Dining a la Carteret

 White Swan Bar-B-Q and Chicken

by Sherley Buckland

Founded in 1960, White Swan Bar-B-Q and Chicken continues to tempt taste buds with classic Eastern North Carolina award winning chopped barbecue, coleslaw and hush puppies, as well as an assortment of other “fixins” to choose from. 

Linwood Parker purchased the White Swan Bar-B-Q Company in the late 1980s. He has sold several franchises to date including the newest location in Atlantic Beach .  Locally owned and operated by Randy Hingson, White Swan has quickly become a hot pick for a tasty lunch, special event catering or breakfast.

They serve North Carolina barbecue in its purest form: pork slow cooked in an enclosed grill, chopped and lightly seasoned.  No heavy sauces or marinades are used; however many people, including myself, like to sprinkle a little hot pepper vinegar over the top. 

White Swan prides itself in using only fresh pork shoulders for their chopped barbecue, yielding a more tender meat selection that is great tasting with less fat content.  All of the pork used at White Swan is grown in Sims and all of the pork is cooked fresh each day in house. 

The most popular item at White Swan in Atlantic Beach tends to be their barbecue sandwiches: chopped barbecue and coleslaw on a bun.  Every Thursday, barbecue sandwiches are $1.25 each from 4 to 8 p.m.

Other items cooked fresh daily at White Swan include whole pork ribs, Brunswick stew, barbecue chicken, fried chicken, fried shrimp, flounder and trout, an assortment of vegetables and of course hush puppies. Yes, I tried it all!  There is no pretty way to eat whole pork ribs, but I can assure you, if you don’t mind getting a little messy, you will really enjoy the ribs.  They are cooked tender and lightly seasoned.  Several come on a plate served with your choice of two vegetables.  Half rack and whole rack orders are also available.

Brunswick stew is not something I usually order.  I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted White Swan’s. Their Brunswick stew is a warm tomato base, full of potatoes, corn, lima beans and pork with a smooth sweet finish.

The fried chicken is crisp and juicy, and the barbecue chicken is even better. The barbecue sauce for the chicken at White Swan is a hot sauce base, which is cooked right into the chicken making it tender and flavorful.  Anyone who likes hot sauce on his or her chicken will really like this.  Do not misunderstand, the chicken is not hot, the “heat” cooks out, leaving a really flavorful and moist piece of chicken.

The fried shrimp at White Swan are top notch!  Definitely my favorite; fresh, clean, lightly battered and lightly fried, they were so good that I didn’t share any of them, and it is totally out of character for me not to share.  Let me also tell you that I ate every one of them without the first thought of cocktail sauce.  Now, that is good.  I guess I owe my dining companion an order of shrimp from the White Swan.  No problem, I’ll be back for more.

You wouldn’t believe all the cabbages they finely chop every day to make fresh coleslaw.  Just take my word for it when I tell you it’s a lot, and none of it goes to waste. You can tell the coleslaw is fresh and homemade.  The texture is light and the flavor is smooth, definitely a crowd pleaser. 

Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was a hush puppy shortage?  It could be detrimental to many restaurant businesses in Eastern North Carolina .  The next time you are savoring a basket of those delectable little pieces of bread, be thankful.  Fortunately, there is no shortage of fresh, hot hushpuppies at White Swan.  I cannot imagine eating a plate of delicious barbecue and fresh coleslaw without them, can you?

Something new this White Swan location is offering is breakfast.  It has been very successful, especially considering there are not many places on the island that are open for breakfast.  All the basics are offered: eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, biscuits, toast, grits, hash browns, coffee, juice, milk and tea.  They open early, so you can eat before heading to work, school, or the beach for fall fishing.

Catering is definitely the specialty of White Swan.  They can accommodate any size group up to 2000 persons.  When half or whole hogs are cooked for special caterings, they are started in the cookers at the restaurant on a special cooking rack and finished on site in portable cookers. 

Great care is taken to ensure consistent temperatures and quality is maintained throughout the entire process. 

Although chopped barbecue, half or whole hog is requested most, many other selections for caterings are available including baked ham, baked loins, baked turkey, fried or barbecue chicken, roast beef, fried shrimp, flounder and trout.  All caterings include a choice of two meats, two vegetables, banana pudding, hush puppies, rolls, tea, ice, and paper products.  The catering prices are very reasonable. 

All you have to provide is a place for your guests to sit so they can eat. 

Whether you want to dine in, take out or have your next event catered, make White Swan Bar-B-Q & Chicken of Atlantic Beach your choice.  Great food and great service with a friendly smile, guaranteed.

Quick Bites

White Swan Bar-B-Q and Chicken

Location: 2500-A West Fort Macon Road , Atlantic Beach

Phone: (252) 726-9607

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Payment Options:  Cash, local check, MasterCard, Visa

Reservations: Not required for regular dining; prefer a 72-hour notice for caterings.

9/15/06

See the previously reviewed restaurants on the Restaurant Archive page

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