The PIT, which was one of Miami's original BBQ joints, has changed hands. And with that change, many other things have changed as well. Unfortunately, they no longer serve true sweet tea... a sure sign that it's just not a Southern BBQ place any more (you can get the raspberry and corn syrup stuff) . A dozen stray cats will surround you as you are served in a new, glitzy Tiki hut with a bar and loud contemporary dance or latin music. They still serve the BBQ fare, and have kept the name "Pit BBQ", but the hot BBQ sauce and the house Miami-style BBQ (similar to what Shorty's serves in the warm jars) is no longer in evidence. We ordered BBQ pork sandwiches, which used to be over-stuffed and tender. They were neither this time. The slaw is still good, but different. And, I gave the new Tostones a try, but was disappointed to find them soaked in grease. As with all things Miami, change happens. The PIT of my last review is no more. Too bad- it's Miami's diversity of cuisine that makes it special, and in the Pit we have lost some of that diversity.\r
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March 2011 update: I'd like to add that I've tried the Pit since my last review, and have unfortunately seen no improvement, but I chose to reserve further comment. Today I received a strongly worded email from the new owner, which clearly shows that they misunderstood what I meant to be constructive and factual criticism. My term "Cuban Cusine" came from their own wait staff of my visit in 2009. This somehow, two years later, upset the owner. There was no ill intent. To be fair, I'll let you, my readers judge for yourselves... here are the owners' own words to me: \r
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"I just read your review on Urbanspoon. It is shamefull that because a person with a HISPANIC background and with a Master Degree in Business purchased THE PIT BBQ adding LATIN SIDE DISHES to the MAIN PLATES that you will call THE PIT A CUBAN RESTAURANT!!!!! If having RICE, BEANS, TOSTONES and MADUROS makes THE PIT a CUBAN RESTAURANT than you must continue your journey thru the STREETS of Miami to change each and every RESTAURANT that has cater to the LATIN COMMUNITY!!! ( 80% of our population)"\r
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I would have hoped that a business owner would listen to and respond to constructive customer comments in an open and positive manner. (I find it an interesting coincidence that the email I received from the owner bears a strong resemblance to the only positive review of the Pit here in UrbanSpoon by Matt in August 2009.)\r
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The owner went on in the email to say...\r
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"We are not only following tradition!! The only difference is that we have CLEANED UP "THE PIT" so we do not subject our customers to the UNHEALTHY enviroment that THE PIT use to be before! YES and YES we do cater to THE LATIN COMMUNITY and THE AFRICAN AMERICANS and THE ANGLOS and ASIAN and GERMAN and anyone that wishes to come TO THE ONLY TRULY COUNTRY SIDE BBQ RESTAURANT IN MIAMI!!! YES we do cater to everyone becaouse ... we are in bussines to succeed not to fail!! and may I remind you THIS IS THE ONLY REAL WOOD BURNING PIT IN MIAMI!!! and we will not fix anything that is not broken!! Our recipies remain the same however our ribs are FAT FREE there is no fat on our ribs because of the high quality! You mention the BBQ SAUCE do you remember where the previous owner kept THE BBQ SAUCES? Outside on a gallon jar with a chain around it!! SAFE and HEALTHY!! I'll SAY!!"\r
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All I can really say to that is ... I never saw the gallon of sauce chained up outside, all I know is that it used to be delicious. "MustLoveFood's" description in another review here pretty accurately sums up what it was like on my last visit. Also, I'm intrigued by the characterization of pork BBQ ribs as "fat free!"\r
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If the new owner has half the spunk in running the kitchen that they exhibit responding to a food review, then perhaps there is hope for the establishment... They just need to direct that energy in the right place!\r
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I suggest you take a look at the "Citysearch" reviews for a chain of recent reviews on the Pit which clearly show the recent opinion of the restaurant- the 4.5:5 rating there is an artifact of times before the current ownership. The large number of 1/5 star reviews are far harsher than my words here.
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