Ordered the half ribs, half pound brisket, and chicken wings. The brisket was sliced thin but buttery with an amazing flavor. The ribs had a great flavor also. Under $45 for everything. read more

I really wanted to give this place a good review & was excited to try them out, only when i did .. well let me just say save your money & go elsewhere. I was so disappointed with nearly everything I ordered, my friend and i placed a order with Postmates, food was semi cold but that I expected... Ribs/fish order : Ribs were definitely overcooked and dry , no sauce, no flavor just disappointing. Fish was salty but overall decent. Coleslaw was just sauce so idk what to say there, & the Fries were well seasoned probably the best thing in this order.. Muffin : basically a replica of cornbread made with cement so theres that Greens were just not for me at all i don't even know what to say about this one. Sweet & salty Mac n cheese : well you're better making your own out the box because its a complete joke to be honest Spaghetti : was actually good so props to that one I want to give them another chance but by the level of disappointment I'd rather not ‍ read more

Whatever you are doing right now, nothing could be more important than getting down to Smoke in the Pit. The Smoke Wings are simply amazing.

Awww Man.....not even close to as good as I thought it was gonna be. It pains me to say it too because it seemed like a legit joint with great yelp reviews! Five stars awarded for the friendly man working the counter and expediting food out the window. Also, five stars for the catfish. Even after a 25 minute drive home it was crispy, fresh, tasty, and not at all oily. My friends said they liked the smoked chicken wings too, but I didn't try them. The diminishing ratings start here. The ribs get two stars as they were super dry and a couple were petrified and unedible. This part hurts the worst because I'm a rib fanatic and I was banking on these things making me into a SITP regular. Zero stars for the mac n cheese as there was NO cheese. I'm not lying, none. They were buttered, pepper noodles. Zero stars for the corn bread muffins as they were rock hard and also inedible. I tried to warm them up but they stayed bullet proof. Maybe one star for the fried spaghetti? It was spaghetti but it was sweet as a jelly bean! The first few seconds of the bite were ok but then the flavor went totally sugary and unenjoyable. I most likely won't be going back as there are more and more bbq joints popping up. I will say we liked their bbq sauce and if you stick to wings and catfish you'll be pleased, but I'd advise not to venture into the rest I mentioned above. read more

Smoke In The Pit - Catfish...really good even after a long car ride. - Barbeque Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I'm super surprised that this place has so many great reviews! The wings were fine but one had a feather on it. Gross. The ribs were good. No complaint there. The coleslaw was weird because it tasted like potato salad. Beans meh. The Mac and cheese.... Barf! I can't believe I paid extra for a side of bland noodles. There was literally no cheese. The worst thing is that the cornbread wasn't even cornbread! I went to break the muffin in half and crumbs went flying everywhere! It was horrible.. it tasted like sawdust. Sides are important too, Smoke in the Pit. read more

Hole in the wall BBQ goodness! The wings and ribs from here are absolutely great. All the sides from this place are super delicious as well.

Some of the best wings in the city. So good. Support black-owned businesses in Mpls!!

Call first. Website says open 11 - 8. Drive across town in 10-degree weather at 4.30. Lighted sign says open 11 - 8. Place locked up tighter than a drum. I'm done. I don't think I'll give it another chance. read more

Large portions, very salty It is not expensive and you get a lot of average BBQ. Take out was quick and the staff was friendly. BBQ sauce is too tomatoey for me. I much prefer roosters or hickory hut in st paul, even though they cost a bit more. read more

I got the 3 ribs and catfish combo with fries. Fries, ribs, and bbq sauce were all solid and would warrant a 4/5 stars, but the catfish was a show stopper. Lightly breaded and perfectly seasoned (I like a lot of salt/seasoning), I really was not expecting to be blown away given how affordable this place is ($11.99 for a solid portion of food) but man that was some of the best fried fish I've had. Fries had a nice thick and crispy exterior but were still potatoey on the inside which was good, but nothing special. BBQ sauce tasted like a better and sweeter version of Arby's sauce which I thought went well with the fries and ok with the ribs. Ribs were decent, maybe a 7/10. They weren't super moist and fall off the bone good but I wasn't really expecting that at this price point. Good amount of meat and satisfied a craving. I really like that this place has like combos for around $6-7 and you can add a pulled pork sandwich a la carte for $4. Next time I will try the smoked wings, and honestly probably get the catfish again cause it was so good. read more

