I absolutely love barbecue & always make a point to try any and every barbecue restaurant I come across. Picnic was a welcomed addition to the north Durham area and this place used to be my absolute favorite barbecue restaurant (in the entire country!!) pre-Covid. The barbecue is always very flavorful with minimal gristle & their proprietary Carolina style bbq sauce is some of the best I’ve ever tasted! To finish off the meal, they have some of the absolute best banana pudding I’ve ever had!
So you must be wondering with all the praise, why dock Picnic a star? Sometime around Covid, they started to tinker with the menu a little too much and lots of the amazing sides they offered changed. They completely got rid of fries for the longest time only to finally bring them back as a totally different hard waffle fry. The original style fries had much better flavor & texture. They also changed the original Mac n cheese recipe to a more basic, bland style. Finally, they upped their prices (understandable bc of Covid issues) but their portion sizes also dropped tremendously.
I get they’re doing what they can to stay afloat during these tough economic times but at the same time, you can’t abandon what brought you success imo. I still claim Picnic’s barbecue as some of the best in the country but I can no longer claim them as the overall best barbecue restaurant anymore due to all the changes that have occurred since originally opening. Here’s to hoping they get back to doing what made them so special!
Nam
Oct 10, 2022
3
I’m shocked by the high ratings of this BBQ restaurant. My favorite thing here was the coleslaw, which the veggies in it had a very fine texture.
The brisket & chicken were sooo average. They were not tender & were quite tasteless. I wish they made their own BBQ sauce too; the ‘Pig Whiskey’ BBQ sauce that they had at every table was not good.
Jessica
Jul 19, 2022
5
I got fried chicken, collards, and baked beans. Beans were amazing, chicken was pretty good, and collards were okay but needed a little something. My partner got pulled pork, potato salad, and mac and cheese. The potato salad and mac and cheese were great. I didn't get to try the bbq but he said it was good. The hush puppies are amazing. I would go back just for these and the beans. We also had some drinks at the bar that were tasty and they had some frozen drinks available they let us sample. The frozen lemonade was perfect. Bar service was on point. Food and drinks came out fast. I'd go here again anytime.
Carly Mask
Jul 11, 2022
5
Hands down, the BEST BBQ I've had in The Triangle. If you're looking for an elevated Southern spread, this is it! The whole-hog BBQ was some of the leanest, most flavorful I've ever had, and the scratch-made baked beans were delicious! Banana pudding for dessert is the icing on the cake and a MUST. Can't wait to try more of the menu soon.
Dave Mariani
Jul 10, 2022
5
A great brisket sandwich...one of the best .great sauces too. The hush puppies are scrumptious. Very good food here.
John
Jun 17, 2022
5
4.5 stars
I'm honestly not sure what's up with all the negative reviews. People around here don't know good food. Terrible restaurants around here somehow have higher reviews than this awesome spot
This place was nothing short of excellent. Nicely fried chicken sandwich, and great pulled pork and brisket. Awesome BBQ sauce. Collard Greens had amazing flavor and the Mac and cheese was done right, and not gooey. The cukes were nicely pickled. Hush puppies were great
Good stuff. Fast service
Darrin Thompson
May 26, 2022
4
Super pleased with my 1st time here. If I had one request (in the event that the establishment sees this) offer a non-vinegar or "Memphis style" BBQ sauce.
I personally am not a fan of the eastern Carolina style sauce.
Aside from that, it was a plesent visit. I ordered the brisket plate w/potato salad and baked beans. Also ordered the pickle fries.... NOTHING I ordered was bad!
Friendly staff is a plus.
I did not get photos this time because I was just too hungry 😉
Thanks for a good 1st time, I'll definitely return!
Zoe T
May 21, 2022
3
Picnic has great customer service. Upon arrival I was greeted, given menus, and less than five minutes later I received my order. The food wasn't distasteful in any way shape or form. However, the food did not stand out and the amount of flies there were oddly copious. Overall, an alright experience but taking your food to go is a good option.
B 123
May 14, 2022
5
Truthfully the smell alone is worth 5 stars. What a great off the beaten path place to grab lunch or dinner and then head to the Eno for a hike. The BBQ and the sides are great. I've never had a bad experience there.
Laura Joy Palma
Apr 6, 2022
5
Just driving through town and stumbled on this perfect "picnic" spot, as hospitable as it peaceful! If you see something on the menu frequently, it's likely to be worth a little calorie indulgence. Pack me some fried greens tomatoes and hush puppies for my next picnic!
