Stopped by The Pit & Tap in Wilmette and had a great experience. The full front windows open completely to the street, and the front patio makes it a perfect spot to enjoy summer weather. We took the bartender's recommendations and ordered the pulled pork poutine (massive amount of pulled pork) and the wings, and both were outstanding. Huge shout-out to Halle behind the bar--friendly, funny, attentive, and made everyone feel like a regular. Great food, great vibes, huge portions, and the perfect summer hangout. read more

We wanted to try something new. We chose to come here for a Friday lunch. We ordered the Brisket Nachos to start and BANG!!!! Super fire!!! Definitely order this again! The service was prompt and courteous. The smell inside the restaurant is very inviting if you like smoked meats! Definitely worth a visit!!! Pic of Al Pastor tacos! We ate nachos too fast lol! read more

Pit & Tap - Al Pastor Tacos (Special) - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

If you like a Reuben Sandwich, order the Pastrami Reuben here -- meaty, smoky, sauerkraut tangy good! I've tried most of the items on their menu -- this was the best by far. read more

Pit & Tap - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

This restaurant leans more toward a nautical theme than a traditional BBQ joint, but don't let that fool you--it's a solid spot for barbecue. The food came out very quickly, though it was more lukewarm than hot (minus 1 star) . I like my food hot and fresh. That said, the service was very good, friendly and attentive throughout. read more

Pit & Tap - Brisket, pork belly and ribs combo - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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So much on the menu is gluten free and is clearly marked. Nice to have such a variety to order! The pulled pork, sliced brisket, brisket tacos, fries, cheese fries were all delish. The ribs were a bit tough, definitely not melt in your mouth. It's a casual and very loud restaurant - conversation was challenging and it wasn't even full when we were there. read more

Pit & Tap - Pulled pork, brisket, and Cole slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

We dined here on July 14th during a 93 degree day with an active air quality alert. For some reason, Pit & Tap elected to keep their large garage-style windows wide pen with no air conditioning or air flow. Because of this, the indoor seating was overheated, hard to breathe in, and swarming with bugs that we had to constantly swat away from our food, drinks, and faces. When you look around and see a bunch of red faces and hair going up into buns, it's a sign no one is comfortable. To make matters worse, we sat down at 5:35pm when the restaurant was nearly empty and were say between two of the only three other occupied tables against the wall. Less than an hour later, at 6:25pm while we are mid-meal, the host came up and said "we have a 14-top coming in, would you mind moving to a different table". Had we been lingering for two hours, I would understand, but we had almost just started eating our main courses. When they moved us (or rather, when we moved ourselves - the host waited until we were standing and grabbing our plates to say 'oh, we can help if you want'), they placed us closer to the open windows making us even hotter. Our server brought over an unsolicited round of drinks to apologize, but we were both driving and didn't want more cocktails - we just wanted a comfortable dining environment. When I said to him "no, we won't be staying any longer so we don't want those" he seemed to get offended saying "but they're on me". Money wasn't the issue - comfort was. The lack of consideration for guest comfort was incredibly disappointing. The food was good, but I unfortunately couldn't eat nearly as much as I would have normally due to the unreasonable heat. read more

Our go to place for bbq in the area and now on our list for Saturday/Sunday brunch! The staff is very friendly and their menu has a little something for everyone. They also have a bunch of local brews on tap which I appreciate. There's indoor and outdoor seating and the front windows fully open to let as much fresh air as possible flow throughout the restaurant. If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stop by. read more

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I have enjoyed dining at Pit & Tap for about three years now. The service is always excellent and friendly. The food is always excellent, and the atmosphere and location are great. As a Chicago native with deep roots in the Chicago North Shore, I am often visiting different restaurants in the North Shore. Pit & Tap is one of my favorite barbecue restaurants. I recommend Pit & Tap to every barbecue aficionado out there. Seeing as how one of my ancestors was one of the founders of Wilmette in the 1800s, I hold a special love and appreciation for Wilmette and for its outstanding restaurants and cafes. Thank you to Pit & Tap for being a wonderful part of both the Wilmette community and the Chicagoland and North Shore communities. I look forward to many future dining experiences with you all. God bless! read more

