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We decided to come back to the pit after not coming for over 7 years. It's not bad... but there's MUCH better BBQ in Raleigh. City BBQ is better or there's one out in Cary. It's just okay. Nothing to write home about. The sides are all really good. I liked the coleslaw and the Brussels. My husband like the green beans and collards. But the brisket isn't great and the turkey tastes more like pulled pork. The pulled pork is very salty. The bbq chicken is good. Idk if it's what we had or that we have had really good bbq other places
Stopped by The Pit to try some authentic NC style bbq after moving to the triangle. When you arrive parking is difficult and you'll need to either find street parking or pay for parking in a nearby lot. When you walk in the space feels like a converted industrial warehouse with a polish of upscale. You'll check in with the host when you arrive and then be seated. For the starter we ordered the Pit Sampler (a medley of their appetizers; which includes pit-smoked wings, BBQ soul rolls, Southern-style deviled eggs, and pimento cheese balls). Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the pit sampler as most dishes were a bit on the dry side, but the free basket of biscuits and hush puppies were great. For the entree we ordered the half rack of baby back ribs which were good but pretty fatty in some sections. I would return again in the future but may try something else on the menu.
This place was freakin awesome! Great service, really delicious food (do not pass on the fried green tomatoes - legit the best I've ever had!), and a wonderful vibe. If you're in the area, you must check it out.
The pit was a very good time. A menu packed with so many things that sound good it was hard to choose. We started with the Pit Sampler recommended by our waiter. The sampler has wings, pimento cheese balls, soul rolls and southern style deviled eggs. The wings had a good flavor to them very traditional bbq style taste, the cheese balls were right up my alley crunchy outside and gooey on the inside. My first time trying deviled eggs I can say they were actually pleasant. The soul roll had this good taste with a subtle head to it just to spice it up. Overall really enjoyable apps. With so many options to choose from we all ended up getting the Double combo. I had Brisket and bbq chicken with Mac n cheese, brussel sprouts and. Sweet potatoe casserole. The chicken was the only piece lacking in comparison to the others. The brisket was very solid, very good enough to order again. The sides however were amazing. The Mac and cheese had such a good taste to it, the brussel sprouts had a blend with bacon bits and something glazed on them that was perfect and the sweet potatoes was another great side addition to the rest. Service was great our waiter gave us suggestions and was very patient with us and even gave us some small servings on the house. Very great time in a place you should visit
I've been to The Pit a couple of times over the years and I've always had a good experience! The ambiance and service is always on point. The Baby Back Ribs were amazing and the meat literally fell off the bone. I enjoyed them with the vinegar based barbecue sauce. The Mac & cheese and sweet potato fries were also delicious. I ordered a draft beer and the glass was filled to the brim, I appreciated the heavy pour!
Was recommended this place by someone who used to live in the area. Good experience but nothing over the top. My husband and I split everything. Got the Double Combo of the Fried Chicken and Carolina Ribs with sweet potato fries and brussels as well as a serving of fried okra. They brought out biscuits and hush puppies (i think that their name). We liked everything but wished the Double Combo plate came out hot, it was closer to the warm/colder side. Everything else came out hot. Note: The brussels have pork in it and in a sweet sauce, not savoury. Service was fine, ambience was nice outside as it was a nice sunny day in the 70s.
this was my first barbecue meal in the southern u.s., so i was pretty excited to try The Pit. we came on a tuesday night, and the dining room was surprisingly busy. i really liked the atmosphere too. the dark wood interior gave it that classic southern barbecue feel, which is exactly the kind of ambiance i enjoy. i ordered the double combo platter with brisket, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. the brisket was the standout for me. tender, smoky, and exactly what i was hoping for. the fried chicken was also really good, and the mashed potatoes were so creamy and flavorful that i immediately wished i had gotten two servings instead of the fried okra! the only disappointment was the hush puppies. ours were a bit overcooked, so they ended up drier than i expected. my boyfriend ordered the pit bacon cheeseburger. he said it wasn't quite as amazing as the first time he had it, but it was still really good. our server was friendly, gave great recommendations, and made the experience even better. this was a really solid first southern barbecue experience, and i'd definitely come back.
