A couple of things they need to work on is..the chicken wings need more flavor. Tasted like they forgot to add salt. They're cooked perfectly. That crunch is just right. Sweet potato casserole needs to be a little chunky. Sweet potatoes had the consistency of baby food or puree, but was still good. Sweet potato cornbread was slamming. That was mmm mmm good. Mac n cheese was delicious. Chopped BBQ was good also. Had enough barbecue to take home. Collards and green beans were tasty. read more

Our go to place in Raleigh to meet the kids where everyone can get something they like

The pit is a great restaurant to bring family and friends visiting Raleigh and try good North Carolinian bbq. I've been here a couple times and I can say each time has been a great experience. Various cuts of meat are offered on different platters and combinations. There is even a bar where people can watch American football or any other sports playing at the time. The location is also great with breweries, adult arcades, and a billiards hall nearby. Additionally, they offer vegetarian options. Definitely swing by here for some authentic bbq whenever you are in the area. read more

The Pit - Barbecue Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Was excited to try The Pit and just North Carolina BBQ overall. Had a reservation for weekend night which I would recommend because the restaurant seemed to be quite full. - Hush Puppies and Biscuits - I was really surprised that the place gave out complimentary hush puppies because usually at other BBQ joints, you do have to pay for them. The hush puppies were really good, dense but flavorful. Also I really like the complimentary soft biscuits too which went well with the butter. I think you can request for other types of butter if that's your thing. - Chopped BBQ - According to our waiter, the difference between pulled pork and chopped BBQ is that the sauce is already marinated into the pork for the chopped BBQ. I will say that as a BBQ newbie, I couldn't really taste the difference and still had to use sauce. I did like the tomato-based sauce a lot more than the traditional vinegar-sauce. - The Pit's Southern Fried Chicken - Very solid fried chicken in terms of the crispy skin and tender meat. I couldn't really tell if it was mindblowing though as the meat felt very heavy. - Creamed Corn - I love corn in general and so this dish was very good to me. I did wish the kernels were a bit larger though because it felt like it was just half shaven off an ear of corn. - Heirloom Cabbage Collards - I think this was surprisingly the best thing in the entire night. The collard greens were cooked in some sort of broth so it soaked up all the flavor in the vegetable and it was delicious! Overall, very solid food here. I will say that the waiters are incredibly nice. Me and my friend made a bad decision and tried a spicy pepper, comparable to the Carolina Reaper, inside the store and the waiters were incredibly nice in giving us water as our throats were dying. Would not recommend doing that just in general, but the waiters were incredibly patient and kind with us. read more

The Pit - Hush Puppies and Biscuits - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is a very popular and well regarded restaurant and we wanted to give it a try. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted and we were seated in a spacious and handsome area. We had the brisket platter, the sloppy Joe sandwich and the mixed barbecue sandwich. Overall, we were impressed with some caveats. The brisket was tender and delicious with a sweet sauce but I thought the portion was rather on the small side. We thought the sloppy Joe was exceptionally good. It was juicy and very flavorful with a nice range of seasoning and flavors. The mashed brussels sprouts were a real treat. Unfortunately the okra was really disappointing and tasteless. The baked beans were too vinegary for our taste but that is debatable. We loved the hush puppies and we all agreed that they were the best we've ever tasted. However the biscuits were rather dry and may have been a tad stale. ThE service was very friendly and attentive. All in all, we will return and look forward to trying the extensive menu. read more

I was devoted to The Pit for several years after our first visit. We tried several of their dishes and found them excellent. And the hand pies proved the perfect dessert. Sadly, a few years ago, things began to slip. The turkey in a take home Thanksgiving dinner was very ordinary. The pie included could have come a box from any supermarket. When we took some relatives there for dinner near Christmas the dinner the decline had continued. The pulled pork tasted only of vinegar. The Brussels sprouts were cold. And famous fried chicken was lacking in tender meat, greasy, and cool. I would love to soon hear that The Pit has returned to what so many once loved. read more

Food was fair. We had pork, ribs, wings and brisket. Hostesses were great. Waiter needs to find a new gig or take a few courses in customer service. read more

