Bear Creek Open Pit BBQ

Total disappointment when it comes to BBQ, nothing tasted homemade nor looked it, I asked for a side of fruit and potato salad and literally got a kids fruit cup that would go in a lunch box and potato salad that tasted like it came out of a plastic tub, the pulled pork sandwich was dry (the pork was dry) and no flavor, I also got corn fritters that where obviously pre packaged frozen fritters that i could have gotten from A&W. Way over priced non-​home made food. would rather eat a Mc Donald’s Mc Rib.

Several years ago I read an article in eh Washington Post about the dying breed of true open pit barbecue places. It seems that since they are prone to burning down, insurance companies either won’t insure them or raise the rates to such a prohibitive level that they are forced to go out of business.
Anyway I noted that a couple of them were in southern Maryland and one in particular, Bear Creek was only 20 minutes from my home… so I went. And I have to tell you… it doesn’t matter where home is, this place is worth the drive. I love their barbeque… all of it… ham, beef, pork, turkey… you name it, they have infused that wonderful smokey flavor into it. A few years ago they moved… not sure why and we went out of the country. Some say they aren’t the same but have bought their meats by the pound and loaded up on their sides and sauces to put on large parties. Our friends thought we had catered and we had simply sent about $ 200. Their baked beans are amazing and they will help you load your order up. If you’re in the area don’t miss this place!

I have eaten at Bear Creek and have enjoyed myself all 3 times. Appetizer I have tried: Fried Jalapeño coins: Very good. Sides I have tried: Potato salad –excellent; baked beans — excellent; collard greens –excellent; coleslaw — good. Entrees I have tried: pulled pork — excellent; smoked sliced turkey — excellent; ribs — fair (too greasy and a little overcooked). Their signature sauce is very good. The staff and owners are very friendly. I will definitely be back in the future. As others have said — bring cash as no credit cards are accepted. They do have an ATM in the lobby.

Great find! Yummy food, good-​sized portions, much better than we expected! It’s a bit out of the way and you can’t eat inside (there’s outdoor seating) but it’s worth it for good barbecue and friendly service.

Not the best BBQ I’ve ever had, but not bad. We got a few plates to try a little bit of everything. Smoked chicken was hands down my favorite. Brisket was a little fatty but tender and flavorful, minced pork was good. Ribs were smoky and tender. I would skip the corned beef, flavor was good but it dried out a lot when they put it on the grill top. Sausage was ok, just nothing special, but that may be my personal preference. Of the sides, mac and cheese and slaw were great. Collards were good, I just prefer mine less finely chopped. Prices were pretty on point with what I’d expect to pay elsewhere, but be prepared to pay cash only (they do have an atm on site).

Ok so its not the best bbq ive ever had but i dont understand the horrid reviews i see posted. I think there is good flavor and smoke to the meats and there not overseasoned. They allow you to decide how much sauce you put on. I loved the fried pickles as spears. Ribs has simple dry rub and damn tasty. Love the simple soft buns for all the sandwhiches. Even the chili was great. I will return often to try everything on the menu. Far better than smokey joes bbq. And the sides here are 10 times better than mission’s side dishes.

Disappointing. I’ve never been to a BBQ place that served BBQ with no flavor. Do the owners have any passion for food?
We ordered a brisket sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw. The brisket was ok but way too fatty, very mild flavor. Sauce was good. The pulled pork was minced and had absolutely no flavor. My husband, who is not picky about food at all, took one big bite and said «no». The coleslaw was worse than eating raw cabbage — whatever dressing they put on it was watery and again, flavorless. I don’t get it — there are so many wonderful coleslaw recipes out there.
The CASH only policy is annoying and sends a message that this restaurant does not want my business.
Positives: The restaurant design (exterior and interior ordering area setup) is very nice. This place also has a wonderful smokey aroma outside as you’re walking toward the door. But why isn’t any of that smokiness getting into the meat?

Over priced fatty brisket and sliced, lunch meat style turkey. Ordered take-​out near closing time on a Sunday and man, did we get short changed. First of all, NOT impressed with the thin sliced «lunch meat» turkey. Really? this is NOT what a legitimate BBQ restaurant should be serving. Second, the ½ lb of brisket we ordered was mostly fat. This is not the Bear Creek BBQ that I remember…
Best thing going was the macaroni and cheese and cornbread.

It would be 1 star, but I want to try the ribs before I make a total decision of how bad it is. When you come here, two things to remember: CASH and CARRY OUT only. So coming from a Memphis, a real BBQ city, I’ve been on the hunt for good BBQ. This was not it. They offer sliced, pulled, and minced BBQ sandwiches. I don’t know what it is with minced around these parts, but I will never order it anywhere again.
I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and fried pickles. I should have asked first how they do their fried pickles, which is the spears, cuz I much prefer the chips. Though I must say the batter on them were good, just would have been much better as the chips than spears. Now I was looking forward to the sandwich. I tried a bite of it after first opening the foil, and was very disappointed. It had no taste, and looked and tasted like the pork was sitting in water. Made it juicy, but in a bad way. So I decided to pour on the sauce, which only helped a tiny bit. Glad it wasn’t the vinegary style. In the store, they do have about 5 different Tabasco styles to make it hot, which now I wish I had done, and a big jar of jalapenos sitting in vinegar? I want to come back to try the ribs, but probably won’t be soon. For sandwiches, I highly do not recommend.

I have eaten at bear creek on an unfornate occaison, the review below either is a mistake or just a plain lie. I am from North Carolina and know BBQ, they serve the worst I have ever tasted. Yes if you go there get plenty of sauce to hide the taste.

The same non-​vinegar, tomato based BBQ this place has always served — in a smaller venue. Carry out only (not even picnic tables out front), and they do catering.
i am a fan of the minced beef and minced pork sandwiches in this cash-​and-​carry venue. The meats are smoky, full flavored and moist — with a small amount of sauce folded throughout. Ask for a couple of cups of sauce (free) to really drown each bite in flavor.
You will need CASH coming in the door (no credit cards accepted), and napkins going out the door (sandwiches wrapped in foil WILL LEAK juices in your car).