The Pit Barbecue

Reviews 3

IN

Inola Mueller

I will never eat at this establishment. It happens to be next door to the thriving and popular Pinthouse Pizza, which has apparently caused The Pit some parking troubles. My friend and I accidentally parked in one of the spots reserved for The Pit, which we absolutely would not have done, had we known that parking wasnt permitted. After only being parked there for 30-45 minutes, my friend and I returned to find a boot on his car which we had to pay $150 to remove. Afterward, I called The Pit and asked to speak with the owner. I was first asked if I was a solicitor. When I said that I wasnt, I was put on hold. An older woman came on the line, who I assume was Roma Duff, one of the owners cited on the homepage of The Pits main website. I informed her of what had happened with my friends car and that I thought it was criminal. Instead of being polite but firm on her policies, the woman on the phone immediately took a hostile and argumentative tone with me. She told me that signs were posted clearly to see and that there must be "something wrong" with me if I wasnt able to read them. Given the immediate hostility, I figured shed had this conversation with a lot of people, and she told me she had. She told me that theyd had to hire the towing service because it was such a problem. She told me that they towed five people a day. Five people a day. And, if each person is being charged the $150 fee that we were today, thats at least $750 dollars the towing company is making. Im willing to bet that $750 would probably make up a large portion of what the daily proceeds are for The Pit, if not exceed it. Im sure it would be tempting, if I were Roma and Jeff Duff, to take advantage of the growth in the area and monetize the parking demand by not going too far out of the way to warn people not to park in the spots reserved for The Pit and possibly cut a deal with a towing company for part of the proceeds. Im no business person myself, but it seems like common sense that it might be a better investment for Roma and Jeff to post tow signs at each spot with a pole to reduce the number of people parking there, rather than to hire the service. I actually understand where shes coming from. I know it must be irritating to have to deal with a larger, newer business taking up space next to yours and bringing their own customers that take up all available parking. The problem I have is with her idea that doing "good enough" by posting signs that clearly arent working (if five people a day are being towed or booted) is the right thing to do. This is laziness, pure and simple. This is not really caring enough to do the right thing. This is doing the minimum effort you can get away with. Im not a rule-breaker, Im not an inconsiderate person. If a sign had been posted in a way that really brought attention to the fact that the parking spot was for patrons of The Pit, only, my friend and I would have parked somewhere else. We werent trying to get away with anything and we arent bad people, but thats exactly how I was treated when speaking with Roma on the phone today. Roma made it perfectly clear today that she isnt the least bit concerned about the impact this harmful behavior is causing to customers visiting her area. And, at five people a day, that is a lot of harm being done.

BR

Briana Jimenez

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! If I could give this place no stars, I would. Their management is disgusting and the people have no decency. I came to have dinner here, parked in an allocated parking space to then have a boot put on my car because I did not go directly inside the restaurant after I parked my vehicle. I then had to pay $150 to get the boot taken off. Then to have a rude and nasty old lady, who claims shes the "owner", say that its not her problem. She said next time let them know that I will take a minute to get inside the restaurant. My car was parked there for 1 minute and I was right next to it. I saw a friend sitting outside of Pinthouse and went to say hello. As Im walking to the Pit I see the man putting the boot on my car. I calmly explained that I was about to head inside for dinner, but he did not care nor did he stop. He continued to put the boot on my car. As I sat in my car, completely and utterly shocked at the situation I saw who this filthy scheme works. He is literally parked outside the restaurant in a silver car without a license plate and the minute you step out of your vehicle he boots it. I am glad I did not order food from your restaurant, next time Im craving BBQ Ill just go somewhere that has REAL BBQ like Franklin BBQ or La Barbecue. So thank you nasty man and nasty employee for stopping me before I went inside. I have seen Jeff responding to other CUSTOMERS who have had their cars booted as they were INSIDE and its a joke. As the man was so nicely putting the boot on my car, as Im standing there, he proceeded to have a conversation with the nasty old lady in the kitchen. I explained that I was going inside, the man could have taken his key and took the boot off so I could go inside and get food. Better yet, as a restaurant employee who represents this restaurant, after I spoke to her, she could have told him to remove the boot as I was going to head inside, instead of adding her nasty remarks. Jeff, I think it insults our intelligence to feign ignorance and then ask us to remove our reviews. Im glad everyone kept their reviews, as I will do the same. I will make sure I tell everyone I know to never come here. This is a money scheme and its unacceptable. As a restaurant, you definitely have control over booting your customers cars. Everyone who has dealt with this, we should get together and get the authorities involved because this is illegal. You cant put a boot on someones car if they are going to eat at your restaurant ! You do not deserve my business, nor anyone elses. There are plenty of better BBQ places in Austin. People do yourself a favor and go ANYWHERE ELSE. I have had their food before and it is not worth it. Dont give these disgusting people your business. Youll end up buying the most expensive BBQ of your life because apparently even if you are going inside, they will still boot your car. Better yet, park in the back and then go into Pinthouse! They have AWESOME pizza and great beers.

SE

Sean Ellis

Ive been here before, there are much better bbq places in town for the price. They also show absolutely no loyalty to returning customers and their service is absolutely terrible. Upon parking in their designated parking spots getting ready to enter the restaurant, I went to meet my girlfriend at her car. In doing this I apparently "left the property", even though I stayed in the parking lot just so I could go meet my gf and walk her into the restaurant! While walking in, I saw that the attendant was STILL putting the boot on my car (as I had only been parked for no more than 45 seconds) and I explained that we were eating at The Pit but she said she watched me on the camera walk across the parking lot and "leave the property"! I said that if she saw me leave, then she also would see me walk back on but she refused to take off the boot! I was going to eat at their restaurant and they still made me pay $150 to remove the boot. I asked to talk to a manager and whomever they brought out agreed with the attendant that I had to pay a fine! I cant believe that a business would be so incredibly unethical. The owners of the restaurant, apparently not the property owner after reading all of these great reviews, would be wise to re-think their arrangement and I hope the negative reviews keep pouring in. The BBQ is nowhere near good enough to risk the parking fee, especially since they fine their own customers who are walking into their establishment. I will never eat here again and will tell everyone I come into contact with about the poor business practices of the Pit. Maybe they can take note of the Pizza place next door on how to run a business, maybe earn your profit through decent BBQ rather than fining your customers. The Pizza place seemed to be extremely popular, I would recommend eating there.