Mac’s Speed Shop

One of the best bbq I’ve tasted in a long time!!! Beautiful interior, multiple tvs, patio, large selection of beers and hot waitresses. You can’t beat this!!!

I’ve eaten a lot of good BBQ but my pulled pork dinner was NOT good eats. We arrived at 10:00 p.m. and were greeted pleasantly and promptly. And that is the highlight of our meal.
I ordered the pulled pork with baked beans and onion rings. My dinner arrived with the pork absolutely swimming in orange colored grease. Even the bottom portion of my onion rings was befouled with grease. The pork was also very dried out, some parts were downright hard, and difficult to chew. How something could be that dry, yet drenched in oil is a mystery. The onion rings were ok, with a nice cornmeal crust. If it weren’t for the dip they took in grease, they would have been quite tasty.
And lastly, the baked beans; I looked in the bowl and all I saw was a watery red sauce. I thought maybe they had given me the wrong side. On closer examination, I did find a few beans scudding around the bottom of the bowl. But most of the bowl was ‘bean juice’.
After reviewing photos of lots of good-​looking meals that people posted, my daughter and I discussed how there could be such a disconnect between the photos on Unilocal and the dregs that were brought to our table. We surmised that our pork was scraped from the bottom of the pan, and topped with some oily substance to try to add moisture. Similarly, I think all the beans had been strained out of my serving of baked beans, so they topped the bowl off with juice. They never should have sent that food to our table.
Maybe the food is better earlier in the day, but I won’t be giving them another try.

Literally some of the worst BBQ I’ve ever had. I was willing to give this place two stars until I saw other people’s normal-​looking BBQ in Unilocal pictures, which made me a bit mad at the dog scraps we were given tonight.
Both of our plates of pulled pork were dry and overcooked; some bark pieces were incredibly tough and hard to chew on, and this is despite it absolutely drowning in a pool of grease (see photo for reference). My mom’s cup of baked beans didn’t look like other patron’s pictures: it was like a soup, with only half of it full of beans. Side salad was okay, the lettuce was watery but at least it wasn’t a total failure. The Cole slaw was pretty good with a nice vinegar base, probably was the best part of my meal.
Maybe because we came a bit later (around 9:30), we didn’t get the best food? But seriously, come the f on, if you’re going to be open until midnight, give your A game until closing. Don’t feed your customers crap.
The only saving grace was that our waitress was nice, prompt, and helpful. Also, the fact that they are open late is pretty nice. Other than that, I wouldn’t recommend this even to an enemy.

So good. Great beer list, good food, and great service. Only a few slight issues. The white meat of the beer can chicken was very dry and the hostess entirely forgot about our waiting group, even though we had spoken to her just 10 minutes before. I loved the mac and cheese, pulled pork, sauces, beers, and collard greens.
Definitely a gem in an area with food I usually dislike!

New to the Charlotte area and while driving around ran across this spot that looked pretty live from the car so gave it a shot. The local military also seemed to love this place so they must know good food lol.
While reviewing the menu first thing pops out is
Shrimp & Grits which is a favorite brunch/​breakfast item for me but decided I’ll try that next time so went with the Catfish with 2 sides (the south).
The Catfish was heavily breaded & for me a bit salty but my friend told me that’s a southern thing so I overlooked that bc it was cooked well. I also had the Mac & Cheese which I really enjoyed and would comeback just for that. I also had the side salad which for a side was pretty big so no complaints there.
Our server was nice & patient as I asked tons of questions on the sides. With that being said, I would recommend this location but I wasn’t wow’d on the Catfish and neither was my bf. I definitely want to comeback and try some other entrees like the Shrimp & Grits. I’ll definitely update my review after my next visit.

I do not know why this place is so popular, maybe it’s the beer and outdoor scene?
The food here is average, pulled pork is the safest bet, but their brisket is the worst. It came in a ‘perfect’ rectangle which is not what real brisket even looks like — All hail MidwoodSmoke house Plaza Midwoods Brisket with real black char and options for fatty or lean… (Sorry…brisket rant!) but really, thanks for the hard, dry meat Macs. I didn’t finish it at all, ate my sides and left. I won’t be back unless I have to.

