The Pit Authentic Barbecue

They took the table bbq sauce at the start of the meal to refill it for dinner but never gave it back :( brisket was delicious, pulled pork had a yummy spice to it, Mac and cheese tasted homemade, and fries were pretty standard. Complementary biscuits and hush puppies were spectacular. The star of the show was the blueberry cornbread (seasonal) with a sweet maple (?) butter

I love to eat and The Pit gives you good portions. Their baby back ribs were everything and more!! And I got some of their chopped pork which I hear is better than Bill's in Wilson. I will say that the brisket was just okay, but once you smothered it in their house made barbecue sauce it took that brisket up to a whole other level. The meatloaf on the other hand was something to be reckoned with. I need to go back for the meatloaf and thr ribs! The sides were delicious as well. I loved the collards and the Mac and Cheese disappeared from my plate within the first few minutes. I miss it already. Will certainly have to make a trip back soon.

Let’s get straight to The Pit with this review. I ordered the skillet cornbread as my starter and I was disappointed the cornbread was very dry, hard and the texture was gritty and crumbly. Honestly I believe it was over cooked. I took one small bit and sent it back. Now on to the Entree, I ordered to BBQ chicken with Collard Greens, Mac & Cheese with the Sweet Potato casserole. The BBQ chicken was very juicy, Smokey and delicious, the house sauce however had a strong vinegar flavor that over powerful the sweet taste. Next up is the side dishes, the collard greens was very good and tasty. The Mac & Cheese is cheesy but lack flavor completely. The Sweet Potato casserole was a winner, not overly sweet which like and it was so creamy with small pieces of pecans for an added crunch, which was yummy. This place is a Must Try!

We came in for a late lunch and not crowded at all. We had the fried catfish sandwich with potato salad and a bbq sandwich with fried okra. The catfish must have been great because my wife finished it before I could eat half my sandwich! The fried okra was plentiful and perfectly fried and hot when served. The biscuits and hush puppies were not expected but dang… so good. Very pleased we stopped in from out of town, highly recommend a visit!

4.2 Stars, First time here, staff were awesome to talk with, we were able to meet the chef and see the pits in action, it was a great experience. Our waiter was on point, very knowledgeable about bbq and all the dishes served here. I even bought some merchandise, bbq caddy, sauces, and more. The bread Basket filles with homemade biscuits were to die for, along with the hush puppies. Appetizers were very tasty, fried Green Tomatoes and pimento balls. I ordered the four meat plate to sample as much as we could. Ribs, brisket, chopped bbq pork, and chicken were all samed. Ribs were the way most people like, fall of the bone, I like competition ribs were you have a clean bite off the bone, so to me they were just OK overall. The NC Brisket was different than texas style which I love, the brisket was tender, different flavor than what I'm accustomed too but still good. Chicken also tasty, slightly on the dry side but still good flavor. And the star of the show was definitely the chopped bbq pork, WOW this was 💰 money..... Pork was super juicy with that tangy flavor that was perfect. The side dishes, mac and cheese along with collard Greens were tasty. And of course we had to get the banana Pudding, it was super tasty. Instagram @foodieadventuresusa

I was so excited to try this place as I was in the mood for some authentic BBQ. It wasn’t bad but, it wasn’t the best. The food did not taste seasoned to me personally. I was hoping for more flavor from the Carolina ribs & potato salad. The service was great otherwise. Maybe I need to come back and try something else.

I went there wanting authentic Carolina BBQ. This place did not disappoint. The pulled pork sandwich was tender just add the sauce.tbe sauces. The sweet sauce added lots of flavor. The Carolina sauce was like a flavor explosion in my mouth. The Carolina sauce has a strong vinegar flavor. It compliment the meat nice let. The hush puppies and cream corn was great. The service was super friendly and knowledgeable. Her name is Recicie

My family and I had a great dining experience at The Pit. Located in the warehouse district of Raleigh, this restaurant never disappoints. The majority of the menu options are barbecue. We had both the pulled pork and beef brisket. There are about a dozen different sides to choose from. We appreciated the complimentary biscuits and hush puppies Making reservations helps for easy seating in either a booth or table. The service is good and fast. The staff works as a team to meet your needs. Parking can be an issue as there are very few free on the street spots. There is adequate parking in several lots and street spots but you must pay with an app.

