The Pit — Restaurant in Alberta

If you’re anywhere near Olds, Alberta, and you haven’t eaten at The Pit, you’re truly missing out on one of the best barbecue experiences in the province. From the moment you walk in, you’re hit with that unmistakable aroma of wood-smoked meat—deep, rich, and absolutely mouthwatering. But the star of the show? The brisket sandwich. Let me tell you, it’s on a whole different level.

The brisket itself is nothing short of perfection—tender enough to melt in your mouth, but still holding that satisfying bite you want from slow-smoked beef. Each slice is infused with that deep smoky flavour that only comes from hours on a proper smoker. You can taste the craftsmanship, the patience, the passion. There’s a beautiful bark on the outside—caramelized, peppery, and packed with flavour. And the fat is rendered just right, adding richness without overwhelming the meat.

The sandwich comes piled high on a soft, lightly toasted bun that soaks up just enough of the juices without falling apart. Then there’s their house barbecue sauce—holy smokes. It’s the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, smoky, and a little spicy. It complements the meat without overshadowing it. Honestly, I could drink that sauce.

And don’t sleep on the fries. These aren’t just an afterthought—they’re golden, crispy, perfectly seasoned, and cut just thick enough to hold their shape while staying fluffy inside. They’re the kind of fries that make you eat one, then reach for another… and another… until you realise you’ve finished them before you even touched the rest of your plate.

As for service, The Pit delivers on hospitality as much as they do flavour. The staff are genuinely friendly, quick, and knowledgeable about the food. They treat you like family—asking how your meal is, checking in with a smile, offering recommendations if you’re not sure what to try (though seriously, get the brisket sandwich). It’s that kind of small-town warmth that makes you want to come back again and again.

The place itself has a rustic, welcoming vibe—nothing fancy, just good old-fashioned barbecue charm. It’s clean, comfortable, and filled with the hum of happy customers. The prices are more than fair considering the quality you get. Portions are generous, and you definitely leave feeling full and satisfied.

Whether you’re a barbecue enthusiast or just someone who appreciates a damn good sandwich, The Pit in Olds is worth the trip. It’s a place that clearly takes pride in what they do, and it shows...

Wow - what a great BBQ place! We were working with a local client and we were told that this was THE place for meat …. Boy were they right! (Shout out to the two Michelle’s and Ris!!)

First off - the service level was amazing. What wonderful people here! Attentive without being invasive, prompt to bring everything out and some quick quality checks mid-meal.

Kevin was super personable and was available to chat about the product in a friendly and (extremely) knowledgeable way.

The food - oh the FOOD - it was WICKED. I had the Brisket sandwich and couldn’t have hoped for better. Lots of places smother their meat in sauce, and all you end up tasting is the sauce - but not at the Pit. The AAA Brisket is definitely the star here! It had enough sauce that it added flavour to the meat - but not so much that I couldn’t taste the actual work that went into the BBQ itself - truly a great balance of smoke, carmalization, AAA meat (he ONLY uses premium AAA by the way) and sauce. (Honourable mention to the bun and slaw too). I also upgraded my hand cut fries to a poutine - and was not disappointed! Great, fresh, hand cut fries, excellent gravy and of course - proper curds for the win! Great portion for the money and an excellent compliment to the sandwich. (I think I’ll try a meat poutine and sample one of the local craft beers they stock next time too!)

All in all, I’m excited for the opportunity to return next time I’m in town - the ambiance, food, and people here are a winning combination, and I’d not only strongly recommend going if you’re in Olds - I’d even recommend taking the 9 minute detour off of Highway 2 (literally - it’s 7.6km from the highway to The Pit) next time you’re...

Burnt ends, brisket, pulled pork, barbecued chicken, coleslaw…all menu items you might expect to find down south. I have eaten some fine bbq over the years, and this local place is easily among the top five. The homemade bbq sauce is exceptional with just the right combination of sweet and tangy flavours. The meat was tender and well flavoured with a rich smokiness that encouraged you to eat more than you should. The fries were a nice surprise—double fried for a perfect crunchy exterior and soft interior. The poutine was delicious and huge. Portion sizes for all the menu items we tried were generous and a really good value for the dollar. Loved the selection of locally crafted beer. We were a party of ten yet received friendly and very quick service. The two girls who served us were good at their jobs and eager to cater to our needs, even taking pictures for us. The owner took the time to come out from the kitchen to meet us, asking if we were happy with our food, and sharing a little local history with us. He is a master of the smoke pit and you can tell he is one of those people who is passionate about what he does and delights in serving others. Country charm and amazing food make this a place to put on the “return often” list. You won’t be...