Charlie’s Pit BBQ

The BBQ is so-​so since they reopened. The service is slow. I use to go out of my way to come here, but not anymore. Doubt I will go back. The only reason it gets two stars is the restaurant was very clean and updated

We phoned in a ‘to-​go’ order for the newly reopened Charlie’s. I arrived to pick up the order a few minutes after the woman on the phone told us it would be ready, but they had not yet started putting it together. Everyone was very nice and friendly, but it looked like amateur hour.
I would be a lot more charitable about their overall operation had the food been good, but neither the service nor the food was acceptable by a LONG shot. First, they charged more for the meats than the prices listed on their website. The «sliced turkey» was some sort of smoked turkey loaf — lunchmeat, basically — it was terrible. The «brisket» was unlike any smoked brisket that I’ve ever had — the pieces were sort of random shaped and there were gristly pieces — it was on the tough side, overly done and didn’t look to be beef brisket at ALL. Smoked brisket should be tender with a defined smoke ‘ring’ and should be reasonably uniform slices of brisket — this had none of those characteristics The baked beans were OK, but were very likely from a can and were just seasoned a little and heated. They advertised «hoagie rolls» on the menu and when I went to pick them up, found that they were charging .55 for a HALF roll, so a roll suitable for putting together a sandwich would run $ 1.10. Seriously?
Very, very disappointing experience overall and a really poor value. There are quite a few excellent barbecue spots in Colorado Springs. Charlie’s is not one of them. I would rate zero stars if this was an option.

Excited to try this place.

We were hesitant at first because some people gave it a great rating and others have it poor. Man, I’m glad we ignored the poor comments, this place was delish!
First, I want to address people’s comments on the décor, it is a mom and pop place, nothing fancy, but it is clean and the service was top notch!
For food: We ordered the lunch platter for $ 8.99 and it was so good. The sauce is tangy, sweet, molasses, smokey tasting; different than any BBQ sauce we have tasted. I LOVED the beef brisket and baked beans! We will deff return!

Wish I could rate zero stars. We came in using a Groupon deal, and I wish I would’ve kept that 12 bucks. Had to return the ham, which is not smoked but tasted of day old grease. The sauce was really gross, and way too sweet. It tasted like it came from a can. Speaking of cans, the green beans and potato salad also tasted like it was canned/​store bought. The ‘server’ was uninformed, slow, and lacked personality. She had no salesmanship or pride, even stating ‘I don’t know what’s good here, I haven’t been here very long.’ This is a reflection of poor management rather than the server. I feel my stomach beginning to ache as I write this. Stay away.

Disgusting. The sauce was buttery and overly sweet, and the sides are straight out of a can. Service was also inexcusably slow. I only ate a few bites. I will not return.

I’m just not a fan of this place. I ate here a few weeks ago and the brisket reminded me more of a piece of fatty roast beef. The bbq sauce was really unlike anything I’ve ever tasted, I’ll agree with the previous posters and just say that it was… odd. In a not-​so-​good way. I really liked the fries, and I swung by the drive-​thru today to pick an order (what can I say, the location was convenient), but they were half-​cooked, greasy and limp, really inedible this time. I’m not going back again.

Good, old-​school barbecue restaurant. It is very simple, almost to the point of tackiness: plastic, checkered tablecloths, older diner furniture. Not fancy at all. But, that’s OK. People don’t come here for the ambiance; they come here for good barbecue at a very good price. This last time, I had the hot links, because not a lot of places do a good smoked hot link. But, if you are a brisket fan, that’s pretty good too. I agree with Jason S. earlier; the sauce is a little heavy on the tomato, but not so much as to put me off. Give this place a shot; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

First time here today, simply driving by the joint and my nose led me to it. This place is a little hole the wall joint, nothing nice to look at, but that doesn’t matter; good BBQ is about just that, good eats. I ordered takeout: a platter of pulled pork, beef brisket, a rack of ribs, potato salad, baked beans, toasted bread, pickles, and onions. This was a serious amount of food for the dough, $ 28 and we were stuffed with plenty of leftovers for the late night bite. I have been to the other joints in town like Brothers and Bird Dog, Charlie’s won me over in one simple visit, I won’t be going back to the others any time soon. The sauce was tangy, sweet, and just enough of a kick, and yes as others have noted it was plentiful, but personally I like that, better than having dried out meat which seems to be the norm in the Springs. The ribs were our favorite part, fall off the bone tender, honestly the best ribs I have had since visiting Kansas City and that’s saying a lot. I say definitely give them a try;)

Ambiance: Very tired and a bit tattered dining room. Several tables covered with checkerboard table clothes. TV was playing a documentary on trash disposal in large cities (not the kind of thing I want to watch while eating.) This place was called Yakibobs, and served an American hybrid of chicken yakitori. Now the place is called Charlie’s BBQ Pit /​Yakibobs, which is a hybrid of the two restaurants, coming together as one, a bit odd if you ask me.
Service: Gal who waited on me, and then prepared my meal, was very pleasant.
Food: I went with their brisket sandwich. I think the brisket was tender. The reason I said «think» is that it was slathered with a ton of BBQ sauce, so much so, it was like soup, covering most of the sandwich roll as well. Good BBQ is about the quality of the meat, with the sauce complimenting the meat. Here, the sauce is the star of the show, and that is about all you taste. The thing is, I really don’t care for their sauce. Way to sweet! Needs more of a smoky flavor. For a side, I went with their potato salad, which tasted exactly like the stuff you buy in a plastic container in the deli section of the supermarket (My guess is that is exactly where it came from.)
Overall, we have better options for BBQ in this city (thank goodness!). This place just really doesn’t know how to do BBQ properly.

Best BBQ sauce in town. I buy their sauce in large jars and use it at home when I BBQ. I wish I knew their secret recipe!

yummmm

Always craving the brisket! The meat is smoked perfectly, but melt in your mouth, not dryed out! I usually get the combo plate where you get ribs, brisket, sausage, pulled pork and two sides. The only thing I wish they did different was not putting sauce on the meat, just as a side for dipping. The bbq beans are really GREAT! I LOVE the food here… The Yakitori chicken is good stuff too… but I, m a barbeque nut and I think this is the best around these parts!

Kinda hit or miss lately. Seating area really needs some tlc. missing air vents, moulding falling off the walls. makes me wonder how clean the back is

I LOVE this place for BBQ! Their sauce is a little piece of HEAVEN! They serve the BEST coleslaw I have ever had! They have since moved to Fillmore street and now share a building and a menu with a teriyaki joint next to the Omelette Parlor. A little odd, but it is the same great food.

I have to say — I like good BBQ — and Charlie’s pulled pork sandwich could have been great, except that they smothered it in what I thought was «weird tasting» sauce.
Maybe I’m getting spoiled by Brother’s BBQ (Denver), Bird Dog BBQ here in the Springs, and others — who let you pick the sauce that you like — instead of choosing for you. In this case — the sauce wasn’t good, in my opinion, and it killed the meal for me.

I added another star simply because the service was really good.

Charlie’s Pit Bar B Que is a humble store front in downtown Manitou. The wait staff was friendly, courteous and prompt. I ordered the lunch combo platter ($ 8 — brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs and sausage). I am by no means a BBQ expert, but I the meat was very tender and flavorful and the sides (potato salad and baked beans) were very tasty. I prefer a little less tomato in my BBQ sauce, but I don’t think there is a BBQ sauce that will please everyone.
Overall I was very happy with the experience, left full and I’m ready to go back.
It is also worth mentioning that there is another Charlie’s on Nevada, however I haven’t been there.