3 out of 5 stars

I’ll admit I had high expectations going in – this place was featured on TV. My confessional continues: I don’t have much experience with satisfying NC BBQ, other than some home-smoked pork I had at my friend Adam’s house in Charlotte. Nothing has ever come close to that experience. Especially not this one.

Nevertheless, The Pit has a great blend of modern and historic flair to the interior, plus a nice patio. Our table of 8 seemed to enjoy their food, with the most raves going to the grouper salad and the fried chicken. Ironically most agreed the pulled pork was bland and the mac and cheese was as well. I enjoyed my crispy sweet potato fries, and the homemade baked beans with a lightly flavored accompaniment. The gratis apps of hush puppies and biscuits were both a little crisp and dry. The special mojito on the menu was a disaster.

Consensus from reviewers seems to indicate that The Pit’s strengths are the apps and sides. That’s disappointing! My search continues for the ultimate BBQ pork.

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3 out of 5 stars

Falls River Smokehouse is hidden in the back of a shopping center off Litchford road right near the 540 overpass. It’s a cozy establishment with a nice rustic interior and you can smell the smoke as you approach.

We just tried breakfast so this review only pertains to that. I wanted to like my egg, toast and slice of brisket, but it took so long to arrive (30-40 minutes) that Glen was about to pass out and I was even losing patience. I was disappointed because when it did arrive, it wasn’t particularly warm. My brisket slice wasn’t as tender as I expected it would be, and Glen’s omelet was chock full of fresh ingredients but also at room temperature. Which was weird because it wasn’t very busy and there were at least two people back in the kitchen not including the owner. Maybe an off day?

We wouldn’t go back here for breakfast because Glen can’t wait that long to eat. But I would like to go back for lunch/dinner one day as I have heard raves about their BBQ. The owner was very nice, he came by just to see how we were and to chat a little bit. They’re open Wed-Sat 7am-9pm and they have wifi.

Falls River Smokehouse
8320 Litchford Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 954-1190

4 out of 5 stars

I’m a novice to pulled pork, but after trying it after it was smoked for about 16 hours at a friend’s BBQ cook off, I’m looking to get repeat the experience as often as possible! I ordered a chopped BBQ sandwich with slaw and a little apple turnover. The slaw and pork were a tasty combo, with sweet and sour vinegar twang. I would have preferred a little less sauce and some more smoky flavor, but I’d like to try the pork on it’s own, unencumbered by slaw to get a better idea. In any case, the food was yummy, cheap and super fast to come out. The turnover was a nice way to finish it off. We’d definitely stop back.

Plus, Hursey’s is on the North Carolina historic BBQ trail!

Hursey’s Bar-B-Q
1834 S Church St
Burlington, NC 27215
(336) 226-1694