Pitmaster Michael Clarke is the owner of Pit & Tap restaurant in Wilmette. After consulting on numerous restaurant openings in Southern California from the 90s through the mid-2000s, Michael reentered the industry in 2021. During his break from the restaurant world, he developed a passion for barbecue, competing in local competitions before feeling the irresistible urge to open an elevated full-service barbecue restaurant on the North Shore. Pit & Tap has since become a cornerstone of the now bustling Wilmette downtown dining scene, bringing authentic Texas-style barbecue to the area. Whether it’s smoking house-cured pastrami, beef short ribs, brisket or burgers, Clarke is driven by the total concept of barbecue—uniting people for laughs, stories, and a great meal.