Neighborhood barbecue spot offers meats with lots of sizzle
Springtime means the return of cookout season.
For some grill tenders, that means fresh opportunities to badly abuse food in front of an attentive backyard audience.
Thanks to a welcome little renaissance in area barbecue restaurants, professionals are now available to do the often-dirty work in practically every section of town.
Since the summer of 2016, The Pit BBQ Grille has been the Linden area’s best example of the trend.
Although co-owned by former Ohio State and NFL football players Chimdi Chekwa and Bryant Browning — friends D’Andre Martin and Mike Johnson are the other co-owners — The Pit is far from a sports bar specializing in cookout fare.
Yes, a big Brutus Buckeye head rests on the counter where orders are placed, but dining-room televisions display pictures of food, not games. And the familyfriendly operation doesn’t serve alcohol.
Basically, the popular business looks like what it is: a modern neighborhood barbecue restaurant in a shopping mall whose cuisine and community-minded spirit have drawn national and local politicians — Jesse Jackson and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther included — for food and photo ops.
Classic R&B often plays in The Pit’s long-and-narrow space, where white walls contrast with trappings fabricated from the slatted wood and corrugated aluminum that are common in traditional barbecue establishments.
"Everyday Cookout" is written on a chalkboard menu, which is harder to navigate than the nicely organized paper menus.
I was told that the rib tips ($8) are among The Pit’s best-selling items, and I understand why. Though chewy, the accurately advertised "heaping The pork-rib combo with greens and macaroni and cheese at The Pit BBQ Grille
Price range: $5.99 to $22.99 Ambience: tidy and friendly, long-and-narrow space with counter service Children’s menu: yes Reservations: no Accessible: yes Liquor license: none Quick click: Come for the meats, stay for the side dishes, at this solid neighborhood barbecue shop