Mebane, NC · Building Community
Try the sweeter side
Mebane, North Carolina · Smoked overnight, served till it’s gone
Five racks left — about forty-five minutes on a normal Tuesday. Everything we sell today came off the pit last night. When it’s out, it’s out.
401 East Center Street
This room was the A&M Grill — the place Mebane met, argued and ate for generations. We didn’t gut it and we didn’t pretend it never happened. We just kept the door open and put a smoker out back.
12:40 PM · a normal Tuesday
Come early, bring people, expect a line.
The spread — everything that came off the pit
Private Events
Feeding a crowd
Come early
| Monday | Closed |
| Tue – Sat | 10:30 – 8(ish) |
| Sunday | 10:30 – 2:30 |
401 E Center St
Mebane, NC 27302
The old A&M Grill building
Built by the people who work here
Not one of these came from a corporate binder. Every sauce, side, rub and dessert is a family recipe somebody brought in, or a favorite the whole team argued over until it was right. Ask us about any of them — there’s a story attached and we’ll happily bore you with it.
Came in with our Head Coach, along with the House BBQ sauce. Two of the most-argued-about items we serve, and he won both arguments.
Justin · the owner’s son
Justin’s recipe, full stop. Dad gets no credit here and has learned to live with it.
Tom Allen · Head Coach
Refined on the line rather than in a test kitchen. If you want it on the side, say so — nobody here will take it personally.
The whole crew · first six months
Why we’re here — and where we’re up to
Tinker with the smoker, the machine, the process, the science and every circumstance around producing great barbecue. Usually found staring at a thermometer at 3am.
meet
Obsess over the cut, the fat trim, the sauces and the spices. Everything about the product rather than the machine. Both are welcome. Both are insufferable.
The name? A knucklehead is an affectionate word for a lovable, easy-going idiot. It’s also the Three Stooges’ Knucklehead Garage meeting Harley-Davidson’s Knucklehead engine — funny people, serious American product. And frankly, only a knucklehead from New Jersey opens a barbecue joint in Mebane on the site of the A&M Grill.
Building community — it’s on the sign, not just the website
Five percent of everything we sell goes out to four local causes we pick each year. That was Heather’s idea — our VP of Operations — and so was the jar by the register.
| Food & supplies to Swannanoa after Hurricane Helene | $11,000 · 2024 |
| Battle of the Badges — Mebane Police vs Fire | First annual · Oct 2025 |
| Brews & Q’s BBQ and Beer Fest, co-founded | First annual · June 2026 |
| Four local charities and groups, chosen yearly | Ongoing |
by the register
Literally the sweeter side — it’s right next door
We hand-make the kones and work with Maple View Farms in Hillsborough and other local creameries for the ice cream. The flavors get barbecue names, because of course they do. Kid-friendly, lighter, and considerably less smoke than next door.
Why Konehead? You must be some kind of knucklehead if you haven’t worked that out by now.
Right next door to the smoke · 401 E Center Street, Mebane
Hand-made kones, ice cream from Maple View Farms in Hillsborough and other local creameries, and flavor names borrowed shamelessly from the barbecue side.
On the board this week
The one everybody orders and nobody apologizes for.
Butter pecan with a caramel that went a little too far. On purpose.
Same argument as next door, different temperature.
North Carolina peaches when we can get them.
Honeycomb candy, a whisper of smoke. Trust us.
The one everybody orders and nobody apologizes for.
Hanging on the Konehead wall
We photographed the staff’s dogs and had them reimagined enjoying ice cream in ways that suit their breed and general attitude. Hover over the photo to see more. Send us yours — we’ll make one, and the best go up on the wall.
SHADOW
PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH
SHADOW
PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH
SHADOW
PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH