Epiphany Open Pit Beef & Subs

Tiny place… better to take out than dine in… if you can even do that! I order from there regularly. Best ribs and pulled pork in DC so far.

Their collard greens are incredible. Their pulled pork is also extremely tasty. They’re not a particularly warm staff and it can get a little pricey, but whatever, it’s delicious and I’m in and out of there pretty quickly. If you want good southern food, good barbeque, and no fuss, come here!

So I visited here with my mom on a free Saturday. We just happened to be driving by and when I spotted the place, I automatically hopped on Unilocal!to see what the reviews were like. Finding a good BBQ place is a task, sometimes. This place is a true hole in the wall. And by that I mean, one of those hidden treasures that catches you off guard and changes your whole life.
There is limited street parking (Like most places on Georgia Ave).
We walked in and the guy at the register greeted us with a smile. Very refreshing. The inside is very clean, as it should be, since there is no extra space for anything else. It reminds me of a Chinese carryout, where you order at the window, but do not sit and dine in. There is, however, a small bar like area with two stools where you sit and people watch if you’d like. A small tv is in the corner (and they do have cable!)
The menu is nice and organized; separated by Sandwiches, Meats and sides. It was written in chalk, which made me a giggle a bit. (Nice touch).
I ordered the Tilapia sandwich, with mac and cheese and greens. My mom ordered the Chicken Steak and Cheese with everything on it. (Everything, meaning literally EVERYTHING!!) We also ordered a slab of ribs to go; the guy gave us a small sample to seal the deal.
The food took about 20 minutes to be ready, which was fine because the staff/​man at the register was very engaging. What else do you talk about on a Saturday… FOOTBALL!
When the food was ready to go, so were we. I was so ready to taste the food, because the overwhelming smell of the BBQ was having a heart to heart with my stomach. Needless to say, we started to «taste-​test» in the car. My mom’s sandwich was delicious. Like can’t get enough delicious. It stayed in one piece, considering all the ingredients that were piled on. The chicken was sliced to perfection; not too chunky and not too thin. And the FLAVOR! OMG!
My tilapia sandwich was one of the best I have ever tasted. The bread was toasted and the lettuce and tomatos were fresh; not welted. And the mayo and ketchup was not too much. The tilapia was fried and crunchy but not tasteless.
We also decided to taste a rib each. All I have to say is Fall-​Off-​The-​Bone GOODNESS!
The Mac and Cheese was perfect. Up there with Grandma’s. And the greens had a brown sugar and vinegar, tang and sweet combo going on.
Overall, I would recommend this place to just about anybody. You must check it out and tell the guy at the register that the Cowboy Fans sent you!

I order the ¹⁄₃ rib dinner w/​greens and Mac & cheese. Meat fell off the run bone with a gentle pull from a plastic fork. BBQ sauce is tangy. My friend ordered pulled pork sandwich w/​potato salad. Everything was great. Separately our order total was $ 14.30, extremely reasonable for how food we got. Employee let us sample the sides before we decided what we wanted. Very nice employees and a very clean establishment. The employee put fresh gloves on as he prepared our food. There’s no dining area, just a counter to eat quickly or sit and wait as the prepare the food. Great spot to grab food and go. Definitely took time to package our food up so to ensure that it wouldn’t spill out and over. I definitely recommend this place.

Ordered online a Better Burger with fries and BBQ wings. The fries didn’t show up and the burger was severely undercooked.

OMG. This place had the best beef I’ve ever had! We ordered delivery from, some service who’s name I don’t know. I got the Epiphany Open Pit Sandwich, it was so surprisingly delicious that I devoured the food in what seemed like a minute. My friends said their food was delicious too. I’m definitely getting food from here again.

