Catching national attention for their whole hog approach, Picnic has been featured in numerous publications. Sit outside at a picnic table and sample some of that famous barbecue and sides. Pair your meal with a craft beer or cocktail, and top it off with a bowl of banana pudding.
Share
Hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
My number one qualm: the bbq sauce bottles. I had the most heinous time pouring out sauce onto my pulled pork (90% of it rolled back onto the bottle, hand, and my phone, 10% made it on the platter). While it may seem like I cannot pour things, I promise I typically have a better time even with difficult bottles.
The fried okra (from my friends plate) was lowkey the highlight. I also loved my mac and cheese and collard greens. I am less of a pulled pork fan, but love sour savory foods (and NC bbq sauce but had aforementioned struggles). But, it was super tender and cannot imagine pulled pork being significantly better in terms of quality. It was quite a lot of food also!
Finally, our waiter was so lovely and kind.
C “GreyWolff” Stout
Jan 3, 2025
5
We had the special of Cheese Burgers and was not disappointed. Lance, the Bartender, took great care of us. Burgers were done to perfection. Baked beans were full of flavor, and the fries had a perfect crisp to them. Hush puppies to die for.
Ramon Perez
Dec 3, 2024
5
The food was very good, they have a great beer selection, and the place looks great. We sat at the bar and the energy of the place was fun. The brisket and pulled pork plate was delicious. It looks small when it comes out, but it's plenty of food.
Melanie Smith
Nov 11, 2024
5
Stopped in on a road trip to DC. Fantastic food and good service. Recommend the pimento cheese with fried saltiness, BBQ pork sandwich, collards, baked beans, and the shrimp po-boy. Would def try to come back if I'm ever in Durham!
Alex Davis
Nov 1, 2024
5
So yummy! Loved the casual atmosphere and service. We got a table immediately and our server was wonderful. The Brussels sprouts were to die for. Big portions so you won’t leave hungry.
Sara Hagmann
Sep 12, 2024
5
Have heard a ton of good things about this place, and it's totally warranted. Super yummy food -- the Mac and cheese was amazing, flavorful and not overcooked. Chill atmosphere where the music was not too loud and my very wiggly child could stand next to the table or chat with the server for a minute and it was no big deal. (Our server was Daisy, by the way, and she was a gem! Kept thinking of ways to be helpful before I even thought to ask, and very sweet.) We're asking it to our go-to list!!
Lauralei Knight
Aug 16, 2024
4
We went here for lunch. The outside was very plain, but the inside is very much a barbecue decor. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We went on a friday at one o'clock and it was not terribly busy. We had the quarter dark meat, fried chicken and a brisket sandwich. The chicken was not cooked to the point of falling off the bone. I prefer it that way. The crispy. Pour it on the outside of the chicken was very light and delicious. The brisket sandwich was actually cool, but the brisket itself was delicious. The baked beans were homemade and very good. They have jalapenos in them. So there is a little bit of a kick. The macaroni and cheese side was very good and very cheesy. That's coleslaw.It's very good, but it comes in a very tiny portion. The hush puppies we had, we're very dark and kind of dry and not enough onion for our taste. The atmosphere is very nice and it is comfortable seating. The service was extremely good. Our waitress came over several times to refill drinks and ask if there's anything else we wanted. I would recommend this place, Just not order the chicken again.
John Doe
Jul 22, 2024
4
The staff is really nice and friendly. The service is fast. The location is great and the facilities have a nice vibe.
In terms of the food, there is definitely substantially better BBQ in the RDU area. The brisket is a bit dry, hard, and bland for example.
Grandpa Dale Ross
Jul 19, 2024
5
I recently had dinner at Picnic in Durham, NC, and it was a delightful experience. The BBQ restaurant offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a hearty meal.
**Food:**
- **Pork:** The pulled pork was the best part of the meal, especially with the pig whiskey sauce. It was tender, flavorful, and had just the right amount of smokiness. In my opinion, it was most excellent.
- **Brisket:** The brisket was moist and good, but I felt it needed a bit more flavor to bring it up to a 5-star level. I used their house sauce with it, and it paired well.
- **Baked Beans:** The baked beans were rich and savory, with a hint of sweetness. I really liked them, but I do wish they had added some meat, both brisket and pork, to enhance the flavor.
- **Collard Greens:** The collard greens were great, especially when I added the pig whiskey sauce to them. They added a nice touch of Southern comfort to the meal.
- **Hush Puppies:** The hush puppies were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They were a delightful addition to the meal.
- **Slaw:** The slaw needed something extra, but adding the pig whiskey sauce helped. It provided a refreshing contrast to the rich BBQ flavors.
- **Banana Pudding:** I enjoyed the banana pudding as a sweet ending to the meal.
**Service:**
The service was friendly and efficient. The staff made sure we had everything we needed and checked in on us regularly.
**Overall:**
Picnic is a fantastic BBQ restaurant that delivers on both flavor and hospitality. While I am giving it a 5-star rating, my actual rating is 4.5 stars due to some minor improvements that could be made. If you're in Durham and craving some delicious BBQ, I highly recommend giving Picnic a try!
Amanda Wilkie
Jul 7, 2024
5
The teamwork of the staff was amazing. As soon as we sat, they brought us water. Any time we put something to the side, they came over and asked if they could get it out of our way. The sauces and meat were amazing. I would highly recommend it to others and my husband, and I would definitely eat here again.