Came here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised as the food was overall very good and it had a nice ambience. We ordered the fried green tomatoes and they were nicely breaded and light. I liked how they give you complementary hush puppies and biscuits; the biscuits were great but hush puppies were just okay. I would probably avoid next time to have more room for other items. We both ordered the double combo with the following: 1. brisket - fatty and delicious. If you like prefer lean meat, I would avoid. 2. carolina ribs - definitely worth the upgrade charge. They were extremely tender. 3. pulled pork - probably the least liked out of the proteins. 4. mac n cheese - nothing special, kind of disappointing actually. 5. cole slaw - nice way to cut through the fattiness of the meet. 6. fried okra - nicely done although not for everyone 7. mash potatoes - standard Overall, had a really solid meal and would go back if in the area.

Tried The Pit's all you can eat family style while visiting Raleigh. The deviled eggs, hush puppies, biscuits, and brunswick stew was great. And the service was friendly and fast. However, the BBQ (ribs and BBQ fries) was on the drier side and lacked the smoky moist depth you'd expect if you're from the South. Potato salad didn't really have much flavor compared to HEB's potato salad. Myself I don't eat much banana pudding, but my friend said it was good, so I'll take his word for it. Solid experience overall with the atmosphere for a plate with apps, but BBQ lovers might find it a bit underwhelming if you went for the all you can eat option.

I ordered takeout three weeks ago and the order was wrong so I called right away and left a voicemail to request a refund. A week later I called again and left another voicemail because no one returned my call. Today is three weeks and I am bothered by the lack of care. Highly recommend for an eat-in experience, though.

This is a restaurant you want to love, but I just can't. The pulled bbq is much better than the chopped (IMO), but still has too much fat. The sides are good, but not great. Creamed corn should be sweeter with less liquid. Collards need more vinegar and for the love of God get some heat on them with red pepper flakes. Hush puppies are on the small side and need more time in the fryer to get truly crisp. They weren't under done, but weren't ideal. Minor consideration is that parking isn't easy - but it's downtown and to be expected. At least if you're doing take out you can park right out front. There are much better options in Raleigh that cost less. My favorite is Ole Time BBQ but they weren't open the last time we were craving BBQ and sides.

I thought this place was very good- The service was good and the quantity of food you get is better. The bread that we ordered was so good and now that I am reading that people got complimentary bread, I feel a little jipped but I ordered the cornbread and that was so good. The barbecue itself was very good- no complaints.

Had lunch here on Sunday with one other person. Our server Antoine was awesome. Service was great overall, hostesses, food runners. Good organization and pleasant team. We ordered from the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant week menu, 3 course pre-fixe dinner. As our apps, we chose the Hot Honey Shrimp Deviled Eggs. These were delicious and we were pleased with the portion size, definitely the star of the meal. For our entrees, we both chose the Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich. This was a big disappointment. Brisket was severely overcooked and very hard. This really shouldn't have even been served to anyone. For desert, I chose the Krispy Kreme Donut Banana Pudding. It wasn't bad. My company chose the Sitti's Carrot Cake. I don't like carrot cake but it looked delicious and was huge. Very nice looking piece of cake.

We were invited by a local Raleigh family for some barbeque. I was really looking forward to some Carolina BBQ and this experience met my expecatations. We ordered Corn Bread and Fried Green Tomatoes. The cornbread comes in it's own cast iron skillet and my son said it was the best cornbread. Definitely, worth ordering that. Hubs and I shared a full rack of ribs along with sweet potato fries and baked beans. It was a great value and the ribs were fantastic. Now I thought this was more than enough but along comes the biscuits and hushpuppies. Of course, save room to try these. They are fillers but oh so good. I think that if you don't order these as sides, they are complimentary (?) Anyway, at this rate, were were rolling out of there. The ambiance is nicer than what I would expect from a BBQ joint. It's more upscale and definitely a popular place. We had a reservation and the place was full. Service was good too for our fairly large group. Would definitely be back if we're in town. Parking across the street in the lot.

