If you want down-home barbecue joint sandwich with slaw then this isn't your place. If you want really great southern fare with an emphasis on barbecue in a stylish setting then queue-up! Definitely, without a doubt, get a reservation. We walked right in at 5:15 Saturday evening and were seated promptly despite there being a wait. Upon leaving you could barely get out the door due to all the people waiting for a table. I've been on two occasions and have never had a bad dish. This time we started with the fried green tomatoes which were excellent as well as the deviled eggs, which tasted just like my grandma use to make. I had the country ribs which are thicker and meatier than baby backs (although they have those as well) and chopped barbecue combo. The smoky flavor was intense on the ribs and with a little tug the meat fell off the bone perfectly. The ribs weren't overly sauced either, which is key to enjoying the flavorful meat. The sides were good as well - mac & cheese and collards. Definitely not grandma's collards, but they stand up pretty well. My Dad is a long time NC barbecue fan as well and loves the chopped barbecue here; so that's as big of an endorsement as it needs in my book. You can't really go wrong with anything...the sides are all great, the appetizers have always been tasty, the hushpuppies - amazing - and desserts...oh man... We had the carrot cake with maple (I believe) frosting and bourbon ice cream. Carrot cake isn't normally my first choice, but I can't imagine trying anything else here again....wow. Service was also great considering our waiter had our table AND a table of 25 by himself. My sweet tea glass (and oh how great the tea is) never got empty...and i tried!!! If you're in downtown Raleigh definitely give this place a try... read more

Me: "They've got what?!" The Bf: "Fried green tomatoes" Me: "As in under ripened tomatoes." The Bf: "No, as in the best tomatoes you'll ever eat." So I went and tried the tomatoes, but he sold me on the idea of barbeque so tender that it falls off the bone. The green tomatoes weren't that good, but the rest of my plate was. It took me two attempts to come, first time it was a packed Friday night; what else should you anticipate when this shop was featured on Man vs. Wild. The pulled pork is amazing, it is mixed in signature North Carolina vinegar based sauce, the taste in your mouth is a little bit tangy meets a whole lot of smoke and juice. If you don't know what to get try the appetizer sampler, it's a little bite of everything that will leave you satisfied. Top it off with their banana pudding you will leave feeling like a child that has a sugar rush. read more

I'm from the Northeast and live in Colorado. We don't have a ton of bbq joints in either of those places, so my rating may be a touch off. Though judging by the volume of 4+ star reviews by locals I'm probably not TOO crazy. Nestled just on the outside edge of Raleigh, The Pit brings a little class and style to the kind of BBQ that's usually hidden away on winding country roads inside dimly light and poorly advertised shacks. The Pit is nice, bright, clean and filled with attentive servers and friendly staff. Prices aren't bad for portion sizes, the staff works as one large well-oiled unit, and the smells that emanate are enough to lull even the crankiest of characters into a vinegar-based slumber. We started off by ordering the cornbread and some bacon bruschetta as an app. Hands down, the bruschetta was the best I've ever had in my entire life. It maintained a fidelity to traditional bruschetta that I never expected, while adding in a symphony of bacon. Just incredible. The cornbread was tried and true and definitely satisfying. After that I dove into the brisket, with mac and cheese and baked beans. Oh and let's not forget the biscuits and hush puppies. I've never experienced biscuits so flaky, and the hush puppies added a nice touch as well. The brisket was exquisite, moist, perfectly fatty, and delicious through and through. The beans weren't bad, but I like mine a little softer. The Mac and Cheese was delicious and probably super, super good for my waistline. I tried some of the pulled pork, and was blown away at how flavorful it was. NC bbq, I love you! Another great thing about this place I actually gleaned from overhearing a conversation before dining. A guy at the bar asked for a Coors Light, but was politely told the only macros on tap were Amstel and Miller Lite. Beyond that, it's all local and craft brews. A+++++, and that's just for the beers! The Pit is fantastic. If you're in the Raleigh area, you must go. read more

Came here on a Tuesday night with 10 coworkers. Great beer, great BBQ, great atmosphere. Met the famous Ed Mitchell who was super nice and seemed genuinely concerned if we were all enjoying ourselves (which we were). Full rack of Carolina ribs, collard greens, and mac and cheese. Ended with the banana pie. Everything was amazing. Took half the rack home and had it for dinner the next day and it was just as good. read more

