Pig & Grits — Restaurant in Burnsville

We’ve been coming to Burnsville for a couple years now and never went to “Pig & Grits” for dinner, lunch or breakfast until just recently. The name of the restaurant “Pig & Grits” suggested food we wouldn’t really want to eat or would enjoy. I have prepared BBQ for 20 plus years on a BGE (ceramic dome BBQ/grill) and more recently including a Pellet Grill so, we do enjoy a multitude of serious protein preparations. Our experiences for BBQ when dinning out are usually disappointing; the flavor, texture and portioning never meet expectations. And Grits – not something I enjoy much. So, the name suggested foods that would be mediocre at best and certainly nothing to select over other available venues.

We could NOT have been more wrong about our perception of the Pig & Grits restaurant. We’ve now been there for Dinner and Breakfast with plans to return again before leaving the area.

Our dinners both included Pulled Pork. My dinner also included the BBQ Quarter Chicken. Both dinners came with 2-sides each. The portioning for the Pulled Pork was impressive – the most I have ever experienced at a restaurant claiming to serve BBQ. And the pork was tender, juicy and flavorful. Served in a cast iron skillet that kept the pork warm to the last mouthful. The BBQ Quarter Chicken looked good but, was partially dried out and not at all enjoyable. The portion of the chicken not overly done – the underside - was however tasty. Unfortunately, this piece of chicken had been allowed to over-cook or set-aside for too long before making it to the table. All the sides were very good and well sized portions. We had enough leftovers to take home for another complete meal – carefully re-warmed, it was good.

Our breakfasts were excellent and the portions generous – more than we could finish. The complimentary Cinnamon Roll with the coffee was a prelude to a very enjoyable breakfast. I had the Brisket Hash. The Brisket was very good – it was so good, I would have liked more but, there were also excellent (crispy brown outside and tender inside) home fries and a couple eggs prepared just as requested. Then to top all this - was a Biscuit – done to southern perfection. She had the Potato Bowl with local sausage bites and an assortment of perfectly selected fresh ingredients. The presentation was worthy of a photo and as nice as we have seen in upper-end restaurants.

The table service was outstanding for dinner (Kelly) and Breakfast (Megan). Our Servers were attentive throughout the meal and so personable at table-side, you wanted to just talk. They both really made the overall experience very enjoyable.

It is evident that this restaurant’s offering is “understated”. The menu dishes defy the “back county” image the name suggests. The owner has experience and demonstrates that with the selection and quality of food presented to customers. The best thing the owner could do is select a name that includes the obvious - “Barb-B-Que” – which would more accurately represent the food preparation being served and might also appeal to a broader customer demographic. More people should enjoy this...

Went for breakfast today and did not have a great experience: First issue: there was only one waitress who appeared to be overwhelmed attempting to wait on all the customers. She asked for our drink order and my spouse ordered regular and myself decaf. I asked the waitress to make sure the decaf was fresh, she said it was as they go through coffee rather quickly. Then she returned with our coffee and complementary cinnamon buns. I put in one creamer and noticed the coffee was still dark in color and when I tasted it it tasted burnt. When I got her attention again I commented to her the above and she tried to convince me that it was fresh. I finally requested that she bring me a cup of regular and said to her I did not want to argue with her. She brought a cup of regular coffee which solved the problem. She commented to me that she would not lie to me. My problem: I watched the coffee station the entire time of our stay (approx. 45 minutes) and the decaf pot never was used. It just sat there heating and burning the contents. My point: the pot was half full after she filled my cup and probably was already overheated and was not turned over consistently as the waitress stated. Decaf usually isn’t in high demand so unless you happen to catch it when it was just brewed, it probably isn’t fresh! In addition I believe the waitress knew this and should not have served it to me especially after I requested it be fresh!

Second issue: I ordered my eggs sunny side up. When my food was brought to me one of the two eggs was and the other was not. It was broken and cooked so that it was dry without a soft yoke. My problem: I could dip my bread in one yoke but not the other. My point: I ordered sunny side up ( as most people do) so that I could dip my bread in the yoke, obviously I could not. Why as a cook would you plate a sunnyside up egg that had broken and cooked that way and expect the waitress to serve it and the customer to consume it. Also why as a waitress would you serve it knowing full well it was not what the customer ordered. Bad move all around!

I would like to add that the waitress did bring out two freshly cooked sunnyside eggs after I complained. Furthermore, we did leave a 20% tip even after our obvious mistreatment. And obviously we will not return.

A recommendation to the owner: change procedures and speak to your employees as conduct as described above will only alienate...

Pig & Grits If you havnt been, take the time and GO!

Me and my wife went there today for lunch and this place once again absolutely killed it!

Drinks: Wifey had a Pepsi and I had their refreshing yet delicious Blackberry Lemonade. My lemonade was SO good, I actually ate some of the black berries at the bottom.

We started with their BBQ Street Corn and it was VERY good, after you get through most of the Cotija cheese creama, use their BAMA sauce the rest of the way, it’s SO good 🤤 each order of it comes with 3 ear’s for $8. 10/10

Mine - Country Fried Steak in white gravy, with hush puppies, baked Mac & Cheese and BBQ Beans as the sides. 9/10

The country fried steak is very good, it’s exactly as you’d hope it tastes like, the gravy is good, very light on the pepper so it wasnt very flavorful BUT I highly recommend putting their South Carolina Gold BBQ sauce on it or the Memphis Sweet BBQ, it was a wild card idea that paid off. The hush puppies were good, great outer crunch to them, perfect to enjoy their bbq sauce spread a little at a time to see what your taste buds are in for. Their Baked Mac&Cheese was VERY good and pairs incredible well with their Blueberry Bourbon BBQ sauce and the BBQ beans are fantastic, superb flavor and smoky as the heart desired.

Wifey - Smoked Sausage with hush puppies, onion rings, and coleslaw. 8/10

The smoked sausage was very flavorful and the perfect amount of smokiness, a tiny bit of heat on it making it very yummy. The Cole slaw was delicious and a great palate cleanser between everything, the onion rings were very good, the breading was perfect, and the hush puppies were a great side snack with the rest of the goodies.

Desert - Fried Banana Pudding 8/10

It’s a good portion, the flavor was astounding, seemingly flash fried in a tortilla. 2 per order!

Atmosphere: 10/10

Very relaxed, welcoming, the staff was incredibly nice and very respectful and insanely clean including their bathroom.

Shouts to them you havnt gone, set aside time!...