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    The Smoke Pit

    4.4 (107 reviews)
    Closed • Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE SMOKE PIT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Smoke Pit

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    Brisket Super Spud*
    Natalie R.

    Our server KP was such a bright light and has such great energy. She consistently checked in on us and went out of her way to make sure that we were taken care of. We never went without a refilled drink and she made sure we had plenty of boxes to take leftovers home. The food portions are insane and well worth the money. The variety of bbq sauces makes sure that everyone has something. For me, the BBQ Brisket Spud with two sides gives you everything you need but the hush puppies with honey butter is a must!

    Brisket, turkey greens, and beans and cornbread. Very tasty.
    Scott C.

    I got one of the platters. I eat on it for three days. The beans were good. The greens were amazing. Cook just right just a little bit of heat. Extremely good. I was in the bar area. Service was wonderful. Had a very nice young lady. Had a lady sitting on the other side of me that comes in every little bit. And she was talking about how good everything is. The place looks good inside they've done a good job on redoing it. Looking forward to going back.

    Jason S.

    Best BBQ I've ever had. Granted, I am from Minnesota, but I do travel a lot. We were super impressed with The Smoke Pit -- so much so that we came twice on a week-long trip. On the initial trip we got the two meat platter and on the second trip I had the burnt ends sandwich. Everything was so amazingly delicious. We cannot wait to come back. Brisket and the turkey were tremendous and the sides were amazing. Our waitress recommended the jalapeño cream corn and red slaw. On te second visit we had the okra and collard greens. All tremendous. I just feel like you can't go wrong here. Free cobbler for dessert with ice cream was a great added touch that you just don't see anymore. I saw some other reviewers complaining about price and so I wanted to specifically address this. My guess is these people don't get out much. Everywhere you go now restaurants are gouging on price but NOT HERE. Look at my bill in the pic below. Massive two meat and three side tray for $30!!! That's a STEAL. So many leftovers it was crazy. Add the Texas Twinkie, watermelon tea and free desserts and we paid $50 with tax. Insane value. Would pay it any time. Finally service was outstanding on both visits. Super attentive and lightning fast food on both occasions. Can't wait to come back when we visit again!

    Mac n cheese.
    Gab T.

    I got the ribs. They had good flavor but I'm personally not a fan of - what I consider - a thick tough exterior outer layer. It was too tough and an impediment to getting to the melt in your mouth ribs. I got them wet. I got two sides just so I could try them - southern sweet. Sweet but good flavor. And pit original. For sides - potato salad and mac n cheese. Really like the Mac n cheese. For me the potato salad was a little too creamy but to be fair im a German potato salad type of girl. Do all potato salads in the south have hard boiled eggs. I liked that part the next day when I needed extra protein in my left overs that didn't include the ribs. Oh and got banana pudding. Holy sweet. One of the sweeter I've had. But i did like it.

    Pecan and apple cobblers
    Joy R.

    Alie is AMAZING! We wanted something good, filling and reasonably priced and we both said "Smoke Pit". Perfect choice. We were seated quickly and Alie took the best care of us. I decided on the brisket, sausage and rib combo with kickin greens, Mac and cheese and hush puppies. Everything was AMAZING!!!! I had enough to take home for lunch the next day. And you must get the pecan cobbler.

    Brisket, ribs, sausage
    Andell R.

    There are rare moments in life when hunger meets perfection, and the world narrows to the plate in front of you. At the Smoke Pit, a mere seven weeks into its existence, I experienced one of those transcendent moments where every detail aligned in symphonic harmony. I was starving when I walked in, and everything clicked from the start. The warm, anticipatory greeting by the maître D to the server's attentive, friendly, and quick service without the hovering feeling. No rush, no oversight - just seamless efficiency and my food came out fast, hot, and exactly right. I ordered the sausage, brisket, and ribs platter, accompanied by cornbread, red slaw, and mac & cheese. The brisket was tender as a whisper - no knife needed, succulent, and smoked to smokey perfection. The dry ribs needed no sauce; they fell off the bone with juicy abandon. Each bite a revelation of moisture and depth of flavor. The sausages burst with moist, savory delight, while the cornbread defied earthly bounds - crisp-edged, buttery, and utterly otherworldly. Even the sides sang in harmony: the red slaw's tangy crunch, and the mac & cheese's creamy indulgence elevating the ensemble to sublime height. This was an experience that presently stunned me as rarely do you get a meal this good with service this smooth. Every cell in my body hummed with contentment, I was happy, full, and profoundly satisfied. The Smoke Pit has it figured out - speed, precision, flavor in perfect equilibrium. If you want great BBQ and a no-stress experience go! You won't be disappointed!

    Pick 3 Combo* 2 Chicken Quarters with Alabama bbq sauce, 4 ribs, and burnt ends. We eat about half before I took the photo.
    Cammy B.

    My favorite American BBQ spot in Charlotte! Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. The meat is seasoned perfectly--a great balance of saltiness, sweetness, and smoky flavor. All of it was fall-off-the-bone tender. We ordered the 3-meat combo and went with the chicken quarters, ribs, and burnt ends. It was impossible to choose a favorite because each one was incredibly flavorful. We've had the brisket before as well, and it's always tender, juicy, and wonderfully seasoned. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The sides were excellent too. We tried the jalapeño creamed corn, baked beans, cornbread, collard greens, and an extra side of mac and cheese. Every side paired perfectly with the BBQ, but the jalapeño creamed corn was the standout--highly recommend!

    Fruit Cobbler*
    David D.

    Went here for lunch. First time at this location. It seems pretty new and the staff was amazing. Our waiter was very kind and helpful. The food was great as always, the ribs were well seasoned and tender. My favorite protein is always the brisket. It was juicy and melt in your mouth. They also gave everybody an order of cobbler on the house. The peach was the best! If you crave BBQ don't miss out on Smoke Pit. They never let us down!

    Bbq chicken sandwich with jalapeño creamed corn
    Rose S.

    Love it is in this location vs needing to go to Monroe. It's clean and feels fresh. The bar was configured in such a way that there wasn't a bad seat for watching sports events. Service was quick and friendly. Had the pulled chicken sandwich w/creamed corn and jalapeños. Loved the creamed corn w/jalapenos. The pulled chicken was okay but it tasted off likely the sauce that was on it since I'm fairly picky about bbq sauce and love Memphis style bbq. Glad that this location is open and will rerun again.

    4 Meat plate: ribs, smoked turkey, brisket & burnt ends. Sides - Mac & cheese, beans
    Brittany D.

    This is a must check out place newly added to the Arboretum Shopping Center. We had a sample of everything and all in-house desserts are complimentary! Our server, Jordan, was attentive and seemed to be invested in the concept and enjoyed the food. The restaurant itself has done a great job creating a new vibe from the old Chili's location. Has that homegrown BBQ feel. If there was anything to note for feedback, it would be the burnt ends were way over sauced and being such a new restaurant, a manager should be walking around touching tables asking how things were (they have only been open a few weeks). But it will be a place to go back!

    The menu to show the $10 margarita loco that I ordered but paid $21

    The food is AMAZING!!! The service at the bar not so great I ordered the $10 Margarita Loco and when I got my bill there was an $18 and $3 charge for my patron silver margarita.When I questioned it she said well that's just how it rang up.What the heck like I was crazy.I will attach a photo of my bill.Definitely was not worth

    LB Brisket plate
    Dudine J.

    I went to a different restaurant and decided to try this BBQ place. The young man at the takeout counter was very polite and helpful. I asked many questions, and he expertly explained things to me. I decided on the brisket plate and chicken. As I write this review, I can taste the chicken. The presentation of the chicken was excellent. The chicken was my favorite dish. The sauce on top of the chicken was lovely and creamy. The chicken was cooked well, yet maintained its moisture. The chicken was flavored nicely. The brisket I felt tasted better the next day. The vinegar slaw was good. The corn bread and was light and fluffy with pieces of corn with every bite. I will definitely go back.

    Tres Amigos sampler. Better than the 3 meat platter

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    1 month ago

    The food is awesome. The service is great and the ambiance is incredible. I am from Texas and in this area their brisket is the best.

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    28 days ago

    Food was great but the service from Cheyenne was better! She made my experience really nice and will deff be back

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    Cajun Yard Dog - Beer battered mushrooms appetizer, $10

    Cajun Yard Dog

    4.0(509 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Arboretum
    •$$

    Cajun-style food is so delicious, it's a shame I don't eat it as much as I do. I've heard plenty of…read morethis place as a "hidden gem" so I figured I would give it a whirl. I stopped in here on a Friday afternoon to grab a quick bite. Upon entrance, I really liked the paintings and other decorations spread throughout the dining room. The kitchen is visible as well which makes for a more immersive dining experience. The menu seemed to have plenty of seafood but I figured I'd opt for their special, a Blackened Red Snapper with Bacon Jalapeño Cream Sauce. It came with two sides so I decided to try out their okra and collard greens, after a recommendation from my waiter. I typically don't order collard greens but he said they have pork and are delicious. The place wasn't too busy so food came out quickly, about 10 minutes after I ordered. The food looked decent upon first glance, but I wasn't sold just yet. After my first bite of fish, I was taken aback by the delicious flavor of their cream sauce paired with the blackened fish. It was a solid portion of fish and tasted of good quality, so it didn't stand much a chance. The sides were also just as delicious. It's hard to mess up fried okra so my expectations were met to a tee. The collard greens were actually so incredible as well. I don't really know what they're made of but I definitely will be trying it more in the future, if other places prepare it as good. They also had a house hot sauce with was more flavor than heat, but paired wonderfully with everything. The whole meal was so good so I understand why they seem to a have solid amount of regulars at this place. The staff were very kind and attentive throughout the entire meal. If you want a taste of Louisiana, this place is a solid option in Charlotte.

    Beware: I've always…read moreenjoyed coming here for takeout, so I was very disappointed with my most recent experience. I called in an order for the seafood gumbo, and when I arrived, a young lady was ready to cash me out. While reviewing my receipt, I noticed that a tip had already been added without my knowledge or consent. I politely removed it. I have absolutely no problem tipping, even on takeout orders, but that should be my decision--not something automatically added by an employee without informing me. What concerned me most was wondering how many other customers may not have noticed this on their receipts. Adding a tip without a customer's authorization is unacceptable and should definitely be addressed by management. I'm sorry, Cajun Yard Dog, because I've enjoyed supporting this restaurant, but this experience left a very bad impression and is the reason I can only give two stars this time.

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    Postino Ballantyne

    Postino Ballantyne

    4.2(239 reviews)
    4.5 mi•Ballantyne
    •$$
    Happy hour specials
    Catering service

    Yuminess: 10/10 Allergy Safety: 10/10…read morePrice: 9/10 Atmosphere: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Overall: LOVE Postino! The food is over the moon delicious with plenty of options and reasonable serving sizes. Even with the slightly high price point, it is well worth every penny. And they take allergies SO seriously! Literally went through a bunch of ingredients to find what would and wouldn't be dairy-allergy safe. Atmosphere is fun but cozy, too. 100% recommend! In-depth: Postino has quickly become one of my favorite places in the CLT area after my 10/10 experience here. To start, the food. My word, it's amazing! Everything my friend and I tried was delicious. The bruschetta is 100% worth trying (the spinach artichoke one is my favorite), and the west coaster panini + romaine salad was tasty at every bite. Their wine is also good quality, with a decent-sized portion poured. Allergy safety is a major thing for them, too. Our server (Lee = the best waitress!) and her manager looked through their bread and ingredients for about 30 minutes to confirm what was and wasn't dairy safe (I asked how dairy allergies are handled for when I bring my husband next time). They also had quite a few gluten-free options, too. The manager explained that she wants people to be able to just come in and relax for a few hours without worrying if they'll get sick, which I truly, truly appreciate. Lee shared a similar sentiment, which was amazing. Now price... Yes, it is a *bit* pricey, but it is well worth it. Nothing felt lacking as far as flavor goes, and the allergy safety is a huge thing. This is one of the few places I felt my sandwich and salad were worth every penny, even if it was $17. Also, their rewards program is great. I got a free bruschetta board, and they offer several other perks. Make sure to sign up before or while dining there to get some good deals! In addition to their sincere care for allergy safety, the service is fantastic all around. They do group service, meaning you'll have several servers, and they encourage you to grab anyone if you have questions. This takes the pressure off of waiting for one server to walk by and really helped me relax. And the atmosphere? I could stay there all day! It's a really fun vibe, but the lighting and seating are very cozy. Overall, I've already recommended this place to 5+ people and will be returning soon

    Postinos is located in the main strip of the "bowl" and near the AMP. Parking can be located on the…read morestreet or in the parking lot adjacent to the building. It currently offers free parking for 3 hours and incremental of 1- 2 hours paid parking after. My wife and I came here on a date night. While her original visit left more than be desired management invited us to give them a second try and I'm so glad we did. We had an amazing time from start to finish. The staff was amazing and I was astounded by their dedication to their craft. The best part was the food. We started with the chefs board which had an array of cheeses and spreads. The most memorable was the whipped feta. OMG. The Ambiance was the only thing I feel could use some tuning as there's not enough sound deadening to make the music out? It sounds like a heart beat and makes it hard to make out conversations. Major shout out to Leigh for taking care of us all night and making it a memorable night. Also big thanks to Odhie for the tickets to the concert. This was definitely a night to remember. Thank you Postinos Staff!

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    Postino Ballantyne
    Postino Ballantyne
    Postino Ballantyne

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    Mother's Comfort Food & Cocktails - Monster burger (without onion straws)

    Mother's Comfort Food & Cocktails

    4.4(211 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    We came in for brunch and we had the pleasure of Taylor waiting on us. She was very attentive and…read morehad a great personality! I got the Grilled sourdough breakfast melt with sausage. Honey it was so flavorful. It slapped!!! We also got the Drew's Biscuit Sliders. Which were flavorful as well. But I definitely recommend the Sourdough Breakfast Melt. The vibe was very causal yet they had so many high end choices for cocktails. If I lived in the area I would definitely come but because it was Grade A!

    Nothing screamed come back again. The only reason 2 stars are here is for the server. She was…read moreamazing, thoughtful and she was very knowledgeable. We came in on a Sunday afternoon looking for a great brunch spot. It was pretty packed. Ambiance is cute very spacious. Nice outdoor seating. I ordered the avocado toast which was very loaded. I ended up taking all the toppings off and ate them separately. It was the only thing that was good. The bacon was old and burnt. The eggs which I had only ordered one were over cooked. The hasbrowns were soaked in grease. My wife had the biscuits and gravy. The gravy was cold, the sausage tasted like it was a frozen patty. The biscuit which had some herbs seemed to had a piece of hair in it. The person(I'm assuming the manager) who came over to take care of us stated it was from the herbs in the biscuit batter, I really wanted to enjoy Mothers.

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    Mother's Comfort Food & Cocktails - Love the Art!

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    The Southern Pecan - Pecan Crusted Catfish

    The Southern Pecan

    4.3(443 reviews)
    4.4 mi•SouthPark
    •$$

    The type of meal you need to unbutton your pants for…read more The catfish was crispy, green beans had some bite to em' and the mashed potatoes were hands down the best I've ever had. Now I'll admit -- I'm a tough judge of cornbread. A lot of people will serve it to you as dry as the desert. Crumbly. Without any love. At the southern pecan, I could've had a whole sheet of their cornbread -- it was pleasantly delicious. Also of note: Our server was prompt and kind. The vibe inside was really cool too. Overall, I'd come back!

    Stopped in while visiting Charlotte for the day and really liked this place! The atmosphere is…read moresuper cool, with portraits of musicians all over the walls and old jazz playing in the background. Definitely has a lot of character. We started with the hush puppies and raw oysters. The mignonette was really interesting, chunky with apples (I think?). It wasn't really my thing personally, but definitely unique. The hush puppies came out HOT and crispy with a honey sauce. You can also get them dusted with cinnamon and sugar, which I thought was a fun option. For lunch, I went with the pecan crusted catfish with oven baked mac and cheese and collard greens. The catfish was SO crispy but still delicate inside, and that pecan topping was delicious. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy with a bubbly, crunchy top. The collard greens were perfectly seasoned. Sometimes collards can be way too vinegar heavy, but these had a really nice balance. Everything came out HOT, which I always appreciate. Really enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere here!

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    The Southern Pecan
    The Southern Pecan - Catfish

    Catfish

    The Southern Pecan - Cornmeal coated fried shrimp

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    Cornmeal coated fried shrimp

    The Smoke Pit - southern - Updated September 2026

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