Pappas Bar-B-Q

Pappas Bar-B-Q
1217 Pierce Street
Downtown Houston
Houston
Texas 77002
United States Of America

https://pappasbbq.com/

Tasty No-Frills Barbecue

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 8
Spent about USD $27 / SGD $37 per person.

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Established in 1967 and now run by 2nd-generation owners, brothers Christopher J. Pappas and Harris J. Pappas, the family-owned Pappas Restaurants, Inc. group operates 8 unique restaurant brands, one of which is the long-serving Pappas Bar-B-Q. Known for its warm inviting atmosphere and delicious barbecue, Pappas Bar-B-Q operates 90 stalls across 8 states, with the specific Pappas Bar-B-Q here in Downtown Houston being one of the earliest. With dishes scratch-made from the freshest ingredients, it's no surprise that Pappas Bar-B-Q is a restaurant of choice for Houston's finest (its police force), who regularly dine here.

Ambience at Pappas Bar-B-Q exudes a rustic charm. The group believes in designing, making, and maintaining their own furniture, from the sturdy tables and cushioned booths clad in leather, to the hand-painted wagon-wheel light fixtures. There's ample indoor and outdoor seating, illuminated by warm lights and natural sunlight. Love the iconic entrance signage, the cowboy decor; and it's also good to see alert security here.

Service at Pappas Bar-B-Q is self-service cafeteria style, with ordering, collection, and payment over the counter. Pick up a tray, and place your orders as you gradually move along the cafeteria line to payment, then help yourself to condiments and garnishes at the free-flow garnish bar, and find a seat. The displays of freshly prepared hot dishes look so appetizing, and turnover is fast. I note that cleaning up is done efficiently by staff.

Food at Pappas Bar-B-Q is American cuisine, focused on Central Texas style barbecue. Dishes are scratch-prepared with fresh ingredients; their barbecue sauce features 25 ingredients, and takes up to 7 hours to make. About 1,000 pounds of meat are slow-cooked rotisserie style over fresh wood (75% hickory and 25% mesquite). Portions are large for individuals. Prices are affordable, budget about USD $27 / SGD $37 per person.

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Pappas Bar-B-Q Signage

Pappas Bar-B-Q Exterior

Pappas Bar-B-Q Interior

Decor

Serving Counter

Pappas Bar-B-Q Menu

Seating Indoors

Seating Indoors

Seating Outdoors

Seating Outdoors

Condiments Display

Pappas Bar-B-Q Signage

A straightforward Iced Tea (USD $3.99), nothing to shout about. Got the unsweet version, it's large enough that I didn't require a refill.

Iced Tea (USD $3.99)

Iced Tea

The Watermelon Juice (USD $3.99) has a semi-thin grainy texture and fruity sweet flavour, nicely refreshing for a hot day.

Watermelon Juice (USD $3.99)

Watermelon Juice

Their Barbecue Sauce is house-made with 25 ingredients, taking about 7 hours to prepare. It has a tangy sour sweet savoury spice flavour, with a thick sticky texture.

Barbecue Sauce

Sampled the Platter Pork Trio (USD $17.95), which comprises 3 types of pork and 2 side dishes. Sufficient for 2 meals, I packed the remainder of this lunch, for a later dinner.

Platter Pork Trio (USD $17.95)

Platter Pork Trio

Their rendition of Barbecue Pork Ribs is light on seasoning, as expected of the Central Texas style of barbecue. The low and slow smoking infuses the pork ribs with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. Has a chewy tender texture to the meat, pulling clean off the bone. Highly recommended!

Barbecue Pork Ribs

Barbecue Pork Ribs

Their rendition of Pulled Pork is Central Texas style of barbecue, which highlights the natural flavour of the pork through simple seasoning. The low and slow smoking means the meat has a chewy tender texture that separates easily, with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice flavour. Highly recommended!

Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork

Their rendition of Coleslaw has the vegetables in roughly chopped pieces, making it look more substantial than other versions. Also sprinkled with crunchy nigella seeds. Has a crunchy crisp texture with vegetal sweet sour milky nutty flavour. Good!

Coleslaw

Coleslaw

Their rendition of Macaroni And Cheese is righteous, just the right balance of cheesy goodness, with a soft gooey creamy texture and starchy cheesy salty sweet milky flavour. Indulgent and addictive. Highly recommended!

Macaroni And Cheese

Macaroni And Cheese

Enjoyed the Grilled Pork Sausage, with its pleasant snappy juicy crunch and smoky meaty savoury salty herbal flavour. Good!

Grilled Pork Sausage

Grilled Pork Sausage

Sampled the Platter Beef Trio (USD $25.95), which comprises 3 types of beef and 2 side dishes. Sufficient for 2 meals, I packed the remainder of this lunch, for a later dinner.

Platter Beef Trio (USD $25.95)

Platter Beef Trio

The Barbecue Beef Ribs are done in the Central Texas style of barbecue, simply seasoned then smoked low and slow over hours. This results in the short plate beef ribs having a chunky firm tender texture with bold smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice fatty flavour, the meat coming off the bone with slight effort. Highly recommended!

Barbecue Beef Ribs

Barbecue Beef Ribs

The Smoked Beef Brisket is simply seasoned then smoked low and slow over hours, as per the Central Texas style of barbecue. The prime grade full packer beef brisket becomes tender succulent juicy in texture, infused with enticing smoky meaty savoury salty peppery spice fatty flavour, the meat being so luxurious. Highly recommended!

Smoked Beef Brisket

Smoked Beef Brisket

The Creamed Corn was a delight. Has a gloopy juicy crunchy texture, with addictive grainy sweet savoury salty buttery spice flavour. Kept reaching for more. Highly recommended!

Creamed Corn

Creamed Corn

The fragrance of the Dirty Rice is nicely enticing. Not overly greasy with a good balance of ingredients, this carries a fluffy moist oily texture, with robust grainy vegetal sweet meaty salty savoury spice flavour. Good!