The Rib Pit

I was sorry to walk up 14^th last October and find that the Rib Pit is no longer.
This was a great old-​timey District place (I’d choose this over Ben’s 100 times out of 100) with hardwood stacked out front and bulletproof glass between the kitchen and the spare customer area. Better than the characterless dreck that’s creeping up toward Petworth.
The ribs were way oversauced and too sweet, but they were cooked well. They had decent lake trout. Mac and cheese was good. White bread was plentiful. For a hungover 20-​something living above Columbia Heights in the mid-​aughts, the Rib Pit served a heck of a meal.
I’ll miss it.

Rib Pit is closed for good.

You all must be joking. This joint has some of the worst food I have ever tried. And they serve it with poor service. I asked the guy behind the plexiglass what was good to which he replied, «I’m sure I don;t know!». Great! I’ll have some of that. Safest best is the pork sandwich but it’ll be a while before i go back.

«You know what I want? Some ribs.»
«OMG! It’s so funny you should say that; I JUST drove past a place called The Rib Pit and wondered how it is. Wanna go?»
«Yeah, why not?»
If this were a movie, this would be the point where the suspenseful music would begin signifying that the third or forth installment of some horrorific movie is about to begin – something like Final Destination 7 or Step Up Revolution.
We walk into the little carryout-​like structure and immediately felt the unsettling spirit of customers long past. There was no one behind the plexiglass to take our order immediately, so we decided to read over the handprinted menus strewn haphazardly over the glass. There was already a customer waiting ahead of us, and we wondered how long he’d been standing there clutching his myriad shopping bags with his nose pressed against the grimy glass looking for assistance. Finally the prototypical chick who’s always the face of these types of places – black woman who could care less if you ate here or starved to death in the valley somewhere – sauntered up to the glass and said: yes?
Dude said: «I’ll have the fried trout – «
“We’re out of trout.»
«Oh. Well, which of these other fish taste the most like trout?»
«What?»
To be fair, even we raised an eye-​brow to that.
«Which other fish do you suggest?»
«I don’t eat fish.»
Work, whore! LOL
«Well, I’ll have the whiting. Which of your sides is the most nutritious?»
Really, dude… really?
«I mean, I guess the greens.»
«Okay. I’ll have the greens.» He got his ticket and stepped to the side.
«Yes,» she says to me.
«I’ll have two pork rib dinners, one with cole slaw/​potato salad and one with yams/mac&cheese.» Then I stepped to the side a la that Soup Nazi bit.
We each paid for and received our food, thankful to be outta there… it felt kinda oppressive actually. And how was it? Well, my friend literally gagged on the cole slaw; he said it tasted spoiled. My mac&cheese was inedible, just a clobby, gloppy, orangey, tasteless mess. The ribs weren’t as dry as others have described, but that sauce was vomitous. In other words, don’t waste your time. Sometime later after describing my experience with The Rib Pit, a girlfriend of mine chimed in about her own horror with the place. She said the experience for her was likened to having an unnecessary C-​section with a butterknife without any sedation. I wouldn’t go quite that far… but I wouldn’t go back either.

The ribs were puny and way overcooked. Had little to no seasoning but did have a nice smoke flavor. Given the careless attitude of the guy behind the counter I don’t think it’s worth a second trip for me. When i eat barbecue i want the person cooking it to at least care about whats going on. If people think these ribs are even above a C– then they have never had good barbecue before. Lemonade was also from a powder. Weak Sauce.

I used to live a couple blocks from here and it took me almost a year to finally try it, but when I did I wished I had sooner. I’ve had the pork and beef ribs, both with and without sauce. I’d say the pork ribs with the sauce on the side is the way to go. They are fall-​of-​the-​bone tender and smoky tasting. Not the best I’ve had, but definitely top 3 in DC. The sauce is delightfully sweet and tangy, but a bit heavy-​handed if you ask for it directly on top of the meat. I think the platter comes with 2 sides and a couple slices of bread, so it’s a ton of food for the $ 10 or so dollars you’re paying — I usually get two meals out of it. I have had a couple drier batches, so that may be to what the other reviewers are referring, but flavor is still good, and for the most part the meat’s juicy and tender.
The service was fine. It can be a little slow if there are people in front of you, but friendly enough since you don’t go to bbq take-​out places to experience stellar service anyway. Also, Washington Pizza is next door — not super delicious, but pretty cheap, decent pizza, and also a long-​time neighborhood staple.

The spare ribs were pretty good and I thought the sauce was decent also. Neither were spectacular though, and the beef ribs and sides weren’t good at all. I don’t think I would go back.

This was simply not good. The ribs were tough and UN-​meaty. The sauce tasted like ketchup with old McDonald’s syrup in it. There were flies everywhere. And the service was not endearing. I will not return here again.

I drove by the Rib Pit for nearly three years before stopping in and have never regretted that decision. For what ever reason there is never a line for this wonderful food and great service. Like other posters here I have tried many other BBQ places in DC and found them mediocre at best. While the Rib Pit may not be the best barbecue I have ever had, it certainly is in a class by itself when it comes to barbecue inside the beltway. Additionally, contrary to the information here, they do accept credit cards.

I’ve been looking for a good, non-​chain rib joint in DC for some time. I still haven’t found one but The Rib Pit on 14^th Street in North Columbia Heights is not a bad option.
This place is strictly a take-​out spot that offers pork and beef ribs, rib tips, turkey wings, chicken drummets, the typical sides usually associated with BBQ and fried fish. The gentleman serving up the food was nice enough, or at least as nice as you can get behind bullet proof glass. The food was served up fast and fresh.
I ordered the pork rib platter which comes with two sides (baked beans and string beans for me). I also ordered a couple of turkey wings, which come in platters or can be ordered separately. The platters come with bread which you can get either white or wheat.
It’s hard to categorize this barbecue. I guess by the flavor of the sauce, I would have to say it comes closest to North Carolina style, as the sauce was mostly tangy and a bit vinegary with only a hint of spicy heat. Not bad but not great. The meat, however, was thick and fall-​off-​the-​bone tender with a very noticeable smokey flavor. That goes ditto for the turkey wings, which were quite large and meaty. You can get both with or without sauce which they dollop over your order. It’s hard to mess up string beans so I’m not surprised at the taste and consistency of theirs, which were both excellent. It is easy, though, to mess up baked beans, which most (other than my mother) seem to accomplish readily. This place – I’m happy to report – nearly got it right. They weren’t outstanding but they had an appropriate level of sweet brown sugariness mixed a spicy BBQ flavor AND the right thickness in sauce. Not runny.
This was my first experience there so I haven’t tried everything on the menu. But I will say that I will be going back again soon.

Gross sauce on dry, grisly meat. Barf.

I agree with pretty much all the other reviewers. Pork ribs were pretty tasty. I personally enjoyed the bbq sauce, it was tangy and not overly-​sweet. The mac and cheese was not my favorite, and my friend didn’t enjoy his coleslaw, but those who ordered baked beans liked them a lot. The beef sandwich was apparently good. The lady who served us behind the counter was super friendly and chatted with us while she prepped our food, which was nice.

Amongst my friends, people either love this place or hate it. I’m somewhere in between. That being said when I have a hankering for ribs and I don’t mind eating take out, this is a place I frequent.

Have never written a Unilocal review before, signed up for an account just so I could say how terrible the Rib Pit is. We ordered pork and beef ribs — both were 100% fat, with no meat on either to speak of. Completely inedible. We threw both of our meals out, despite having paid $ 20 for them and being very hungry. The mac and cheese side was bland and the greens were so salty we had to toss those too. No cornbread, just a couple of slices of wan wheat. Worst ribs, worst takeout experience I’ve ever had, hands down.

I went to The Rib Pit with my boyfriend who loves BBQ. I had the rib tips which were pretty good, soft meat with a good sauce but there was a lot of cartilage I had to eat around. My boyfriend had the beef ribs and said the meet was falling off the bone. The mac and cheese was pretty good and very cheesy. I also had the collard greens which were pretty salty, even for someone who likes salt.
The woman behind the counter was very pleasant and friendly. Overall the food was pretty good and I would go back. However, there are no tables so you have to take the food home with you.

The rib pit is pretty cheap and the food here is decent. I love the pulled pork sandwichs and their cole slaw. I’ve also had their turkey wings before which are juicy and delicious. This is definitely my «I’m hungry and want something in walking distance» default place.

I don’t eat ribs but I love their BBQ turkey wings!!! Yummmy. Its not spicy just a sort sweet old fashion BBQ sauce. Its definitely one of those around the way old school take out rib joints.

The meat was the only decent part of the meal, and the sauce had no kick, no defining qualities. The mac and cheese was like a gawtdam brick in my stomach for ages, and the greens were boring. To add insult to injury, I got the runs afterwards as well. All in all, I was not impressed, and I love my BBQ. Too bad. I’ll keep searching for some decent Q in DC.

Definitely a hole in the wall rib joint, or a hole in the wall filled in with bulletproof glass and turntable. But it’s cheap, the portions are huge, and for the most part, was really good. I had the pork rib platter which comes with two choice of sides (an sub-​okay mac n’ cheese and decent cole slaw) and 9 chickenettes (chicken wings) which also came with a side (potato salad). Overall, the ribs were the best part of the deal, and the very-​well protected woman behind the thick glass was nice. Definitely a carry-​out place. Total damage to the wallet: Less than $ 17.

This place gives Rockland’s a run for its money. I loved the ribs here and I am sure I will be back there soon in the near future. The potato salad, coleslaw, and collard greens were great as well!