Right in the heart of Lexington, Maurice’s Piggie Park on West Main Street serves up a time-tested taste of the Midlands. Surrounded by the rhythm of small-town life and just a short drive from Lake Murray, this location keeps the fire burning on one of South Carolina’s most iconic food traditions—mustard-based barbecue cooked over hardwood coals.
Whether you’re a Lexington native or just passing through, this spot offers a warm welcome and a plate full of the slow-smoked flavor that’s defined the region for generations.
At Maurice’s, barbecue is more than just meat—it’s method. The team still relies on open pits and hardwood embers, the way it’s been done for decades. Pork shoulders, chicken, ribs, and brisket are all smoked low and slow until the flavor runs deep and the texture turns tender.
Maurice’s makes no bones about its philosophy: “Pit-smoked BBQ gets its deep flavor from the natural smoke of real wood embers.” That approach hasn’t changed, and it’s the reason so many folks keep coming back.
Few things say “Midlands BBQ” like mustard sauce—and Maurice’s helped put it on the map. Their signature Southern Gold sauce is sharp, tangy, and rich with tradition, tracing its roots to the German settlers who brought mustard into the South Carolina kitchen.
It’s available on the meats, on the side, and by the bottle. Other sauces—like Spicy, Honey, Hickory Red, and Original Red—offer variety, but the mustard-based blend remains the foundation of Maurice’s flavor profile.
The menu here covers everything from pulled pork plates and BBQ sandwiches to ribs, smoked brisket, turkey, and chicken. Whether you’re ordering a platter or a combo, each comes with your pick of house-made sides, including classics like hash and rice, collards, fried okra, mac and cheese, slaw, sweet potato casserole, and BBQ beans.
You’ll also find hearty sandwiches stacked on buns, burgers and dogs, and party packages that make dinnertime easy. A kid-friendly menu is available, and no visit is complete without dessert—banana pudding and pecan pie are always on hand.
Maurice’s Piggie Park on West Main Street brings the comfort of tradition to the table with every order. With its commitment to wood-smoked meats, scratch-made sides, and that unforgettable mustard sauce, this location continues to carry the torch for South Carolina barbecue done right. It’s a familiar favorite for longtime locals and a must-try for anyone looking to experience true Midlands flavor.
(Of course, South Carolina’s barbecue scene is packed with legendary joints and hidden gems. See more BBQ restaurants in SC to discover where to go next in the state or find other great BBQ joints around Columbia.)
Among the many Google Reviews, Local Guide JT, a recent transplant to Lexington, got initiated in SC BBQ traditions at Maurice’s in Lexington:
Just moved to the area and it was my first time visiting piggie park. The inside was very cute & looked super clean. The server helped me decide on what to order & it was delicious.
I had the pulled pork sandwich which came out super fast & piping hot! Although I wasn’t a super fan of the mustard based BBQ the sandwich was great. The meat was tender & fresh. The roll was soft & tasty. & I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries that were really good as well. He gave me a free sample of a hush puppy since I never had one before not being from the South.They were also super delicious!
The server was so kind & helpful & I really enjoyed the meal. I’ll definitely be back.
Over on Yelp, S.M. and family sampled a wide selection and enjoyed it all:
We ate here today and it was outta the (Piggie) park good.
The brisket was yummy, the hash was as good as Shealys too. Our little one wolfed it down. My husband keeps talking about the hush puppies and how good they were. The shining star for me was the hot wings. So crispy and deliciously hot & spicy and perfect with the cool slaw. Shoulda ordered more!
The drive through worker was really sweet and friendly. We’ll be back!
Yeah, ok…sure. You can pull positive reviews from a website, but what do they know about BBQ? What about the folks who train the judges for BBQ competitions in South Carolina? What do they think?
The SC BBQ Association deems Maurice’s Piggie Park to be 100-Mile BBQ, their highest rating.
Here’s an excerpt from their review:
Maurice’s is true 100 mile barbeque and it’s conveniently located so that everyone in the central part of the state can easily stop by and fill up. And since they operate seven days a week they can do so whenever they desire. So, for over 50 years people have come to just expect that succulent, slow cooked-over-coals, top quality barbeque to always be there and easily obtainable.
Read their full review.
Find more videos on their YouTube and TikTok channels.
Note: Menu prices and options are subject to change over time. Contact the restaurant for the most up-to-date information.
Maurice’s restaurants can be found at these locations:
Columbia
West Columbia
Lexington
Irmo
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What I liked most about the cookbook is the research and backstories. Even though I grew up on Lexington NC BBQ, you’ve got to get this cookbook as there is much more variety to BBQ in SC, If you can’t decide, this is a labor of love, with a lot of volunteer time and input.… Read more “BY LOCALS FOR LOCALS”
