Incredible BBQ. Interesting rotating menu items. A short but very well chosen beer list. An overall gem. read more

Being back in NC for a weekend, I absolutely had to get some good ole carolina BBQ. Picnic was decent, but not my favorite and I'm not sure I'd come back. I got "The Boat": 4.5 oz of bbq with slaw and hushpuppies. For the portion size, it was a bit pricey. The bbq itself was alright, but the slaw was bland and the hushpuppies weren't my favorite (usually hushpuppies have a slight sweetness to them but these were just salty). Probably will not return. read more

If you're reading this (and don't have dietary restrictions!), order. the. banana. pudding. It's the best I've ever had and writing this makes me want to order more. I've always been impressed with Picnic's gracious and quick service, and have loved everything I've tried on the menu -- especially the pulled pork and banana pudding. On my last takeout order, my whole family's meal was carefully packaged and easy to carry out. Stay safe & be kind & enjoy some BBQ out there! read more

This is one of our fav places. Never disappoints! Hubby devoured his fried chicken before I could take a pic! He said it's the best he's ever had and that it reminded him of his grandmothers fried chicken. That says a LOT! He said it was hot and fresh and seasoned perfectly! read more

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We finally got takeout from Picnic for dinner the other night when we had some northern guests who wanted NC BBQ. They raved about it! I knew it would be good from reading reviews here and following them on Instagram, but what I didn't expect was every item was on point. We got the 4 person BBQ dinner that comes with 2 pints of pulled pork, coleslaw, 2 sides, cornbread, and rolls. We chose collard greens and baked beans as the other sides and also got an order of hush puppies. The pork was super tender, pulled, with just the right amount of vinegar flavor. The coleslaw was my favorite of the sides, but they were all delicious. The cornbread and hush puppies were also big hits with our guests, especially with the sorghum butter and hot honey. We had more than enough food, but the leftovers didn't last long! Next time we will try the fried chicken for sure. read more

Food was ok. Service was less than perfect. Food: ribs were fine, nothing amazing, fried chicken was cooked well but void of anything special or any flavor. Collard greens were one large collard leaf - I suppose I can cut it for them. Pulled pork was good. Nice and vinegary. Hush puppies were outstanding. Chicken tenders on Kids meal might have been twice cooked but kid was fine. Finished our initial round of beverages and had to wait five minutes or more to flag down server for refill. She was busy in bar talking and or talking to the line cook. Literally four other people here so no excuse for that. Food was brought by other server. Guess ours was busy. Food was auctioned off. Server came with the rest. And when we were down to last bites server came back with a refill and asked if everything was "still" ok. A bit late to check if we got everything and were happy. We had a ton of side plates and no where to put them so I just put them on the table next to us. Server cleared them as I asked for the bill. If I'm expected to tip for service, it would be nice to get service. Place was not busy; just simple basics. Some southern hospitality to go along with the theme. On another note: Hostess was fine when we came in; however upon watching her stand idly at door with the lowest of energy during our whole meal was a bit off putting. Towards end of meal, customers came in and she smiled well enough but she just seemed miserable otherwise. When we left we had to navigate around the host stand, the host, and the party of 6 waiting to be sat. There were only four other tables occupied today; I cannot imagine the flow pattern when they are busy. Just a little bit of details here and there all added up to an overall good enough but nothing special experience. read more

Terrible service. Went to get food after my grandmothers funeral service. I was seated with my partner and we were told someone would come and take our order multiple employees walk past and nothing. After 20-25 minutes we had to flag someone down to bring atleast water. They took our order when they brought the water out. We ordered appetizers and main plates. We then proceeded to wait 45-50 minutes and had not received any of our food nor had anyone checked on us. In the meantime there were several other customers that came in after us and were seated, ordered, served, checked out and our food did not come out. What made it worse was 3-5 employees walked past us multiple times to helped other customers and no one said anything to us. I use to be a manager in customer service industry; Ignoring customers is unacceptable. left will never go back. We went to Bonefish grill food was good service was fantastic. read more

