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    Pecan Penny's

    3.9 (361 reviews)

    Pecan Penny's Photos

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    PECAN PENNY'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Pecan Penny's

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    Bar area
    Meika G N.

    Hidden gem downtown they don't get the recognition they deserve! Service was great and friendly the restaurant is so nice love the patio and they are dog friendly ! Food variety is so good

    Patio
    Laura F.

    Son was home and wanted to go downtown for dinner. We intially started out around the corner at Little Palace but we wanted BBQ and remembered Penny's was close by. So glad we did! I have been here many times but never at night. At night, the patio is amazing. Twinkle lights. Comfortable tables that seat at least six. They have fun music playing at just the right level. They also have patio games: jumbo jenga and two sets of corn hole to play. Plus, the patio is very dog friendly. I was completely in my element and was having so much fun there. Food, as usual, is amazing. Its consistently this way. I recommend the Penny salad if you like beets. Mmmm They use cornbread for croutons and you can add protein for a reasonable up charge. Get dressing on side if you don't like it poured onto your greens heavily. The guys ordered burgers. Fries were delicious and plentiful. When the burgers came out they both said "oh, these look small" but as they ate them they realized they were filling and a perfect size. They each said they would order them again. They didnt leave hungry at all. Our server, Echo, was so nice. There wasn't anything she could have done better. So glad we came. We will be back. Highly recommend.

    Left: Pork It, Collard Greens, Cheesy Grits Middle: Half Poutine Fries, Chi-Town Dog Right: Chicago Beef, Potato Salad
    Demetrius B.

    When I picked up my takeout order, my first thought was, "this would be a fun place to have a few drinks." They had cheap beer, shot and cocktail specials reminiscent of a campus bar, and the patio/open windows have Sunday Funday written all over it. But those good vibes didn't follow the food home. Everything tasted fine, but that's about as far as I will go. The main portions were sizable, but the sides were on the small side. I would give the food another chance but definitely onsite with a beverage in hand.

    Sampler Platter: 3 meats (pulled pork, chicken, and brisket), greens, baked beans, and Texas toast.
    Niccole A.

    It was our first time visiting Pecan Penny's. We had heard good things + figured we'd give it a try. If I can be honest, the parking is terrible because of their location. I would not go on any other day but Sunday, which is the day we went. The atmosphere was good but they kept the front door wide open, which allowed too many flies in the dining area. I don't particularly care for eating with a bunch of flies all around me competing for my food. Our waiter was THE BEST!! He was friendly, patient, kind, + funny. We tried the "DOWNTOWN SAMPLER" which consists of ¼ Beef Brisket, ¼ Pulled Pork, ¼ Chicken, Texas toast + 2 sides. The greens were the best + seasoned great! The baked beans were good; creamy with a little spicy kick, I personally prefer sweet + creamy. We also got to try a free sample of their Mac + Cheese. Very bland + not baked. I was disappointed cause I'm a big Mac + Cheese girl. I could tell If they would have added some additional types of cheese + baked it, it would have been really good. Now onto the MEATS!!! This is where I found out that I am not a fan of their smoked barbecue at all. All their meat is made with a dry-rub and a "signature spice" + cooked slow over pecan and oak wood. It was something about the signature spice + the way they cook it, that I did NOT enjoy. Everyone's taste buds are different. They had four signature wet sauces on the table that you could add to your meat for flavor. I personally did not like any of them and I'm not sure why. Desserts!!! Our absolute FAVORITE was The Funnel Cake Fries!!! They were piping hot, fresh, + so sweet + good! We couldn't get enough of those! Overall, I would definitely visit Pecan Penny's again, but I would have to switch it up + try their signature hot dogs, a burger, a waffle fry, pretzel sticks, and definitely the The Funnel Cake Straws again. Go ahead and + give them a try + tell 'em Nicci sent ya!

    Wings and Collard Greens
    Andrew H.

    Great BBQ but stingy portions. I got: wings, collard greens, and brisket. All were very good! While they do serve up brisket (a Texas BBQ staple), the pecan-based name and the collard greens side tells me this place skews "Southern BBQ" which...is my favorite kind of BBQ. This place also has a lovely indoor/outdoor ambiance, complete with firepit. Decent selection of beers on tap too, usually a big weak-point of BBQ joints.

    Old fashioned
    Heithem E.

    Came in for a quick meal before a show. Good bbq place with nice beers and cocktails. I had smoked wings with dry rub and a brisket Philly. The wings were medium smoky and not overdone (they can get mushy if they're over-smoked). The brisket Philly was very good - the brisket was smoky and extremely tender! They have a fun feature - a pickle soaked in Koolaid - the flavor changes weekly (?). I had a pickle soaked in cherry koolaid - it was like a gherkin but not as sweet or spicy. Service was excellent - one server was managing the dining room and the bar that evening and was able to come around frequently . It was pretty quiet that night I was there.

    Brisket & onion rings
    Ang H.

    Great find with a nice outdoor space that's family friendly. The brisket was the best I've had, perfectly smoked! The onion rings were delicious too, the batter was kind of buttery. Highly recommend!

    Brisket Philly with potato salad.
    John C.

    An industrial, modern BBQ restaurant and bar in downtown Columbus. A bit of off street parking and on street parking. Indoor bar and mostly bar height table seating, outside seating as well. There was at least one child with her family dining. And one dog outside on patio with its family. I had the brisket Philly sandwich which was fresh and very good! A side of uninspired potato salad. They have Coke products, a plus for me. The bar was making Sunday special Mimosas and other drinks that looked good. Service was prompt, efficient, and pleasantly attentive. I tried here on a recommendation and would have no reservations about coming again. But, I doubt it will become a regular for this older fellow.

    Oct Burger Week Brisket Chili Burger
    Cristina P.

    Pecan Penny's is a good place to just chill with friends, It's very casual as if you are hanging out at a bbq in the park . There are outdoor games and you can bring in board games to play if you like. Servers are friendly. This time l stopped in for Burger and Beer week- the featured burger was Brisket Chili Burger it had brisket patty with chili and cheese- the burger was a bit of a disappointment - the chili left bun mushy and l had to add lots of bbq to get the flavor. I would definitely come back to Pecan Penny's as l typically like the food and burgers- - but l should have just went with one the normal burgers (which l know is cooked exactly the way l like). This special gave me more of a patty melt taste than the beef burger taste.

    Smoked Chicken Sandy
    Julia G.

    The food here was fine! The fries were good, especially with the different barbecue sauces. The Kramer was a solid burger, the smoked chicken sandwhich was just ok. Didn't give us pickles despite the menu saying it comes with fries and a pickle. Service was borderline not acceptable. Only a few tables at the restaurant and waited 25 minutes before i went inside and had to ask for the check because nobody was coming back to give it to us.

    Waffle fries because I already crushed the pork sandwich
    Jason H.

    Service was excellent. Ordered to go food and had a couple of beers. Ordered a mashed potato bowl with pulled pork, baked beans, and queso. Instead, I got a Mac and cheese bowl with croutons, brisket, cole slaw, and I don't know what else is in here. Not even close guys.

    Smoked, dry rub wings!
    J J.

    Whenever I'm in the Columbus area, I always find my way here. Always a solid choice. The brisket is definitely the star here they are always consistent with the flavor and cook! This is one spot I don't have to hope. I'm going to get some good brisket it's always legit. You definitely want to save room for deserts they got that down, too. The banana pudding is my thing! Staff is always super cool. I even got pointed in the right direction of a liquor store with a good selection of bourbon. Parking is minimal, but with being downtown, I'm glad they have some parking on premises. Definitely would recommend at least one trip there. The vibe is cool. Every time I've been in the music playlist always hit!

    Joey H.

    To the lonely man who was recently divorced, who keeps coming in for the barbecue, but maybe for human connection too: The ginger waitress in the yoga pants, the one who smiles a lot, talks with you, laughs with you, and kinda flirts with you while you give her your business card -- you know, the one who is working hard to raise the energy? She makes fun of you when you leave. After you provide her such a large tip on your check, she laughs about how men are so simple to get interested in her until she sometimes reveals to them the fact that she's pregnant and has a boyfriend. Her friends laugh with her as she diminishes you behind your back for being divorced, lonely, and frequently returning. You, sir, have probably had an incredible career. You made it further in marriage than many do. Some of us single men have reasons why we shouldn't take that leap into marriage yet. And now that you are alone after working throughout your life to leap for commitment and happiness -- from one man to another, I believe you still deserve happiness. And even though the barbecue at Pecan Penny's is amazing, you're not going to find happiness with a woman who makes fun of you after you seek her attention, tip her noticeably well, and step out. You did nothing wrong here to deserve being made fun of by her and her friends in front of other customers, but since we're being real -- you're not going to find what you're looking for at this bar. I highly recommend travel. You talked about Spain today. Try Latin America or South America. There are warm places that will naturally and authentically support your energy, where a woman has real empathy and a real heart for you. Find the authentic kindness. It exists. There is so much beauty out there, and you'll find a woman who values how you work and who you are as a man despite past flaws. Pecan Penny's bar is not the place where you're going to find that kind of woman. If it was, there would be a line around the corner for the amazing barbecue and authentic friendship. You're being used and diminished. This bar is not a good place to be alone. 3/12 Update: My friend went to Pecan Penny's. He sat down to eat and invited me over. I told him I wasn't ready to go back. He mentioned this review to the bartender, and the bartender told him to go to The Walrus (kicked him out). 3/19 Update: Heather, manager of Pecan Penny's texted me and told me this review is crazy. She said she is going to request Google to review it (photo attached). I don't know why Google would remove this review, when it is honest. Realizing I'll never be going back to this restaurant now, I think about how I supported Pecan Penny's for years (thousands of dollars of purchases during the pandemic when we ran Hidden Drive-In events in Downtown Columbus). I don't regret those times of support. I just notice how much has changed in the culture of this restaurant and maybe that is a reflection of downtown, or Columbus, or the country -- but I try not to let myself go that far. Kindness to others must continue on, or what's the point of cooking for them, serving them, having them as customers and inviting them to choose your restaurant to consume, rest, and relax in?

    Dining area cabinets and hope my silverware didn't come from here.

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    2 years ago

    Phenomenal. Brisket. 4 sauces. Pecan pie! Bravo on delicious food made by energetic people!

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    1 year ago

    Best BBQ in Columbus. Great cocktails as well. Kody is highly recommended, he knows his stuff!

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Pecan Penny's

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    I never leave Alibi disappointed. They always have such a creative menu with something for…read moreeveryone. It always amazes me how quickly they crank out such creative drinks. I'm sure some of them are batched, but they don't taste like they are. Service was excellent, as always. Endlessly knowledgeable. Small place, but never feels crowded even when full.

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    Astra Rooftop

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    Well now Pilgrim, ya'll know my name and how damn dumb I can be at times, but ya don't know that I…read morejust don't drink firewater. Nope. Got drunk once and made a fool of myself around Miss Libby when we was courtin - and she don't cotton to fools. So never again. That be what it may, I do like to socialize and be around interestin people. Since the kindly folks of the Cheyenne and Lakota tribes taught me the value of cultural diversity, I now enjoy just about every ones company. I like this waterin hole cuz you can find all kinds of fasinatin and different types of folks there. The grub is nice and fancy too. I like that. So when you got the urge to water your horses, this is a fine place to tie up. Happy trails and don't get in one of them horseless buggies and drive it when youre all liquored up - even just a little. Just ride on the back of someone elses horse.

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    Goodnight sweet prince
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    The bar

    Pecan Penny's - bbq - Updated July 2026

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