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    The Smoke Pit

    4.4 (603 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, Barbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Smoke Pit Takeout or Delivery

    The Smoke Pit Photos

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    THE SMOKE PIT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Smoke Pit

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    Anna C.

    I kept hearing about the smoke pit so I made a special trip out to experience it, and it did not disappoint. The interior has such southern charm and is very clean and bright. The server was attentive and so so nice, she made me feel right at home and gave great suggestions about sides and meats. The bbq was amazing! I tried the pulled pork and the sausage and I tried several of their bbq sauces available on the table. There wasnt a single one I didnt like. I went on a wednesday and you get an extra free side so I took advantage and got slaw, Mac n cheese, and the fried okra. It came with pickles and pickled onions and your choice of hushpuppies or cornbread. To be honest the only underwhelming thing were the hushpuppies. They were basically cookout hushpuppies, not homemade or original, however the okra blew me away it was so freaking delicious! I don't know how often I will take a special trip out there but if I want bbq I know where to go.

    Turkey and wing plate
    Jay T.

    Come here if you want top quality meat without having to wait so long for food. Some many employees working hard here and they are all customer service trained. The food itself is always great, but the customer service is even better. 2 meat and 2 veggie plate is my go to.

    Brisket Tray
    Marjorie C.

    Lunch at the Smoke Pit on a Saturday means delicious brisket, crispy okra, the best bbq beans ever, and perfect Texas Toast. Seasoned fries as well. Quick service! My only two points for improvement: it's cold in the dining room, and the brisket was cold. Everything else was top notch!

    Texas Trinity PLATE*
    Steve C.

    I drove 45 miles from CLT on superbowl Sunday and got there at 7, about an hour before closing. The place was pretty quiet for the reasons above, but the staff were super friendly and attentive even though they probably just wanted to go home and watch the game. All that said - fantastic bbq. The Texas trinity was huge. Three rib bones, 2 generous slices of brisket, a cut up sausage, tons of toast and brisket Mac and cheese. I got a couple of wings just to try them. Everything was top notch. Smoked ribs can be dry and these were on the dry side, but slathered in their bbq sauce, they were tender and fatty in all the best ways. The brisket Mac and cheese "side" was a meal in itself. If I weren't staying at a hotel, this would have been enough food for a couple of days.

    Elton H.

    This is the perfect "pit stop" right off I-85. I ordered the pound of brisket with a side of beans and white slaw. The brisket had just the right balance of flavor and tenderness, and I really enjoyed it--especially the original sauce, which was by far my favorite. The beans were solid and packed with brisket, adding great flavor. The white slaw wasn't my personal favorite, but it still had good flavor. Overall, this is a definite stop if you're in the mood for solid Carolina barbecue.

    Turkey, pork, beans, and collards
    Briana T.

    Stumbled upon this great bbq joint in Salisbury and so glad we did! The service and great and the portions are huge, so come hungry. We were sat immediately and our server was super quick and attentive. We ordered a little bit of everything- hush puppies, turkey, pork, burnt ends, collard greens, hash brown casserole, and beans. Everything came out quickly and fresh, and tasted great. The hush puppies as an appetizer is absolutely humongous! They were delicious and I'm pretty sure there were like 50 of them. The cinnamon butter was also so different and yummy. The burnt ends stole the show for the meats, and the collards for the sides. They had draft beer options and some cocktails as well, and enough items on the menu to please everyone in the group. We had so many leftovers, but so glad we stopped at this cool bbq restaurant!

    Wan P.

    My brother took me out for my birthday and we had a feast. Started with the fried pickles. They were sour but good with the ranch. Not to much batter. Now for the main entree. We had the 7 meat feast. Comes with 1 pound of each meats, four pinto size sides and I added the beef Dino bone for a extra $30. The total of the seven meat is $150. I liked the ribs and the turkey. The turkey was moist and tasty! The waitress made sure my party had refills and keep checking on us to make sure we happy. It was busy and the restaurant was clean with plenty of seats. My party didn't finish it. So we had left over for dinner! So if you're in the area, stop by and give it a try!!! Also invite me to come with!

    Large Burnt Ends Plate*
    Lace F.

    Today we had lunch at The Smoke Pit in Salisbury after a visit to Dan Nicholas Park. Wow, this place was great. The prices are definitely on the higher side, this was $107 all said, but the food quality was excellent and the portions were generous. I had the Dino beef rib which was truly immense, and so insanely tender and flavorful. I'd say it's a must try for this place. My husband had the burnt ends which were flavorful as well, very saucy and delicious. My daughter's pork ribs were a bit less tender but very tasty. All of the sides were great. Loved the jambalaya and the hash brown casserole!

    Pulled Chicken PLATE*
    Kylie R.

    Big portions and lots of options! Great spot for quality barbecue where everyone can get what they want. Service was good and everyone was very kind. Seems to be a popular lunch spot, as it's large and has lots of seating.

    Two meat - Chicken quarters with Alabama white sauce and dry rub ribs with collard and sweet potato casserole and cornbread
    Jessica R.

    I love this place. The chicken quarters in the Alabama white sauce is delicious. If I lived closer I'd be here weekly. The cornbread is sweet and salty and hits the spot! You cant go wrong with anything here. Everything is delicious and tastes sooo good!!! The staff is always sweet and welcoming. The restaurant is bright and has cute decor. Definitely recommend this place!!!

    Brooke P.

    I'll stand 10 toes down on this is the best bbq in NC by a long shot. When we are craving bbq, we will make a special trip to Salisbury just for this meal alone. Ever since they moved to their new space it's been so nice having plenty of parking and a huge dining room. We've never had to wait. The service is also always very friendly and prompt. As far as the food goes, their brisket is out of this world. It's like biting into butter. I also love their chicken quarters with the Alabama white sauce over top, it just takes the dish to the next level. I'm positive there will be many more visits to The Smoke Pit in the future!

    Phil L.

    Really good BBQ, flat out. The quality of the BBQ is well worth it and the sides are just as good. The baked beans tasted exactly like my grandma would make in West Virginia, and the best I have had since then. I ordered a Stock Market sandwich and it was amazing. It's a big sandwich. The depth of the pepper bark on the brisket was mind altering. The staff was very nice and attentive. It was clean and well kept with a BBQ feel.

    Large Burnt Ends Plate with potato salad, cornbread, and jambalaya

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    Portions were great and so was the food. The service was nice. I'm glad I stopped by on my way through.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - The Smoke Pit

    Is this Eastern NC style or Western? Vinegar based or tomato based?

    Ashley - I found it to be right in the middle - that way they appeal to both taste buds! It's extremely yummy!!

    It says buffet?

    No. There is no regular buffet during the weeknights. (Tuesday night is taco night, though - yummy). Maybe on the weekend?

    View All 3 Questions

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    Stopped there Sunday, and found out there was a private event scheduled that afternoon, and the…read morerestaurant was closing early to prepare for the event. I was very pleasantly informed that I should've looked on Facebook, then I would've known the restaurant was closing early. That's not something I do when deciding on where I want to dine, but, lesson learned We ordered the "starter sampler" for an appetizer, which consisted of collard green dip with pita chips, fried green tomatoes, and deviled eggs with bacon jam! It was delicious!!!! For our entrees, we ordered the Collard Green Grilled Cheese, with seasoned fries, and the Southern Bowl. We also ordered Sweet Tea, and Signature Lemonade, both were good! But no free refills on the lemonade....The Collard Green Grilled Cheese was phenomenal, well seasoned greens, with smoked Gouda cheese on perfectly grilled buttered Texas Toast!!!! WOW!!!! The fries were hot and not overly seasoned!! The Southern Bowl was awesome, the grits were cheesy and creamy, topped with collard greens, and 2 perfectly seasoned fried flounder fillets! If I HAD to complain about something, it would be that there was just a tad too much "pot liquor" in my bowl and nothing to sop it up with‍ Fleming Street Bakery & Southern Cuisine is a great place to enjoy great food. Seating is limited, so timing can be everything! They have a different menu for Sundays, so be sure to check them out on Facebook before you go.

    The food here is amazing! I had the fried chicken (with the dipped chicken sauce on the side), mac…read more& cheese, potato salad, and a yeast roll. The food arrived hot and fresh and our server was friendly and checked on us often, though she appeared to be the only server for dining in patrons. I will definitely be back!

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    China Grove Family House - Fried pickle

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    Friendly smiles all around! Walked in and was seated immediately. The sweetest waitress came over…read moreto attend us and she was so helpful in helping choose a few things from the menu! The place was clean and the seats were booth style with plenty of tummy room to slide in and be able to breathe comfortably. The food was AMAZING! The codfish sandwich coating was seasoned great but the fish itself could've used a lil razzle dazzle of salt and pepper but it was great! We ordered a veggie plate with Mac n cheese, which was good but not baked style which is my personal preference. The hush puppies were light with a nice crispy crunch exterior. The collard greens were OK, cooked down good but could've used a lil kick to them, again just a personal preference. The star of the show was the sweet potato yams! It had a marshmallow melted topping but they were seasoned perfectly! And since we went on a Monday they do offer daily specials, that day it was pot roast. Boy was that delicious! It was so tender it was falling apart while trying to pick it up. The gravy was spot on! It's a lunch/dinner spot but well with it. Definitely will return again.

    What a pleasant surprise. We were looking for a place for breakfast. We went China Grove based on…read morerecommendations and we were not disappointed. The eggs and French toast were perfectly prepared. The service and follow up were superb and worth commending.

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    Carpe Vinum 121

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    Here's a polished review you can use:…read more Cape Vinum 121 delivers an exceptional upscale dining experience from start to finish. Every dish was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection, with incredible flavor and attention to detail. The atmosphere is elegant yet welcoming, and the service was attentive and professional. You can truly tell they take pride in every aspect of the dining experience. This restaurant exceeded expectations, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable meal.

    We love to eat out and we chose to eat here for my birthday this year…read more I sent a letter to the restaurant a week ago. This is an edited version. First impression: We were not automatically offered a table inside or out but were told "Follow me" to the outside table. Please see the photo. Does this look like a nice setup for an almost $300 meal? The table was wobbly. The paint on the wall was peeling. Maybe they should hire an artist to decorate that blank wall. The inside is very dark. First course: Oysters. Sauce delicious: BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH TINY OYSTERS. Barely a blip in your mouth, 1/4"?? These are on the menu also as charred? Huh? Do they have different oysters for that? Nothing would be left. Main course: Branzino and asparagus. $52. Very nice. But (and I just had to look back at the menu on line to see what this was), the charred radish was so hard you could hardly poke a fork into it, inedible. And I was not aware of a single fava bean as advertised on the menu. Swordfish special: $52. Slightly overcooked. Blackened carrots rock hard, inedible. Whoever is in charge of vegetables needs to taste before sending out. While we were eating the fish, the server placed two steak knives on the table. Huh? Dessert: Dubai chocolate eclair sounded great. Maybe bought at Costco or Sams??? Two arrived on a plate with absolutely no presentation. One with a squiggle of chocolate underneath would have been better. Absolutely no pistachio flavor and VERY COLD. Should be room temperature. Did they come out of the fridge or freezer? Perhaps at room temperature flavor would have been more obvious. It was nice that when I had mentioned dark instead of milk chocolate the kitchen used dark. Table not cleared for dessert. Steak knives still there. Irish coffee: there is more to Irish coffee than adding whisky to a lukewarm cup of coffee and asking if I wanted cream after coffee was delivered. I enclosed the recipe and photo in my letter. Wine: wine list fairly priced. Our server did not know anything about the Cotes de Rhone we questioned but brought the bottle for us to have a look at. As vineyard and winery owners we grew viognier, this is why we were interested in this particular bottle. The server took our photo and I mentioned it was my birthday. In many cases this would be referred to the kitchen. Nothing special ensued. The well dressed owner (Doreen) walked past our table a number of times (sometimes carrying used dishes or glasses) without even glancing at us. I guessed she was the owner and spoke up. A nod and hello would have been nice. We came here with an open mind prepared to spend a large sum on a birthday dinner.

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    Breakfastime

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    4.0(163 reviews)
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    This is a great place that serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch. They are always busy. This last…read moretime we were told a 10 minute wait but it only turned out to be about three minutes before we were seated. The inside is very clean and countryfied in their decor, and the people who work here are very friendly and positive people. When you go there and are seated, you feel like you're a regular. It's hard to choose from the menu, because it's huge. The last time I went, I brought my grandson and we both decided right off that we will have breakfast. We are huge breakfast lovers. We chose what we wanted and ordered, our drinks came out and the food followed fast. Everything was perfect. They have some of the absolute best pancakes ever. I should've ordered the short stack (two pancakes) but I ended up ordering the large one by mistake. No worries, it was still fabulous. Lots of pecans and the fluffiest pancakes I've ever had. Grandson ordered the meat lovers omelette and said it was the best one he's ever had. There was an almost unbelievable amount of meat in that omelette. I took a small bite and it was very good. We've had other things in the past, their eggs Benedict are superior as well as their hash browns. Before you go, do not neglect the dessert cabinet by the register. They make a fabulous rainbow cake.

    I've stopped in a couple of times for a late breakfast. Breakfastime is good, but not the greatest!…read more So far I have consumed the pineapple upside-down pancakes, and the nut and fruit croissant French toast. The pancakes themselves are light and fluffy, while the croissant French toast isn't exactly up to par in my opinion. These are both great themes and are great breakfast treats for once in a while, but I'm looking for more flavor in them! They don't have as much flavor as you would expect. Bacon is good (crunchy and hot), eggs are great (hard scrambled), and the home fries are pretty good, but if you don't like seasoning, don't order them. I would like a bit more of a crunch in those home fries, also. Both times, service has been quick and attentive. When you run out of drink, your server immediately fills it back up (take note other restaurants), and the restaurant itself definitely feels like an old-timer farmhouse restaurant. If you are in Salisbury, this is a great option for breakfast, but I would recommend you also go to Palms for breakfast, or even Marlowe's also.

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    Palms Cafe

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    The Grecian tips are absolutely horrible. What I was served was some UNSEASONED thin and dry pork…read morechop medallion with peppers and onions. This has to be the worse thing on the menu. When I think of Grecian tips I'm thinking of Greek MARINADED beef or pork strips (wish they specified on the menu). At least put a grain of salt and pepper on it. I'm writing this feedback not to bash Palms Cafe but to hopefully get the owner and/or cooks to taste test their food from time to time. I also ordered buffalo wings...tasted like they were cooked with zero love. Heated in an oven or microwave and DRENCHED/SWIMMING in buffalo sauce. Wings should be fried crispy and tossed in the sauce. If anyone think I'm exaggerating go there and order the Grecian tips and buffalo wings and tell me I'm not on point with my review. I would love for the owner to reach out to me for a revisit on these 2 menu items after they revamp them‼

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    The Smoke Pit - southern - Updated May 2026

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