I have been wanting to try this bbq place for awhile and we finally made it after going to an event downtown. We were fortunate to find a good parking place on the side of the building. As we were walking up my grandson said " this is a fancy place ". The decor is nicer than most bbq places for sure. I was surprised to see so many options that were not bbq and a large selection of sides. He got meatloaf with Mac and cheese and baked beans. He said it was the best meatloaf he ever had and this comes from a picky eater! He loved the Mac and cheese as well. It was a huge serving so I got to try the meatloaf and he was right. He didn't share the Mac and cheese. Neither of us cared for the baked beans. I had the brisket, Brussel sprouts and potato salad. The brisket was tender and flavorful. Awesome. The potato salad was ok but I didn't care for the Brussel sprouts . I would try two different sides next time. A basket of hush puppies and biscuits came as well. We were both so thirsty and I can report they had excellent sweet tea. Our server was knowledgeable and pleasant. The food came out faster than I expected. We will be back!
Nothing in this restaurant tasted the way it should with the exception of the hush puppies & biscuits. Things tasted over fried, reheated, bland, and just overall poor quality. The deviled eggs have a sweet, almost cinnamon flavor that is quite strange. The soul rolls definitely were definitely reheated and the wings were fried so hard they were burnt in places. Fried chicken boasted to be the best in the area and while the breading was light, it also lacked any flavor. Bland is not a big enough descriptor for it. For the BBQ, if you have to bury it in sauce that is always a red flag in my opinion as it generally singles a lack of flavor in the meat. That was the case here for sure. Also, if you are going to do sliced brisket, you need to know how to cut it! Cutting with the grain is a big no no and absolutely impacted the flavor. Overall, food was extremely lackluster and disappointing. The ambiance was also a disappointment as we were sat back by a very noisy kitchen unnecessarily. The one good point was our server. He was friendly and the right amount of attentive. He did well. We are just traveling through so won't be back but definitely won't be recommending it either.
The food was great. The place is setup in a cool area. Definitely head back. The staff was amazing and very accommodating.
Went on a Sunday afternoon, not very busy, it was clean, they def had the heat going. It was a little too warm for my preference but to each their own. Ordered the combo plate, 2 meats and 2 sides. I got the chopped bbq, was pretty good. The brisket is sliced brisket. I got a pretty fatty piece with very little meat but the flavor was still good. I did not like the Mac and cheese. It was dry, I like my Mac and cheese creamy and stringy. My other side was cabbage collards. I hasn't heard of it before. I ordered cabbage thinking it was cabbage but the when it came out, it looked like collards and tasted like collards. Those were good tho! Fried green tomatoes really stole the show. I think out of all of our food I could have just ordered that as my meal with their hush puppies and biscuits and been just as happy. Overall, nice place for Sunday lunch. Across the street was a cool chocolate factory too!
I was apart of a party of 32 and reservations were made in advance. They served complimentary biscuits and hush puppies. Dry. I ordered shrimp skewers, mac and cheese, collard greens and deviled eggs. Deviled eggs were plain. Re-Do the entire recipe. Shrimp skewers were delicious. Mac and Cheese and Collard greens will be the reason I come back. Good portions. Chicken Tenders and Fries. Unseasoned. Overall, located in a great spot of Raleigh, near the Amtrak. Good customer service.
My family and I truly enjoyed the food amd service yesterday. The food was cooked just right, well seasoned and flavorful. And it wasn't crowded.
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
3 years ago
My family decided to try some NC BBQ and found this place online. The menu looked extensive and had a good amount of options for my mom, who doesn't eat meat. We didn't have a reservation on a Friday night, but we were seated right away. After ordering, they give you a basket of hush puppies and biscuits. They were both delicious! Nice and soft biscuits with good butter. I ordered the pulled pork plate with fries and fried okra. The sides were fantastic. Everyone at the table liked their food. This was maybe a little more expensive for a BBQ place, but they do give you hush puppies and biscuits. The servings were also huge! My dad also got the pulled pork plate, and we probably should have split one. The one thing I didn't like was the sauce. I don't like vinegar, so I didn't try that one. The other one didn't have a great flavor and was quite runny. The meat was still good without sauce though. read more
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
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
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
5 months ago
3 years ago
A few things: 1. I visited this restaurant with my wife and college aged daughter. 2. The service was quick, pleasant, and the server was very well informed about the menu. 3. The majority of my rating was about the food. And the food was NOT good, it felt like I was eating in a nursing home. I am from the Midwest. I grew up eat KC style barbecue and appreciate St. Louis , and Texas contributions to my palate. I like to eat and smoke meat. This experience pained me because I had such high hopes to learn why people liked North Carolina barbecue. When we arrived late in the evening, we were promptly seated and noticed that there were still several tables of people in the restaurant. Encouraged, we sat down and after pouring over the menu my family and I ordered the smokehouse sampler, sweet tea, followed by the Big Boy platter and the pulled pork meal, with macaroni and cheese. The waiters and staff were all very pleasant, they brought biscuits and refilled our glasses without hovering. When the smokehouse sampler arrived it was a collection of fried pimento cheese balls, smoked wings, pulled pork 'egg rolls.' While we like the idea and the pairing of sauces, we found the cheese balls tasted as if they'd been fried in burnt oil, the egg rolls were bland and the smoked wings lacked smoke flavor. The main entrees soon arrived, and while they were hot, they didn't taste good. I ordered the fried chicken instead of barbecue chicken to taste more of the menu. The fried chicken was salted, but wasn't seasoned; the brisket was gray and lifeless with something that was supposed to be barbecue sauce on it- neither were appealing or flavorful. The ribs while cooked, were also underwhelming. My ribs appeared boiled, and had no signature pink smoke ring on the meat. Additionally, the membrane was still on the bone, while not indicative of anything, I thought it was off for a professional barbecue restaurant, great would want the seasoning throughout the meat. The grey chopped pork was very full of vinegar and I could not enjoy the meat because of the strength of the flavor of the vinegar. The pulled pork meal was clearly pulled from the bone and had pieces of cartilage sticking into the meat. My family didn't appreciate it,and refused to eat it. I sampled it, but i was glad I didn't order it. Overall, my family won't go with me here because the food wasn't good, and I would be hard pressed to patronize this place again just for ambiance and nice people. Please fix whatever is happening in your kitchen, it's killing your restaurant. read more
Business owner information
James O.
Clarence,…
10 months ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Drink Order: Pit Smoked Ol Fashion Food Order: Triple Order with ribs, chicken, & chopped pork sides: greens, mac n chz, and okra Pros: wooooo sh*** that Ol Fashion is good And strong!!!!! The greens were really good. They were seasoned well! The biscuits that they brought out were also delicious as well. Service was great and the ambiance was laid back. Cons: The meats were not good! The chicken was not seasoned at all. The ribs were dry. The chopped pork tasted very very different. The bbq sauce that was sweet has a vinegar taste that was off-putting. I simply wasnt happy with this meal today. read more
Business owner information
James O.
Terrence,…
We were told The Pit was a must visit while traveling to Raleigh this weekend and had to make room for dinner as part of our agenda. Our server, Adam, was excellent. He gave us tips on what to eat, helped accommodate our dietary restrictions, and checked in on us frequently. The portions were VERY generous. Be sure to save room for dessert, as they are just as good as the entrees! The cocktails just missed the mark. We found the seasonal peach sangria to be watered down. I drank the Quarantine Dream and loved the coconut-pineapple-rum combo. We started with the fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs. We highly recommend both! We all had a hard time narrowing down our order. I ordered the Carolina Classic Combo so I could get a sampling of two Pit favorites. The sides are just as good as the main entrees. You can't go wrong with any! The carrot cake was mile high and we loved the caramel sauce and nuts to top it off. The banana pudding was abundant with fresh bananas and perfected with a meringue topping. We left with fully bellies and a real feel for great southern cooking! read more
Business owner information
James O.
