Some of the food was alright. The sauces saved us big time. I actually really really liked the sauces! I don't understand how the nachos came without any jalapeños and barely tomatoes...I don't even think it was pico tbh... I'm giving a star for the holiday decor tho. It was super extra lol xD Oh, and we waited forever. They told us like 15 minutes but I know we definitely waited more than 30...not cool... read more

Chicken gave us food poisoning. It was served instantly that doubted us. Average taste. Over hyped price

Came here for lunch with a quick turnaround to get back. Great food and even better service. Our waiter was highly attentive and gave great recommendations on sides and mains, and was super accommodating to gluten free needs. We ate the Brisket Plate and the Knuckle Sandwich and both were excellent. Knuckle Sandwich was a LOT of food, and I have a rather large appetite and found it difficult to finish. They had 3 house barbecue sauces on the table, all were delicious. The Texas one has a really unique sweet and smokey flavor that is definitely an acquired taste. It was quiet for a lunchtime hour, but they had great music selections and good seating and wall decor. Would definitely come here again to try more. read more

Pit & Tap - Brisket Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Pretty decent, typical BBQ ..the Ribs were ok and sides too. Came out super fast & thankfully all hot. Was it the best BBQ I've ever had? No. But for price, and portion etc, a decent meal. read more

Really good food! Locally owned, and the owner wrote a lil blurb on the menu about this being his employees first job ever. I thought the entire waitstaff was nice and diligent in their roles. When we arrived the hostess was immediately attentive to us and was easy going with seating. There was a person cleaning the table and before we sat, he politely told us that he's going to do a final sweep of the table to make sure it was extra clean. The waitress that took our order gave good suggestions, and every time she passed, asked us if everything was okay. We never ran out of water. I thought these people have worked in food industry for a long time because they were kind, attentive, and seemed confident in their job, but maybe it's their first job and that's on the owner/employer teaching good skills. Anyways, aside from good people working here. Food was GREAT! Not dry, sauces were flavorful, and there was plenty of food to take home. Drinks were also very good, we ordered more on the sweet ends, and I thought they were delicious. read more

Pit & Tap - Nachos with brisket. Pick two with brisket and pulled pork, side of Mac and cheese. Cheeseburger with Swiss cheese and French fries. - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

First time there and we ate outside which was delightful except traffic noise but traffic light helped. Loved their sides which were included with sandwiches. Scott had the fries after seeing them @ another table. They had skin on them which I love and he doesn't. I opted for the corn which was sizable and so delicious. He truly enjoyed the Texas BBQ sandwich and wolfed it down. My brisket tacos were delicious and enjoyed trying both the sweet and Texas sauce on them. Waiter was friendly; talked Scott to have BBQ vs burger (duh!) and checked on us w/o being annoying. read more

Pit & Tap - Texas BBQ Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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Went there expecting handcrafted bbq, but got what seemed like warmed, leftover, tough beef. The service was so-so. My waiter I think his name was Aussie was a little rough around the edges and straight to the point - no personality. However the ambience was cool, right in the heart of Wilmette. read more

3 stars for trying very hard. Food, which is why you go, was meh. Agreeing with previous comments, dried out brisket, chicken, and the ribs were over smoked. The bones were actually brittle! Never had that before. But they tried very hard, lots of young families, holiday time, went early at 4:30 for an hour wait, was actually only 45 mins. So, kuddos on that. Drinks were good, strong, owner came by, I like that. Says a lot about a place. Just needs to improve on the food and all will be great. Will try again during a non-holiday weeknight. I'm hoping that was the downfall. read more

Love eating and hanging out here. The staff is super cool and friendly. It's a fun and lively vibe with great barbecue. I like both the brisket and the pork belly. Lots of traditional bbq sides available and great salads. Im in keto lately so I love that I can just get sides of meat.. plenty of street parking in the lovely downtown wilmette area. Large windows open up in the summer to create an open air environment.. highly recommended read more

Pit & Tap - Awesome food vibes and beer selection! - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Great food and great bar service. An impeccable spot to catch a game. Bartenders are always on the top of their game

