My "go to" for bbq. Especially the brisket! Enjoy kicking back and eating there for a rare night out or taking it home to have ready for guests. read more

Delicious! I got the pulled pork sandwich and ended up not eating the bread because it would be too much but it was very good! I loved their bbq sauce. Hushpuppies were excellent and Mac and cheese was pretty good too. I went for dinner and I wanted it again the next day for lunch! Waiter was great too! Very friendly staff. read more

Worst bbq in town. Bbq was dry and no taste at all. Mac and cheese was just ok. And I got fried okra which was just like everyone else's. Server was horrible, we had to ask for everything such as refills and such. Will not be back! read more

Excellent pulled pork. Good choice of sauces. Staff was friendly and restaurant was clean. Bathroom left a lot to be desired

This is the best barbecue in Durham, we also got a catering order recently with fried chicken, brisket, mac and cheese, corn bread and kale salad. The team was so efficient in processing the order, it was well packaged, with instructions for how to set things up. And of course, the food was phenomenal. If you decide to eat there, they have a wonderful outdoor space with heaters. Free parking on site. Staff is kind and courteous. Some reviews have called it pricey, but we found it to be very reasonable, especially for the quality of food! read more

Decided to give Picnic a try for lunch. There wasn't a single thing on the plate that wasn't delicious! Our server, Jaime walked us thru the menu and specials like a pro, and was quick, attentive and super friendly. Amy had fried green tomatoes and pulled pork. Tomatoes were firm and crunchy, the batter fried to a perfect golden brown. The aioli dipping sauce was a great complement, creamy and tart with a little heat. We agreed that these are the best fried green tomatoes we've ever eaten. I had the pulled pork plate, accompanied by collards, glazed brussels sprouts, coleslaw and hush puppies. The hi-quality ingredients was fresh and incredible. Collards were perfect - full leaves, not too mushy, the ideal blend of spices. Brussels sprouts are my favorite and these were fantastic. The glaze was sweet and tangy, but not overpowering. Coleslaw freshly made, ground fine and slightly sweet. Hush puppies fried right... light brown, firm but not too crunchy, not greasy and spiced just right. Oh, and let's not forget the pulled pork! A nice portion, definitely expertly cooked, very lightly sauced. The house sauce, Pig Whistle, is classic NC vinegar based. It's good, but not my favorite - I'm a sweet sauce guy. Last but not least was a shared banana pudding. A little too much whipped cream for my liking... But under that cream - YUM. It's a relatively small place, urban chic. Tables widely spaced so lots of elbow room and a couple of tables out front. There's an extensive beer list, and a whole bunch of other things to try on the menu. At $40 for lunch it wasn't cheap, but well worth the drive for some outstanding BBQ with all the fixins. We'll be back! read more

See all

Cool little BBQ spot with a small bar. Employees seemed to enjoy what they are doing. Very Good BBQ & Brisket. Cole Slaw could use some work but wasn't bad. Fried Green Tomatoes were excellent with a dip that was very good. read more

Whenever I'm in from Chicago, I make sure to visit - partial to their pulled pork plate with baked bean and Mac'n cheese sides, pig whistle bbq sauce and sweet tea make it the perfect dish! I'm sure other dishes as just as good, just have to try. I first discovered it during a trek out to Eno River State Park, but will always consider when in town for any event. Their take-out is also well-prepared for you when you're on the go. They accommodate when calling ahead and everything is well-packaged. Never disappointed- highly recommend! read more

We tried picnic bbq the other week and we thoroughly enjoyed! We were glad too because they were one of the few bbq places open on a Sunday. The woman who answered the phone wasn't that friendly though. Also, was told the large service charge was because of biodegradable packaging for the increase of takeout during covid but then when we picked it up, it was all plastic. Aside from that, the people who greeted us and handed us our food were very friendly. The food was so tasty. We got the family pack and the whole hog. We enjoyed the bbq meat and the sides. Mac and cheese was so creamy, beans were so flavorful. Delicious! The only side we didn't care for was the hush puppies. They were a bit bland and dried out. All in all though, enjoyable. read more

