Picnic

Reviews 5

MA

Matt Murley

This place nails it. Cool setting, the pulled pork is ridiculous, and everything else they make is like a step up from the norm. Our group decided that it was like a foodies answer to a barbecue joint. For example, the banana pudding is at a fine dining level, as odd as that may sound, like something youd get at a super high end steakhouse like Mortons. Pimiento mac and cheese is so good its a wonder more restaurants havent thought of it before. The whole alcohol/cocktail/beer side of things also has that cool vibe that is a cut above. At first I thought $14 was expensive for a BBQ plate, given my experience across the state at any BBQ joint I could find. Turns out, its a steal... you get two sides, and cole slaw is NOT counted as one of them, thats just a freebie thats baked in and you can ask for as much as youd like. Thats already cooler than most places. The pulled pork is WAY higher quality than 99% of the BBQ places around, makes you question what the other guys think is so great about theirs besides the sauce, cuz this is the first time in years Ive actually thought anything about the pork itself. My buddy said the fried chicken is as good as hes ever had, so theres that as well. This place is a no-brainer. I can see how some folks might not be a fan of the "high-end" spin on BBQ, as I may have said the same a few years ago when i still thought that lunch was supposed to be $8 or less. Now that Ive evolved/updated to the modern era, I would call this one of the best values around. The food is actually GOOD, you get plenty of it, it comes out quick, theres no pretention. Its just really good BBQ/sides/desserts and you feel like they are trying to earn your business, not just leveraging our official state food for profit.

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JO

John Morris

Price 5/5. I came here expecting to find that with the great reviews this establishment has received, the prices HAD to be through the roof. Well I was wrong. Moderately priced, FILLING meals with authentic and hand made sides. Nothing I ordered tasted as if it had come from a can. I ordered a BBQ plate for $13 that came with coleslaw, potatoe salad, pulled pork and macn cheese. The whole hog is on display right inside the front door. Nothing tastes frozen. Cooked for everyone to see. My wife got the blackened catfish for $11. The only price point Id contend with was the deviled egg appetizer. $3 for one smoked and pickled, deviled egg seemed a bit exorbitant. But was still so very good that I forgot the price at first bite. Service 5/5. Great service kept our waitress checking in no later than every 8 minutes on the mark. Cleanliness 4/5. I was going to dock two points here, but only went with one. Its understandable that in late March, if youre going to eat outside, you should expect bugs. However the flies were almost plague-like. And I dont mean 40 to 50 flies buzzing around. I mean swarms of hundreds. Now the front porch ceiling fans were on which kept the flies at bay for the most part, but I hope to see a screened in section being built at some point to help combat the plague. In addition, there was pollen on the tables (impossible to avoid) and the condiments tray kept outside. The barbecue sauce in particular was not only sticky but coated in pollen too. Quality 5/5. The pork was fresh and is even touted to have been locally grown right down the road. Flavorful and rich, the food here (hushpuppies especially) will have you running back. I will definitely be eating here regularly!

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KE

Kelly Rogan

We had wanted to try Picnic Restaurant for sometime, wow what a great disappointment! Where do I start? Perhaps by how we were greeted. As we walked in we were told to close the door so the flies wouldnt get in. How else would one get into the restaurant. The attitude of the staff was anything but welcoming. I attempted to take a styrofoam to go container from the front to put water in it for my dog, and the owner who was cooking snapped at me as he ordered me not to take the container. Rudeness at its finest. I could go on about the service and how awful it was but for time sake I will just get to the food. We love hush puppies, my husband orders them every time we go to a barbecue restaurant, they were tasteless tiny cardboard fried somethings but not hush puppies. Shameful. We also ordered Fried green tomatoes, which had no flavor, we were hoping for at least a decent sauce to make up for the blandness but it was watery and lacked flavor. The pulled pork sandwich and the Brisket sandwich were marginal at best, the sides we chose were simply awful. The baked beans would have been tastier out of a can, the cole slaw was emulsified, and the mac and cheese was very thick with some sort of cheap fake cheese. All for only 63.00. What a bargain! Dont waste your money on this place, there are too many great places in our area with engaging, owners who are proud of the product they make and serve. You just have to ask yourself " If the entire staff is rude, it makes one wonder" It comes from the top down!

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ST

Stephen Parker

If youre looking for craft southern food done right, look no further. The fam and I stopped by their for their inaugural Sunday brunch hours. We were totally blown away by the food quality and preparation, service and craft beer selection! The pork was served perfectly seasoned but their house BBQ sauce was a wonderful marriage of eastern and western styles. I had the chicken biscuit with gravy as well - kinda ruins fried chicken because aside from grandmas kitchen I dont know if Ive ever had better fried chicken. The sides were scrumptious as well- collards, potato salad, cucumber salad - all traditional faves executed exceptionally well. Didnt have room for the banana pudding but thats great motivation for a return trip. The service was attentive and congenial- lots of suggestions and help with the menu! Couldnt ask for nicer table service! The beer list was amazing as well- lots of emphasis on NC craft brews and they picked a solid lineup of amazing brews! We cant wait to go back and plan on doing so soon before word spreads and they start forming lines to wait for tables!! (Were talking weeks not months if everyone had the same excellent experience we had!)

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Geoffrey Hunter

I have passed by this location a number of times since the beginning of the year and up until this past weekend I was certain that it was a limited options eatery on the super healthy side like many new establishments that have been opening in the area (which is completely fine with me). To my pleasant surprise over the weekend I step foot in to Picnic on Cole Mill Road and realize that this is a down home Southern BBQ restaurant that within its first year has been recognized by Indy Magazine. I was greeted by one of the nicest waitstaff that I have encountered eating out in a while and Katherine was awesome in taking the time to explain the menu and drink options with me. The atmosphere is very relaxed and spacious with picnic tables on the front patio area (under the shade). The food is A1 and some of the best BBQ I have had in Durham. I cant say enough about how great of a local restaurant this is and will become as the years go on. It also seems that they are well equipped to do catered events and handle a lot of take out orders during the week. The wait time is less than 10 minutes and well worth it on your lunch break. Head on down to Picnic this week and enjoy!

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