Visited Mac’s on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and sitting outside was perfect! Service was very speedy and attentive. They had a really cool drink special going on, called Bartenders Choice, and I must admit he/​she did a great job!
I got a burger and macaroni as the side. The burger was just meh. Nothing really special about and definitely wouldn’t order it again. The macaroni however is the reason it gets a «I’m a fan» review. IT WAS DELICIOUS! Seriously, I could see myself ordering extra just to take home or have it as my entire meal. You absolutely have to get the macaroni when you visit.
My friend got the ribs and continues to rave about how good they were. I didn’t actually try them, so I can’t say for sure. But, I know that on my next visit I will be ordering ribs and macaroni and will be one very happy (and slightly unhealthy) girl!

I don’t know what the raving is about.
Tough brisket, dry pulled pork, oily and bland mac n cheese.
If you’re going, I’d try to stick with the ribs or pulled turkey. Good service, nice bar, but the BBQ is meh.

Talk about getting the meat sweats, but in the best possible way! Stopped into Mac’s on a busy Saturday night a couple of weeks ago while in town for the weekend. The place was super packed. I was with a large group, so we had a bit of a wait for our table. No big deal. I went to the bar to get a beer. Unfortunately it took forever to get it. The ladies behind the bar were definitely busy and didn’t seem to be looking my way at all. A nice couple helped me flag one of the bartenders down to get a drink. The bartender ended up being super gracious and apologetic. I got my beer just in time for our party to be seated. Perhaps what the bartenders lacked our server more than made up for it. Super attentive and fun! And, we were so appreciative that she was more than willing to do separate checks for everyone! So often with large groups, that’s an impossibility.
I ordered the «little bit of everything» which comes with four meats and two sides of your choice. Folks, definitely come for the BBQ! The sides, meh. I had the ribs (fall of the bone delish), smoked pork and turkey (both super flavorful) and the brisket (hands-​down the best of all four things. Get it.) For the sides I ordered the cheese grits and collard greens. Both were disappointing. The grits were super bland and the greens were a bit two watery and vinegary for me. I’m a southern girl, so I admit, I am pretty particular about my grits and greens.
Still, I enjoyed my meal. You definitely get what you pay for. The portions were very generous. Macs also has an extensive beer list and a really fun vibe.

We arrive in Charlotte and drove straight to the speed shop! What an amazing experience from start to finish it is a perfect stop in North Carolina. We started with the grilled wings WOW the best wings I have ever had meaty juicy delicious. Next we had the fried pickles (spicy) amazing just perfect. So for dinner my family one dad (me) wife, two children one five, one ten and we spilt the small sampler platter — St. Louis ribs pulled pork sausage and chicken. Well the worst part of the entire meal was we got full :(

Mac’s is probably my favorite place to go out to eat once the weather gets warmer in the south. So once the weather started getting warmer it was at the top of my list to go visit!
Ambiance at Mac’s is always vibrant — full of laughter, good food, excellent service, and just an overall inviting atmosphere. Sitting outside is my recommendation, hands down. The picnic table style seating is relaxed and perfect if you have a larger group, though most of the time it’s perfect for chatting with other groups! The glass wall gets opened up during warmer weather and creates a seamless space between the interior of the restaurant and the patio, which I also love.
For the food, I have tried most everything but this night we got a brisket sandwich and the ‘a lot’a stuff’ platter with ribs, brisket, and baked chicken. Everything was delicious! The sides we got were creamed corn (peppery and delicious), collard greens, and slaw. The slaw is OK but not amazing like the rest of their food. The lot’a bit of stuff platter was HUGE and even split between two people we took half of it home. (It was even delicious reheated which I normally hate)
You really can’t go wrong with Mac’s. The food, the ambiance, the service are all top notch and I’ve never had a bad experience there. The drink menu also boasts plentiful local IPAs that are delicious as well. Hands down the best bbq and one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte.

Really good BBQ here. It’s got this «biker bar» look to it, which is pretty cool. Onion rings are a MUST! They taste really good and just crispy enough. They have different sauces you can choose from and the service was spot on; very attentive. I’d come here again.