The portions were huge! We really enjoyed the pit sampler to get a taste of everything. The pit sampler included pit smoked wings, BBQ soul rolls, deviled eggs, and pimento cheese balls. They also bring out hush puppies and biscuits as complimentary apps. The double combo was perfect to share. We got the brisket and the chopped BBQ. I would get the brisket again, but the chopped BBQ was too dry for my liking. The sides we got were delicious. It was fried Okra and Sweet Potato casserole. Service was awesome! Very attentive.

The Pit was by far our favorite restaurant in the Raleigh area. We utilized the reservation system and are glad we did as it was a busy Sunday lunch hour. To our surprise, we were served complimentary hush puppies and biscuits. Can we all agree restaurants that serve bread or a free appetizer are all just superior? Both were mouth watering. My boyfriend chose the pulled pork paired with fried okra and sweet potato casserole. Everything was delicious. I had a bbq salad and loved it. The service here was great. Our food came within 5 minutes of ordering! The price was just right too at about $40. This is an adorable little southern restaurant and I can't wait to visit again.

I tried this place a few years ago and enjoyed it. This time was very different. I am hoping it is a one off. The brisket was all fat, the chicken was so dry, the mac and cheese was bad. I did like the pulled pork, but the rest wasn't great. The service was awesome and the manager was really nice and understanding.

Omg this place is absolutely terrible and the sad thing is that the waiter knew we were all sitting there with full plates and he did not even ask why...terrible. Overcooked chicken burnt fries hard as a rock brisket over sweeten ice tea, day old baked beans dried Mac and cheese

Great NC BBQ place in downtown Raleigh. Casual comfort and bit classy interior. The food was Soo good. Had appetizer sampler and big boy plate, three of us could not finish it. Had to do take out for a good portion. Chopped pork was amazing, we could tell a lot of love went into the smoking and prep. From so many to pick from, the Pit got our vote.

Sizable The order: Complementary hush puppies and biscuits The pitt sampler Pitt smoked wings BBQ rolls Deviled eggs Pimento cheeseballs Double combo (brisket and chopped bbq) Fried okra Sweet potatoes casserole The good: Brisket was delicious Portions are large AC Is blasting & great for a hot summer day The bad: We ordered way too much The chopped bbq was a bit dry We didn't eat much of the sweet potato casserole, if any at all

Do not come here unless you have a gigantic appetite or plan to share. Tremendous portions of delicious fried chicken, crispy Brussels and mac and cheese that is just heaven. As if we even needed the hush puppies to start but yes you have to try them along with the biscuits and skillet cornbread. It's going to be a carb overload but worth it. Next time I'll plan a little better with my meal planning and perhaps fast for 48 hours before. Classic southern bbq joint with cool vibes in downtown Raleigh

A lot to like here about the food. I found this place about 7 years ago and loved it. Just came back to Raleigh on business, had an afternoon to myself so BBQ it was for lunch. The food here is outstanding. The slices of brisket were perfectly fatty and juicy with plenty of lean mixed in for texture. There are both thicker tomato based and thinner vinegar based sauces on the table. The vinegar one with a few squirts of Franks red hot sauce make a perfect puddle for mopping up with the food. And of all things, what was amazing on this visit was the fried chicken. The best I've had in a long time! That I could order a 2 item plate that comes with 2 sides was a thing of perfection. Don't miss the Mac and Cheese or the greens! All of this makes me realize that what passes for southern food in my home city is a joke. There are several local craft brews on tap and a fair selection of Bourbon but definitely not as extensive as I remember it to be on my prior visit which was a little disappointing. The other thing that was a bit of a downer was the service. I sat at the bar and the poor lone barman was trying to cover the bar and about 10 surrounding tables all by himself. He did a great job and did as good a job as anyone who is being stretched too thin. It was not him. It was the staffing shortage that was the issue. Imagine trying to play zone defense with 1 on 10 (and you are the 1). You get the picture. Luckily, I had nowhere to be so the staff shortage was easy for me to overlook especially because the food was totally worth it. If it tells you anything, I would go there just for the food even if the staffing was 0.5 on 10 next time! Finally, you have to love the fact that the pitmaster that founded the place cooked his first whole hog at age 14 on the same day that he first drank moonshine! If nothing else, it makes a great start to the story of what makes The Pit such a great place to visit.