I am so sad to report that Picnic isn't at all what it used to be. We used to LOVE this place. I think the ownership changed pre pandemic, and we've tried several more times during the pandemic and one time since... I kept thinking it was a bad night, I kept trying to give the benefit of the doubt, but no more. The service was weird... not welcoming, not bad, just uncomfortable. We arrived about 30 minutes before the kitchen closed, and ordered right away. My brisket sandwich was inedible - dry, tough, fatty and gristley. The fryer was off for the night, so they couldn't serve fried tomatoes or okra. They did have some hush puppies they gave us, though which were good... a different recipe than they used to have. I think everyone else's food was fine - pulled pork and sides. The bottled sauce was great, of course .... they began to pull up the chairs and started mopping with bleach-smelling mop bucket water. They started shutting the restaurant about 5 minutes after the kitchen closed; only shortly after our food was served. I think they probably should post an earlier closing time; they should have declined to seat us this evening a couple of weeks ago. I had also wanted ribs which are no longer on the standard menu. It's the end of PICNIC for me. So sad!!!! read more

I do really love picnic in many ways. Their pulled pork is my personal favorite in the area - the meat is so high quality and not greasy or fatty. I do personally find myself disappointed in their fried chicken and wish it had a bit of kick to it, and it can be on the dry side. The Cole slaw and potato salad are both excellent. Overall, I find that this place has several great/exceptional menu items (pulled pork, collards, Cole slaw) mixed with some items that are good to okay (fried chicken, Mac and cheese, banana pudding, hush puppies). Nothing I've ever had has been at all bad and I will keep going back for the gems. I also find their prices reasonable, especially if you're feeding a crowd with the family meals. Service is always extremely friendly and they have a wonderful front of house staff. read more

On a recent trip to Durham, NC we went to Picnic for lunch. It was during COVID, so there was only outside seating and it was limited. We must have gotten there at the perfect time, because we were able to get a seat. I will admit it was quite warm, but the yummy food made it perfect. Due to COVID, they have moved the order area outside. The young lady that took our order was not really friendly and she did not know how to accept a gift card for payment. So ordering was a little rocky. Being a Southern Girl, I had to try the pimento cheese with the fried saltines. What a treat. The pimento cheese was smooth and well-balanced. I thought the idea of frying the saltines was quite clever, it really added a little extra yummy. I had the pulled pork sandwich with french fries. Oh my goodness, the bun was warm and so soft, it seemed to melt right on the pulled pork as I took a bite. I loved it. The pork was nice and tender. Jenni had the brisket. She said it was tender also. We both loved the fries!! I did not enjoy the bottled sweet tea, but I am guessing they had that due to COVID. When I visit Durham again, Picnic is on my list to eat at again. read more

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We went there to get takeout to have on an actual picnic in the park. For that it was quite acceptable. The hush puppies were the best thing, they are quite good. Pork was rather underwhelming. Not a lot of flavor. Catfish sandwich was good with tasty moist fish. read more

So ... a yelp influnced stop while in Durham, NC. We tried the pickled deviled eggs, the hubby loved them. Me not so much, I am a tradional deviled egg person. The hubby got the shrimp roll with fried brussel sprouts. He liked them both. I got the bbq & chicken combo with collard greens and mac & cheese. The collards were a bit sweet for me. The mac & cheese was creamy, not cheedar cheese made. The bbq is more of a pull consistency not chopped but very tender. You will need the Pig whistle sauce for flavor. The buttermilk chicken was everything. Hot, juicy, and flavorful! The sweet tea was a bit weak for my taste buds. The overall experience... pretty good. The prices a bit over the top for what you get. Shrimp roll w one side $9.95. Bbq & fried chicken combo $18.95 w two sides. Oohhh.... the hushpuppies.... perfect... Hot, tasty, and very light.(wanted to ask for more, but held back). read more