If you're looking for great BBQ with a wide assortment of sides, Picnic is a must try. The pork was excellent and the sauce made it even better. The sides were also very flavorful, and the hush puppies were amazing! read more

Picnic - Chocolate chess pie - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I've tried this place a few times. The food is fine. The ambiance is a little loud and echoey, chairs are not particularly comfortable, prices are a bit high for what you get. We ate lunch here today (a July day) and it was really hot inside, and there were a lot of flies flying around us. Several of us ordered the watermelon gazpacho special side and it was bad- like pico de gallo. They should have blended and, um, remembered the watermelon. The pickled cucumbers and onions were good but more onions that cucumbers, and they'd been cut sloppily. The catfish was fine, but all in all I was still hungry by the end of the meal. Not my favorite barbecue place. read more

So we visited Picnic for the first time recently and the food was delicious. The BBQ, brisket, Mac and cheese, hush puppies, and the burger were all exceptional. The baked beans were sub-par, but that was the only thing we had that wasn't great. Service was fine, but we were the only people in the restaurant so it should have been a non-issue. My only complaint was the price...we were 3 people and the order was a BBQ plate, a brisket plate and a burger special. We had 2 soft drinks, 1 water, and with a built-in 18% gratuity it was $77! Are you kidding...for 3 people at a BBQ restaurant? Again, food was fantastic, but at those prices we can't afford to go back! read more

Picnic - BBQ plate with hush puppies, bakes beans and a piece of corn bread. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Boyfriend and I decided to give Picnic a shot since it was on the way home from our most recent trip. Drove up and parked with no issues. Walked in and grabbed two seats at the bar, the restaurant was not full at all. Drinks - we both started off with beers, the menu is written on a chalkboard. The drafts were a bit overpriced so I went with a can of the Fullsteam Cack-a-lacky. Appetizer - Started off with an order of the deviled eggs, these were a bit overcooked and tasted okay. I have had more flavorful eggs in the past. Entrees - we both ordered the Pulled Pork Plate which came with slaw, hushpuppies and two sides. I went with slaw (I did not read it came with slaw) and mac & cheese while boyfriend went with collards and sweet potato puree. The pork tasted good, I have had better. I really enjoyed the pimento mac & cheese and collards for sides. I did not care for the sweet potato puree, it was a bit too light and fluffy for me. As far was service went, it started off a bit slow but eventually got better. Food did come out quick so that was a plus. One of the downsides to this place was that the music was a bit too loud which made it hard to hear our bartender. read more

See all

The service is really convenient and the food is really good as soon as we sat down about 3 minutes later came our food

For the hype, I was a bit disappointed. Now, I'm from Texas, and I will stipulate that we all have different ways of doing that thing we call BBQ. So I'll get it out of the way up front, I have no problem with NC BBQ. I like a good pulled pork very much, and this was good. But there was only the sauce on the table to dress it up. And this needed the sauce. My father in law used to say anything you had to drown in sauce wasn't done up right in the first place. When servers at steak places would ask him if he wanted steak sauce, he'd say "I hope not!" Anyway, you get the idea. For what I'd heard about this place it was jus a little overrated in my book. Other highlights: the hush puppies steal the show here. The baked beans were cooked with bell pepper which was a surprise to me. I'm not a bell pepper fan but these beans were pretty great. The bun from my sandwich had a couple of mold spots on it. Easy to pick off, but come on now, why am I paying $11 for a sandwich with a moldy bun? Chocolate chess pie was good but Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken's is way better. So, not really anything here for me to write home about, which was disappointing after they were named one of the best BBQ places in the state. ‍ You can probably do better. read more

The reviews are right: the buttermilk fried chicken is outta this world! I came here with a big group of friends and the waitress quickly combined a few tables so that we could all sit together, which was much appreciated. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich which came with 1 side. I chose the pimiento mac and cheese out of curiosity---it was definitely different, but a little too creamy/heavy for me and I couldn't finish it, but still tasty. I don't usually like cole slaw but the ended up liking the slaw that came on the side. It was just the right amount of tangy and crunchy and sweet. The fried chicken. I am coming back for a PLATE of that next time. I don't even remember what the bread for the sandwich tasted like, because I was so engrossed in the crispy buttery batter and the tender juicy flavorful bites. My friends tried the collard green sides---they said they were decent but not their favorite. Portion size was just perfect for the chicken sandwich and 1 side. We were too full to try the desserts but I'd like to try that next time I come! Parking is a little tight so come early and bring the smallest car you have. read more

