Vashion P.
Yelp
It is unfortunate that I have to give this kind of updated review to a place where I really enjoyed going for barbecue, but it had to be done.
My significant other came from out of town to visit me this weekend, and the foodie that he is, I was excited to introduce him to Smoke in the Pit, as their barbecue and catfish have never really let me down in the past, and three years ago, I previously gave the restaurant a five-star review. I called in and placed an order for two combos of tips and fish with baked beans and a small side of fried spaghetti. I also asked that the rib tips be cut small, if they could do that. When I arrived to pick up and pay for the order, I didn't ask for a total or a receipt when I paid for it, as I assumed my order was correct. The owner's daughter handed the bag to me, and I noticed that there was only one order. She called out to her father to let him know that the order was not right. The father came to the pick-up window, and I told him that I ordered two combos. He apologized and said it wouldn't take long to get another order together, maybe about seven minutes (it took longer than that, at least 10-12 minutes, but no big deal). I was annoyed, but I was ok with that, so my significant other and I went back to the car to wait, but at the last minute, my guy changed his mind and decided to go back in and wait for the order. Apparently, after he paid for the second order, the daughter decided to remark to him, "You should have known it wasn't right because of the price!" My significant other replied he wasn't going to argue and just came in to pay for and pick up the second order. He also remarked that he wouldn't be back, and she said nothing. He told me about the incident, and I was so disappointed. Once we got home, his order of fries, which comes with every combo, was missing! I just shared my fries with him. The rib tips were flavorful and did seem to be cut small, as requested, but they were not tender and most of them were charred and hard. My boyfriend said that the flavor of his tips was decent, also, and he really did like the catfish, which I did, too. He felt that the fried spaghetti was too sweet and that he could (and has, indeed, before made) make a better spaghetti dish. He hated the barbecue sauce, which I warned him was not the best, and I never used it on my tips, and asked me to throw it away. He didn't even bother to try the baked beans.
The daughter's behavior, I felt, was very rude, and that comment was unnecessary. If anything, she should have also apologized for the oversight.
It was a bit of an embarrassment to introduce my boyfriend to this restaurant for the first time and have this happen. It also seems, according to other recent reviews, that SITP has gone downhill severely in quality of food and service. Sadly, I don't know if I will return.