There are many types, one for every taste. Popular versions include Cuban Coffee Queen<\/a>, Kim\u2019s Kuban<\/a>, Five Brothers<\/a>, and Sandy\u2019s Cafe<\/a>. There are more, and l hope you\u2019ll let me know which you think is best. Search \u201cKey West\u201d in the Blog for many more places to eat. Most of all, sit back and relax and have fun. Enjoy your vacation.<\/p>\n Wherever you stop, change into beach clothes right away, grab a cold beverage, and bask in the sun. When you get a chance, please let me know in the comments of additional good places to eat near I-95, either north or south of Washington. Or anywhere else, for that matter. And please feel free to challenge my recommendations. Most of all, drive carefully.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n And while you\u2019re at it, click \u201cfollow<\/strong>\u201d on our front page to receive blog posts in your email box. \u00a0Or bookmark us and check in from time to time, and follow our\u00a0 Instagram<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/strong>\u00a0pages,\u00a0johntannerbbq<\/strong>. \u00a0If you\u2019re planning a trip, you can \u201cSearch<\/strong>\u201d the name of the destination city, state, or country for good restaurants (in Europe, often close to sites, like the\u00a0Louvre<\/a>,\u00a0Prague Castle<\/a>,\u00a0Vienna\u2019s Old Cit<\/a>,\u00a0or the\u00a0Van Gogh Museum<\/a>, that you\u2019ll want to visit in any event. \u00a0Comments, questions, and suggestions of places to eat or stories to cover are very welcome.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s getting cold out there, my friends. Here we feel but the penalty of Adam\u00a0The seasons difference, the icy fangAnd churlish chiding of the winter wind The icy fang and churlish chiding are only going to get worse, much worse. That is, unless you go to Florida or other points south for a break \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":325655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[17009,3767,3201,17008,222],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-325654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-barbecue","tag-blog","tag-john","tag-tanners","tag-winter"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/allmans-sand-open.jpg?w=720\")
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