The Pit - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The Pit is a downtown Raleigh BBQ and soul food establishment with a menu sure to please the most discerning southern palate and foodie. On this occasion I was meeting an old friend for an overdue catch up, so we had plenty of time to sample the menu and slowly enjoy each course as each promptly arrived from the kitchen. Shout out to our menu guide and server, Dan, who had an amazing grasp of the menu and help steer us in the direction we should go as true foodies. First, thrilled that Red Oak is on tap as it is a NC brew that I can't get in my home state. The cornbread appetizer is not to be missed. Baked and served in a black skillet, this treat is the proper blend of sweet and savory, bread and cake. The bread basket featured biscuits and small hush puppies, which were both perfectly prepared and tasty. The pork comes in the eastern NC style, with a vinegar base. The brisket (served in slabs like steakhouse bacon), feature a western NC sauce that has a little more spice, though not to be confused with a KC sauce. Of the two, I preferred the brisket, despite being a smidge on the fatty side. Unfortunately, we didn't get to sample the ribs. The fried chicken was awesome and not to be missed. It was the highlight of our three meat sampler platter. The sides were baked beans and sweet potato casserole, with the latter being our favorite, though both were solid selections. There are plenty of sides that everyone can find something they like. Dan did not disappoint with his recommendations. While the food comes our fast, we were never rushed and allowed to visit. We later added the banana pudding as the topper to our email. It was interesting as it featured a meringue topping covering a large, but flat serving of banana, pudding and wafer. A little more banana pudding and less meringue would suit my preference, but it was a unique take on a classic. Again, Dan was the man - top tier server! Adam and Seth effortlessly assisted so no drink glass went empty or plate removed at the right time. The hostess and manager interactions were equally as friendly. I will be back to try the ribs, the pimento cheese balls, and more fried chicken. read more

Took a drive from Winston-Salem to try this place. Let me tell you the 1.5 hiur drive was more than worth it. I ended up getting the Carolina Classic Combo after a recommendation from the bartender. Said the friend chicken was the best in the area and of course I needed to get some pork too! The chicken was absolutely amazing. Very crunchy on the outside but yet juicy on the inside. The BBQ was great as well. I decided to go with the more traditional sauce which is more vinegar based and closer to true Lexington style. You do get hushpuppies and a biscuit with honey butter for your free bread with the meal. Definitely make it a point to stop by and check them out! read more

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I was very disappointed in the collard greens. It was extremely mushy that I had to throw them away. I called the manager and he told me they had a meeting about that earlier. Well if that was the case it should not have been served and he seems not to care I had to throw the collard greens away. Won't be going back! read more

We are visiting from out of town and wanted to try NC BBQ, this joint did not disappoint! The service was excellent, food was amazing, and it had a great atmosphere! The Mac and cheese alone was probably some of the best I've ever had. We also got our food almost instantly! Great place to check out! read more

The Pit - BBQ chicken, Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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So for our last meal in NC we knew we had to try some BBQ. And boy am I happy we found the pit. I knew it was good because our driver had confirmed it and so did the hotel concierge. Since we didn't drive I wasn't too concerned with the parking situation but I did notice there seemed to be some spaces across the street. Upon walking in we sat directly in the bar area. We were greeted by the nicest woman w/ pretty curly blond hair didn't catch her name but she was so sweet and attentive. Right away we wanted to order a carafe of passion fruit citrus sangria and she confirmed it was good, and let me tell ya it was delicious! As a starter we ordered the barbecue soul eggrolls, not knowing that we will also be getting some welcome little hush puppies and biscuits what the best honey butter to go along. So from the jump we already had a bunch of food but those barbecue eggrolls were so good I still think about them now- pulled pork, collards, and carrots they were bomb it came with dipping sauces that tasted like spicy mustard and the other sweet-and-sour, both complemented well. For my entrée I wasn't playing any games I got the half rack of ribs and (by accident) added on a second meat and got the fried chicken. For my side I got the collards and the mac & cheese. So naturally I was asking for the -itis. Those ribs were so meaty and fell off the bone they were absolutely delicious the chicken was cooked perfectly as well just add hot sauce. My collards were tasty and the Mac was good as well. I was so fat, full and happy this place was amazing. My dining companion got the beef brisket, the pulled pork and for his side got barbecue baked beans and mac & cheese he loved his meal except he said the beans were a little hard. Other than that we thoroughly enjoyed everything about this restaurant... also what we thought was really cool was there is an arcade next-door that has one dollar mimosas on Sundays! read more

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Total hole in the wall, it is beautiful and unexpected with the location. The service was top notch and the food was amazing, it is a bit pricey but when you see the quantity and taste the food it is worth it. Hands-down we will definitely be returning next time in town. read more

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Went to The Pit for dinner. I have never been here before. I ordered a stout to drink. I then ordered the deviled eggs. They were cooked well. The yolks were creamy with a hint of sweet pickle relish. Plenty of paprika. 6.8 out of 10. I then tried the barbeque chili. It was more of a soup than what I think of as chili. As a brisket soup it was good. As a chili though I would give it a 4.8 out of 10. I ordered the double combo as my meal. Fried chicken and 1/2 rack ribs with potato salad and baked beans. The baked beans were had a great texture but were VERY sweet. Too much for my personal taste. 4 out of 10 the potato salad tasted like vinegar. The vinegar overpowered the potatoes. I only ate 2 forks full. The ribs were cooked well and tasted great. 8.2 out of 10. The fried chicken was the highlight of the meal. Crispy outside. Good crunch. perfectly cooked and juicy. One of the best fried chickens I have ever had. 8.7 out of 10. For desert I got the chocolate cake. It was a dense cake with a sweet icing and a chocolate sauce drizzle. Very good, 8.4 out of 10. Overall, for the price ($54) I won't do this again. The eggs, chicken and cake by themselves would have made a much better meal by themselves. Overall I would rate this meal a 7.2 out of 10. read more

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This little piggy went the market, this little piggy went home; My little piggy was smoked to sweet perfection and placed on a bun with the best sauce ever. Super tender, super juicy and the sauce had a mix of sweet and a very hint of spice as a after taste. The beans were better than mom's (which isn't saying much, she had issues boiling water correctly). Actually the beans ranked in the top 3 I have ever had. Not over done and super flavorful. I'll be back! read more

The Pit - Perfect sweet tea - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ehh, didn't live up to the hype. Started with the complimentary biscuits and hush puppies - biscuits were good, but there are better biscuits in this biscuit-centric town - then had the pulled pork with green beans and cole slaw. Sides were great, but the just meat wasn't impressive. Service was good. read more

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Talk about NO FLAVOR. I mean this had to be the worst BBQ I have had. Living in Texas now and having lived in St. Louis and in NC and ate bbq extensively in Memphis and KC, I've tried many of the places known for bbq. Thing were so dismal that the highlight here was the biscuit they give you upon being seated and the Southern-style Deviled Eggs. Other than that, the pulled pork, brisket (dry and bland even with sauce), baby back ribs taste like they were oven baked. I wasted my time and calories eating here. I certainly hope people are judging bbq eating here because this place is disappointing and so many better places to enjoy. read more

The Pit - Southern - Style Deviled Eggs and Fried Green Tomatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The service was good, appetizers were better than the entrees. All the meat tasted dry and not a lot of flavor. Wouldn't go back

OMYGAWD. Service is better than the food, and the food is out of this world. A must if you are in Raleigh! The biscuits are amazing! The sides, jaw dropping! The dinners tummy filling! The best restaurant I've been to in a long time. But come early. They are sooooo busy! Try the back porch iced tea it's worth a stop on its own. Save room for the banana pudding and chocolate cake. You can lose the 10 lbs you gained next week! read more

This Place is really a pretty cool place with a great feel and layout. The meats are good and we had Chicken, BBQ, Pork, and Beef, Mac N Cheese, MAshed Potatos and Fries with a table of 9, we had just about everything on the menu and it was a Hit with everyone. We were Served by Steve who was good at what he did but could have been better. He is one of those guys that you sort of feel is doing this as part time work for pocket money not because he loves serving and helping people. Although he was very cordial. So if you have time and want a decent Meal this place has got it for you, just keep service in your head realistic. Great food and Thank you Pit! read more

