The Smoke Pit

FT. WORTH: The Smoke Pit
2401 E Belknap St
Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-222-0455
Open M-F 10:30-8, Sat 10:30-6
www.smokepitcatering.com/

Update 2009: Most of the clientele were there this Saturday for bikini top day (not a single female patron to be found). My guess is they didn't much care about the food, and the cooks must have been equally distracted. The brisket was sliced well before it was ordered as evidenced by the leathery texture, and scaly appearance. The meat was actually so dry it was beginning to curl up. The lack of flavor was nearly irrelevant.



Ribs weren't much better. The meat was drooping off the bone and had reached room temperature. The smokey, moist meat that I had on a previous trip was disappointingly long gone. Slaw and fries were both good, but the cold schooner of beer and the bikini tops were the only draw on this day.

Rating *

2008: Boasting itself as a restaurant with a view, this windowless joint sits just above the Trinity River on the east side of Ft. Worth. Once inside, it's really more of a bar than restaurant whose humorous signage charges $5 for a telephone denial of your presence from the bartender. The real view here is the all female wait staff who enjoy tight clothing. A friendly blonde delivered a brisket sandwich and three monster St. Louis style ribs. The brisket was above average with a good crust and thin smoke line. The slightly tough meat could have used more time in the smoker to better render the fat and inject a smoky flavor into the middle of the meat. The ribs were perfect. They had a salt and pepper rub gave real punch to the smoky meat that came easily off the bone. The tenderness was perfect one these huge ribs, and the well rendered fat added excellent flavor as well. On my next trip to Ft. Worth I'll definitely drop by for the meat and stay for the beer and the view.