Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue

Awesome barbecue! Super authentic with a lot of Character. The staff was very friendly and even gave us a tour of the barbecue pit and the cooks who would been there over 30 years. A real deal bbq joint !

This was the best bbq brisket I’ve ever had – hands down! Parking sucks, but if you haven’t been here and you like BBQ you need to go!

Before I start I want to say that this is not meant to be malicious, just my account as I remember it. Just to lay down a little bit of info about myself, when it comes to bbq I am not a self appointed pit master. I do know a little something about bbq and have been studying on how to perfect my brisket. I have had bbq in a few spots around houston as well as bbq row in Lockhart.
With all that said after eating at Pizzitola’s I think we as Houstonians need to reevaluate what we consider good bbq. Today ½/​16, a buddy and I went to Pizzitola’s after another place we were going to try wasn’t open yet for the new year. When we entered there was no one there but the staff, then another couple entered and sat behind us. Now the waitstaff and the gentleman the appeared to be Mr. Pizzitola were all nice and hospitable; he even gave us samples after we told him it was our first time there. After we sampled the ribs that Mr. Pizzitola brought us, he asked «makes you want to come back huh?» At that point, I felt as this was about to be someone selling me bbq instead of it selling itself. I’ll get back to this.
So we reluctantly ordered the sampler which came with ½ pound of ribs and two other meats for 23 – 24 dollars and if you want a round of three sides it would be another 8 dollars. So we both got the sampler and sides. Now this is where it goes down hill. Our plates come and I look at at the meat plate, man this looks old. My buddy can cook ribs well enough to where you want to hurt someone to get another one so I know what a good rib looks and tastes like and these were neither. I am not a professional chef, but I have cooked under a couple, today on ½/​16 I think I was served old food. If you have ever sliced into a perfectly cooked slab of ribs, after they have rested the meat of the rib is a vibrant whitish-​pinkish from the smoke color. The ribs I had today were burgundy on the tops and bottoms which was nice but also on the sides they had that weird color that your leftovers get when you set them in the microwave to come back to later. The brisket was the exact same way. Not only did it taste like nothing it was dry. There was that thin white line you get from beef when it’s overcooked. Again I am only on my fourth or fifth brisket that I have done in my life but when I pull mine at 205 and let them rest they have NEVER been «leave your mouth with no saliva» dry. Mr. Pizzitola suggested that we try the bbq without the sauce, I quickly drowned my plate in sauce cause that was the only way to get it down. The sausage, unless you make them yourself I can careless about and those seem like some brand that he buys so I won’t review it. As far as the sides go, I am going to spend as much time on them as Pizzitola’s did. Coleslaw: bagged barely dressed if at all with no seasoning, potato salad: maybe store bought maybe not regardless it was the best thing that I ate, pintos: minimal seasoning if any; nothing to write home about. To give credit where it’s due, I think Pizzitola’s ribs were perfectly cooked and would have been good had they not been old, and over salted.
Now back to the question that Mr. Pizzitola asked me about coming back? No. I think the demographic of people that frequent your restaurant probably are grillers, if they cook, more than they are slow and low smokers. So to understand you have to know what the end result should have been and this was not it. At least not what I had today. Today ½/​16, what $ 84 including tip afforded us was leftovers probably from before the new year. Unless his employees came into work on New Year’s Day at 7pm to 11pm to start those briskets, then the food I ate today was old. It’s really hard to believe that it wasn’t leftovers from before the new year when I asked the waitstaff if they were open New Year’s Day and they said that they were not. So when did you start cooking for today’s lunch when brisket takes from 12 — 16 hours to smoke? So when you ask if your ribs will want me to come back I prefer that the ribs demand that I come back. I have never spoken a word to Ronnie Killen but I have stood in the rain for his bbq. Good Texas bbq. Pizzitola’s reputation to me is a mystery, wrapped in and enigma, wrapped in foil and served the next day.
«There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.»
― George W. Bush

As a infrequent customer for over 50 years today was a real disappointment. Ordered two brisket sandwiches with sides and drinks. I has tea and my wife had coffee. No spoon was provided and my wife had to stir her coffee with a knife.
When the meal was served only one sandwich was presented. Waitress apparently thought we were sharing, so honest mistake. When told of the error she went back and brought out a second sandwich. No pickles or onions were provided, and the sandwich had half the meat when compared to the first sandwich. Complained and this was corrected, but the onions and pickles were still missing.
The pinto bean side was lukewarm, and the sandwiches were not really hot. The final insult was when the waitress started to clear our table while my wife was still eating.
It’s sad when you go to an old dependable and receive poor service and an equally poor meal. I seldom rate any establishment as a two, but I was feeling generous today.

Best Ribs !!! Awesome service and Live Music during lunch time, really a great place for family ! Also the Banana Pudding !!!

The so called Thursday $ 20 rack of ribs «special» is a total bait and switch. They said they were completely out of racks of ribs BUT they sure had separated racks of ribs — for full price of course. Ribs were pretty good, but with that whole «Thursday special» trick– nope. Pizzitolas? More like PizziNOlas.

just ok. read the Unilocal reviews and came here. what a disappointed!!! dry meat and awfull sides. Don’t waste your money here. The girl took my order wasn’t friendly at all. The only thing I like is that the food came out really fast

Three stars.
Service
Was greeted immediately upon entering and the staff was pleasent. Food came out quick and staff was attentive.
Food
I ordered the brisket plate with beans and grilled vegetables. Beans we very heavily seasoned with black pepper. Veggies we fresh but it seemed like they were stir fried rather than grilled.
The brisket was tender but fairly bland. They served it with a side of their vinegar based bbq sauce. It almost needed it due to absence of flavor.
Value
This is where it counts. They charge approx $ 15 for ½lb of meat. That is outrageous. You can get better bbq for a way better price elsewhere.
Overall it was decent, but it is highly unlikely for me to return to this place.

I went here because it showed up on several «best of» lists for BBQ even rating #1 on one site.
It started out well…
The atmosphere is very BBQ. Simple tables and chairs in a basic room with memorabilia-​covered walls. The service was great. Super friendly and very attentive. The patrons were, without exception 30-​something to elderly men. Not a single female was eating when I sat down for lunch on a Monday. Weird. (And it’s not because the waitresses are knock-​outs like some kind of Hooters or something. They’re just regular women. Like I said, weird.)
But that’s where the good really ends.
I admit, my expectations were high but this really was a super disappointing experience.
The ribs were crazy dry, tough, and barely flavorful. The chicken was decent but unremarkable. The brisket, again, was decent but barely noticeable. The cole slaw was actually pretty good for my taste-​creamy without too much vinegar or sweet. The pinto beans with pico and cheese were adequate. (Honestly, the onion overpowered everything else in the bowl so you barely taste pinto.) The «mixed vegetables» really seemed like a dumped-​can concoction. (Chunks of bell pepper, canned carrots and canned green beans.) And their one BBQ sauce was not worth the trouble. It looked a bit like Cholula without the heat or flavor.
Still, even as unremarkable as it was, I might have given them a three if not for the hair stuck to my table. Not «a» hair. Lots of hair. Yeah. That almost made me hurl.
At the end of the day, this place gave the impression of a once great BBQ joint that has lost its way and depends on the nostalgia of patrons who remember (and taste) when it was great back in the day.
I will not be returning.

Reminds me of the old fashioned BBQ joints I used to go to in Alabama. The ribs are what they’re known for and I would suggest you stick with that. Also had some Brisket which was tender but dried out. Sauce is mediocre and I ended up not using any (not because the meat didn’t need it but because I just didn’t like the way it accentuated it). Cole Slaw and Potato salad reminded me of the old school joints I used to go to.
It’s good solid BBQ but definitely short of spectacular. I’ll go back because the atmosphere is cool and sometimes you just need to go to a good old fashioned BBQ joint. I’ll probably just stick to ordering ribs in the future.

Really good. Solid flavor all around. The ribs are almost perfect in consistency with a subtle, yet delicious flavor to build on. I’d say the ribs are more Memphis style as they seem to be dry-​rubbed, but again, they have a really good base to build on with some sauce or just pile-​on more rib meat on your tongue… I’ve been to many BBQ spots and this is the first time that I really wanted to suck on the rib bones to get some of that extra flavor out :)
The brisket is also great, super soft and falls apart as soon as you try to pick it up with your fork. The chicken is good and the potatoes are among the best dishes in the house.
The service is great with an attentive staff. It’s also in a pretty laid back spot so the ambiance is pretty casual. Not expensive for what you get.
I wouldn’t consider it among the best BBQ spots in Texas, but I think they cover all the bases you need for a solid experience. 5 solid stars because they deliver on all counts.

Every now and then you just have an amazing food experience and that’s what happened to me today when I stopped here for lunch. While I’m no BBQ expert I do know my way about some good eats and no stranger to good Texas BBQ.
The main reason I’m giving this 5 is because of the «experience» and not just the food.
I stopped by at 12:30 and the place was packed. I was seated quickly (and friendly) and sat in the corner. I ordered a rib dinner (I almost ALWAYS get brisket) but today it was ribs.
Food arrived in LITERALLY 5 minutes but before the food got there two different people (other than my waitress) stopped by and asked if I needed anything. Wow, very attentive.
Ribs, potato salad, and beans (generous portions) placed before me and I dove in. 1 minute later this gentleman from across the room looks at me and give me a thumbs up with a? Like, everything good? Need anything? I’m like, heck yes!
About 2 minutes later this same gentleman stopped by with another plate and said «this is desert to wash down those ribs…» On the plate was a sample of their brisket and links. Huh? Heck yes! Of course I thanked him and said it was my first time… Turns out he is the owner. His name is Jerrry.
We chatted while I continued to snarf down the meat and it was truly a lovely conversation. What a great guy.
He walks away ONLY TO COME BACK with a sample of his chicken! Dang!!!
I eat all over the country and these experiences (sadly) are rare but this was a very special lunch that I won’t soon forget.
The food was awesome and the experience even better!!!
5+ Stars on Jerry.
4 Stars on the BBQ
DEF GOING BACK!

