Old Carolina Barbecue in Canton, Ohio

If you like good "southern" cooking and are in Belden Village or Massillon, you need to try Old Carolina Barbecue. This restaurant has award winning barbecue - not food cooked on a grill barbecue, but real "old school barbecue - cooked low and slow. It's some of the juiciest, most tender meat I've ever had - it's something I crave on a regular basis.

Old Carolina's menu includes pulled pork sandwiches which are made from pork shoulder that's been smoked for 14 hours - with so much meat that you can actually make two sandwiches out of it - and beef brisket sandwiches. These come with no sauce; they have plenty of flavor on their own. However, the restaurant has several flavors of barbecue sauce to choose from - from "Original" which is sweet with a tiny bit of zip to "Screaming Beaver Hot" which tastes just like it sounds. You can also get a smoked chicken breast sandwich or tar heel dogs (hot dog topped with cole slaw and baked beans).

If you are not in the mood for a sandwich, try Old Carolina's chicken - it's tender and juicy and flavorful all on it's own. Or order a slab of their award winning ribs. They've won awards at the local rib cook off and at other contests around the country. If you can't decide between two of the menu items, you can order a combination. Also, you can order a salad with your choice of meat on it.

There are also sides that you can order a la carte, or as part of a platter with a sandwich, ribs or chicken. I'm not a fan of baked beans, but my husband says theirs are some of the best he's had. They have two kinds of cole slaw - creamy and vinegar. You can order delicious fried hush puppies, mashed potatoes, french fries, chunky applesauce, green beans, succotash, and bruswick stew. Also, if you're craving southern sweet tea, you can satisfy your craving at Old Carolina.

The kids' menu (for ages 10 and under) includes pulled pork, hot dogs, and chicken fingers.

Old Carolina's prices are very reasonable - sandwich platters (sandwich and two sides) start at $6.99 and you'll be more than stuffed if you finished your meal. A half slab of ribs is $11.99 with two sides. Kids meals are less than $5.

There are currently two locations for Old Carolina - Massillon on Lincoln Way at the Home Depot plaza and in Belden Village on Everhard next to Stone Mountain Flooring. There is only seating for around 30 people at the Massillon location, and lines get somewhat long. The Old Carolina location in Belden Village has almost three times as much seating, but still gets crowded during dinner hours.

The restaurants are clean and the staff is friendly. You seat yourself but they bring the food out to you after you've ordered at the counter. For an inexpensive restaurant, the atmosphere is nice - nothing special really, but nice. Your food comes in a basket and the forks and spoons are plastic. I guess it almost has a "picnic-y" feel to it. You are served within 10 minutes of ordering and staff members do come around to ask how you are doing.

All in all, Old Carolina is a great restaurant to bring your family and friends. You won't leave hungry and the food is delicious!