R O ‘s Bar-B-Que

I absolutely LOVE this place! I eat here about twice a week, my kids really like it too! Great food at GREAT prices!

«Shot’s fired at Ora Mae’s Bite Shop» in Gastonia. Apparently these two business associates were having a discussion involving each other’s wives and up come two nickel plated 38’s. Neither was a very good marksman it looks like. Ody fired four shots… he hit the sidewalk, a parking meter, a fender, and the sleeve of Tommy Earl’s favorite cashmere blazer. Tommy Earl fired four shots… he hit the sidewalk, the sky, the Cheerwine machine, and the loafer on Ody’s left foot. It looked like he was going to lose his left toe but Ody told the paper «That won’t affect my golf swing none.»
The article in the local paper was titled «Gunfight at the Ora Mae Corral»!
RO’s is terrible. This is the worst «BBQ» I’ve ever had, and they smash the sandwiches flat for cryin’ out loud. The extra star is for the slaw, which is one of the reasons I still visit North Carolina. Here’s a tip, go to Harris Teeter and load up on slaw, and stay the hell away from this place.

There was one time I was eating some Sonny’s BBQ and the sandwich dropped on the ground. I was so hungry. I picked the sandwich up and wiped it off the best I could. However I definitely ate a lot of dirt, some grass and pebbles and a few bugs with that BBQ. That was the worst BBQ I’ve ever eaten, until I ate at R.O.‘s.
This is hands down the absolute worst BBQ you will ever eat. Calling it disgusting is giving it a compliment. Not only is the meat itself horrible, but the vomit sauce they call slaw is over the top appalling.
If you are dying of starvation and someone hands you an R.O.‘s BBQ sandwich, I suggest you hand it back and go home to Jesus. It may be better to die happy than live having eaten this pork waste.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Everytime I am in Gastonia I make a trip to eat here. I even plan some trips around them. This is the best bbq and slaw in the world. I buy a pint or two of the slaw to take bake to Florida with me. Do yourself a favor and go eat there. And get the slaw!!!

Sure, I come here. But not for the BBQ, which is tasty, but mainly for the cherry sundrop. The sandwiches are messy, and as I stated, tasty.
RO’s is a Gastonain tradition. It’s been around for a while. Are there better BBQ joints? Of course! But it’s quick, no frills, and hits the spot.

A BBQ spot I’ve been to many times over the past 30 years and RO’s has never disappointed! If you’re looking for good BBQ then look no further check em out you’re tastebuds will thank you. While there get the cherry lemon Sundrop it’ll knock your socks off.

The slaw/​sauce/​dip is really what you come for. It’s different from what I have had before, but it’s good. The meat itself is not spectacular, but it is what it is-​an interesting local experience with really nice people in a clean environment.

Little fast food joint in Gastonia, NC. Sliced bbq and pimento cheese on toast were good, and the slaw/​dressing was super yummy! The place had a lot of character, but I think maybe I have overindulged a bit to much to give a truly impartial review.

YUCK. Sliced pork sandwich was gray and had the consistency and flavor of warmed sliced processed deli meat. There is a reason the pork is covered in the slaw sauce stuff — to hide that bruised looking pork. The slaw sauce was ok… kind of a pickley thousand island with cabbage. The pimento cheese was good but not great. The cherry sun drop was tasty like a cherry slushy. Bottom line — it’s true that you eat with your eyes first and that gray meat blinded my appetite.

The slaw sauce is a must have. They have many options on what to have burgers, dogs, minced pork. This isn’t BBQ as you see on TV, it’s a love it or hate it place.