I live less than a mile from Pizzitola’s so naturally I want to love this place so that I don’t have to drive far to get my bbq. I loved the service and the atmosphere. I ordered the ribs because I was feeling my inner Frank Underwood. I demolished these ribs. Were they that good? No… they only gave me 3. I never would’ve came had I known I’d pay $ 5 per rib to leave feeling defeated and starving.
Perhaps the other items on the menu are worth it, but I’m too discouraged to find out.

Ribs are why you go here and they’re great. Not best of all time, but maybe best in Houston. The sausage & brisket were standard average nothing special but nothing bad either. The potato salad was completely boring.
Buddy and I split a sampler. Half lbs each of sausage & brisket plus a half rack. Each had potato salad & a shiner. Bill ended up about 25 each.

Hidden little gem! First time here are I’m proud to say I’ll be back soon! RIbs were tasty add some of their bbq sauce and you’ll be in heaven! First timers get a ½ pound of meat free on your next visit!

Brought my family and friends here for dinner after reading Unilocal review for good Houston BBQ places.
This is truly a little backyard BBQ spot. The décor is outdated and very rustic/​country, but that’s what you want isn’t it?
So my group did come late for dinner and so when we started to order they informed us they were out of ribs! We were definitely disappointed, but they made up for it by giving us a back of the house tour and free ribs the next time we came in to eat.
I ended up having the brisket and it was fabulous. Some at our table didn’t care for the sauce, but my meat really didn’t need it so I didn’t care about that at all. Also the prices were reasonable which I appreciated and I felt like you got a good deal for what you paid.
Two thumbs up for me. I’ll be back!

I will admit, it is difficult to find good BBQ in Houston, and we all have our own preferences. No one can beat my dad’s BBQ, so I don’t try to find restaurants that will serve me what I can get homemade at dad’s house. As for Pizzitola’s, it was pretty good. I had the brisket which had just enough fat and it was plenty moist. The flavor was very good and not too salty. Their sides are a bit boring. I think they would have more business if they had fresh sides — and cooler options. I tried ordering the grilled vegetables, but they were «out.» I still don’t see how you run out of grilled vegetables. I got the potato salad and pinto beans instead. The waitress asked if I wanted cheese and onions on it, so I said «Sure, why not,» later to discover the dollar charge for it.
When we first entered, we were greeted by a young man who was full of spirit. He sadly informed us that they had run out of ribs for the day, so he offered us cards to get a half rack free on our next order (with the purchase of a full rack, of course). He then offered to show us the old-​time brick oven in the back of the restaurant and since this was our first visit, we went to check it out. He was very eager to make us feel at home. The waitress was not so enthusiastic, but she did her job.
For this little run-​down hut of a restaurant, I think the prices might be slightly high, especially since the sides are not too thrilling, to say the least. But I will probably be back because all of the meats I tasted (grilled chicken, brisket and sausage) were pretty darn good.

WOW!
So here’s our sad little story. After having a recent major surgery, My husband and I ventured out to enjoy some tasty bbq — my coworkers had raved about their ribs, so we decided to give it a shot.
We got there late on a Friday evening, and sadly, the first thing they said was «we’re so sorry, but we are out of ribs.» BOOOOOO! I was crushed — we really wanted ribs so decided to try again another time.
Before we left, they gave my husband and I a voucher for a free half slab of ribs on our next visit because they felt so bad.
About three weeks later, we went back, and THEY REMEMBERED US!!! Not just that, but before we even gave them our drink order, they brought out two plates of ribs for us to enjoy while we decided on what to order. I was very touched by this level of kindness and generosity — and then, the kicker — they refused to accept our vouchers… and told us to save them for another time! How nice is that???
The wait staff is very friendly — they really make you feel like you are a guest in their home — the iced tea is quite refreshing, and the bar b q is OUTSTANDING.
I enjoyed the ribs, but I REALLLLY enjoyed the brisket. Very tender, very HOT (temperature) — the way it should be. I’ve given bad reviews to other restuarants based on the way their bbq is served luke warm or room temp. Not this place! They understand that hot food should be served HOT.
I do wish they had more varieties of side orders — I wasn’t head over heels with the pinto beans — I much prefer baked beans or bbq style beans — not so much the pinto with cheese, but that’s just me.
This place has been in business since Jesus was a child. They’re doing a lot of things right. Give it a try — can’t wait to go back after Lent so we can experience their desserts.
Five full stars because the food, ambience, people — everything is great. I’m not deducting anything just because I’m picky about my sides.

Went in on a Saturday afternoon. Few customers. Seat yourself order from menu style restaurant. Staff friendly and quick to take your order.
This is the place to go if you enjoy overpriced dried out meat!
Will not go back!

I am so disappointed with this place, me and my friend initially went to Gatlin’s to find out they had sold out of everything, so she suggested we come here and I completely regret it. I ordered the chopped brisket with pinto beans and grilled vegetables, YUCK, nothing had flavor and I mean nothing. All of my brisket was fat instead of meat, I felt bad to say anything to the waitress considering she was kind of nice, not overly welcoming though.
I will NOT return here! Go to Gatlins BBQ!