When the weather turns nice, we love The Canopy Barbecue Restaurant for a Sunday grab-and-go picnic (Mar 2026). This time we got pit beef sandwiches, some with mustard and swiss, some with yummy horseradish and raw onions. Sturdy buns stuffed with thin-sliced tender moist beef. We got tender pulled pork sandwiches, some with their sweet mild BBQ sauce, some with their spicy sauce which is medium-hot. We got creamy tender mac and cheese, rated tops by 2-year-olds and adults ;-). And we love their generous hot soft boardwalk-style fries. They've been making "pit" open-flame grill BBQ in Maryland since 1983. The staff is always friendly and quick. The ribs are always fall-off-the-bone tender. All their food is great. This location has an eat-in room next door to their takeout. Plenty of parking out front and in back. read more

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A Howard County/Ellicott City, Maryland classic joint. This place been around forever serving pit beef bbq, ribs, wings, fries, and other eats. Stopped by for a quick bite and left happy and full. It's not fancy just simple meats and sides. Got a pit beef and turkey sandwich. Meat sliced to order and made to order. The staff here were super friendly and welcoming. It's a small joint so you can see the grills/fryer where everything goes on. They now have an indoor seating area next door so you can eat if you want. The pit beef and turkey were both tasty and tender. Simple food done well. The prices are decent for the food you get. I'm always happy to support small local businesses and this is one of the classics in Maryland. read more

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I never do this but the chicken I just got was an insult to bbq And chicken. This bird didn't get anywhere near smoke. It didn't see any flames either. So not bbq, and not grilled. Oven roasted, day old, and microwaved (or way over cooked). When it got to me the skin was parboiled soggy and smothered some kind of watery excuse for bbq sauce (see pic). The sauce is like ketchup and honey mixed with water, almost like the Pilgrims made it (not that they had ketcup, but you get the idea). No body or soul and definitely no respect for bbq. Fries were decent, thus the one star. Not sure where these peeps learned bbq'ing, but it wasn't anywhere proper. MD may have sided with the North but were below the Mason-Dixon line. Owners--call yourself a pit beef joint that sells chicken and ribs but don't call your place a bbq joint. Awful. read more

The Canopy - This ain't bbq sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Apparently, The Canopy in Ellicott City is under new management. I would suggest that unless you want a dry, tough, barely warm pit beef sandwich, you go somewhere else. I ordered take-out this weekend, as I have often done in the past, but the results were nothing like I was used to getting. I will not be going back again. read more

PLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE CHICKEN WINGS. I still highly recommend the Pit Beef with 5 Stars! Got the wings for my wife and they had very little flavor and majorly undercooked, I got my usual 2 large pit beef sandwich's and they were great! 2 weeks later I begged her to go again and told them to "please make them crispy because last time they were not cooked enough ", he said no problem. I got my usual 2 large pit beef sandwiches and as usual it was great! Got home and exact same thing with the chicken wings-no flavor and even more undercooked! I tried to find an email but couldn't so I'm hoping this reaches the owner. One last thing in regards to the wings, they advertise "Jumbo Wings" and as can be seen in my video they are average size at best. They should be jumbo wings especially since we're paying 6/$9! read more

The Canopy - Wimpy wings - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

The service was nice. The woman who helped me Out was kind and very friendly. The food was not so nice. The pit beef was tough, stringy, and cold. The bbq sauce on it was very sweet. The fries were hot but completely naked, no salt or other seasoning and soaked with grease. Tbh just skip this place all together. The sandwich was really bad, it was giving "wonder bread bbq" ifykyk and there are better bbq places near by. read more

My happy place. I drive an hour to eat here, it never disappoints. Best pit Turkey I've ever had, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! read more

Quality has significantly declined since new ownership took over. They've chosen to buy cheaper cuts of meat, decrease portion size and even serve beef that's days old. Anyone who knows pit beef knows it should never be served if it's so dry it's visibly cracking. After my last visit and getting dry cracked pit beef I decided to never again patronize them. Pioneer pit beef is right down the road in Woodlawn and their meat is always fresh and juicy. Even mission bbq is better than canopy now a days. read more

