By Justin Williamson
Hello and welcome to another issue of Brews and Bites with Columbus County News.
I have been sick and away for a few weeks, but I am here and telling you folks about Williamson’s BBQ and Seafood. This establishment is located in Chadbourn on N.C. 410 North, beside the car wash. Location is very easy to get into from U.S. 76 or N.C. 410, although if you are coming up from Tabor City, beach traffic can be a hindrance some days, so be patient.
Williamson’s has now been in business since the late 80’s, making it one of the older establishments in the area. Being from the Chadbourn area, I remember going in before they added the larger dining area and the buffet. I’m getting some age on.
Today, Williamson’s offers a very specific menu comprised of classic Eastern NC BBQ fare: plates and sandwiches with the expected sides and embellishments. They also cook a large amount of seafood and offer a lunch buffet, which is a big hit here in this part of the county. The parking lot is nearly filled daily with folks having lunch. Prices are fair and food is good. The buffet is a mixture of Southern faves, seafood items, and BBQ, along with a simple salad bar, and desserts are available daily.
I have to be honest with you guys and say that I have had to back up on my words in the last few months: I’ve made the statement that “I don’t really like that place”. But they have worked hard to clean up and improve the food quality in recent months. The last visit to dinner was this week and I was very impressed with service and initial walk-up impressions.
The tables were clean and floors seems freshly cared for. I know that it is hard to find service that you can depend on for small businesses; I’m not trying to seem obtuse or harsh here. I’m letting you know that things seem to be on a big upward trend with this eatery, and I approve. I apologize for my lack of faith!
My go-to at any BBQ location is a pulled pork sandwich with slaw. This week’s example had a good balance of saltiness from the pork, a bold punch from the vinegar sauce and the sweetness in with the slaw. It was so good. It’s really hard to beat a good pork sandwich.
I enjoyed that with a side of yams and my wife went with a fried chicken plate with some fries and green beans. All was solid and well flavored.
Chicken was crisp and had plenty of salt and pepper. Also at the table was a mix of seafood and BBQ plates. We all commented that we really felt happy with our selections.
As far as a rating, I’m happy to give them a 4 out of 5. They have a great business and are trying hard currently to capture more folks stopping in off the road. They are hitting service and cleanliness points well.
Food prep and quality is average for our area. You can tell that they are trying to price themselves for the market. Some small corners are cut to keep prices affordable and that’s understandable.
If you have written off Williamson’s or haven’t been over in a while, it’s time to head over and get yourselves a good plate of Southern classics this week.
They offer a drive through, so take home a pulled pork sandwich and enjoy.
As always, thanks for reading and let’s keep dining local!
Justin Williamson