TLDR: Amazing BBQ for the area. Pricey but will be coming back. We sat outside and split the Texas Two Step (2 meats, a side, cornbread, pickles). They had plenty of outdoor seating which was great for us having our dog. Seating was comfortable and service was still good despite being outside. We got the ribs, pulled pork and baked beans in the Texas Two Step. It was plenty for us to split. The ribs were hands down the best i've had in the greater Chicago area. Super tender and flavorful. They were sauced but were seasoned well. The pulled pork was very tender and flavorful as well. Very juicy and never got a dry piece. The baked beans were Texas style with a bit of spice and were delicious. Cornbread was very moist and flavorful. Didn't go inside but saw it was a smaller space with some TVs and a great bar. Looked like a great bourbon collection also. In sum, everything we ate was delicious and I will 100% be returning. It's closer to a 4.5 than 4. read more

Great food (got brisket and ribs) with lone star salad for me and my wife. Ioved beans (and i usually don't like beans). Everything just so good that my wife and i kept going "humm humm" and did our little dance. We sat by the bar that looks over the street. Great service (we asked for little more dressing on our salad, and they brought out a new one!!!). Can't wait to bring our kids by next time. Thank you!!! read more

Pit & Tap - Bar counter - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

A good pub/bbq spot. More of a bar than a restaurant but there isn't really a good bqq spot in the area. Had the bqq trio. Chicken: A little dry but very hearty. Ribs: Fairly meaty Brisket. Good but only 3 sliver. Beer is alright. Staff were actually very proactive and charming. They made sure to provide prompt and excellent service. read more

Pit & Tap - Stout - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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The food is always amazing at this North Shore favorite and the service is exceptional! Try the pulled pork sandwich or the Brisket & Ribs Combo....you will be pleasantly pleased with either selection The atmosphere is always warm & inviting! Can't wait to our next visit read more

I really wanted to like this restaurant and support a local business! The place is so nice. Staff is super friendly! But--the food is bland. I was so surprised. I was hoping it would be a favorite because I heard they have festive holiday decor. Hoping they will revamp some staples and/or keep the menu smaller but with tastier options. read more

Best BBQ ribs I've ever had is how my 18-year-old son described our visit to Pit & Tap. We were looking for a great restaurant near Northwestern and found this gem. The sidewalk seating was delightful and the service was attentive but the food was amazing. I had the brisket which was melt in your mouth perfection. I recommend the broccoli salad and don't miss the barbecue beans. My wife loved her salad with smoked salmon. She had a house cocktail (like a bourbon iced tea), I enjoyed a couple of craft beers. I can see why this place is so popular, this place was worth the wait. read more

Pit & Tap - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Meh. Food was..ok enough. Brisket tacos lacked a crème sauce to give some moisture. Nothing blew my mind. Probably wouldn't come back or recommend. Try somewhere else... read more

Smoque used to be my favorite bbq place. Guess who just took over that spot! Great vibe to this place but if you don't like loud joints this place isn't for you. Came here early just to ensure to get seated as it's the new place in town with lotsa positive reviews. It did NOT disappoint one bit. Started with some tastes at 6 bucks a pop: pulled pork, pork belly, brisket and man were they good! Of course we had cocktails too Duh. We had the Texas two step for entrees: choice of 2 meats, corn bread which was dang buttery good, and choice of side: I had the pit beans omg is all I can say! Mac and cheese was also creamy cheesy good! Ok it's too much to write I'm gettin hungry again so get your hungryass in here you won't regret it. read more

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This is the real deal- Texas BBQ at its best with a major-league smoke cooker on display at the rear of the dining room! We went on opening night, and everything was fantastic. The black caramelized crust and signature red rim on the brisket is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. No sauce necessary which tells you a lot about the quality of the meat! The St. Louis ribs are perfectly tender- the best I ever tasted. I spoke with the owner and all this meat starts in the smoker the night before- as it should. We enjoyed the kale salad and had a few sides. Most notable was the broccoli salad and the Alote (Mexican street corn.) Also, the delicious cornbread with the scoop of butter is a nice touch. The place is lively and with the removable windows there's a seamlessness to the outside. They have great cocktails and a vast beer selection just as the name suggests. (The "Tap" part.) We're very excited about returning to Pit & Tap to test-drive more smoked meat including the burnt ends- the Rolls-Royce portion of the brisket. read more