Let me just say I had to visit them twice. The first time I ordered a fish sandwich, and I was not impressed. The sandwich was covered in some sort of corn meal; however, the fish was clearly from a box. The bun was extra thick and hard. Sadly, the best part of the sandwich was the tarter sauce, and I had to order fries a la carte… Giving them a second try, I ordered the cheese and steak, and I loved it. The meat was tender and season rich. The vegetables were cooked to perfection, and the roll was warm and fresh. Unfortunately I feel limited to only one menu option, so I will not return anytime soon. On the up side, the man who took my order (both visits) was very professional and friendly. Side note*Don’t enter this place with a group. It is only large enough for «no standing room only.»

Food is mediocre at best. You’re better off going to grandma’s if you want real southern comfort food. The ribs tend to be fatty, the «baked beans» taste like pork and beans out of the can. The mac and cheese is bland, the cole slaw is blah. Order was incomplete, called the store and was told they’re too busy, the driver is way across town, yada, yada. The driver had ample time to bring forgotten item (the store didn’t close for another 6 hours wtf?!). That’s inexcusable. Was offered a credit and declined as I have no intention from ordering from this place ever again. Called grub hub to get a coupon off to use at a restaurant of my choice.

A little disappointed in this place. The food is $ 9.00 good… But I paid $ 15 for it. ‘Open Pit’ meat is most likely prepackaged Boar’s Head. Overall not the quality I expected from my neighborhood. Might stop by for a side to support a Black owned business, but will not overpay for a meal here again.

There’s no way to put it — the food was just plain olé nasty. I’m not sure if it was just old, or undercooked, but it was not tasty at all. I had the ribs, BBQ chicken, and a few sides delivered. By time they arrived at my house (which took an hour), everything was soggy. In short, I won’t be trying this place again.

The Epiphany is that there’s just no love.
From the automatons that politely but monotonously take your order, to the overall setup and menu options, to the taste (or lack thereof) of the food. The whole experience was so forgettable that I’m having trouble even writing this review about it. I’ve lived in the area for many years now and have driven pass Epiphany’s store front more times than I think I can count. It wasn’t until I was walking home from the Metro one day that I even noticed the place was a rib/​soul food joint. It’s basically a carryout joint with a few chairs set against the windows for those who feel the need to watch vagrants and transients walk pass as they suck on rib bones. Well, I’m all about giving upstarts a chance or two, so I sauntered in and was greeted by crickets. OH… dude was behind the counter, but he just seemed somewhat disinterested. But hey, I’ve been there, I guess; no biggie. I say, «Wow. I’ve lived here for years and have never noticed this place. There aren’t too many other rib joints in the area. How long have you guys been in business?»
He said, «A little over a year.» *blink, blink*
«Really?! Well how’s it going? I know the area’s in transition; that should help.»
«It’s going alright.»
Alrighty then; down to business. I ordered the ribs with mac/​cheese and collard greens to go – the standard choice for a first-​timer. The dinner was moderately priced and generously portioned. Fine. And then I ate. *Sigh* No. NO! The ribs were tender, enough, I guess. But that sauce? Way too thin and vinegary for my taste – straight from the bottle, which is fine but at least doctor it up some. And those sides… soul food is all about the sides. I wanted to be transported; instead I was dropped off somewhere. You know why Auntie Anna May and Uncle June and Big Mama’s food taste so good? Because everything is made with love – from recipes that has been handed down through the generations and gleaned by cooks from standing in grandma’s hot-​ass kitchen and watching her cook for hours on end for family and friends who traveled for miles BECAUSE grandma was cooking. The Epiphany here is that the food has very little soul.

I’ve now been twice and have even disappointed both times.
My chicken was dry and bland. There wasn’t even a lot of meat!
The Mac and cheese was bad. How do you mess that up?
Oh and you get a dry bun with your chicken platter. Didn’t even try it.
One positive: their baked beans are okay.

I kept driving past this place but never been to it. I decide to explore it. It is more or less a take out place although there is a few chairs and a counter. It has a website, but the website is not updated on it’s prices. The guy behind the counter said the IT guy had gone AWOL so he will close that one down and set up a new one. So some of the stuff may not be available anymore. There is always a giant chalk board outside the place.
Now the two guys are very friendly. As for the food, the ribs is great, moist and juicy, the sauce is slightly hot for me, they do ask you for your preference. As for the sides, I tried the collard green and coleslaw. The collard green is too sweet, and coleslaw is has too much vinegar. My1/​3 slab smoke rib meal comes with two sides and a corn cake for $ 12.99 before tax. The corn cake is not made in house and is factory type comes in wrapper. Very sweet. A far cry from what I had down south of the states.

