we’re open

Pickup window only

A historic landmark

Black Family Owned Since 1962

on Jefferson Street the historic African American business district

This is mary.

In 1962, she founded Mary’s Old Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que. Many knew her as Ms. Mary. For us she was Mama Mary. She was our mama, grandma, great gran, cousin, teacher, pioneer & more. But you better not call her Grandma!
Funny, charismatic, generous, and fly. Our memories of her are filled with joy and respect.
We stand in her audacity, courage and legacy right here on historic Jefferson street. #proudblackfamily
(Pictured: Mary Seals is parking lot pimpin’ circa Summer ‘86 in the lot between “The Pit” and Mount Zion Baptist Church.)

Best Barbecue in North Nashville

“A tender pork shoulder sandwich with coleslaw is a house specialty, and it comes loaded up with a blazingly hot barbecue sauce that’s not for the faint of heart (though Mary’s does offer a mild version too). Perhaps the most impressive menu item is the rib sandwich, which features a slab of ribs— bones and all—slathered in that famous hot sauce and piled onto white bread with pickles.”

— southern living

“Back in the day—we’re talking 30 years ago—the post-midnight line at Mary’s was a lesson in diversity, and Miss Mary wouldn’t put up with any shenanigans. This was the joint, and the hot sauce–drenched pork on corn cakes could pull you out of the best of tailspins. There’s a dining room now, but we still prefer the hood of the car, a sandwich in wax paper, and the cry of nighthawks overhead on a hot summer night. And don’t skip the slaw.”

— Nashville Lifestyle

“Regulars swear by the pork shoulder on cornbread, but we've always gone for the rib sandwich: It's as comically unwieldy as it sounds — meaty ribs laid bone and all across white bread — but we could slather that atomic hot sauce on a squashed armadillo and wind up gnawing the shell.”