Based on reviews, this was THE place to come for Carolina bbq. Huge portion and tasty but not mind blowing. I did end up buying both NC style bottled sauces to bring home. My coworker and I came in during a conference and the restaurant was packed. It was going to be an hour wait to be seated, so we decided to order food to go (which still took an hour somehow). They informed us they were understaffed because they were unaware of the conference and therefore an influx of diners. While we waited, we chilled standing at the bar and enjoyed a drink, and got another to go with the sip n stroll program. Drinks were pretty good - I had gin and tonic using a local NC gin. For food I had brisket, chopped bbq, baked beans, and fried okra which came with a biscuit and hush puppies. Both of the meats were pretty good, though some parts seemed a little dry. I liked the tanginess of the sauce on the chopped bbq and enjoyed the beans. Okra was a little soft getting it to go but edible. Hush puppies were fine. The biscuit was really dry and I did not eat it. They provided a couple extra sauces on the side. I ended up having so much leftover and ate it for breakfast.

My girlfriend and I have been talking about going here when I visit for ages. We finally made it last week. We Uber down there, go inside, walk past an empty booth. When we spoke to the hostess, she was rude and would not even make eye contact. Since we did not have reservations, she wanted to stick us at a tiny table next to the kitchen entrance. My girl asked if we could sit in the booth that was open. She said no. My girl explained that it was open and we just walked past it. Again, no. Another hostess comes over and they whisper, and she says, without a reservation, we just can't do it. Then the second hostess says, we just sat those people at the next booth. Then she says, in the same breathe, ok, we'll do it. then the people that were just sat, leave, opening up the other booth. The server, Lauren, came over. Super pleasant, super friendly, super knowledgeable. We ordered some appetizers and drinks and then the meal. Her service was awesome, in contrast to the hostesses who has such attitudes. Definitely won't be back because of those two. My girl is new to eating meat after many years away from it, so we each had 3 meats to share. Everything was "not bad, but not great". the brisket was super fatty, the chop was so, so. All in all the food was a C-. Atmosphere was great, the place was clean, restrooms were spotless, Lauren was amazing, but the gatekeepers were an F and the food was meh, at best ... going to try the BBQ Lab next time.

Yum!!!! We got gifted a meal here that came highly recommended. We are newer to the state and hadn't had NC BBQ yet. So we figured The Pit was a good way to try out NC BBQ finally. We made a reservation which was easy to do and we were sat right away. We got the deviled eggs Meatloaf Bbq chicken fingers and of course churros. Omg all of it was really good!! Service was excellent and the food was amazing. The Pit definitely set the NC BBQ bar high!!! We even bought a bottle of the bbq sauce to bring home, it was that good! Most definitely will be back!

Let's keep this short. The Pit is the best BBQ I have ever had, period. Theirs ribs are tender and flavorful. Literally falling off the bone. The bbq sauce is not too sweet. It has a touch of smokiness.

This place is yummmmm!! You can smell the smoke outside before walking in. The ambiance is a little upscale, but no one there is dressed that way haha. I got the fried chicken and brisket, Mac n cheese, and creamed corn. I have to say the sides were not my favorite but the collards and mashed taters my gf got were delish!! I did love the fried chicken as well!! Our server was great and understood the difference of half and half and nottttt an Arnold palmer so kudos to him! Haha. Thanks for a great meal!