The bbq at RO’s is not pit-​cooked bbq, never has been, and has never pretended to be-​A Gastonia «BBQ“is a unique roast pork SANDWICH-​sliced or minced-I’ve been eating here almost 60 years, never had a bbq plate or know anyone to order one and would NEVER think of putting any bbq sauce other than the slaw-​which is really more of a sauce-​on this meat, although the roast pork sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and mayo is very good. There used to be a lot of places in Gastonia selling this type of bbq-Tom’s and Van’s (my favorite 40 years ago) are long gone and only Black’s and RO’s remain-​The slaw is also great on hot dogs and burgers-​The onion rings used to be heavily battered and very unique, but now they’re quite ordinary and mediocre-​Other than the onion rings the food’s just as good as it ever was. They’ve started taking credit cards but don’t tell you there’s a fifty-​cent fee for doing so-​I noticed the tiny sign with this information AFTER I paid-​I guess they want the increased business taking cards will encourage, but want to pretend to be such a great value they have to charge a fee-​Which is ridiculous since they’re overpriced with minimal service anyway-​I notice on the menu they now charge $ 2 for a slawburger-​which might be worth fifty cents as a novelty-​Pretty shabby and sad-​I have a lot of nostalgic affection for this place and the food and wish I could give it 5 stars-C’est la vie.

This is the best bbq sandwich on the planet. Put everything you know about bbq aside and open your mind to something unique and spectacular. I now live near Memphis, a bbq capital, and I have had bbq in Texas, Kansas, MO, and lots of other places. I had this style of unique lean pork deicacy beginning when I was just 4 years old and everytime I get within 10 0 miles of RO’s I make the trip, and get lots to go. Try the sliced bbq sandwich that has an amazing and uinque slaw and get ready to be gown away. Whoever writes funky reviews for this place must have been expecting something familiar, but trust me you have not had anything like this before, and can’t find it anywhere else, period. Expand your horizons and get ready for a new absolute favorite… Go to RO’s, and I would be grateful if you could FedEx me a dozen or so sandwiches :-)
This place is really terrific!

I had never been to RO’s. I was driving by there today, though, and picked up a take-​out order, a minced pork platter.
It was completely disgusting and inedible. The meat was completely dry and minced down so fine it looked like beach sand in the bottom of the foam plate. The packets of institutional-​type packaged barbeque sauce were disgusting.
What passes for cole slaw is more like sloppy soup.
The fries were unremarkable frozen crinkle cut.
Absolutely a stretch to call this barbeque. To quote Poe, «Nevermore.»

Let me start by saying I’m a native Gastonian, and I grew up regularly eating RO’s BBQ. My dad even worked there, back when the waiters were required to be attractive. That was apparently part of the appeal, my mom tells me. Pull up, handsome guy comes to take your order and delivers the food to your car with a wink and a smile.
BUT
That was 1989, and I am not blinded by nostalgia. It has become apparent that in recent years, RO’s has relied less on taste and quality and more on the misplaced trust of patrons from years past.
The RO’s slaw is the main attraction for most natives. The closest thing I can relate it to is thousand island. Hell, it just may BE thousand island with a little spice added in. I hadn’t eaten here in quite some time when I brought my out of town fiancé to the food truck on the corner to try it out (after explaining the décor of the main restaurant wasn’t anything special). If you decide to try the main location, thinking maybe this was a food truck experience gone awry, read on. The main location (in scenic ghetto Gastonia) has tiny booths, the chairs do not move, there is no handicap seating available, and the waitstaff seem more interested in socializing with one another than serving you. This is especially true if you eat inside, where tips aren’t expected, vs eating in your car where I guess you’re supposed to tip them for walking that 15 feet you didn’t feel comfortable traversing.
We ordered two platters ($ 19.11 total, one minced, one «pulled pork». The «pulled pork» is listed as a third option but truly, it is just the same thing as option number one: sliced.
Thankfully, the staff was very nice and talkative. What I was most grateful for however was that the «slaw» came in a separate container, and you put the meat on the buns yourself. Granted they are store bought buns they warm up and flatten.
The meat. Dead. That’s the only word for it. Or maybe «gray». No, dead sums it up. My fiancé’s «minced» meat was pulverized and decimated to the point that he didn’t even realize it was supposed to go on the sandwich. It was buried under hush puppies and pale, undercooked fries, to be fair. His comment that really struck me was «…is…what is this??? Is it cat food?»
My «pulled pork» aka «sliced» pork, was pale gray and darker gray and seriously resembled what month-​old turkey slices may look like. It didn’t taste like pork. I seriously am doubting whether they truly use pork at all, or whether they have a secret deal with the local pound for cheap meat. I kid you not, it looked disgusting.
While it *looked* disgusting, it didn’t particularly taste like anything. It was just dry, so dry. So, so dry. The only way to make it edible would be to coat it in the thousand island– I mean, slaw.
They do give you two tiny packets of tomato based BBQ sauce that they probably buy in bulk from Sam’s Club.
Silver lining: the hushpuppies were okay. Teensy tiny, but okay.
If you still think you ought to give RO’s the good olé’ college try in memoriam of your delicious, nostalgic childhood memories: DON’T… but if you must… bring cash– no debit/​credit cards allowed.