Leah,…
2 years ago
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
5 months ago
Went there for dinner with my friend during my visit to Durham. For app we ordered the Pit Sampler and Brunswick stew. The sampler consisted of 4 chicken wings, 4 veggie rolls, 3 deviled eggs and 3 pimento cheese balls. Definitely too much for 2 but would be great as app for 3-5. The soup had beans and veggie inside, with some meat. Both of us thought it was super flavorful. For entrée my friend got a half slab of pork rib and I got a FULL slab of Carolina Pork rib. We like them very much. Especially my full slab was phenomenal! The whole stuff was about 50cm long, and each rib was more than half the length of my forearm. It tasted not bad either. The restaurant was, unfortunately not clean enough. For example, there was lots of rubbish on the floor near the restroom. Also, our table was not cleaned when we arrived. OTOH service was good. Our waitress explained the size and taste of each dish in detail, and offered to clean both the table and floor under it for us. Will return the next time I visit the research triangle area (and hope the environment could be improved lol) read more
Business owner information
James O.
Leyang,…
2 years ago
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
2 years ago
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
What an incredibly delicious dinner spot. Came here with a few others and asked for recommendations. Tried the brisket which was super tender, the pulled pork which didn't have any sauce but didn't need it. It had a perfectly smoky taste to it. And the ribs which fell right off the bone. I opted for the sweet potato casserole which equated to mash sweet potatoes and their Brunswick stew which was tasty and flavorful. I'm not a fan of vinegar based BBQ so I steered away from the chopped BBQ but may look at it in the future. The place is quite large but food came out quickly and service was friendly. read more
11 months ago
This was our last lunch in Raleigh for this visit. The server was nice and kept on checking for our needs. The restaurant itself is also roomy and nicely decorated. It was quiet when we came. Unfortunately, my husband and I were so disappointed when we got what we ordered. My husband ordered bbq fries, I ordered brisket with side of mac & cheese and brunswick stew. I also ordered fried pimento cheese balls as starter and my sister in law ordered pulled pork with a side of beans and something else (I forgot the other sides). Bbq fries: this is hands down the worst fries ever made. Not only it was drenched in oil and tasted a bit like rancid oil, the meat was also dry and doesn't taste great. Brisket and sides: brisket was very soft, which is not bad, but it's heavily smothered in bbq sauce. I don't know if that's how they do it in the south, but I'd like to have the freedom of tasting my meat without the sauce. That being said, brisket was very fatty and has a bit of aftertaste to it. Mac and cheese was so dry and bland it's almost sad, and the brunswick stew was also bland and I have no idea what I was tasting in there. I tried a bit of my sis in law's pulled pork, my oh my that was the dryest pulled pork I've ever had. It has bitter aftertaste to it too. I don't know what they put in there! The cheese balls was ok, tasted very vinegar-y and the hush puppies tasted better than any other dishes that I had in this place. All in all, we both were disappointed by how it turned out. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Alright now.. Here we go again . Food...was mid. Landing the experience right at a 3 . The ambiance matched the vibe. I'd suggest the fried catfish, baby back ribs, hush puppies and fried the chicken... I captured some pics to be helpful. Yelpers are fine Helpers! Remember to be kind to one another and tip. read more
A pretty good barbeque restaurant centrally located in Raleigh. It offers a great variety of options, including all things barbeque, soups, side options and cocktails. I went for the chopped bbq sandwich with the bbq baked beans, an Arnold Palmer and the banana pudding. Everything was great! There is only street parking available at an affordable rate. I parked for an hour during lunch and paid $1.25. Overall, good stuff! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I've been coming here since 2018, and it's very popular, and pretty spacious. If you sit at the bar, they have good service for both drinks and food. If you sit at a table, you also get good service, and there's plenty of room for friends. The food is pretty good, although they don't have their original pitmaster, and I feel like it doesn't stand out the way it used to. Still, I don't think you can go wrong with what they serve you. It's all solid. You'll get NC barbecue sauce and well flavored meat. And the sides are everything you'd ask for. The hush puppies are very nice, too. read more
Business owner information
James O.
