Joe Hargitt talks about their famous ribs and collard greens. Jose Perez / Neuse News

The Drew Barrymore Show, a syndicated talk show hosted by actress Drew Barrymore, reached out to local establishment King’s Restaurant, located at 405 E. New Bern Rd. in Kinston, NC, last week and asked them if they would be interested in competing in a rib contest on their show. 

“Of course we said yes,” said King’s Restaurant owner Joe Hargitt. “We had to do a little skit on the ribs. They wanted to know our signature side and we chose our collard greens.”

Last year King’s Restaurant sold 39,000 pounds of their baby back pork ribs last year which was almost 20 tons. On a recent episode of the Drew Barrymore show, clam chowder was featured. 

“It would be a blessing to us if we won,” said Hargitt. “Our customers have been a blessing to us, they’ve stuck with us, they really have.”

In addition to the restaurant business, King’s features an online shipping business called Oink Express which has helped keep the restaurant in business with the COVID restrictions mandating all indoor restaurants have no more than 50% capacity. 

“It’s going to mean a lot for us every little bit helps right now. Our dining room is at 50% capacity. Even when we’re full, we aren’t but 50% full,” said Hargitt. 

In preparation for the show, there is a poll on the Drew Barrymore Show’s Twitter page as a pinned post asking who has the best BBQ ribs between King’s Restaurant, Charles Vergos Rendezvous, and Joe’s Kansas City BBQ. 

“I don’t have a Twitter account,” said Hargitt. He will need the community to help push his baby back pork BBQ ribs over the top of the online poll. 

According to King’s website, King’s has created a legacy of the finest Eastern NC-style BBQ and Southern food, earning award-winning coverage in Our State Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, The CBS Early Show, Maxim Magazine and Jim Early’s definitive “The Best Tar Heel Barbecue: Manteo to Murphy”