At The Pit, the smoke is hard to miss

AMMAN — After reviewing Italian restaurants for three consecutive weeks, I decided to switch things up a bit. I invited a friend to The Pit - House of Barbecue in Abdoun. They serve American barbecue, and all their meats are prepared and smoked in-house. The menu is extensive, which made ordering a little difficult as many of the options looked great.اضافة اعلان

My friend and I placed a heavy — and meaty — order. For starters, we ordered the taco salad, smoked chicken wings with Alabama sauce and classic BBQ sauce, two brisket sliders, four-piece chicken tenders with buffalo sauce, the house burger, and a quarter of jerk chicken with a side of rice. Initially, I wanted to order their most popular item, the Pit Sandwich, but the waiter said they were sold out for the day.


(Photos: Raja Attar)

Naturally, the appetizers started rolling in. First was the taco salad — a mix of lettuce, Doritos, cheese, kidney beans, sweet corn, black olives, and a jalapeno dressing. The salad was pre-tossed, which is something I will always appreciate. Overall, it tasted good, but I would personally order it without the black olives next time.
The jalapeno dressing was pleasantly spicy.

The wings and tenders landed in quick succession. We tried the buffalo tenders first. Despite being covered in buffalo sauce, the tenders were very crispy. Apparently, they use corn flakes in the breading which gives it a little extra crunch. The chicken itself was tender. The buffalo sauce brought harmony to every bite as its tanginess worked wonderfully with the breading’s sweetness.


(Photos: Raja Attar)

We shifted our attention to the smoked chicken wings, which we ordered two ways — three with Alabama sauce and three with classic BBQ sauce. The wings were perfectly cooked through, the smokey taste present despite the sauce. 

The brisket sliders quickly made their way as we finished off the wings. Served on two small rolls, the brisket is drenched in BBQ sauce. I ate mine with a slice of dill pickle, which they served on the side. The brisket tasted like it should — smokey and tender. An absolute joy to eat. Usually, I prefer the buns to be lightly toasted on the inside to keep the bun soft on the outside, which helps the brisket meat stand out.

The house burger and the jerk chicken arrived at the same time. The Pit’s house burger is as simple as it gets — two patties, bacon, cheddar cheese, and their house sauce on a pretzel bun. I should have specified how I wanted my burger cooked, but the burger turned out better than expected. As far as my taste goes, the simpler the burger the better, and this definitely fit the criteria. The jerk chicken was next. Traditionally, this dish is served with rice.


(Photos: Raja Attar)

Unfortunately, it was the least impressive main course. The chicken breast was very dry and needed more jerk sauce. The rice, though, was flavorful and fragrant.

Overall, my experience at The Pit was pleasant. The staff were warm and welcoming, the service was quick and efficient, and we had some excellent food. If you ever find yourself craving American-style BBQ in Amman, The Pit is your go-to place.

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