If you’re traveling through Western North Carolina, make a stop in Cleveland County. In addition to the great hiking trails and glamping opportunities, you find some amazing food and drinks unique to the area. We’re talking barbecue perfected for the past three generations and chocolate-chip flapjacks that will make you believe in a higher power. Where do you start? Well, we have that covered. Take a look at our Wonder Picks and prepare your taste buds to work a little overtime.
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LOCATION: 133 West
CITY: Kings Mountain, NC
PRICE: $$
WHY GO: A nationally known favorite, cooking up comfort food for almost a century.
OUR TAKE:
Located in historic downtown King’s Mountain, 133 West brings a modern and creative approach to Southern Cuisine. The atmosphere is light and relaxing, The menu is always changing with a focus on freshness and seasonality. But there’s also a global curiosity to each dish. The dishes are Southern at heart, but you may also find a kick of Greek or Arabic flavor mixed in, just to keep your taste buds on alert. If you’re looking for that unbeatable flavor, with a reminder of home, look no further than 133 West.
CLOSE BY: Kings Mountain Gateway Trail
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LOCATION: Red Bridges BBQ
CITY: Shelby, NC
PRICE: $$
WHY GO: Barbecue painstakingly hand-chopped and perfected over three generations.
OUR TAKE:
Tender, hand-chopped pork painstakingly pit-cooked over a bed of glowing hickory and oak and slathered in red Lexington-style sauce. This is what you can expect from Red Bridges BBQ. Oh, and don’t forget the hushpuppies! For three-generations, this is what the Bridges family has been serving up in Cleveland County. The same old-fashioned flavor, perfected in 1946, is exactly what you get today. Just make sure you stock up on extra napkins. If your face and hands don’t get messy eating this barbecue, we’re pretty sure you’re not doing it right!
CLOSE BY: The Broad River Greenway
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LOCATION: The Shelby Café
CITY: Shelby, NC
PRICE: $$
WHY GO: A nationally known and local favorite, cooking up comfort food for a century.
OUR TAKE:
The Shelby Café is the kind of place where a balanced diet starts with a fork at each end. This local and nationally known favorite has been cooking up Carolina comfort food for close to a century. From fried liver-mush to homemade pimento cheese, every order is the right order. Especially when it is brought to your table with a smile, followed by a "ya’ll come back!"
CLOSE BY: The Earl Scruggs Center