One of Raleigh's favorite barbecue joints is expanding to Carrboro
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A mural on the side of the Longleaf Swine restaurant. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios
Longleaf Swine, a barbecue joint that quickly became a city favorite when it opened in Raleigh in 2022, is expanding outside of the City of Oaks for the first time with a location planned in Carrboro.
Why it matters: Longleaf Swine's expansion is a win for lovers of North Carolina's whole hog barbecue tradition.
- The restaurant has been at the forefront of a new generational take on the state's unique culinary ways, but it also serves brisket, weekly specials like steak frites, and an extensive bourbon program.
Driving the news: Longleaf Swine plans to open this year in the current Luna Rotisserie & Taproom spot in downtown Carrboro, which announced this week it would be closing its doors next month.
- Luna, which still has a location in downtown Durham, has been operating in the former Milltown restaurant space across the street from the Cat's Cradle since 2020.
State of play: Carrboro represents the latest expansion for the Longleaf Swine crew.
- The restaurant transformed the former Oakwood Cafe on Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh for its first location.
- This year, it will also open a location in the former Sawmill Tap Room in North Raleigh.
What they're saying: Co-owner Adam Cunningham said that Longleaf Swine has long been looking to expand to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area and that it had looked at several buildings. But the Luna space was always his favorite.
- One reason he was interested in the area, Cunningham said, is that there is a dearth of North Carolina-style barbecue options in the town after Allen & Son Barbecue closed in 2018.
- "I feel like there should be a barbecue restaurant in every corner of [the state], and it seems like they're unfortunately dwindling," Cunningham said. "It's hard being a restaurant, and being a barbecue restaurant is even harder," he added, because of the amount of labor that goes into it.
- He said Longleaf Swine hopes to cater to both locals and students, but also the crowds that come into town for UNC basketball and football games.
Zoom in: Cunningham said each Longleaf Swine location will have its own character, and he said he believes the Carrboro location will keep a bit of a dive bar vibe in honor of Milltown, a spot he used to go after seeing shows at the Cat's Cradle.
- The Sawmill Tap Room location had a fireplace in it, he said, so he's hoping to capture the feel of a restaurant with a bourbon lounge.
- Carrboro's menu should also feature some key differences. Longleaf Swine has a couple of vegan menu options currently at its original location, but the goal is to expand the number of vegan dishes on its menu in Carrboro, especially using its smoker to cook vegetables.