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Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar

4.1 (433 reviews)
Open • 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

About Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar

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BLUE PIT BBQ AND WHISKEY BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar

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Smitha M.

I visited this bar 9 years ago when I first came to college. And since then, it has stayed in my heart. I am not surprised this eatery received the Baltimore Magazine award for best Mac and Cheese, because it is the best I have had in a long time! This is an excellent spot for vegans because the vegan jackfruit burger is *chef's kiss* amazing. Service is smooth, chill, and fast. It's a relaxing environment for a weekday night or just a cozy weekend hang.

One meat plate with chicken and two sides of greens
Marie K.

I had an ok experience at Blue Pit. It was not very crowded, and there were lots of places to sit both inside and out back on the patio. I ordered the one meat plate with chicken and two sides of greens. It was ok, nothing spectacular. After ordering, the food came out immediately, which made me wonder how long it had been sitting. But everything was fine. I ate the chicken with the mustard bbq sauce. The greens were kind of lacking flavor, but they were not too vinegary like I'd seen others mention in their reviews. Overall, Blue Pit is a solid bbq option.

Karen T.

We were craving bbq and wanted to try a new spot. It was our first time here. We got a platter of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. It came with two sides and we chose Mac and cheese and the baked beans. Also came with corn bread and we got a side of their pickles. I also got this REALLY good strawberry Arnold Palmer and I still think about. The meat of the ribs was kinda tough and it wasn't like a "fall off the bone" kind of rib. The corn bread was very dry and I was disappointed by that. Baked beans were okay. Mac and cheese was nothing crazy. You also just order at the stand or the bar and sit anywhere you want. I did enjoy the different bbq sauces they had. Staff was kind though

2 Two Meats*
Andy L.

It may seem like a bar first and a BBQ spot second because of the limited seating but let me tell you, the food here is not to be underestimated! Not only is the 2 meat combo a whopping serving (including 2 sides, fantastic cornbread, and pickles) but it's a great deal... and that brisket!! Nice selection of sauces at the table too. I had the Happy Hour house old fashioned as well and loved it. One thing to note is that you order up at the counter, as opposed to ordering with a server. But once that's done, the food comes out pretty quickly. You can also leave your tab open as you add on additional drinks while you dine. Everybody in our group enjoyed their orders. I'd definitely return just for the combo plate (and try different sides next time).

Brisket meal with greens, baked beans, cornbread
Ashley J.

I was really excited to try Blue Pit BBQ after seeing it named Maryland's 2026 Best BBQ Joint, but my experience was super disappointing. Service was friendly and welcoming upon walk-in, but that was the best part of our experience. The food sadly did not match the reputation. EVERYTHING came out lukewarm, the brisket was overcooked and dry, cornbread was burnt and hard, greens had no seasoning, and the baked beans were overwhelmingly vinegary. The bratwurst was underwhelming with no real snap, and even the B-side drink was way too sour. The mac & cheese and coffee BBQ sauce were the only good items of our entire meal. I really hope the kitchen staff was having an uncommon off-day, because this visit didn't reflect the recognition at all. Our meal was a compete letdown, so I hope they improve for future diners soon. PS - There is an upstairs and a downstairs, but if you sit upstairs, you have to order your food downstairs - they do bring the food up to you though.

Dane S.

Stopped in for dinner Friday night with my daughter. For as popular as I read they are and for supposedly having some of the best BBQ in the area they were completely dead. Walked in and your in the bar area with about only 3 tables. Never being here before and not from the area we didn't know there was seating upstairs. You'd think since I had a kid with me we would have been told this. We split a two meat plate of ribs and brisket, with extra Mac & cheese. The meat comes with no sauce and they have sauce at the tables for you to add which is the best way to go. The ribs were fall off the bone and very good. The brisket on the other hand was a little on the dryer side and I needed a lot of the sauce to eat it. Speaking of the sauce the smoke sauce was delicious. The Mac & cheese is way over peppered, very cheesy and tasted good but too much pepper. The meal also came with pickles which were ok and the driest cornbread I've ever eaten. Definitely needed butter to spread on it. All and all it was just ok for us. We traveled from PA to try this place and it's just not for us.