I was craving BBQ so we found this place after googling. The reviews seemed good and the menu looked great. The restaurant is nice the service was great overall vibes were amazing. Food looks phenomenal, but... it tasted like someone dumped an entire bag of sugar in everything. The beans were sweet. The pickles were sweet. The corn bread was sweet. The bbq sauce was sweet. I was a little baffled. The mac & cheese was bland. I wish the rib meat was tender and fell off the bones. The Texas sauce would've been better if it was spicy. We quickly ate and left, too, because there were a lot of kids around the Sunday we ate here. Honestly everything else was great about the restaurant but food is the main thing. I'm sad I didn't enjoy how it tasted. read more

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What an amazing experience we had at this restaurant! I love that they close for two days before Christmas just to decorate -- I wish they did this for every holiday, because it truly makes the place feel special and puts you right into the holiday spirit. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was exceptional. We will definitely be back! read more

Holiday visit review only. Staying out in Wilmette in December, we couldn't miss the brightly lit ambiance of the outdoor facade. The indoors was decorated as if Christmas puked, and it was so much fun! The beer list focuses on some stellar locals, and I ordered a Sketchbook Snowy Owl, although it was hard to choose, great beer list. It was crowded with ugly sweater festive people and very loud. My friend from London said Americans are very loud (in general), wasn't Scrooge from London, as well? Haha, I kid. Pit & Tap is a fun stop in the Wintertime! read more

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This place is weird. We have been here several times and each time we are rushed out the door so the table can be turned. BBQ ribs came out in 5 minutes, no coffee so you can't stay an extra 10 minutes to finish it, staff is trained to get you to sit where you may not want to, i.e. near the front door in winter. Christmas time there is magical and the only time we go now. read more

We were told it was a 45 minute wait and we were seated 75 minutes later. They were clearly focused on turning over tables, not good service . Waiter took our order and literally never checked on us again. Came by and grabbed a plate without asking if we were finished. Didn't even get a second drink. I'd avoid this place during their Deck the Halls timeframe read more

I'd give lower score if I could. I physically could not get serviced at this bar. This place sucks. The decorations are cool, but the employees are fuckjn children dude. Would not be surprised when they get fined for labor violations. read more

Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and was seated right away. I got the Big Earl lager, which is brewed in house at the restaurant, which was really good. To eat I got the Texas Two Step with ribs, lean brisket and mac n cheese then I also got a side of the elote. The meats were delicious and tender, and the house BBQ sauce on the table paired perfectly. The Mac n cheese was alright, but the elote was delicious. The food came out so quick that we were there for barely an hour. Definitely a fun, cute spot and we will definitely be back! read more

Pit & Tap - Elote Corn - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Went for Happy Hour. -was informed they aren't doing that until Jan. '26. All mixed drinks were small and 15$! They were out of the cocoa for one drink because, "the kids drank it all." -charged extra for a few more tortillas chips for the dip we ordered! Unfriendly wait staff! -made us leave because they wanted to sit another 2 people (that would spend more!!) VERY RUDE! I've lived in Wilmette for decades... won't EVER be back there. JS read more

I've reviewed Pit & Tap in the past, not very favorably. Unfortunately I was forced to order from them because my husband wanted bbq. I ordered takeout from them - two sandwiches. Got home, opened the sandwich boxes. They didn't provide any bbq sauce. Nice job, Pit & Tap. Another fail. Your business only had two tables occupied while your neighboring restaurant s were thriving. I can see why. read more

The restaurant has a great vibe and has been a fabulous addition to downtown Wilmette. I highly recommend the ATX burger and the smoked wings! Sitting at the outside tables on a warm summer evening is sublime. read more

Meat was kind of dry, ribs were too peppery, sauce is too sweet, mac and cheese is kind of bland. Pickles were great, portions were a good size, and there are lots of options for side dishes. Would not return - Soul and Smoke in Evanston is a much better choice. read more

Pit beef in Wilmette? Yes please. The owner, Michael, greeted me and opened the door for me on this Tuesday. Michael is one of the nicest, friendliest people I have met since moving to Wilmette. The ambiance was part open table Texas Roadhouse, part trendy fine dining restaurant. I am into the feel of the place empty. I imagine it being very different full. The aroma permeates throughout the restaurant of smoked meats. I had the beef brisket. The flavor on the outside was nice. Deep in perfect pepper and the Mac and cheese and corn bread were excellent sides. I ordered my wife the Texas Duo to go with brisket and ribs. The brisket was a little tougher than I like. The flavor was good, it just seemed chewy to me. The ribs could have more seasoning, and the to go brisket was tough as well. The elotes were fantastic. A meal for two of our food for the price is reasonable. Worth returning to. read more