Picnic - Chicken sandwich with Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I'm currently waiting on my order and already I'm giving this place one star because of the horrible customer service. I know there are restrictions because of the Corona virus but they are taking it way too far. While other restaurants in the same exact town have limited dining inside these guys still do not have any. They won't even make their restrooms available so you can't wash up prior to your meal. FYI this promotes the spread of Corona virus people need to wash up to make sure their hands are germ free. The other thing is they put a mandatory gratuity on to the total of your order during the Corona virus pandemic at least that's their excuse. Tips are based on quality of service you don't get a chance to evaluate them they just take it out up front. Extortion for tips is not how you conduct business and keep a happy customer. I'm going to wait until I try the food before I submit the rest of the review. I ordered the pulled pork it was cooked perfectly it was nice and moist. Just did not stand out it was pretty average nothing to rave about. My two size were the mac and cheese and the baked beans. I attached a picture so you can see how the mac and cheese looks like it's instant not made from fresh. Whether it is or is it it was totally bland it had no seasoning at all. The baked beans you could tell they spiced those up even if they're not made here at least they did something that adds some more flavor to them so they are actually pretty good. So basically I'm giving them one star because a horrible customer service and mediocre BBQ. I haven't tried their other stuff yet and I will not because the customer service here is that bad. I never had a place shake me down for a tip like they did. So FYI to this place tips are not mandatory they're based on quality of service Don't use the corona virus to shake your customers down for tips. One last thing I am an essential worker I have homeland security documents on my work phone to show the authorities if they ever wonder why I am out after curfews. when we work out the field we need to use the bathrooms to wash up That's why it's a big deal not having use of a restroom It's the only chance we have to wash our hands read more

Picnic - It looks like instant mac and cheese to me - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Good pulled pork. Friendly service. Burnt ends yummy. BBQ sauce delicious. Would go back again.

Picnic does simplicity well. Everything is simple from the decor to the menu, but the quality definitely shines through. The space is very welcoming and laid back with long wooden tables and big windows (although the tables are very close together and my husband and I got to listen to the couple next to us get into an argument-- just FYI if you come with your significant other and you guys are having a tiff). The menu is short but everything on it was great. They do only have BBQ pork (as they specialize in whole roasted hogs) so no beef brisket (my husband's favorite), but they do have a burger, fried chicken and catfish. Also, they use the North Carolina vinegar based BBQ sauce as any BBQ place in the area should. The highlight of my meal were the sides. Unfortunately, they were out of mac-n-cheese but I had the fries and baked beans and both were delicious. My husband had the collards which he said were a little on the sweet side. We both agreed that the hushpuppies were outstanding. The other surprising highlight of my meal was the margarita. I don't usually order margaritas anywhere except Mexican restaurants but I am glad I did! My drinks did take a long time to come out but the waitress apologized that they are still learning the drink recipes which is totally understandable). My one disappointment was the brunswick stew which seemed really dry to me. They don't use tomato in the stew which I'm not used to and it felt like it was missing something to me. I think the location on Cole Mill Rd is one of the best assets of Picnic because there really aren't a lot of other similar places in the area (although there are some good places). I think Picnic still has a few small kinks to work out during it's opening (and they are very busy which makes parking rather difficult for now) but it's definitely makes me want to go out to eat in an area of Durham I don't usually go to. I look forward to trying more of the menu and eating my way thru all of the sides. read more

Picnic - No seasonal specials yet. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

