NORTH FORK, CA — What began with a borrowed smoker, a dream, and a Marine Corps veteran serving barbecue on the side of the road has grown into one of Central California’s most beloved and highest-rated barbecue establishments. Now, after years of hard work, community service, and feeding hundreds of thousands, North Fork BBQ is preparing to close its doors and move toward a new chapter on the Central Coast.

Trevor Seward, owner and pitmaster of North Fork BBQ, moved to the mountains after serving in the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife Megan settled into small-town life — Trevor bartending at the local saloon while Megan worked as a barista and house cleaner. But behind the scenes, a bigger dream was forming.

“Cooking runs deep in my family,” Seward said. “I always knew I wanted to build something of my own. Whether it was a food truck, a restaurant, anything that brought people together around food.”

That start came humbly. Trevor began cooking barbecue on his days off, parked on the side of the road, using a borrowed smoker and whatever ingredients he could afford. Locals noticed immediately — North Fork needed good food, and word spread fast. With support from the community, the Sewards acquired a food truck and North Fork BBQ was officially born.

The truck exploded in popularity. The Sewards catered hundreds of weddings, community events, fundraisers, and festivals across the Sierra Nevadas. Eventually, the dream grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. First in Oakhurst, then returning home to North Fork — the place where it all began.

Over the years, North Fork BBQ became known for its Santa Maria-style tri-tip, handcrafted sauces, towering burgers, smoked turkey legs, and signature rancher bowls. The restaurant maintained 4.7–4.8 star ratings across major platforms with hundreds of reviews, earning recognition as one of Central California’s highest-rated barbecue spots.

But for Seward, the real legacy wasn’t just the food.

A Legacy of Service

From the beginning, North Fork BBQ built its reputation not only on smoke and fire, but on community.

The restaurant fed firefighters during devastating wildfires, cooked for families displaced by storms, and supported the Red Cross when called upon. They donated to local charities, participated in “Helping One Woman” fundraisers, and fed veterans daily — offering discounts that totaled well over $100,000 over the years.

Beyond that, North Fork BBQ donated thousands more to veteran organizations and served military families and service members personally. Inside the restaurant, a wall of military memorabilia honored those who served — patches, photos, and remembrances contributed by veterans and their families.

“That’s the heart of it,” Seward said. “We always wanted our work to mean something. Food brings people together, and we wanted to show up for our community every time they needed us.”

The Closing Chapter

Now, after years of early mornings, cold winters, packed summers, and endless wood-fired weekends, North Fork BBQ is preparing for its final service in the mountains. The final day of business will be November 23rd, when the team will host a public “Farewell Feast” to feed the town one last time and say goodbye.

For the Sewards, this decision wasn’t easy — but it’s the next step in building the future.

The family is relocating to the Pismo Beach area, where they plan to launch a new chapter of California barbecue: a coastal live-fire catering company with aspirations of eventually opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

“We didn’t want to be stretched between two worlds,” Seward explained. “The only way to grow, serve our customers the right way, and still protect our family time was to close this chapter and build the next one near the ocean.”

The restaurant’s military memorials will be donated to Beyond The Barracks, a veteran nonprofit in Clovis, ensuring that the pieces of history continue to honor those who served. Families who contributed photos or patches are invited to visit the restaurant before closing to retrieve them if they wish.

A Community Says Goodbye

The Sewards say the most emotional part of closing is leaving the people who became like family — customers, staff, friends, and neighbors who supported them from roadside pop-ups to full dining rooms.

“We’re forever grateful,” Seward said. “North Fork changed our lives. We built something from nothing, and this town stood behind us the entire way.”

Though the doors will close, the Sewards say the story doesn’t end — it simply changes locations. They’ll continue to serve, create, and carry California barbecue into a new coastal chapter.

“We’ll be cooking by the ocean,” Seward said. “Fire in our hands, smoke in the air, and new dreams to chase.”

For now, the invitation stands: come eat, laugh, share stories, and send North Fork BBQ off with the love that built it.

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