Two things you need to know about me:
1) I’m from the real south where we build houses dedicated to smoking meats. 2) My family is still hog farming in 2014 and they build portable pits and smokers on trailers to take with them to peddle their foodstuffs and participate in BBQ contests.
That makes me an authority on meats, BBQ, and sauces. It does. I’m going to be as annoying as those ‘I’m from NYC, so I know bagels’ jerks and you will deal.
The ribs and the sauce are fantastic. Know how I know the sauce is good? I actually eat it. On the ribs. I’m not a fan of sauce because it’s normally not needed and it’s not ‘needed’ here, but it’s so smoky and spicy without being sticky or too watery that I can’t help but to enjoy it.
The mac and cheese gets a resounding «No!» from me. They need to call whoever was doing the mac and cheese for Wing Supreme (I miss them so much) for their recipe and cooking method because this is pure mush. I’m not expecting my grandmother’s recipe, but this is not even passable as home ec mac and cheese.
I’ll get my sandwiches at MGM and my ribs here when I don’t feel like going out to Mr. P’s.
Will increase one star for better mac and cheese.

I went to Epiphany’s during Canada’s 2014 Winter Olympic Gold Medal Triumph! I believe I was more disappointed than the U.S. Women’s National Team after blowing a 2 – 0 lead in the 3^rd.
The mostly take out joint is black run and may be black owned. As a black man this makes me really want to like the restaurant and support them often. However, I have standards!
The Pastrami sandwich I had was AWFUL! While the bread was heavily buttered and the pickle was fresh. The pastrami was NOT EDIBLE. I could not chew ANY OF THE MEAT. Felt like I was chewing barbeque sauce soaked rubber. I literally threw it all out. Will not waste any more time on this review or this restaurant.

Major disappointment. Over priced for the quality and quantity. Total bummer. I ordered the beef and cheese. It was a large sandwich. But, the meat wasn’t tender and I swear it was American cheese. My HB ordered the club. It was good, but had a lot of butter, mayo and, again, that American cheese stuff. For $ 8 a sandwich, I would expect a small side or a high-​quality sandwich (or both).
I had this place on my bookmarks for a long time. We waited for food that was prepared when we ordered it; the guy at the counter was courteous; I smelled it the whole ride home. Sooooooo disappointed.

You ever wonder what businesses are thinking when they name themselves? I mean, similar to naming a child, a name can be the difference between being the toast of the town and being an outcast. Ever wonder why 8 year old Alowishus keeps getting into fights at the playground? Because his name is Alowishus!
Epiphany Open Pit Beef and Subs is a very small storefront restaurant that serves ribs, rotisserie chicken, sandwiches and wings… among other items. It’s really in a great location on Georgia Avenue, close to the Petworth Station, several blocks from Howard University, etc. The restaurant is primarily a takeout spot that has a few bar stools available for window seating.
I actually made two trips to this place. The first time, I called ahead to see what time they opened and was told 11 am. I got there a little after 11 and was told that they were running behind and wouldn’t open till noon. Ummm… ok. The second time was an evening trip and lo and behold… they’re open! Lesson? Don’t come till after 12.
Service is basic. There’s only like two guys working there and they may be the owners. If you’re expecting lots of small talk and frequent smiles, you may be confusing Georgia Avenue with the Georgetown section of the city. Unlike Georgetown though, there is no pretentious attitude and the gentlemen acknowledge you, bang your order out efficiently and genuinely thank you before wishing you well on your way out.
NOW, on to the food! I ordered the Chicken Tenders and the Beef and Cheddar Sub.
The chicken tenders were pretty average. They come in pairs of four and are served with your choice of dipping sauce; mine was honey mustard. They were properly prepared but nothing stood out.
The Beef and Cheddar was supposed to be the star since it’s billed as a popular item at the restaurant. The dish features thick beef brisket, melted cheddar cheese and horseradish mayo served on a sub roll. The sub is topped off with a barbecue sauce that reads like a hybrid bbq/​sweet and sour concoction. The sub is pretty nice sized, perhaps 8 – 10 inches. The ingredients all come in generous portions.
Overall, the sandwich was just ok but not worth getting again for me. I liked the effect of the melted cheddar with each bite as it offered a burst of flavor. Unfortunately, the brisket was overdone and probably could have used more seasoning. The sauce was a great thought but the flavors are confused. I found myself waiting for the heat and smokiness to kick in but instead only got some tang with a little smoke.
The prices were ok as both items came to a combined total of around $ 13.
I’m going to give Epiphany another try in future so as to support a small business. That being said, I really had high hopes for this place, but then I had an epiphany. The food needs work!

