Summer Road Trip - Highway Food Stop #1: Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q

photo by Christina Staalstrom

​Packing into the car and driving 1,300 miles to see friends up North for a summer break is in theory a lot of fun. But as the dullness of flat highway hits, conversation shifts to stopping for eats. Then, just as you cross the state line on I-95 and enter Georgia, there's a sign for Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q at Exit 3.

Any restaurant that has a dish called "pork three ways" has to be good. With a side of fried okra, coleslaw, and French fries, this heart attack-inducing meal is bound to keep you going for hours -- or put you in a food coma. The ribs are tender and the pulled pork moist, but the sliced pork is shockingly bland. Even the last is impressive when drenched with the "smoky sweet" sauce, one of five flavors available at each table. We devoured the entire plate.

As for the sides, fried okra was our favorite, but anything deep-fried is good. Fast, friendly service and clean bathrooms were also key here. The bonus of getting a refill and "to go" cups for beverages made this a perfect pit stop for the long haul.