Not my cup of slaw
I’ll start off by saying I’m not from Gastonia. If you live there and love RO’s, then you already know about it and nothing I say here will make any difference other than annoy you because I’m going to insult a local institution. If you are not from Gastonia, and you’re in town looking for some Carolina barbecue, you’d be well advised to keep looking because you probably aren’t going to like it.
One of the things I like about traveling on business is that I get to visit local places that are off the tourist path. RO’s in Gastonia appeared to fill the bill. It’s a dive with architecture in the Early Utility Shed style. The parking lot was covered up with cars and people. Some people were eating in their cars and staff members were running out to the cars to take orders. Obviously a local favorite. Good signs proving that there is no accounting for taste.
The interior décor matched the exterior in all its dingy glory, but an A rating from the local Health Department was prominently displayed. We waited behind 3 or 4 other customers to get to the counter. I ordered a sliced pork sandwich. My companions ordered chopped pork sandwiches with fries and onion rings, and a cup of «barbecue slaw.»
The sandwiches, fries and rings arrived in grease-​stained wax paper — a look back to another time while the slaw came in a foam cup. I eagerly unwrapped my sandwich to discover bland pork loin slices drenched in pink mayonnaise that soaked through a soggy bun. Other reviews here have called the pink sauce spicy. Maybe it’s because of my southwest tastes, but the word «spicy» never entered my mind. Bland and mayonnaisey was my take. The slaw, which appeared to be more pink mayonnaise than cabbage, was soupy and also bland. We all looked at each other and knew that we had made a mistake.
RO’s is obviously a local institution with a loyal following. That’s fine. If you aren’t from there and haven’t been raised on the pink stuff, my bet is you won’t like it. To those who know and love it, well, enjoy! You can have my place in line.

I first ate at this place in1971. Was very good then and busy. Cherry, lemon, sun drop was fantastic. Had a slice of lemon and a cherry or two also. Now is a different story. No more cherries and the food is marginal at best. Menu is too long. Who needs to sit and study the menu for 10 min.
Fries were terrible. Soggy and from the frozen variety. Need fresh fries. Cheaper and taste great. The BBQ sandwich has really changed over the years. It used to be hot with a good portion of meat and slaw. Now it is a small amount of meat and slaw smashed in a bun and cooked in a «MICROWAVE»! Are you kidding me? They charge an arm and a leg for this processed food they serve. They are living off their past reputation. Sorry, that doesn’t work. Food speaks for it self.
The dinning room is a joke! It sounds like you are in a drum. No sound deadening material at all. Ketchup comes in little packets. 15 or 20 of these will work for your fries. Of course the fries will be cold after you spend all of you time squirting them all over your plate and hands. Location of RO’s is deep in the hood. Work your way past the prostitutes and druggies and you will be greeted inside by local cop on weekends. Nice place…

This venerable barbecue restaurant reminds me a little of Snappy Lunch in Mt Airy — a following built on a single speciality food item, that is beloved locally by many, should be visited once by most of us for the uniqueness of it, and pretty much left at that.
The Pork Chop Sandwich of Snappy Lunch does seem somewhat more culinarily substantial than Pink Slaw, even an 11 ingredient Pink Slaw, but there is a certain uniqueness, a charming nostalgia, and undeniable character to this 66 year old family operated barbecue joint that somehow manages to draw you back — almost despite the barbecue.
The barbecue sans the famous slaw is tender, relatively moist, with no hint of smokiness — it is cooked in an electric pit; comes minced or very thinly sliced — all in all, rather bland. The addition of «the slaw» removes this barbecue combination forever from the Eastern vs Lexington equation — this is a different pork product now, and not one that I would seek out often — I’m just not a big fan of «the slaw» — it does not combine with the pork, it over powers it, and putting it on burgers or dogs, doesn’t improve them either. And the Slaw Sandwich simply leaves the slaw totally on its own.
Still, there is much here to bring you back — the curb service is efficient and totally cool; the burgers here are pretty good (not as good as some found in nearby Cherryville, but pretty good), especially with the home made Pimento Cheese; and the Cherry Lemon Sundrop is definitely different. Unfortunately, the hot dog is not one I care for, the chili just doesn’t get it done.
The folks here are friendly, efficient, and part of a family environment — the kitchen manager has been with this operation for 59 years, since he was 15 years old — hard to find that at many places. I’ll visit again — probably for a burger, without slaw.

These guys do barbecue like nobody else. Their burgers rock and the turkey burger is the best I’ve ever eaten anywhere. This is truly a Gastonia secret that needs to be told to everyone.

I’ve been going to RO’s since I was knee high to a pup.
It’s as good as it ever was.
It’s a Gastonia tradition, my nephew Sean worked there during HS as a curb waiter. You pull into a numbered parking spot, they take your order either to go or to stay.
One of the great things they’ve done recently is to offer the BBQ Dippin slaw for sale in pint or quart containers. If your’e not near their store you can go to an area grocery store like, Harris Teeter and buy it off the shelf.
You can also order thru their web site.
The other nice thing is their traveling catering truck, RO’s Mobile, serving great BBQ on wheels!

OMG, Ellis, I am SO sorry to have to dump on your restaurant, but my meal from RO’s tonight was absolutely HORRIBLE.
First off, BBQ must be cooked SLOWLY over a wood fire/​coals — smoke must be present. This stuff tasted like a bad pork roast, no smoke flavor (or any other flavor) whatsoever, just kinda bland. I had the sliced, minced (eeww) was the other option; no pulled pork for me.
This place serves 100% food-​service grade food. I overheard the cashier talking to a lady about how they had to go up on their prices because «Tyson went up on the price of hams». Hush puppies: greasy, not crisp on the outside, just kinda… thick. French fries: ditto. Onion rings: just above Burger King grade (sadly the ‘rings were the best of the plate). Baked beans: straight outta the can. BBQ sauce: «Bullseye» food service single-​serve container. There was a container of what appeared to be mustard-​ketchup-​mayo sauce that was kinda interesting, but that was the ONLY food on the plate that didn’t look as if it fell off a US Foodservice truck. In fairness to USF, the onion rings, fries and hush-​puppies would have been a lot better if cooked properly.
I literally couldn’t eat it — $ 7.99 + tax down the drain.
Look, I’m from SC. I’ve been eating BBQ all my life — raised on the stuff — and I haven’t had a decent BBQ plate since I moved to NC — these ppl are unbelievably BBQ deprived! They use ELECTRIC COOKERS as a matter of course! OMG — heresy! «Minced» is a popular option — yeah, like i want my BBQ and my cole slaw to have the same consistency… Is it just the Charlotte area, or is the whole state like this?
Anyway, RO’s musta went WAYYY downhill in the last couple of years — it just plain sucked. Don’t waste your time or your money.