Pit & Tap

This is a wonderful restaurant/ bar in Wilmette. It's BBQ themed. I got the full slab rib dinner with beans, coleslaw, and pickles. The beans and pickles have a nice spice to them. It's not mild, but not hot. It's just enough to put pressure on your tongue. The ribs fell off the bone and the provided house sauce compliments the meat. Everything in this restaurant has a crescendo of taste. The initial flavor punches you in the mouth, then the flavor changes as you chew, then leaves a good aftertaste. I am more than impressed by the food, the staff, the ambiance, and the people I met. Linn and her sister Glenda were really fun to talk to. Both grew up in Wilmette and have the energy and youthfulness of 38 year old women. Must be something in the water.

We went for Deck the Halls and it was great, we just had to wait an hour and a half on a Monday night. It was fun, though. The fatty brisket and Texas cheesesteak were amazing. As were the Caribbean & dreamsicle mocktails, and the frosty martini.

This was the best smokehouse I've been to in a long time... If not ever. They nail it on multiple levels. Service? Amazing. They paid attention to their guests without being overbearing. Food? Best flavors I've experienced. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were excellent. They took great care of my daughter who's in a wheelchair and paid attention to her.

Mimi is a great server—10/10 experience! We will definitely be returning. The bartender, Richard, was so kind and helpful with my many beer questions. Josephine greeted us with a great smile as we walked in, and even the owner stopped by to say hello. We’ll definitely be bringing our grandchildren here! There are great gluten-free options. I had the Texas cheesesteak, and my husband had the ATX burger—both were absolutely delicious. The food was amazing and the restaurant was very clean. The decor was out of this world. WOW! That’s all I can say. You MUST see it with your own eyes!

After coming across Pit & Tap on Google and being Intrigued by some of the creative dishes I saw on their menu I had to stop in. I tried the smoked wings with Alabama sauce and the Knucklepunch with french fries. The wings had a lightly smokey flavor to the skin and the meat maintained a nice juicyness. I thought these were highly enjoyable. I ordered them with the house special Alabama Sauce, but I have no idea what the sauce taste profile was, it was white, but I don't even know how to describe it. 7 wings to an order. Wings are close to 5 stars, the sauce is 3 stars. The Knucklepunch sounded like an absolute behemoth of a sandwich, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was too busy of a sandwich. The most notable take away from this sandwich was the pork belly, It waa just 2 thick peppered slices of fat that needed more rendering to be edible. I did think the smash burger had a nice taste and might be good in the right application. This is the sandwich that finally taught me that more is not necessarily better. The fries here were the high spot. Fresh cut and exactly the type of fry I remember restaurants for having. These were unsalted so if you want them salted you'll have to ask. I could eat a mountain of these and they'd probably be next level awesome with a good white cheese sauce. I carried my order out after placing my order online and the lady was beyond pleasant and smiled with her every word. I also thought that the restaurant had a nice set up in a nice neighborhood. For my next visit whenever that might be I plan on either the Poutine or the ATX smash burger. They both look fantastic. For now, I think 4 stars best describes my grade for Pit and Tap. I liked it, but think theres a real chance that they could bring this rating to a 5 in the future with a strong showing my next time around

Mr. Clarke - please train your managers and staff on what you offer and what is on the menu, non-existent in paper format. I could not get the menu to load on my phone. Rest assured the server was going to get it to work, it did not. There are no paper copies in the restaurant. I did get the menu on the website. I ordered the trinity with the hot link change. The hot link came with cheese and peppers. The menu did not show the cheese and once again the server knew more than me as she said it showed it that way on the menu. She could not find it on the menu with the cheese and pepper and gladly replaced it. As mentioned before, not all the food came out hot but again, the server was happy to replace it. I did go over to the "manager" on my way out with the two things I thought important, a paper menu and a correction to the menu about the cheese and pepper hot link. That was met with as much appreciation as if I told him my chair was wobbly. Given the prices, might not be my place of choice to try again. The decor was nice as it was still decorated for Christmas.

What an amazing experience we had at this restaurant! I love that they close for two days before Christmas just to decorate — I wish they did this for every holiday, because it truly makes the place feel special and puts you right into the holiday spirit. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was exceptional. We will definitely be back!

