2019 - Houston

Continuing on our road trip, my wife and I had fun at Hermann Park, then ate dinner at Pinkerton's Texas Pit Barbecue in The Heights.  Here's my video of this adventure:

After a great lunch in Pearland, my wife and I had some time to kill, so we headed to Hermann Park.  We spent some time at the Houston Museum of NaturalScience (they have a really neat butterfly enclosure) and explored the Rose Gardens where we got married lo those many years ago.  Then it was time for dinner and that meant more barbecue.

The Barbecue

We headed to The Heights.  Pinkerton’s Texas Pit Barbecue is located in a big white building at 1504 Airline Drive.  The restaurant is in the first floor, while owner and head pit master Grant Pinkerton lives on the second floor.  Parking was a bit tight, but I wedged the minivan into a spot.  As you walk in the front door, there is a bar to the left and the dining room to the right.  We got in line, got our food, and found a table. 

The brisket I ordered was really good.  Just a single, thick slice, but it was super tender and had a rich smoky flavor.  They serve two kinds of pork ribs: glazed and unglazed.  I couldn’t decide, so I got some of both.  Big and meaty, tender and smoky, both styles of ribs tasted great.  Pinkerton’s also served blueberry cobbler.  I love a good cobbler and made from fresh blueberries?  Oh yeah. . .  My wife got their two meat plate with lean brisket and pulled pork with a side of beans.  The bites I snuck from her order tasted great and she raved about the beans.  There was no sauce on the table and we didn’t see any when we were in line.  Pinkerton’s might have some, but the meats sure never needed it and we didn’t miss it.

After I ate, I walked around to the smoking shed.  There I met Curtis, one of their pit masters.  A friendly young man, he showed me their pits and explained their cooking method.  Briskets start out being cooked over mesquite wood.  After about twelve hours, they are wrapped in butcher paper and cooked over oak at a higher temperature.  A slightly different smoking technique than most barbecue joints, but you can’t argue with the results.

Pinkerton’s Barbecue made the Texas Monthly Top 50 list in 2017.  It’s easy to see why: mouth watering barbecue, super friendly people.  That’s a winning combination that will keep Pinkerton’s on that list for years to come.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!