The Pit Room

Someone from this business manages this listing.

390 reviews

#3 of 385 Quick Bites in Houston$$ - $$$, Quick Bites, American, Southwestern

+1 281-888-1929+ Add website

Hours

Sun

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Mon

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tue

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wed

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thu

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Fri

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sat

7:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

390 reviews

#3 of 385 Quick Bites in Houston

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Quick Bites, American, Southwestern, Barbecue, Gluten free options

“Excellent ribs, good potato salad”

“The food was worth the wait we had pulled pork tacos and brisket sandwich alo...”

“3 of us shared beef ribs, 1 lb of pork ribs, and 3 sides: green beans, potato...”

“I know this is a BBQ place, but - the Tacos are OUTSTANDING!!! Chicken taco w...”

Location and contact

1201 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77006-5423

+1 281-888-1929

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Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

CUISINES

American, Southwestern, Barbecue

Special Diets

Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Gift Cards Available

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4.5

390 reviews

Excellent

246

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Sarah D

London16 contributions

A true BBQ gem!

Feb 2020 • none

I was in Houston for work and wanted to hit up somewhere for some good BBQ. This was recommended by a local so I hopped in an Uber and it did not disappoint! I got a three meat dinner because I wanted to try as much as possible. It came with two sides (I got Mac N Cheese and beans and both were amazing!) I got brisket (amazingly moist) pulled pork (slow cooked to perfection) and on the advise of the chef had the smoked turkey which was the biggest surprise. It was moist and well flavoured. All in all, including a can of Auston East my meal came to $25 before tip and I would have paid double that! The staff were also super friendly and made great recommendations. One chem even came to check on me outside to let me know there were seats inside and he laughed when I told him I was Irish and that February in Texas is like Irish summer so I was happy to sit outside! I would recommend this restaurant ten times over.

Written February 14, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Greg B

Winnipeg53 contributions

Loved it

Feb 2020 • couples

We saw this place on TV then my Army buddy who lives near Houston also recommended. Let me start by saying we ate here twice during our vacation and grabbed takeout on a third occasion in the few days we spent in Houston. Look for the big cell tower across the street if you're lost. We stumbled into the parking lot and asked a guy where the Pit Room was. He said, I'm not from around here but this place has great BBQ! Then we saw the signs and knew we had arrived You are instantly greeted by a wonderful smokiness in the air when you pull up. I came with a plan to pick meats I wanted and unfortunately I deviated from my plan and went with a 3 meat and 2 sides. Brisket, Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage and Pulled Pork along with Mac n Cheese and Beans. Sausage and Mac were good. Brisket was very good, good enough to take a pound back to the hotel! My girlfriend loved her pork ribs and brisket tacos. The coleslaw and beans didn't make it into our selections on our next visit. Our second visit, I had a plan. Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage Sandwich and 1Lb of Brisket. The sausage portion is nice on an excellent bun that works well with the meat. The brisket DOES NOT need sauce. It is excellent on its own. Same goes for the brisket tacos. Just enjoy them as is!!! We sat outside on the Patio and had beers on one visit. The next we enjoyed the lemonade. They also have a selection of iced tea, soda and various beers inside the restaurant. The line moves fairly quickly though some people take their time trying to figure out what and how to order. All the meats were available on the three times we visited, even as late as 8:30. This was nice as many places run out of meats throughout the day. Your money is well spent on certain items and others not so much as mentioned above. Keeping in mind that everyone has their own tastes and thoughts on what BBQ, sides and sauce should be. We will certainly be back on future visits and highly recommend The Pit Room.

Written February 11, 2020

Bret W

Houston100 contributions

I discovered this place on

Sep 2020 • none

I discovered this place on a Sunday because our normal place was closed. Finding the restaurant on Trip Advisor, I called and ordered lean brisket plate and chicken plate. Delish! Make sure you order the green beans, which were not the menu, but Wow! They obvious smoke them or sauté them in liquid smoke. I would order a plate of green beans alone. Since our visit, we've been back several times. I would call ahead and pick up through the make shift drive through. The staff (over the phone) and putting together the meal were friendly, engaging and seemed to really care about the clients. My only suggestion is offer banana pudding as a desert option. Cheers!