Came here with a party of three and a baby around 7 PM on Friday and got seated right away without a reservation. I think they sat us in the back with the other babies, because there was a lot of crying, but it's OK since we had a baby as well. It took a while for the waiter to come, but when he did, we got table bread and waters right away and food probably came in two minutes. Carolina ribs - some pieces were meatier than others but really Smokey flavor and tasty with the sweet bbq Brisket - liked the amount of fat on this and tasty with the vinegar bbq Mac and cheese - more cheesy than creamy but nice carb Sweet potatoes - sweet and creamy Brussels sprouts - similar to collards Cole slaw - lots of good crunch and flavor Biscuits didn't have much flavor but the texture was good and tasty with the butter Hush puppies - nice oily sweetness

We chose The Pit because the reviews were good and included comments about how fast the food was served. Being a little short on time, that made sense for us. My impressions are a little mixed. We were seated quickly- but it took some time before someone came to the table. The waitress came and asked if anyone had taken our orders yet- and I am glad we said no and we were ready to order. Because she only came back twice - once to bring a beer, and once to bring the check. We asked for - and never received - waters. Someone else brought our food out. Maybe they were understaffed- I don't know. The food was very good. The BBQ chicken and pulled pork were excellent. The fried okra was good. The coleslaw and fries were ok. And the Brussel sprouts tasted more like collard greens than Brussels. That said, I felt the price paid was not worth it. We have lots of options for BBQ around - and there are good places that cost less around.

We came here recently for lunch and enjoyed our meal! Parking was a little annoying, as we had to pay $5 at a separate lot and were hit with some extra fees related to using the associated app, etc. That being said, it's not too surprising given the location of the restaurant. Inside, it wasn't too busy, and we got seated immediately. I ended up ordering the Chopped Barbecue Sandwich, and I liked it! Wasn't the absolute best BBQ I've ever had, but it got the job done. My wife got the chicken and brisket double plate, which ended up being a lot of food :) We had to take some of it home, but it was very good. The green beans and mac and cheese that she got for her two sides were also tasty. Our toddler got a hot dog, which was pretty yummy (I took a few bites!) but of course he didn't like it much :) Go figure. Overall, it was a pretty good experience, and I would definitely consider coming back. As my wife said to me, "They know the meats!"

The Pit, I was told, is a staple of Raleigh, North Carolina so me and a friend decided to try it out. The food was pretty good. The baby back ribs were tender and fell off the bone but need a tad bit more seasoning. The meatloaf though was delicious and seasoned well. The sides of Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were good but the biscuits with their creamy butter was delicious. We were also told their fried chicken is a favorite. It was packed in this place and clearly a favorite of the people but our service was lack luster and clearly they needed more help in the bar high tables area as we waited about 30 minutes for our food. The bar area though has a nice and bright view with big window type doors. If you're in town, make a reservation and enjoy people watching.

I was sitting across the street at the chocolate factory and saw The Pit barbecue. Most of the barbecue joints here are closed on Monday, but The Pit was open. Monday afternoon it was not very busy. A very nice set up inside. Tre was an excellent server. He was very knowledgeable and had great suggestions. I had the barbecue platter. Brisket was juicy, moist, just the right tenderness and smokiness. Bark was perfect. Just enough fat to keep me going back for more. Pulled pork was also juicy and tender. Smoke on the pork was outstanding. Mac and cheese was great. Very cheesy. Beans were next level. So sweet and savory. Some of the best I've ever had. Biscuit was light and fluffy. Hush puppies were small, but had a beautiful flavor and texture. Used just a smattering of sauce, and it was an awesome enhancement. Got to try some ribs, too. Again smokey, tender and juicy. Sauce glaze was not overpowering. If you are ever in the Raleigh area, don't miss The Pit Barbecue.

A nice easy walk with friends from downtown landed us at "The Pit"! The atmosphere was warm and friendly. The service was quick. We ordered the double combo and there was plenty to split with a friend. We had the Carolina style ribs which were delicious. The brisket was very dry and chewy. The Maple Butter Cornbread was very good. Nice place and not too loud.

