Charlie and Joyce Carr, along with their children, Tasha Sanders and Charlie Carr Jr., are serving up an alternative to traditional eastern North Carolina pulled pork barbecue at their new Castle Hayne restaurant.

Charlie’s Turkey Q does serve pork, but it specializes in turkey barbecue prepared from 100 percent turkey breast meat and Charlie Carr's own vinegar sauce.
 
He has always been passionate about barbecue, said Sanders, who serves as president of Carr Family Foods. But Joyce Carr does not eat pork so he began experimenting with other meats many years ago, eventually perfecting his recipe for turkey barbecue.
 
Now, the Carr family not only serves his signature turkey barbecue at the North College Road restaurant, but it  is also in the final stages of preparing the turkey for distribution throughout the state. Sanders said the plan is to have Charlie’s Turkey Q available in major grocery chains by the summer of 2017.
 
“The turkey outsells the pork at the restaurant,” Sanders said. “So that, along with the sauce, which we also package for sale, are the main focus for the retail market.”
 
The 48-seat restaurant serves traditional pork and turkey barbecue sandwiches with slaw as well as a Toasted Q with grilled onions and American cheese on toast and a wrap with lettuce, tomato and shredded cheddar. Barbecue plates are also available, served with sides such as homemade baked beans, coleslaw, mac and cheese, butter beans and potato salad. Pork and turkey are also available in 1-, 2- and 5-pound servings for carry out.
 
“Our turkey barbecue is a great, healthier alternative to pork, and since many people have never tried it, they’re anxious to give it a try,” Sanders said.  “Many of those first timers are already repeat customers.”
 
Charlie’s Turkey Q is located at 5212-C N. College Road in Castle Hayne.
 
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