Spiced mule
Sheneil B.

Would definitely go again! I have ordered delivery before but in-person was better. Started out with HH (until 7p) on a Friday night and enjoyed some spiced mules at the bar. There are some HH food options too. It was date night for me, so we ordered some plates and settled in upstairs which was quieter, chill, rustic and had cool pics of dogs. The food is delivered to your table. Food was yummy!!! I loved the dry rub ribs and brisket. All the sides were great too, corn bread and pickles were complimentary too. Check em out!!!

Stephanie A.

Visited this place for a party on Friday night. They had a buffet with many selections of food to choose from but my favorite was the brisket. It was so tender and flavorful. The drinks were good and pretty strong as well. The service was friendly.

More whiskey

Great little spot in Hampden a few blocks from the Avenue and on the way to the light rail if you're planning on going to a game downtown. I'm a pescatarian so I haven't tried their BBQ meats (the friends I've brought have raved about their brisket) but they do have a vegan jackfruit sandwich that's solid and I love their Mac and cheese. I normally go to sit at the bar and enjoy their cocktails and whiskey selection which is one of the best near me. They have a great selection of some of those hard to acquire bourbons and quite a few exclusive barrel picks. The last time I was in, my buddy and I finally tried their Buffalo Trace and Rittenhouse picks on their own (as opposed to my standard Manhattan) and I ended up taking a bottle of their Rittenhouse home.

Chimmi C.

Was looking for a place near me to host some buds for a bachelor party when I came across Blue Pit in Hampden. It was a great spot with plenty of space for us in their upstairs area. Awesome BBQ and whiskey selection. The staff was incredibly accommodating. If you are looking for a party space near you its definitely a place to check out.

Lennea B.

This review is strictly for the bar and drinks..... Parking is madness so be sure to allow time to find street parking. Walk or Uber here. Ample seating in the bar area. I ordered two drinks . Those slushy drinks are strong if you like a bang for your buck it was absolutely delicious. Prices are good. Bartenders were attentive and very friendly.

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13 days ago

here for a wedding. delicious food and excellent service. Isaiah was great! thanks for having us :)

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Ask the Community - Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar

Is their bbq meat gluten free?

Hi Samantha! Most of our meats are gluten free. Our gluten free meats are brisket, pulled pork, chicken, ribs and our jackfruit, which is our vegan barbecue. Our gluten free sides are baked beans, collard greens, potato salad, red chili mayo slaw… 

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Clandestino - Looking towards the bar area

Clandestino

4.5(18 reviews)
2.8 mi•Rosebank

Clandestino has grown up, literally. What began as a small operation in Frederick has moved into a…read morelarger space, and the expansion suits them well. This is Puerto Rican pitorro, also known as ron cañita, made with care and intention rather than gimmickry. Many local liquor stores now carry the brand, and it is well worth picking up a bottle, but visiting the distillery is an experience in itself. The founder is a fellow Puerto Rican born retired military member, a background I share, and like me, he has put down roots in Maryland. That story is reflected clearly in the brand's own framing, "Puerto Rican born, Maryland made." The space feels grounded and unpretentious, and that sensibility carries through to the hospitality. We arrived late on a Saturday and were still welcomed warmly, never rushed. We were taken care of by the founder's daughter, who was exceptionally kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. She guided us through a flight that included the traditional pitorro, almond, pineapple, coffee, coconut chai, and several seasonal offerings. The flavors were thoughtful and well balanced; even the infused expressions retained a clear rum backbone rather than drifting into novelty. We enjoyed them enough to leave with several bottles. This is artisanal pitorro done right, rooted in Puerto Rican tradition and confidently made in Maryland. Buying it locally is convenient, but going to the distillery is where the people, the story, and the spirit fully come together.

This local speakeasy has quickly moved its way to the top of my list…read more I love the ease of parking, safe neighborhood, and spacious speakeasy space. Always great service by bar manager Charlie, fantastic food and beverage menu and options. My favs so far are the grilled wings and chicken tortilla soup. The drinks are pretty awesome, and Charlie the Great can alter beverages to your preference if you prefer. This is an overall mezcal bar, but they have other libations as well. My fav is John Updike's Old Fashioned. My son ordered and loved the Strawberry Gin & Tonic. This establishment is a great conversation starter, and I look forward to returning asap.

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Clandestino - Write what you want

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Clipper Mill Lounge - decent pool table and plenty of flat screens with all variety of sports playing

Clipper Mill Lounge

2.3(4 reviews)
0.0 mi•Hampden
•$

The Clipper Mill Inn, known to locals as "The Bloody Bucket" is easy to miss. From the street it's…read morejust an unassuming gray block building with a red door and no permanent sign. It's not unusual to just see a plastic banner advertising NASCAR and Budweiser beer prices hanging above the door to let you know there's a bar inside. This bar also had a sketchy reputation when it originally opened because it looked more like a bar that was built inside someone's garage. It was dirty, had a dingy drop tile ceiling, and was lit only by harsh neon lighting inside. But Clipper Mill has since been remodeled and actually has a cozy little neighborhood bar feel inside now with painted drop tin ceilings, normal lighting, along with the requisite dive bar elements of a pool table, jukebox, keno machine, video poker machine, a few flat screens to watch the game, and a carry out fridges on the wall. They've also got 6 draft beers on tap, cold Natty Boh in a can, and strongly poured cheap drinks. Back when Clipper Mill was still a garage bar, Charm City's own John Water's was spotted here on more than one occasion for their Karaoke Saturday nights. Not sure if he's still stopping by since Clipper Mill got its interior face lift. But the regular crowd here are pretty much ALL regulars, and they seem friendly enough. So don't let the "Bloody Bucket" nickname make you shy away. Stop in, have a cold beer or two, and enjoy another stop on your tour of Balmer dive bars.

This is a place for locals, run by locals. Not "locals meaning people that only live nearby", I…read moremean townies who were born here 60 years ago and never have left the State of Maryland in their lives. It is one of the few bars I have ever walked into where the hostility of the staff towards strangers was so blatant,as if outsider were crashing a private social club. This is the type of establishment that needs to close down. It is flanked on all sides by nice restaurants, craft breweries, and new apartments, and is only a few blocks from The Avenue. Yet, Clipper Mill remains patronized by recalcitrant "hons" who refuse to acknowledge that the neighborhood is changing for the better, and that Jimmy Carter is not still president. Seriously, I think some of the stuff on the walls in there is 40 years old. The place is a microcosm of the "old Bawlmer" attitude still found in some pockets in the city... the people who would rather live in urban decay like Detroit than embrace the change of the city.

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Clipper Mill Lounge
Clipper Mill Lounge
Clipper Mill Lounge - Owner Rob and one of his many smiling locals

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Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

4.3(15 reviews)
0.4 mi•Hampden

This bar has a vibe that is unlike any other place in the area. It's a little off the beaten path,…read morea few blocks from the Avenue, so it gets a lot of locals and a lot of regulars. It's a mix of old school dive bar and upscale cocktail bar. Like, you can get a Boh here, but you can also get a $16 craft cocktail that will rival anything you can buy at more classic cocktail lounge or speakeasy. It is small, so you will be forced to get to know your neighbors at the bar. They will undoubtedly be cool, though, because this place attracts a fun crowd. The only downside, really, is that it is so dark inside I can never read the menu, which is written in colored marker on the mirror behind the bar.

It has been a minute since I've been to Melanie's at Griffiths and this is the most iconic dive bar…read morein Hamden. The friendliness here is something to be desired. I did go on a Monday night, but the bartender was extremely off putting, and just gave off really negative energy but the service itself wasn't horrible. She just was kind of mean. That's said the cocktails here are stupidly good. The old-fashioned here used to be $10 but now it's $14 but it's still so excellent and worth it. It rivals cocktails of really good places and unexpected for this divey place. There is no food, but they do have chips that they sell that are clothpinned along the door and the plantain chips were really delicious. The lighting is really really low towards the back end of the bar, but to the front where they have the TV there's always something interesting. This is a must visit for anyone that is local or visiting, and hopefully the staff is friendlier this time.

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Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern - Menu

Menu

Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern
Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

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Mt. Washington Tavern - Famous Jumbo Lump Crab Cake on a toasted brioche bun

Mt. Washington Tavern

2.7(677 reviews)
2.5 mi•Mount Washington
•$$

Mount Washington Tavern is tucked in an adorable set of streets in Mount Washington and the…read moreinterior totally matches the vibe! Very well laid out and decorated, while definitely busy there is plenty of space to spread out upstairs and downstairs. Our server Jaylin was very attentive even when there was a large party in the same room and things were clearly hectic. We definitely appreciated the service even more seeing how busy of a night it was! The crab dip was a crowd pleaser at the table and my pasta was also delicious and filling.

My friend pointed out a mouse that was in the dining area. We immediately left after that…read more.. If the above didn't happen, I would have only given them 2 or 3 stars anyway. The price is not worth the money. The MD crab soup had a spicy kick to it. So I didn't care for it, but my friend liked it better than the cream of crab soup. The crab cake had too much filler in it, but the taste was okay, could've used more seasoning... The fries were alright. The honey mustard sauce was good (tasted store bought). My friend said his meal was okay, but felt like the steak tasted more like a roast beef and he didn't like the sauce. He said the mashed potatoes were good, but didn't taste homemade. To me, the mashed potatoes looked homemade, but I didn't taste it due to a food allergy limitation. He didn't like the coleslaw. The service was good. The inside looked clean, but the mouse situation destroyed any clean thoughts.

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Mt. Washington Tavern
Mt. Washington Tavern - Fresh, crusty French batard roll brushed with garlic butter, loaded with capicola, cured salami, mortadella, provolone roaste...

Fresh, crusty French batard roll brushed with garlic butter, loaded with capicola, cured salami, mortadella, provolone roaste...

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Raffy's on 36th - Nothing like a wood burning Oven

Raffy's on 36th

4.3(23 reviews)
0.4 mi•Hampden

Checked out the menu outside and saw their date night special for Thursday - it was Thursday! An…read moreappetizer, a pizza, and two cocktails for $45! We were greeted quickly and told to sit anywhere we waited. The restaurant was very well lit and decorated. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The server was newer but very nicem she greeted us with a pitcher of water, concerning it was a very hot day this certained earned some points! We had some questions about out the menu and she asked the nearby bartender which was really helpful. We got the cocktail of the month and the brown derby. Both excellent and well made. Next we ordered the honey old bay wings. They were very salty, we asked for more honey and that helped a lot. Lastly we got the mushroom onion pizza. This was delicious and full of shrooms. A really great date night, I'm excited to return to try more!

We are always looking for some good pizza and Raffy's has made the list. We got artichokes,…read morepepperoni pizza, the goat pizza, a side of spicy ranch as well as some drinks. The artichokes were nothing special, I'd skip those next time. The pizza was delicious. Thin, crispy, and very nice sauce flavor and toppings. The side of spicy ranch had a kick to it. We were the only ones there at the time but the service was on top of it. She was nice and attentive. Id definitely come back and try other flavors. They do specials and offer a thursday date night deal.

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Raffy's on 36th
Raffy's on 36th - Crispy Parmigiano Potatoes

Crispy Parmigiano Potatoes

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Blue Pit BBQ and Whiskey Bar - bars - Updated October 2026

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