Great location and food. The pimento cheese balls are to die for! The fried green tomato is had so much breading, it was hard to find the tomato. The fried chicken was good but of course the BBQ was the star of the show. It was moist and flavorful. The coleslaw was delicious as were the baked beans. Don't waste your money on the banana pudding. It had a lot of meringue and was not as good as the BBQ. This was a great place for lunch. Try the pimento cheese balls!

I went here for the first time today for lunch with a coworker after I told her I'd been craving bbq for a few weeks. EVERY SINGLE THING on my plate was AMAZING!!! It was so good I forgot to take a picture lol! I had the brisket and chopped turkey bbq with fries and collard greens. I don't know whose grandma is back there making those collards, but they were soooooo good!!! The service was fast for lunchtime and the staff was friendly and accommodating. We took our food to go, but I will definitely be back!!!

Just wrapped up a road trip through several Midwest / Southern states and this BBQ was one of the best we had! The Carolina ribs were so dang good and fall off the bone they are so tender. Ask for Ike (like Mike & Ike) as your server! He is the best! And will make the experience at The Pit one to remember! Highly recommend!

The food was bar none , The best bar-b-q I've ever experienced in a restaurant setting. The service was exceptional , the ambiance was pleasing. I will be going back many times for sure. Mainly to try more things off the menu and once I've done that this 4 stars will be a 5 , and I can't wait.

The Pit is my fave spot to go in Raleigh for vinegar chopped whole pig barbecue. I get the plate with two sides, and one of those sides is always fried okra... it's totally yum. My top choice for appetizers are the fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs; I love the deviled eggs so much I sometimes times order to go. The cocktail list is fun; I love trying a new drink every time I come.

In town for the 2025 N.C. Farm Show and so meal in love a crew. The local dealer salesman picked the restaurants for the week and booked the reservations. Group of 20. We had one dedicated Server and then his food delivered and helpers. Was amazed at the great job he did. He took the orders timely and drink orders as well. He kept up with our beverage demand which was amazing. Side salad came out with the meal so that was a bit of a negative but not sure who was the issue there. I had the meat loaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. The mashed potatoes with gravy were good but small portions. The meatloaf was three slabs. Couldn't taste the meat for the sauce. It wasn't bad I just would have liked to taste the meat as that is what we were there for. The old fashioned was ok. Several had the fried chicken and commented on how amazing it was. It was also huge portions. Food was good service was amazing considering we were a group of 20. Parking is a negative.. definitely a scam on the parking but there is parking but it is pay a don't get were definitely working the lot hard looking for fines to access on top of the meal and initial parking fees. Parking lot was dark also so paying to have a safety issue didn't set well with me either.

Hands down the worst BBQ in North Carolina. The service was great, the establishment was clean, but the BBQ was less than impressive and had a taste of liquid smoke on oven baked pork.

Nice place. Food was good and they definitely give you plenty. Service was ok. You get a huge amount of meat with your meal.

The Pit has some amazing food and you wouldn't go wrong with getting some of that outstanding BBQ as well as those savory hushpupppies.....Definitely some great food that you don't want to miss......

Service was good.... Food was better the first time I visited. Today the collards were a little to salty and not enough salt in the potato salad. The pulled turkey was FANTASTIC. Moist and flavorful. Server was attentive and kind. Was not happy with my drink to start. We made a small adjustment and it was fabulous from there.

Had a great lunch- ambiance is nice and classy and spacious- service was attentive and quick- the food was delicious and portions are huge and reasonably priced- I wanted to try their banana pudding but was too full

The Pit was one of those places that were recommended and the recommendation HELD. This place was so good from the starter, to the drinks, to the main course. The hush puppies and biscuits came out as a free appetizer as well! The biscuits are paired with this light, whipped sweet butter cream and it was delectable! Food came out quick and easy. Our server Ty tended to our ever needs. I dropped a hush puppy and he brought out a whole new basket. I would definitely come back to eat here!

Alright now.. Here we go again . Food...was mid. Landing the experience right at a 3 . The ambiance matched the vibe. I'd suggest the fried catfish, baby back ribs, hush puppies and fried the chicken... I captured some pics to be helpful. Yelpers are fine Helpers! Remember to be kind to one another and tip.

