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Hillsborough Street to get Red Hot & Blue

By Ashton on April 10, 2007

After a very long vacancy, and a few seeming possibilities, it appears the old Darryl’s at the corner of Hillsborough and Oberlin will be seeing a new tenant, Red Hot & Blue.  Touting themselves as “one of the truly great barbeque companies in America” an employee at the North Raleigh location said that they plan to be open by the end of the summer. 

Apparently the last company that wanted to make use of the space poured in a great deal of money before pulling out, so Red Hot & Blue plans to spend the next few months giving it their “signature” look.  There is even a rumor (with State approval of course…) of a possible rooftop bar area, which would add a great touch to that end of Hillsborough Street.  Still, some may remember the last barbeque place that tried their hand at Hillsborough Street (the Q-Shack) had a very short run before converting to a Raleigh Joe’s.  But, it’s nice to see someone finally making use of that great space and hopefully adding some more life to Hillsborough Street.

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Posted in , | 22 Responses

  • RaleighNative

    Crazy question–I’ve not been to Red Hot & Blue in …well, ever. I’ve avoided it because I was told that they do not sell NC Style BBQ, either eastern or western. Is that still true? And if so, how are they a great American BBQ company?

  • RaleighNative

    Crazy question–I’ve not been to Red Hot & Blue in …well, ever. I’ve avoided it because I was told that they do not sell NC Style BBQ, either eastern or western. Is that still true? And if so, how are they a great American BBQ company?

  • Q

    Believe it or not, there are people out there that prefer OTHER kinds of BBQ! There is KC, Memphis, Texas (even that has several styles) It has been a while since I have been to a Red Hot and Blue, however, I remember the BBQ to be OK. It ain’t King’s, B’s, Bill Ellis’ or even Smithfield’s, but it is good pig.
    Me? Give me some good ole Eastern NC BBQ and a Sweet Tea to help you become a Diabetic!!! Oh and if it is 98 degrees with high humidity, that helps!

  • Q

    Believe it or not, there are people out there that prefer OTHER kinds of BBQ! There is KC, Memphis, Texas (even that has several styles) It has been a while since I have been to a Red Hot and Blue, however, I remember the BBQ to be OK. It ain’t King’s, B’s, Bill Ellis’ or even Smithfield’s, but it is good pig.
    Me? Give me some good ole Eastern NC BBQ and a Sweet Tea to help you become a Diabetic!!! Oh and if it is 98 degrees with high humidity, that helps!

  • Tommy

    I’m from Raleigh, and still find myself there every weekend. But I’ve lived in Greenville and eaten my fair share of B’s. I travel to the beach, and can’t go through Goldsboro without stopping at Wilber’s. I now live in Wilson, trying to finish my BS at Barton and now I have Bill’s and Parker’s whenever I want. Basically, I just love Eastern NC BBQ. I have since I was a little kid (even thought I’m not that old now).
    One thing is common with all of these places…You can get a pretty substantial amount of food, for a very reasonable price. I’ve never been a very big fan of Q Shack b/c #1, its always dry and #2, its way too expensive, unless they have come down on their prices. When you put a BBQ restaurant on Hillsborough St. but sell an expensive product, its pretty obvious why its not going to sell…College students aren’t made of money!
    Red Hot and Blue, though a completely different brand of BBQ ought to do fine in their new Hillsborough St. location. Because its an actual restaurant that attracts families for dinner, not a quicky in/out place like Q Shack, its gonna bring a different crowd. Darryl’s always did fine in that location bringing out this clientèle until their latter years when the company had been sold through many different restaurant holding groups. I see no reason why the same thing can’t happen for Red, Hot, and Blue.

  • Tommy

    I’m from Raleigh, and still find myself there every weekend. But I’ve lived in Greenville and eaten my fair share of B’s. I travel to the beach, and can’t go through Goldsboro without stopping at Wilber’s. I now live in Wilson, trying to finish my BS at Barton and now I have Bill’s and Parker’s whenever I want. Basically, I just love Eastern NC BBQ. I have since I was a little kid (even thought I’m not that old now).
    One thing is common with all of these places…You can get a pretty substantial amount of food, for a very reasonable price. I’ve never been a very big fan of Q Shack b/c #1, its always dry and #2, its way too expensive, unless they have come down on their prices. When you put a BBQ restaurant on Hillsborough St. but sell an expensive product, its pretty obvious why its not going to sell…College students aren’t made of money!
    Red Hot and Blue, though a completely different brand of BBQ ought to do fine in their new Hillsborough St. location. Because its an actual restaurant that attracts families for dinner, not a quicky in/out place like Q Shack, its gonna bring a different crowd. Darryl’s always did fine in that location bringing out this clientèle until their latter years when the company had been sold through many different restaurant holding groups. I see no reason why the same thing can’t happen for Red, Hot, and Blue.

  • ColoniusFunk

    I would much prefer to see at least one of the NC styles of BBQ on Hillsborough St. But at this point, we’ll take what we can get to fill that spot. Its going to become much more accessible and attractive of a spot once they put the roundabout in. I’ll be interested to see the effect that those have on that region of the street.

  • ColoniusFunk

    I would much prefer to see at least one of the NC styles of BBQ on Hillsborough St. But at this point, we’ll take what we can get to fill that spot. Its going to become much more accessible and attractive of a spot once they put the roundabout in. I’ll be interested to see the effect that those have on that region of the street.

  • Hunter

    Anyone know about the Red, Hot, & Blue location in NE Raleigh? Do they have a quick area to stop and eat for singles like other BBQ restuarants in Raleigh do? I end up eating alone most nights and its no fun to go into nice places by yourself. I’ve been wanting to try out their food though after trying it at some State football games.

