Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

Address:	525 S Beckham Ave, Tyler, TX 75702, USA
Phone:	+1 903-593-0311
Site:	stanleysfamous.com
Rating:	4.7
Working:	7–10AM 7–10AM 7–10AM 7–10AM 7–10AM 11AM–10PM Closed

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Brent Stark

I am something of a bbq snob and as I travel Texas for business Im always looking for a really great bbq experience. Being as I live in Palestine, and went to school here I have no idea how I missed this little gem but I definitely recommend it. The atmosphere was quaint, all the staff were friendly, and the inside was clean and neat. The dining room was small but cozy. There is an outdoor deck with a roof over it so youre not sitting in the hot Sun, there is apparently a stage an area for a band although I did not venture out there. Now to the food, the brisket was excellent, just about as good as Ive had anywhere and thats saying something because Ive eaten in some of the finest barbecue joints in Texas. I was informed that I missed out on some really special sandwiches such as the mother clucker, which I intend to try on my next trip to Tyler. I docked 1 star and maybe I am being a little picky but two things. One, I asked for onions and pickles to eat with my BBQ and the guy behind the counter handed me a small cup of chopped red onion? Now Tyler is next door from Noonday home of some of the finest sweet Texas onions to be found and of course they should be sliced and offered with the plate on the side. Two, the sausage. While it was a step up from the average ekridge farm kielbasa you find in many bbq joints, in the end it was just basically Holmes Smokehouse sausage or very similar. Good stuff to be sure but really nothing that sets them apart from the crowd. Maybe its just too much to ask but go visit Swicks in Groesbeck for the sausage, not the brisket and you will get an idea of what I mean by a sausage that sets you apart. I also did not get to try ribs which I really should before giving 5 stars because I have incomplete information at this point. They serve your food the way it should be, plopped down on a piece of butcher paper on a tray. One more thing, they serve potato salad, cole slaw, and beans with each plate. All are quite good with nothing to complain about although I wasnt crazy about the beans but who cares, I was there for the bbq and it is really worth stopping in.

Jimmy Ho

At last, I have come to the final stop of the day on my East Texas barbecue tour. I started at Bodacious and continued to Josephs Riverport. I actually stopped at Country Tavern in Kilgore but only got the baby back ribs. They were saucy and were not bad at all. I was by myself and was extremely full after that. I checked into my hotel in Tyler and hung out for a little bit. I headed to Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q around 6:30 for dinner. There was a short wait. When I arrived at the front of the line, I ordered the Four Meat Sampler Plate. I got moist brisket, baby back pork ribs, pulled pork, and turkey. The turkey was one of the better ones I have eaten. It had a nice flavor and was very juicy. I could not resist the sweet and saucy baby back pork ribs. With every bite, I wanted more. The tender, moist rib meat came away nicely from the bone. I probably should have ordered a half rack of them and called it a day. The pulled pork was fine. It was a little dry and lackluster in flavor though. I received lean brisket instead of moist. I could not eat it. It was dry as a desert. I went back to the counter and asked for moist. It was a little bit better. I am chalking up the quality to me being there later in the day. Before the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival the next day, I came back to get the Mother Clucker. It is a spiked and smoked chicken thigh filet with spicy BBQ mayo, cheddar cheese, topped with an over easy fried egg and served on toasted jalapeno cheese sourdough. I upgraded mine with house-made guacamole and candied bacon and made it a Cadillac Clucker. Holy hell! It was delicious. I ate all of it at the expense of my Red Dirt experience. The depth of flavors, the textures... Man o man. Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q is on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list. They must be doing something right. I guess I just went at the wrong time for brisket. I need to come back during lunch time. It is hard because I want to go back to Bodacious and Josephs Riverport as well. The ribs, turkey, and the Mother Clucker were outstanding. They have quite a few good things going. Until next year.

Goonism101

To anyone that complains about the portions here, more than likely, could close down a chain of Shoneys. Portions are great. Food is excellent. I ordered a Giant Smoked Stuff Potatoe. Again, portion was ridiclous. I walked in a healthy vibrant 33 year old man and came out, the hoveround king of Walmart. My wife ordered a Brother-In-Law, which was probably just as good as mine. But her sandwhich was ruined by the lack of labeling of the sauces on the table. I can admit she foolishly grabbed at the nearest bottle of sauce to drench her food with. She was the one who talked this place up for the past year wanting to try it. Her excitement, like that of a golden lab, got the very best of her. Because of this and the poor choice in not labeling the sauces for any noob that might venture in to try this bbq, her sandwhich was ruined and was way too hot to enjoy. Dont get me wrong, she powered through it. But that was only because she was trying to keep whatever shred of dignity she had left after drowning her money away. She complained the entire meal about her lips and how she was going to take the Kylie Jenner challenge. To settle things down. I tried their peach cobbler a la mode. It was great. A must have. All and All. It was good. My review is positive and I would give more stars but my wife is forcing me to write this in the car with me. She doesnt know what Im writing but she can see the stars. And thank God she is completely computer illiterate so whatever I tell her I wrote as I read it to her she will take as the gospel. I would definitely recommend this place and ask that they may label the bottles for future customers.

zachary hall

This place has pretty high reputation with the people in Tyler, but I think it might either be a little overated. Although, I may just be going there at the wrong times. Ive been there 4 times and only half of those visits was I satisfied with both the service and quality of my food. The first time I had a pulled pork daily special. IT WAS ICE COLD! Now, Im guessing that was because I was there an hour or so after lunch rush. Nevertheless, that kind of gave me a bad first impression, but I wasnt about to give up. The next two times I went there, I ordered the Shrove combo and it was actually REALLY good. However, the last time I went by there, they were pretty packed, and my Shrove sandwich combo definitely suffered a little. I had to go back to the counter 3 different times to just go get what was supposed to be on my tray in the first place. Not to mention, the place was so packed I couldnt even get a seat near any of the condiments, and much to the dismay of the guy behind the counter, I had to get napkins and BBQ sauce from him. Nevertheless, its a decent restaurant, but I think it might be over-hyped.