Bar-B-Que sponsored by Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue Reviews / Profile Dine-In Menu / Catering Menu Website Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue Pizzitola's 70-year old big brick pit is firing up some east Texas hickory and the ribs are cookin' just right. Hours: See Profile   1703 Shepherd Dr Houston TX 77007 713.227.2283   Add Review PROFILE   Website  Menu MY REVIEW: I'm a native Houstonian, and I thought I knew Houston barbecue from the better spots in town. - Then, I got dragged in.... and I say that with a grin on my face.....to what has now become my fast befriended favorite barbecue restaurant in Houston. I say that I got dragged into Pizzitola's. The building is on fast moving Shepherd Drive with a very small parking lot that creeps up suddenly on the west side of the street as one is veering north toward I10. Suddenly, it was upon me, and the lack of stylish appeal made me question the quarters. But after all, it is barbecue. To that end, the ambience is perfect. The music inside with Texas swing had my husband stifling a singing voice our entire stay. The superior staff made me quite at home and introduced me to the surroundings immediately. They were highly attentive and seemed genuinely interested in my visit even commenting on it to the manager later when he walked in. I had no problem taking on Texas beef and sausage to meet my Texas cravings. The sauce was wonderful with just the right zest to compliment the highly tender beef slices. I never picked up my knife for the entire plate. It should be noted that both my husband and I told the waitress we were 'not that hungry', yet we both walloped down every bite of meat, potatoes, and beans that we could lay our eyes on. Then we continued to desert. We were simply not ready to quit such fine food! It is hard for me to say 'no' to family made banana pudding, and this one stood up to my maternal grandmother's pudding. I was certainly taken aback. Full flavored and creamy, yet not too rich, it was an excellent way to end the spicy meal I had just had with barbecue. It was also just the right amount. I was in for an extra treat when the manager, Tim, and I began to talk about Texas heritage and family traditions. Seeing that I had long ben a promoter of family establishments both in business and custom, he offered to show me the genuine brick stoves and furnaces in the kitchen that the cooks were using on hand. There were, of course, no thermometers, but only the customary 'touch' of the hand or tong to ascertain when the meat was supremely done. I have seen my grandfather do this many, many times, and it was no surprise to me that a cook in such a fine kitchen would be doing this with such excellence. Tim went over the full scale tradition of upkeep with the furnaces as well as telling me the history of the well kept ovens. It is the family tradition, and a trade that needs to be kept passing down the line. Viewing the ribs on the grill as we spoke was certainly a site to my eyes and heightened my senses. What a treat to be taken on tour on my first trip there. I know where I'm going for barbecue from now on. Pizzitola's. Prices were highly reasonable, I understand that take-out is great, and I plan on using it. Shepherd Dr. location is a fast go for anyone out of town as well. I thoroughly recommend Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue to all and everyone. Take the whole family and all your friends! NAME: Stephanie S. Sawyer SUBMITTED: 3/6/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: March 6, 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: It is pretty darn good. The prices are higher than other Barbecue Joints - but as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for." That being said, the Ribs are their signature item. They are done Memphis Dry Rub style - so it is an aquired taste. The quality of the ribs are certainly quite above average. The brisket is a little dry and could use some seasoning. Pinto Beans are a nice change from Barbecue Baked Beans - the best beans I think would be G*oode Company's Austin Baked Beans with the apple chunks in them - outstanding. I digress, we order from Pizzitola's twice a month for our office - they are better than P*appas but the price is 20% higher. NAME: BigMikeinHouston SUBMITTED: 1/8/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/08/08 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: BEST of HOUSTON winner? Seriously? You have got to be @#$%ing me! We're fans of G*oode Co. and slum at H*ickory Hollow in the Heights when we don't feel like driving. So after reading all the fuss in the Press, we decided to try it out. $13.95 gets you: - 2 small oversalted, dried out ribs - a scant 3 oz of dried out brisket - a swirl of insipid commercially prepared coleslaw - 5 cents of bland yet oversalted pintos All ready to sop up with requisite slices of Wonder Bread. I conceded the grilled vegetables to my partner, who was informed upon ordering that they had only ONE serving left. That consisted of canned green beans, sauteed with some canned tomatoes, onion, and about a tablespoon each of salt and black pepper. Given we showed up at the bewitching hour of 7:30 pm, they were completely out of the ever-exotic "white rice". Still hungry, (and hopeful) I ordered the banana pudding for $3.75. This consisted of 2 bites of banana in 2 tablespoons of pudding with a dollop of whip cream and 2 vanilla wafers. I LOVE paying for food at a restaurant which could be more interestingly prepared by a kindergarten class. Our bill was $35 for 2, and we hadn't ordered drinks. Do the people who eat here do so only because they always done so? NAME: festusbodine SUBMITTED: 11/5/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/5/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I am amazed that some folks (including Allison Cook and Press's Robb Walsh) are smitten by this place. The 'cue is average at best and the prices are outrageous. The staff is very nice and friendly, though... NAME: Biggrey SUBMITTED: 10/8/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/07 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: This is by FAR the worst barbecue I've ever had, and very well might be the worst meal I've ever had in a restaurant, period. The meat was dry and tasteless, the potato salad was really gross (you could get better at a grocery store deli), and the "barbecue sauce" literally tasted like canned tomato soup. The banana pudding had chunks of real banana in it (good), but it also was made with fake-banana flavored pudding (unforgiveable). Ugh. The only thing that was halfway decent were the ribs, but only if you didn't put any sauce on them. I will never go back here and will not let any of my friends or family eat here. I really don't understand these positive reviews. NAME: tts SUBMITTED: 10/8/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/5/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: First time. The friendliest staff. Told them it was my first time and thhey gave 2 free ribs, very homely. Food was served in about 3 minutes. $4 for a salad that would fit in your palm (came with only lettuce and 2 tomato slices but about 8 oz