Pig In a Pickle

We ate here for a late lunch on Sunday, January 31. Virtually all the tables were full, but by the time we went to order, a table had cleared. The restaurant is urban décor, and not simply the usual barbecue junk. There is an authentic and well-​used smoker at the counter. Staff were very friendly in explaining the menu, how the dishes were prepared, and the Alabama white sauce. They readily accommodated the requests for sauce on the side. Service was good
With one of us long term Texas resident, we are very particular about our barbecue (barbecue is not a steam table food) and know what is good (and bad). This was very good barbecue.
Food arrived fairly quickly and was cooked perfectly, and was without excessive salt. Brisket was well-​flavored (met the resident Texan’s approval), not dry, juicy, and slight fat marbling. Pork ribs were also juicy and well-​flavored. All the food tasted as if had been just made, and no sign whatsoever of having sat before serving. Sides were very good (beans (nice chili/​barbecue taste), macaroni (white cheddar excellent), and vinegar cole slaw. Corn bread had some chunks of pepper, and was not too sweet. Diet Riet Cola brought back good childhood memories. Sweet pickles were served with meal. Menu called them dill, but more like dill slices without dill taste.
Eating at long tables, and people waiting for food had a good sense of camaraderie, and people were happy and pleased with food.
So far, this is the best barbecue we have had in Marin.
Only slight complaint is that the side serving sizes were larger than the protein servings, and could have done with a larger serving (chicken was one quarter, two ribs, and four slices of brisket).
We will be back.

Best BBQ in Marin. Love the ribs, chili, and pulled pork. Good beer selection as well. Nice place to watch a game.

Walking into this hipster infested strip mall bbq spot, I knew I was making a horrible decision. The second I saw the minuscule portions of food that other diners were eating I should have turned around. I had the brisket with coleslaw, the brisket was definitely made with liquid smoke, and the coleslaw tasted like it had been purchased at kfc and been dumped out into the bowl on my serving tray. Also they don’t serve their meat in plates, it literally comes on the serving tray. Ridiculously small portions for what you pay. If I were to buy a pound of brisket at this restaurant and pound of fillet mignon at any reputable steakhouse, I’d bet that the steakhouse would be cheaper.

I have to admit that I chose this place based on the name. Great idea and marketing move guys :-).
The restaurant is very nice and it was very busy on a Sunday early afternoon. So we ended up sitting outside. It wasn’t cold, but not very warm either.
We made the wise choice of ordering one menu with 3 meats and 3 sides instead of having each one of our own. It was plenty food for the two of us (we weren’t starving from the start).
The meats and sides were delicious and I loved the spicy sauces it came with.
Great meat with great sides, what else do I need?

So glad to have found good bbq in Marin. I will be back soon. Don’t forget to grab some of the cornbread and mac n cheese too.

Excellent. Just simply excellent.
I stopped by for lunch, didn’t try the ribs (I’m going back next week ;)), had the brisket sandwich instead ($ 14 with a side). In as few words as possible…
Melts on your tongue.
Great flavor by itself, which says a lot coming from me, but the choices of sauces made it even better. A little of this on this spot, a little of that on that spot, I’m talking GOOD!

Yummy. Friendly. Clean.
Great staff. Great food. Great attitude.
New favorite spot. Try the chili!

This is no barbecue. What a let down. My baby back ribs must have been sitting on the counter under a heatlamp, because they were dry and tasteless. My boyfriend’s chicken was salty and dry. I’m pretty sure nothing is cooked to order, just heated up and thrown on a plate. Corn bread was dry, beans were over salted. Basically — nothing was good.
It’s in a shopping plaza. You’re better off at a chain you can trust.

Although I haven’t eaten at Pig in a Pickle my rating is on their tv commercial. Have you seen that??? I don’t know who produced it but it looks like they gave no feedback to those poor people. The woman is pretty low key in her delivery but the guy appears downright depressed. Why would I want to eat there if even HE isn’t thrilled about it? I’ll wait for a seat at their neighboring restaurant, The Counter, Thank You. Fire your marketing crew, people.

I am so obsessed with this BBQ place! They always have very fresh quality ingredients and everything on the menu is delicious! I love their pulled pork, beans, cole slaw & cornbread. Service is very friendly, casual environment with a great variety of dipping sauces at each table. Soooo good!

All of their meat is done well. Brisket my favorite. Good flavor, no need for sauce. Their beer selection is also top notch with a good variety. The game is always on on one of their two big TV’s.

Went there today for the first time. Super nice environment with great seating and high ceilings. I had the pulled pork sandwich with one side. I had the coleslaw. Wanted to try a lot of other sides! They have all the sauces table side so you can choose what you put on your meat. I did the regular BBQ along with the spicy BBQ sauce. Everything was very thoughtfully prepared and presented. I want to go back for dinner and try more. It seems very popular, with a lot of customers and take out too. All in all, a really nice place with excellent food.