The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars instead of 5 was because the Mac and cheese was SO over-peppered. All I could taste was pepper. We got the ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, and pulled pork, and all of that was amazing. The bbq sauce especially was really, really good. Nice and rich and smokey with just enough sweetness. The coleslaw was creamier than I've had before and it tasted so good! The beans were good as well, and my husband loved his ribs. The pulled pork was super flavorful, with the sauce on top it was amazing. I will absolutely be back, I hope I just went on an off day for the mac & cheese! read more

This place is soooooo tasty. I am not a chicken wing fan at all, mainly b/c people tend not to cook them well enough, but the smoked wings here had me salivating. I would always ask for them to be a little crispy and well-done, and then they were perfect. The only thing I did not care for is their barbeque sauce, as it tasted a lot like ketchup. The ribs were pretty good also and I absolutely love their collard greens! They were flavorful and slightly sweet. read more

This place exceeded all of my tastebud expectations! I was even able to get past the fact that there are no tables to sit and enjoy your food, nor is the Mac and cheese baked.... I ordered a full slab of ribs, and the catfish and smoked wing combo with 2 orders of baked beans. Let me tell you something! I had to have a bone or 2 before walking out the door! The meat fell OFF THE BONE! Mm! So good!! The customer service was great! They didn't rush me as I looked at the menu and drooled over my options. I will for sure be back! I have to try the smoked turkey leg next! read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat when I go to Minneapolis. The BBQ is some of the best I've ever had. Smokey, flavorful, and awesome bbq sauce. love the pulled pork sandwich too read more

Smoke In The Pit - I forgot to take the pick before I dug in Lol - Barbeque Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The hubs and I were bickering over where we were going to eat and I decided barbecue. He had recently read an article reminding him of Smoke in the Pit. Amazing!! We had smoked wings, ribs and fried catfish. The ribs and wings were meaty, smoke flavored through our, and the bark was DELICIOUS! The catfish was huge, breaded right and never got soggy. The prices were excellent for the portions, and I ate the food so quick I was almost embarrassed. We'll be back, again and again. Couldn't recommend it more! read more

Was looking forward to a good bbq! When we arrived we missed the place, no street sign for the place. We backtracked and went inside, surprised that there were no seating. Didn't even look at the menu, decided to go somewhere else for lunch. If you want bbq, follow the directions to another place. read more

We moved to the Twin Cities a few years ago. We spent a lot of time in Kansas City, so were used to lots of wonderful BBQ options. We absolutely LOVED Smoke In The Pit! To begin, the service was wonderful and prompt, even though they were busy in the middle at around 3:00. We would highly recommend the brisket-- it was juicy and tender. The pork sandwich was also flavorful. The slaw is on the sweeter side and we loved it. The beans were also very tasty and spiced nicely. Finally, we loved their sauce. We used the sauce on the meats and on the fries, which were also really good. My only regret is we didn't order more, but I guess that will motivate us to go back soon! read more

What a joint! A small place, no dinning. But the food!! I got the 3 piece smoked wing lunch deal. The wings were amazing!! The spices were delicious. The meat just fell off the bone. The skin was super crispy. Everything you could ask for. The fries were also fried to perfection. I wish I had a picture, but it tasted soooo good!! read more

My brisket sandwich had a single slice of meat and was not good. The focus on meat is cool but there are literally no vegetables (fried okra?). Would avoid this place at all costs. read more

Generous taste, portions and fair price. The staff is excellent, the takeout easy and always SO GOOD. I come back to it often and you should too! Great local business with a quality location. When you stop in, make sure to stop and pay tribute to George Floyd down the street. A beautiful location to Bless the life of All people, in honor of George. read more

Took the boys to a quick stop "In the Pit" and I will most definitely stumble back in the future. Boy-o-boy were the ribs tender. The smokey tenderness almost overwhelmed me to the point of tears.... I had to choke them back as I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of my kids. The pulled pork was delicious as was the extra side of tangy, yet smokey sauce.... all topped with the creamy slaw. My hands were dripping. Next time I go I will have to try out the catfish, maybe before my knitting club at Phelps Park dare I say? This is near my old stomping grounds as well... I could even bring some home to my ma.... she would love it.... a change of scenery from Bucca di beppo could do wonders. Keep working hard & keep the "Smoke in the Pit!" Yabbadabbadoo! read more

The manbeard and I came here on a whim one day because the yelp reviews for this place were crazy good and I am from the South (well, actually I am from Asia but I don't know why, comfort food to me are either noodle soups or fried chicken. Don't judge) and I needed some brisket, ribs, and wings. You guys, when they said "hole in the wall" I thought it was proverbial. Like hipster "I go to this hole in the wall". It was literal. It is a literal hole in the wall. You walk up to a glassed window and you tell them your order. There is maybe one chair there for you to sit on. You can get a coke from the gas station down the street. That kind of thing. Don't get me wrong, I am still jotting this down for my hipster street cred. "Oh my favorite wing joint is this family joint, hole in the wall". All that to say, don't come here expecting servers and a menu. There is a menu, it is on a whiteboard above the window. Since then manbeard and I come here once a week. They probably know me on sight. We call them up and a little asian lady rolls up in sweats (that's me). Most often we get wings. Fried. It is the perfect crispy salty, chewy, savory. The manbeard digs the smoked wings but I like my wings crispy. Matter of taste. We also love the ribs: they are huge and delicious. I don't even need sauce for any of it it is just that awesome. Oh and their cobbler is perfectly spiced but dude. It is ALL about the meat. read more

Half slab dinner for 12.75 - just crazy - are you kidding me?? I recently went to Kansas City and had comparable ribs at a couple of places in that rib mecca for around 15 or even a little more. Greens were delicious with a bit of richly flavored pot liquor at the bottom. Don't lose out on getting their best and meatest menu option by being a cheapskate. Of course the sandwiches aren't gonna be culinary masterpieces - they are snacks. So yeah - go big and you will thank yourself, you get a mountain of ribs for the cost of an appetizer at a trendy bar in North Loop or wherever. Big meaty and juicy ribs, really nice bark, sauce is good and spicy. The meat is smokey, tender and cooked to perfection so you might not even want to adulterate it with the sauce. Service was very fast and friendly. And yeah - the slice of white bread - don't knock it! This is something of a tradition at the many of best bbq places across the country. Just take it as a sign that you've found good a real deal bbq smokehouse. read more

Fall off the bone greatness! I'm addicted at the first bite. I now need to make a budget just to come here at least once a week. I had the greens... it's a little tarte but delicious. The seasoned fries are similar to the Arby's fries where is been battered... no ketchup needed. I got 3 wings and 3 ribs. The wings were delicious and fall of the bone. The ribs were tender. I love ribs. These are the ribs you marry.. i was devoted from the first bite. The bbq sauce on the side is spicy in a red sauce concoction.. perfect for dipping.. I'm not a big sauce if the meat tastes great.. this meat didn't need any help. If you have not tried this place.. you need to do everything and go. read more

In my quest for the best barbecue in the TC I somehow overlooked this place but read the reviews and went to check it out. Now I have to add I have been to all of the better barbecue joints in the Twin Cities. Big daddy's, Roosters, Ted's 19 th hole, Baldy's and Lee and D's. Ted's is very very good but Big Daddys up until last night was in my opinion the best there was in the Twin Cities. As I said until last night. Smoke in the pit is off the charts amazing. Very very good. It is truly a hole in the wall and looks like exactly what a good barbecue place should look like. I ordered a slab of ribs and the smoked wings. The smoked wings were freaking amazing and the ribs were also done perfectly - they do not need any sauce which in my opinion is the test of any good rib ( their sauce is good though). They had the right amount of smoke, perfect tenderness and really good seasoning- nothing over-the-top just perfect. This will be my go to barbecue place from now on! 6.11.15 My 2nd visit was as good as the first. Here's the bottom line: If you love and appreciate GREAT barbecue then you MUST check this place out. SO GOOD!! read more

I had read and heard positive reviews about this place and finally found the time to stop in when I was in Minneapolis. Street parking is not easy and if you blink it's easily missed. It was worth the drive and the parking search to get to the door. When you walk in there is a window looking into the kitchen and a large menu on the wall. I ordered the ribs and smoked chicken wings. The smell was intoxicating while chatting with the friendly and helpful staff. My order was taken quickly and my wait time was short. I had the great fortune to meet the owner while waiting and found out that he had a place on Lake Street at one time many years ago and the food there was incredible. Well, twenty some years have gone by and this hidden gem may have moved, but the food is still incredible!! I have had BBQ all over the south and many places close to home. I rarely find good BBQ here in the northern states. But when I do, I like to give it good review. Here's the deal: The sauce was served on the side which is great to NOT interrupt the awesome smoked flavor of the meats. I had three pork ribs, three wings with two sides, Mac N Cheese and Beans. The meal was delicious!! The meats had good smoke flavor and the sides accentuated the meats perfectly. I live south of the cities and it's a little drive to get here but it is worth the trip for authentic BBQ and excellent customer service. What a great experience!! This is true Heart & Soul Food!! read more

This place does not disappoint! I have been here a few times now and have never had a bad meal. The last time I went to get some food, I got the 1/2 slab of ribs dinner with coleslaw and mac & cheese. Mac & cheese was kind of dry but that's not what you're really going there for, right?! I was very pleasantly surprised by the amount of meat on the ribs. They were nice, big, juicy ribs and definitely enough for 2 meals all at a very affordable price of $12.50. I love their peach cobbler as well! So tasty and yummy!! Also, the guys working there are really hardworking people and I really appreciate them working so hard and quick to crank out delicious orders for everyone! read more

Smoke In The Pit - 1/2 slab ribs with 2 sides - Barbeque Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Three words: GET THE RIBS! We finally got around to trying this little blue hole-in-the-walll on south Chicago Ave. and I'm so thankful we did! (And it is, literally, a hole-in-the wall. Small take-out place, but very clean and smelled wonderful). The ribs have an amazing smoked flavor and lots of meat on the bone. The Brisket Sandwich was also tasty. And the baked beans were excellent. The kids gave the fried chicken wings a huge thumbs-up as well. And the customer service was great as well. I didn't call ahead, so as I waited for my food, several folks came in to pick up their take-out orders and they had only the best things to say about the food in general. (Many praising the ribs, and I now see why). I highly recommend! (And next time I'm trying the catfish... mmmmmmm.) read more

Stopped by to grab dinner during one of our work nights on the new pad - got the wing dinner and a few other things - pretty much all of the sides. It is legit - great smoked flavor, really good down home food. The mac and cheese was amazing! Definitely worth a trip - but take out only - so if you don't want to wait - make sure to call ahead! Really nice folks running it too! read more

Bi-weekly take out place for our family of three. Service always friendly, excellent and efficient. Food always hot! Very busy on our weeknight so if you have to wait a few minutes, don't be surprised. We always pick up a few "dinners" and have had both the cole slaw and beans as sides- spicy but so good! Recommends are the catfish bites (never soggy), riblet dinner, and three ribs dinner. Sauce is excellent and zesty. We like the side of greens as well- not over salty like some places. Overall, 5 stars and we'll be back for take out at this neighborhood gem!!! read more

Fantastic food from fantastic folks! Today marked my first visit to Smoke in the Pit so I ordered the half-rack of ribs. Tender and falling off the bone I ate up the smokey goodness. Let me tell you they were fantastic! I got their fries and baked beans as my two sides. By the time I had finished my ribs it was hard to dig into the sides as I was content and full of nummy meat. Total for my meal was around $13 which could have easily fed two. I highly recommend Smoke in the Pit to any of you meat lovers! I know I'm going back for more! read more

Smoke In The Pit - Half-rack with fries and beans - Barbeque Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This review is based on the smoked wings and service. This was our first time here. So this is a take out place which we didn't mind we just ate in our car outside the joint and grubbed. All I got to say is the smoked wings are amazing!!! So tasty and jumbo sized. When you take a bite it makes you feel like your in your the dirty south but your not, your right here in Minneapolis. Service was great, fast and friendly! So good! Can't wait to go back! read more

So, I love this place...Holy bananas! I order food every Thursday for our management meeting and my coworkers were hungry for BBQ, I always aim to please. Due to an issue with bitesquad's menu stating the fried spaghetti was vegetarian (I work with quite a few vegetarians) when it arrived I was pretty bummed for my herbivore friends when it wasn't. I contacted BiteSquad and they spoke with the restaurant and the owner was so wonderful to send an order of greens for us! It wasn't even Smoke in the pit's fault, it was BiteSquad and they made good on that. Talk about customer service! I'm impressed. The chicken wings are some of the tastiest things I have eaten, seriously. The ribs are to die for, guys! Every time I've gotten food from here it has been fantastic! When my coworkers say that I need this to "be in my back pocket" when I order food, it speaks volumes. Thanks guys, you rule! read more

This is some great Q I stumbled across when in town about 7 months ago. Came 20 minutes out of my way this time remembering that great smokey smell. Ordered the 3 wing/3 rib combo each time with Mac n cheese. Outstanding BBQ in Minneapolis. And the father and son behind the counter couldn't be cooler. read more