Picnic - Bbq & chicken combo - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Boy am I glad that the owner of Picnic decided not to practice law and cook instead. Loved everything we had on a recent visit to Picnic. Our party tried the pork shank, crisp skin with amazing flavor of meat, brisket that was done perfectly if not enough (in my opinion) of it on the plate and crispy, moist fried chicken. Very nice decor and seating inside and outside. Great beer selection and our sides were so well prepared. Can't wait to return to the Durham, Chapel Hill area again to visit my son so that I can return to Picnic. read more

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The fried chicken was crispy and delicious with a hint of the south; the BBQ pulled pork was also really good with the sweet Carolina sauce. My first time trying hush puppies, and I loved them, they go great with BBQ. Cole slaw was cole slaw. I mean, if you're really into cole slaw it was okay. Service was great and I ended up so full afterwards that I couldn't even move from my chair. read more

Picnic - BBQ & Fried Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Sooo I finally made it here for lunch somewhat unexpectedly! Myself and a coworker were planning to grab a bite to eat when our supervisor and another colleague invited us to join them. Only one of the four of us had ever been before to this restaurant before. Well, where to begin? It was a really cute atmosphere! Our server was attentive and pleasant. Now on to the important stuff, the food! I started with the deviled egg-yum, I would certainly order that again! The highlight of my meal was the pork! The meat was amazing, it has made its way to the top of my list! I will totally return for more of that pork! I opted for a platter which included two sides. I had the chance to sample many sides as my colleagues and I are not shy when it comes to sampling one another's food! I personally ordered the seasonal option of capris salad and Mac and cheese.I hate to say this, but the mac and cheese disappointed me and I won't be ordering that in the future. The capris salad was delish-tomato and fresh mozzarella, mmm mmm good! The watermelon gazpacho was pretty tasty, very refreshing on a hot summer day! I also gave the sweet potatoe purée a try and was slightly underwhelmed. My peers raved about the greens and I thought they were pretty good. One of the owners stopped by our table and we explored the option of possibly having them cater an event in the future. I can assure you that I will be back! Keep up the great BBQ!! read more

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Collard greens are delicious however value for money is very much lacking, quite frankly this place is a rip off. Very small portions for high prices and they have the nerve to charge a non-negotiable 20% on every order/item. I will not go back as I think they are taking advantage of those who are supporting them During this difficult time. read more

I love Picnic for both the food and the atmosphere. I've been at least half a dozen times, and it never disappoints. The barbecue is flavorful and I enjoy their selection of sides, my favorites being the fried okra and the sweet potato puree. The desserts are great, too. I'm happy to live close to such great comfort food. read more

Best BBQ I've had thus far in Durham! The Mac and cheese, fried okra, hush puppies and pulled pork were fantastic. Casual vibe. Will return and recommend to friends! read more

"Neighborhood barbecue, chicken, burgers, and drinks, in Durham" Picnic is in an unusual location on Cole Mill Rd in Durham, not really near other shops or businesses but in the midst of a residential area. My son and I checked it out this evening for an early Friday dinner. I will note that they seem to specialize in barbecue, which we didn't order. Setting-- It's not a giant restaurant, but it's no "hole in the wall", and has nice outdoor seating as well as a full bar area. It's a bright space with a dark ceiling. Most of those eating there appeared to be locals or other familiars, and it was hopping for dinner despite the time being 5:30pm. The parking lot was overfull already-- I had to park illegally. Quality-- My son ordered the burger meal and I ordered the chicken sandwich meal. The burger was tasty-- two patties, so it was a decent amount of meat. It comes standard with pimiento cheese, bread & butter pickles, and a sauce, and was served medium. It was quite juicy and tasty. The fries were thin and tasted to me a lot like the "potato sticks" I used to get in a can as a kid. The chicken had a very flavorful batter on it, but it was painfully greasy. The side I got was the pickled cukes and onions, which was good. Kid's Menu-- They didn't give us one, but they had several kid's menu options. Be sure to ask if you want this. Quantity/ Value-- Both meals were fair in size. Neither of us left hungry, but neither did we leave stuffed. I was a bit surprised at the price of the burger with one side-- $11. One can have a comparably good burger from someplace like Only Burger (and with better fries) for less, or a better burger and fries for a comparable price at Bull City or Burger Bach. Then again, they don't specialize in burgers here like those two places do. The chicken was a little cheaper ($9), but again, I wasn't thrilled with it. Service-- Good. The restaurant was busy, but our server was attentive and thoughtful. Synopsis-- I would go back, but it's not super-high on my list. It's possible they're far better for their barbecue, which seemed to be their focus. Nonetheless, I'll say they're "A-OK" overall. PS: no idea why this is also listed as "tapas"... that really doesn't fit this restaurant. read more