  • Hunter

    Anyone know about the Red, Hot, & Blue location in NE Raleigh? Do they have a quick area to stop and eat for singles like other BBQ restuarants in Raleigh do? I end up eating alone most nights and its no fun to go into nice places by yourself. I’ve been wanting to try out their food though after trying it at some State football games.

  • http://www.plutonyum.com/ Tony

    Better RH&B; than nothing, I guess. Only time will tell.
    A rooftop bar would be a great idea, which likely means that some combination of the City and the crotchety nearby residents would nix it.

  • http://www.plutonyum.com Tony

    Better RH&B than nothing, I guess. Only time will tell.
    A rooftop bar would be a great idea, which likely means that some combination of the City and the crotchety nearby residents would nix it.

  • http://www.thedailyrebellion.blogspot.com/ Nick

    Damn I may be gone before this place and the new roundabouts open!
    Good idea however for that corner, once its intersection is improved. I love the idea of a rootop patio, however patrons will have a direct view into the NC State Chancellor’s home.
    Which is a good and bad thing.

  • http://www.thedailyrebellion.blogspot.com Nick

    Damn I may be gone before this place and the new roundabouts open!
    Good idea however for that corner, once its intersection is improved. I love the idea of a rootop patio, however patrons will have a direct view into the NC State Chancellor’s home.
    Which is a good and bad thing.

  • http://jut.net/weblog/ teedz

    RHB is not bad, their ‘cue is a bit dry, but their dry rub ribs are really good.
    I grew up eating at RHB relatively often in the DC area. While it’s not bad, there are better ‘cue places. In all, though, not a bad choice for the location.

  • http://jut.net/weblog/ teedz

    RHB is not bad, their ‘cue is a bit dry, but their dry rub ribs are really good.
    I grew up eating at RHB relatively often in the DC area. While it’s not bad, there are better ‘cue places. In all, though, not a bad choice for the location.

  • John

    “Good idea however for that corner, once its intersection is improved. I love the idea of a rootop patio, however patrons will have a direct view into the NC State Chancellor’s home.”
    A new Chancellor’s Residence is being built by Lake Raleigh on Cent. Campus.

  • John

    “Good idea however for that corner, once its intersection is improved. I love the idea of a rootop patio, however patrons will have a direct view into the NC State Chancellor’s home.”
    A new Chancellor’s Residence is being built by Lake Raleigh on Cent. Campus.

  • http://unixbeard.blogspot.com/ Magnus

    When they are on, they are really on, but RH&B; has gone downhill in recent years (IMHO). I recently ate at their north Raleigh location at Falls of Neuse Rd. and it was disappointing. The slaw was swimming in mayo, so much so that this slaw lover had to leave quite a bit on the plate. The BBQ was merely “ok”, very dry, and required copious amounts of sauce to go down well.
    The servers there represent the tackiest of the tacky eateries. Along with the obnoxious flash they have to wear, they have to try to behave like they are on a familiar and informal relationship level with the customers while at the same time speaking from a memorized script of products they have to pimp out to the customers. It really puts me off when the server is talking to me and touching me on the shoulder like he’s my best friend while at the same time encouraging me to try the latest appetizer that is being promoted.
    The menus really needed to be run through the dishwasher. I think that many years of children fingerpainting on the menus with various flavors of BBQ sauce (and whatever else was on the plate) made the menus chunky & funky, not the sort of thing you want to see when you’re getting ready to order up some food.
    Ten years ago I used to eat more often at their Chapel Hill location and found it to be good eating for a fair price. These days, if the Falls of Neuse location is any indication of where the company has gone, it’s right down the toilet.

  • http://unixbeard.blogspot.com Magnus

    When they are on, they are really on, but RH&B has gone downhill in recent years (IMHO). I recently ate at their north Raleigh location at Falls of Neuse Rd. and it was disappointing. The slaw was swimming in mayo, so much so that this slaw lover had to leave quite a bit on the plate. The BBQ was merely “ok”, very dry, and required copious amounts of sauce to go down well.
    The servers there represent the tackiest of the tacky eateries. Along with the obnoxious flash they have to wear, they have to try to behave like they are on a familiar and informal relationship level with the customers while at the same time speaking from a memorized script of products they have to pimp out to the customers. It really puts me off when the server is talking to me and touching me on the shoulder like he’s my best friend while at the same time encouraging me to try the latest appetizer that is being promoted.
    The menus really needed to be run through the dishwasher. I think that many years of children fingerpainting on the menus with various flavors of BBQ sauce (and whatever else was on the plate) made the menus chunky & funky, not the sort of thing you want to see when you’re getting ready to order up some food.
    Ten years ago I used to eat more often at their Chapel Hill location and found it to be good eating for a fair price. These days, if the Falls of Neuse location is any indication of where the company has gone, it’s right down the toilet.

  • Michael

    RH&B; serves Memphis style BBQ, AFAIK. It is pretty good stuff. Since the chain came of out bankruptcy, it seems that they doubled the prices, so I don’t go as often as I used to (Cary location). I agree that the menus are often dirty, it’s not the cleanest restaurant that I’ve ever seen, but then since they do cater to families, you’ve got to cut them a little slack I guess. For those of us who don’t eat pork but want good BBQ, this is an excellent place.

  • Michael

    RH&B serves Memphis style BBQ, AFAIK. It is pretty good stuff. Since the chain came of out bankruptcy, it seems that they doubled the prices, so I don’t go as often as I used to (Cary location). I agree that the menus are often dirty, it’s not the cleanest restaurant that I’ve ever seen, but then since they do cater to families, you’ve got to cut them a little slack I guess. For those of us who don’t eat pork but want good BBQ, this is an excellent place.