Phil's Dream Pit — Restaurant in Tennessee

Update- Rather than tell the truth, Phil's staff believes they should respond with lies, and accuse the customer of a distortion of events. Our dog never tried to go to the kitchen. nor would he allow her to go in the kitchen. She is highly trained to stay within so many feet of him. No one offered to bring his food to him or take it outside. The lady walked up to him and said..."Ummm... she's gonna have to go outside." that was the extent of it. Yes she was unleashed, but sorry this man is in his late 60's, grew up in Kingsport his whole life and this less than 4 pound dog stays right by his side and is so trained to do so that everyone compliments him everywhere else.... but your establishment treated him like a bum off the street with a dog off a leash .... the elderly lady who was rude was obviously having a bad day that day.... I could even tell it before I went outside and found out what else happened... she has a disgruntled look on her face like she was mad at the world.... and she saw an opportunity to take it out on my elderly father and his little dog and she did.... that is how the world is now... and people are unfortunately.... but if you want to take the fast food workers opinion over the customer who spends quite a lot of money in there regularly and never had an issue until now.... that is your choice... like I said I wont be back and if accused of telling lies or distorting this review anymore I will be glad to show up and protest your business right out front to show you how serious and truthful I am about my review. 09-02-2024

Past- My elderly father came in to purchase a family dinner for everyone today and was told he could not have his little chihuahua service dog with him and he needed to take her outside, had I heard before paying I would have never got the food to begin with and told them if my dog isn't welcome here neither are we.... She wasn't bothering anyone and always behaves and most places in Kingsport treat us kindly and say what a joy it is to have her around because she stays right with him at all times in case he has a medical issue. Not this place.... we wont be back... we came for good food and left with a bad taste in our mouths from the service. It was the older woman that works there and wears glasses... guess she is not...

This place had me fooled when I walked in — cozy little spot, nice vibe, and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier. If I were rating just the people and the atmosphere, I’d give it five stars. But unfortunately, I came here to eat, and the food was an absolute disaster.

I don’t know how you mess up BBQ this badly.

The pulled beef and pulled pork were both painfully dry and somehow managed to have no flavor whatsoever. Like, genuinely no seasoning, no smoke, no sauce that could salvage it — just a pile of warm, stringy nothing. I had to keep sipping water just to choke it down.

The potato salad tasted like someone mashed up cold potatoes and dumped a spoonful of plain mayo on top. Zero seasoning. Zero tang. Just sadness.

The beans? Watery. Barely warm. No spice, no sweetness, no smokiness — just some beans floating in what I can only describe as “bean-flavored juice.”

And the mac n cheese… I don’t even want to call it that. It was a mushy, bland mess that tasted like it came out of a hospital cafeteria tray. No crust, no sharp cheddar, no soul.

The worst part? They have the audacity to charge premium prices for this. I paid what you’d expect at a well-known BBQ spot and got food that wouldn’t even pass for free samples at a gas station.

Save your money. Smile at the staff, compliment the decor, then go eat literally...

I just had to share my recent dining experience at Phil's Dream Pit with you. The staff at this restaurant was simply amazing! They began the day with a heartfelt prayer, focusing on blessing others in the community through their restaurant.

The restaurant itself was spotlessly clean, and I particularly enjoyed the covered outdoor seating area. My group and I indulged in the 3-meat platter, featuring brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, accompanied by delicious baked beans and macaroni and cheese. We also tried another 3-meat combination of pulled pork, brisket, and pulled chicken, served alongside scrumptious potato salad and coleslaw.

While the ribs were juicy and delicious, some may find them a bit overcooked if they prefer competition-style ribs. The brisket, although tasty, was slightly dry and tough – ideally, it should have been more tender and easy to pull apart.

The pulled pork and pulled chicken were average in texture, but thanks to their delectable sauces, they tasted phenomenal. The sides perfectly complemented the meats, creating a well-rounded meal experience.

If you're on the lookout for excellent BBQ in East Tennessee, I highly recommend Phil's Dream Pit. It's been a challenge for me to find good BBQ in the area, and this place truly impressed me. Give it a try – you...