BEST BEST BBQ I've ever had!!! We were visiting from MN and look me saying best bbq from MN is not the full background. I grew up eating Mexican food and have a thing for finding best flavor and quality for food. I knew I wanted to try a bbq place hear as I've heard such great things and let me tell you I was absolutely blown away! Lately things have been so pricey and feel like you get hidden fees or 20% of service on top of tip and a whole bunch of weird extra charges so obviously going out to eat has been more challenging as you pay more but get less. This place was the absolute opposite of that! We came here twice before we had to fly out to Minnesota. First time we tried the tray of meats and boy was that special. First of the brisket was delicious! But our server recommended the turkey and that was the juiciest most flavorful turkey I've ever had in my life! The sides were amazing and something I never had before was a slaw that had acidity with vinegar and it paired so well. I ordered a Twinkie for the first time and let me tell you I won't see a jalapeño the same again. In Mexican food we have them a lot but never this way and now I'm determined to try to make the more. At the end of our meal our server asked if we wanted dessert and guess wha it was ABSOLUTELY COMPLIMENTARY!! WHATTT?!? And not just like a scoop of ice cream different options of COBBLLERRRR!!! We did not see that coming and it was absolutely delicious! The second time we came I tried the fried okra and that was my first time it blew me away! I also had the potatoe that was loaded and wowowowowo so much flavor and deliciousness. Give it was our last time I got the Twinkie again and it did not disappoint! I wish this place success and that they continue to expand and maybe pray they come to MN. The place is clean and they have a lot of seating and food was incredible. read more

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I've been there several smoke pit locations so when I heard this one opened and it was in the neighborhood I had to give it a try. Honestly, the service was slow. But the guy was new and being trained. The portions as you can see by the second photo which is half of the food. On the original plate. Was my lunch the next day. All of the items were good B+\A- although I will say the original location in Concord is still the champ. The smoke flavor in the meat was not as pronounced here as in Concord my guess is they rushed the smoking and finished it on an electric heat instead of full smoke but that's just a guess. It was a busy Wednesday night, so it was a little bit noisy, but that could also be because I was eating alone so I won't ding the Ambiance. If you've never eaten at the original location, you would probably give this a day or a plus, but having tasted their original recipes, you can tell the difference still very good would still be back but it's hard to beat the original read more

The Smoke Pit - Smoked Texas Brisket Smoked Turkey*, hash brown casserole, Mac & cheese, collard greens, hushpuppies Two Meat PLATE* - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Our server KP was such a bright light and has such great energy. She consistently checked in on us and went out of her way to make sure that we were taken care of. We never went without a refilled drink and she made sure we had plenty of boxes to take leftovers home. The food portions are insane and well worth the money. The variety of bbq sauces makes sure that everyone has something. For me, the BBQ Brisket Spud with two sides gives you everything you need but the hush puppies with honey butter is a must! read more

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Best BBQ I've ever had. Granted, I am from Minnesota, but I do travel a lot. We were super impressed with The Smoke Pit -- so much so that we came twice on a week-long trip. On the initial trip we got the two meat platter and on the second trip I had the burnt ends sandwich. Everything was so amazingly delicious. We cannot wait to come back. Brisket and the turkey were tremendous and the sides were amazing. Our waitress recommended the jalapeño cream corn and red slaw. On te second visit we had the okra and collard greens. All tremendous. I just feel like you can't go wrong here. Free cobbler for dessert with ice cream was a great added touch that you just don't see anymore. I saw some other reviewers complaining about price and so I wanted to specifically address this. My guess is these people don't get out much. Everywhere you go now restaurants are gouging on price but NOT HERE. Look at my bill in the pic below. Massive two meat and three side tray for $30!!! That's a STEAL. So many leftovers it was crazy. Add the Texas Twinkie, watermelon tea and free desserts and we paid $50 with tax. Insane value. Would pay it any time. Finally service was outstanding on both visits. Super attentive and lightning fast food on both occasions. Can't wait to come back when we visit again! read more

