There may be countless barbecue joints in Houston today, but Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue was here before them all.
Pizzitola’s BBQ is proud to have a featured article on chron.com that talks about our history as the oldest barbecue joint in Houston, TX.
The storied restaurant dates back to 1935, when John and Leila Davis opened it with the name Shepherd Drive BBQ. The couple quickly garnered a loyal following for their hickory-smoked meats and tangy barbecue sauce, but during the Jim Crow segregation era, they offered dine-in service only to other Black people, while white guests had to take their barbecue to-go. From a walk-up window behind the restaurant, white patrons would wait long periods to score brisket, sausage and ribs, enjoying their meal at one of the picnic tables on the property.