Twisted Pit BBQ — Restaurant in Sarasota

We were eager to try Twisted Pit after waiting so long for it to open, but the experience was disappointing from start to finish. The ordering process was disorganized and needlessly frustrating. We simply wanted two slabs of ribs to go. Instead, we were told—rudely—to go to the back of the line, only to be redirected moments later by another staff member who told us to go to the front. No one seemed to know what was going on.

Calling ahead wasn’t an option either. The voicemail makes it clear: no phone orders, no delivery, no exceptions—with a tone that feels more like a warning than a welcome. The message basically says, “We’re so good, you’ll deal with it.” Spoiler Alert: you’re not, maybe someday but not yet.

Now to the price—$138 for two slabs of ribs. No sides, no drinks, just a few small sauce containers. The ribs were decent, not memorable. I was shocked at our total ticket as I thought I had seen their menu online listing slabs at $30, so I figured maybe it was an old menu but not $68 each slab? That’s absurd. Turns out the menu I saw was from another BBQ spot with a similar name in Michigan and they charge $30.00 a slab I'm not kidding I'm posting the photo from online for all to see.

I read the reviews so far for Twisted Pit BBQ and was sad to read very polished, almost too cute, responses back from the owner one after another that felt like AI rather than a real live owner writing a letter. If these were my reviews I would be shook.

This place may survive in Beautiful Lakewood Ranch where the bar for BBQ is low and patience is high. But I'll buy a ticket on Allegiant to Michigan and buy Twisted Street BBQ ribs for $30.00 each slab, because this one is to rich for my blood.

**Twisted Pit BBQ - Read your reviews without assistance, listen to those that showed up, we know you've got some kinks to work out but come on these are big kinks that need your attention. We need good restaurants in Lakewood Ranch, we have faith you can...

The food was good. Most of the staff was nice. The ordering system requires the staff to educate a first-time customer a little, but it's not like it's anything too difficult. This place is definitely better for a party of people than a solo eater.

The bar experience at this place is suboptimal. I'll explain my experience.

I walk in and sit at the bar. I order a drink. They were not offering tabs because it was first Friday and was very busy. I think that's a mistake. Take advantage of high demand and make spending more money easier for a customer. I had to close out after ordering 1 beer. I easily would have drank 3 with a tab. A tab creates a frictionless experience for drunken people to spend more money. You'll make way more money vs.maybe the one off person you are afraid will order a beer and walk away. Dumb decision. Reconsider it.

Anyway, so I pay for my beer then the bartender tells me how food is ordered. This requires me to get up from my seat and go to the counter.

So I go up and order and this is a different point of sale. So you end up having 2 different points of sale if you sit at the bar: one for drinks and one for food. Not to mention I need a separate transaction for every beer.

I came back to my seat at the bar and the bartender threw my drink away. They kindly gave me another at no cost, but it's a little incomprehensible to me that you can hand me a menu knowing I'm getting food and throw my beer away when all you had to do was turn around and see me in the food line. Just made me feel like I wasn't worth remembering.

I end up having 1.5 beers and paying for 1. I spent about $26 when I could have easily spent $40 if the bar experience was smoother.

Customers who sit at the bar need 1 bill and always offer a tab. Make it easier for me to order more and you'll make more money. You will probably double your alcohol sales by fixing this issue specifically for bar patrons. Not a great bar experience at all. It makes no sense with...

Positive: My pulled pork, street corn and turnip greens were good as was the sweet sauce. Complementary pickles/onion and white bread was a nice touch in a BBQ place. Ice tea good.

Negative: Wife's ribs (St Louis- not babyback) were marginal- zero smoke taste, lots of fat and bone. Cole slaw bad. The cheapest thin plastic cups (crushed in my hands every time I drank) and dollar store plastic cutlery (fork broke in my wife's mouth) is low class penny pinching. The "process" to order was painfully annoying. I doubt the owner has restaurant experience but is trying. Customers were pushed like cattle through a maze where the order of operations was not at all intuitive. Order dessert and sides first- huh? Communication difficult with server behind high walls and plexiglass. I was asked how much of the sides I wanted- well-- I have no clue. Move on to meat- again they ask how much meat I want. WTF? They weigh it out by the ounce. Jesus man I just want dinner without a million questions and math required. No chardonney on the wine list- the most popular white wine in USA. Wife's sauvignon blanc served in red plastic cup. When we (thank god) finished ordering I was asked and encouraged to leave my "tab open" so I could order more stuff from the table. WTF? No thank you. Finally, I found the ambience bland, cheesy, contrived and very noisy- opposite from comfortable and inviting. Honestly we ate quickly and left. There were plenty of smiling attentive server faces so I give credit they seemed to be trying but this place has flaws. Maybe those can be fixed with time. Just being honest here. Hope they adjust and evolve to a BBQ place I'd feel...