Barbecue purists will want to take note that there's a new restaurant in Wake Forest cooking all its meat on wood: Fire Pit BBQ.

Owner Ted Patterson has spent 40 years working in construction. Two connections made him interested in opening a restaurant. First, he has designed and built many of Giorgios Bakastais' restaurants from Vita to Girasole and Gatehouse Tavern, which are right next door to Fire Pit BBQ in the Gateway Commons shopping center. Second, his next door neighbor is Keith Allen, the barbecue legend behind Allen & Son. They live on a hill surrounding by hickory trees.

Patterson describes his restaurant as "eclectic with a purity of intent." They only cook on wood, hickory and oak in fact. There is no gas line. "We're committed," he says.

They serve pulled pork, beef brisket, half or quarter chickens, housemade sausage and a St. Louis-style ribs. They are open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Sunday.

For more information, call 919-562-0020 or go to www.firepitnc.com