Came here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised as the food was overall very good and it had a nice ambience. We ordered the fried green tomatoes and they were nicely breaded and light. I liked how they give you complementary hush puppies and biscuits; the biscuits were great but hush puppies were just okay. I would probably avoid next time to have more room for other items. We both ordered the double combo with the following: 1. brisket - fatty and delicious. If you like prefer lean meat, I would avoid. 2. carolina ribs - definitely worth the upgrade charge. They were extremely tender. 3. pulled pork - probably the least liked out of the proteins. 4. mac n cheese - nothing special, kind of disappointing actually. 5. cole slaw - nice way to cut through the fattiness of the meet. 6. fried okra - nicely done although not for everyone 7. mash potatoes - standard Overall, had a really solid meal and would go back if in the area. read more

I tried this place a few years ago and enjoyed it. This time was very different. I am hoping it is a one off. The brisket was all fat, the chicken was so dry, the mac and cheese was bad. I did like the pulled pork, but the rest wasn't great. The service was awesome and the manager was really nice and understanding. read more

Tried The Pit's all you can eat family style while visiting Raleigh. The deviled eggs, hush puppies, biscuits, and brunswick stew was great. And the service was friendly and fast. However, the BBQ (ribs and BBQ fries) was on the drier side and lacked the smoky moist depth you'd expect if you're from the South. Potato salad didn't really have much flavor compared to HEB's potato salad. Myself I don't eat much banana pudding, but my friend said it was good, so I'll take his word for it. Solid experience overall with the atmosphere for a plate with apps, but BBQ lovers might find it a bit underwhelming if you went for the all you can eat option. read more

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The food here is good . I have came in and ate but I have door dash as well. The service was good. The ambiance is warm. read more

The Pit - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Not so impressed. The service was friendly and timely. Ambiance: the place was packed but it felt like things could be a bit updated. Sadly, the food, while plentiful, was lacking flavor. All four of us at the table kept adding more sauce to our meats. Sides were ok. It was an adequate meal but nothing special. read more

Great NC BBQ place in downtown Raleigh. Casual comfort and bit classy interior. The food was Soo good. Had appetizer sampler and big boy plate, three of us could not finish it. Had to do take out for a good portion. Chopped pork was amazing, we could tell a lot of love went into the smoking and prep. From so many to pick from, the Pit got our vote. read more

The Pit - Appetizer sampler - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Ok so I'm a true Carolinian and grew up on vinegar based barbecue. This place does not disappoint my true southern roots. Let me just tell you about a few must haves. The BBQ Soul Rolls and Fried Green tomatoes are a must for staters. They also bring out complimentary fresh made biscuits and hush puppies to the table. Their chopped barbecue plate came with two sides and their mashed potatoes with gravy and collards tasted like my grandmother made them. My husband tried the pulled pork with Brunswick stew which was packed with flavor. We also brought along my co-worker traveling in from FL. He indulged in their Big Boy meat combo which gives a sample of chopped BBQ, beef brisket, BBQ chicken, and half rack of ribs. We were all stuffed beyond measure. Another feature is they offer family style which is really nice for that at home southern cooking experience. Their service was exceptional and our waiter assisted us with navigating the menu and popular food choices. My only complaint was I was too full to try dessert! Thanks again for a wonderful dinning experience. read more

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Sizable The order: Complementary hush puppies and biscuits The pitt sampler Pitt smoked wings BBQ rolls Deviled eggs Pimento cheeseballs Double combo (brisket and chopped bbq) Fried okra Sweet potatoes casserole The good: Brisket was delicious Portions are large AC Is blasting & great for a hot summer day The bad: We ordered way too much The chopped bbq was a bit dry We didn't eat much of the sweet potato casserole, if any at all read more

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Do not come here unless you have a gigantic appetite or plan to share. Tremendous portions of delicious fried chicken, crispy Brussels and mac and cheese that is just heaven. As if we even needed the hush puppies to start but yes you have to try them along with the biscuits and skillet cornbread. It's going to be a carb overload but worth it. Next time I'll plan a little better with my meal planning and perhaps fast for 48 hours before. Classic southern bbq joint with cool vibes in downtown Raleigh read more

The Pit - Fried chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Love the atmosphere of the restaurant. The pork was also very very good. The service was fast and friendly. No complaints

A lot to like here about the food. I found this place about 7 years ago and loved it. Just came back to Raleigh on business, had an afternoon to myself so BBQ it was for lunch. The food here is outstanding. The slices of brisket were perfectly fatty and juicy with plenty of lean mixed in for texture. There are both thicker tomato based and thinner vinegar based sauces on the table. The vinegar one with a few squirts of Franks red hot sauce make a perfect puddle for mopping up with the food. And of all things, what was amazing on this visit was the fried chicken. The best I've had in a long time! That I could order a 2 item plate that comes with 2 sides was a thing of perfection. Don't miss the Mac and Cheese or the greens! All of this makes me realize that what passes for southern food in my home city is a joke. There are several local craft brews on tap and a fair selection of Bourbon but definitely not as extensive as I remember it to be on my prior visit which was a little disappointing. The other thing that was a bit of a downer was the service. I sat at the bar and the poor lone barman was trying to cover the bar and about 10 surrounding tables all by himself. He did a great job and did as good a job as anyone who is being stretched too thin. It was not him. It was the staffing shortage that was the issue. Imagine trying to play zone defense with 1 on 10 (and you are the 1). You get the picture. Luckily, I had nowhere to be so the staff shortage was easy for me to overlook especially because the food was totally worth it. If it tells you anything, I would go there just for the food even if the staffing was 0.5 on 10 next time! Finally, you have to love the fact that the pitmaster that founded the place cooked his first whole hog at age 14 on the same day that he first drank moonshine! If nothing else, it makes a great start to the story of what makes The Pit such a great place to visit. read more

The Pit - All the greatest hits! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I had double combo with Bbq brisket & fried chicken. My brisket was well seasoned and tender. The fried chicken was good & fried to perfection it just needed a tad bit more seasoning but still delicious. The green beans were so tasty and garlicky, exactly how I like it. The establishment is so cute and cozy. The service was awesome even after my NY family drove them crazy. But overall I'll definitely be returning and next time I'll be getting 2 sides of green beans!! read more

The Pit - D Beef Brisket The Pit's Southern Fried Chicken Double Combo Pepsi Green Beans and Sweet Potato Casserole... - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Had lunch here on Sunday with one other person. Our server Antoine was awesome. Service was great overall, hostesses, food runners. Good organization and pleasant team. We ordered from the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week menu, 3 course pre-fixe dinner. As our apps, we chose the Hot Honey Shrimp Deviled Eggs. These were delicious and we were pleased with the portion size, definitely the star of the meal. For our entrees, we both chose the Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich. This was a big disappointment. Brisket was severely overcooked and very hard. This really shouldn't have even been served to anyone. For desert, I chose the Krispy Kreme Donut Banana Pudding. It wasn't bad. My company chose the Sitti's Carrot Cake. I don't like carrot cake but it looked delicious and was huge. Very nice looking piece of cake. read more

The Pit - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The wings were amazing! The burger was good, but too greasy. The beverages were good too; but nothing fantastical. The server was great! So, if we want wings, we'll be back! read more

Based on reviews, this was THE place to come for Carolina bbq. Huge portion and tasty but not mind blowing. I did end up buying both NC style bottled sauces to bring home. My coworker and I came in during a conference and the restaurant was packed. It was going to be an hour wait to be seated, so we decided to order food to go (which still took an hour somehow). They informed us they were understaffed because they were unaware of the conference and therefore an influx of diners. While we waited, we chilled standing at the bar and enjoyed a drink, and got another to go with the sip n stroll program. Drinks were pretty good - I had gin and tonic using a local NC gin. For food I had brisket, chopped bbq, baked beans, and fried okra which came with a biscuit and hush puppies. Both of the meats were pretty good, though some parts seemed a little dry. I liked the tanginess of the sauce on the chopped bbq and enjoyed the beans. Okra was a little soft getting it to go but edible. Hush puppies were fine. The biscuit was really dry and I did not eat it. They provided a couple extra sauces on the side. I ended up having so much leftover and ate it for breakfast. read more

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Besides some of the best BBQ you'll ever eat, our server, Elijah, made our experiences amazing and I've been there 3 times since moving here 6 months ago. Great food and service. What more could you ask for? read more

Our family is from out of town and we came for a Birthday. Our server was Amazing! I had Fried Chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese and baked beans. It was delicious! read more

The Pit - Fried Chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is yummmmm!! You can smell the smoke outside before walking in. The ambiance is a little upscale, but no one there is dressed that way haha. I got the fried chicken and brisket, Mac n cheese, and creamed corn. I have to say the sides were not my favorite but the collards and mashed taters my gf got were delish!! I did love the fried chicken as well!! Our server was great and understood the difference of half and half and nottttt an Arnold palmer so kudos to him! Haha. Thanks for a great meal! read more

The Pit - The Pit 's Southern Fried Chicken and Beef Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Came here with a party of three and a baby around 7 PM on Friday and got seated right away without a reservation. I think they sat us in the back with the other babies, because there was a lot of crying, but it's OK since we had a baby as well. It took a while for the waiter to come, but when he did, we got table bread and waters right away and food probably came in two minutes. Carolina ribs - some pieces were meatier than others but really Smokey flavor and tasty with the sweet bbq Brisket - liked the amount of fat on this and tasty with the vinegar bbq Mac and cheese - more cheesy than creamy but nice carb Sweet potatoes - sweet and creamy Brussels sprouts - similar to collards Cole slaw - lots of good crunch and flavor Biscuits didn't have much flavor but the texture was good and tasty with the butter Hush puppies - nice oily sweetness read more

The Pit - Two entrees was enough for 3 people. Carolina Style Ribs Beef Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Yum!!!! We got gifted a meal here that came highly recommended. We are newer to the state and hadn't had NC BBQ yet. So we figured The Pit was a good way to try out NC BBQ finally. We made a reservation which was easy to do and we were sat right away. We got the deviled eggs Meatloaf Bbq chicken fingers and of course churros. Omg all of it was really good!! Service was excellent and the food was amazing. The Pit definitely set the NC BBQ bar high!!! We even bought a bottle of the bbq sauce to bring home, it was that good! Most definitely will be back! read more

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We came here recently for lunch and enjoyed our meal! Parking was a little annoying, as we had to pay $5 at a separate lot and were hit with some extra fees related to using the associated app, etc. That being said, it's not too surprising given the location of the restaurant. Inside, it wasn't too busy, and we got seated immediately. I ended up ordering the Chopped Barbecue Sandwich, and I liked it! Wasn't the absolute best BBQ I've ever had, but it got the job done. My wife got the chicken and brisket double plate, which ended up being a lot of food :) We had to take some of it home, but it was very good. The green beans and mac and cheese that she got for her two sides were also tasty. Our toddler got a hot dog, which was pretty yummy (I took a few bites!) but of course he didn't like it much :) Go figure. Overall, it was a pretty good experience, and I would definitely consider coming back. As my wife said to me, "They know the meats!" read more

The Pit, I was told, is a staple of Raleigh, North Carolina so me and a friend decided to try it out. The food was pretty good. The baby back ribs were tender and fell off the bone but need a tad bit more seasoning. The meatloaf though was delicious and seasoned well. The sides of Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were good but the biscuits with their creamy butter was delicious. We were also told their fried chicken is a favorite. It was packed in this place and clearly a favorite of the people but our service was lack luster and clearly they needed more help in the bar high tables area as we waited about 30 minutes for our food. The bar area though has a nice and bright view with big window type doors. If you're in town, make a reservation and enjoy people watching. read more

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This is a restaurant you want to love, but I just can't. The pulled bbq is much better than the chopped (IMO), but still has too much fat. The sides are good, but not great. Creamed corn should be sweeter with less liquid. Collards need more vinegar and for the love of God get some heat on them with red pepper flakes. Hush puppies are on the small side and need more time in the fryer to get truly crisp. They weren't under done, but weren't ideal. Minor consideration is that parking isn't easy - but it's downtown and to be expected. At least if you're doing take out you can park right out front. There are much better options in Raleigh that cost less. My favorite is Ole Time BBQ but they weren't open the last time we were craving BBQ and sides. read more

The Pit sells amazing food everyday and excellent service from their staff. They have a menu to satisfy everyone!

Great location and food. The pimento cheese balls are to die for! The fried green tomato is had so much breading, it was hard to find the tomato. The fried chicken was good but of course the BBQ was the star of the show. It was moist and flavorful. The coleslaw was delicious as were the baked beans. Don't waste your money on the banana pudding. It had a lot of meringue and was not as good as the BBQ. This was a great place for lunch. Try the pimento cheese balls! read more

The Pit - Dining area - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I went here for the first time today for lunch with a coworker after I told her I'd been craving bbq for a few weeks. EVERY SINGLE THING on my plate was AMAZING!!! It was so good I forgot to take a picture lol! I had the brisket and chopped turkey bbq with fries and collard greens. I don't know whose grandma is back there making those collards, but they were soooooo good!!! The service was fast for lunchtime and the staff was friendly and accommodating. We took our food to go, but I will definitely be back!!! read more

The Pit - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had great food and service. Triple platter big enough to share and we have leftovers.

