The food is usually pretty good, however the takeout service is terrible. We have been going for years, but when we takeout food, things are often forgotten and/or missing. We ordered a French Dip, and there was no au jus. We also ordered hash browns, and they were missing. read more

Have to say the half rack of St. Louis Ribs were disappointing. Very dry and definitely overcooked. The sauce is very good but it could not camouflage.the dry tough meat. The best part of the order was the half kosher dill pickle. That was great. Hard to find really good pickles anymore. Harder to find real tender off the bone ribs. Damn I really miss Tony Roma baby backs. Now these were ribs. Next time we have a taste for BBQ ribs we will try Sauce on North Main Street. Has to be better than the dry tough half rack we had tonight. read more

We were traveling and were hungry. We got off the freeway in Walnut Creek and there was Hick'ry Pit. The smell was amazing! We pulled in and since they were not too busy were seated right away. Our waitress was an older woman very nice. We ordered. Then we waited and waited and waited. 45 min later still no food. Waitress MIA . 2 tables were seated , fed and left. My husband literally flagged down the Manager and asked him what was going on. He said he'd be right back. 10 min later our food arrived from the MIA waitress. "Sorry for the wait" and left. Manager never came back. My husband called him over and he went into the back. Bill was full price, no offer of dessert on the house.... Nothing for the horrible service. You can do better. Especially when you are SLOW! 3 stars because the place was clean, hostess nice and talkative , food was GOOD!!!! read more

Fantastic tri tip sandwich I could eat it everyday onion rings are superb environment is way cooler at night than in the day for some reason dont know why it just is read more

If I could give minus stars I would...horrible....ribs were old and mealy...dry...beans weren't really beans, they were like some kind of sludge at the bottom of a pot that burned. Sadly, I remember when this was a quality rib place...if it wasn't for the hospital being next door, it would not make it.. I lived next to the original owner, Emil Villa..he'd be turning over in his grave! SHAME ON YOU! I can only feel bad for the employees who work hard...they have to deal with the aftermath of disgruntled customers. This was a to go order, so I'm guessing I got the worst of it. I'm spreading the word and you'll NEVER get a chance to rip me off again. read more

The Original Hick'ry Pit - Ribs covered in FAT - New American Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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We decided to treat ourselves and enjoy some dinner. Prisilla was our attentive waitress. We made ourselves at home at the bar and watched sports and the cooks at work WOW. We had tri-tip with fries. Kecvin and Felix were the fantastic cooks that prepared our dinner. The tri tip was perfect, as we asked for rare/medium rare. It was served on sour dough bread with brown sauce that was made on site. Spectacular place, fantastic service and outstanding staff!!! read more

I needed to write this review. It's bothered me for quite some time, and news is others feels the same. The days of 10% and 15% tip is long gone. Seems the least is 18% with an upwards of 25% as a selection. But to be MADE to tip on a take out order is ridiculous! If your order is under $50, they tack on 10%, and 20% if your order is over $100. A tip is for service your waiter provided to you. A take out order is me coming in to grab the food I ordered. And don't ask for extra sauce...it's a $1.00 extra! And to top it all off, it took 10 minutes to get someone's attention. And by the time I got home, my food was actually cold. Was my food only lukewarm to begin with? I will NOT be supporting this restaurant anymore. read more

Delicious Ribs Very fresh salad Had leftovers the next day and they were delicious Can't ask for a better dinner read more

Since coming here for over 15 years the place has definitely changed but for the better I believe. The inside is more modern with a full bar section with TVs perfect for game day/nights or to just hang out and have good conversation. The staff has always been great and continue to be great since coming as a kid. I always order chicken fried steak but I saw this plate being served to another table and thought why not. It was delicious and the house sauce was good! Almost like a baked beans kind of sauce/dip. I would order again and recommend it to anyone wanting a chicken sandwich. read more

The Original Hick'ry Pit - Ultimate Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

This is a weekly outing for me & my husband. The St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, their coleslaw, and everything else on the menu is top-notch! Melody was our server this time (but all of the people who work here are outstanding). Extremely clean! Do yourself a favor and know that you will be eating like Kings & Queens! Check out this place as soon as you can :) read more