I lived in the Deep South for 10 years and Houston for 15. I know great barbecue – this is the BEST in MARIN – by far! Smokey. Suculant baby backs, chicken, brisket. Spicy hot links – all great. Homemade sweet and tangy pickles, potato chips made each morning, chow-​chow, array of bbq sauces.
Not too mayonaisy slaw, great potato salad. Perfect home-​made cornbread – moist & fresh, and home-​made Parker-​House rolls with honey butter. Everything super fresh. Outstanding brewmaster level beer selection. They also offer a delectable, carmely fresh, hot apple crisp-​definately sharable but you won’t want to.
The venue is charming, comfortable, immaculate. Staff knowledgable, welcoming, fast service. Chef Damon Steinbrook also caters. You will be happy. Actually addicting, mood-​elevating food!
Location on backside of mall – so of course parking is no problem.

Great food! Quick, excellent service. Nice beer and wine list. They also do family sized meat cuts! I always get the Brisket Sandwich with a side salad but my boyfriend loves the pulled pork and side beans. House made chips and pickles are to die for! Good spot to catch a game with 2 big screens at the bar. Bartender was super sweet and efficient. New favorite lunch spot!

2 visits over here. 1^st one was good, food was good. 2^nd visit I’m trying to order the 2 meats & 3 sides plate. I ask for pulled pork as both of my meats. No can do. Why? Restaurant policy …
Seriously???
Guy — probably the owner/​chef — comes out of the kitchen and explains: «My policy is pretty cut and dry, I’m not going to make an exception for you. If you don’t like it, there are plenty other places around here.»
Oh yes, there are. And they are going to get my business. You (illogical, greedy guy), however, won’t. Ever. Again!

I’ve become a big fan of this spot. After a tough workout at my gym down the way, I like to ruin my hard work and sacrifice with a delicious brisket sandwich.
I particularly love the way they load up said sando with lots of various cuts (Burnt ends, lean cuts and some cuts with nice fat striations).
The sandwich comes with a side: I have had the beans (they’re savory not sweet). And, the cole slaw… it’s real tasty. The collard greens cost a little extra but they are so delicious.
They have some great beers on draft. And, they carry a brand of coffee from Seattle that I’ve seen nowhere else but in the aforementioned Emerald City.
I’ve yet to try the chili or the cornbread. But, I’m sure that they are not going anywhere. Because, this spot is the real McCoy.
Oh, someone said they use liquidsmoke. I’m familiar with that product. But, if that’s the case, what in the hell is all of that smoke billowing out of the chimney?! And, you can look right at their smoker. It’s front and center. I don’t believe there are any hijinks goin’ on here… just solid BBQ. Especially the brisket.

Definitely a favorite in Marin!!!
Being from the south it is very hard for me to settle for average BBQ. We decided that we would give this place a shot and I’m glad we did. My husband and I definitely felt like we were back in the south with SUPER sweet tea, amazing sweet cornbread and tender pork BBQ. We tried ribs, brisket and pulled pork. The brisket was the absolute best in the area, there was no need for sauce. However, the sauces were all very yummy. The Mac and cheese needed salt and pepper in my opinion. The cole slaw was vinegar based, and the potato salad is a perfect mustard base. I thought the sides were very delicious. The service was great. I love that they have a small patio that can visualize the TV at the bar on game nights. We will definitely return, they know how to do BBQ.

I’m not a fan of strip malls and even though this mall here in Corte Madera is a bit quirkier than your usual mall, I still don’t love coming here. However, Pig In A Pickle is a good reason for me to make an exception to my self-​imposed rule.
On my first visit to the Pig In A Pickle (I had heard about its existence and excellence through my other half) I was pleasantly surprised that the interior is so warm and welcoming. I really felt at home and that feeling was further substantiated by the warm welcome of the staff behind the counter. This being my first time, I asked them for help when it came to choosing a take-​away and everyone was super-​helpful. In fact, they were so excited about their own food that I just got infatuated as well.
Back in the car I couldn’t wait to come home… especially with the small of the BBQ meat wafting through the boxes…
What to order? — I’d really suggest asking the staff for help!

Damon the owner was nice enough to hook me with a sampler of the fatty brisket! There isn’t one kind of style BBQ here! ran into a couple visiting from Arkansas and Texas and they said its the best smoked brisket they have ever had in California and they had been to quite a few locations.
They use hickory to smoke their meat. 5 beers on tap. Their butter pickles are just as addicting as their brisket! Make sure ask for the fatty part of the brisket. The lean is bit drier. Their homemade spicier BBQ sauce oh my I can go through a bottle a week its that good. most BBQ joints the sides are an afterthought but not here! Their mac and cheese is legit and made daily! BBQ with that artisanal spin

I’m giving the food 4 stars, but I’m hesitant because the service was awful. It was hardly busy and I was the only person at the register to order food. Yet the guy at the cashier looked like the bartender too. So he made me wait just to order my food, and made me wait just to get my change back (he was under no rush to get to me while he conversed with the bar patrons– literally a 5 min wait just to get my change back).
I shared a platter of 3 meats (chicken, brisket and pork). All were very good and the brisket was smoked well. They have an assortment of sauces, that were good but nothing to bottle up and take home though.
I have to say I would come back for the food since I live nearby, but I hope their service improves because right now they are on par with Best Lil’ Porkhouse right down the street– which has awful service.