The Pit Named Top 50 Travel and Leisure Restaurants

Downtown Raleigh restaurant The Pit has been named one of the Top 50 New Restaurants in the US by Travel and Leisure Magazine, who “gravitated toward spots that offered us warmth and a sense of human connection”.

North Carolina’s legendary pit master Ed Mitchell presides over this airy restaurant in a former meatpacking warehouse. (White tablecloth at a ’cue joint? You bet.) The house specialty is the region’s classic chopped pork, hacked from a whole pit-smoked, butterflied hog basted with a vinegary, peppery barbecue sauce. Dinner for two $55.

~~But I’m kinda confused as the why the text on Travel and Leisure’s site is the same as on Food and Wine.~~

Photo from Travel and Leisure Mag

J04/15 05:46 PM

“...I’m kinda confused as the why the text on Travel and Leisure’s site is the same as on Food and Wine.”

Both publications are owned by the American Express Publishing Corporation.

http://www.amexpub.com/

kg04/16 07:55 AM

wilson’s loss is raleigh’s gain.

love it but wish the lunch portions were a bit larger though for the price. not super-size/big gulp big mind you but bbq house proportionate.

Stephanie04/16 11:22 AM

The Pit is so delicious!!!!! And I love that Mr. Mitchell visits often to say hello to customers and see how things are, in a very down-to-earth way. It would be great if some of the other good Downtown Raleigh eats were truly more genuine.

mgd04/17 09:26 AM

I wish they would to the CueGrass event once a month! That was awesome. Good music, good food, and good beer!

The main courses are good. I havent had consistently good service or sides though.

I still have a hard time getting over paying gourmet prices for BBQ. Its worth a visit or 2.

gd04/17 10:27 AM

I don’t think the Pit is up there with “gourmet pricing” at all. I think its very reasonable for the portion size you get.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Sitti has to be another (which I think price wise can be compared to The Pit and I find Sitti being a steal of a deal and far from upscale pricing).

K04/19 04:32 PM

The Pit is great! I take all of my out of town guests here. I even got one friend to see the error of this pork-free life after a trip to The Pit, he nearly licked the plate.

Avett Brotthers Rule04/20 11:21 AM

@mgd….

PLEASE show me a gourmet restaurant that offers an entree with 2 sides for $11.99

i’ve been to countless gourmet restaurants and have NEVER seen anything approaching $11.99…unless you consider an appetizer or dessert your entree….who does that??

mgd04/20 12:10 PM

I couldnt name a restraunt that serves an entree with 2 sides unless they serve similar food as the pit.

I think the confusion is the term gourmet. Gourmet doesnt have to be upscale high class place. Gourmet is taking food putting your heart and sole into it and taking it to the next level and charging people more for your hard work.

My point is that ever real BBQ joint puts the same spirit into their food but doesnt charge a premium for it.

The most expensive thing on Stameys menu is BBQ if SIX $16.90
If you buy anything entree and 2 sides and any BBQ place it will be far less than $11.99

hackles1004/20 12:58 PM

^the rent for a large/comfortable space like that alone is the difference between the pit and Stameys.

People who live in and around downtown raleigh desire bbq, and are willing to pay the premium for the food, service, and setting at the PIT.

Does Stameys have the rent, staff, beer selection, setting that the Pit has. I can go to New York City and a hot dog, fries, and papaya smoothie downtown is going to cost me $12-13. Should that be compared to snoopys prices? I think your line of reasoning is flawed at best.

packpigskinfan2504/21 02:05 PM

I defiantly understand both hackles and mgd’s points, but I kind of agree with mgd.

The Pit is great if you cant get away from Raleigh and have a Q craving… but $11.99 is FAR too expensive for a bbq plate. You add in the beer, and social environment of The Pit- its unique and cool…

however- if I really want some BBQ I am taking a trip to Wayne or Wilson county. The Pit does not compare to Wilber’s or Parker’s at all. The food isnt as good, and the country feel to these places is part of the bbq experience. Plus its fairly priced.

All this said, I am very glad we do have a BBQ restaurant downtown and wish there were more. This is our states signature food, and our Capital has a serious lack of it.

tc04/21 02:25 PM

Cooper’s in downtown, and Allen & Son’s have better chopped BBQ, but The Pit does have an impressive beer menu, and it’s constantly updated to get new and good stuff in. Not to mention, they don’t just have chopped BBQ. They have a much better menu, in terms of variety, than your typical BBQ joint.

Considering price, Hackles makes a good point. Why do you think Sitti charges more than Neomonde? It’s the same hummus, much swankier spot. That comes at a premium.

And because I have to, if you want the best, you’ll be going to Davidson County. (west > east )

B04/22 06:32 PM

I had lunch here and only got 2 hushpuppies. Are you serious?

tc04/23 08:48 AM

“I had lunch here and only got 2 hushpuppies. Are you serious?”

Did you ask for more?

arthurb304/23 09:37 AM

I think you guys are starting to put the pieces together! High rent reflects the higher prices. It could also be that some people think if food is expensive then it must be better or of a higher class. Like when you pay $6 for a beer at a bar when you can go to Harris Teeter and buy a six pack for the same price.

Byron04/23 10:04 AM

After having drinks and dinner last week at The Pit, the food was the least expensive item on the bill. The real expense was the beer that was marked up 400% - 500% from retail cost. White wine was nearing 600% markup per glass. But I don’t fault them since they can get it.

thirsty04/23 10:16 AM

i have no problem with the food prices at The Pit. the drink prices are another story. the selection is great but the prices are a bit high…granted they do pour a 20 oz. beer instead of the standard 16 oz. but that doesn’t warrant the price to the degree that they charge.

Chad05/01 09:37 PM

The Pitt is ok… nothing special.

Chad05/01 09:40 PM

When it comes to good food, Raleigh needs to step it’s game up!

Elliott05/04 04:16 PM

The “best” thing about The Pit is their marketing department. The amount of press they get is perplexing considering how disappointingly mediocre the food is.

Charlie05/19 08:45 PM

I don’t get all the fuss about The Pit. Barbecue is not meant to be gourmet. And it’s not meant to cost exorbitant amounts of money. I’ll go to a real down-home joint, not some fancy-shpancy place pretending to be q joint

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Jedidiah Wednesday, April 15, 2009