I ordered dinner through Seamless at 6:25 and it is now after 8PM and I am eating a burger I made myself. That should set the tone.
At 6:25 it said 30 – 45 minutes (so 7:15). At 7:35 I called, and went to voicemail. Three attempts later I reach someone. He said the guy is on the way, no idea when he would get there. Guy gets there a few minutes later, hands my husband one suspiciously small bag and disappears into the night. They did not give us half our order. Call, call, call. Finally get the guy, tell him what happened. He says he will call the guy. Wait wait wait. Call call call, the guy said it was in the car, he will be there in a few. Wait wait wait. Call call call. Now the guy says, oh he said he delivered it!!! WTF?
Meanwhile what food we received is mediocre (burger) sub-​par (chicken like from grocery store) and gross (salad that looked made at ten am). Hmmm, I do not really WANT any more food from you, but I did pay over fifty bucks thru seamless.
8:17, nearly two hours later. Food arrived. Yeah thanks.

I am so glad to finally be able to say that I’ve found some BBQ in DC! I stopped by Epiphany yesterday, after reading the reviews on Unilocal,determined to try these ribs I read so much about. When I got there, they had just pulled the ribs out of the cooker and would need time to sit.
The guys there were nice enough to give me a sample of the little bit they had in the back and I was SOLD! So sold that I was willing to sit and wait until they were ready and anyone who knows me will tell you that waiting is on my top 5 most hated things to do so, trust me when I say that these are WORTH IT.
Usually, I prefer a sweeter, thicker sauce and I do NOT like change but these ribs were so tender, the sauce so delicious, and just the right amount of smokiness to them that I became an instant fan.
The guys were super nice and helpful — the energy in here is just so welcoming. It’s very rarely that you find a place in DC that still has that neighborhood feel to it. I had the ¹⁄₃ rib dinner with corn on the cob and collard greens as my sides.
*Popeye’s lady voice* HONEY! Those collards were smack your mama, smack my mama, smack everyone’s mama GOOD.
I can’t remember ever having tastier collard greens in my LIFE.
oh! And you the cornbread is pretty darn good, too! This place just has all the right components.
This is definitely going to by my go-​to place for BBQ in DC!
*I meant to take a picture of my food but the instant I opened the lid, there was no chance of me pausing for photos HAHAH

I am a big fan of customer service. What can I say, I like to feel special. The guy who took my order, could care two sh**s what I like. He just wanted to know what I wanted to eat. And when I had a few questions about the menu, he was a cross between annoyed and unenthusiastic.
My friend ordered the beef and cheddar and we both loved it. So simple but so damn good.
I ordered the ¹⁄₃ slab of ribs. I liked it, but some of my ribs weren’t tender. The potato salad was just okay to me. The potato was still pretty hard, and I prefer it to be a little more cooked. The baked beans were pretty good. I really liked the fact that they didn’t drown them in sugar. I respect BBQ restaurants that don’t drown their baked beans in sugar.
And their special BBQ sauce is perfect. Not to over powering, but still flavor and light.