Full disclosure: I am a religious Eastern-N.C.-style BBQ zealot. I knew from reading ahead of time that this would be an East-meets-West style joint, so I lowered some of my expectations in advance. So far, for a place that doesn't claim to be Eastern N.C. style, this is the best of the rest. I went straight for the hard core stuff on my first visit for lunch today, with a Pulled Pork BBQ plate. The plate came with cole slaw and hush puppies, and two sides. I chose collard greens, one of my staples, and also Brunswick Stew, which I was glad I could get as a side. So, nothing too experimental. Except I couldn't just play it straight, so I ordered the Deviled Eggs for the table. These came first, as they should, and my dining companion and I each tried one. They were... interesting! I wasn't sure if I could recommend mine after the first bite, because I was confused as to just what I was eating. After some analysis, the egg had been smoked, and the slice of pickled scallion on top, while delicious from my perspective, was overpowering and also mixed into the filling. I ended up liking mine, my companion didn't. It was definitely unlike any deviled egg I've had before. I could see from more daring choices on the menu that a number of other dishes are probably similarly modernized. Perhaps I'll be more adventurous next time. My pulled pork was delightful. It was nicely smoky, very lean and juicy, with no gristle like I find in some other BBQ joints. Very nicely done pork. I put their home-made BBQ sauce on, which is where the East-meets-West comes in as it is both vinegar- and tomato-based. It was okay, actually surprisingly good, but not up to my Eastern-snob standards. Still, it didn't actively repulse me like many such attempts do. The collards were good, a little sweet but not in an off-putting way. The hush puppies were divine. They clearly were made with fresh herbs, and were nicely non-greasy. I did wish for some honey-butter for them, but I could eat a basket of those. The cole slaw was very basic and solid, and the Brunswick Stew was very nice, maybe in the top three of stews I have had. My dining partner had the BBQ and Chicken dinner, which came with a breast and thigh (? may have been drumstick) of fried chicken with her dinner. The chicken came with a strong sweet and sour sauce which my companion did not enjoy, and so chose not to eat. The resulting bare chicken was completely flavorless, which was a shame, as it looks like it was fried nicely. It desperately needed seasoning. Her Mac and Pimento Cheese side, though, was absolutely delicious. The portion sizes were nicely generous, so much so that I couldn't make myself eat dessert, which is too bad, because I would like to try their Banana Pudding or the intriguing Ginger & Lime Cake. The service was very friendly and attentive, and the space itself was interesting - it had a kind of country-meets-hipster vibe about it. It did get very noisy in there with the open floor plan and ceilings, but I supposed that's not necessarily a detriment. Overall, it was very good, and I'll be going back. read more

Picnic - Pulled Pork Plate with Collard Greens and Brunswick Stew. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Sat at the bar on a quiet Sunday night. Ordered the catfish (and later realized that it was sort of an odd choice at a BBQ place, hah.) Nonetheless, it was tasty and the service was very friendly. Beer was cold and fresh, and the chocolate chess pie that I took to go was sweet but definitely tasty. This spot seems to be sort of nestled into a neighborhood, and was a short shuttle ride from my hotel. Would return for the service and to try the brisket. Would be delightful to sit outside, too. read more

I'm back again and this time im going for the fried chicken. Everything here is wicked good. Can't go wrong choosing a Picnic! read more

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$9.75 barbecue sandwiches served with a nice Chardonnay in an atmosphere loud enough to wake the dead. Yankees love it. read more