We had our daughter's rehearsal dinner here and cannot say enough great things about the food, service, and overall experience. Abby was fantastic in helping us get everything set up, including last minute additions to the menu. Trey and his team delivered amazing customer service, always responsive with a smile. Lastly, the food was amazing. We would happily schedule any other event we need at this location. Thank you very much. read more

The food quality and service at this restaurant is beyond measure. When I took the first bite of the roasted grilled chicken sandwich everything on it was fresh the bun was grilled and fresh. The chicken was fresh. The cheddar cheese was phenomenal, tomato lettuce, the sauce, and then the sweet potato fries are absolutely delicious. I gave this Place a five star hands down. read more

We walked into an empty restaurant. The hostess told us we needed a reservation. She said they were expecting a big party so we had to sit in the bar. We asked why if all the tables were open. She said she didn't even want to seat us at all. This was a Monday evening. After all that we just ended up walking out. I've never encountered such a rude hostess. She yelled something to us as we left. Might want to stick her in the kitchen with that demeanor. read more

I ordered takeout three weeks ago and the order was wrong so I called right away and left a voicemail to request a refund. A week later I called again and left another voicemail because no one returned my call. Today is three weeks and I am bothered by the lack of care. Highly recommend for an eat-in experience, though. read more

Nice established but misleading experience. Service was spotty but when the waitress was there she was pleasant. Food is overpriced for the portions. Plus the food is super bland. Felt like they would be serving this meal at a senior citizens home. No flavor whatsoever! Then they had trouble closing out my bill. What a circus show for an empty establishment. 4 o'clock on a Saturday. read more

Just wrapped up a road trip through several Midwest / Southern states and this BBQ was one of the best we had! The Carolina ribs were so dang good and fall off the bone they are so tender. Ask for Ike (like Mike & Ike) as your server! He is the best! And will make the experience at The Pit one to remember! Highly recommend! read more

The Pit - Outside - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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A nice easy walk with friends from downtown landed us at "The Pit"! The atmosphere was warm and friendly. The service was quick. We ordered the double combo and there was plenty to split with a friend. We had the Carolina style ribs which were delicious. The brisket was very dry and chewy. The Maple Butter Cornbread was very good. Nice place and not too loud. read more

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Everything was absolutely delicious. Staff was super sweet. Definitely recommend!!! I had the barbecue chicken, cabbage collards, sweet potato soufflé. All top notch. read more

The Pit is my fave spot to go in Raleigh for vinegar chopped whole pig barbecue. I get the plate with two sides, and one of those sides is always fried okra... it's totally yum. My top choice for appetizers are the fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs; I love the deviled eggs so much I sometimes times order to go. The cocktail list is fun; I love trying a new drink every time I come. read more

In town for the 2025 N.C. Farm Show and so meal in love a crew. The local dealer salesman picked the restaurants for the week and booked the reservations. Group of 20. We had one dedicated Server and then his food delivered and helpers. Was amazed at the great job he did. He took the orders timely and drink orders as well. He kept up with our beverage demand which was amazing. Side salad came out with the meal so that was a bit of a negative but not sure who was the issue there. I had the meat loaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. The mashed potatoes with gravy were good but small portions. The meatloaf was three slabs. Couldn't taste the meat for the sauce. It wasn't bad I just would have liked to taste the meat as that is what we were there for. The old fashioned was ok. Several had the fried chicken and commented on how amazing it was. It was also huge portions. Food was good service was amazing considering we were a group of 20. Parking is a negative.. definitely a scam on the parking but there is parking but it is pay a don't get were definitely working the lot hard looking for fines to access on top of the meal and initial parking fees. Parking lot was dark also so paying to have a safety issue didn't set well with me either. read more

The Pit - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The food was bar none , The best bar-b-q I've ever experienced in a restaurant setting. The service was exceptional , the ambiance was pleasing. I will be going back many times for sure. Mainly to try more things off the menu and once I've done that this 4 stars will be a 5 , and I can't wait. read more

The Pit - The combo meal with Fried Chicken , Ribs , collard greens and baked beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I love the turkey BBQ and hush puppies! I'm trying to figure out how I can freeze them and take them back to Mississippi.

We moved here from Kansas City last year, which is home to some of the best barbecue food around, and so we were hesitant to try any new barbecue for a while after the move. I am happy to say that The Pit impressed us. I ordered the Brisket Plate and my wife ordered the Pulled Pork plate. My meat was incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. My wife's pulled pork was also good, but it didn't pack the flavorful pack I was accustomed to at my favorite place in KC. Overall, we liked the meats a enough. The star of the show was the sides. They had excellent sweet potato fries, fried okra, Cole slaw, and baked beans. And then there's the matter of the table biscuits and hush puppies which come complimentary with your meal. Wow, these were the highlight! And they are served with a house made butter that makes them go down even more smoothly. This is all wrapped in a surprisingly sleek and clean environment for a barbecue restaurant. The ambiance is upscale and modern. When you walk in you are greeted by a host stand which is backed by a wall of countless bottles of wine. It sets the tone right away for a classy evening. The biggest disappointment was the sauces. There was a thicker traditional sauce and a vinegar-based Carolina-style sauce. Neither impressed us that much. Shout out to Joe's KC for having the best barbecue sauce around. read more

The Pit - Beef Brisket Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina