The Barbecue Pit — Restaurant in El Cajon

So, I've been to the bbq pit a bunch of times over the years. I usually get the beef plate with a couple of sides. I believe it's beef shoulder. It's typically tender and juicy.

Tonight I went in and there was a sign advertising "brisket". This is the first I'd heard of them making brisket. I decided to give it a try. The word "brisket" should be used loosely in this case. It's not real brisket like you might think. It looks and has the same the texture as their beef shoulder plate. The brisket didn't have a smoke ring, not much discernable bark and there was no difference between what was supposed to be the point and flat. Some of it was really dry and some was overly fatty.

I've cooked dozens of briskets in my life and unfortunately, this isn't brisket. I gave 4 stars because the people are nice and the normal beef and ham plates are good. Their pork ribs are typically good also.

One other thing I'd recommend to them: Serve the dinner rolls warm. They serve them cold and it's not appetizing. A warm roll with some melted butter would be an amazing side to their plates. Same for the corn bread, serve it warm.

Baked beans are good and mac salad is good. I'll still be a regular here, but the "brisket" needs a...

The BBQ PIT has Always been our favorite place. We first went there when they were on Balboa Ave. then they closed. So we started going to the University Ave location. Well today we wanted great bbq & we’re heading to the University Ave Location only to find out they had permanently closed, so we went to the Fletcher Parkway Location. I had the Beef Plate with beans & cold slaw. My husband had the ham & beef plate with beans & cold slaw. We brought home a piece of cherry pie & chocolate cream pie. I must say we Will definitely be going back to this location & ordering to have food delivered ALot. That slaw was the Best Ever & the Pie was Homemade & Fantastic. The service is the Best Ever, the restaurant is clean & the people are fantastic. I wish I had taken pictures but Sorry it was So great it was gone Real Quick. Next time I promise. Hopefully it’s not because of us that this one closes lol. I’m definitely going to adopt the...

The eatery has a cafeteria-style system, and the atmosphere of this place is very 1970s-bicentennial. I hated that dated aesthetic growing up in the 1990s, but since it's started to fade completely in modern times -- it can be an unexpectedly welcomed nostalgia. The service was efficient enough, and O.K. The food was of equal caliber; The meat wasn't anything special and sauce-dependent. The sides are a dream for a young tot and advanced geriatric folk who are both equally deficient in teeth or a pallet. Their lemonade, though -- my goodness! I'm returning JUST for that. It's seriously THAT good. I might order pie/soup next time, simply so it's not gouche for coming in merely for...