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    The Smoke Pit

    4.4 (615 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, Barbeque
    Closed Closed

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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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    Burnt ends, fried okra, cornbread and beans
    Heather A.

    We visited here while on vacation (celebrating our engagement) and were blown away by how attentive, sweet and welcoming the (to go) staff were. We had no idea what we wanted to try and they were all so incredibly helpful and kind! I will say the portion sizes are HUGE and absolutely delicious!!! While we didn't eat in, I saw the dining area and it just looked like the perfect place to have family dinner. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your name, the staff is amazing, the food is fantastic and the laughs together are everlasting. Since then we've returned home (to Yankee territory, lol!) and I haven't stopped talking about their burnt ends and cornbread!! We also got to try one of their desserts and oh my goodness, absolutely fantastic!! And if I wasn't completely stuffed from my entree, I would have inhaled the entire dessert! We will definitely be visiting every time we are in town. Thank you for welcoming us and showing us the best NC has to offer! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our last dinner with our extended family exceptional!

    Bret B.

    Got my fix of NC pork BBQ, Green Beans, & Hush Puppies. Healthy amount of Q on the Sandwhich and almost big enough for two. Q was good quality but could use a little more vinegar. Pups and green beans 5 star. Quick friendly service at the bar. Ambiance is basic BBQ restaurant style with booths and tables. They have a full bar.

    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!

    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!

    Brisket, potato salad, mac & cheese, hush puppies, and fried okra Sliced Brisket Sandwich*
    Christopher P.

    The food was amazing. Well season come back. The waitress was very friendly. Bought the food out in the Tommy matter.

    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.

    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!

    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!!!

    Brisket, sweet potato, corn bread, okra, greens, pickled cucumber and onions...delicious!

    Melt-in-your-mouth brisket, wish-it-was-bottomless sweet potato casserole, sink-your-teeth-in corn bread...I mean...what waistline?!

    This is my dinner the first time we ate here.

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    3 days ago

    It seemed like a manager was yelling and cussing at a young kid, food was delicious and amazing service.

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    3 months ago

    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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    1 month ago

    This is such a great place! The food is outstanding!! We got the food really quick too! Can't wait to go back.

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    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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    College Barbecue has great food, low prices, and unbeatable southern charm!…read more Throughout my childhood my dad has taken me to College Barbecue many times, as nothing says Salisbury more than this place. It has a retro theme, which also makes you feel a bit cozy and makes you feel like you belong. If you are a regular, you will see people you know and will build connections with the waiters. It is truly a small family at College Barbecue. Their hotdogs are great, and haven't changed the recipe one bit. They are footlong hot dogs (just so you know), and typically come with crinkle cut fries. Their fries are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and always are great quality (not hard). They come lightly seasoned with salt, but there is seasoned salt in the restaurant for you to get up and grab. You know you're in Salisbury when they have a dedicated pitcher for Cheerwine, just like tea and water. If you are coming with the church crowd or are stopping in for Saturday lunch, expect a wait. Even though they have a small parking lot, parking it generally not an issue. They also have a drive-thru if you prefer that instead.

    I get the BLT here sometimes with an egg staff is very friendly efficient. I don't usually eat in,…read morebut everyone seems rather friendly and respectful. I'm not from the cell so I'm not a custom to some of their barbecue dishes, but there were rice fries onion rings are all solid And they're very quick

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    The Smoke Pit - southern - Updated June 2026

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