Hello dear
Welcome To The Pit
At The Pit, located in downtown Raleigh, NC, the heart of Carolina barbecue comes alive. Our story is rooted in a passion for authentic Southern flavors, celebrated with hearty portions and a warm, inviting ambiance. We specialize in mouthwatering BBQ dishes, with highlights including our renowned fried chicken and succulent ribs. Diners rave about the cornbread served in a cast-iron skillet and the crispy Brussels sprouts, epitomizing comfort food at its finest. With outdoor seating, happy hour specials, and a full bar, The Pit promises an unforgettable experience for groups and families alike. Join us to savor the rich culinary heritage of American barbecue.
About
The Pit
Welcome to The Pit, a culinary gem nestled in the heart of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. As a food reviewer for Foodjoyy, I’m thrilled to introduce you to a place where American barbecue truly shines. Located at 328 W Davie St, The Pit is not just a restaurant; it's an experience that celebrates the rich flavors and traditions of Southern barbecue.
The ambiance at The Pit is a perfect blend of casual and inviting, featuring rustic wooden tables and ambient lighting that sets the stage for a memorable meal. Whether you’re here for a family dinner, a lunch gathering, or an event with friends, you'll appreciate the warm atmosphere and the friendly service that our customers rave about.
- Delicious Offerings: The menu features a mouthwatering selection of Carolina BBQ, with signature dishes like tender ribs and flavorful fried chicken that have patrons returning time and again. Customers have praised the fried green tomatoes and cornbread, which come warm in a cast iron skillet—a delightful touch that enhances the dining experience.
- Generous Portions: If you're lucky enough to visit, come hungry! Guests have noted the generous portion sizes, especially for the fried chicken and mac and cheese, often encouraging sharing among friends. Pair these hearty meals with one of the tempting sides like crispy Brussels sprouts or hush puppies for a true Southern feast.
- Versatile Dining Options: The Pit caters to a wide range of dietary preferences, offering pescatarian choices and accommodating families with kids. With both takeout and delivery options, as well as outdoor seating for those who enjoy dining al fresco, it’s a restaurant that adapts to your needs.
- Commitment to Quality: At The Pit, you can enjoy meals with reused tableware, highlighting their commitment to sustainability while you enjoy free Wi-Fi and an array of beverage options from a full bar. Plus, don't miss out on happy hour specials!
From the hearty meals to the friendly service, every visit promises to be delightful. Although some guests have mentioned that service can slow during busier times, the staff's dedication to providing an exceptional experience is evident and adds to the charm of dining here. As customer Jason U. noted, the food is likely to turn a 4-star visit into a 5-star one after sampling more of their enticing menu.
So, the next time you find yourself in Raleigh, make sure to stop by The Pit. Indulge in Carolina BBQ that will leave your taste buds dancing, and partake in a meal that captures the spirit of Southern hospitality in every bite. Grab your friends, make a reservation, and prepare for an unforgettable dining adventure!
For inquiries or to make reservations, give them a call at (919) 890-4500 and get ready to savor the flavors of The Pit!
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“ Delicious Carolina bbq. I love coming to this place and look forward to having dinner there. The green beans are fresh and delicious. The Mac and cheese is good and cheesy but a little bland. Their drinks are pretty good too. I love to ambiance of the place with the wooden tables and lighting. Service can kinda slow if they're busy but in other casual nights everything is timely and hot. ”
“ 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. ”
“ 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. ”
“ 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 ”
“ 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 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 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. ”
“ 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. ”
“ 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. ”
