By: William Burns
On the way to Lakeland, about 15 miles away from Saint Leo on Highway 98, sits a big, black bar-b-que grill outside a small shack. Inside there are few tables and seating for around 30 people; from the setup, it appears to be a converted convenience store. Once inside you are greeted by the smell of smoked and barbequed meats and a cheery waitress.
This restaurant is very easy to pass by without giving it a second thought unless you’ve already tasted the delicious bar-b-que offered within. They serve your everyday bar-b-que items like pulled pork, smoked brisket, ribs, country fried steak, sirloin tips, smoked pork, etc. as well as a wide selection of “specialty” burgers that make you salivate.
Of course, you can go with the Pit Stop Single which includes a half-pound burger with all the toppings, or if you’re really hungry you can get the Meat Wagon, a half-pound all beef patty topped with bacon, ham, smoked pulled pork and the standard lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. If you haven’t eaten in a week, then there is also the Finish Line, ironically named because the burger is literally unfinishable. It consists of a one-pound patty loaded with bacon and smothered in chili and cheese. Other burgers can be topped with jalapeños, gouda cheese, blue cheese, smoked brisket, cheddar and mushrooms.
This doesn’t even come close to scratching the surface of their selection as their lunch and dinner menu has over 35 options! And did I mention they serve breakfast all day as well?
I have not tested the breakfast menu out, but they offer 11 three-egg omelets, which can include onions, peppers, ham, bacon, sausage, pork, mushrooms, chili and brisket. There are also 15+ breakfast plates available to choose from if you aren’t into omelets.
The pricing is very reasonable, especially compared to the portions. Breakfast runs from $5.99 to $11.99, and lunch and dinner options go from $6.99 to $15.99. Whatever you get, you will never leave hungry; the portions are VERY generous, to say the least.
The service was extraordinary, and the waitresses were able to answer my questions fully and were always ready if I needed anything. The food took between 10 to 15 minutes to come out, but with the relaxed atmosphere inside the restaurant, it went by fast. Red Top Pit Stop is open Sunday through Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
They even have a Facebook page with almost 4000 likes, great reviews and more pictures of mouth-watering food. With daily specials and a great selection, meat eaters will have a field day at this place. Whereas there are sides a vegetarian could get and eat, it would not be as good of an experience for them. They definitely have some “Deep South” flavor in their food, and I will be heading there again soon. Red Top gets 4.5 out of 5 paws due to the run-down nature of the building giving off a slightly dirty vibe. This was hands down the best bar-b-que I’ve had since Kansas City!
