Melvin’s BBQ

Specialties

Melvin’s serves Big Joe Bessinger’s legendary Golden Secret Recipe barbecue sauce. It’s a recipe passed from generation to generation — spoken but never written down — and it’s the real deal. Melvin’s famous Original Golden Secret BBQ sauce is a staple in the South and in fact is sought from all over the country. Melvin’s has hosted celebrities and reality TV stars alike. Nancy O’Dell and Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight begged for Melvin’s to ship BBQ and their famous sauce to their TV set in Hollywood, Emeril Lagasse said that Melvin’s had the best cheeseburger he had ever tasted, and MC Hammer came to cook up some BBQ in Melvin’s kitchen.

History

Established in 1939.

Melvin Bessinger’s Barbecue Restaurants are a South Carolina tradition that began in 1939, when Melvin’s father «Big Joe» traded a cow and a mule for the Holly Hill Café.

Generations later, Melvin’s is still famous for serving the finest St. Louis style pork ribs, pork shoulders, chicken and pulled pork barbecue — not just in Charleston, but the whole South! The locals know that Lowcountry barbecue is a one-​of-​a-​kind experience. Tender pulled pork shoulder, basted in that unique tangy mustard sauce… it’s the Charleston way! You can find Melvin’s legendary meats, vegetables, and Carolina BBQ hash that was handed down from his mom and dad way back in 1933 at one of Melvin’s two restaurant locations, Mt. Pleasant and James Island, as well as their catering division Pigs on the Run®.

Meet the Business Owner

David B.

Business Owner

Melvin Bessinger’s Barbecue Restaurants are a South Carolina tradition that began in 1939, when Melvin’s father «Big Joe» traded a cow and a mule for the Holy Hill Café. In 1946 Melvin followed in his father’s path and bought a landmark a few doors down and opened his first barbecue restaurant in Holly Hill, SC called «Eat at Joe’s.»

In the 1970s the Bessinger brand really took shape and in the 1980’s Melvin’s son, David became involved in the family business. They ventured into the retail world and began selling their famous Original Golden Secret BBQ sauces in stores. In 1982, David and his father Melvin opened another restaurant and David named is «Melvin’s Legendary Barbecue.» The restaurant chain took off and David and his father found themselves managing 8 restaurants in the Lowcountry. Generations later, Melvin’s is still famous for serving the finest St. Louis style pork ribs, pork shoulders, chicken and pulled pork barbecue — not just in Charleston, but the whole South!