Please update your hours on Yelp. As a business owner this is your responsibility. I drove all the way to your restaurant on limited time to find your restaurant to be closed. read more

NC Barbecue done right!! Durham's hippest spot to chow down on delicious pork and chicken. With a large selection of beverages, on tap or otherwise, this restaurant will definitely steal your heart! Awesome and helpful staff will be sure to make sure your needs are met. Save room for dessert as their chocolate chess pie tastes like its right out of the pages of a 1960's Secret Family Cookbook. The sauces are amazing too!! Check their website and Facebook page for upcoming events! read more

Picnic - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went around noon on a Saturday and were given a nice two top with a wood bench seat and a metal chair. We ordered too much food so be prepared for info on lots of what they have on the menu. Emily our waitress was very well informed and answered all of our questions. She did a great job of checking in on us and making sure our drinks were filled but was overbearing which was a plus! Here is what we had-best of both worlds-pork and fried chicken with two sides and hush puppies-fries and baked beans, pork sandwich with slaw and potato salad, veggie sampler with stew, Mac n cheese, sweet potatoes and hush puppies and bread pudding and cheese pie for dessert. Here is how everything stacked up Fried chicken-phenomenal!! And the hot sauce honey that comes with is out of this world! Pork-a little dry and not a ton of flavor without the bbq sauce. I hated the bbq sauce-I'm not a vinegar lover and therefore the bbq sauce was a no go for me Pimento Mac n cheese-good but solidified pretty fast Potato salad-dill in it was awesome! Coleslaw-loved it Baked beans-best side dish Sweet potato-super soufflé but I could have used some sugar on em Hush puppies-good Berkshire stew-average, too many Lima beans Bread pudding-needed more sauce Chocolate chess pie-I died and went to heave with this one!! This is the reason I will go back-chocolate chess pie-more please! read more

Picnic - Sandwich and sides and yes there were only two of us! - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Used to be really good but the past couple of years they've started to slip. Avoid the BBA. Definitely must get the fried chicken. A little pricey for what it is, read more

Got ripped off today- what Bullock's Bar-B-Que sells for $7.95 cost me $20! I was in the area and called for a lb. to go- Told sells for $15.95 a lb. and sells itself as sourcing particularly fine swine ( yeah, I did that). I picked. Up a large brown takeout bag but it was $20 when I got there. I was shown a little card that says they have a 20% " service fee" . WTF? I know during the pandemic some restaurants want to ensure that they are able to withstand the downturn and I'm ok for that - for eat-in dining. Inside the large bag ( trick #2) was a small container about the size of a container of soup from a Chinese take-out place. What's up with the big bag? Couldn't tell until after paid or I would have known not to get it. How do you feel about 20% for take-out? Not a tip mind you, but a surcharge. See if you last through that greediness. Oh yeah, the food . Taste was average. Fool me once and only once. Like being ripped off? This is for you. read more

The brisket is phenomenal. If you have fries mix the ketchup with the pig whistle bbq sauce in the background (2:1)100% will be coming back. Brisket with their bbq sauce is amazing. Make sure to get at least 2 of their side cups of bbq sauce because they only give you 1. read more

Picnic - Brisket plate - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Backyard BBQ still is the best, but we really enjoyed Picnic and it will be a better spot to bring family. First, the drinks are fantastic. Get the Jack and Coke slushie. Good beer options. Parking was annoying, but there is overflow parking across the street at the lodge. Two of us ordered the pork platter, my husband ordered the chicken sandwich and my brother's girlfriend ordered the catfish. The catfish seasoning was really good and she enjoyed it. The fried chicken sandwich was a little small, but had really nice flavor. The pork was really tender and I love pork that doesn't need any sauce, although the pig and whistle sauce they provide on the table is worth the add. It is vinegary with a little kick. Slaw was okay, but I wish it was a little bit sweeter. Hushpuppies were not very impressive. Sides: pimento Mac and cheese was our favorite. Sweet potato puree was delicious. Collards were okay, but I like them more salty and with more broth. Baked beans were good and not syrupy. Pickled cukes and onions were good, but you can't eat too much if the side because they are very vinegary. Definitely will be returning. read more

