Food here was so good after a hike in the state park today. Service was good and food came out quickly. Everything is BBQ so definitely skip if you don't like BBQ! read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket combo and wings - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

4.5 My favorite meal in the FLX. After a long day of walking around, what's better than some good ol' BBQ?! The place is inviting, with a large front area featuring outdoor seating that extends to and from the bar area. The interior has high ceilings with an industrial feel. Our server and the runners were super friendly and more than happy to answer any questions. Food-wise, we got the chili and cornbread along with the Pitmaster Combo with jalapeño mac & cheese and coleslaw. Getting the combo was definitely the right move since you got a taste of everything. My personal favorites from the combo were the burnt ends, followed by the wings (we got them with their dry rub), and then the ribs. The pulled pork and brisket were okay, but you definitely needed some sauce. The chili was solid, but the cornbread was awesome, especially with that cinnamon butter (similar to Texas Roadhouse). So, if you're in Watkins Glen and in the mood for BBQ after that state park hike or some adult beverage tasting, come check out Nickel's. read more

See all

Just - Oooooof. I'm localish (Ithaca) and meet my (out of state) father and brother every year in Watkins for the classic races. This will be our last year dining at Nickel's. The quality of food and service rapidly decline each year. First off - our server was terrible. It is a busy weekend. I say this from 15+ years tenure working in service and FOH management at top restaurants in the region - usually, when servers are busy and making money they're happy (or at least fake it). This chick legitimately rolled her eyes at us at one point when my brother asked about bbq sauces. Like, are you serious? Maybe customer service isn't for you, hun. Also wearing Pink brand yoga pants as your blacks is beyond unprofessional, and if I were her manager, I would have never allowed her on the floor like that. Maybe that's why she was so rude, she just wanted to get to the gym. The guy that came on as her replacement was far better. Second, the water tastes like fertilizer. I had to order a soda because I couldn't stomach the sip I took. Thirdly. The brisket and pork had a nice flavor, but the brisket was half gristle. It was gross. Fitnell blows this place out of the water. So does Ray Bros. The crap you get prepackaged from dinosaur is better. read more

I love Bbq and have tried good and bad all over the country. Visiting from NYC awe tried this place and it was great. Service was wonderful, beer selection great. Pit master doesn't mess around here. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket. Burnt ends. Etc - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Stopped by this really great Bbq in Watkins Glen for dinner after the towns Corvette weekend "rolling thunder" car show and parade. The like was long - post even about 45 minutes but it was expected. got a buzz on my phone and it was off to the proverbial races !!! Nice combo indoor/ outdoor bar with patio with an open face to the building and architecture. Drinks while waiting were strong and affordable. Our waitress was warm and welcoming. She made us feel VIP the entire evening !!! The Bbq brisket and ribs were delicious and the Mac and potato salads were very tasty. I recommend the corn bread with the maple butter. Lots of sauces to choose from. The meats were a riot of Smokey goodness. If you're in Watkins be sure to stop in. PS. Probably the best most thought out to go packaging I have ever seen. I really appreciated the thought behind it. No plastics, no wax cups. Cardboard with vents so your food doesn't get soggy on the journey home also included a bag to put it all in without asking. Top notch. picture included. read more

See all

Went here after a morning hike at Watkins Glen State Park. We parked on a side street. They didn't open until Noon and the line outside waiting to get in was very long, which after eating there I know why. Even with all the people coming in at one time they were extremely efficient seating and serving everyone in a quick manner. Our waitress was extremely nice and accommodating. I got the Berry Sparkler with dragon fruit on it and it met my expectations. We got the loaded tater tots which was very large for 2 people and some of the best tater tots I have had out. Wish I had that recipe. Then the main entrees a pulled pork sandwich with the slaw and a brisket sandwich with macaroni salad. The sandwiches were very large and neither of us finished them. The slaw was a mix of the creamy vinegar type. I don't like the ginger type but did enjoy this mix. The macaroni salad was the small type macaroni and was fine. The highlight was the sandwiches. The meat was cooked to perfection and no gristle. Definitely added our choice of sauces. Saw also one of these establishments near the Corning Glass museum if you will be in that area. The place had nice lighting over the tables and a concrete floor. The bar had indoor and outdoor seating and seating for dining outside. read more

See all

Genuinely the best BBQ I have had in my entire life. Never had "melt in your mouth" meat before this. Ordered togo cause it was along the route on my cross country roadtrip and I am writing with heartbreak that I probably will never eat here again and that I don't have anyplace similar back home. Super friendly staff with a lively and friendly atmosphere, would highly recommend if you're visiting Watkins Glen!!! read more