Written September 6, 2020

gary f

Houston1 contribution

Very Disappointed!

Dec 2020 • none

Gary F. Beaumont, TX 02 12/1/2020 Was first in line yesterday, 11/30/2020, ordered 1 lb sliced brisket. Half lean/half moist (fatty) to go. The cutter (I think he is one of the owners) laid out one piece of flat and one piece of point. The edges looked a little off color. He started slicing really thin slices off each piece. I didn't think much of it at the time because this place was highly recommended & had been on the Texas Monthly top 50 list. It was still warm when I got home & gave it a taste. The pieces of the flat (lean) were dry and chewy. The slices of point (fatty, moist) were tough and chewy. Had I eaten there, I would have asked for a refund. If Daniel Vaughn had been served what I got, they would NEVER have made the top 50 list. The two beef sausages I ordered & received are a whole other story. Took a few bites and got an upset stomach, then threw them in the trash (along with the rest of the brisket). They smelled so funky in the kitchen trash, I had to take the bag out to the outside garbage can. $33.00 down the drain. Would not expect such from a top rated bbq joint. I will NOT go back.

Written December 8, 2020

Hubert S

Paris190 contributions

Real Texan BBQ at great value for money

Feb 2020 • none

So yes, you often have to stand in line here and that can take up to half an hour. It’s with it though! You can order one of the special dishes, or compile your own bbq plate with up to 3 different meats and a side for each meat, It’s all super delicious. My favorites are the brisket and the pork sausage, and green beans and corn as sides. There’s a very big selection of soft drinks and beer to perfectly match you bbq dish. I also like the totally informal vibe of the place. A small inside seated area, a larger patio area, and bar outside in front are all nice places to sit. Don’t be put off by the queue, you’ll always find a table. Country and western music completes the ambiance. And the staff are great and will give you good advice if you’re not sure what to choose.

Written March 1, 2020

Missygin

Washington45 contributions

Dig in! No forks needed!

Oct 2021 • couples

Food is great, best BBQ I have had in a long time , brisket and ribs are excellent! My husband had the chili, Mac & cheese and sausage also a great combination… The chili was a little bit on the spicy side so no need to add additional spice to it. I had the baked beans , green beans, brisket and ribs. They have a very nice outdoor patio and an area for indoor air conditioning for those that cannot take on the heat. The place is not fancy by any means but the food makes up for it.

Written October 25, 2021

Anonymous Traveler

5 contributions

Worth giving it a try

Aug 2022 • couples

While visiting Houston from N.C. I was looking at different BBQ places online. Found this place and figured I'd give it a try based on its reviews. Well it was so good, i had to go to the restaurant one last time before leaving. It was far better then N.C. BBQ and reminded me of Kansas City BBQ (where I'm originally from). I had the Brisket, Turkey, Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, Mac N Cheese, Mustard Potato Salad, Charro Beans, Elote. The meats were seasoned well, tender and juicy. The sides were also good as well with the exception of the Mac N Cheese, it was kinda on the cold side. I would recommend this place looking for some good BBQ and in my opinion you get your money's worth when you buy the meats by the 1/2 pound.

Written August 7, 2022

Christos Α.

Athens46 contributions

Horrible Experience

May 2024 • friends

I need to share my experience at the Pit Room today not as much for the food quality, but for the unprofessional and rude treatment of the staff of this establishment. The place is self service and It is normal to have a queue of people waiting to be served. To my surprise, one of the employees ordered us to start queuing from outside the restaurant, and literally having to stand in the rain. I would have walked away right then, but my colleague insisted to wait and try the food Second surprise was when our turn came to order, and the server was short tempered and rude to us.. Literally, I felt like a homeless person waiting for food at the bread line.. As far as the meat itself, the beef was dry and chewy and the sausage and ribs were barely eatable. The dishes costed 62USD plus the PTSD.. That was the first and last time I tried this type of dinning maybe the bad attitude is tolerable for the local people but for a visitor trying Texan Barbecue it’s simply unacceptable food service.

Written May 18, 2024

Climber783431

Dallas32 contributions

BBQ Heaven!

Feb 2020 • solo

The brisket is delicious beyond words. So tender. Incredibly juicy and the BBQ sauce is a perfect accompaniment. Charro beans are zesty/spicy and so tasty. Cole slaw is crisp and a nice 2nd side. I might do corn next time. There will be a next time. This place is oh so good.

Written February 4, 2020

BmoreStyle

Baltimore463 contributions

Came straight from the airport to eat some authentic Texas BBQ!

Apr 2024 • friends

Upon first entering, the choices can seem overwhelming-- but the staff was knowledgeable and helpful, so the line to ordering moved along quickly. 3 of us shared beef ribs, 1 lb of pork ribs, and 3 sides: green beans, potato salad, and charro beans. It was all delicious. This huge meal, with fountain sodas and bread, came in at ~$35 per person. That’s not bad at all. The beef rib was perhaps a bit fatty, but it was very tasty. We enjoyed the pickle and fixings bar, especially a spicy BBQ sauce. Stopping here was a great choice!

Written May 2, 2024

Erik S

Houston11 contributions

DO NOT ORDER OVER THE PHONE!

Apr 2023 • none

BEWARE: You can place a telephone order for food to go but they will tell you that only certain items are available. When you arrive to pick up your order, you may notice that the dine-in customers are being served items that you were told over the phone were not available. If you request those items when you arrive to pick up your order to go, they will refuse to sell them to you.

Written April 3, 2023

Gnatty8

Houston86 contributions

Underwhelming and Way Too Greasy

Apr 2022 • none

OK, I'm originally from Tennessee, so maybe I'm spoiled when it comes to BBQ, but dude, this BBQ was just way too fatty, greasy and soggy. I had the pulled pork and sausage. Pork was half fat, and almost tasted boiled! Wife had the brisket and chicken. Chicken was decent, but hard to mess up chicken. Brisket was awful. Almost all fat, barely anything edible. Even the sides tasted greasy somehow. Hard to understand why the lines are so long. What's worse is our food with beverages and tip were over $65

Written April 27, 2022

criticalchristopher

Galveston147 contributions

Top Notch BBQ

Mar 2020 • none

One of the most competitive foods in Texas is BBQ Beef. Texans are serious in the extreme when it comes to their smoked meats and The Pit Room does not disappoint! Hungry for a BBQ Beef Sandwich? Look no further. The beef is perfect and their unique buns simply take this staple over the top. The other choices are vast. Pork ribs, homemade sausage choices and a plethora of excellent sides. There are many legitimate challengers for the top spot in this cuisine and you may have another that you think is best and that's O.K. but this BBQ JOYNT is one that will surely be on your top five list!!!

Written February 21, 2021

Amalie Langelan... H

14 contributions

Great meal

Jul 2023 • couples

We came about 1 hour before closing time, and then they were sold out for both brisket and beef ribs - which were what we came for. Therefore ordered pork ribs with corn and mac&cheese. After all a great meal, despite the dissapointment around the sold out meat.

Written July 10, 2023

BelaFortes

Rio de Janeiro36 contributions

Good BBQ, bad staff

Jan 2020 • family

Went there with my family on a Sunday afternoon. Place was packed and waiting line was huge. After 15 minutes I was attended and the staff was in the worst mood ever!!! Felt like they were doing me a favor. I ordered a beef rib which was just perfect. Brisket was also very good. However, I didn't feel it was a cost-effective deal since it is kind of pricey, considering the service quality.

Written January 19, 2020

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