This place gets 3 star for its flippant service, and their inflated views of their sauce. I've previously worked in the restaurant business. Flippant attitudes are the worst. The restaurant offers one sauce. A vinegar based sauce. Carolina bbq are a tale of 3 bbq sauces. While I don't expect a mustard sauce in every bbq restaurant in the Carolina's I do expect some form of a thicker sauce than a vinegar based sauce. The restaurant offered ribs with a cheerwine bbq sauce but that wasn't offered even when I inquired. That type of hospitality gets you 3 star. Now that food. That's the sad part. The food was really good. I judge a bbq restaurant by its pulled/chopped pork. It was on point. It's kinda of funny though a bbq restaurant that only offers an eastern nc bbq sauce serving pulled pork. Eastern nc bbq is supposed to be chopped not pulled. I actually prefer it pulled so that was a good thing in my book. Sandwich was served with two hush puppies and one side. I opted for the Mac and cheese. Both the hush puppies and Mac and cheese were delicious. The sauce was the low point. It's pre-bottled and reading the label it sounds like it's going to be life changing. It's not. It's standard vinegar based sauce. Carolina bbq and it's sauce is quite divisive. It's on the level of politics. Two or more sauces should always be offered in any Carolina bbq restaurant. In closining I'll try it again but I'll be getting it to go so I can use my own homemade SC mustard bbq sauce on it. read more

Came for the barbecue, left in love with the fried chicken. After being recommended to visit this place by several different people, I finally made it to Picnic, and it lived up to its reputation. I shared the Barbecue and Fried Chicken platter with a friend, and this was more than enough food for us. We chose sides of bacon-braised collard greens and fries, and it came with slaw and hush puppies. The barbecue was very tender and flavorful without even adding sauce (even someone who generally doesn't like Carolina-style barbecue liked this). However, the fried chicken stole the show for me. It had a light crispy breading and was juicy in the center. I'm not much of a fried chicken person, but I will come back for this. The sides were okay but not spectacular; I found the collards a bit bland. We did enjoy dipping fries into a side of old bay aioli. We had planned on ordering the chocolate chess pie but were too full by the time we were done (next time!). We sat outside, which was lovely for a pretty night. The inside looked cute. There was a nice local draft beer list. Service could have been a little bit more attentive, but overall, we were very pleased with our experience at Picnic. read more

Picnic - Barbecue and Fried Chicken Combo with Bacon-Braised Collards and French Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

While in Durham on business, I had no idea where I was going to find supper that night. I did a quick yelp search, and found this place. While the food isn't that the absolute best I've ever had, it was very good. The gun and garden style hipster rural ambience tried to convey a sense of a barbecue joint. I'm OK with that. In fact, I judge my quality of barbecue on life learned lessons of the rattier looking the building, the better the food. The food was excellent. The wait staff was extremely efficient and polite. Polite isn't justice enough of a description. Try "friendly. "After a hard day at work dealing with folks that aren't exactly low stress? This was worth the time. read more

We were in Henderson NC and craving bbq. Picnic was recommended to us as one of he best in the area. I could see the potential but it was not excellent while we dined here. BBQ pork was good, hushpuppies cold, brisket had a weird texture (either held in a warmer or reheated we think). The sauces were ok and the ambiance is definately BBQ. I asked for a tour of their pit as I dine at BBQ locations across the country and was told no, there were workers doing something out there, fine. But when I went to grab my phone from my car I looked out back and there was not a single person back there. Strange I thought. After ur meal I went to buy a hat, the person behind the bar, bigger dude, we think was the Manager. Well he seemed really bothered that I wanted to buy a hat fro the top shelf, so much so he didnt thank me for the sale. I wont go back, too many other options in the area. read more

See all

If you grew up in the south and ever sat up overnight to keep an eye on a whole hog cooking then this is the place for you. If you didn't and you have a desire to understand and appreciate really good pulled pork then this is the place for you. If you just want some good grub then Picnic is your spot. We had a great experience this evening from the efficient and pleasant staff to the really great food. The staff seemed to be enjoying themselves and appreciate the art of fine pig cooking as much as the patrons. Their spirit was contagious. We enjoyed a pimento cheese appetizer that reminded me of Sunday's at my Mother's house. The pulled pork well...is just too good to describe. The sides of mac and cheese; collards; potato salad and vinegar cucumbers / onions; and cole slaw were all very well done. My wife enjoyed the unusual approach to hush puppies but I could take them or leave them. Their homemade Pig Whistle Bar-b-que sauce is really good and we bought a bottle to take home. I used some on my pulled pork but to be honest....the pulled pork is at perfection when it hits your table and may be best left alone. A really cool place with a great future. read more