If you’re in Charlotte, this place is a MUST! I’m visiting for a couple days and came here because a local friend recommended it.
We had a party of 6 and sat outside in the warm South Carolina sun. We ordered a couple beers to start. Tip: if you like dark beers, the Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is AMAZING! I’m not a beer person but I couldn’t stop sipping on it. They do have a wide selection of beers though if dark beers is not your thang.
For appetizers we ordered some wings. The wings were done very nicely– you can taste the smoky flavor and the meat is very juicy. We got a few dishes to share: the Catfish, the Combo Platter, and the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Everything was great! The St. Louis Ribs in the combo platter was probably my favorite though! The Green Bean Casserole was also interesting, because it had potato chips in it. My friend did not like her Pulled Pork Sandwich though… She said it was a let down and would only give it a ⁶⁄₁₀. But I didn’t try so I don’t know!

I recommended Mac’s to a friend less than an hour after I first tried it. Enough said.
As out of towners seeking authentic North Carolina BBQs, Mac’s was our second stop in two days. After an amazing first BBQ at another restaurant, the bar was set high for Mac’s. It certainly did not disappoint. In fact, the food was so good that I still felt the desire for more BBQ afterwards despite having heavy meat two days in a row.
We ordered the combo platters with various mixes of pulled pork, beef briskets, ribs, beer chicken, smoked turkey and sausage. My favorite was the pork, which was very good on its own. However, I wouldn’t call the experience complete without the house vinegar sauce — a perfect blend of flavors with a hint of spiciness. I wished I could take some home! The briskets were also good. But perhaps due to the fact I was a vinegar fan, I found it a bit on the sweeter side. For sides, I had collard greens & sweet potato fries. Both were great and I appreciated how the collard greens were not as greasy as some other ones I had in the past. Another member of our party had the macaroni & cheese, and he loved it.
The restaurant had a good vibe and personally I liked the beer, bike, and BBQ motto. There was a lot of good beer on tap from around the country (Bells!).

Two thumbs up. The services was great, even though I read some bad reviews, today, the service was just great. Not just our waiter, at least 2 other guys approached us asking if everything was fine.
I guess the owners read the Unilocal reviews and work on it.
My blue cheese /​bacon burger was excellent, just check the picture!!!

Great BBQ place right downtown. High top table seating and bar seating here. Three big flat screens above the bar. We had a large group of ten and it was a Sunday night but the wait was only 25 minutes or so. A few places we checked were over 2 hours so in comparison it was fine. The parking lot is not too big.
The food and service were really good. Our waitress was great and explained any questions and/​or requests we had.
I was hungry and I went for the large combo platter. It came with 32 oz of total meat. You had six options and could choose four of them. I went with sausage, brisket, ribs and pulled pork. It also came with four sides. I had fries, creamed corn, collared greens, and Mac and Cheese. Total plus a soda (free refills) was $ 40 with and nice tip included. Great find and I will be back.

It’s always interesting when you are waiting in line to be seated, but you see more than one table empty. We were a little annoyed that we were told a 20 minute wait when there were several tables available inside and one large one outside. Only one party of 2 was ahead of us, so we didn’t understand what the wait was for. Perhaps not enough servers to accommodate for all tables?
Anyway, we get seated and have a friendly server help us out. Props to her being patient with my 6yo cranky & hungry niece. 3 of us decided to share the large combo platter and chose ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beer can chicken, creamed corn, french fries, onion rings, and mac & cheese. All the sides were good, as always at any southern restaurant. The ribs were too spicy for me. The chicken fell off the bone amazingly and had a smoky flavor, but was too dry. No complaints on the pulled pork, nicely paired with whatever your choice of bbq sauce. The brisket was definitely the winner, though. Amazing… but of course, it’s the one that has the least quantity in the combo. Womp.
Unfortunately, we had to wait a loong time for our food to come out. I’m not so sure if I would be willing to wait again.