Went to this place while visiting Watkins Glenn- the food was amazing super good. The server was very nice and attentive. The drink selection was very extensive and a lot to choose from. Mac and cheese was so so but the meat and everything else was very very good. read more

Awesome spot downtown. Great atmosphere, nice bar area with outdoor seating. I get brisket, it was amazing, tender, juicy and flavorful. the sides were good as well, but the stars were the home-made barbecue sauces at the table, each with a unique flavor sure to suit everyone's pallet. Great service and great iced tea! Cant skip the mac-n-cheese, it was creamy and had great flavor. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

See all

Delicious smoked meats in a modern restaurant! Came for take out and had a drink at their small but nice bar with good choices on draft! Service was friendly and timely. 1. Brisket - So tender and flavorful. Great with BBQ sauce 2. Pig wings (St Louis ribs) - Had this with their dry rub which was good. Brown sugar, cumin, paprika...all good flavors! Ribs were tender. 3. Jalapeno Mac - Great flavor here with a good kick 4. Coleslaw - Fresh, crispy, one of the better coleslaw's I've had Overall, would recommend trying this at least once if you're craving BBQ! read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket and pig wings - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Website reviews state that dogs are allowed, but they are not. We stopped in for dinner and chose to sit at the bar so that we were not at a table in the restaurant. We had our 4 1/2 month old yorkie in a stroller. He was sleeping and zipped in completely. Before we could even sit down, this woman, who works there came up to us and told us that we cannot have the dog in there. That is fine, but we chose this particular bbq restaurant because they were supposedly pet friendly. read more

Stopped in for dinner. Friendly and attentive waitress. I ordered the brisket and pulled pork combo with a side of brisket chili and fries. All were delicious! The meat was tender and flavorful. There was several different BBQ sauces to add to the meat at the table. The fries were crispy. The chili had a nice flavor with the brisket meat. Overall good meal! read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket, pulled pork, fries, brisket chili - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Very close to the Watkins Glen state park on their downtown Main Street. Parking was very easy to find off one of the side streets. I sat outside on their patio which was also dog friendly. I ordered the pork and brisket platter with the bean and corn salad side and the collared greens side. It came with some pickles and onions and was a ton of food! read more

See all

We got seated quickly on a Sunday afternoon but it did seem like a popular choice in town. The meat was perfectly tender and easily came off the bone. You can try all four sauces, which are also available for sale. I enjoyed the red eye sauce the most. The hot sauce was a bit salty. The baked beans were tangy. The cornbread muffin with cinnamon butter was tasty and fluffy. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket and rib combo with southern greens and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Hubby and I had dinner here one night during our visit in Finger Lakes. Nice vibe, good service and pretty decent BBQ. The weather was nice on a Sunday evening and all outdoor seatings were occupied when we arrived, we were seated indoor with no wait. The drinks and food came out pretty quick. We opted for the combos which come with 2 sides. Hubby had the brisket & rib, and I got the brisket. The meat was flavorful and tender, a very satisfying dinner. read more

See all

Great vibe, downtown. Great food. We had chili , nachos and a brisket plate. All excellent

This food is so delicious! I will eat here the whole entire week it's just that fabulous! we ordered the whole kit and kaboodle and each piece of meat was perfectly prepare, and the sides are just little bowls of happiness. Everyone is super friendly. Watkins Glen is truly becoming my favorite place to visit. So satisfying. read more

Great spot with both indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was friendly and helpful. We ordered a rack of ribs with French fries and coleslaw, onion rings, and chicken wings. The food was delicious! The ribs were "fall off the bone" awesome. The fries and onion rings were crispy. We used the original BBQ sauce. The berry sparklers were excellent as well. read more

See all

For a small dining room and bar I was happy with the set up. I was comfortable at the bar. Food was very good. Brisket was good. I was not a huge fan of the sauces.... I liked them all. I did not love any of them. Jalapeño Mac was excellent. Slaw was a touch watery for my preference. Two varieties of chicken wings (house bbq, rubbed Cajun) both good. Service was top notch. So all in all a good experience. I would recommend this when visiting Watkins Glen. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Jalapeño mac. Brisket sandwich. Slaw. - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Let me start by saying I've lived in NC and this was the closest BBQ I've had to Carolina BBQ. I had the two meat combo ( brisket and ribs), with potato and Mac salad. And my wife had pulled pork sandwich with fried. The fries were the only thing that was meh! Everything else was 1000% amazing! The decor was traditional bbq ish! Our servers were all amazing and our food came out super quick! It was a very unexpected dinner spot while chasing waterfalls on the finger lakes. read more

5:15 and a wait along with wonderful aromas. Fairly good sign. The Jens behind the bar made Kate a spicy margarita and popped me a haymaker and recommended a nice porter for later. Perfect start. Guy next to us got a brisket sandwich with too much brisket. Big chucks sticking out all sides. Decision made for me. We got seated quickly and Nixon proceeded to take great care of us. Got tots and burnt brisket ends to start. We drove 4.5 hours, hiked along the gorge for 2.5 miles, on an orange, apple and banana-we devoured most of it. Kate got the slow smoked half chicken with baked beans and cornbread. 10/10 on the chicken. At first the beans seemed to katchupy, but as time went on they mellowed out. The cornbread was moist, cinnamon butter was great accompaniment and Nixon got us more. I got the 3 BBBs brisket, bacon and blue cheese. Grilled brioche bun, with brisket hanging out all over. The greens were spiced and flavorful. I never got to the porter ale the Jens recommended, but we'll be back. A little loud but staff was happy, friendly and proud of the product they were serving. They should be, every town could use a Nickel's Pit BBQ read more

See all

Our first food stop of the trip was at Nickel's Pit BBQ. The place was so busy with some great live music. Food: I ended up ordering pulled pork, chopped brisket, fries, and a jalapeno mac and cheese. Everything was as expected for a BBQ restaurant, insanely delicious. I really enjoyed the mac and cheese and the chopped brisket was delightful. Service: our waitress Courtney was very good and very helpful, stopping by often to check in. Aesthetic: large amount of seating wrapped around the outside with a nice bar in the middle. Some of the food prep stations are visible with a lot of TVs to accommodate for sports. read more

See all

The service was the best. No the food was the best. No definitely the service. No. Clearly the food. Such was our ride home after Jessie and the whole team at Nickels fed and watered us (or for some margarita'ed or martini'ed). All three bbq sauces were top notch - but the ribs didn't even need sauce to be amazing. The brisket oh.my.word. And they love doggos! Highly recommend and would absolutely return read more

Overall: a top spot in the area for a reason, cooked to perfection, need to use the sauces on the table or they would be a little too under-seasoned Food: had the 1/2 ribs and brisket with the corn and bean salsa and tater tots - the ribs were fall off the bone that even the bone was breaking a little - brisket, very tender a little chewy but needed some sauce for sure, their red sauce and homemade bbq bottles they serve on the table are a must Service: got there right at 4 and even then people were starting to come filing in like flies. Quickly seated and helped us whenever! Inside: lots of space to sit, sat outside since it was such a nice day read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Ribs Beans Macaroni salad Sausage Brisket Pulled pork Tater tots Corn and black bean salad - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

My girlfriends and I ate at Nickel's on a Sunday afternoon, and we were not disappointed with our experience. We called ahead of time because we had a party of 9, but they said that they did not take reservations. Although it was a Sunday at 1:30, we had to wait about an hour to be seated. I definitely wish they would take reservations for larger parties! The food was great! I highly suggest the pickle platter and the cheesy tater tots as appetizers. I tried several of their smoked meats, all of which were excellent when accompanied by some of their homemade barbecue sauces! As for sides, the Mac n cheese was lacking flavor, but the cornbread muffin was out of this world! I would definitely suggest visiting Nickel's if you're in the area! read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Pickle Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Absolutely delicious meal. John was our server and recommended the best meal! He was terrific. Super quick arrival of the food. Ribs were superb, greens and slaw were amazing whiskey sour from scratch! Not to mention the cornbread I stole from my hubby. No photo, the food disappeared too fast! read more

Came for dinner on a friday, was pretty packed but didn't have to wait long. Service was great. Food was delicious, great portion sizes, and reasonably priced. My husband had the garbage plate and I had the nachos. I would recommend both to anyone. read more

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. My husband ordered a full rack of ribs, jalapeño man and cheese, and coleslaw. Everything was presented wonderfully and served quickly by our waiter. We loved our meals. We all were entertained by the drink menu scrolling through the digital screen located near our table music and lighting provided a great ambiance for our large party. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - My husband tray. Loved the coleslaw!! - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

See all

Just finished lunch here after a short walk in WG State Park. This was some of the best barbecue we've ever had - the brisket and pulled pork combo (pick your sauces, my favorite is the Carolina), the baked beans and the cole slaw, Along with pickles and pickled onions - all scrumptious. read more

Wonderful food even better service! Anthony (I hope that's his name) was very attentive and an all around excellent server. He genuinely made the experience. We will absolutely be back! read more

This is a very cool spot in Watkins Glen and very busy on a Friday night. It was a 35 minute wait for a table but we luckily got 2 seats at the bar. The bartenders were attentive and the beer menu had local brewery beer(always a plus with my husband & I). I ordered the burnt ends sandwich which came with 1 side (I got baked beans). My husband got the brisket platter with 2 sides (baked beans and cucumber salad). The wait was a little long but understandable with the full restaurant . My sandwich was very good except the sauces really didn't have much flavor or kick to them. The beans were just terrible! They had a tomato paste taste to them. I never have had a tomato base for baked beans and it was inedible. I said something to the bartender and she replaced it with Mac and cheese and that was very good. My husband hated his beans also and said his cucumber salad was bland. He did like his brisket. I remember coming here years ago and the sides were very good so something must have changed. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Burnt ends brisket with baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

Showed up here with some girlfriends on a motorcycle trip up from PA/NJ (between 4 and 5 pm) and there was a 20-30 minute wait. No biggie- that solidified that the place must be awesome and worth waiting for, because if people are filling it up and it's not lunch or dinner hours, that's impressive! So we waited around the bar area and they brought us some drinks, and when enough seats at the bar opened for all of us to sit down, they even let us just order food at the bar instead of waiting for a table. Among us we ordered some fried pickles (great but huge), brisket platter w/beans, cole slaw, and mini cornbread muffies (loved), and I think two girls shared a massive salad that came with bbq on top. Honestly what a great time we had. The vibe was awesome, the service was great and accommodating, and there were plenty of folks with their dogs with them out in the patio area! I later found out there's also a location of Nickels Pit in Corning, NY and the next time I go to the glass museum there I will definitely plan to stop in for lunch or dinner again. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Brisket platter with mini cornbread muffies, baked beans, and cole slaw. Cannot be beat!! - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

See all

The brisket and the service was excellent. The place was packed, but the tables turnover quickly. Just down the road from Watkins Glen. Enjoy!!! read more

After a really long hike This was the best idea I got the burnt ends sandwich with coleslaw yummmmmmm It was perfect Service was great at the bar. And the restaurant was dark. No fans at all. They really need something to live the air around. Other then that I highly recommend read more

Nickel's is a tasty and economical barbecue spot. Our group of 5 split the Pulled Pork Nachos and Pitmaster Combo (with an added quarter-rack of ribs) and it was the perfect amount of food. The barbecue sauces are great. The clear favorite was the "house" sauce but, obviously, we had to try to the XXXHOT. I have to warn you, it is POTENT. We immediately broke into hiccups, intense forehead sweat, or both. Pro tip: the other sauces are a bit mild so we ordered a side of the XXXHOT and mixed it into the others to get our desired spice level. Also, the service was attentive and the convenient downtown location is great. I'd definitely come back again. read more

See all

Great food and great service!! Loved being able to sit outside. Courtney the GM rocks!!

Decent BBQ place in downtown WG, but not really a place that stands out from any other similar BBQ restaurant I've been to. Typical modern decor with TVs inside and an outdoor patio by the sidewalk. We chose to sit outside on this fine evening. Place was busy but we didn't have to wait long on a table for two. Our server was very friendly and fairly quick with our waters and food, and she brought out a bowl of water for the dog at a nearby party's table. The food itself was good but didn't really stand out to me. Maybe I'm just jaded at this point. I enjoyed the chili side and wings. We also got the brisket and ribs which were flavorful with good char, but I found the brisket a tad dry. Prices were expensive too. Decent spot if you're dying for BBQ in the area. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - Chili, smoked wings and Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

We walked in and was greeted and seated promptly. our server John was very friendly and knowledgeable. We opted for the fried pickles for an app. Not my favorite, but we ate them. I had the plain brisket sandwich with tots on the side. Both were very good. My husband did the wings combo with coleslaw and corn/black bean salad.!He really likes the wings and coleslaw, but not the corn/bean salad. We would go back if in the area. read more

See all

We were looking for somewhere good to eat in Watkins Glen. We were happy that they had a Nickel's Pit. We enjoyed the food one time at the one in Corning and we love bbq. When I saw the description for the BBB (3B) the n the men I had to have it. It had all my favorite things - brisket, bacon, bleu cheese on one sandwich and my favorite side, tater tots. It was good. I enjoyed it. My husband enjoyed his pulled pork and corn bread. I got my first pumpkin beer of the season there. It was just ok. The waitress was very nice and accommodating. She checked on all of her tables regularly despite the place being packed. Service is important. read more

Nickel's Pit BBQ - I enjoyed my 3B sandwich and tater tots. - Barbeque Near Me - Watkins Glen, New York

See all

Fantastic barbecue, had the Brisket and Burnt End combo and I thought I was back in Texas or Kansas! If that's the style of barbecue you like, this is the place. They had all the sauces you could want to add too! The greens are generally not something I get BUT theirs is different and that's a good thing! Try 'em! read more