See all

Was really hesitant of going to this place because it just sounded like another overhyped, hip place that takes classic food items and over complicates them. I wanted to give it a fair shot though, since I'd heard such good things about it. I've been 3 times now, and, although I wasn't horribly disappointed on my first visit, the 2 subsequent visits have definitely let me down. The food is indeed, in my opinion, an overly complicated take on classic foods. I can appreciate the attempt at creativity, but, when it boils down to it, I just simply don't think the food is that tasty. The atmosphere feels too busy, which is uncomfortable. Seemed slammed, even when they didn't have that many customers. Finally, the portions just don't justify the cost, especially considering the food isn't that tasty to me. I got ribs and greens. I kid you not, there were 3 meager ribs on my plate. The greens were an extremely small portion for such a cheap item to produce, and were drenched in vinegar. And we got deviled eggs, which were $3 for a single egg. On a positive note, our server was very kind and accommodating. The only slip up here was that she served my girlfriend an allergen after we initially mentioned to her that she was allergic to it. We realized early on in the meal, at which point we asked her to double checked with the kitchen, and she found out that it did indeed contain the allergen, so she took the item off of our bill, as well as offered to have the food remade. We appreciated that, and don't blame her for the slip up. The allergen was subtly hidden. Probably won't be back for a fourth visit. read more

I'm happy that they have finally decided to let you dine indoors now that the pandemic is over, I just do not understand why you cannot sit and be taken care of. They had 3 individuals behind the desk putting your order in on the ipad then they delivered the food to your table, what would be difference be of allowing those young men to take our order tableside? They are still there being paid and I'm sure they would make more money in tips.....just did not make sense to me. read more

I went to Picnic after a hike in the Eno River, and I think it might be my new spot for post-hike BBQ and a beer! Their outdoor tables are dog friendly, and the staff was really nice and accommodating. They brought out a large bowl of water for my dog and gave him a bone to enjoy. My pulled pork sandwich was good. I had the macaroni and cheese as my side and it was really creamy and delicious. My vegetarian friend had the vegetable platter. However, since it's basically a plate of southern sides it doesn't necessarily need to include any vegetables. Our consensus was that the fried okra was among our favorites. They have a list of local beers on tap that presumably rotate. 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

Had to try the chicken based on prior reviews and was not disappointed. Ribs were great, too. Pulled pork is just average. Love that they have a full bar. Sad to say they ran out of biscuits on Sunday just before we were going to order some. Would come back for the chicken! read more

Picnic - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've passed this restaurant so many times and yesterday decided to stop in and boy am I glad I finally did. I ordered pulled pork plates with okra, mac and cheese, and potato salad, plus a rib dinner, and a kids meal (for my elderly father) and there was not one single complaint! Portiin sizes were plentiful, food was delicious, and service was great. Oh, also got the to-die-for banana pudding and bourbon cake - so, so, so good! Plus, I stopped by the bar while I was there and had a great cider and quick chat with the friendly bartender. Overall THE best experience at a restaurant in a while! read more

Love this place. GREAT Brisket, baked beans and hush puppies. My Go-To BBQ place in Durham now. Don't miss it, you'll be sorry. Great craft beers but they are a little pricey to me. GREAT service. read more

We started out with the fried green tomatoes (nothing to write home about) and the deviled eggs (an unusual take here and the start of a vinegar-doused meal). Things got better when the entrees arrived. I had a wonderful pulled pork plate, the meat was moist, tender and flavorful, I ate most of it before trying it with the vinegar-based BBQ sauce (which was good.) Sides were pickle chips and onions and collard greens (both with more vinegar) and hush puppies. I tried my guest's mac & cheese, typical. We got the three desserts to go: peanut butter pie (pick of the lot), banana pudding and chocolate chess pie, all good. Waiter had a bit of an attitude but gave good service. read more

My last visit here was my last visit. They no longer offer that fabulous fried chicken- gleuten free. The first visit, they were extremely accommodating. A few more visits, food and service was great. Last visit- Not anymore. Disappointed- we really needed something great in that area. read more

