Chances are, if you’ve heard the words “South Carolina” and “Bar-B-Que” mentioned in the same sentence, you’re going to think about Maurice Bessinger’s BBQ. Bessinger’s BBQ is pit-cooked pig, flavored with a strong mustard sauce. To people who live in the middle of South Carolina, Bessinger and his “Piggie Park” are synonymous with BBQ.
![[Maurice Bessinger's BBQ Pit Stop]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_bessinger.jpg)
Bessinger’s Orangeburg location
But there’s more to South Carolina BBQ than than just Bessinger’s, and you can find BBQ to rival or even beat Bessinger’s in other parts of the state. I’m from Orangeburg, and BBQ in Orangeburg is still pit-cooked pork. The main difference is the sauce – which is much milder than Bessinger’s yellow mustard sauce. If you’re in the Orangeburg area, you might want to stop in Orangeburg and eat at Antley’s.
![[Antley's sign]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_sign.jpg)
Patty and Rick’s grandmother Annelle in front of Antley’s
Walk into Antley’s and you’ll be in the buffet line. Unless you want a carry-out, the $7 buffet is the best way to eat. You’ll be provided with a plate, silverware, and a glass of ice. Sweet tea is available at each table, or you can get water or (horrors!) unsweetened tea. You can go to the buffet as much as you like, although you may have trouble eating more than one or two plates. If you’d like to make a sandwich out of the meat, bread it provided on the buffet.
![[Inside Antley's]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_inside.jpg)
A view from the table
What’s on the buffet? BBQ (of course), slaw, hush puppies, hash and rice, fried chicken, beans (green and baked), and sauce. This is, after all, a BBQ place. You didn’t come to eat seafood, and you won’t find it here. When you’ve piled up your plate, it might look sometning like this.
![[Rick's plate]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_bbqplate1.jpg)
Rick’s plate
I had rice and hash (What’s in hash? Don’t ask. Just eat it.), some green beans, a few hush puppies, and BBQ with sauce. The main attraction is, of course, the pit-cooked BBQ. The rest of the plate serves mainly to give your tastebuds a rest after eating the BBQ. You miight want to avoid the hush puppies, though – flavorless. The meat, though, is excellent – very tender and full of flavor (even if you eat it without the sauce).
Looking again at that picture, I might have been a little skimpy on the sauce. When I was a kid, I’d wouldn’t stop putting on the sauce until it was running off the side of the plate! (Danger: Do not try this with Bessinger’s sauce!)
If yuo want something cooler to go with the meat, you might do like Patty did and get a little slaw on the side.
![[Patty's plate]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_bbqplate_patty.jpg)
Patty’s plate – a little blurry since I didn’t use a flash
Want some BBQ to go? You can order it inside, or just go to the outside walk-up (not drive through) window.
![[Outdoor menu]](http://whenchemistsattack.com/blogfiles/antleys_outdoormenu.jpg)
Order at the walk-up window
We ordered two pounds of BBQ (which came with a pint of sauce) to take home, and got it within five minutes. The price wasn’t bad, either – $6 per pound.
Hungry yet? Antley’s is at 1370 Sims Street in Orangeburg, and is open from 11 AM till 9 PM. Be careful, though – like many small South Carolina BBQ restaurants, they’re only open three days a week: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Now after writing all this, I’m hurgry again. Good thing we have that BBQ and sauce in the fridge!
I’m with you on the milder sauce — much better than anything Maurice ever made. Although my favorite BBQ is Sweatman’s in Eutawville.
much better than anything Maurice ever made
Not to mention Maurice’s “perky” attitude and politics.
I live in Charleston but was raised in North Carolina so I’m all about Lexington style. So much that I have to smoke my own pork and make my own sauce because theres really no where around here that does it quite right.
But I occasionally go through Orangeburg so I’ll have to give it a shot.
BDC: Not to mention Maurice’s “perky†attitude and politics.
It used to be that you could go into a Piggie Park without being beaten over the head with Maurice’s … odd … politics. Ever since Maurice had that falling out with some grocery stores, though, he’s gone off the deep end and started pushing his politics even in the little “BBQ Pit Stop” stores.
My wife’s from NC and she, of course, prefers the BBQ she was raised on. She likes Antley’s pretty well, though. If you’re in Orangeburg, it’s certainly worth a visit.
EP: Although my favorite BBQ is Sweatman’s in Eutawville.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about them. They’re on my list the next time I get to that part of the state.
I too am in Orangeburg, since 1075— I know ANTLEY’S very well- eat there on Fridays a bit— it is wonderful BBQ as you say–
I also know the HISTORY of Maurices BBQ- his wife was my 7 th grade ENGLISH TEACHER at Wardlaw Jr. High back in the 60’s…. I lived there until 1975- PIGGY PARK, as it was known in those days was a drive in restuarant- pull up- make an order over the speaker and out hops some cute little thing with you Big Joe sandwich etc…. in 64 when Federal Law mandated that all peoples could eat at all restuarants- Mr. Bessinger opted to close rather than to comply— so he closed numerous locations- the one on Two Notch Rd. was my favorite— later he opened on Charleston Highway in West Columbia and came on strong with a religeous interface– funny how that works with the anti-1964 Equal rights thingee— still—great BBQ– but in Orangeburg- Antleys is a favorite no doubt- many talk about DUKES across from the Pepsi Plant– they were Antleys in there too– something happened– now they have their own location and I am certain there is competition there– both have good food– Antley’s in just more convenient to me
FOR HOMES and information about Homes in the Orangeburg Bamberg and Calhoun areas please visit my website http://www.JohnKneece.com or call me 803-378-5208
EAT MO BBQ!!
Hey there.. Dad (John Kneece) forwarded me a link to this site.. thought I’d put my .02 in on the debate… I like the “Duke’s” place right next to the fire department–never have been crazy about Maurice’s BBQ.
I arrived in Orangeburg in 1976 — I think Dad was there in 1975 (1075?) 🙂
YOu are right my son… I arrived in Orangeburg in July 1975—- you came later– in March 1976— Your Mama liked the Fire Station Duke’s the best- ANTLEY’S was not here– but they are now!!
Maurice’s BBQ sandwiches are great, both the Big Joe and Little Joe.
And, believe it, Maurice has had to pay a great tremendous price for not yeilding to “political correctness.” We need more who will not.
The Dukes near the Pepsi Plant was my lunch place during four years of college in Orangeburg. The Antley family was the main influence there during those years.
But, then the Antleys took their BBQ expertise to their own eatery and it is where I always go now. The old Dukes place has become so inconsistant. As has the Dukes near the fire station. Sometimes good, sometimes not.
And the comments about Sweatmans in Eutawville are right on. You can not beat their BBQ. It just a little more out of the way for me.
For me, and most South Carolina BBQ fans, if they don’t serve BBQ hash and rice, it ain’t a true BBQ place.
And whats with that North Carolina vinegar mess with the BBQd???????????
Lets go to Antleys.
By the way, you can get Antley’s BBQ in Columbia now at the location of the old Shealy’s Sandwich Shop near the Vista area.
My family moved to Orangeburg in 2000 when I went to work for Federal Mogul. I’m a “damn yankee” but ate at both Dukes and Antley’s. I grew partial to Antley’s because it was nice and close to where I lived. The food is great. Had to learn to like hash, but everything else was sooooo gooood.
Keep up the great work. I live in Wyoming now and miss the bbq.
Terrible buffet, nothing to choose from like some BBQ places. The BBQ was nothing to howl about, and the hash was awful. I am a hash lover and of different types also this was not close to good. Sorry Maurice BBQ is better than this.