Radd Dew's Bar-B-Que in Summerville: Whole Hog Smoking and Sides Done Right

What to expect at Radd Dew's

Radd Dew's Bar-B-Que is a Summerville institution built on whole-hog smoking and sides that taste like someone's grandmother made them in a home kitchen. The restaurant operates out of a modest storefront on Main Street, where the pit master smokes hogs low and slow over hickory and oak, pulling meat that shreds clean from the bone. The menu is straightforward—pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and chicken—served with cornbread, coleslaw, mac and cheese, collard greens, and beans that have simmered for hours.

The dining room is casual and unpretentious, with picnic tables and a counter where you order and pay. Radd Dew's does not do table service or reservations. You walk in, order at the counter, grab a number, and sit wherever there is space. On weekends, especially around lunch, the place fills up fast, and you may wait 15 to 20 minutes for your food to come out of the kitchen.

Key Takeaways

• Radd Dew's smokes whole hogs over hickory and oak, producing pulled pork that is the centerpiece of the menu.
• Sides include collard greens, mac and cheese, beans, coleslaw, and cornbread, all made in-house daily.
• The restaurant is counter-service only, with no reservations, and can get crowded during lunch and dinner on weekends.
• Radd Dew's is located on Main Street in Summerville and is open for lunch and dinner most days of the week.

The meat and how it's cooked

The whole-hog smoking process at Radd Dew's starts before dawn. The pit master loads a hog into the smoker and lets it cook for 12 to 14 hours over a combination of hickory and oak wood. The result is meat that pulls apart without a knife—the pork shoulder, ribs, and belly all reach the same level of tenderness. The bark, the darkened exterior layer, has a slight char and a deep smoke flavor that comes through in every bite.

The pulled pork comes out of the kitchen unsauced, which lets you taste the smoke and the meat itself. Sauce sits on the table in squeeze bottles—a thin, vinegar-forward sauce that is typical of South Carolina's Lowcountry style. You can use as much or as little as you want. The ribs are meaty and fall off the bone, and the brisket, when available, is sliced thick and has a pink smoke ring that runs a quarter-inch deep.

Sides that anchor the meal

The sides at Radd Dew's are not afterthoughts. The collard greens are cooked with smoked meat and taste like they have been simmering since morning. The mac and cheese is creamy and sharp, made with real cheese and not a powder packet. The beans—usually a mix of pinto and kidney beans—are slow-cooked and have absorbed the flavor of the smoker.

Cornbread comes warm and slightly sweet, with a crispy edge where it touched the cast-iron pan. The coleslaw is tangy and crunchy, a sharp contrast to the richness of the meat and the other sides. Most people order a combination plate that lets you pick three sides, which means you can build a meal that balances the heavy smoked meat with vegetables and starches.

Pricing and portion sizes

A pulled pork sandwich runs in the mid-range for barbecue in the Lowcountry, and a combination plate with meat and three sides costs a few dollars more. Portions are generous—a combination plate will fill most people, and many leave with leftovers. Radd Dew's does not charge extra for sauce or cornbread, and water and tea are self-serve from a station near the counter.

If you are feeding a group, Radd Dew's takes orders for whole hogs and large quantities, though you will need to call ahead. The restaurant also sells meat by the pound if you want to take home smoked pork to reheat at home.

When to go and what to know before you arrive

Lunch service runs from around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., though hours vary by day and season. Radd Dew's is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Weekday lunch is quieter than weekends, and if you go on a Saturday around noon, expect a line out the door and a wait for a table.

The restaurant has limited parking in a small lot behind the building and on the street in front. Summerville's downtown is walkable, so if you are in the area for other reasons, Radd Dew's is an easy stop. The restaurant does not take reservations, so you cannot call ahead to hold a table, but you can call to ask about wait times or to place a to-go order.

How Radd Dew's fits into Summerville's food scene

Summerville has a growing restaurant scene, but Radd Dew's represents the older, more established side of the town—a place that has been there for years and does one thing very well. The restaurant is not trendy or Instagram-focused. It is a neighborhood spot where locals eat regularly, and where visitors who know about it make a point to stop.

The whole-hog smoking tradition that Radd Dew's practices is rooted in South Carolina's Lowcountry barbecue culture, where whole animals were smoked for community gatherings and family meals. Radd Dew's keeps that tradition alive in a casual, everyday setting, making smoked meat and sides accessible to anyone who walks through the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to make a reservation?

No. Radd Dew's is counter-service only and does not take reservations. You order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. On busy days, the wait can be 15 to 20 minutes, but you can call ahead to ask about current wait times.

Can I order food to go?

Yes. You can order at the counter for immediate pickup or call ahead to place a to-go order. To-go orders are packed in containers and ready to take home or eat in your car.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Most of the sides contain meat or meat-based broths, so vegetarian options are limited. Call ahead to ask what is available on the day you plan to visit, or ask at the counter when you arrive.

Is there a kids menu?

Radd Dew's does not have a formal kids menu, but the staff will make smaller portions of any meat and sides for children. Prices are adjusted accordingly.

Where exactly is Radd Dew's located?

Radd Dew's is on Main Street in downtown Summerville. There is a small parking lot behind the building and street parking in front. The restaurant is within walking distance of other downtown shops and restaurants.