I just moved here from Kansas City and was excited to try my first Carolina BBQ! I was extremely satisfied. We got the spare ribs platter, brisket platter, and a side of pulled pork. The platters come with 2 sides each, so we got the mac n cheese, fries, and 2 hushpuppies. All of the meat was fantastic. The brisket and spare ribs come with their own sauces which were delicious -- we liked those both better than their bottled sauce. The mac n cheese was creamy and flavorful. The fries were shoestring-style (so consider whether you like that before ordering them). The hushpuppies were good but I like them a little denser and moister. The portions were not as huge as you can sometimes get with barbecue, but the quality was worth it. Great experience and service -- we will be back! read more

Picnic - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

If you like noise and overpriced food do I have a place for you! I've eaten at Picnic before and the experience was fine, if not mediocre at best. The BBQ and fried chicken were alright, but the sides were the really lacking part of me. Cut to my current experience here and I truly don't get the praise this place gets. It's insanely overpriced for the food you get and the entire place is louder than city bus terminal. Upon my recent visit we had a large party, around 5 total. They don't have great seating options for larger parties. We had five people wedged into a four person table. It wasn't the worst, but it wasn't ideal. Or server was delightful the entire time (Kasey, give her a raise if the Picnic higher ups read this) We were seated promptly and half a party was running just a few minutes late but they sat us early anyway. The thing I noticed immediately is that this place is LOUD. It was barely noon on Sunday and the place was 75% full and it was already impossible to hear the person next to you. The noise situation did not get better. I was legit stunned how hard it was to hear the person right next to you. After our full party arrived conversing with the people directly in front of you was not easy. The majority of us all ordered the fried chicken plates for lunch. The fried chicken is very good, but honestly... for the price it's just okay. Two pieces of chicken for about $15 is kind of nuts. You can get better chicken for cheaper from a fast food place. My wife and I both ordered the season watermelon gazpacho. Unless you want to eat cold salsa with a spoon do not order this side. watermelon gazpacho is traditional serviced smooth and blended. This was like chunky salsa, and was way too spicy for it not to be noted in it's description. It was like spoon feeding yourself a bloody Mary with some light watermelon flavor. My wife got the catfish which she did like, but was very put off by how disappointing the gaspco was gazpacho. NC BBQ is a very divisive thing in this area. People have strong feelings about the best BBQ places and how it should be served and how much it should cost. Good BBQ is not overly pricey. Same with fried chicken. Picnic has always felt like a hipster BBQ joint trying to be something it's not. The food is overpriced for what you and the place is very noisy. This place might be a big hit with the North Durham crowd because of limited options in that area, but there's far better offerings for this type of food in Durham. read more

I came with my wife and some friends on a weekend for lunch. The place wasn't too busy, and we were quickly seated. I ordered the fried chicken and barbecue combination plate, choosing collard greens and fried okra as my sides. It came with hush puppies and cole slaw. The fried chicken was good, very crispy exterior and juicy meat on the inside, even the white meat. The flavors of the breading was good, and I was pretty impressed by it, although I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce it came with - it was a tad too sweet and a tad too sour for my liking. The pulled pork barbecue wasn't all that great. The meat was dry, and it needed a lot of the vinegar sauce to make up for the dryness. The meat didn't have much perceptible smokiness to it, either. The collards were too salty, but the fried okra was good. The hush puppies and cole slaw were pretty standard, not much to report on there. The space is nice, and our service was just ok. The fried chicken gets 5 stars, but the rest I could have done without - I guess I'll be generous and average it out to 4 stars. Probably more like 3.5. read more

Chicken and pulled pork were good. Small portions. Mac and cheese supposed to be pimento but it was really bitter. I couldn't eat it. Collards very salty and had stalks in it. Staff offered something else to replace the mac and cheese but never came back with it. Coleslaw was ok but not exciting. Didn't like the lemonade. Tastes like diet. No problem parking on a Saturday afternoon at 12.30. Lots of tables open inside. Go to Bullocks in Durham. They don't take credit cards but portions are better and quality is consistent. 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

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