Another great place for BBQ. The food is on par with any of the best BBQ places, plus it has a good bar and good location in downtown. I have been using this place a jump off point on weekends in Raleigh. Stop in grab a BBQ plate or sandwich, have a beer or two and head out for the day. I cant think of anything better. The menu selection here is defiently more varied than a few other BBQ place I have been in and would be good for takingo out a diverse group of palates. One of the best parts is seeing Mr. Mitchell in the resturaunt regularlly interacting with customers, its a great touch. So if you are in the Raleigh area you need to try this place out, be aware on weekends it gets very busy right around 11:45, so do what I do and sneak in a grab a spot at the bar early. Afterwards you can continue the beer festivities a block away at the Saucer! read more

When I visit my home state of NC, I get a hankerin' for BBQ. The real kind...pulled pork with vinegar and spiced just right. So when my friends suggested The Pit before our visit to the Marbles Museum in downtown Raleigh, of course I said, "Heck yeah!" On a midweek day, the host was kind enough to accommodate all our reservation changes -- we started out with noon for 7, then called at the last minute and said we are coming over at 1pm instead, and now have 9. They gave us the "PDR" that is, the Private Dining Room in the back. Now, one would expect that you would get better service in the PDR. Sure, they brought our 1/2 sweet, 1/2 non-sweet tea out quickly. But with their rotating wait staff, we kept having to ask someone... anyone with an official-looking shirt... if we could order. I think we ended being in the restaurant for over 2 hours, cutting into our time at the museum which closed at 5. We also saw the apparently-famous (I don't watch the Food Network) Ed Mitchell walking around greeting guests, but he didn't visit the PDR! Whasssssup?? :) Well good thing the Eastern NC BBQ was as tasty as it was! I made sure to order the sweet potato fries(sprinkled with brown sugar - sweet.) to go along with the juicy pickle. Honestly even after the waiter told me, I still don't know the taste difference between CHOPPED vs. PULLED pork?? I got the chopped because it was listed first. There were lots of choices on the menu so you can't go wrong there. And if you're hungry, you should be satisfied with their large portions. My 6 and almost-3 year old split a kids' mac and cheese... wish they served more mac and cheese than the massive amount of fries! (We also substituted the regular for sweet potato fries.) Be sure to make reservations at this very popular BBQ joint. As we walked in, I overheard some folks say there was an hour wait so they were heading to a Mexican place down the street... read more

I knew I had to have southern bbq on my last night in Raleigh. I'm from Philadelphia and we don't have a whole ton of it up there. I was starving by the time I got there and ordered an India Pale Lager from their excellent draft beer choices. The bartender let me sample some of it and gave me feedback on some of the beers I was interested in. I love when restaurant employees know their beers. I ordered the half rack of baby back ribs, with collard greens and fried okra on the side. The ribs were DELICIOUS. Fall off the bone awesomeness. They gave me two bbq sauces on the side - which I didn't use much of - mostly because the flavor of the ribs without anything was amazing! I wasn't exceptionally thrilled with my sides, but that was personal preference i think. The also bring you biscuits and hush puppies. Hello, thats awesome! All in all, I give this place an A. Great impression of downtown Raleigh. read more

Not quite sure what the rave is about. Traveled from California and was looking forward to having some legit east coast BBQ. I had their double combo with ribs and brisket. Ribs were decently tasty but brisket was dry as heck! Service was sub par as well. Lady at the front said it'd be a few mins before I can have my table of one , but that the bar (which was packed) was open. When I said I'd wait, she looked around at the many open tables and said, "oh ok well I guess I can seat you now" *rolls eyes* Just went to Austin the other month and man, nothing beats Texas BBQ. Thanks for the comp'd valet though. But clearly these other reviewers have never been to better BBQ joints. Never again, Raleigh. Never again. read more

This place has a lot of hype, but IMHO it lived up to it, I hardly EVER give 5 stars. Arrived to the Pit for late lunch with my BF, and I loved the decor of the place, though I was a little bit skeptical of how fancy it was. I've had good BBQ at fancy places, but the GREAT BBQ usually comes from those little hole in the wall places. I ordered the ribs with sides of coleslaw and sweet potato fries and the BF ordered the pulled pork plate with sides of green beans and regular fries. The BF is a Hoosier so had never experienced the vinegar based BBQ before, but he loved it! I also demonstrated how to put the coleslaw on top. The spare ribs were delicious, fall off the bone and juicy- exactly how I like them! They were cooked with sauce, but not too much so you could add more later. I really liked the sweet potato fries and the hushpuppy but was so focused on the meat I didn't eat too much of them. Other reviews said that the meat was "flavorless".... I don't know if they ate the same meat as I did, because mine was deeeeeelicious! The bill came back and was VERY reasonable for two giant plates of food at a nice restaurant. The waitress told us the dinner menu is similar to the lunch menu, just less sandwiches and more expensive, so I would suggest going for lunch if you want a better deal. I'm in town for a few more days and I wouldn't be surprised if I went back, it was THAT good! read more

Yum. The food here is delicious! Skillet cornbread is an awesome starter. But really, it's all about the ribs. The ribs are so tender and flavorful. Chicken is tasty too, but again, it's all about the ribs. I had mac and cheese and baked beans as my sides. Mac and cheese was good, but I wasn't a fan of the southern style beans. Loved the dessert! I can still taste the banana pudding. The Pit gets really busy in the evenings. I would definitely recommend making a reservation on OpenTable.com . Atmosphere is quite high end for a bbq joint. It's not dressy by any means, but just a bit nicer. Go here next time you are in Raleigh. I know I will. read more

[Edit to add] Okay, I don't enjoy updating this but I'm going to have to drop a star. I can't really see myself coming back unless for a friend's birthday or some such occasion. The last two times I've been back the food was mediocre. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. It coasted along as okay. But for those prices I could get almost twice as much at Danny's BBQ or Ole Time BBQ for better sides and great entrees. I used to love the ribs here. Now I find that more often than not, they're tough and chewy with little flavor. The banana pudding was almost all meringue and the sides (mashed potatoes & mac 'n cheese) were okay. I don't know what happened but it's with a heavy heart that I say goodbye. [Outdated Review Below] I didn't know much about this place beforehand, which is rare since I usually do some Yelp research, so I went with the server's suggestion: ribs. And heeeeeeeeeell yeah. They were delish. Tender, juicy and oh-so-tasty. I also had the seasonal veggies (standard Southern collards: good, nothing spectacular) and coleslaw (zesty and shredded, not minced: yummy). We also ordered the banana pudding, which I was too full to even try (I wanted to cry. I have a huge weakness for desserts and I LOVE banana pudding). But I managed to snag some at a later date and ungf. Super rich and very sweet. I was able to down it no problem but it might be too intense for some. ;D ** Also, this place is not what I expected from a BBQ restaurant. It had a gentleman's study like feel: dark woods, low lighting and I'm betting some scotchy scotch scotch. read more

I enjoy eating dinner at The Pit every now and then for some good old fashioned NC BBQ. The pit master is in fact that, the master. His BBQ is just amazing. I will say it seems that whenever The Pit's episode re-runs on the food network channel this place tends to become busier. They do an interesting take on service so you will have multiple servers taking care of you in one night which can be great or not so great. Sometimes I have felt forgotten about because of this, but over all the service is always pleasant and the food is great! read more

One of the most authentic southern bbq restaurants in the triangle area. Absolutely delicious and a welcoming atmosphere every time I go! My absolute favorite dishes are the fried chicken and the beef brisket. The meat is so tender and flavorful! read more

Oh, heavens. We tried this place on a Saturday night. I didn't have any expectations, but was slightly astounded to find a long line of people out the door. Tip for future goers: you can make reservations and probably should on busy nights! We ended up with a 30-45 min wait for 2 people, not bad considering it was peak dinner time, but someone in front of us with a party of 5 had an estimated wait time of 1.5 hours! I feel fairly comfortable giving this place 5 stars. The service is good, the food is terrific, and the ambiance is busy but not too intrusive to your experience. Some BBQ loyalists may be put off by the trendiness and sports-bar feel of the restaurant, but that didn't bother me. It may not have the "homey" feel of Allen & Sons, but the food spoke louder than the surroundings. Drinks: the Carolina julep ($7) with hint of peach, was actually not suggestive of peach at all. There was way too much peach syrup in it, making the drink cloyingly sweet. The Supperdine sangria ($7) was delicious, on the sweet side and light, with pieces of apple, orange, and cherry in it. I enjoyed it. Entree: Half a rack of baby back ribs ($11.99), with choice sides of collard greens and seasonal veggies. Great portion size for the money. The ribs I actually couldn't finish myself. They were mostly tender although the sides were a little dry and plainly flavored (some spices and little bit of vinegar). Once combined with the East or West Carolina sauces, it was delicious. The collard greens were great, though subtly, curiously spicy. Seasonal steamed veggies were done just right, with a little bit of butter, but hardly worth mentioning. The brisket ($15) was delightful. Tender, fatty slices of soft beef that melted in your mouth. Accompanied with a dark sauce, it was absolutely delicious. Unlike the ribs, the portion size was just right. Our order came with a complimentary basket of hush puppies and biscuits, but I really couldn't fit any more in my mouth. I literally inhaled the ribs - stopping for the mandatory gulps of air, but not for long. Dessert ($7 each) was probably a bad choice to make after having copious amounts of meat, but I don't regret it. I had a scoop of the peach homemade ice cream and ginger-bacon crisp (a ginger-bacon cookie!). The ice cream was terrific - creamy and rich, it reminded me of canned peaches and vanilla. The ginger-bacon cookie was intriguing - more ginger than bacon, the bacon was so subtle my palate had to search for it. Still, delicious. The banana cream pudding was phenomenal. I am not normally a fan of bananas, but it was such a marriage of layers (banana, pudding, vanilla wafers, toasted whipped cream) that my mouth could only interpret the overall deliciousness. Highly recommended. I had a great experience. Every dish really hit the spot and at the end of the night, my only regret was that I had not exercised greater portion and self control. True to my gluttony, I passed out for 2.5 hours after this meal! read more

So disappointed in this place! In town visiting family and knew about this place through Triple D, and were very excited to try it out. We arrived early and were told "Your reservations are at 4, you'll be seated at 4" so off we went to kill some time. Arrive exactly at 4pm and guess what, there was no table for us to be seated at, and the hostess was a little spastic. The Good: Our servers were attentive and nice. The Bad: The FOOD! My brisket was so dry , my sons burger was so burnt he didn't eat it, the sweet tea was so watered down it wasn't tea or sweet. The sweet potato fries were okay, the mac and cheese needed a lot of seasoning and was not good texture wise. I don't know what the hype of this place is because it truly failed in the food category. Which in my opinion is what should shine among all other failures. Won't be going back. read more

My wife and I were in Raleigh, NC visiting family and went to The Pit based on Yelp reviews and my wife's sister's recommendation. To be honest, I was skeptical because my wife's sister and her husband are vegans and this is a barbecue restaurant. It's always a struggle to pick a place to eat because I want some good southern soul food when I'm this close to the South which doesn't mesh with the vegan diet typically. They were excellent hosts and we agreed to go to The Pit. Walking up the street, the smell of smoked meat filled the air which is always my first test. Went we sat down they gave us hush puppies and biscuits that were piping hot and tasted awesome. I ordered a three meat combo which included brisket, bbq chicken and fried chicken. That's right, I had the nerve to order fried chicken at a barbecue restaurant. The smokey flavor of the bbq meat gave it a great flavor! I chose some brussel sprouts and collard greens for my sides and they were both wonderful. The fried chicken stole the show and was so good that it made you smack your lips. All of the meat was just ridiculous. Ridiculously good! My wife ordered pulled turkey and pulled pork and I HAD to sample hers. Both had a great smokey flavor and were juicy. Now for the vegans. I finally looked up from my grubbin' to check on the vegans. They had the barbecued tofu and grilled vegetables. My brother in law is a finicky vegan and you can't take him just anywhere. He LOVED his tofu and the fresh grilled veggies. They were happy and we were happy! For dessert we ordered a HUGE piece of carrot cake that was moist and flavorful. The meal was one of the best I've had that didn't come out of my mom's kitchen! We are going back again tonight! I'm anxious to visit wife's sister in NC as often as possible! Go. You won't be disappointed! read more

Consistently delicious and I love every single thing on their menu! I love bringing people here who aren't from the south so they can get a good taste of our BBQ. The wait can be long but just get there a little earlier than peak hours and you should be fine. read more

Went on a Saturday night with family and a friend. Surprised at the decor. Definitely not a dive. Bar was crowded with waiting customers, and we had an hour wait to be seated. We expected a wait, so this was no surprise. Nice selection of beers on tap, including locals. Bar staff works very hard, and Ed steps through to chat often. Service was prompt, and perfect. Food came out quick. The wife said the BBQ was fantastic, but couldn't shine a light on the ribs, which are legendary for a reason. My ribs were better than I could have imagined. We shared our sides, so I was able to taste the fries, slaw, okra, and BBQ beans. My sweet potato fries were great. My son's regular fries were good. Heck, anywhere else they would have been great. At this joint, they were the weak point of the meal. At the end of the meal, the manager greeted us, as I had been carrying on a Twitter conversation with @ThePitBBQ and livetweeting my meal. He comped us the banana pudding for dessert. Holy CRAP! That us the best banana pudding I have ever had in my life. I mean, my Mom is an amazing cook. She has made some tasty banana pudding in my life. I am no amateur in the banana pudding eating field. I have had a lot of practice. The Pit's banana pudding is gold medal stuff. Thanks to Ed, Eric, and the rest of the staff at The Pit for a fantastic meal. I will be back, and I'll bring Mom. read more

Now I'm from Minnesota just visiting North Carolina, but I've had my fair share of BBQ and The Pit is a great BBQ place. The decor is classy while still being casual and the prices (we ate lunch) were quite reasonable. The food was excellent. I had the chopped BBQ and it was great. The pork is chopped a little fine for my taste, but as foe the taste, it was great. No sauce needed, though the sauces were still tasty (I had to try them). I had collard greens and mac/cheese and the were great. Could have used a little bigger helping but we were eating lunch so I understand. Service was attentive and friendly, no complaints. I highly recommend The Pit if you're in the Raleigh area. read more

We were driving from Ohio to do a college visit at NC State. We felt that we should truly try to get some southern flavor while here, so based on reviews we went to the Pit. There is a complimentary valet which we didn't see right away so we parked on the street. Parking after five is free so if you find a parking spot that's a good option. We had made reservations using Open Table, but we could have probably walked in. Place was full but it didn't look like you would have had to wait long. They had several rooms of booths and tables, and they had a room of high tops in the bar area too. Robin was our waitress and she was excellent! We told her we were first timers, so she spent some time telling us about the differences between their top 4 main dishes - chopped pork, pulled pork, Carolina ribs, and brisket. Some of the meals have sauce, some have it on the side, some don't have sauce so this helped. At the beginning of the meal they brought a basket of hush puppies and biscuits to the table - all were very tasty. They had two main bbq sauces - my daughter got the pulled pork which comes with both on the side. You also get two side dishes, and there was a list of 10 or 12 to pick from. I got the fried chicken which was out of this world! You can get 3-5 pieces depending on which parts you want. I ordered wings and thighs, and ended up with two wings and one thigh. These must have come from one huge chicken, I've never seen such large wings in my life!! This was hands down the best chicken I have ever had - thick crunchy crust on succulent chicken. I was truly in heaven! The cole slaw was the traditional mayo style and really good and crunchy. The Mac and cheese was also very tasty. Really enjoyed the meal here - only complaint was that I wished they gave us a wet nap or something at the end. Eating all that food with your fingers was messy ! Two thumbs up on the restroom - large and well done. Everyone in the whole place was friendly, said hello and was more than willing to answer questions. Very impressed! read more

Heard great things about the Pit. My husband and I are vegetarians, but our friend mentioned the sides make for a great meal. We stopped in to feed our toddler and sadly he wanted nothing to do with their Mac and cheese... And he never says no to Mac and cheese!!! Their biscuits were pretty good but hush puppies were passable. Service started out great but it took over 20 to get the check. read more

One of my best experiences eating out ever. The BBQ was like none other. I tried everything from the brunswick stew, to the pulled pork, to the sides of green beans and sweet potato. The beers and atmosphere just made it all the better. Do be prepared to wait and going toward the back to the bathroom made me feel like I was at a club. But the variety of food and sauces, all North Carolina's were represented. -This is livin it up! read more

While I cut my teeth on Texas barbecue, I've always thought I would be more of a Carolina man when it comes to meat, smoke, and sauce. After sampling every other type of barbecue from Santa Maria to North Alabama, I finally got the chance to go to North Carolina, and what better way to start my vinegar-based journey by stopping at perhaps the most famous barbecue joint in Raleigh? At first glance, The Pit is a bit more 'established' than you might expect from your local BBQ place, and while the large, clean restaurant interior was throwing me off a little bit, the food is what's important, and it didn't disappoint. The fried green tomatoes were plenty worthy of our time, and actually drew attention from another patron waiting for her to-go order, but the main event was the chopped barbecue and pulled pork. The former, a sauced version of chopped pork - not as similar to the pulled pork as you might think, and besides, the hog is king here, so shut up. I'm rarely a big fan of restaurant mac 'n cheese, but the collard greens were right where they needed to be, so I'd overall chalk this up in the 'win' column. Though it is a large restaurant, there's still plenty of hospitality here to make it feel like the small shack where you would think it grew its roots. read more

Wow. The 330 reviews and a 4 star rating clearly speaks for itself. Thus, I probably have little left to add to all the wonderful things that have already been said,... That being said, I will anyway. The Pit, at this point, remains one of my favorite places to take out-of-towners for BBQ. Owned by Empire Eats, the place possesses an upscale attribute that might seem at-odds with the BBQ joint concept that's so familiar to Southerners. Nevertheless, the BBQ is good. So good that I've yet to try many of the other "famous" BBQ places in the area. I love the Pit's warehouse location and the decor inside. Filled with pictures of pigs, pitmasters, and the BBQ process, it's definitely a wonderful place to introduce people to this southern tradition. The waits are always long but I've always loved sitting in the bar area or at the bar itself. The waitstaff is friendly and the crowd more so. The Chopped BBQ, in all its eastern seasoned goodness, is absolutely melt-in-your-mouth amazing. All of the sides I've tried live up to their main course counterpart, and particularly wonderful is the mac n cheese. The drinks are also delicious and I highly recommend the sangria! read more

Hmm, as a vegetarian, yes I am giving the Pit 4 stars. High volume, efficient service, and southern BBQ for the mass public--THEY ALSO HAVE BBQ TOFU! I came with a large group of meat-eating friends and expected to just order a bunch of sides for my meal. But I was pleasantly welcomed with a BBQ tofu entree option. (Warning to vegetarians: the baked beans contain meat.) The texture of my tofu was so uncannily similar to ground meat, I was internally freaking out. But since I didn't break out in hives, it's safe to say it was meat-free!! Oh, I started off with their pumpkin cornbread that came out in a cute mini skillet topped with maple butter. It was so yummy! The free hush puppies and biscuits were buttery and delicious as well, and by the end of the meal, I was overly full of southern goodness. I wouldn't mind coming back if my friends insist upon it, but if I came back on my own pleasure, I'd be the weirdest vegetarian out there. read more

Had dinner here last night with some of my family members and really enjoyed it. The valet parking is a really nice touch (parking at the lot across the street was $20, just FYI). I had the wings (you can almost never go wrong with wings) and they were very good. The skin was perfectly crispy and the blue cheese dressing they were served with was excellent. I also asked for a side salad, not on the menu but they made me a half-salad (more blue cheese dressing, yum!) and it was fresh and crisp. There was a basket of delicious looking biscuits on the table and I really felt sad about eating low-carb. As a nice bonus, they served Pepsi products. The restaurant was crowded but the noise level was not bad at all and our servers were top-notch. Fun evening! read more

Went to the pit with a bunch of colleagues last night. First let me just say that this is exactly what I expect from an upscale BBQ place. Great ambiance, good, fast service, and no compromises on the food. Warm, buttery biscuits and sweet, crispy hushpuppies are brought out as a great start to the meal. We also tried the fried green tomatoes, which I really enjoyed, but found to be a tad too greasy. But the mains...chopped turkey BBQ had a smokey, vinegary goodness to the point that I forgot that this was somewhat healthy, as I did with flavorful fresh veggies. In my double meat combo, I also tried the meatloaf, which had been seared to perfection creating a nice crispiness, although I found the gravy to be a little devoid of flavor. The mac and cheese (my second side) was excellent as well. I only wish I had saved room for dessert! I may go back solely to try the banana pudding... read more

I adore this restaurant. It's the perfect mix of comfort and delight. At dinner, they bring a fabulous bread basket including amazing biscuits and hushpuppies (refill? yes, please). Must-try appetizers: fried green tomatoes and bbq fries (loaded with pimento cheese and bbq- amazzzzing!) Pulled pork, turkey, chicken will not disappoint. The side dishes are equally amazing- cheese grits are to die(t) for, collard greens and sweet potato fries are equally fabulous. Banana pudding is their specialty dessert- thought it was good but was so full from 500 hushpuppies that probably could have done without. I love taking guests here- always a favorite! read more

3.5 yrs later and I finally graced The Pit with my presence... I kid, I kid. Seriously though, not sure what took me so long. We went during restaurant week, which was just ironic, but did not partake in the 3 course option. I felt it was pretty limited and didn't have options for a gluten-free gal. Also, how much food does one human need? One course there is PLENTY ...as in take half home. I didn't need $20 dollars worth. I grew up working in a southern BBQ restaurant, so I consider myself a pork BBQ expert. Also, I am a slaw snob. It should have mustard in it and not so must mayo that it's a soup, but just enough to hold it all together. Since we were at "The Pit" I had to order their chopped BBQ plate with fried okra and slaw (you mix the slaw and bbq together to get the full compliment). Don't sauce your pork bbq with bbq sauce... you are losing the flavor of the meat...just the vinegar sauce already on it. The fried okra was good but salty and the slaw was a mayo mess, with big chunks of cabbage. The bbq was good, but not outstanding. You can get equally as good anywhere else I think but the ambience won't compare. Bring your belly. read more

First thing you notice when you walk in: the savory smell of smokey BBQ. Went for Raleigh Restaurant Week so I ordered 3 courses for $20. Looking at the regular menu, however, and it's not too pricey. Appetizer: fried green tomatoes. They were crispy and the sauce was spicy, but really creamy. Loved the sauce more than anything. Entree: BBQ chicken. Came with a full breast and a leg--and the meat peeled right off the bone. It was so tender and soft, absolutely loved it. When I come back, I will probably order this again. I had sweet potato fries as my side and they were also delectable. But I might be biased because I really like sweet potato fries. Dessert: Banana pudding. Was too full to eat all of it, but it came out in a huge dish that can definitely be shared between 2-3 people. The bananas tasted just right in texture and sweetness and the breading in the pudding was soft and sweet. Definitely recommend for groups, or even a date! read more

Stopped by for a late lunch before starting a conference down the street at the convention center. Service was friendly and prompt, and the food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. I got a combo platter with ribs and brisket. Alongside it came 3 hushpuppies, as well as "cabbage collards" (which are basically just collards), and mac 'n cheese. Hushpuppies were quite good- just simple, crispy outside, firm but not hard on the inside, lightly sweet and hot (temp-wise) all the way through. (4) Mac 'n cheese- pass on this one. This is pretty pedestrian. Kind of reminded me of Mary Mac's Tea house back in ATL. :-p (2.5) Collards- solid offering- not overcooked- still had some bite to it. Definitely on the sour side as it was heavy on vinegar, but no problem for me. (3.5) Ribs- While these Carolina ribs didn't necessarily blow my mind, they were quite good. These were the first ribs I've had in which I could eat it all with a fork....and leave nothing on the bones in the process. Yet the meat was not overcooked. It's just been smoked very well. The fat was melt-in-your-mouth good. Smoke was present throughout the meat. The sauce on top was just okay- kind of one-dimensional. (4.25) Brisket- Also very good- but not exceptional. Again, smoking was throughly done, the meat was fork tender, no real complaints. (4.25) For ~ 18 bucks before tax/tip (including sweet tea which was truly sweet tea), it's a bit steep for lunch. But it's worth a shot if you're hankering for some Q... read more

This review is based on both the restaurant experience, as well as a dinner catered by The Pit. The BBQ "tofu" is outstanding! More accurately, however, it is a mock-chicken soy product that is grilled and smothered in The Pit's savory, sweet yet tangy BBQ sauce. The texture is tender, and the grill leaves a slightly smokey yet satisfying aromatic flavor. The meal includes two or three hush puppies on the side; they were a nice addition. Two side dishes were included with my meal, and I was pleasantly surprised with the taste and texture of the french fries; overall, they were simple, paired well with the BBQ sauce, and were not at all greasy. I thoroughly enjoyed the fries and felt that they complemented the BBQ very well. The second side dish was the mac n cheese, which was a bit disappointing in both appearance and flavor, as it resembled dry macaroni noodles stuck together by clumps of mild cheddar cheese. Overall, I found my meal to be delightful. The service was attentive, genuinely cheerful, and knowledgeable both onsite at the restaurant, as well as with the catered meal. The interior restaurant environment is spacious, clean, and well-lit. The interior decor is unified with a distinct but simple design and brand language. I look forward to visiting The Pit in the future. read more

Maybe i am spoiled by Texas BBQ...but ..I am not a fan so far of NC BBQ..what is with all the pulled meats? I ordered the Turkey..expecting..well..Turkey..not what looked like a stringy mess of white and dark meat..I thought it was pork at first to be honest. Turkey should not be eaten as if it was pulled pork. No bread with it...but they did bring me rolls to make a sandwich. The BBQ sauce is ok...fries were meh..beans were ok...I am still looking for a really good BBQ place here in NC..that smokes their meats and i can actually see the smoke ring...the search continues. read more

I've been here twice and have sampled four of the famous plates and seven of the sides. Gotta love eating with friends and family who like family-style sharing! The sweet potato skillet cornbread is delicious...definitely get that for appetizer. They'll also give you free hushpuppies and if they're right out of the oven, you may end up spoiling your appetite if you can't resist more than a couple! The pulled pork was rather disappointing...but the waiter did warn me that it didn't have a lot of taste. I had to load up the vineager to make it taste somewhat decent. On the other hand, the chopped bbq was delicious and is just what I think of when I crave bbq! Of the two choices for ribs, definitely go with the Carolina Style Ribs. The meat was so tender and fell right off the bones! Yum! For sides, go with the creamed corn and mashed potato & gravy. Avoid the bbq baked beans -- they tasted burnt. If you have friends from out-of-town who aren't from the South, get the fried okra and collard greens just to have them say they've tried it, but plan to have other sides to share so they don't leave hungry! HINT - I called on a Wednesday for a Friday night reservation, but they said they weren't taking any more reservations and to just walk-in that night. Then I checked Open Table and was able to book a reservation online with a confirmation email in my inbox minutes later. read more