Stopped in at the Original Hick'ry Pit for the first time ever and was pleasantly surprised at how great everything was. The Original Hick'ry Pit is located on S. Main St in Walnut Creek across from panCoast Pizza and Las Lomas High. The space is warm and welcoming, think classic old fashioned diner. Breakfast is served all day with the exception of griddle items, such as pancakes, waffles and French toast which are served until 2 pm. It took us a solid 10 minutes or so to place our order as the menu is pretty extensive. Lots of omelette choices, burgers, sandwiches, bbq etc. The OH Pit is also equipped with a full bar and a good selection of beers on tap. We settled on the Beef Dip with your choice of tri tip, ham or Turkey and one side. My husband chose the tri tip medium rare and a side of fries and I got the Reuben sandwich and chose the side salad with ranch. The side salad came out first and it was good sized fresh green salad topped with croutons, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded red cabbage and a nice runny ranch. So good! I asked for a side of thousand island dressing to accompany my Reuben sandwich as it doesn't come with the dressing. The sandwich was fantastic. It came out piping hot and was delicious. The tri tip in my husband's sandwich was also perfectly medium rare and came on a Dutch crunch roll and a well seasoned Au jus dip. The fries were a little disappointing, though. They were on the soggy floppy side. Will definitely try the onion rings next time. We also shared a piece of pecan pie a la mode and it was okay, the crust wasn't flaky or crisp. I wouldn't order it again but that won't deter us from trying something else in the near future. My husband was thrilled with this place as he is a lover of comfort foods-- the Original Hick'ry Pit embodies that! We will definitely be adding it into our regular rotation. read more

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The Hickory pit was pretty delicious nothing spectacular. However they have a variety of foods. The service was good. They were attentive and understood the assignment. Nice and bright plenty of seating. Wasn't super busy on a Sunday morning at all. They are located right next to Kaiser Walnut Creek so if you got some time on your hands, take the break. read more

OMG. I ordered an omelette at a work lunch with my colleagues. It was THE most horribly overcooked overpriced omelette I've ever had. Who messes up eggs? I just took the zero, didn't want to kill the fun vibe at the table. The waitress? Flat, weird: I guess she was stressed out w/ a party of 7. Kaiser employees. Girl, bye. We zip folks up in body bags at work. How hard is it to sling dog food & pretend to care? We were all nice & patient, tipped her well but we won't be returning. Don't waste your money here. Too many better choices in WC. read more

Hick'ry Pit's parking lot is very limited. Most likely you'll need to street park which is metered. The restaurant has beef around for decades. They still smoke their ribs and meats with Hickory wood in a large circular oven pit. The results are very tender meats. The meat falls off the bone. The Smokiness from the Hickory wood gives a pleasant outdoor flavor. The pork falls off the bone, and when combined with the house BBQ sauce, you have a savory delicious slab of ribs. The ham was also very tender and delicious. It was not hard, or dry. I would order the ham again too. The side salads were prepared perfectly. You get ample portions of green house salad with your choice of dressing. The Potato salad was also very delicious. For dessert, order one of Hick'ry Pit's fresh fruit pies. We ordered a slice of their fresh peach and strawberry pies. Not overly sweet, extremely flavorful and delicious. The service was prompt, and our server was very friendly and helpful. The Hick'ry Pit in Walnut Creek is a nice place to eat if you're craving BBQ meats. I feel the BBQ meats are a little pricey, but the BBQ meals are very good. Come and experience one of the rare restaurants that actually prepares their BBQ meats with actually Hickory wood. read more

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When I was a kid so I'm 50 years ago, my family would go to the Hickory pit. One of the locations was in Walnut Creek. Another was in Oakland in a converted quarry that became a water feature so when my family from Southern California goes to the Bay Area, it is somewhat of a tradition to go to the Hickory pit and have ribs sometimes even pie afterwards. This past weekend was one of those trips to the Bay Area and we enjoyed our ribs in Walnut Creek very much. They fell off the bone. They have a great barbecue sauce and they come with a side. The food was delicious. Service was good and parking was fine. It's a highly recommend. read more

