My friend has been telling me all about this place and at last, I got a chance to try! It was kind of dead on a weekend night, but we did come when it was cold and before the dinner rush. There is plenty of parking and a decent amount of seating. I love how it looks like it was previously a garage. Inside was clean and seemed like a casual sort of place. We ordered a 2 Meat + 2 Side combo - the Sliced Brisket and Ribs with a side of Sweet Potatoes and Mac and Cheese. All of it tasted great and I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to try more of their menu! read more

The Pit Stop - Menu - November 2025 - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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We got the 2 meat + 2 side combo and it was pretty good. The brisket could've been juicier, but it tasted great. I liked the rib tips, too, but some parts were dry. The mac and cheese had a nice flavor, but the cheese sauce wasn't melted well. It sort of clumped off the pasta. The baked beans (not pictured) were my favorite part of the meal. It was on the sweeter side, which I enjoyed with the savory meats. Sadly, their bbq sauces were too vinegary. Service was pretty quick for take out (we arrived when it opened on a Saturday). The Pit Stop is a decent American bbq joint, but I would not come back and don't recommend it. read more

The Pit Stop - Rib Tips + Sliced Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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We finally got around to trying The Pit Stop. The recent reviews were decent, which encouraged us to go for a meal. We were here on a Sunday around 4 p.m. The place wasn't busy at all. Ordering your food means going to the counter and giving your order to the person at the counter. A very friendly young woman took our order. The first thing I asked was if they still had brisket or had run out. She assured us that they still had some. We both decided to try the combo platter, which consists of two choices of meats and two sides. To drink, I got sweet iced tea; my husband a Coors Light. In the past, at other BBQ places, we would order combo platters, and the portions, to us, were reasonably sized. However, at The Pit Stop, the meat portions were huge! Both of us got a 1/2 rack of ribs plus some brisket. My sides were cornbread and potato salad; my husband chose potato salad and mac and cheese. The food came out in a timely fashion. We were both quite impressed that the food was served hot and remained moist and flavorful. We both dug into the ribs, and they were amazing -- very meaty with meat that fell off the bones and wonderful BBQ flavor. After eating the ribs, a bit of our sides, and some brisket, we both realized we were full: portion sizes are very generous. As for the sides, the potato salad had a mustardy flavor and had some kick that catches up to you. At first, it seems mild, then a bit of heat sneaks up on you: reveille for sleeping taste buds. I thought the large piece of cornbread was very moist with a nice hint of sweetness. My husband said the mac and cheese was okay, if somewhat bland. It stood up well on reheating. We asked for a bag to take our leftovers home, and were gladly given one. Later that evening, I googled how to reheat leftover brisket to prevent it from drying out. We chose the stovetop method, which involves putting the brisket in a skillet and either adding beef broth or BBQ sauce. Since we had some BBQ sauce at home, we used that. Then we mixed it all up, put the cover on the skillet and heated it on low heat. The end result was great -- the brisket remained moist! It made for a great next-day meal. We will return the next time we crave BBQ! read more

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Amazing BBQ. The best we've had in NOVA! Brisket was tender. Mac n cheese was homestyle yummy. Cornbread was sweet. Serving sizes were great for the price. Service was friendly. read more

What a great treat!! You know it's gonna be good when the smokey pit smell draws you in. Delicious brisket, pulled pork and variety of sides. I didn't even know I liked kale until I had it here. Chocolate cake is next level too. Great if not the best barbecue in the area!! Thank you Glynis for great hospitality. read more

The Pit Stop - Chocolate cake - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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Was told Pit Stop was a gas station so was pleased to find this cute building that's recently painted. The interior meets the expectation of a bbq joint, and I wasn't even expecting bbq! I was told we're having soul food. Word is the fried fish is where it's at (big portions), but I ordered a brisket sandwich combo so I could have some sides. The brisket was tasty but the "spicy" hot sauce was mild (perhaps mislabeled?) so that was disappointing. The sides were great. Mac and cheese was creamy but not too greasy. The potato salad had a refreshing mustard taste. Would come back to try the ribs! read more

