This place is just another one of those amazing local gems that you find when you travel extensively for work. Aside from it having quite possibly the best Carolina style barbecue I've had in quite sometime, the service is incredible either the orders coming quickly and accurately. The patronage here despite it being 2024 takes you back to a simpler, happier time that seems out of place, Natalie's accent is one of the greatest things about being a North Carolinian.

Stopped at Red Bridges on way to mountains. Got large pork bbq plate and split it with my wife. It includes a large portion of bbq. BBQ slaw, French fries, beans and hush puppies. The food was delicious and plenty for two of us. The waitress was excellent and this place is always quick when it comes to serving you. I used to live in Shelby so always try to stop here when passing through the area.

They make a mean barbecue sandwich. They also have very good barbecue nachos. The hush puppies are to die for! The only two reasons they get four stars is that they put peppers on the nachos sometimes, at their leisure... just ask if we want them. I don't like them so my answer is no. Their tea is also sickening sweet and I like my tea sweeeetttttt. If you are having to put half sweet tea and half unsweetened on more than half of your tables, something needs to change. I personally heard 5 people ask for something else or for unsweetened to mix in one lunch setting. We will be back and hope that some small things change and the good stays the same!

Our waitress was very polite and was attentive and kind to us our entire experience. The food was great and very filling. I ordered the potato salad, bbq chicken, and hush puppies and it was all fresh. The prices for the food are very affordable. However, there were crumbs all over my booth seat. Customers waiting for take out orders were standing literally on top of our table. It was very unenjoyable to have random people leaning on our booth and putting their arms on it when we were trying to eat. I would come here again, but I would just sit somewhere different.

Red Bridges ranked 23/50 in Southern Living's 2019 survey of the South, and was the readers' top choice in a 2019 USA today survey. The team at Big Seven Travel rated it #38 nationwide. We visited on a late Sunday morning, and it was very, very busy. Still, service was both friendly and quick, which we always appreciate when on the road. We shared a jumbo plate, which gave us more than enough food for two at a very reasonable price point ($12.75 plus tax). The pork was superb, moist with great flavor and smoke. The Lexington style coleslaw and the hush puppies both left us wanting more. The french fries, in contrast, were just okay, and the baked beans frankly nothing to write home about. So, if you are on the road between Charlotte and Ashville, or just in the neighborhood, this is a great choice for a BBQ lunch. More hush puppies, please!

This popular BBQ spot is the perfect stop on the way back to Charlotte from the mountains. My husband and I shared: - Jumbo Plate - Deviled Egg Sandwich - Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich - Banana Pudding I wish I could get BBQ like this in Charlotte. It was fantastic. And so cheap. The hushpuppies and slaw were my favorites of the sides. I'd probably double up on the BBQ plates next time.

I first went to Red Bridges a few decades ago. I was impressed back then, and visited several more times. But I don't get out towards Shelby much in modern day, so it's been more than a few years since I checked this classic venue out. Luckily, I found myself in Cleveland County recently, and knew that was reason enough to see if the Q is still as good as I recall. It is. Wood smoked meat, tangy sauce, barbecue slaw, quality hush puppies...all just like I remember. So this place will remain one of my favorites. And I hope that never changes.