The Pit Room
| Address: | 1201 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77006, USA |
| Phone: | +1 281-888-1929 |
| Site: | thepitroombbq.com |
| Rating: | 4.7 |
| Working: | 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
JI
Jimmy Ho
Amber wanted to check out Kusama exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, and I wanted to check out a new barbecue place so a trip to Houston was in store. I was doing research to see what was close to the MFA because we had to be there when they first open to get tickets. The Pit Room opened about two weeks ago. I have seen a lot of pictures on social media, and the food looked pretty good. Then I saw The Pit Room was less than a mile from the exhibit. Score. I had an idea what I was going to order before we got there. However once I arrived there, I got overwhelmed with the menu and forgot a few things to get. Some of the smoked meats were hanging under heat lamps and reminded me of a Chinese BBQ restaurant. I ordered the three-meat plate with moist brisket, pork ribs, and Czech style beef sausage with sides of elote (Mexican street corn) and mac n cheese. Amber got the brisket taco. We had to order the brown sugar butter cookie ice cream sandwich to cap off the meal. Everything I ate was great. The brisket was on-point. The tender meat played nicely with the rub and post oak smoke. I did not expect something like this from a place opened for less than two weeks. The pork ribs were outstanding. The combination of the moist meat, smokiness, and flavor made for some good eating. Sadness overcame me after I finished off the second rib because there was no more. The beefy sausage had a good blend of spices. Combine that with a good amount of fat, a coarse grit, and a snappy casing, and you have a superb sausage. The homemade sides were tasty and fresh. Ambers brisket taco was delicious. They used brisket fat to make the tortilla. The cookie sandwich with caramel banana ice cream provided the perfect finish to our lunch. The cold treat was decadent, different, and refreshing without being overly sweet. Amber and I shared one, and I wished we did not after the sandwich was gone. I need to go back to The Pit Room again. I enjoyed everything. I would have never guessed this place had been open for only two weeks. I want to go back with a bigger group so we can sample more of the menu. Who is in? I forgot to order the homemade chicharrones. I still regret it today. Considering it is so new, I need to stop by one more time before I truly make up my mind on The Pit Room. So far, so good.
TB
Tbob TX
Came here for lunch. Was buzzing. Post oak smell was great. I could not decide between the beef rib or moist brisket. I asked for sample of brisket and it was fabulous. Great smoke flavor. Peppery crusty layer of pepper on the edge. Melted in mouth. So I got 1/4lb of what I thought was moist. I also got 1/4 chicken. Side of Cole slaw. They have a number of condiments such as sliced carrots, very spicy pickle slices and pickled onions. They also have a bunch of different sauces and salsa for BBQ tacos. There is a coffee bourbon BBQ sauce I tried but it was terrible. Tasted more like peanut butter than coffee or bourbon. The carrots and pickles were great. Onto brisket. I think he cut this brisket from the lean as it was NOWHERE near taste or tenderness of the sample. Lean had good pepper flavor and smoke but was dry and slightly chewy. On one of the pieces I thought I just ate a piece of smoldering wood it was so potent but in the bitter burnt way. Anyway, if I was to rate the sample I was given, that was a 4.5 out of 5. For what I was given, it was a 2.5 out of 5 and at $19.50/lb, it was unacceptable. The chicken was a different story. Moist and smoky and full of flavor. I would say in top 5 of the ones I have had in my travels around Texas. Thats a 4.5 out of 5. If it had some other help from rosemary or other herbs to give it that extra dimension, it would be a 5. Onto the Cole slaw. It was inedible. Yes had crunch, yes it had all the ingredients one would find in Cole slaw but the taste was non-existent. No sweet taste, no vinegar taste, no mustard taste. Just bland bland bland. 0 out 5 for this side dish. Overall I give a 3 out 5. If the brisket had been as advertised and I excluded the coleslaw, I would have given a 4 or even a 4.25 but I can only grade on what I was given. So if come here, watch what they give you and make sure it is from a piece you approve.
SC
Scott Sandlin
Exceptional BBQ and sides. Some of the best in Houston. A welcome addition to the Montrose area, Michael Sambrooks and chef Bramwell Tripp deliver excellent handcrafted barbecue, sides, and desserts that will please the most discriminating of barbecue hounds. Brisket, pork spareribs, and smoked chicken are solid contenders for some of the best in the city. Three types of sausages are made fresh daily at the Pit Room, a rarity in the Houston barbecue market. They include a Czech-style all-beef, a venison, and a pork with jalapeno and melty cheese. All are excellent, and I recommend including at least one when considering your ordering options. Try all three tacos also, which are served on house-made tortillas that incorporate rendered smoked brisket fat (in lieu of traditional lard or shortening). They include a chopped brisket with cheddar cheese, sour cream, salsa roja, and cilantro; a pulled pork with salsa verde, pickled red onions, cotija cheese, and cilantro; and my favorite, the pulled chicken with smoked green chile, griddled asadero cheese, and charred garlic. Great cherry pie for dessert, and also three different ice cream sandwiches to choose from using homemade cookies and gelato from Dolce Gelato!
AN
Andrew Sheppard
Wow. Great BBQ experience. Ordered a 3 meat plate with pork ribs, brisket, venison sausage, potato salad and fried okra. The meat portions were ridiculous. Huge. And when I asked the server about the pile of burnt ends in front of him, he happily thru one on my plate on top of everything else. It was all delicious. Meat was so tender for the brisket and ribs. Well smoked. Had lean and moist brisket (like I said, huge portion).... both excellent. Not a salty/peppery as usual for Texas-style BBQ, but this was a welcome change. The sausage had a nice hit of garlic, and also very nice. I thoroughly enjoyed the potato salad, nice and mustardy. Not enough places mustard up their potato salad, this was great. The fried okra was unbelievable. Get it. Dont hesitate Would definitely go back. Great experience. wish it was closer to work for a lunch break!
BR
Bryan Hassin
Very good BBQ join inside the loop. Still working some kinks out. Great old school country music and casual vibe. mac n cheese: OK coleslaw: OK Pork ribs: good Beef rib: good Pulled pork: very good Venison sausage, jalapeno cheddar pork sausage, spicy beef sausage: very good Beef brisket: very good Pulled pork taco, pulled chicken taco, beef brisket taco: excellent Bananas foster ice cream cookie sandwich: excellent The real story here was the care. The chef came out to ask how we liked our BBQ. When we told him it was all very good except that the brisket was a little dry, he was upset. He apologized and let us know that they were still working out some kinks in their smoker so may still have some hot spots. He brought us out some more brisket, which was moist, tender, and markedly improved. Kudos to him for turning 3 stars into 4.