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Not bad.....not great. I rounded up to 4 stars. I am trying to find great BBQ in the area. This place is about 30 min from home so we are trying it. Brisket, not bad. Not overly dry. Edible, which is positive. Decent flavor.but I would not order again. Ribs-I thought these were pretty good ribs. Fall off the bone, meaty, tasty. I would eat these again. Burnt ends-as with the ribs, they were pretty good. The potato salad had a lot of mustard, but I liked it. The best thing-the banana pudding. Loaded with bananas and Nila wafers. Excellent and bette than mine. I would come back for the ribs. read more

Hubby convinced us to try their brisket. My kids are experts at briskets and mac & cheese, and they both loved it, which says a lot. Everyone seems to enjoy what they're doing, so customers like us felt very welcome dining here. read more

I was very disappointed in the lack of knowledge in the ingredients they use. I have a ANA allergy which included Worcestershire sauces, anchovies(commonly found in Worcestershire)/ shellfish. I tried to call and message them directly before going but never got responses but I know people are busy so I went in person and when I asked at the register I was told they have no way to know the ingredients and furthermore they had no idea what I was talking about. Allergies food driven can be very serious and although I never put the blame on others if I do have a reaction as a food establishment I do expect you can at least give me a yes or no on the ingredients used to make your food. read more

Still da bomb. Wow. Yelp wants us to write more, but words aren't needed. (Did I mention don't miss Ron's cake?) read more

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Pit Stop BBQ - Sterling Cascades /5 I decided to give Pit Stop another shot after a lackluster first visit, hoping a different order would show their best side. Went with the two-meat combo: brisket and ribs, with baked beans and slaw on the side. Meats: * Brisket: Looked promising with a nice bark and smoke ring, but the texture didn't deliver. It was dry around the edges, with a crumbly bite that made it feel like it had been sitting in a warmer too long or overcooked. I want brisket to have that tender, juicy pull-apart feel, but this was more stringy than succulent. The seasoning was solid, but the dryness made it hard to really enjoy. * Ribs: Better than the brisket. Good bark, nice smoke flavor, but still leaned a little dry. The meat pulled away from the bone cleanly, but had a slight chew--just not the tender, fall-off-the-bone experience I'd hoped for. Sides: * Baked Beans: These were disappointing--more like soup. Thin and watery, with little flavor depth. Tasted straight out of a can with maybe a quick stir of seasoning. Definitely didn't feel like a BBQ joint specialty. * Slaw: Extremely wet, almost soupy, and the dressing overpowered everything. It was hard to tell if it was freshly made or had been sitting pre-mixed too long. Crunch was minimal and it didn't offer the crisp contrast you want to balance out rich meats. Summary: Pit Stop feels like a "good enough" BBQ spot, but it doesn't hit the mark if you're chasing memorable BBQ. The brisket missed on tenderness, the ribs were decent but not standout, and the sides felt like an afterthought. I gave it 3 stars because it's not bad--it'll satisfy a basic BBQ craving--but the lack of quality in the meats and the underwhelming sides kept it from being great. It may be awhile before I give it another go, I drive by this shopping center a lot and it always smells amazing but just doesn't live up to other bbq spots I've had. First trip had their corn bread which was good, banana pudding was horrible, heard people talking big about their cakes when I was there today so maybe that'll entice me to try them another time. read more

The Pit Stop - Ribs and brisket. Not bad, but meh. - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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It's about time Loudoun County got a spot like this. Finding consistent soul food and BBQ in the area has been a struggle, but Pit Stop is the real deal. Everything I've tried has been spot on--the catfish and chicken are great, and the sides (candied yams, mac n cheese, and collards) actually taste homemade. The brisket and ribs and are a must-try too. The menu rotates through different desserts, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Just a heads-up: they do sell out because it's that good. I've started calling as soon as they open to place my order for pickup later so I don't miss out. Definitely the missing piece in the local food scene! read more

Good portion for your money ! The cashier was a sweet lady that made sure I had what I ordered and ask if I needed anything else . I had never been here before but she made sure I was good and getting what I ordered she evn left the register and started helping bag the food . The ambiance was that of a sit in restaurant not too much going on but not at all bad. If I were ever want some bbq in sterling Virginia this for sure is the place ! read more

This spot is GREAT! The BBQ was delicious and the staff are super kind. You feel that "southern hospitality" when you come here. They're popular so food sells out fast. Brisket is first come first serve. By the time I arrived the first time I ever came the brisket was all sold out. The second time we came almost all the sides and the ribs were all sold out. We usually come on Sundays after church. Ribs 11/10 Chop pork 10/10 Cornbread (like a dessert) 9/10 Catfish platter 8/10 Brisket 9/10 Fried chicken 10/10 Baked beans 9/10 Potatoe salad 8/10 Cole slaw 8/10 Overall, I love this spot and when I'm craving BBQ I'll be back! I'm torn between my favorites, but I think my top picks if it's your first time will be ribs, fried chicken, chop pork, or brisket. For sides Mac and cheese or the cornbread. read more

The food is amazing here - succulent meats and tangy bbq sauce available in regular and spicy. The pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and sausage are always a hit, along with the max and cheese, fries, and slaw. The chicken can sometimes be dry, so we skip it. I would like the chicken wings better if they came with sauce, but even plain they're crispy and well seasoned. Make sure to try the cornbread. The only drawback is that they can sell out of items at quickly at lunch and dinner, and you have to time your visit to not miss out. read more

Great brisket. Top notch. Sides were ok, you should go there for the brisket. Was concerned it may be sold out but had no issues.

We got there at 2 pm and they were out of rib tips and would not have brisket until 4pm. We opted for the wings and chopped pork. The pork was moist and the wings were crispy. The mac and cheese and beans were nothing special. I think the food was just ok and I would not go back for bbq. read more

Excellent BBQ and very nice staff. Only one thing, their food is so good that they run out of the most popular items. Go Early!!

Oh yes. This is the place. Besides bodacious barbecue and first-rate sides, they have catfish that will melt in your mouth. They are only open Thursday-Sunday, which is a great business decision. I'm here at 11am Thursday and the line has already started. Sadly, no corn on the cob. read more

100% come here for BBQ. It's a real low key looking spot but the food is nothing short of amazing. My gf and I really wanted bbq the other Sunday after church. I had seen this come up in search for a while and we said why not. They were unfortunately out of brisket when we came in and wouldn't have more til 4. But I ordered the ribs and pulled pork with mac and cheese and potato salad. I'd give the ribs a solid 9/10. Smoky and paired well with the homemade bbq sauce. I love when ribs are cooked to perfection (meaning the meat ISN'T falling off the bone) and these ribs exceeded that. The pulled pork went really well with the bbq sauce and the mac and cheese. The postato salad was one of my favorites and I'm not usually a potato salad fan. My gf ordered the catfish but was middle of the road on it. The cornbread was delicious however. Not too sweet, not too savory, and incredibly soft. The service is friendly and quick. The staff working there truly care about what they're doing and it shows. It felt like true southern hospitality. The ambiance is casual. There's seats inside and a few outside as well. It's a fairly small spot but you could fit about 40 people if I had to guess. The smell of bbq being smoked is truly what will draw you in. There is a PacMan machine you can play for free while you wait! The brisket runs out periodically so the earlier the better! Cannot wait to eat here again. read more

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So, I actually have a rule when it comes to BBQ: if I can't smell it from the car it's not worth my time . Let me tell you, I had no idea this place even existed until my nose alerted me to something delicious as I was driving by. I didn't end up stopping but as soon as I got home I looked up reviews. Between the mouthwatering photos, the prices, and my nose, I was convinced I had to try this place. So the next day I popped in and ordered the chopped pork mountain of a sandwich. You should have seen my face when I opened the box, there was so much meat piled high on a pillowy soft bun (which I believe is a potato bun). A lot of places serve mediocre buns, which always makes me sad. It doesn't matter how good the meat/burger/hot dog is, a bad bun drags the whole thing down. Fortunately at Pit Stop, the buns rise to the occasion. I actually got the sandwich combo, and for my side I got the Mac n Cheese. I also paid the extra $1 for cole slaw on the sandwich, and after hearing the person in front of me ask for his on the side, I followed suit. For my drink I chose sweet tea. They also have Kool-aid, fountain drinks, and beer. I asked for both spicy and regular BBQ sauce, which came on the side. That drive home was pure torture, my car smelled so yummy! The Mac n cheese was deliciously cheesey, definitely not cheap boxed stuff. The cole slaw was good, flavorful and not too sweet. The spicy sauce had a decent burn to it, somewhere around the range of Sriracha or Diablo sauce. I ended up mixing it with mayo to make it creamy and tone down the spice a bit. Even so, it had my nose acting like it was training for a marathon, ha! It was really good though! The pork itself was a bit underwhelming, but mixed with mayo and sauce it was scrumdidlyumptious! I shared the food with my husband, and it was more than enough for the 2 of us, in fact I actually had leftovers! We ended up mixing everything together to make a sort of BBQ pork bowl. We both agreed it was delicious and we can't wait to try more of their noms! The people behind the counter were very down-to-earth, pleasant people to interact with. What my stars mean: 5 is outstanding, memorable, something to write home about, somewhere I'd want to bring tourists.   4 is great, somewhere I'd love to return again and again. Back-up reccomenation for tourists. 3 is good. A solid option if I am in the area. I may reccomend to locals, but would probably leave it off my list of reccomendations for tourists. 2 is ok, but only because it a great value, unique, and/or convenient. 1 means I would not return. read more

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The best bbq spot in northern Va!!! Great food, great vibes and family owned! The ribs are incredible.

BLUF: Tasty! Service isn't bad. Not everything is house made & the bread used didn't seem top quality. Not the cleanest place & we got there when it first opened & our table was dirty. Felt a bit greasy leaving & the ambiance is definitely still old roadside greasy spoon. Worth the drive? Maybe, worth going a little out of the way if you happen to be in the area. Service not quite warm & welcoming. Set up is a bit loud & chaotic. I was disappointed to see the giant Costco-sized bag of Ore Ida fries & the cheap sliced 2-pack sandwich bread from Costco. At those prices, I want to see either house made fresh fries & better quality baked bread...if not in-house, then a quality local baker. The sides are pre-packed in plastic containers. So, the food is kinda assembled rather than super freshly made. The meat was really tender and had good flavor. I'm on the fence as to whether it's memorable. If I had a taste for meat & was in the area, I'd stop by again. But did the meat, mac & cheese & slaw taste like something I couldn't get anywhere else? Not so much. Don't get me wrong, it was quite a satisfying meal at a reasonable price (for these times). Oddly, however, the food just made me long for actual home-made family BBQ. If you have a grill master & good cook in the family, stick with that...I think you're gonna like your own spread a lot more. read more

The Pit Stop - 2 meat platter - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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Bottom line-- good food, huge portions I visited here once pre-COVID and was turned off by the prices, but I went back in the winter of 2025 and had a good experience. The portions were massive, especially on the chopped pork and the cornbread. One piece of cornbread is really about 4 pieces worth, and one chopped pork sandwich contains 2 or even 3 sandwiches worth of meat. My one complaint was that I got a small piece of bone in my chopped pork. read more

First time here and it definitely won't be the last. DAMN this is the best BBQ I've ever had! I've been to places in the area as well as living in NC and nothing comes close. The brisket sandwich was amazing as was the bun it was on. The coleslaw had flavor and wasn't soggy. The spicy sauce and the mustard sauce were so tasty. The kale was amazing as well. I can't wait to come back although my waistline may want me to slow my roll :). read more

My parents were visiting and since they love BBQ, we decided to try out The Pit Shop BBQ in Sterling. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Black-owned BBQ spot here--and even more surprised at how good it was! The wings were fried to perfection (I'm a "fried hard" girl and they nailed it). Their sauces are amazing, and the mac n' cheese was one of the best I've had from a restaurant. The "old-fashioned kale" was such a cool twist--like collard greens but with kale, and it really worked! The catfish was tasty, though my mom wasn't a fan of the rib tips. Overall, our family rated high and I'd definitely bring others here. The vibe is spot on--especially with Kool-Aid and sweet tea served in a jug. That alone tells you you're in the right place for real BBQ. The customer service was top tier, they were friendly and even let us try samples to help us decide on what to get. I would recommend trying this place out. read more

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Got there at 11:30am heard they had great BBQ. And they were right it's delicious wish I knew above this place sooner.

Great ribs and vanilla pudding is so good! I recommend . Prices are reasonable. I never ate inside, always got orders to go. read more

Stopped by this evening for some BBQ after visiting the mall. Very very delicious, one of the best I've tried in the area for sure. Definitely stop by, everything we had was great from the ribs to chopped pork, potato salad and coleslaw was excellent read more

Pit Stop is easy to comment about. No matter what you get, you'll love it. Extraordinarily delicious meals. I've tried nearly everything on the menu and it was all outstanding. The food is so tasty, you cannot help but go for seconds and potentially thirds. Absolutely the best brisket and ribs in the area. read more

First timer. Shoulda got there early cause they were out of ribs by 4pm on a Sat. Had a pulled pork sandwich instead and it was FA! Flavorful/tender without hiding behind any sauce (on the side of course!) Bun was just there to keep it company. Hubby wanted a pickle for perfection. Potato salad leans a bit sweet but the dill kicks it back to the middle. Excited to go back on the early side before their menu 86s. read more

The pork barbecue sandwich was overly shredded meat bordering on canned. Potato salad unusual color, peppery, oily, not good. Would ask for a refund but was not given a receipt even tho I paid cash! read more

Great food !! All the time. SERVICE- The older woman who leaves you on hold for 25 minutes and never apologizes after you mention it and consistently has a bad attitude ... makes the experience awful. Every other team member at this restaurant go above and beyond and are amazing. read more

Best BBQ in NOVA and it's not even close. Some will make an argument for Willards, some will push for Monks, others will say Rocklands, and a few in the know will say Sweet Fire Donna's.....all are great spots, but none match the quality, quantity, and value of Pit Stop. I've had just about everything on the menu but my favorite is the brisket, pork, banana pudding, and Mac and cheese. I'd put their brisket up against anyone in the DMV. Call ahead to order if you want to make sure they have what you want. read more

Service was AMAZING!!! We were treated like family as soon as we entered. The cornbread is a MUST TRY, it's so soft and buttery! The BBQ sandwich is juicy and flavorful with the homemade mild sauce. Yams delicious! Wings crispy! We came when they were about to close and they were sold out of ribs..but since EVERYTHING we did order was so good, We came back early the next day just to order the ribs and chicken! Needless to say they were AMAZING TOO!!! Definitely recommend!!! read more

The Pit Stop - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

I am sad because I have lived in Virginia for a year and I am only JUST NOW finding out about the amazing BBQ her at the Pit Stop! My husband and I had the Catfish combo and the Rib Tips as well as the banana pudding....we ended up ordering another banana pudding to go as well as waiting for the brisket to come out and took some to go for later. I am highly recommending them not only for the food, but for the staff that were so friendly and helpful when ordering. We will be back! I will have to try the Lemon cake next time! read more

The Pit Stop - Catfish Combo with Mac and Cheese, Banana Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

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I love this place! The brisket is especially good. If you want a locally owned authentic barbecue, head over to the Pit Stop. Get there early because menu items may run out. They only cook a certain amount each day, which guarantees fresh food and little waste. So, don't stroll in st 7 at night thinking everything on the menu is still available. Go for lunch or early dinner..... read more

After going here nearly a dozen times which is my requirement before leaving a review, I've only experienced the food made properly 30% of the time. And that 30% was absolutely delicious. However, the other 70% the meat was dryer than a camel's snatch. I'm not willing to pay to take a chance on the food here anymore. The only constants are: terrible customer service, delicious cornbread, and delicious cole slaw. The picture shows their pencil-thin $20 dry half rack of ribs read more

The Pit Stop - Barbeque Near Me - Sterling, Virginia

The lady at the counter was very nice and I'm not much of a bbq person but stopped by with my co workers for lunch and it was incredible tender and flavorful, would definitely recommend. read more

Can't say enough good things about Pit Stop, have been a customer for years, starting with their original location in Gilbert's Corner. This brick and mortar location does not disappoint and keeps the BBQ goodness going, with the family keeping their standards high and flavors overflowing with love. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my personal favorites are the smoked chicken, rib tips, and ribs. The brisket is fantastic as well. The smoke flavor is so deep, you can see the smoke ring on the meats, and it will just infuse everything it comes into contact with - this is a good thing. Pit Stop also mixes their own BBQ sauces, with options of mild and spicy, and I'm a huge fan of both, leaning towards the spicy. It's such a good sauce that I honestly look forward to having a lot of it leftover afterwards to use with other foods! It's just that good. For sides, I like the potato salad and kale that they do. Service is very friendly and makes you feel taken care of. Pit Stop is always a good option, go get some if you're in the area! (or even make a specific trip out of it) read more