of ranch). Potato salad was very good but was about the size of an ice cream scoop. Side veggie were the best I've ever had. Chopped beef was ok, kindof dry. Ribs were ok too. Sausage was not homemade but bought from a meat company and it was average too. Sauce was ok. Total meal was kindof pricy but maybe that area of town is like that. Was certainly not the best bbq, average. The waitresses were the best though. If the sides (which cost them nothing to make) were more generous I would eat there every week. Maybe the bbq was overcooked so thats why it was dry. I would try it again though. NAME: SC SUBMITTED: 9/15/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: First of all, anyone who does not review this place as "one of the best" is clearly out of their mind, Go back to Michigan...or wherever!! For those of you looking for some of the best BBQ in the United States of America, make your way to Pizzitola's. It is just like sitting down at your grandmothers table and after the meal they bring you hot towels to clean up. There are about 10 menu items and that is all you need. How to do it right: bring the family and order a plate of ribs to share, follow with your order and do not forget the jalapeños, after sipping on an old fashioned Arnold Palmer, take in a little homemade banana pudding. If you do not leave with a smile on your face you have done something wrong and should go back to step one. Read the reviews, Pizzitola's is a local favorite and Texans know their BBQ! NAME: Jake B SUBMITTED: 8/22/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/21/07 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: wonderful brisket and super ribs !!! i have eaten at aprrox. 30 plus bbq joints and i rank them number 1 !! i took my 5 year old son there with me and the owner was very polite to me and my son and even showed my son around the place as if he was his own kid !! that made day great bbq and great people !! that explains why they are always busy NAME: tom-1 SUBMITTED: 6/7/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: june 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Great BBQ, heard about the place and by far it's been a great experience. The banana pie was awesome and so was the lemonade. Without taking credit for the brisket, sausage and the best ribs in town, Pizzitola's BBQ is a must visit for locals and foreigners. NAME: the Ven foreigner SUBMITTED: 4/15/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: The best BBQ in Texas by far. I would have to disagree with the cold food, etc...that just isn't right! I have traveled all over and tasted all there is to taste in bbq and this establishment ranks number one. You can't go wrong with any of it. NAME: Margaret Ann SUBMITTED: 11/17/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2006 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Portions where small the taste was ok. On a good note the lemonade was awesome and the staff was very friendly. NAME: KS SUBMITTED: 8/17/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/17/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: The food was cold when brought out and sent it back to re-heat. The chicken was red and did not eat it. NAME: margaret SUBMITTED: 7/20/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 07-19-06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Second visit. Brisket was great. Ribs were very good. Sides were good. Service was excellent. Some of the best BBQ in Houston. NAME: Clear Lake Guy SUBMITTED: 5/26/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I'm making an attempt to visit as many BBQ joints as possible. I'm interested in brisket only, with the purpose to improve my own home brisket BBQing efforts. I tried these guys today. I was surprised at the quality. Lean, moist, and very smoky. A little twang of black pepper. Their brisket might be better than G*oode Company's. In the future, I'm going to going to have to try to match them head to head. I'd give the brisket an 8.5 on a 1-10 scale, with 5 being average and 10 being a top of the line hill country establishment. I did not sample any other items. The service was also excellent. Probably the best service I've had at any BBQ joint. NAME: Clear Lake Guy SUBMITTED: 3/26/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: This is absolutely the best bar-b-que I have ever tasted. We have ordered on several occassions for company meetings and it's always on time, fresh, and delicious. I've never ordered their dessert but I am sure it's also delicious. NAME: Nickey SUBMITTED: 2/24/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Ribs are the best in the city. The sides kinda suck, especially the beans. They're just bland, boiled beans with no flavor. NAME: Reefmonkey SUBMITTED: 2/18/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: The Most Amzing BBQ. I was never a big BBQ fan, but i went here once with some friends and I can't stop talking about it and now i go back again and again. I love the Brisket and deboned chicken. A huge fan of the Coconut/Pineapple cake! Service was great too...great personality and personal attention. THE BEST BBQ IN TOWN!!! NAME: HNB SUBMITTED: 9/29/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Great food, Ribs were awsome, sides were good, service, great everything.... 5 of us nobody complained... NAME: RDL SUBMITTED: 1/22/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/04 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Great barbeque - particularly the ribs. The banana pudding is also a perennial favorite. NAME: tp SUBMITTED: 10/23/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2003 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Pizzitola's bar-b-que is awesome! It is definitely the best bar-b-que I've ever had in Houston. Anyone who has visited Pizzitola's just once and has negative comments about the food is hardly an expert. I've been to Pizzitola's a lot and order it for office events whenever I get the chance. A lot of the people I work with are frequent customers of Pizzitola's and I've never heard heard any of them complain about the food. NAME: lpc SUBMITTED: 9/16/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/2003 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: only good thing on the menu was chicken. NAME: mlh SUBMITTED: 2/7/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/2001 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I once tasted this barbque at a friends house over 5 years ago. The friend was a friend of the owner and he personally delivered the BBQ. It was delicious. I recently stopped by the restaurant and hoping for the same, was really disappointed. It was some of the worse BBQ I have ever had. The sides were bad too. Since I cannot say anything good about this place, I will stop now! NAME: markh SUBMITTED: 2/4/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/02 FREQUENCY: Visited once If you don't agree with these comments, agree with them or have additional comments, click here to Add Your Review. Restaurant Owners & Managers Curious about your Activity and Ranking on b4-u-eat? Want to Create or Update your Free Profile Page? 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