Nickel's Pit BBQ operates across multiple Finger Lakes locations, which is both its strength and the thing that makes it hard to pin down — the experience can vary depending on which outpost you hit. What stays consistent is the barbecue itself: slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, and ribs that have built a devoted regional following. The 2024 Silver for Best Beer Selection signals something unusual for a BBQ joint — they take the tap list as seriously as the smoker, stocking craft and regional brews that pair with the food better than the default macro lager.

The vibe is casual and unapologetic. Paper-lined trays, sides in little cups, the smell of smoke embedded in everything including your jacket when you leave. The brisket is the move if you are only ordering one thing — it tells you whether a barbecue place knows what it is doing, and Nickel's does. The pulled pork is reliable, the ribs are meaty, and the sides round out the plate without afterthought. In a region dominated by wineries and farm-to-table restaurants, Nickel's fills a specific craving that nothing else in the Finger Lakes addresses with the same commitment. It is the post-hike meal, the watching-the-game meal, the place you go when you want something smoky and substantial and do not want to read a paragraph about where the pig was raised.