The Ribs and Mac & Cheese were delicious, although I would have preferred a spicier sauce. The slider also tasted great. However, the cornbread was a bit dry for my liking. The service was good, but I found everything to be a bit expensive.

What an amazing experience we had at this restaurant! I love that they close for two days before Christmas just to decorate -- I wish they did this for every holiday, because it truly makes the place feel special and puts you right into the holiday spirit. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service was exceptional. We will definitely be back!

Our go to place for bbq in the area and now on our list for Saturday/Sunday brunch! The staff is very friendly and their menu has a little something for everyone. They also have a bunch of local brews on tap which I appreciate. There's indoor and outdoor seating and the front windows fully open to let as much fresh air as possible flow throughout the restaurant. If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stop by.

I've reviewed Pit & Tap in the past, not very favorably. Unfortunately I was forced to order from them because my husband wanted bbq. I ordered takeout from them - two sandwiches. Got home, opened the sandwich boxes. They didn't provide any bbq sauce. Nice job, Pit & Tap. Another fail. Your business only had two tables occupied while your neighboring restaurant s were thriving. I can see why.

The restaurant has a great vibe and has been a fabulous addition to downtown Wilmette. I highly recommend the ATX burger and the smoked wings! Sitting at the outside tables on a warm summer evening is sublime.

This place is weird. We have been here several times and each time we are rushed out the door so the table can be turned. BBQ ribs came out in 5 minutes, no coffee so you can't stay an extra 10 minutes to finish it, staff is trained to get you to sit where you may not want to, i.e. near the front door in winter. Christmas time there is magical and the only time we go now.

We were told it was a 45 minute wait and we were seated 75 minutes later. They were clearly focused on turning over tables, not good service . Waiter took our order and literally never checked on us again. Came by and grabbed a plate without asking if we were finished. Didn't even get a second drink. I'd avoid this place during their Deck the Halls timeframe

I was craving BBQ so we found this place after googling. The reviews seemed good and the menu looked great. The restaurant is nice the service was great overall vibes were amazing. Food looks phenomenal, but... it tasted like someone dumped an entire bag of sugar in everything. The beans were sweet. The pickles were sweet. The corn bread was sweet. The bbq sauce was sweet. I was a little baffled. The mac & cheese was bland. I wish the rib meat was tender and fell off the bones. The Texas sauce would've been better if it was spicy. We quickly ate and left, too, because there were a lot of kids around the Sunday we ate here. Honestly everything else was great about the restaurant but food is the main thing. I'm sad I didn't enjoy how it tasted.

I'd give lower score if I could. I physically could not get serviced at this bar. This place sucks. The decorations are cool, but the employees are fuckjn children dude. Would not be surprised when they get fined for labor violations.

I come for the "tap" more than the "pit" - always a great rotating beer selection of local brews. This place gets a lot of buzz for its holiday pop-up, but I enjoy it more the other 11 months of the year, when it's much less crowded. Karaoke (first Thursday of the month) never disappoints!

I have enjoyed dining at Pit & Tap for about three years now. The service is always excellent and friendly. The food is always excellent, and the atmosphere and location are great. As a Chicago native with deep roots in the Chicago North Shore, I am often visiting different restaurants in the North Shore. Pit & Tap is one of my favorite barbecue restaurants. I recommend Pit & Tap to every barbecue aficionado out there. Seeing as how one of my ancestors was one of the founders of Wilmette in the 1800s, I hold a special love and appreciation for Wilmette and for its outstanding restaurants and cafes. Thank you to Pit & Tap for being a wonderful part of both the Wilmette community and the Chicagoland and North Shore communities. I look forward to many future dining experiences with you all. God bless!

Went for Happy Hour. -was informed they aren't doing that until Jan. '26. All mixed drinks were small and 15$! They were out of the cocoa for one drink because, "the kids drank it all." -charged extra for a few more tortillas chips for the dip we ordered! Unfriendly wait staff! -made us leave because they wanted to sit another 2 people (that would spend more!!) VERY RUDE! I've lived in Wilmette for decades... won't EVER be back there. JS

We had a work outing with 15 people and everything was perfect! The table was ready at the time of our reservation, the food was delish and prompt, and all the staff were so kind - we were also able to pay per order, which was very helpful. We then had a blast during karaoke!

Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and was seated right away. I got the Big Earl lager, which is brewed in house at the restaurant, which was really good. To eat I got the Texas Two Step with ribs, lean brisket and mac n cheese then I also got a side of the elote. The meats were delicious and tender, and the house BBQ sauce on the table paired perfectly. The Mac n cheese was alright, but the elote was delicious. The food came out so quick that we were there for barely an hour. Definitely a fun, cute spot and we will definitely be back!

Holiday visit review only. Staying out in Wilmette in December, we couldn't miss the brightly lit ambiance of the outdoor facade. The indoors was decorated as if Christmas puked, and it was so much fun! The beer list focuses on some stellar locals, and I ordered a Sketchbook Snowy Owl, although it was hard to choose, great beer list. It was crowded with ugly sweater festive people and very loud. My friend from London said Americans are very loud (in general), wasn't Scrooge from London, as well? Haha, I kid. Pit & Tap is a fun stop in the Wintertime!

What a fun place to go during the holidays! We were told the wait would be half an hour but we were seated 15 minutes later! Our waitress was attentive and explained the hour per table turnover in a polite way. I got the 2 meat platter and the ribs were great! The fries were also really good. Our table also got the salad, pulled pork, beans and chicken strips. Everything was delicious! The holiday decor was so fun and great for photo ops! We will be back for the food once the holidays are over!

The manager/owner whatever he is was extremely RUDE and very UNPROFESSIONAL! We will never ever walk into this establishment ever again!!! I have been to best and worst of places and have never been treated so rudely!!! We left and went some place else with better service and respect. His pompous attitude and lack of respect for his customers is truly disgusting! Beware!

Very good food. I love the smash burgers and the knuckle sandwich. Very grateful to have brisket, ribs, bbq nearby. Very nice service and atmosphere too.

Outstanding food, great service and fun holiday festive fun!!! Went with a group earlier this week and enjoyed cocktails and more!

Meat was kind of dry, ribs were too peppery, sauce is too sweet, mac and cheese is kind of bland. Pickles were great, portions were a good size, and there are lots of options for side dishes. Would not return - Soul and Smoke in Evanston is a much better choice.

Great fun Christmas theme! Extremely busy and expect a wait but worth it. Staff are friendly and did tasty. Everything was great but the brisket wasn't fall apart by any means. Previous time it was perfect.

Last night as a group of 19, we approached the hostess and asked if they could seat us. We told them we were fine with however they needed to split us up. They quickly made it work with 2 tables next to each other. Our orders were taken efficiently and the food was out in a very short time. Everything was great. Drinks, food and service was outstanding. We had a couple of people who needed Gluten Free and this restaurant was recommended by a GF app. We are lucky to have found Pit & Tap!!!

It's our annual tradition to kick off the holiday season here! Great food & drinks and a festive atmosphere that makes you feel welcome!

Checking to see if does a coincidence that I feel like I have a stomach bug today after eating at pit and tap last night? Anyone else having a stomach flu like symptoms or is it a coincidence and I just have a stomach bug? Good time while we are there either way :)

Bland food that was cold when I picked it up. Never got confirmation that it was ready. I got an email saying I had to call to confirm they got my order. I called and the rude worker said, "Well, it's approved." Never going back and will tell my coworkers not to bother.

The Missus and I had dinner here a few months earlier. I put off writing this review until we had an opportunity to return and try other menu items. This time, several companions joined us for lunch. I like the vibe of this place and the fact that it's smack dab in the middle of downtown Wilmette. Free street parking is plentiful. Like most Texas-style 'cue places, the menu is limited. Previously we had their St. Louis ribs, which were dryish and not particularly flavorful until we drenched 'em in sauce. This time, I was in the mood for a brisket sandwich. But the only such option is a "Texas BBQ Sandwich" described as, "chopped brisket tossed in house sauce and topped with our cheddar-jalapeño hot link." Noooo thanks. I ordered the sliced brisket instead ($21). Well, the meat was COA (Cold On Arrival) and dry as a sawdust soufflé. Sauce to the rescue, once again! There are three sauces with varying degrees of heat, and I like 'em all. My Missus described her Smoked Cheeseburger as "good, but not particularly special," and at $18 it was not exactly a steal. Some of our companions ordered the day's special, Brisket Tacos. The general consensus was the tacos were good but the brisket was dry. A Pulled Pork sandwich ($17) was "just okay." Most of the side dishes fared better. The fresh-cut fries and house-made pickles were the best of the lot. The Pit beans, cole slaw and elote were quite good. The chewy corn bread was neither moist nor flavorful. This is a full-service restaurant--you don't go up to a counter--and we had excellent service. But truly authentic Texas-style 'cue is not supposed to depend on sauce to make it palatable. Reading others' reviews, I see that food temperature is a chronic problem here. And, given the modest portion sizes, the menu is overpriced.

Great beer, cool window looking out in the street. 20 tappers. Most beers priced at 8 dollars.

This was my first time checking out this place. I was here at lunchtime and there was plenty of seating. Our server recommended their signature burger. It was fantastic. I substituted the french fries to try their baked beans with pork belly. They were amazing and a bit on the spicy side. I can't wait to come back and try their barbecue.

Two hostesses last night, one was kind and friendly and the other, the one who seated us was rude. There was a wait for an outside table, we were on the list, the call to be seated came in and we were talking to some people and didn't hear the call as it was so loud inside the restaurant. When we realized it we approached the hostesses. There was a snippy one who said they could not longer seat us because we missed the call. The other said, we have a table and can seat you. I thought there was a little confusion where another party waiting was thought to be with us. When I mentioned it to the snippy hostess she nearly read me a riot act and said something like "there are two hostesses, she is seating them and I am seating you". When I tried to clarify that I was worried they thought we were one party and was just trying to clear that up she said "I am trying to seat you, I am the hostess seating you". She was off-putting to say the least. I actually thought the whole situation and her reactions were bizarre and unwarranted. The server was lovely, he had a very nice way about him and offered good service. My husband liked his meal. I didn't like mine. I ordered ribs and pulled chicken. The ribs were dry and room temp. The pulled chicken was really just dark meat chicken cut from the bone inartfully and included lots of fatty bits. It was very unappealing. The Mac and cheese somehow tasted like boiled corn. It wasn't a winner of a dinner but sitting outside was lovely.

Best happy hour in the North Shore. That said, come for the bbq. It's smoked all day in house and permeates throughout. Try the happy hour wings, bbq slice tastes, and a great adult beverage selection.

I enjoyed my meal here. The food was good, and the holiday decor is off the chart! Definitely a reason on its own to visit. I had the brisket plate with elote, and I would probably order that again given the opportunity. I can't help but compare Pit & Tap to another barbecue restaurant closer to me: the food is similar, but Pit & Tap has a smaller menu and their prices are a little higher (which is to say, too high IMO). I understand that it's not necessarily apples to apples, but still... I admire their commitment to cleanliness and conservation by minimizing the use of paper menus in favor of QR codes so the menu can be viewed on a mobile device. My recommendation would be to make that process easier by having either open wifi or have the password readily available in case someone is experiencing difficulties with their carrier's connection. We shouldn't have to flag down a server to ask for the wifi password to view the menu.

Great night on the patio. Went a little too late. They ran out of ribs and banana pudding . Brisket was very dry (even though I was told it's great )

Hoo boy, this place gets hopping on a Friday late afternoon. At 5 they were quoting 45-minute waits! It's decked out to the nines for the holidays, but also very loud and crowded. So, you judge whether the extra jingle jangle razzle dazzle is worth it. The meats that I tried (ribs, brisket, pulled pork) were mediocre, but I really liked all of the sides. My favorites were the pickles and cole slaw; fries and mac & cheese, also thumbs up. I liked the cornbread too, but mine somehow tasted like fish. Hmm. The meals came out quite quickly and the service was attentive and friendly. I'd certainly go back at a non-peak time and try a few more items.

We came in for lunch one day and we're quickly seated. The tables were set with their various barbecue sauces already. Our server came up to us and took drink orders, and our food order. And a few minutes later our food came out. (Which was fantastic because we were STARVING!) we tried the half slab of ribs and the Mac and cheese and the knuckle sandwich. The ribs were a bit dry but with the barbecue sauces in the table the flavors were delicious. The knuckle sandwich had so much meat on it, it was so filling just eating half of it & saving the other half. The meats in the sandwich were super juicy and tender. We had a lovely experience and would come back to try more.