Benjamin,…
2 years ago
Service was good.... Food was better the first time I visited. Today the collards were a little to salty and not enough salt in the potato salad. The pulled turkey was FANTASTIC. Moist and flavorful. Server was attentive and kind. Was not happy with my drink to start. We made a small adjustment and it was fabulous from there. read more
3 years ago
The BBQ was some of the worst I've ever had! Look at the picture of the brisket. It was disgusting. I try and cut red meat out of my diet and if I ate here, it would be much easier to do. When I do splurge and get red meat, I love me a delicious brisket and this ain't it. The rest of my 2 meat meal was pretty good. The fried chicken was delicious, the Mac & Cheese was good, and the sweet potato casserole was like dessert! Co-workers agreed the BBQ meats were not that great. The portions also sucked. I figured I'd get some Southern hospitality sized servings, but it was a disappointment and I left hungry. The waitress was friendly and and attentive which was a plus. I wouldn't come back, but if you give it a try, maybe just treat it as a fried chicken and sides restaurant. But when you're billed as a BBQ joint, the Brisket must be on point (Johnny Cochran said that I think). read more
We came here on a Sunday night, it was our first time here. So we started with the cornbread and the bbq soul rolls. The cornbread was hit but the soul rolls were ok. I expected more flavor! It tasted bland to me. For dinner we order the bbq fried chicken combination, pit salad and the baby back ribs! The fried chicken was perfectly crispy and moist! The salad was good with the pulled pork and the husband like the baby back ribs, he said it was moist and the sauce just right. The service was ok, we weren't offered a drink menu we had to ask for one and never tried to offer us dessert after we finished our dinner. The front of the restaurant seems to have a nice bar and a wall with wines! The back where we sat was more like a cafeteria style area. Expected more decor representing the barbecue spot! It was good but I doubt I will come back. read more
Business owner information
James O.
Lilia,…
8 months ago
Overall I feel like it's not a bad BBQ restaurant, but definitely not the best that I've had. I had a pretty big party so do take that into consideration of my review. The food was just... whelming. Especially with the sides. Both the mac n cheese and Brussels sprouts were soggy and did not have much flavor. The combination of poor texture and taste was not incredible. The meats thankfully were slightly redeeming and picked it up in the taste department, but still was not a home run. The brisket was a bit too salty and really need some carbs to soak it up. My favorite was the ribs so consider getting those! Desserts were really a hit or a miss. Banana cream pie was great, but the double chocolate cake was a dud. The amount of just mediocre experiences surprised me and just didn't add up to the great restaurant that it could have been. read more
The food was overall good but pack some patience with you because service is sooo slooooow. We came here on Wednesday around 7pm and to my surprise the wait for a table was over an hour. They do have quite large bar area where you can grab any available seat/table (a U-shape bar and several bar height tables). Anyway, we were lucky and someone was just leaving bar table so we took it. It took them 20 minutes to clean the table and bring the menus, that's only after we literally started staring the waitress down. After they finally checked in with us and we put in a round of drinks, it was another 15 minutes until we got the drinks and they finally put an order for food. After we got it, no one checked in on us a single time, not even to refill water. We probably sat there with our empty plates for another 20 min until they finally realized we're ready for a check. All in all we were stuck (that's exactly how it felt) at this place for almost two hours. My friend ordered a Negroni cocktail, it was served to him in a wine glass for some reason (that's a first, it is supposed to be served in a short glass) and with no ice which we thought was, um, interesting. For main course we all went for a double combo, I had mine with BBQ chicken and smoked brisket with a side of stew and slaw. Stew was probably what I loved the most, so flavorful. Brisket was very soft and sauce was very tasty. Chicken also tasted great but was dry. Overall I didn't quite understand what the rave is about. Decent place but definitely not impressed with service. read more
7 months ago
4 years ago
Overall disappointing visit. Little street parking and paid lot across the street. Service at the bar was overall slow, but friendly. Old Fashioned was not good. A large entree consisting of meatloaf, corn & collards only average with collards best thing on plate. They offer cornbread with entree and it was not great. Too long to get check. 2.5 rounding down. My assumption is things have changed with the pandemic. read more
1 year ago
More info about The Pit
328 W Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
Warehouse District
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(919) 890-4500
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http://www.thepit-raleigh.com
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