I really like The Pit. I know, you are thinking The Pit is an over hyped up BBQ Place that is sure to disappoint. But I enjoy good BBQ and sitting and drinking in nice places. This is definitely part of my BBQ tour, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Kansas City, and Lockhart Texas are some of the other destinations. The Pit holds its own. I have been 3 times over the past 2 years and The Pit really delivers the food is really good and they have a bunch of nice local beers on tap. If you believe that you should sit in a hot/cold rundown room, with smoke in your eyes and sandwiches that cost under $5.00 than this place is not for you. I like the dining area better than the Business Dinner NYC Places Blue Smoke and Hill Country. I know The Pit is like a BBQ Disneyland. It's clean, the help is young, bushy tailed, wide eyed and eager to please. They may not be the best servers but they do offer an energetic brand of fine southern hospitality. The food is good, I think the menu is too large. I love the Carolina Ribs and the chopped pork. The sides are mostly good, like the Hush Puppies (i liked the Backyard BBQ ones better), Collard Greens (amazing), Fried Green Tomatoes(Yummy), Fried Okra (like these), and Cole Slaw, The only thing we didn't like was the Mac and Cheese (cheesy but no texture), this trip....which is curious because I remember liking it before. Go it is well worth the effort. read more

The first time I came here, I just showed up looking for dinner. Nice try, I sadly had to pass on the two-hour wait. This place is popular. There is free valet parking or a lot across the street for $5. This trip I made a reservation. In fact I made two just to be sure. This is not a rib shack, it's a sophistocated place. Nice large bar area for those who don't make a reservation and are willing to wait. The meal starts with biscuits and hush puppies. The biscuits are flakey on the outside and soft inside, the puppies crunchy and sweet. There's soft whipped butter. Try not to over eat. Dinner comes quickly. I ordered the big boy meat combo which includes two kinds of ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and chicken with two sides of which I chose the collard greens and black eyed peas. They have a nice drink list, I chose the 20 ounce glass of Uinta Hoodoo Kolsch on tap, a terrific summer beer, and perfect with BBQ. My plate was large, not huge, plenty of food, but I do have a big appetite. In fact the waiter expressed surprise that I finished the entire meal. I didn't tell him I also ate half the ribs off the plate of one of my dinner guests. Your pig tonight by the way is a local free-range hog. Feel good about the animal you ate. Your meal comes with two types of sauces. Both are delicious. You'll also want the jalapeño vinegar for your greens. On special tonight they had kale with bacon, which I liked even better than the collards. The wait staff is friendly, they take a multiple server approach which means someone is always near. They say it's the best in town and it sounds plausible. read more

This might be premature to rate this, but I have to do so. I walk by this place every day... I finally went to The Pit for lunch the other day. After smelling that place every day on the way into to work, I had to go. It's a job requirement, actually. And I'm glad it was. The food is really quite good. I ordered the baby back ribs, and they were amazing. The first ribs I've ever had to eat with a fork - the ribs were so tender that the bones just pulled out and I had a huge (half) slab o' meat. I loved it. And they were flavored really well. The sides, I though, were good, but nothing terribly awesome. Service was attentive and prompt. It weirded me out a little bit that we didn't have one particular waiter; we had a fleet of people, all who served us when we needed something. Great atmosphere, relaxed. Loved the feel of the place, at least at lunch. My biggest complaint? I have to walk by this place EVERY SINGLE DAY. The smell in the air is so good that I casually think about quitting my job. Or signing a lifetime contract. I'm not sure... read more

The place is neat and clean. The food is great. This was a great find especially as a whole in the wall type of restaurant.

Came to the Pit for lunch and ordered the combo plate. Brisket, chopped BBQ, beans and collard greens. The brisket was pretty damn good, but I have a suspicion that it was braised and not smoked. Not positive, but I'm pretty damn sure. Shit was slammin' nonetheless. The chopped BBQ was whatever. It kind of reminded me of canned tuna. Being my first time having chopped whole hog BBQ, and it being at a well known place, I wasn't impressed. The sides were ok. The beans were tasty, but a bit underdone. The greens were pretty good. read more

Pulled up to The Pit they have complimentary valet. I ate with my family it was four of us, we were seated immediately. It was my parent first time at the restaurant they both ordered the brisket and I had the southern fried chicken. When I tell you our waiter took our order and he left and returned within 3 to 5 mins with our food in front of us hot, fresh and delicious! Some of the sides we had were mash potatoes and gravy, Mac and cheese (yum), sweet potatoes- writing this makes me want to warm up my left overs! The meals were great! read more