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Oh how I hope this place is here to stay! Great vibe through and through. Stumbled upon Pit & Tap as we were looking for somewhere to get some bbq and realized it only recently opened. The area had a great strip of restaurants and little shops. We started with the nachos with chicken. They were tasteful and the pico on top was delicious. My boyfriend got the Texas two step meal with ribs and brisket. The ribs were great and on the sweet side, how I like them. The brisket was melt in your mouth fantastic. My pulled pork sandwich hit the spot, and their sauce selection elevated the meal. I, of course, could not pass up the mac n cheese, and I don't regret it. Their selection of beers on tap were pretty good with a lot of local breweries featured. Their signature cocktail list was also intriguing. For a Saturday lunch, it wasn't as busy as we anticipated, so service was a breeze. Definitely worth the visit! read more

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Loving their open air cafe this Summer. Of course you cannot beat their Holiday Cheer. Food is above and beyond incredible and the menu is consistent and yet changing which makes is fun, new and interesting! Great gathering place for company if you are entertaining but also a good bite if alone seeking deliciousness read more

We love going here during the holidays and it has become a family tradition. Tonight may have been an end to that tradition. When we sat down they informed us it was an hour max as it was really crowded. Totally understand that! We have two small children so weren't going to be long. We were finished eating after 32 minutes from sitting down. My husband and son went to the bathroom and during that time three different people stopped by our table in a 2 minute span. I get it, you want us gone but you can't even enjoy your meal or drink. From the second you sit down they are just trying to turn over the table. It was rushed and annoying. In less than 45 minutes we had at least 10 encounters with staff at our table. Really disappointed! read more

The food was room temp to cold. Granted bar-be-que is not usually served piping hit, but c'moooon! The food was so cold that I had to send it back. The temperature issue was kind of fixed, in that it was slightly warmer when the server brought out the food again. Taste of the food is meeeehhh. There's just no other way to put it. If you're in Wilmette and simply are too damn lazy to drive elsewhere AND you reaalllyyy want bar-be-que then maybe.....MMMAAAAYYYBE, you might consider this place. With that said, I assure you, that it will be the LAST TIME you'll ever be here. read more

I had high hopes for Pit & Tap but from the moment my family and I walked in the door, the dining experience was off to a bad start. The hostess was looking down at her cell phone and it took another co-worker walking over to greet us before the hostess looked up. When we got to the table it took about 5 minutes for our server to come over with water and introduce herself. Our servers first words were said with very little energy were, "My name is X and I'm new." It was as if she was setting us up to have poor service. The waitress didn't discuss specials or even describe the types of BBQ sauces positioned on the table. Given that this is a pub, I wasn't expecting a lot but that's pretty customary at most restaurants. The food was also just fair / OK. I ordered the Texas Two step with pulled pork and ribs and an extra side of beans. They brought out the side of beans immediately, as if it were an appetizer, which was odd and when I asked for them to be sent back and come out with the food, the waitress looked confused at the request. They then brought out cold beans when the rest of the entrees came out. The ribs and pulled pork were cold. The kids slider was truly only one slider with fries and nothing to write home about. None of the food was hot. Cornbread was dry and spongy. Mac n cheese was Ok but could have been out of a box. The waitress did not check on us nor offer drink refills. She didn't even ask why my food was untouched on the tray when we asked for the check. I ended up taking the BBQ home and reheating so as not to waste the food given the relatively high price tag for all of the items for just average / small portions. As a Texas native, I was hopeful that this would be a nice local BBQ spot but I would not recommend. read more

