Sylvester Stallone stops by popular West Palm Beach barbecue spot

What do you do when you find out that Sylvester Stallone has stopped by your restaurant for lunch?

You get back there in a hurry!

That's exactly what Pig Beach BBQ executive chef and co-founder Matt Abdoo did on Thursday, Feb. 1, when the megastar dropped by.

On a supply run for the restaurant when he got the call, Abdoo said, "I dropped everything and raced back to the store," even joking "I may have run a light or two."

He said that they sat Stallone and his guests on the south side of the 4,000-square-foot-restaurant, but eventually moved them to the north side (which is normally closed during lunch service) so they could have a little more privacy.

Remembering Carl Weathers: Sylvester Stallone's co-star in 'Rocky' movies had ties to Florida

Abdoo said Stallone couldn't have been nicer to the other restaurant guests and his staff.

The Palm Beach resident and his guests ordered several items including sides, brisket sandwiches and their famed smashburger.

Manager Carson Robins said their smash burger is one of the most popular items on the menu. It comes with one, two or three smashed American Wagyu beef patties from Schweid & Sons, American cheese, griddled onions, dill pickles and their secret sauce served on a Martin's Potato Roll. Robins described the sauce as a smoky aioli.

Beloved by their customers, their smash burger actually won the Burger Bash championship at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in 2021.

Though they didn't open their brick-and-mortar restaurant in West Palm Beach until June 2022, they had been doing pop-up events in the area for some time.

In addition to their smash burger, their menu includes cherry- and hickory-smoked brisket, smoked pork shoulder with hatch vinegar sauce, barbecue sandwiches (including a smoky jackfruit sandwich), a blackened fish sandwich, fried chicken, smoked fish dip, plenty of cookout side dishes, salads and sweets.

Besides their West Palm Beach location, there are Pig Beach BBQ restaurants in Queens, New York and Louisville, Kentucky. Sadly, the original Pig Beach in Brooklyn was forced to close in late December after the building was sold to a developer who had other ideas for the space.

More: West Palm Beach market that's drawn Sly Stallone, Guy Fieri, celebrates first year

Stallone officially became a Palm Beach resident when purchased his home on North Lake Way back in 2020. The then $35 million dollar, Bermuda-style home was built in 2014, has waterfront views, a dock, a sandy beach and a seawall.

Pig Beach BBQ restaurant

Where: 2400 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach

Information: 561-803-0333; pigbeachnyc.com/location/pig-beach-palm-beach

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sylvester Stallone at Pig Beach BBQ restaurant in West Palm Beach