I've seen this place rated as a top-tier pit beef place in MD. I'm gonna be honest-- I've tried pit beef at 3 places now, and they all taste basically the same. That's not to say BAD-- but it's beef. This one had a decent pile of it (on a bun that I didn't love-- it was really dry), and it was cooked exactly as I asked. What did set this place apart from the other places I've tried was the service. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, and our order was correct and FAST. Like maybe 5 minutes from order/payment to walking over to the seating area next door. Bonus, they had really good Boardwalk-style fries and they weren't stingy with them-- we just got a small/regular and there were plenty for 2 of us to share. I don't know if I'm ever going to crave pit beef, but if I do (or if I'm with someone who really wants it) I'd definitely come back. read more

such amazing service! I can't say enough great things about this place! my husband and I ordered catering for his mothers 75th birthday party and when we arrived the customer service was so warm and everyone was so eager to help us out, they even loaded the car for us which was so sweet! the food was delicious and everyone at the party complimented everything so heavily. they definitely have repeat customers in us, thank you so much!!! read more

April 2023 My hubby loves the pit beef sandwich here. I went here years ago and thought it was all right. His buddy came up to visit so we went here for lunch on a Sunday. I decided to try something other than the pit beef and got the St. Louis Ribs sandwich. It came with three bone in so could have been messy, but I was able to use a knife and fork to pull it apart. Unfortunately, the ribs didn't impress me much. Sauce was average and the meat wasn't as tender as I typically like. My hubby's friend liked his Turkey sandwich. Hubby and I ordered a regular side of fries to share. That is probably my favorite item that I have eaten here. There are a few parking spaces in front of the restaurant and more spaces in the back. There are also two picnic tables in the back. Most patrons appear to get carryout. They offer a 10% discount for veterans and first responders, which is cool. read more

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I've been to four Pit Beef Sandwich places (Pioneer, Jakes, Smoky's, and Canopy) and this place was definitely the worst of the four. The sandwich was light and too bready. Lots of bun, lots of bread, not so much beef. Really nothing to be happy about. Plus the price was a bit more than any of the other places. Parking was a little weird and hard to find. The only reason I came was because my buddy had mentioned it once, and also I had seen it passing by on Rt 40. I actually wanted to go to Pioneer, and did, but they were closed for renovation, but I remembered The Canopy and tried to find it. And I did. Not even close to what Pioneer's Pit Beef sandwich is, plus The Canopy was more expensive. Granted, The Canopy is not strictly a pit beef place, they offer other bbq which I didn't try, so maybe that's better. Also, they get a thumbs up just for being on Rt 40. There is something special about on or near Rt 40 and Baltimore Pit Beef. So I'll give two stars. read more

Meh, I've definitely experienced better. + friendly service + mozzarella sticks + tiger sauce - pit beef was dry as hell - sides were kinda weak - order / pick up area is confusing - no seating, grab and go Overall, I much prefer Chaps, Bullhead, Expressway, etc. read more

The Canopy - Pup cup of burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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My family and I have been frequenting this spot for decades. The food is typically on point, but in occasion the pit beef can be dry. I tend to order the BBQ sandwiches-so to ensure the meat isn't dry. Their coleslaw is THE BEST, truly! Onion rings to kill for. Beach fries are delicious. Most of the meats are great, you'll find your order, and try the onion rings and/or fries, you won't regret! read more

You can never go wrong with a pit beef sandwich wit cheese and tiger sauce! Love this place read more

The Canopy - Beef - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Went to the canopy for lunch .We have been going for yrs . Love their sandwiches , and fries! My husband got the pit beef sandwich , absolutely delicious.On a fresh roll topped with horseradish and barbecue sauce . I got the barbecue beef sandwich,loved it. Perfect so tender and delicious . The fries are good and so is the coke slaw . The employees are great , and the canopy is clean . The atmosphere is chill , and we take ours home read more

The last couple of times I visited, the beef was a bit dry (and not much of it, unlike prior visits). It wasn't well done (which I would not have wanted) so it was weird that it was dry. The French fries were amazing, as always. I just saw it now has tables so that's nice. read more

The beef tips were delicious! I was sad they didn't have wings when we ordered since they said there was a wing shortage. We also had the brisket and the pulled pork. Everything was very delicious. They charged me twice by accident on my credit card but I called and it was quickly rectified. read more

The Canopy - Ribs and pit beef - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