Came by and liked how cute the place was and how friendly the staff was. So the next week decided to order take out. Large portion for salad, but the side dressing given was a very small, maybe 2 oz portion that would never work for the large salad. I also ordered salmon with the salad. $12 plus tax gets you 2.8oz. Is that normal and I'm out of touch? Inflation? Or is this small for the price? Also the meat my husband ate was kinda cold. Chili didn't seem that hot either. I'm not sure if that was from waiting to eat, but I know I've been served hotter food and waited longer for delivery than it took to eat this pick up order. I also read on another review they serve the food cooler because it's been sitting under warm lights through the day. I didn't have that conversation though; it's hearsay. Food tasted alright. It's filling. Just disappointed with some choices they make. Included pics too.

I am so happy they have mastered the learning curve when it comes to Q. Had their pastrami for the first time and I'm not sure I will ever order anything else off the menu. Give me poutine and pastrami or give me death. Well done. Service was stellar. Seating is average. Chaises are hard for old guys like me. But clean and bright.

Was really excited to give this place a try, but should have listened to other yelpers. First indication of the quality of food, was when you looked around and realized most other tables had salads in front of them rather than the BBQ they were apparently known for. Ordered 2 of the Texas Two Step plates. Ridiculously expensive for the little amount of extremely dry and fatty meat served. Especially the brisket. All the meat on both plates were served cold. Had the waiter send it back, only for 2 new plates to be served less than 5 minutes later with the same temperature meats. Sadly, we had the manager comp our food and we left hungry. Manager did say that the meats are smoked overnight and kept under warming lights throughout the day, so they are never served hot. Very disappointing.

Pit beef in Wilmette? Yes please. The owner, Michael, greeted me and opened the door for me on this Tuesday. Michael is one of the nicest, friendliest people I have met since moving to Wilmette. The ambiance was part open table Texas Roadhouse, part trendy fine dining restaurant. I am into the feel of the place empty. I imagine it being very different full. The aroma permeates throughout the restaurant of smoked meats. I had the beef brisket. The flavor on the outside was nice. Deep in perfect pepper and the Mac and cheese and corn bread were excellent sides. I ordered my wife the Texas Duo to go with brisket and ribs. The brisket was a little tougher than I like. The flavor was good, it just seemed chewy to me. The ribs could have more seasoning, and the to go brisket was tough as well. The elotes were fantastic. A meal for two of our food for the price is reasonable. Worth returning to.

Six of us came after seeing the Yelp reviews. The staff are friendly and seated us quickly and took our drink order. ±The drinks arrived before our server did. The wines and beers and whiskies and bourbons were extensive for this kinda small place. Our server was new but seemed to pick up the service level. We ordered the Big Earl , a huge sampler of all the meats and all the sides (except fries). So we ordered the fries. The fries were fabulous. really crispy freshly cut. The meats on the other hand were on the dry side. The brisket was really dry as was the pork belly. The sausage was a killer. had a little cheese inside. Really good. The pulled chicken and pulled pork were tender and decent. The ribs came with 5 or is bones. It was well cooked. There were 3 sauce options. None really thick. There were 6 sides. The corn and the pickles were super. The broccoli, chili, beans and mac n cheese were meh. The corn bread was super. We asked for a second order.

Chicken gave us food poisoning. It was served instantly that doubted us. Average taste. Over hyped price

I'd been here about 1-2 years ago when they first opened and was not impressed so I hadn't been back until Thursday night during the severe weather. It was pretty busy just after we arrived. The other restaurant we were interested closed due to the weather. I was very surprised at how busy they were for such an awful day. But service was great! The staff was very efficient and friendly. The owner was very kind and thoughtful and made a few suggestions. The food was much better than the last time we dined. The St. Louis ribs were super fresh and not dry like the last time. The selection of beers on draft was decent and I found something I enjoyed. I liked the chopped salad it was called, but it wasn't chopped. It was made with a spring mix. The place is well kept and my husband noted that the owner of the Cubs was in the corner next to the bar. I didn't have much room to eat anymore, but I know how much my husband likes bananas in desserts so I ordered the banana pudding and he devoured it.

Came here for lunch with a quick turnaround to get back. Great food and even better service. Our waiter was highly attentive and gave great recommendations on sides and mains, and was super accommodating to gluten free needs. We ate the Brisket Plate and the Knuckle Sandwich and both were excellent. Knuckle Sandwich was a LOT of food, and I have a rather large appetite and found it difficult to finish. They had 3 house barbecue sauces on the table, all were delicious. The Texas one has a really unique sweet and smokey flavor that is definitely an acquired taste. It was quiet for a lunchtime hour, but they had great music selections and good seating and wall decor. Would definitely come here again to try more.

Some of the food was alright. The sauces saved us big time. I actually really really liked the sauces! I don't understand how the nachos came without any jalapeños and barely tomatoes...I don't even think it was pico tbh... I'm giving a star for the holiday decor tho. It was super extra lol xD Oh, and we waited forever. They told us like 15 minutes but I know we definitely waited more than 30...not cool...

Pretty decent, typical BBQ ..the Ribs were ok and sides too. Came out super fast & thankfully all hot. Was it the best BBQ I've ever had? No. But for price, and portion etc, a decent meal.

Went there expecting handcrafted bbq, but got what seemed like warmed, leftover, tough beef. The service was so-so. My waiter I think his name was Aussie was a little rough around the edges and straight to the point - no personality. However the ambience was cool, right in the heart of Wilmette.

Great food and great bar service. An impeccable spot to catch a game. Bartenders are always on the top of their game

TLDR: Amazing BBQ for the area. Pricey but will be coming back. We sat outside and split the Texas Two Step (2 meats, a side, cornbread, pickles). They had plenty of outdoor seating which was great for us having our dog. Seating was comfortable and service was still good despite being outside. We got the ribs, pulled pork and baked beans in the Texas Two Step. It was plenty for us to split. The ribs were hands down the best i've had in the greater Chicago area. Super tender and flavorful. They were sauced but were seasoned well. The pulled pork was very tender and flavorful as well. Very juicy and never got a dry piece. The baked beans were Texas style with a bit of spice and were delicious. Cornbread was very moist and flavorful. Didn't go inside but saw it was a smaller space with some TVs and a great bar. Looked like a great bourbon collection also. In sum, everything we ate was delicious and I will 100% be returning. It's closer to a 4.5 than 4.

Really good food! Locally owned, and the owner wrote a lil blurb on the menu about this being his employees first job ever. I thought the entire waitstaff was nice and diligent in their roles. When we arrived the hostess was immediately attentive to us and was easy going with seating. There was a person cleaning the table and before we sat, he politely told us that he's going to do a final sweep of the table to make sure it was extra clean. The waitress that took our order gave good suggestions, and every time she passed, asked us if everything was okay. We never ran out of water. I thought these people have worked in food industry for a long time because they were kind, attentive, and seemed confident in their job, but maybe it's their first job and that's on the owner/employer teaching good skills. Anyways, aside from good people working here. Food was GREAT! Not dry, sauces were flavorful, and there was plenty of food to take home. Drinks were also very good, we ordered more on the sweet ends, and I thought they were delicious.

First time there and we ate outside which was delightful except traffic noise but traffic light helped. Loved their sides which were included with sandwiches. Scott had the fries after seeing them @ another table. They had skin on them which I love and he doesn't. I opted for the corn which was sizable and so delicious. He truly enjoyed the Texas BBQ sandwich and wolfed it down. My brisket tacos were delicious and enjoyed trying both the sweet and Texas sauce on them. Waiter was friendly; talked Scott to have BBQ vs burger (duh!) and checked on us w/o being annoying.

3 stars for trying very hard. Food, which is why you go, was meh. Agreeing with previous comments, dried out brisket, chicken, and the ribs were over smoked. The bones were actually brittle! Never had that before. But they tried very hard, lots of young families, holiday time, went early at 4:30 for an hour wait, was actually only 45 mins. So, kuddos on that. Drinks were good, strong, owner came by, I like that. Says a lot about a place. Just needs to improve on the food and all will be great. Will try again during a non-holiday weeknight. I'm hoping that was the downfall.