Acclaimed Triangle barbecue joint brings ‘the spirit of leisure’ to Cary
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lawrence Barbecue opens in Cary with an expanded space and menu.
- Favorites from the Boxyard RTP location including birria tacos will be available at the new restaurant.
- Lawrence Barbecue serves diverse barbecue styles and shareables.
Lawrence Barbecue grew out of its first home. Now, it has something to grow into.
Jake Wood’s barbecue joint opened Sept. 19 in its new, 4,900-square-foot space in Cary, blocks from the downtown park. With its full kitchen and bar, dedicated oyster-preparation area, outdoor patio and indoor dining room, it’s quite the transition from the old shipping container at Boxyard RTP, where customers would order at one counter and pick up their food at another.
“We’re in this period now where it really feels like we went from a campground to a glampground,” said Wood, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Brandi. “It’s like we’re glamping now.”
Glamping at Lawrence Barbecue means a raw bar, with a knowledgeable staff member sharing details about the oysters’ origins and the people who farmed them while shucking tableside.
Glamping means a new, state-of-the-art, Texas-built smoker that can cook up to 66 briskets at a time.
Glamping means cheesy, beefy birria tacos available every day, a nod to another of Wood’s Boxyard concepts, Leroy’s Taco Shop.
Wood grew up in the Triangle, and his mom worked at SAS. But he had always thought of Cary as a bedroom community.
He actually turned down the Cedar Street building more than once before he decided to make it Lawrence’s home. But after seeing the space and learning about the development happening in the town, he realized the opportunity for Lawrence to be a part of the community, a place where families and friends could gather to celebrate events.
“We get to be part of the growth and also get to experience the rest of the growth with this neighborhood,” Wood said.
Lawrence Barbecue’s non-traditional menu
Wood, who previously worked at fine-dining operations 18 Seaboard and Plates Kitchen, started Lawrence Barbecue as a pop-up before landing at Boxyard RTP in 2021.
It didn’t take long for Lawrence to gain attention. Southern Living named it one of the best new barbecue joints in the South. Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor at Texas Monthly, praised its brisket and said the beef-fat caramel chicken wings were some of the best he’s ever eaten. And The News & Observer’s Drew Jackson included Lawrence and its “most fun menu” among the top five barbecue joints in the Triangle.
Wood doesn’t limit himself to one style of barbecue. Lawrence serves spare ribs, sliced turkey, carnitas-style pulled pork, smoked chicken and Texas-style brisket.
That’s in addition to the other protein options, ones not likely found at North Carolina barbecue joints — oysters, birria tacos and smash burgers with patties made of chopped brisket.
And Lawrence doesn’t skimp on sides and shareables. Among them are chili crisp cheese tots, deviled egg potato salad, “fancy boy” brussels sprouts — crispy and tossed with a hot sauce-cane syrup blend — ‘cue beans with brisket bits, and creamy and red slaws.
“We just love cooking,” Wood said. “We just love serving people.”
New home for Lawrence Barbecue
The menu sets Lawrence apart from other barbecue joints. But in its second iteration, Wood wanted the restaurant to feel new — even for loyal customers and the Lawrence team.
He describes the vibe of Lawrence Barbecue as “intergalactic surf cowboy.” Many of the walls are painted a vibrant blue, and one of them contains a mural with a palm tree and the words “the spirit of leisure.” Raleigh’s Trophy Brewing makes a cerveza for the restaurant, a Mexican-style lager called Lawrence’s Leisure Land Lager. Adults can enjoy those or a signature “leisure beverages,” as Wood calls them, at a table inside — a first for Lawrence Barbecue — or outside.
“We really do want folks to come in here and enjoy themselves with their favorite people,” Wood said.
Lawrence Barbecue Cary location opening
Lawrence Barbecue opened Friday, Sept. 19 at 150 E. Cedar St. in Cary. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. until close Wednesday-Sunday.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