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I'm only holding back a star for what I believe is yet to come. It's clear the press drove the crowd. That and the excitement over a gray new place in NoDuh. And to be fair, the crowds might be overwhelming. The staff is handling it really well. If they can maintain quality through this they will be all set. My son loved his barbecue sandwich. The potato salad rocked due to the tangy dressing and the use of roasted rather than boiled potatoes. The hush puppies are unique like crumbles. Liked those. The house barbecue sauce was a hit as well. Everyone was happy and satisfied. The table next to us loved some mild chicken wings. Can't wait to see this place thrive as time goes by! read more

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Away from all the downtownism of Durham, way up off Cole Mill Road sits Picnic. Not too big, not too little. It's clean, it has charm, it has all the feels of a classic (with a touch of chic) NC BBQ joint. I had a beer from Bond Bros. (local NC beer). Started with an app or the deviled eggs. Not my favorite, but I'm glad I ordered them. My entree was the pork plate accompanied with slaw and hush puppies + 2 sides. I choose the potato salad (delicious) and the sweet potato purée (mega uber delicious). The pork is awesome with the house made sauce. It's all good. For dessert I had the key lime pie. Best I ever had. I'll be taken friends here for a long time. read more

Picnic - Pork plate, hush puppies, potato salad, sweet potato purée and slaw. It's awesome. Good luck trying to finish it all. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Got take out for the first time in months-we have never liked Picnics side dishes but have always enjoyed their BBQ-we got 2 BBQ sandwiches and got NO BBQ sauce-Really??? That is the best part! Also, one sandwich had very little pork on it-have been disappointed too many times by this place. read more

I found this place on yelp while passing through from MD on our way to ATL. My friends and I had never heard of this place before, but it had good reviews and was right off of the highway, so we stopped by. And now it has changed my standards on BBQ. If you're ever passing through North Carolina or in North Carolina or anywhere near North Carolina, you must go here. We had a pretty decent sized group so we got a little of everything on their menu. Everything is delicious!!! - even their chicken. But that Pork Shank is where it's at. My group and I loved meeting Chef Wyatt. You can just tell he genuinely loves and enjoys what he does. Thanks again Chef Wyatt! read more

We stopped to get our BBQ fix before heading back to Maryland & it was perfect! Friendly, welcoming atmosphere (complete with gender neutral bathrooms) and cute, modern decor. The food was hot and fresh and delicious. My husband got the pulled pork and I had the brisket - the sauce that comes with it has that good Texas tanginess. The hush puppies are worth getting extra side and the fried okra has a great crunch. Definitely recommend the short detour! read more

In my top 3 pork samiches I've had... definitely stop by here if you are in the area. Sides were on point too.

Great spot for lunches, sat outside and had fried chicken lunch. Delicious hush puppies and fried okra for sides - couldn't keep hubby away from my order. read more

This BBQ place is a diamond in the rough. It's nice that it's nestled in neighborhoods as well. Usually plenty of parking to be found. Check out their website--if I'm not mistaken, they use Heirloom pigs in their BBQ. It sounds fancy, but this place is down home and delicious. A must try when you're close to North Durham! read more

I saw this place on the way to an estate sale. Cute spot in way north Durham. Came back for lunch, my food was very tasty, great bar with nice craft beer selection and they have unisex bathrooms, which being CA transplant makes me happy, it shows this little spot is progressive read more

Picnic - Apple mountain black gold Porter from Boone,NC Fried green tomato BLT, maple glazed Brussel sprouts - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Oh Picnic - how do I love thee? #1 the never ending amazing concoctions in the slurpy machine. My all time favorite was bourbon and cheerwine. #2 real wood smoked whole hog bbq #3 deviled eggs #4 collard greens #5 the best damn banana pudding ever #6 pickles #7-10 real wood smoked whole hog bbq read more