The sever was all smiles & genuinely enjoy one of the babies in the group. Now the room is cobbled as areas have been added - some uneven walkways lead us to our long table. A bit noisy but remember the babies, who managed to nap thru most of lunch. The menu features wide choices but Smoked Ribs & Brisket are the flagship of the house. I opted for a half slab of Baby Backs along with a cup of their featured soup of the day. Damn if I can remember what I ordered, but had to ask for oyster crackers twice! Minor glich but with a chowder based broth they are an automatic partner. The ribs were a bit dried out, tender as they cleared the chalky white bones. Found several choices of southern BBQ sauces to grab. Classic NC Vinegar based, but picked my old fashioned favorite Q - similar to Sweet Baby Ray's. Now it's a 2:15 drive to Raleigh from Pinehurst - no big deal as we enjoyed seeing part of my dear wife's family. Would I do it again, sure if you spend the night in town! Long haul back home. Hey give the Pit a try - great & buzzy commercial strip.

I was in town for a TICE conference and they treated us to the Pit one night. I loved the vibe of the location and everyone was very nice. I tried a blueberry cider. If you don't like beer and like sweet stuff like I do , this is a winner. We tried their soul food egg rolls and fried green tomatoes- EXCELLENT. Everyone around me loved them. They served us pulled pork, bbq chicken, Mac and cheese and salad. I didn't care for the pulled pork personally but everything else was delicious.

This spot has some great food. The fried catfish and okra were the stars - crispy and well seasoned. Service was also superb and space was pleasant. Proteins - bbq turkey was meh - probably not to my liking as it harbored a bit of game in its taste. The ribs were pretty good but, perhaps because I'm not enjoying the NC bbq flavor profile, I just wanted less of the BBQ sauce and more of the ribs flavor. They fell off the bone!

This was our last lunch in Raleigh for this visit. The server was nice and kept on checking for our needs. The restaurant itself is also roomy and nicely decorated. It was quiet when we came. Unfortunately, my husband and I were so disappointed when we got what we ordered. My husband ordered bbq fries, I ordered brisket with side of mac & cheese and brunswick stew. I also ordered fried pimento cheese balls as starter and my sister in law ordered pulled pork with a side of beans and something else (I forgot the other sides). Bbq fries: this is hands down the worst fries ever made. Not only it was drenched in oil and tasted a bit like rancid oil, the meat was also dry and doesn't taste great. Brisket and sides: brisket was very soft, which is not bad, but it's heavily smothered in bbq sauce. I don't know if that's how they do it in the south, but I'd like to have the freedom of tasting my meat without the sauce. That being said, brisket was very fatty and has a bit of aftertaste to it. Mac and cheese was so dry and bland it's almost sad, and the brunswick stew was also bland and I have no idea what I was tasting in there. I tried a bit of my sis in law's pulled pork, my oh my that was the dryest pulled pork I've ever had. It has bitter aftertaste to it too. I don't know what they put in there! The cheese balls was ok, tasted very vinegar-y and the hush puppies tasted better than any other dishes that I had in this place. All in all, we both were disappointed by how it turned out.

Went during March Madness weekend. Service was great. Food was amazing. Best brisket I've had in a long time. The free biscuits maybe the best biscuits I've ever had. Well worth the visit.

What an incredibly delicious dinner spot. Came here with a few others and asked for recommendations. Tried the brisket which was super tender, the pulled pork which didn't have any sauce but didn't need it. It had a perfectly smoky taste to it. And the ribs which fell right off the bone. I opted for the sweet potato casserole which equated to mash sweet potatoes and their Brunswick stew which was tasty and flavorful. I'm not a fan of vinegar based BBQ so I steered away from the chopped BBQ but may look at it in the future. The place is quite large but food came out quickly and service was friendly.