We've been wanting to try this place and finally did. I am so happy we did. This is my new favorite BBQ spot. Service: Lets start off with the service being stellar. We were greeted on the spot and the customer service was excellent. They asked if we had questions, explained the menu, offered some sample pit beef - which was amazing. Explained their delivery service and gave us tips on ordering the Maryland Crab soup. It goes fast! Food - Order: Pit Beef Sandwich - Very yummy. The meat was cooked perfectly and they offer a variety of sauces. Yum! The sauce of choice was their house BBQ Sauce. Chicken Wings - We went with mild and an order of 6. The pieces were actual chicken pieces not the small wings. They were good and just what my taste buds wanted. Ribs - Another pick of mild and the half rack order. They were tender, juicy and flavorful. Overall the food is slamming. Go in to place an order to go or call ahead for a quick pick up. You can't go wrong. Don't forget to ring the bell on your way out sharing a statement of good service! read more

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Picked up a pit beef sandwich on Sunday evening. They pulled a previously cooked pit beef out of the refrigerator, sliced up and heated. Not fresh at all and not that great either. I satisfied my craving with a trip to Pioneer Pit beef the next day, not even comparable. read more

I'm typing this as I am eating a rib and chicken platter from The Canopy. We drove by here one day and the reviews were solid and we had high expectations for the food. Well I'm here to tell you that the food here is NOT authentic BBQ. Not even a inch close to it. I am highly disappointed. Have you ever been catfished by food? My God, that's how I feel right now. I'm from the south and I've eaten BBQ from all over the Carolina's, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. So I'd like to say that I have a well diverse BBQ palate. The ribs look and taste like they were broiled on the oven. There's no pit aroma or flavor. There's no char or anything. I wish I was over exaggerating but seriously, this is not BBQ. Rotisserie? Maybe. The chicken was dry as God knows what. The only decent thing here was the mashed potatoes and gravy. Think KFC. It's good. But I didn't come here for mash potatoes to be the star of the show. We came for the BBQ. If you really want some delicious BBQ, the only place that I've discovered since moving here that I can vouch for is Jake's Grill in Cockeysville, MD. It is absolutely amazing and you get more for your buck. Here are some pictures of the "BBQ ribs and chicken" for reference. This is the ribs and chicken combo for $14. Not worth it by any any any means. You can get a half a rack (about 8-9 thick ribs) from Jake's Grill for $10. read more

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Great customer service and I received a corn bread because I didn't eat Cole slaw w/ my shrimp basket... outstanding food with great prices 5 stars read more

Driving down Route 40 and I see the Yellow sign and think pit beef, onions, with tiger sauce. For some odd reason I thought this was a drive thru (but it's not). As I walked in I was quickly greeted and asked for my order. Although, pit beef was on my mind I'm a sucker for bbq anything so I opted for the beef bbq (med) with tiger sauce. The sandwich was ok, I wouldn't return for the beef bbq. But next time I will opt for the pit beef which they are most known for. read more

The Canopy - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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I normally love my sandwiches and fries from here. But yesterday was not good . The beef tasted like it had been sitting there for hours. I asked food onions and there was one strip. Got home my roll was soggy like it was wet. I had to put it in my bread. Last the fries tasted like they were put in the oil for a second time to make them hot !! So disappointed! read more

Very good. I have been coming here for years. It does seem that the meat portions have become less generous. However still extremely good quality especially for the $. read more

Very quick service and absolutely delicious. We got the pit beef sandwich, fries with gravy, and potato salad. The sandwiches were amazing, just wish they were a bit hotter. The fries were nearly burnt but still edible and good with the gravy. The potato salad was the star of the show - I'll be getting the sandwich and potato salad next time. read more

Hands down one of the best pit places. I live in Kentucky now but make this my first trip into Maryland. Beef, ham and turkey are trippin, but the beef tips with the hot bbq sauce is a must try. French fries are like going down to OC. Guys and girls making the food are first class. Take home the sauce as well you won't be sorry it goes well with everything at home. Also if you are from out of state you can get some for the trip in a cooler. They also do party platters. These folks have it-going on Had to visit again. Beef ends are the best. They cut the beef that is too small to slice and pour hot bbq sauce over it. read more

The Canopy - Counter - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Wasn't sure what I wanted but when I went in could tell the regular in front of me ordered "large turkey plain" knew it had to be turkey. Impressed by ALL of this place. The folks behind the counter were super nice and funny. The food was beyond expectation. Fries were perfectly salted and cooked. The chili had just enough of a kick, and hit the spot. Next time I'll grab a cornbread too. The pit turkey I got with lettuce, tomato, bbq, and horseradish, so so tasty. I've definitely been missing out on this gem! read more

The Canopy - Cup of chili - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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I was really disappointed. This place used to be really good. My portion of pit beef was very scarce. I asked medium temp and there was no pink .... dry as heck. Back to Chaps for me read more