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Food was great but the service from Cheyenne was better! She made my experience really nice and will deff be back

I got the ribs. They had good flavor but I'm personally not a fan of - what I consider - a thick tough exterior outer layer. It was too tough and an impediment to getting to the melt in your mouth ribs. I got them wet. I got two sides just so I could try them - southern sweet. Sweet but good flavor. And pit original. For sides - potato salad and mac n cheese. Really like the Mac n cheese. For me the potato salad was a little too creamy but to be fair im a German potato salad type of girl. Do all potato salads in the south have hard boiled eggs. I liked that part the next day when I needed extra protein in my left overs that didn't include the ribs. Oh and got banana pudding. Holy sweet. One of the sweeter I've had. But i did like it. read more

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Alie is AMAZING! We wanted something good, filling and reasonably priced and we both said "Smoke Pit". Perfect choice. We were seated quickly and Alie took the best care of us. I decided on the brisket, sausage and rib combo with kickin greens, Mac and cheese and hush puppies. Everything was AMAZING!!!! I had enough to take home for lunch the next day. And you must get the pecan cobbler. read more

The Smoke Pit - Pecan and apple cobblers - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Went here for lunch. First time at this location. It seems pretty new and the staff was amazing. Our waiter was very kind and helpful. The food was great as always, the ribs were well seasoned and tender. My favorite protein is always the brisket. It was juicy and melt in your mouth. They also gave everybody an order of cobbler on the house. The peach was the best! If you crave BBQ don't miss out on Smoke Pit. They never let us down! read more

The Smoke Pit - Fruit Cobbler* - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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There are rare moments in life when hunger meets perfection, and the world narrows to the plate in front of you. At the Smoke Pit, a mere seven weeks into its existence, I experienced one of those transcendent moments where every detail aligned in symphonic harmony. I was starving when I walked in, and everything clicked from the start. The warm, anticipatory greeting by the maître D to the server's attentive, friendly, and quick service without the hovering feeling. No rush, no oversight - just seamless efficiency and my food came out fast, hot, and exactly right. I ordered the sausage, brisket, and ribs platter, accompanied by cornbread, red slaw, and mac & cheese. The brisket was tender as a whisper - no knife needed, succulent, and smoked to smokey perfection. The dry ribs needed no sauce; they fell off the bone with juicy abandon. Each bite a revelation of moisture and depth of flavor. The sausages burst with moist, savory delight, while the cornbread defied earthly bounds - crisp-edged, buttery, and utterly otherworldly. Even the sides sang in harmony: the red slaw's tangy crunch, and the mac & cheese's creamy indulgence elevating the ensemble to sublime height. This was an experience that presently stunned me as rarely do you get a meal this good with service this smooth. Every cell in my body hummed with contentment, I was happy, full, and profoundly satisfied. The Smoke Pit has it figured out - speed, precision, flavor in perfect equilibrium. If you want great BBQ and a no-stress experience go! You won't be disappointed! read more

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My favorite American BBQ spot in Charlotte! Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. The meat is seasoned perfectly--a great balance of saltiness, sweetness, and smoky flavor. All of it was fall-off-the-bone tender. We ordered the 3-meat combo and went with the chicken quarters, ribs, and burnt ends. It was impossible to choose a favorite because each one was incredibly flavorful. We've had the brisket before as well, and it's always tender, juicy, and wonderfully seasoned. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The sides were excellent too. We tried the jalapeño creamed corn, baked beans, cornbread, collard greens, and an extra side of mac and cheese. Every side paired perfectly with the BBQ, but the jalapeño creamed corn was the standout--highly recommend! read more

The Smoke Pit - Pick 3 Combo* 2 Chicken Quarters with Alabama bbq sauce, 4 ribs, and burnt ends. We eat about half before I took the photo. - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I was there for a double date on vacation and the food and service were fantastic! We knew we HAD to get BBQ while visiting and are so glad we decided on the Smoke Pit. The portions are HUGE and every bite was delicious! Mariia, our server, was very attentive and hooked it up with the cobbler dessert! 10/10 would recommend! read more

Love it is in this location vs needing to go to Monroe. It's clean and feels fresh. The bar was configured in such a way that there wasn't a bad seat for watching sports events. Service was quick and friendly. Had the pulled chicken sandwich w/creamed corn and jalapeños. Loved the creamed corn w/jalapenos. The pulled chicken was okay but it tasted off likely the sauce that was on it since I'm fairly picky about bbq sauce and love Memphis style bbq. Glad that this location is open and will rerun again. read more

The Smoke Pit - Bbq chicken sandwich with jalapeño creamed corn - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

It's not as good as the Concord location! I ordered Door Dash and was really looking forward to it since the Concord location (also Door Dash) was THE best bbq of my life. Ribs were really tough but still had a good flavor, just not the tender fall off the bone ones like Concord had. Potato salad was good but a different flavoring. Mac and cheese still delicious! Texas toast was just bread, not worth it. Didn't get any bbq sauce with my order unfortunately. It's a good value for what you get, but I would stick to the other location! read more

This is a must check out place newly added to the Arboretum Shopping Center. We had a sample of everything and all in-house desserts are complimentary! Our server, Jordan, was attentive and seemed to be invested in the concept and enjoyed the food. The restaurant itself has done a great job creating a new vibe from the old Chili's location. Has that homegrown BBQ feel. If there was anything to note for feedback, it would be the burnt ends were way over sauced and being such a new restaurant, a manager should be walking around touching tables asking how things were (they have only been open a few weeks). But it will be a place to go back! read more

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The food is AMAZING!!! The service at the bar not so great I ordered the $10 Margarita Loco and when I got my bill there was an $18 and $3 charge for my patron silver margarita.When I questioned it she said well that's just how it rang up.What the heck like I was crazy.I will attach a photo of my bill.Definitely was not worth read more

The Smoke Pit - The menu to show the $10 margarita loco that I ordered but paid $21 - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Best bbq ever. I recommend th barbecue pork ribs with barbecue sauce and fries. Customer service was amazing and everyone treated us with kindness. I was on vacation from nj and I have to say it is the best bbq in North Carolina. read more

Excellent experience!! Evelyn was a fantastic server and constantly went above and beyond getting us anything we needed and even things we didn't know we needed! The Smoke Pit always exceeds expectations and over delivers!! Excellent food and service and great experience!! read more

The Smoke Pit experience has consistently reached the bar for taste and service. Located in the Arboretum, it's easy to find a place to park and walk in. It's a very casual decor that is good for a business lunch or quality family meal. The BBQ food is always a large portion and cooked perfectly. I've had chicken, ribs, and salad. Never been disappointed. read more

I went to a different restaurant and decided to try this BBQ place. The young man at the takeout counter was very polite and helpful. I asked many questions, and he expertly explained things to me. I decided on the brisket plate and chicken. As I write this review, I can taste the chicken. The presentation of the chicken was excellent. The chicken was my favorite dish. The sauce on top of the chicken was lovely and creamy. The chicken was cooked well, yet maintained its moisture. The chicken was flavored nicely. The brisket I felt tasted better the next day. The vinegar slaw was good. The corn bread and was light and fluffy with pieces of corn with every bite. I will definitely go back. read more

The Smoke Pit - LB Brisket plate - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Everything from here is amazing! The queso is unreal!!!! I have only ever done take out, but it is super easy and delicious! read more

We don't have to drive to Lexington anymore to get great barbecue... This is the best tasting, moist barbecue we have ever had!!.. the portions are very big so you get to take some home (Yah!) Can't wait to go back.!!!!! Highly recommended! read more

Waaaayyyy more food than I could finish on the Tres Amigos combo! Ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The brisket was the star of the show. All they needed was a real Eastern NC sauce, but everything is outstanding. Gotta mention the Collards - had a great spicy kick (Jalapeños?). read more

The Smoke Pit - Tres Amigos sampler. Better than the 3 meat platter - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Incredible food, probably the best cornbread I've ever had, definitely some of the best brisket as well, but the service is whats gonna have me coming back. There was a bit of a mixup as I stepped away momentarily after finishing the meal, so they cleaned my table (as expected), and completely fine because I was done eating. But, they felt so bad that they cleaned up a few of the scraps of food I had left that they made me a whole other meal to go. Again, completely unnecessary, but it was so kind that I think it speaks to the type of people who work here. I came all the way from Columbia, SC to eat here after a recommendation from a friend, and I'll definitely be back. read more

The Smoke Pit - Tres Amigos PLATE* - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food is awesome. The service is great and the ambiance is incredible. I am from Texas and in this area their brisket is the best.

Food is delicious here . I got the 3 amigos plate with collards and beans and cornbread . They do their pork really well . Not usually a pulled pork fan but their pulled pork is exceptional and I love their ribs. Their cornbread tastes like cake (yum!) and there are actual pieces of corn . Their banana pudding is the best I have had . I found their cobbler a bit too sweet. Really recommend this place for bbq ! read more

I really enjoyed my lunch here, great atmosphere, wonderful menu, great service. I had the smoked chicken quarters and my dining mate had the smoked turkey platter. Tender, juicy, flavorful on both menu choices.. I had the fried okra and my dining mate had the baked bean and brisket side, all yummy. Portion size great, plated beautifully, reasonable prices and such attentive service. So we will be back again to enjoy another menu selection. They also have a taco Tuesday special, a kids special, and other weekday specials, plus catering for events. read more

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Absolutely amazing customer service and food! Leftovers for days and such a nice family friendly atmosphere. read more

The Smoke Pit - Tres Amigos PLATE* - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Very disappointed with our recent visit. The fries came out cold, and the mac and cheese was out of stock, which was frustrating considering the prices here. What really left a bad impression was the ending of our meal. The restaurant closes at 9:00 PM, and on previous visits we've always been offered the complimentary cobbler dessert. The table next to us was served theirs at 9:01 PM, but we finished eating around 9:07 PM and were told the kitchen had already put it up and they could no longer provide it. I understand a kitchen has to close, but the inconsistency was disappointing, especially when another table received the same dessert after closing. This isn't an inexpensive restaurant or somewhere most people can afford to eat regularly. When you're paying premium prices, you expect a consistent experience every visit. Unfortunately, this one fell short, and we'll be reconsidering our dining options next time. read more

This was some of the best barbecue and sides I have had in a very long time!! We will be back very soon! read more

The Smoke Pit - The sampler plate with ribs, brisket, and sausage. Everything was good!! - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food is the goat of all BBQ. It cheap for what you get. If you get a sandwich you get the massive sandwich plus 2 sides. I would highly recommend the potato salad it's really yummy. The service is amazing super friendly and attentive. The ambience is very local BBQ place. There are lots of people on weekends and Friday nights. Btw you get free cobbler with ice cream every time you go. read more

At first glance you might think every barbeque joint is built the same. Especially in the Carolina's. Honestly for the first time I've been proven wrong. Never been to a bbq joint where the servers knew their steps of service. Shout out to Shaun. (Hope i spelt her name right) Absolutely nailed every step. Super attentive. Menu knowledge. Even helped run other servers food. Don't see that often these days. Decor is warm and inviting. Bartenders look like they know how to pour draft beer at least. I mean you'd be suprised some people don't. These do. The food. Listen i only got one photo cause im a fat fuck and i just eat whatevers in sight. It was delicious. Serving sizes bigger than you expect. Its not a bleed you dry for a piddly amount of food. No they, WILL, FEED, YOU. Also highly recommended take a tour of their meatroom see where the magic happens. Staff is friendly as heck. Exactly what you'd expect when you think southern hospitality. read more

The Smoke Pit - The big pit. (Bun, lean) - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The new Smoke Pit at the Arboretum might just be my new favorite BBQ joint in Charlotte, and considering the competition, that's saying a lot. This delightfully casual, family-friendly restaurant serves up generous plates of delicious pulled pork, smoked brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs, along with savory sides of Mac n Cheese, Texas Toast, Collard Greens and more. There's a solid, if a bit underwhelming, selection of local craft beers on tap, and their full bar also serves liquor, cocktails and wine. Oh, and every entree comes with a complimentary dessert of apple or strawberry cobbler, so be sure to save room! The setting is warm and laid back, with a spacious bar and lots of booth seating. Service has been outstanding on each of our visits, although the wait for a large party on a Friday or Saturday night can be absurdly long. On a recent visit, we waited almost an hour for a table, only to find out when we were seated that the kitchen had run out of pork. But those quibbles aside, there are few places in the Queen City where you'll find brisket or pork as tasty as this. Smoke Pit is an outstanding addition to the South Charlotte food scene, and one that I hope sticks around for a long, long time. read more

Since their south Charlotte opening, we've been back multiple times and recently got take out. The food is 10/10 every single time. The pulled pork is packed with flavor and my husband loved the chicken quarters with Alabama white sauce. Our take out trays were exactly what we ordered and still warm when we got home. We have leftovers to eat on the next several days! We love the Smoke Pit! read more

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Food is fine/good. However we have ordered takeout from this place twice now and both times they have left things out of our order. When you're ordering for a family it is really annoying to feel like you have to tear apart the entire order in the restaurant or in the parking lot to make sure they didn't forget anything but ,apparently, you have to. Also, this place is pretty pricey even when you're not paying for food they didn't give you. read more

Everything is delicious. We've been EVERY weekend for the past month. Service can be hit or miss depending on the waitress, but the food is on point! So flavorful! read more

The Smoke Pit - Burnt Ends, Mac & cheese, cornbread, collard greens Across- beef rib, smoked wings, red coleslaw, hush puppies - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place has the best brisket I've ever had outside of Texas. Fantastic food, fantastic sides, fantastic service I had lunch today and Aaron who is my server. Did an outstanding job. This place never disappoints. The cobbler rocks too! read more

Outstanding lean brisket. Pulled pork my wife loved. Very attentive waitress. Good selection of beer and wine. Very good sides. Sweet and delicious cornbread read more

When the Arboretum location opened, we were really excited. They had two sizes of the sliced beef, brisket plate, large and small. The large came with two sides and bread and plenty of meat. It was enough for two people. Later on they went to just one size of the sliced brisket plate, which was OK with me. It cost over $32. I just picked up a sliced brisket plate and it had three tiny slices of meat that were very fatty even though I asked for lean. I also noticed they had a 90 health score, almost to be. This place has really gone downhill from the opening date. I don't expect them to be there for too long. It's too bad. Has to be bad Management. read more

The Smoke Pit - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Glad they have this place in the Arboretum. My dad has been singing its praises, but I never made it here until a couple weeks ago with my friends. They treated us very well and we're very accommodating to our group of several blind people. I wouldn't necessarily say this place is cheap but there are some good deals to be had like the Texas Trinity or the trey some Migos. I put the food quality right up there with Midwood smokehouse and Max speed shop. Will definitely return. read more

The food was delicious and the portions was enough for 2 meals. I did a to-go order and the restaurant was busy. I'll definitely eat here again and again. The blueberry BBQ sauce was also good. read more

The Smoke Pit - Tres Amigos* with broccoli salad, hash brown casserole and corn bread - Southern Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina