The Smoke Pit — Restaurant in Monroe

This was our first time to the location in Monroe since they just changed it over from a sit down and order restaurant to counter style ordering and seat yourself. The employees behind the registers that were taken orders would not let us order until a table was available, so we waited. But when a table was made available, the same employees would not let us order until a manager gave them permission to do so, even though our kids were sitting down at a empty table, waiting for us to order. My daughter went up to get a beverage and as she turned around to walk back to our table, she tripped and smacked her head because of the 1/2” “lip” that is between the beverage area flooring and the main dining flooring. My daughter was crying loudly and could be heard throughout the restaurant but it wasn’t until I went up to the manager, that we were given a bag with ice in it. If she needed stitches I wouldn’t be posting this since I would have been in contact with our attorney. I reported this incident to the manger and also took a picture of the unsafe flooring. The management then laid out a industrial type floor mat which went over the two different flooring that was uneven (approx. 1/2” lip) and made the potentially dangerous flooring, “safer” than it was before. Also, we ordered the nachos with pulled pork appetizer for $11.50 that we had before at this location but was very disappointed that the portion size was much smaller. It looked like it was half the size it was before and for the same price. We asked some employees about this and they admitted that, yes, it was in fact smaller, which confirmed our disappointment. The ribs we ordered were not as juicy and moist than we had before. This was a disappointment as my son chose the Smoke Pit for his birthday meal last night and since he was the only reason we ordered ribs. Also, we looked forward to having the complementary cornbread, that was given out before, but with the new “system” of ordering, those days are long gone. Lastly, I noticed an elderly couple sitting near we were sitting, that was waiting for their food for a while. I went up to them to say hi as they stated they were getting impatient with how long it was taken for their food to come out. I made mention of this to the staff, who then addressed the elderly couple, who eventually got their food but not without telling us a that they won’t be returning. We are seriously considering...

We chose the smoke pit to cater our wedding and Alan did an amazing job selling us on the food and the experience of making them apart of our special day. I will say the food was great other than the hush puppies which were soggy but the service was terrible. Below is a list of things that transpired on our wedding day due to the Smoke Pit. These items were also listed in an email to the Smoke Pit which they never responded to.

They show up with two people to not only bartend serve 60 people and serve cake

they didn’t put plates or silverware on table

cake wasn’t set out on table even though they were given very detailed instructions to do so , including grooms cake

100 macaroons for party favors were not placed out for guests which also they had specific instructions to do so

I had to pour champagne for the toast for all guests along with other members of our wedding party even though I told them multiple times what time the toast was taking place and so did the DJ who had to postpone it after announcing it twice

There was never anybody at the bar even though we specifically asked and paid for a bartender, guests had to get their own drinks from behind bar

Cake cutting time they didn’t have a knife to cut the cake even though the contract states that they would. No problem we found a knife after awkwardly standing there while people watched us wait to cut it.

After cutting the cake for the first time the two employees had no idea how to cut or serve a cake and a guest at our wedding did so and distributed it.

This is something that could of happened to anybody but I feel inclined to mention it. They spilled a hole tray of beans on the venue floor in front of guests.

I understand that covid has caused labor shortages but sending two people who were to say the least inexperienced with weddings to cater a wedding is unacceptable. We spent a good majority of the night chasing them down and doing their job for them. At one point the bride was looking frantically for me for sunset photos when I was in the kitchen helping them. I feel like we were misled by you and your company on what we would receive on our...

*Update 12/13/22 * I added a star because Kameron (one of the area managers) reached out regarding my experience and wanted to get my take. She apologized and did provide me with a gift card and told me our waitress was let go due to other company policy violations. I noted one in my initial review.

12/7/22 - The worst service ever. Came in on my birthday for the first time on a weekday after moving to Monroe a year ago. Heard really good things and was eager to finely try it out. After taking 10 minutes just to be waited on, we got drinks. A number of other tables were getting seated and then served before us. We overheard they were out of pork. Geezzz! A BBQ joint out of pork?!? I was planning on getting 3 meats and sides which was not cheap. So I opted for burnt ends, brisket and the qtr chicken plus 3 sides. After watching the table of four behind us get seated, served and their check even before we got our food, I went to find our waitress and ask what’s going on. It took another 10 mins just for her to come back and tell me they were out of burnt ends and had to make them. We had already waited 45 mins. Seriously?

People don’t get taught customer service anymore. Any wait staff should have gone and checked proactively after seeing our order wasn’t up after 15 mins. She never even came back to our table until I found her. But she had plenty of time to get on her phone. We left without being served.

So the first and last time I’ll be in here of what could have been a great place. Hey owners and managers! Learn to train your staff better! Maybe you’ll have more customers. What a lousy place. Too bad because I’m sure the...