The Canopy - Pit beef sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Called in a order for pick up and they were friendly and fast. The ribs are excellent. Great flavor and texture. Sides of beans and mash potatoes are delish. The Mozzerella sticks are awesome also. Really cool place for barbecue read more

The Canopy - Delish ribs and sides n mozz stix - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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It used to be very good. The large beef used to be filling and the fries were plentiful. Unfortunately, another local restaurant cutting the portion size. I finished a large beef in 4 bites and there was about 1/2 the amount of pit beef they used to have on the large sandwich. Same with the fries, about 1/2 the size they used to be. The usual story...It's good, but the value just isn't there anymore so I won't be returning...It's the same with everyone else. Their costs went up and they have make money somehow. No one is going to pay $20.00 for a pit beef sandwich, I'd venture to guess, so you have to cut somewhere. read more

I was surprised to see this come up as barbeque but I guess Maryland considers pit beef to be part of the category. We ordered the ribs and beef ends with cole slaw and mac and cheese. The ribs were good, oven baked, simple and basic but good none the less. The burnt ends were oddly very vinegary but tasted good. I absolutely did not enjoy the mac and cheese it tasted like the stouffer's from the box but the Cole slaw was delicious. We also got two cornbread to try, I loved it, it was moist, sweet and the perfect mouthfeel. The service was great, very welcoming. Overall, I want to come back and try the pit beef and get the Cole slaw and cornbread again. read more

First time trying this place out. This place is trash. Idk who thinks the food here is good. Whoever recommends this place doesn't want the best for you in life. I ordered the ribs & chicken with mashed potatoes. The potatoes were the best part of the meal. The meat was cold, unseasoned, & worst of all, not even grilled. This was a sad attempt at barbecue. This place needs to be prosecuted for such an egregious claim that they serve real bbq. My wife is still in shock & has nightmares because of how terrible the food was/is. How can the Canopy live with being so deceitful!? .0000001/5 at best. read more

The Canopy - Ribs and chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I've smelled their meats cooking in the morning for years while I sat in the next-door Mickey D's. It always SMELLED good, but I never stopped in to try. Today I did and my only question is What took me so long???? Had the large Pit Beef with onions, horseradish, tiger sauce and I later added ketchup, plus an order of Onion Rings. The beef was perfectly cooked, thin-sliced, and has a super-tasty bark. SO moist and tender that every bite was a clean bite - no need to gnaw your way though this sandwich!! The Onion Rings were terrific, and I've heard their boardwalk-style fries are top-notch. I passed on them today, but won't make that mistake when I come back. Soon! read more

This place was awful this past Sunday. The beef was dry like it was sitting around for a while . Stay away!!!!

I don't know what all these 1 star reviews are about because the Canopy slaps and has always slapped. Love the pit turkey sandwich and their fries are always amazing. They have tiger sauce and birch beer (!!!) on tap, and the employees are friendly, chill, and quick. read more

ordered 3 platters medium well and asked for x-tra gravy had to saw the well done crust pieces of meat not sliced very thin and what do you do with 2 bone dry pieces of bread not very appetizing read more

The Canopy - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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I have been coming to The Canopy every few months for 20 years now. Not once have I had even a remotely bad experience with the staff, the food, and the establishment. These folks are genuinely happy to see each customer, and proud to make sure you walk out with a smile on your face. I just walked out with a sandwich AND 25 wings. It's going to be a good day. read more

We can't always drive up to Baltimore for some good ol' Chaps Pit Beef but we're glad to have The Canopy as a worthy competitor. We ordered the pit beef sandwiches, onion rings, and puled pork bbq and they were quickly wolfed. Love that the pulled pork wasn't dry and not too stringy. My husband loved char on the pit beef and the kids loved the creamy mac and cheese. We tried the soup of the day, which was the cream of crab and you can definitely taste the crab. All in all, a winner! As a side note, we were very glad to see the place was crowded for lunch. We love seeing the support for small businesses. read more

I cannot believe this crap trap is still open for business! Their portions & presentation are a joke! I guess they get a lot of "patriotic" patronage with their discount for the military & first responders. Well, they definitely need a gimmick to attract attention because their food looks like what you would find at 7/11. In fact, you'd feel better about going to 7/11 than this hole. At least you know what to expect at 7/11. Going here & getting 7/11 quality food is very misleading. If I could give less than 1 star, believe me, I would! read more