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Very good food. I love the smash burgers and the knuckle sandwich. Very grateful to have brisket, ribs, bbq nearby. Very nice service and atmosphere too. read more

Great fun Christmas theme! Extremely busy and expect a wait but worth it. Staff are friendly and did tasty. Everything was great but the brisket wasn't fall apart by any means. Previous time it was perfect. read more

Pit & Tap - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Last night as a group of 19, we approached the hostess and asked if they could seat us. We told them we were fine with however they needed to split us up. They quickly made it work with 2 tables next to each other. Our orders were taken efficiently and the food was out in a very short time. Everything was great. Drinks, food and service was outstanding. We had a couple of people who needed Gluten Free and this restaurant was recommended by a GF app. We are lucky to have found Pit & Tap!!! read more

I come for the "tap" more than the "pit" - always a great rotating beer selection of local brews. This place gets a lot of buzz for its holiday pop-up, but I enjoy it more the other 11 months of the year, when it's much less crowded. Karaoke (first Thursday of the month) never disappoints! read more

The Missus and I had dinner here a few months earlier. I put off writing this review until we had an opportunity to return and try other menu items. This time, several companions joined us for lunch. I like the vibe of this place and the fact that it's smack dab in the middle of downtown Wilmette. Free street parking is plentiful. Like most Texas-style 'cue places, the menu is limited. Previously we had their St. Louis ribs, which were dryish and not particularly flavorful until we drenched 'em in sauce. This time, I was in the mood for a brisket sandwich. But the only such option is a "Texas BBQ Sandwich" described as, "chopped brisket tossed in house sauce and topped with our cheddar-jalapeño hot link." Noooo thanks. I ordered the sliced brisket instead ($21). Well, the meat was COA (Cold On Arrival) and dry as a sawdust soufflé. Sauce to the rescue, once again! There are three sauces with varying degrees of heat, and I like 'em all. My Missus described her Smoked Cheeseburger as "good, but not particularly special," and at $18 it was not exactly a steal. Some of our companions ordered the day's special, Brisket Tacos. The general consensus was the tacos were good but the brisket was dry. A Pulled Pork sandwich ($17) was "just okay." Most of the side dishes fared better. The fresh-cut fries and house-made pickles were the best of the lot. The Pit beans, cole slaw and elote were quite good. The chewy corn bread was neither moist nor flavorful. This is a full-service restaurant--you don't go up to a counter--and we had excellent service. But truly authentic Texas-style 'cue is not supposed to depend on sauce to make it palatable. Reading others' reviews, I see that food temperature is a chronic problem here. And, given the modest portion sizes, the menu is overpriced. read more

Pit & Tap - Half rack ribs & cole slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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We had a work outing with 15 people and everything was perfect! The table was ready at the time of our reservation, the food was delish and prompt, and all the staff were so kind - we were also able to pay per order, which was very helpful. We then had a blast during karaoke! read more

What a fun place to go during the holidays! We were told the wait would be half an hour but we were seated 15 minutes later! Our waitress was attentive and explained the hour per table turnover in a polite way. I got the 2 meat platter and the ribs were great! The fries were also really good. Our table also got the salad, pulled pork, beans and chicken strips. Everything was delicious! The holiday decor was so fun and great for photo ops! We will be back for the food once the holidays are over! read more

The manager/owner whatever he is was extremely RUDE and very UNPROFESSIONAL! We will never ever walk into this establishment ever again!!! I have been to best and worst of places and have never been treated so rudely!!! We left and went some place else with better service and respect. His pompous attitude and lack of respect for his customers is truly disgusting! Beware! read more

Outstanding food, great service and fun holiday festive fun!!! Went with a group earlier this week and enjoyed cocktails and more!

I enjoyed my meal here. The food was good, and the holiday decor is off the chart! Definitely a reason on its own to visit. I had the brisket plate with elote, and I would probably order that again given the opportunity. I can't help but compare Pit & Tap to another barbecue restaurant closer to me: the food is similar, but Pit & Tap has a smaller menu and their prices are a little higher (which is to say, too high IMO). I understand that it's not necessarily apples to apples, but still... I admire their commitment to cleanliness and conservation by minimizing the use of paper menus in favor of QR codes so the menu can be viewed on a mobile device. My recommendation would be to make that process easier by having either open wifi or have the password readily available in case someone is experiencing difficulties with their carrier's connection. We shouldn't have to flag down a server to ask for the wifi password to view the menu. read more

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We came in for lunch one day and we're quickly seated. The tables were set with their various barbecue sauces already. Our server came up to us and took drink orders, and our food order. And a few minutes later our food came out. (Which was fantastic because we were STARVING!) we tried the half slab of ribs and the Mac and cheese and the knuckle sandwich. The ribs were a bit dry but with the barbecue sauces in the table the flavors were delicious. The knuckle sandwich had so much meat on it, it was so filling just eating half of it & saving the other half. The meats in the sandwich were super juicy and tender. We had a lovely experience and would come back to try more. read more

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Hoo boy, this place gets hopping on a Friday late afternoon. At 5 they were quoting 45-minute waits! It's decked out to the nines for the holidays, but also very loud and crowded. So, you judge whether the extra jingle jangle razzle dazzle is worth it. The meats that I tried (ribs, brisket, pulled pork) were mediocre, but I really liked all of the sides. My favorites were the pickles and cole slaw; fries and mac & cheese, also thumbs up. I liked the cornbread too, but mine somehow tasted like fish. Hmm. The meals came out quite quickly and the service was attentive and friendly. I'd certainly go back at a non-peak time and try a few more items. read more

Came by and liked how cute the place was and how friendly the staff was. So the next week decided to order take out. Large portion for salad, but the side dressing given was a very small, maybe 2 oz portion that would never work for the large salad. I also ordered salmon with the salad. $12 plus tax gets you 2.8oz. Is that normal and I'm out of touch? Inflation? Or is this small for the price? Also the meat my husband ate was kinda cold. Chili didn't seem that hot either. I'm not sure if that was from waiting to eat, but I know I've been served hotter food and waited longer for delivery than it took to eat this pick up order. I also read on another review they serve the food cooler because it's been sitting under warm lights through the day. I didn't have that conversation though; it's hearsay. Food tasted alright. It's filling. Just disappointed with some choices they make. Included pics too. read more

Pit & Tap - Tiny dressing for large salad. - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Great beer, cool window looking out in the street. 20 tappers. Most beers priced at 8 dollars.

It's our annual tradition to kick off the holiday season here! Great food & drinks and a festive atmosphere that makes you feel welcome!

This was my first time checking out this place. I was here at lunchtime and there was plenty of seating. Our server recommended their signature burger. It was fantastic. I substituted the french fries to try their baked beans with pork belly. They were amazing and a bit on the spicy side. I can't wait to come back and try their barbecue. read more

Bland food that was cold when I picked it up. Never got confirmation that it was ready. I got an email saying I had to call to confirm they got my order. I called and the rude worker said, "Well, it's approved." Never going back and will tell my coworkers not to bother. read more

Six of us came after seeing the Yelp reviews. The staff are friendly and seated us quickly and took our drink order. ±The drinks arrived before our server did. The wines and beers and whiskies and bourbons were extensive for this kinda small place. Our server was new but seemed to pick up the service level. We ordered the Big Earl , a huge sampler of all the meats and all the sides (except fries). So we ordered the fries. The fries were fabulous. really crispy freshly cut. The meats on the other hand were on the dry side. The brisket was really dry as was the pork belly. The sausage was a killer. had a little cheese inside. Really good. The pulled chicken and pulled pork were tender and decent. The ribs came with 5 or is bones. It was well cooked. There were 3 sauce options. None really thick. There were 6 sides. The corn and the pickles were super. The broccoli, chili, beans and mac n cheese were meh. The corn bread was super. We asked for a second order. read more

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Best happy hour in the North Shore. That said, come for the bbq. It's smoked all day in house and permeates throughout. Try the happy hour wings, bbq slice tastes, and a great adult beverage selection. read more

Was really excited to give this place a try, but should have listened to other yelpers. First indication of the quality of food, was when you looked around and realized most other tables had salads in front of them rather than the BBQ they were apparently known for. Ordered 2 of the Texas Two Step plates. Ridiculously expensive for the little amount of extremely dry and fatty meat served. Especially the brisket. All the meat on both plates were served cold. Had the waiter send it back, only for 2 new plates to be served less than 5 minutes later with the same temperature meats. Sadly, we had the manager comp our food and we left hungry. Manager did say that the meats are smoked overnight and kept under warming lights throughout the day, so they are never served hot. Very disappointing. read more

Pit & Tap - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois