Today I want to tell you about Bennett’s Pit BBQ in Gatlinburg, TN. You know, as much as I enjoy finding new bbq places close to home, I love vacation time when we can check out bbq from different areas. So this trip takes us to Gatlinburg, TN. Now that’s a busy place. We really lucked out with this one.
See, we had stopped at “The Leather Works” where I would consider the outskirts of Gatlinburg. Sandra told us about Bennett’s Pit BBQ after we had talked for a while. Once she told us that they have burnt ends there was no doubt where we’d be going. Sandra was super. If you go that way and are in need of belts, wallets, etc. look them up. From there it seemed that Bennett’s was just down the road. We hit them at the perfect time. Parking spot right at the door and no waiting. The rush followed behind us. So here’s the
Bennett’s Pit BBQ Dining Room.
lowdown.
The Restaurant and Staff:
Bennett’s Pit BBQ has a very nice restaurant. They have a large and very clean dining room. It has a Western/Texas décor with hardwood floors and wood tables, the whole place really looks great. We were greeted when we came in and a hostess seated us. Our waitress, Karen, came along right behind them to take our drink orders. She was awesome and very friendly. I can’t overstate just how nice she was and what a wonderful sense of humor she had. Karen knew the menu and helped us out a lot. She kept a good check on us throughout the whole evening, even when they got busy.
Everyone we talked to was very friendly from the start of our visit till we left. It seemed like everyone genuinely cared that you were having a good dinner and everything was as close to perfect as they could make it. So as you can tell, the service and the staff were great. Let’s move along to the food.
Tammy’s Choices at Bennett’s Pit BBQ:
Burnt Ends with Fried Corn on the Cob and Slaw.
Tammy already knew she was getting Burnt Ends but had to make up her mind on what sides to choose. After some discussion with Karen, she decided on the Fried Corn on the Cob and Slaw. This was only the second time we’ve run across fried corn on the cob and it makes such a great side. The corn was so juicy and delicious. After trying it for the second time, I’m surprised more places don’t serve it that way. The slaw was also very good. It was on the sweet side. But it was the burnt ends that Tammy was there for.
Well the burnt ends were awesome. Author Bryant would be proud of Bennett’s Pit BBQ for the way they prepared them. And a quick note for anyone who doesn’t know, Author Bryant from Kansas City, was the one credited with discovering the value of preparing and serving “Burnt Ends”. These burnt ends were marinated and cooked to perfection. I know we have had great burnt ends before and I’ll have to say these were right there with the best we’ve ever had.
And My Choices:
So while Karen and Tammy were discussing sides I did a quick read of the menu and decided on The Texan Sampler. This included Pulled Pork, Sliced Brisket, Hog Leg, a Chicken Quarter, and Baby Back Ribs. I chose Baked Beans and Spicy Mac & Cheese for my sides. The baked beans were wonderful. They had a nice thick broth with meat seasoning and just great flavor. And the spicy mac & cheese was really good as well. It had just a little kick to it but not over the top. The spice just gave it a different and very enjoyable flavor. It’s not the type of spicy that will bring tears to your eyes. I enjoyed it a lot. But let’s move on to all
The Texan Sampler. Pulled Pork, Sliced Brisket, Smoked Chicken, Hog Leg and Ribs along with Spicy Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans.
these meats.
The pulled pork was really good. It had a nice smoke flavor along with some good seasoning. It had some bark mixed in too. And the pork was nice and moist. I’ll have to say that the chicken was good too, even for someone like me that doesn’t care for chicken. So if you like smoked chicken you’ll love theirs. It did have a good smoke flavor and wasn’t dried out from over cooking. As far as the brisket goes, it was wonderful. It too had a good smoke flavor and still some char on the outside. They didn’t take all the good stuff for the burnt ends. Bennett’s Pit BBQ also has a great seasoning rub for their brisket.
Moving along to the hog leg. It was fantastic. I’ve only had these a couple of times. This one had a great flavor. They do use a little sauce but it was good too. And for those who have never heard of hog legs we’re not talking about a big ole ham. These are about the size of a chicken drum stick but much better. Finally comes the ribs. I could sit down to a full rack of these baby backs. They were great. These ribs had a little char on the outside and packed with fantastic flavor. They were lightly sauced but not over done with the sauce. The ribs were great thru and thru. I want more. Maybe I can get some shipped here.
Final Thoughts:
So when I see someone say they have “Award Winning” bbq, ribs, or whatever, I feel as though I have to find out for myself. Yep, this is award winning quality. We loved this place. The service and the rest of the staff were wonderful. The food was outstanding. I wish we could have stayed out there longer so we could go back but we had to move on. We will return some day. I can’t recommend Bennett’s Pit BBQ any stronger. If you plan a trip anywhere near Gatlinburg you need to go there. We were actually staying in Franklin, NC and I’d make that trip again just to eat here. For those who live out that way, oh how you have been blessed. You should cherish this gem. But let’s see if some others want to add in.
Now For Your Thoughts:
Let’s find out what you think about Bennett’s Pit BBQ. Who wants to join in and let us know what they think about this place? Tell us more about them. What about the rest of the menu?
In an area the size of Gatlinburg there has to be a lot of loyal followers. Tell us about your bbq joint. Here’s your opportunity to tell others about this place. Show your support for your local restaurant.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
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You can check out their website at: https://www.bennetts-bbq.com/
You can also find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bennettspitbbqgatlinburg
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