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PERFECT WINGS + G.O.T. BEER A coworker and me were in town (From Portland, OR) and invited to a business dinner hosted in the private room in the back of this restaurant (Seats about 30 people, the whole restaurant can host about 200 people). Unbeknownst to me, this place has appeared in The Food Network since the grill master is recognized for his great recipes. Some people ordered ribs and brisket from the menu, but I was so hungry and decided to go with the pre-selected menu for us (I knew the host wanted to impress anyway). The best part of the meal for me and my coworker were the appetizers. You MUST GET the "Pit- Smoked Chicken Wings" . The size is just about right, they're cooked almost to perfection (A couple were just a tiny bit dry) but the skin, the crust is covered in some spices that is not noticeable to the eyes but when you try them for the first time makes your eyes look around the table and get validation. "Am I dreaming?", "Are these the BEST WINGS I'VE EVER TRIED, EVER?", "Can I eat just wings all night?", "Would they taste the same if I take them home?". Many more questions are still dancing in my mind. Don't try adding the ranch or blue cheese dressing, I tried and it's a waste of time and a waste of stomach space that you'll value A LOT. We also had "Fried Mac N Cheese" , which comes served with a dressing that I couldn't really identify what it was made of, but didn't really add much more flavor. In terms of appetizers, having the wings as a #10, these deserve an 8. The "BBQ Soul Rolls" are good, come filled with some pork and greens and although they're good as they come, if you decide to get them, the included Mustard and Sweet-and-Sour dressings do add good flavor. A 7 compared to the wings. At this point, my guilt (not my gut) is reminding me that I'll need some green leafs so when the Cole Slaw and the Green Beans show up, I decide to get some on my plate. BIG MISTAKE! Don't waste ANY stomach space! And they're average anyway! The Fried Chicken was my favorite after the wings. And again, it's whatever they do with the crust and the skin that makes it so good! Regarding the Brisket and Pulled Pork : They were both good but I believe I've experienced juicier, more flavorful recipes in Texas or somewhere else. This is a delicate topic because many people like them with more fat, less fat, less juicy, a bit burnt, etc. If this is the standard for Raleigh, N.C. I respect that and that didn't stop me from eating good portions. If you're like me, you'll want to add plenty of the vinegar sauce and some tomato sauce to both to make them juicier, which would change the flavor profile. The Game of Thrones beer, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms is a Sour Blonde Ale blend with a bit of taste of a Belgian beer, part of the Royal Reserve Collection. For a sour beer, it was not that sour, which makes it very accessible for most palates. My coworker doesn't like sour beer and had a few sips since it really wasn't that sour. For dessert we had Double Chocolate Cake and Banana Pudding . The pudding was really good but since I'm a chocolate person that won't even consider other options when chocolate is present, I can't say much of it. The Double Chocolate Cake in the other hand, was REALLY GOOD and even though my stomach was tapping out, I made sure I had an extra bite of it before leaving the restaurant. If you're visiting Raleigh, you MUST visit this place! read more

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Whenever I want a Turkey bbq sandwich, The Pit comes to the rescue. While the To Go orders are good, the food is a lot better when you order and eat inside. I always get the fried chicken, Turkey bbq, Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. The brussel sprouts and bbq have a vinegary taste that I dream about lol! The cornbread is mouth watering. They have other dishes I wanna try. I wish their soul rolls had Turkey bbq, but I was told they are prepared in the mornings with pork bbq. Just go already, then come back and thank me later. Servers are always cool. This place is downtown so parking can be good if it can be a headache. Always crowded. read more

Excellent collard greens, hush puppies. Fried Chicken good. Ribs are excellent! Staff very friendly and hospitable! Doesn't look fantastic outside but inside very nice. read more

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We got there at 840 and the kitchen closes at 845 They helped us get seated and get our order in record time which felt helpful and not rushed Food is awesome which is why we frequent the Pit I enjoyed the collards and the Brussels with the burger no bun meal Be back soon! read more

Excellent service! Brisket is my favorite and the meatloaf is also good. Ribs are off the hook.

The food is ok but I think it is overpriced for what you are getting. The service could be better but the staff is friendly. The restaurant is a good mix of BBQ joint and family restaurant. read more

So I went in hopeful that the food would be well done but it was the opposite. My brisket which should be fork tender I needed to use force with my knife to actually cut it and somehow it tasted like a honey baked ham and not beef. The greens contained no less than an entire Morton salt bottle and was inedible, the corn bread was burnt and a brick would have better flavor. The chopped bbq tasted as if it was something you can only feed a dog. The fried green tomatoes which should be relabeled as fried green tomato chips bc they were as thin as paper. Over all this was a bad experience. read more

Chicken wings are excellent. Ribs very good. The staff has always been very kind. The bar area could use an update.

Went to the Pitt last night, friday night 6pm. Used to be my favorite BBQ restaurant but not anymore more. Quality of food has really gone down hill as well as the wait staff. What happened to this place? Used to be fresh premium quality fried chicken and brisket. Fried chicken was dry as a bone and clearly been sitting under a heat lamp or in an oven for a long time. Not fresh and could not even be cut with a knife it was so dried out. My friend had the brisket moist but greasy. Mashed potatoes and gravy cold. Wait staff very inexperienced and just as terrible. I have to say there must have been a manager change because it was terrible. read more

Great BBQ, has to do carry out. Rib meat fell off the bone and the brisket was so tender. Sounds like a staple when visiting Raleigh.

