There are no really famous joints in that region, and just a joints at all.
Captain Bob's ...Hertford
Shoulders for the chopped, hams for the sliced, both cooked over charcoal. Chopped is run through a Hobart, which get's a little too minced for me. Vinegar sauce. Good Brunswick stew. #252-426-1811
FB Duncan's Bar-B-Q.....Manteo
seafood also available. Whole hogs on a Nunnery Freeman Kook-Rite. Hand shreds the meat. Vinegar sauce. #252-473-6464
Lanes Family Barbecue ...Edenton
Shoulders cooked over charcoal in a big pit in the back. Also minces with a Hobart.
Hams for sliced. Vinegar sauce. Yellow slaw, as opposed the dominance of white slaw in the east. Hushpuppies may be a bit greasy at times.
#252-482-4008
Tucks Restaurant...Elizabeth City has closed.
They had seafood and bbq. whole hog over electric cookers. Vinegar sauce, coarse chopped, buffet available.
If you're going to coming down from Virginia in that corner, that's about it. But if you;re coming from the Raleigh or Ricky Mount area, you're near several of the top 5 NC joints. Let me know you're route if you'd like more info.