This place was fantastic. Beautiful portion size is delicious food. Place itself can get a little bit loud when there's a lot of people there. But it's definitely worth it. Service was great. Our server was fast, friendly and took care of all our needs. We were there for breakfast and I was happy to get some delicious meats with my breakfast other than the normal bacon and sausage. What a treat. read more

Food, Service, and Ambience were all great! The bottomless mimosas on Sunday were fantastic! They only show the local games! They hit the mark on all counts, but the lack of Sunday games faded this rating. Great bar! Get the NFL ticket and make it five stars! read more

I was so excited to order takeaway from this long time establishment. Walking in was like a time warp into the 70s with kitschy decor, traditional diner furnishings and old style booths. It was popular at lunchtime on a Saturday. The display of a great selection of freshly baked pies was impressive in their own glass refrigerated case. Service was efficient and friendly when I walked up. We ordered the Turkey Club on wheat and French Dip on dutch crunch. The bread and meats in both sandwiches were noticeably fresh and generously portioned. They were delicious. We plan to come back to try the famous ribs! read more

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I've been coming here for more than 40 years but lately it's no longer the go to place! We came last night 9 of us and the food is not the same ! The coleslaw dressing is a different recipe and just ordinary now. I will say those that got the BBQ burger still loved it! Dip sandwiches are still pretty good. Crumb top apple pie top crust was raw and stringy. Baked potatoes only come with sour cream and butter. The service was like being in a 3 stooges show! Every meal was wrong and it took forever to get the correct food. Restaurant was only about 25% full. The busboy was clearing the table even though I asked him to leave the water as we were ordering dessert. When I arrived I had mentioned we were celebrating 2 birthdays and they said we give each a complimentary piece of pie which NEVER happened! read more

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So disappointed. We got the Sports Special take out: ribs, potato salad and coleslaw with biscuits and brown gravy. the ribs were dry, stringy and tasteless. We had to add our own BBQ sauce to add some flavor and moisture. There was enough for 2 nights but neither of us wanted a rerun. The biscuits were flavorless and got tossed too. The potato salad was only mashed potatoes without seasoning. The cole slaw was chopped cabbage only. There was a little container of mayo... to add yourself? The gravy might be salvageable after some salt. is the palate dumbed down for the elderly clientele? I wanted a peach pie but not with cream on top. It is not a good value for $45+ George's hamburgers a block away is an excellent value instead. read more

Good BBQ but the food changed during the pandemic. I don't believe they are using their smoker anymore because there is not much of smoked flavor in the meat items. Also the brown sauce is not as good as it used to be - I think it had meat drippings but it now tastes like brown gravy from a bottle. The breakfast menu is excellent - classic American diner items plus more. And their pies are very good read more

This place is as OG as it gets. I heard their pies is where its at. But first, we tried a slab of the St. Louis cut ribs and a french dip sandwich. The ribs were falling off the bone tender. Were they the best ribs I've ever had? No, but good though. The french dip sandwich though was fire. It was one the best dip sandwiches I've had since I can remember. Highly recommend. We also ordered slices of the strawberry, banana cream, and chocolate cream pie to go. They were pretty good, the banana was my favorite. Not very sweet but good. Overall solid place for lunch and pie. read more

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If you are in the mood for some vintage diner food, you have to put this on your list. From a friendly staff to a time tested menu, you can find something for everyone. Now they even have a full bar for those after quitting time get together. read more

Historic breakfast and barbecue in the Bay Area. Used to be Emil villas But sold off many years ago and now locally owned. I sit at the bar and custom order. It's clean and fast and the waitresses like Kristin and Almost all of the others are long term employees and super nice and helpful. The bacon and sausage are awesome. Everything is fresh and yummy . It's comparable to Big bear dinner but a little bit better. read more

You can sit at the bar and the waitress can forget about your order while you sit there for 40 minutes

Came with my family (a group of six) on a late Sunday afternoon and we were seated right away; it wasn't too busy in there. The menu is pretty extensive, with everything from breakfast to BBQ to burgers, sandwiches, and more, so I had a hard time choosing what I wanted for my first meal here. A burger sounded pretty good, and the Mexicali ($18) sounded very good, so I decided to go with that. The food came out pretty quickly, given how much food we ordered between us, and the portions were generous. My brother ordered some BBQ and sides and his platter in particular was pretty large. While the burger was very delicious (it came with avocado, lettuce, tomato, pepper cheese, and a chipotle aioli), I was a bit disappointed with how little aioli they put on it. I actually doubted that there was any on there at all until I pulled the top bun off to check. I really couldn't taste it, so that was a huge bummer and a reason for knocking off a star. That aside, the fries were incredibly good and everyone was happy with their food. Nothing was left at the end. I'd come back here to try other things on the menu (and the pies!), but if I got this burger again I'd ask them to put way more aioli so it's actually detectable. read more

Made the mistake of going here again! My fault. No white bread! Dryest BLT ever. Only offered sourdough or wheat. This place is circling the toilet! read more

This restaurant feels old and tired. The food was just okay. The St.Louis ribs did not have much flavor unless you smothered them in bbq sauce. The baked potato was gummy and tasted sweet. We really wanted to like this place because we enjoyed it many years ago. Will not be returning. read more

1958? 1958! It's been around for a loooonnnnnngggg time. About 20 spaces to park in the front, but a free lot in the back which I had to use at 1130am on a Thursday. Inside, it's very much like an older Denny's or IHop -- not very nice, but appears clean and in order. I met my manager for lunch, and the noise-level wasn't bad at all...perfect for talking (and hootin' hollar'n occasionally). The menu is quite outstanding, with at least 10 things I wanted to order. Big plus is that breakfast is served all day...yes! I got a Pulled Pork Sandwich [$17.50, 4.5 stars] served with french fries and cole slaw. Really good fries and slaw -- but housemade. However, I ordered a side of BBQ beans [$5, 1.5 stars] and they were from a can (c'mon!) with some added BBQ sauce...I find that ridiculous. The bun was fluffy and fresh (amazing), and the pork was delicious. Not nice enough to bring my gf, but the food (and service) are very good enough to try again. read more

Food was good/ service was appalling. Took10 minutes before anyone asked me if I wanted coffee. Took another 10 minutes before I flagged someone down to take my order. Whatever server who was responsible for me never actually waited on me. Meanwhile, the manager was happily tucking into his own breakfast , only concerned about getting more syrup for his pancakes. Had to flag a 4th person to get my bill. Disgraceful. Used to be a great breakfast place. read more

Have been eating here for at least 30 years. The last 2 times I noticed the original brown gravy did not taste good and the ribs were not smoked the same . Today it was the same experience . I talked manager and he denied any change and said that if there is 3 complaints a day he would look into it. There should be no complaints as I see it. He did not care and sid it is the prep people. After all these years I wo t be back. What a shame that they no longer care. read more

I grew up going to the Hick'ry pit with my grandparents so this restaurant has a special place in my heart. The quality is top notch, as it has been for the last 20+ years! Our food came out fresh and piping hot! The tri-tip was tender and juicy and the au jus had just the right amount of saltiness. Our waitress, Kathy A, was amazing and so kind. The only thing I will say is that the interior needs an update but that's it! I can't wait to come back! read more

The Original Hick'ry Pit - Tri-tip french dip and a Reuben in the back - New American Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Most amazing food and fantastic service!! I've been coming here since I was a kid. It is a must visit when I'm back in Cali. read more

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Food service was slow , Had to catch waitresses eye after several attempts. French toast was burned underneath. I gave them another chance by ordering take out the take out food items were missing although it was pre paid. Phoned back the manager and they apologized and promised to send certificate to reduce food price on a new order this did not happened, certificate was not received as promised by manager. 3rd try baked beans were missing from take out order again. Ambiance: football coaches , and diverse groups populated in the morning breakfast read more

This place. Just WOW! So good! The ribs are fall off the bone and seasoned perfectly! Sorry no picture included. The place was busy but we were seated and our waitress was amazing. She was so helpful and made sure we were well attended to. Save room for pie! Trust me on this! We had a slice of chocolate mousse pie and it was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

The Original Hick'ry Pit - Smoker in house! - New American Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I've raved about this restaurant to so many friends and family over the years, but after tonight -- never again. Let's talk about Maria -- the waitress who singlehandedly ruined our entire evening. She didn't greet us. She didn't smile. She didn't acknowledge us for an uncomfortably long time. We literally had to ask the hostess if someone was ever going to serve our table while Maria stared in our direction from afar like we were invisible. When she finally approached, it was with an attitude that made it clear we were unwelcome -- no warmth, no friendliness, just a cold, dismissive energy that made us immediately uncomfortable. And here's the kicker: this isn't even the first time I've had a bad experience with her. Foolishly, I gave this place a second chance thinking maybe she was just having a rough day last time. Nope -- this is who she is. And frankly, shame on this restaurant for allowing someone with zero customer service skills and a clear disdain for guests to continue interacting with the public. After we spoke to the hostess -- who, to her credit, handled the situation immediately and brought us a different server -- I noticed Maria suddenly acting like the world's most cheerful waitress, laughing loudly and pretending to be friendly with another table. It was so painfully fake it was almost laughable. As if we were supposed to forget how rude she had just been. And the weird cherry on top? She even took her hair down and strutted around like she was auditioning for a part in a bad soap opera. Pro tip: no amount of fake laughter or hair flips will ever disguise bad manners. A rude server is just that -- rude. After all that, I could barely stomach my food. The whole experience left such a bad taste in my mouth that I just wanted to get out of there. I should have walked out the minute she rolled her eyes at our table. To the management: You need to do better. You're allowing one disrespectful, unprofessional server to completely erode your reputation. I will not be returning. I will not be recommending you. And I truly hope no other customer walks out of your restaurant feeling as belittled and disrespected as we did. Awful. Just awful. read more

Review is for Doordash dinner delivery: Our usual BBQ places (Hazy, Lucille's) were not taking orders on Doordash for July 4, so we opted to try Original Hick'ry. Pit in Walnut Creek. They turned out to be super busy, with orders 30-minutes behind schedule. The restaurant was backed up - guess lots of folks had the same idea. The food was a bit of a letdown, with most of the meats on the dry side. Doordash does not seem to give the option of sauce on the side. The lesser evil was to pick a sauce. Its better to risk slathering the St. Louis ribs with too much sauce than to have no sauce at all. Here, no sauce is nearly equal to no flavor. That applies to the smoked chicken as well - I did specify Red BBQ sauce on that but none showed up. They also ran out of mashed potatoes! We found the meat better the next day after adding some water and microwaving. Overall 3 stars for the food quality but -1 star for the long wait and missing sides/sauces. In hindsight, I probably would have gotten better ribs from Door-dashing from Safeway Deli. read more

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I absotootly recommend this place. I've been coming here for years, and even with their new tvs and drinks menu, the food is as good as I remember it. There's nothing like dunking those crispy fries in the brown sauce. Excellent service and comfy booths. read more

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I need to finally learn my lesson and stop buying food from here. Orderd a few items via DoorDash. The beef dinner portion was smaller than usual, and the quality of the meet was terrible. Tough, lots of fat, undercooked. The roll that came with it was literally hard as a rock. Not doing it ever again. read more

The infamous Hickory Pit as fallen into ruin. I have been going here for the past 48 years in counting. I have shared so countless memories at this place. Today I sat down and ordered my favorite bacon cheese burger with a slice of key lime pie. When my burger came I bit into it recoiled like sponge, and not to mention I ordered it medium rare and received it like it was still alive. The outside of the patty was a chum bucket gray. When the pie came it was the same color as toxic waste. I decided to eat it all so I could get my monies worth and the second I got I home i ran to the toilet. After today I left with a hole in my stomach and shit in my underwear. I will NOT be returning! read more