I stopped in here on my way to Goldsboro. My dad grew up on Carolina barbecue and it's been years since I had the real deal. I had the pulled pork plate with the daily vegetable (sautéed onions, peppers and squash) and fried okra. The meal came with some excellent hush puppies and a biscuit. The okra was excellent. It was salty and fresh. The pork was good too, especially when soaked in their eastern Carolina sauce. If you haven't tried Carolina barbecue, it's traditionally soaked in a spicy vinegar based sauce. It's a lot thinner than what most folks think of with a Kansas City or Texas style sauce. So, you've been warned. My only gripe is the pork had no bark or smoke flavor. It was certainly tender, but I like a little bark for extra texture with pulled pork. Other than that, the food was great and the service was excellent. read more

The Pit - Pork plate with okra and veggies. - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My cousin recently came to The Pit and reminded me how good this food was, especially the hush puppies and brisket. Now that I've had a good 12 years of bbq experience, I realize how great this place is. I will be back! read more

Delicious and oh so tasty! It was a great choice while on vacation. It was delectable and oh so good. Everyone in our party of 5 raved from start to finish! read more

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A truly great southern comfort dining experience. The layout was like your classic 1950's or 1960's family restaurant. I was dining with a large group, a company outing. Our waiter was funny & engaging and the food esp the Mac & choose, the pulled pork & chicken were delicious. read more

Everything here was phenomenal. We LOVED the brisket the best. Everyone left fully satisfied and happy with the meal they ordered! NO complaints! The Brussel sprouts were my favorite side! Not bitter at all! The Mac and cheese is amazing! The restroom is small but very clean. Our waiter was kind and helpful with recommendations! Very attentive. No one was really left waiting endlessly. I loved our experience and will most certainly be back. Only dowsnide is finding parking!! read more

The Pit - Mac and cheese, brussel sprouts, chopped BBQ and brisket! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Went to have dinner on Memorial Day and was pretty satisfied with my meal until I noticed a good amount of plastic in my brisket. It looked like it was left from when they section out the meat in to portions. The server was very attentive and gave me a new to go meal which was very nice. I understand things happen and the manager also comped the meal. The next day I went to go eat my to go meal and found more plastic in the creamed corn. I wish I was lying but I can get over one mistake but this was a bit much. Just wanted to write this post to inform others. read more

The Pit - the plastic - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Reservations for 2 were made for Thanksgiving Day. I received 2 texts during the week to confirm. We waited an hour and finally left. Of course, as soon as we were on the road to go home, they texted us. There were empty tables available. Poor management & a big disappointment. read more

I came back...this time I did the 3 meat plate Brisket was really good this time. So so good. NC ribs...again amazing. So so tender. I subbed chicken wings for the 3rd item since my co-workers raves about the wings every time we talk wings. He was absolutely right...probably some of the best wings I've had. I feeling like wings are now ruined for me unless they are smoked. Fried okra and mac and cheese for my sides...they did not disappoint. Lastly carrot cake again...this time I could really taste the smoke in the pecans. I do wish the frosting had a little more air in it. Sweet tea just completes the meal. My server was great. So glad I was in town and able to try it again. Can't wait to come back. Restaurant was clean. I found a street parking spot. read more

This is a staple that most locals if asked for BBQ usually refers you to. When I pulled up I was in awe as the line was wrapped around the building so I just knew I was going to love my food unfortunately that wasn't the case. The burger was mushy although I asked for no pink! The biscuits were hard and tasteless saving grace were the hush puppies -DELICIOUS! The brisket was tender yet not flavorful! The sweet potatoes casserole was quite tasty and the green beans were fresh but no flavor. For the hefty price of close to $50 for this order I expected a lot more! Ohh I did get a homemade banana pudding haven't tried that yet so will update review afterwards! read more

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Made a reservation for 2 at noon. We ordered then waited about 40 min for our food to arrive. I got the chopped pork plate with Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. My husband got the beef brisket with creamed corn and Brunswick stew. The Mac n cheese tastes slightly old, and my husbands beef brisket was cold and hard, not tender at all. The chopped pork was delicious. All meals came with hush puppies and biscuits with honey butter. We also ordered the skillet cornbread which was good (& had faint smell of gingerbread almost), but I wouldn't order it again. I thought the hush puppies and biscuit were more than enough and delicious. I'm giving it three stars because even though the chopped pork and Brunswick stew were amazing, the long wait, and cold and hard beef brisket was unacceptable. Service was super friendly. Felt slightly understaffed but the server did the best she could under the circumstances. read more

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