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The Pit Authentic BBQ, Raleigh, NC

The Pit Authentic BBQ

4.5 (5739)
$30 and under
Southern
328 W. Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 33 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Servin’ everything but the squeal! The Pit Authentic Barbecue is home to world-famous tangy Eastern NC whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue. Located in the Warehouse District, we source premium AWA-certified hogs to cook low and slow for twelve hours. All of our spirits have been handpicked to enhance the smoked and sometimes spicy fare cooked off the pit, from beer to bourbon.

Last but not least, we serve up a good time at unique private dining events. Our contemporary setting in a restored 1930s meatpacking warehouse is the perfect spot for rehearsal dinners, birthdays, and more. Check out the link below for details!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Barbecue
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Carlos Andrade
  • Catering
    For Private Dining and Catering inquiries contact Melissa Robinson at (919)829-0833 or Melissa@thepit-raleigh.com.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer private dining areas to accommodate up to 85 guests. We will customize a Family Style Menu suited for your event.
  • Private party contact
    Melissa Robinson : (919) 829-0833
  • Neighborhood
    Raleigh
  • Cross street
    Dawson Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Private dining

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What 5,739 people are saying

The Pit Authentic BBQ reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Pit Authentic BBQ in Raleigh is renowned for its "excellent service" and "amazing food." Diners appreciate the "large portions" and the "great atmosphere." Dishes like brisket and ribs receive high praise, with some stating it's the "best barbecue" they've ever had. The carrot cake is a must-try, often described as "the best." Friendly staff and a welcoming environment enhance the dining experience, making it a favorite for both locals and visitors alike.
5,739 Reviews
  1. Louis

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Consistently great food and service! Been coming well over ten years. Born and raised in Eastern NC, and this is an excellent representation of the style of cooking. Don't remember our server's name but she was the best! I got the burnt end of some of the pulled pork this time. Didn't care for it, but it also wasn't worth sending back either. Everything else was excellent, as usual. My take on why i gave 4 stars for ambience and value: Ambience--nothing wrong with it at all, it's just not 5 star. I like a tad more privacy and a little less noise. Value--Relatively speaking, for a nice Raleigh dining experience, this is a good value. But to get a 5 star value, you have to go further east to some of the little diners and holes in the wall where you can get just as good or better food for half the price. Overall--this is still one of the best eats in Raleigh! And the collards are still some of the best ever.

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  2. paul

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill21 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    I have been to the pit before - The food seems have changed - I know if they changed meat suppliers or chefs , but the food tasted different- The ribs were good , not dry , but they were bland The 1/2 bbq chicken tasted fine- We ordered 2 orders of brisket , one came out nice - the other looked like it was the bottom of the barrel- A little disappointing—

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  3. Mike VIP

    New York City9 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 4, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was great but food was below average. My daughter felt the food was inedible. I enjoyed the baby back ribs, but the pulled pork (both sweet and vinegar) was not good.

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  4. Jill VIP

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The place was empty. The food arrived cold. Disappointing. Not like it used to be. What happened?

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  5. Moira

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service. We have enough for another dinner leftover!

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  6. Jacqueline

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was excellent and food was good. Got the bbq chicken. Mac and cheese was delicious.

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  7. Adrianne

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was excellent, and the waitress accommodated me(vegan) very well. Another great experience at The Pit tonight.

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  8. Steve

    New York City14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Overall…a great place. Food and mixed drinks are delicious. Arrive hungry as portions are generous. Service is done as a team and all were friendly and very attentive. Only thing I would improve upon is at peak times have a dedicated check in for those with reservations. We arrived a few minutes early and were seated 20 minutes late due to the check in line. It was well worth the wait…we will return the next time we are in Raleigh.
    The Pit Authentic BBQResponded on May 20, 2025
    My apologies for the wait at the door, we have such a small landing area coming up that ramp it makes it tough when were packed like we were Saturday. Thank you for waiting, and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed what followed, and the teamwork that goes into our service experience. Appreciate you taking the time to reach out, and hope to see you folks again soon! Kevin Bartness GM The Pit

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  9. John

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill1 review

    3.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall, Visit was ok. Nothing impressive. Will not recommend but glad to have experienced.
    The Pit Authentic BBQResponded on May 20, 2025
    Thanks for the review John, and wish we could have made your experience a memorable one. I'd love to know specifics on what you chose during your visit, and try to pin point a bit more where we fell short.

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  10. Nancy VIP

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We hadn't been to The Pit in many years, and now I'm sad that we hadn't. The food was excellent, and we brought home more pulled pork than we ate, the portions were very large. My husband had mac & cheese as a side, and it was very good. I had the potato salad, also excellent. The biscuits and hushpuppies brought before the meal were also excellent. The server was great too. We had an early, 5:15 pm reservation before a show in downtown Raleigh and we had no wait at all. My only small complaint was, were seated in an area that had tables for two and the tables are VERY close, like have to turn sideways to get into the table. The couple next to us was on a first date and we knew this because we heard their entire conversation and I'm sure they heard ours too.
    The Pit Authentic BBQResponded on May 20, 2025
    Hello Nancy, We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Pit Authentic BBQ. It's wonderful to know that our food, pulled pork, mac & cheese, potato salad, and sides, hit the mark for you. We're glad you had a smooth seating experience and that our server could provide the service we hope to achieve. Appreciate your feedback about the proximity of the tables and we'll take it into consideration. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great dining experience. Thanks for taking the time to reach out, Kevin Bartness GM The Pit

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FAQs

The Pit Authentic BBQ offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (919) 890-4500.

The Pit Authentic BBQ is rated 4.5 stars by 5739 OpenTable diners.

The Pit Authentic BBQ does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
  4. Raleigh
  5. Raleigh

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 33 times today
Google Map for The Pit Authentic BBQ

328 W. Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Dawson Street
  • Neighborhood
    Raleigh
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Barbecue
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Carlos Andrade
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    For Private Dining and Catering inquiries contact Melissa Robinson at (919)829-0833 or Melissa@thepit-raleigh.com.
  • Private party facilities
    We offer private dining areas to accommodate up to 85 guests. We will customize a Family Style Menu suited for your event.
  • Private party contact
    Melissa Robinson : (919) 829-0833
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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