Smoke In The Pit - Ordered the 3 wing/3 rib combo with Mac n cheese. Outstanding bbq in Minneapolis. - Barbeque Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Always excited by the possibility of good BBQ in the TC, but not sure this place is it. On my visit, I tried three dishes: fried wings, smoked wings and rib tips. Conclusion? 1 for 3. Fried wings sucked. You know what? Fried wings always suck. I don't know why anyone would order them, and I certainly didn't (someone else in my party did), so there's that. Wings are too damn bony and meat-less to be good fried. Smoked wings were very good. Nice smokey flavor, deep into the meat. I wish the skin had been fried a little or something, as it's texture was not great, but overall these were the best item I had. Rib tips. So close. So, so close. Nice bit of smokiness and flavor, so I was really hoping these were it. But damn were they tough and a bit dry. Catch a piece just right, approach the grain from the right angle, and it could be pretty nice. But you were fooling yourself. These little nuggets were more disappointing than satisfying. BBQ sauce wasn't anything to brag about, nor were the sides. At best, another mixed-to-disappointing place, depending on the dish and perhaps the luck of the draw. C'mon, Msp! Quit encouraging Market Street and Ted Cook's and demand quality BBQ! read more

Very friendly service with stellar smoked chicken wings. No sauce needed, just napkins. Some felt the ribs were too salty, but as someone who generally is not a heavy salt user I felt that while salty, they were not too salty. The sauce for the ribs is too sweet for my taste. The cole slaw is made with a mayo based dressing. It is ok but not something I am going to be clamoring for the recipe. The beans were also so so. Maybe if they added some smokey meat to them they could be improved. The place is small and take out only. read more

Food/Drink: Came here to pick up a quick lunch with a disclaimer that I've been here before. This time warranted me coming back and kicking off a slew of reviews. Got the special pulled pork sandwich and the brisket sandwich for someone else. The sides (coleslaw, beans or mac and cheese) were pretty "bleah" and you could easily skip for more meat. The sandwiches were completely on point with good juice soakage to the buns which I deem as key. Also, the fries are breaded up well and taste awesome, get extra BBQ sauce for dipping. The menu has a bunch more options that will keep me coming back and the value is straight up good. Ambiance: None. Get in, go to the window and order. During the summer they have a few tables setup, but that's pretty much it. If you're desperate AKA cold in MN you can absolutely stand inside, but be aware there's no such thing as space setup to support you. The rest of it's pretty much walls, but the sign is pretty cool. Service: Decent. No complaint, but be efficient. The focus is getting hot BBQ out the door to the customers and there's typically a queue of orders. That being said, you'll typically never wait for more then 10-15 minutes to get your grub on. As they're pretty small, double check their open hours and days in advance of planning a trip there. Overall: There's another BBQ joint down the road, but push come to shove, I'd recommend Smoke In the Pit within a 5 mile radius. You won't be disappointed, it's quick, good and hot BBQ. Plenty of different meat options at a good value. read more

though it's a small establishment the food is so freakin good. I don't even like catfish but I mess with their nuggets here... If you haven't had it come try it. Promise you'll be satisfied. read more

We picked up ribs for a family celebration. The best in the city and worth the trip wherever you are coming from. My husband thought Dwight was the nicest guy and wanted to give a shout out to him for his great customer service. Everyone loved them. They were eating them standing up as we were cleaning the dishes. I loved them because they required no sauce. It is all about the meat. Delish! read more

I went here on a Sunday afternoon two weeks ago. My BBQ crave was on big time. So I drove my family into South Minneapolis looking for this joint. Total cost (includes tax): $54.74 (pork spare ribs full slab $23.99, 1lb brisket $18.99, large mac & cheese $4.99, and small fried spaghetti $3.19) Pork Spare Ribs: The rib seasoning was poor, there was no smoke flavor at all, the color of the meat was off, and the texture was dry. The ribs looked old - probably 2 days old. Taste: Poor Price: Too High Food Quality: Poor Workmanship: Poor Turn-around time: Okay Beef Brisket: Thinly sliced with too much fat, no smoke flavor, the color of the meat was off, and the texture was too dry. I could tell the meat was probably 2 to 3 days old and re-heated many times. Taste: Poor Price: Too High Food Quality: Very Poor Workmanship: Poor Turn-around time: Okay Mac & Cheese: The mac & cheese was just as poor. No cheese at all, it looked like they used dry parmesan and a little butter mixed with too much water. Taste: Very Poor Price: Average Food Quality: Very Poor Workmanship: Very Poor Turn-around time: Okay Fried Spaghetti: It actually was fettucine that they used, the sauce tasted like it was mixed with ketchup and canned spaghetti sauce, and there was some meat. Taste: Very Poor Price: Okay Food Quality: Very Poor Workmanship: Poor Turn-around time: Okay Their BBQ sauce (free) was pretty much just ketchup and a little vinegar, no taste and seasoning, I did not know why they had to heat the sauce. Heating it made it taste nasty. Conclusion: I highly do not recommend this place if you want BBQ. read more