This place is amazing in so many ways! It has such a nice vibe. There are big windows that open to the outside. Their meats are smoked without sauce, and you can choose from some bbq sauces to add what you prefer. The sides are delicious, especially the coleslaw! It's so yum and substantial. THE FOOD IS SO GOOD! The smoked meats are amazing. The owner was there serving when we were there. We had a question and our server sent him. He was very kind and it was clear, he is an owner that truly cares. His employees said it's a great job with such a great boss. I'm glad the employees are clearly treated well!! DEF GO HERE! read more

Solid place. As soon as you walk in, the bbq smell punches you in the face. I've tried the chili brisket and the smoked wings, both were which phenomenal. I'm n top of that their bourbon selection is top notch. I've always sat at the bar and the bartenders are very welcoming. Solid place. read more

Pit & Tap - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Great place with great food and equally good service! One of our favorite spots in downtown Wilmette.

We came for the holiday decorations and a quick bite. If the holiday decor had not been up, we would have been completely disappointed! I will start with the food . We thankfully shared a pick 2 platter of chicken and brisket with a side of Mac and cheese. The pickles and cornbread were fantastic! The chicken was ok in flavor, but we bit into a few small sharp pieces of bone. The brisket was extremely dry and tough. Luckily the sauce was decent tasting in an attempt to rehydrate the shoe leather. The Mac and cheese was extremely bland and had raw onion sprinkled throughout. Really unpleasant! Our 6year old ordered the kids cheeseburger slider and Mac and cheese. The slider was great, but he despises onions. He loves Mac and cheese, but would not touch it. With the holiday theme we attempted to order hot cocoa, but they did not have any even though it was on the menu. Overall, we would not come back for the food. Service: our server was very kind. We had a few hiccups, like we did not receive water refills the ENTIRE time we were there. Overall experience: go to have a drink as you bask in the holiday decor, but that is it! The food will disappoint you and your wallet. read more

Great BBQ! Best ribs in the North-shore! Service is fantastic! Especially for big parties, will take separate credit cards. Picture of Eddie Van Halen above the urinal in the Mes's room so what more can you ask for! read more

We've been going to Pit & Tap for awhile. Usually, the food is good. Today was the exception. Ordered a Texas bbq sandwich. About 1/3 of the meat was fat. It's a $20 sandwich and they're OK with serving fat to their customers. Not cool. Thumbs up for their holiday decorations. They go out every year, filling the place with ornaments, lights, garland, etc. That was great as usual...! read more

So, we had lunch here and it was pretty good! Probably the best north suburban choice for Q. Tow of us had the pulled pork sammie and one had the sliced brisket. Sides were very tasty, Mac and cheese, baked beans and broccoli salad. The only reason for not giving 5 stars is that the meat was just a bit dry in the pulled pork. But slather it with their house made sauces and yumm! Very large portions as well... Try it! read more

The manager was very helpful with my grandkids' severe food allergies. Friendly and helpful staff. Would return .

I do not understand how bbq restaurants exist that sell fatty, tough meat. It's all about time. If you don't have fall off the bone meat then you don't know how to run a restaurant. You're good is gross. It's super expensive. I sort of knew it would be for a variety of reasons so I waited until today to try it and it was pretty cheap, lame and expensive bbq. Bbq restaurants and IPA brewmasters. So easy to get right and you show who you are when you can't get it right. Service is fine. Bbq I mean it's casual. Ambiance must be the best feature of the restaurant but when I was there it was hosting a party of twenty women for a birthday party and they have karaoke so pretty loud and not so chill. read more

