When I first went to NC, I found their BBQ to be very very odd, didn't like it, and it was all there was available in restaurants. Over time, I began to like it, a lot. The same thing happened with Cincy "chili" (though I didn't quite ever like it "a lot"). I had preconceived notions about what BBQ and "chili" should be, and those weren't it.
After I stopped thinking of what they were called and just accepted them as a dish of a sort, they were fine.
The best I've ever had was dry rub ribs done properly, which some 'ol' boys did in my backyard for a work group. I've never been able to get close to what they provided.
We had a group of Japanese coworkers over for dinner that night, it was beautiful weather and we had baked beans and watermelon to go with it. They seemed impressed with my backyard as much as the food.