Really good spot for BBQ. The appetizers are really delicious. The biscuits and hush puppies are fantastic. We had the potatoe skins and I can tell ya, they are hearty.The fried green tomatoes had a great crispy breading and a wonderful red pepper sauce. The brisket was outstanding as was the mac and cheese and creamy coleslaw. I was really happy with the service as well. Come hungry because the portions are big.

My family decided to try some NC BBQ and found this place online. The menu looked extensive and had a good amount of options for my mom, who doesn't eat meat. We didn't have a reservation on a Friday night, but we were seated right away. After ordering, they give you a basket of hush puppies and biscuits. They were both delicious! Nice and soft biscuits with good butter. I ordered the pulled pork plate with fries and fried okra. The sides were fantastic. Everyone at the table liked their food. This was maybe a little more expensive for a BBQ place, but they do give you hush puppies and biscuits. The servings were also huge! My dad also got the pulled pork plate, and we probably should have split one. The one thing I didn't like was the sauce. I don't like vinegar, so I didn't try that one. The other one didn't have a great flavor and was quite runny. The meat was still good without sauce though.

I was in town for a work event and was told that it would be considered a SIN if I left without trying North Carolina's famous pit-cooked barbecue from The Pit where the owner, Greg Hatem, has been cooking hogs in his backyard since the 80's. Since I don't eat meat (pescatarian), the whole BBQ genre doesn't appeal to me...or at least I didn't so. Not exactly thrilled giving into peer pressure, I walked uncertainly through the doors and right into Frank McNally (manager) upon opening the door. It was as if he could sense my hesitation and started a conversation with me as he seated us at the bar. I gave him my full trust and allowed him to order for me. If it wasn't the meat I would try, it would be the "sauce and seasoning" he said. A huge Alaskan salmon (blackened and grilled to perfection) was placed in front of me with a side of an additional BBQ sauce to try and their side portions of both the potato salad and fired okra. Heaven. Every bite was SO good! You do not need to be a carnivore to take part in the savory flavors that The Pit has to offer!

A few things: 1. I visited this restaurant with my wife and college aged daughter. 2. The service was quick, pleasant, and the server was very well informed about the menu. 3. The majority of my rating was about the food. And the food was NOT good, it felt like I was eating in a nursing home. I am from the Midwest. I grew up eat KC style barbecue and appreciate St. Louis , and Texas contributions to my palate. I like to eat and smoke meat. This experience pained me because I had such high hopes to learn why people liked North Carolina barbecue. When we arrived late in the evening, we were promptly seated and noticed that there were still several tables of people in the restaurant. Encouraged, we sat down and after pouring over the menu my family and I ordered the smokehouse sampler, sweet tea, followed by the Big Boy platter and the pulled pork meal, with macaroni and cheese. The waiters and staff were all very pleasant, they brought biscuits and refilled our glasses without hovering. When the smokehouse sampler arrived it was a collection of fried pimento cheese balls, smoked wings, pulled pork 'egg rolls.' While we like the idea and the pairing of sauces, we found the cheese balls tasted as if they'd been fried in burnt oil, the egg rolls were bland and the smoked wings lacked smoke flavor. The main entrees soon arrived, and while they were hot, they didn't taste good. I ordered the fried chicken instead of barbecue chicken to taste more of the menu. The fried chicken was salted, but wasn't seasoned; the brisket was gray and lifeless with something that was supposed to be barbecue sauce on it- neither were appealing or flavorful. The ribs while cooked, were also underwhelming. My ribs appeared boiled, and had no signature pink smoke ring on the meat. Additionally, the membrane was still on the bone, while not indicative of anything, I thought it was off for a professional barbecue restaurant, great would want the seasoning throughout the meat. The grey chopped pork was very full of vinegar and I could not enjoy the meat because of the strength of the flavor of the vinegar. The pulled pork meal was clearly pulled from the bone and had pieces of cartilage sticking into the meat. My family didn't appreciate it,and refused to eat it. I sampled it, but i was glad I didn't order it. Overall, my family won't go with me here because the food wasn't good, and I would be hard pressed to patronize this place again just for ambiance and nice people. Please fix whatever is happening in your kitchen, it's killing your restaurant.