Mmmmmm Carolina BBQ. That is honestly the one thing I missed the most once I moved to New York, and Mac’s was able to curb my BBQ cravings. The outside décor was very retro, with cute overhead parking and neon signs. Once you enter, it is like you are brought back in the modern world. It had rustic walls but plasma tvs were everywhere so you were able to enjoy the games alongside with some cold beers (their beer selection is massive!) and some finger licking food.
My partner and I started with the kick ass spicy hog skins. It tasted delicious and had a salty dusting on top that really took it to the next level. We then got 2 entrees: first the spark plug, a 10oz burger with pepperjack cheese, jalapeño and chipotle aioli. It was cooked to perfection (just that right amount of rawness) but just a tad too greasy. It came with a side of fries which was pretty standard.
Next, we shared a combo platter of various bbq meats. While we got the «just a little bit» plate, it was most definitely not a little bit. They were generous with their portions and came with 2 slices of bread and 2 sides. Let me break it down for you.
Pros:
St. Louis ribs — can I ask for seconds? The meat literally fell off the bones and was so moist and soft. It was most definitely the highlight of our lunch.
Beer can chicken — good flavoring but not much of a beer taste. A bit smokier than the usual roasted chicken, which I enjoyed.
Cons:
Beef brisket — a bit drier than I would like. It just looked like a hunk of meat stabbed with some sauce
Pulled pork — the biggest disappointment. Too dry and basically inedible without their delicious Carolina bbq sauce
All in all, I would definitely come again (and ask for 2 servings of those ribs!). It had a very chill vibe and I would enjoy watching the game there alongside friends and family.

Not being from the South (I was in Charlotte on business), this place just screams Biker Bar because of all the bikes parked out front and the décor on the outside walls. So it felt a little awkward (and maybe out of place) when my two friends and I were the only Asians in the restaurant for most of the evening.
This place looks pretty cool from the outside though as there is a large patio area covered in lights. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is very chill, too.
Foodwise, it was delicious but not the best BBQ ever. I went with the pulled pork, mac n cheese, and a salad (ha!). Mac n cheese always seems to taste better in the South and the pulled pork was yums. They provide different BBQ sauces on the table which complemented the food well.
Decent BBQ place overall; I wouldn’t mind coming back if I was back in town for business.

Huge portions. Twice what you’d get in New York for the same price. Doesn’t taste like *home cooked* Carolina barbecue, but it’s pretty good.
Good place to go with groups. Lots of outdoor seating.

Came here for the first time with another couple for dinner on a Friday night. Definitely a good spot to go. Hubby and I ordered tabasco fried pickles for the appetizer, a small combo plate (chose sausage, ribs, smoked turkey, and brisket) with sides of collard greens and green bean casserole, a large pulled pork plate with sides of beans and mac n cheese, and sex on the patio drink.
Pros
— Good flavor. None of us complained about our food. Everything was delicious and flavorful. None of our meats were dry. I’ve read some of the other reviews where the quality of the meat was shoddy, so my impression is that it depends on when/​what time you go and possibly the kitchen staff. I really liked the ribs! Delicious, flavorful, and plenty of meat. I definitely plan on ordering ribs again when I return.
— Good BBQ sauces. Each table has about 4 – 5 of their house made sauces. My hubby really enjoyed them. He used a decent amount of sauce on his meal. He’s talked about purchasing some of their sauces the next time we return.
— Good portions. Our friends ordered a large combo plate and they still had leftovers. Point is, you don’t leave hungry.
— Prompt timing of food. My hubby and I arrived before our friends, so we got a table first and ordered the tabasco fried pickles for the appetizer while we waited. The food came out pretty quickly. The pickles were hot (temp wise), which was awesome. Good flavor. We could definitely taste the spice.
— Good drink selection. They definitely have a wide array of drinks (mostly beers). However, there is a decent selection of cocktails and other mixed drinks.
— Good service, with the exception of the mistakes on the checks. I address the mistake below. But other than that, our waitress provided good service. She checked in on us for drinks, anything else we needed, etc.
Cons
— Sound. It’s definitely noisy, so having a conversation isn’t easy, especially when it’s a group of you. I say this to be aware and prepared, depending on who and how many people you go with.
— Check mistake. Hubby and I had a different tab from our friends and the waitress made mistakes with differentiating what orders went with who. On the one hand, she was cool about it and made the changes without a fuss. On the other hand, just be aware if you’re splitting checks with friends in a group.
— Wait staff doesn’t seem to be very knowledgeable about their drinks. Our friends ordered a variety of beers to try. Our waitress wasn’t able to answer all their questions about the beers, their flavors, etc. To be fair, the drink list is very extensive.
Final Answer
Would definitely come back. Given the amount of food and the drinks menu, I don’t recommend coming here for lunch on a weekday. This place seems best for weeknight dinners and the weekend.