Great addition to downtown Wilmette! We were excited to try this place, as it reminded us of the Old Town Chicago places we moved from a year ago. Love the ambience, friendly service, perfect set up with wall to wall windows that are opened up during the summer to allow for fresh air (especially during Covid times). The tables in there are a little squished together unnecessarily, but overall great design. - Pulled pork sandwich (with cornbread + 1 side, we got baked beans) - The pulled pork came with cole slaw on top, and was a solid option. The pulled pork was tender, albeit a little dry, and benefitted from all the BBQ sauce options they set out on the table. - BBQ duo of brisket and ribs (with cornbread + 1 side, we got the broccoli salad) - the brisket was the star of both our meals. It was pretty good, with a good balance of fat and meat, tender, flavorful, came with 5 somewhat thin slices. The ribs were okay, they weren't fall off the bone but they were tender, and did better when dipped in BBQ sauces. - Cornbread: The cornbread that comes with the meals are very, very small, as in 2"x2", which was disappointing because it was pretty good! - Pickled cucumbers: This was really good if you like pickled veggies, it added a nice zing and contrast to the richer meats. - Broccoli salad: Tasted fresh and was one of the healthier options on the sides menu. It had pine nuts and raisins mixed in. - BBQ sauces: They had 3 options. 1 was vinegar based, which was hard to squeeze out because of all the seeds and particles in there getting stuck in the tip of the bottle. 1 traditional BBQ sauce that was smoky and sweet/savory which was the star of the 3. 1 hot BBQ sauce that was a little overpowering in terms of just pointless spice. They've also got a bit pricey, but solid variety of beers to choose from for those perfect summer days. read more

Brisket was full of fat and the sides (Mexican corn, slaw) are average at best. The food wasn't especially hot.

These guys are off to a good start, and while they are still working out some kinks it's well worth supporting them as their food is very good. The meats were tasty, the broccoli salad, slaw, and beans were great, as was the caramel cake. And the space was beautiful and we loved the open windows and the fact that people were using the bar seating. Well done. In hopes that ownership reads this, however, I do have some suggestions: 1. You may need some sound panels. It's very loud with all the hard surfaces. Love the energy, but some soft ceiling panels may be needed especially once cold weather hits and the windows are closed. 2. Portions could be just a bit larger. My hungry son could have eaten double his portion, and I could have eaten 25% more. The mac and cheese and broccoli salad sides was ample, but the beans were small, especially when ordered as an extra $6 side. Even the beer glasses are on the smaller side; they look more like 12 oz glasses than 16 oz pints and at $8 that matters. I appreciated that your team was honest about some first-week hiccups regarding consistency and supply. No star deduction for that! Totally understandable and I'm sure you'll get that figured out. Good luck with the venture! read more

So sorry that this place was a disappointment... was excited to try it as I live a block away & have lived in Wilmette for decades. To be fair, the bbq was excellent, as is the ambience. Great open window seating; much superior to its predecessor. The service however, was dismal. Had to ask for waitress and not only did they bring our drinks AFTER the food, but they were wrong! At $28 each... not acceptable. Portion sizes for the price were skimpy and owners were socializing with one or two patrons the whole time we were there, rather than maki g sure their new establishment works out the inevitable kinks. Don't bother paying up for this place. There's much better down the road in Evanston. read more

So disappointed:(( I had to reestablish my Yelp account solely to come review this place I wanted to like this BBQ joint since Smoque is a bit of a drive for me, but my 1st ever order which was a take out was a full disappointment. The food is so little based on the price, the brisket was fatty and the corn bread on top of being different size (like why???) was also raw, yes raw corn bread!! they rushed it out the oven. I also got two containers of bbq sauce and one of it looked like it was a customer who ate there left over sauce - gross!!!! Threw it away before taking a picture. read more

Pit & Tap - This is what $50 dollars of take out cost and looks on Friday night :(( - Barbeque Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

I had been here before when it was the prior restaurant. Suffice it to say the new owners leave much to be desired. The ambience is noisy and the food is worse. I had the ribs which were dry and chewy while my wife had the even drier and chewier chicken. But there's more we ordered the overpriced $17.00 a glass cab and it tasted like vinegar. That bottle should have been thrown out weeks ago. You expect more form downtown Wilmette. read more

Wait, first review?!? Been following the progress of this new local barbecue place for months so needed to check it out on their second day! Burnt ends were the clear standout for me, brisket (nachos) takes second, pulled pork also solid. House-made sauces and cornbread quite good. Nice craft draft and bourbon list. Shiner Bock on draft was a nice add. My wife and I agree that this place is off to a great start and shows promise and we'll certainly return soon! read more

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