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    Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue

    4.5 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM - 9:00 pm

    Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue Photos

    STANLEY'S FAMOUS PIT BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue

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    Justin W.

    Tried Stanley's BBQ and it did not disappoint. I had the chopped beef sandwich and a loaded baked potato, both were absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The customer service was great, friendly, and fast. I also really liked the restaurant layout, with both indoor and outdoor seating that makes it a comfortable spot to hang out. The music added a fun vibe, and the sweet tea was on point. Definitely a place I will be coming back to.

    The Mother Clucker
    Ava S.

    The service was helpful, I'm gluten free and was coming back from visiting a small town nearby which didn't have any options and saw this place on my Yelp and decided to give it a try. Their meat was tender and juicy, the sausages are made in house, and they make them gluten free so that was a pleasant surprise. The outdoor area is very nicely laid out, it has a stage for bands that come and play. I will say the pricing is a little insane. $6 for a singular sausage link is pretty pricy. We ended up spending $65 in total after tipping the staff. I would come back if I was in the area and needed a meal that I knew was safe for my allergy. The barbecue sauce was also gluten free!

    Brisket, ribs, sausage
    Randy D.

    Service was super fast. Order inside and sat outside. 2 adults and 2 kids. I split the JD Trinity with my 4 y/o and it was plenty after ordering 2 sides. Brisket was tender with flavor, not as moist as I'd like. Ribs were great, could've been slightly juicier. Tried the three different sausages and all were good. GF had the pulled pork sandwich with slaw on it and it was really good. Ham and cheese sandwich for the kiddo, it was okay. Slaw was okay. Nice atmosphere and they have live music in the evenings.

    Doug R.

    It's hard to say something about Stanley's that hasn't already been said. It's good. It's real good. The sercice was fantastic, order at the counter, grab a number, get your drink, and find a table. They'll bring it to you. Everyone I spoke to was welcoming and helpful. I couldn't ask for better service. Food: I got the triple whatever it's called which is more than enough for 2 people but I knew I wanted to try everything. The brisket was spot on, not too heavy on the pepper, tender and juicy. Great smoke and flavor. Baby back ribs were also great and I actually like that they did not fall off the bone. I like to pull it off with my teeth like a real man! Don't get me wrong, they were tender as can be. Three kinds of sausages, House, jalapeño cheese, and hot link. I ate the house and jalapeño but brought the hot link home. Both had great snap when I bit into them and the flavors were excellent. I also had the potato salad and it was pretty good too. I prefer a little mustard in mine, but this mayo based potato salad was tasty. For dessert I had the chocolate sheet cake. It was soft and delicious. Overall, Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue lives up to the hype. If I'm in Tyler again I will certainly be stopping by again.

    Zachary S.

    Stanley's is the only place in Tyler with over a thousand Yelp reviews. It's the most reviewed place in all of East Texas on Yelp. Whatever I say is a mere drop in the bucket compared to everyone else's opinion. Luckily, I sway the same way. Stanley's is the establishment of Tyler. If you mention Tyler to another Texan, they ask about Stanley's. I've seen people out in public wearing a Stanley's shirt. It's a place people will go out of their way just to try. As a former Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joint and a current honorable mention, it's viewed as one of the best barbecue restaurants in Texas. I went with my dad a few times while living in Tyler, and every time I returned on a break, we would make a trip for lunch. You can get a tray of whatever meats you want at Stanley's, but I highly advise against that. The reason is their sandwiches are the star of the show, in my opinion. There are two MVPs at Stanley's. The Mother Clucker is a smoked chicken thigh with cheddar, spicy BBQ mayo, and a glorious fried egg on their jalapeño cheese sourdough bun. It's recognized by Texas Monthly and appreciated for its killer flavor. The other MVP, which I always alternate with the Clucker, is the Super Deluxe Brother-In-Law. It has a grilled hot link, cheese, and chopped brisket on a jalapeño cheese sourdough bun. It's an absolute delight to all the senses. I recommend trying either of these before thinking of getting a regular three-meat tray. When I visited recently, I couldn't go to Stanley's for lunch, which was heartbreaking. I went for a quick breakfast instead. I got the Super Deluxe Breakfast Bro with a jalapeño cheese sausage link, cheese, and folded eggs on a biscuit. I should have asked for chopped brisket on it out of curiosity, but I stuck with the sandwich. They whipped that up for me along with a potato, egg, and cheese taco for my girlfriend. It was heaven sent. I just knew I had to make a Stanley's stop while in town, even if it was a little different than usual. The original Stanley's building is still standing, but they have added onto it adding a stage for concerts and a full service bar in the back which remains open in the evenings. Luckily, the best part of Stanley's is that it is right in the medical district of Tyler. If you get meat sweats or heartburn, you are only a block away from relief. With all the great options Stanley's has to offer, you probably wouldn't be the first. RIYL: The best barbecue sandwich of your life.

    "Baby Wade" Frito Pie & Mother Clucker Sandwich
    Ankitnoor D.

    Food was solid and so was the service. Very friendly staff and the outdoor seating was quite nice as well. When I'm back in Tyler, I'll try some other items in the future.

    Fat and happy side of the brisket melted.. so good a little potato salad
    Tex S.

    I was in town I had to stop by again you cannot go wrong here great peeple great place..

    Full parking lot

    Ok, it's surprising that we have never eaten here living an hour away in Longview, but this place deserves all of the awards and recognition it gets from Texas Monthly. We stopped for lunch. My wife ordered a brisket sandwich, and I had to try the baby backs 1/2 slab. The patio indoor outdoor seating was a great atmosphere. Service was excellent despite a pretty good late lunch crowd. The ribs were outstanding! Smoked perfectly and a generous portion for lunch. I could not finish and was able to share with my wife. I admit they are better than my Championship ribs I love to smoke. We both had the Cilantro slaw which was excellent and a perfect side. We will definitely return again and bring friends maybe when they have live music.

    Chopped Brisket Sandwich, Sliced Brisket Sandwich, Macaroni & Cheese, Coleslaw - Side, Potato Salad - Side, Peach Cobbler
    Jennifer V.

    Really great ambiance - good food with a fully stocked bar. We sat on the patio which has ample seating for all party sizes. This is one of the BEST peach cobblers I've ever had!! Not too overwhelming, the perfect amount of sweetness and warm spice. Gooey peaches with a delicious crispy crust and topped with the Blue Bell vanilla ice cream! The potato salad was also delicious and not too heavy. The only small negative was I found my brisket to be dry and the bbq sauce was nothing to write home about. I didn't particularly enjoy the Mac and cheese or coleslaw. This is just a personal preference and I think they are still both worth a try. this is a definite recommend!

    Full rack of ribs
    Paul M.

    Amazing food. I love it all. The service is always friendly and greets you with a smile. We like to sit outside on the covered porch and the kids love to play games. It's busy. It's loud. They have a bar. Some days they have live music. Very cool place to eat. We spent about $80 for myself, my wife , and my daughter. I got a full rack of ribs, the wife got sausage, and my daughter got turkey. They have amazing sweet tea. Again. Love this place

    Rain W.

    This is a pretty popular barbecue restaurant and keep in mind that this means parking can be a bit difficult. You can go around the corner and up behind the restaurant for a few more parking spots near it, and then walk through the staircase down to get back inside the restaurant you order from one section and they tell you to find a table and then they come find you with your food, the food was actually really good and we didn't have any issues other than parking. They do also have live music bands, which is kind of cool.

    David S.

    On the road to SFA (Nacogdoches) we decided to stop off in Tyler at a place where my daughter looked up on the internet. Couldn't have been happier. It's a busy place and we got there latter part of the noon hour. Just a few people in front of us in line and the manager/owner out there in the front helping direct traffic as parking lot was full. Super nice folks from the register to the food runners to the managers. First class service and attitude. They sold out of Mac and cheese this day so didn't get to try those....but did get to try the German influenced potato salad. It's pretty good. Love how they give you some bread, pickles, and onions with the order. The meat (we got brisket, pulled pork, and a couple sausage links after tips put us around $60) was fantastic and stood alone just fine without the barbecue sauce. But the barbecue sauce was pretty darn good too. I mixed that with the potato salad and had an instant hit for me. You can order the meats in pound increments and the sides in pints is the way to go. The brisket was the nice and soft but still firm enough and the pork was melt in your mouth. Great seasoning all over. If the people are super nice and friendly, the food is good, and the place is kept clean it stands to reason the atmosphere is fantastic too. Lot of happy people in there. Great place for family, business, or even just travelers passing through like us! Worth a stop!!!

    Mother Clucker Sandwich
    Ruth C.

    Amazing BBQ! I got the Mother Clucker Sandwich, Sliced Brisket Sandwich, and Potato Salad. The restaurant has great vibes with a covered patio for seating. The staff is awesome and the place is clean. Heads up: the front parking lot is small, but there's extra parking behind the restaurant. There's usually a line at peak times, but it moves fast. They were mentioned in the 2025 Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints in "The Next 50".

    Chicken Thigh, jalapeño cheese sausage and potato salad! Delicious!!

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    Love the friendly and fast service from everyone especially Lainey! Best place to hang. Food and drinks are awesome!

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    Stanley's is always consistently good! Whenever we are in Tyler we stop in! Their potato salad is excellent!

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    Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue

    Hi just to confirm you guys are closed on Sun?

    Are you opened Memorial Day do you take reservations?

    Hi! We are open regular operating hours on Memorial Day. Unfortunately, we do not accept reservations. All seats are first come. Hope to see you soon!

    Will you be open on Thanksgiving Day?

    No they aren't. They close so their employees can spend time with their families

    Do you have beef ribs?

    We offer beef ribs seasonally. Typically in the Summer months and on Saturdays. Please call us or drop us a line regarding availability.

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue

    The Reuben was great but the Mother Clucker was the best sandwich I've ever had in my life.

    Mentioned in 112 reviews

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    This was my first time visiting The Grove and it definitely won't be my last…read more We went on a Saturday evening and the restaurant was lively. They have a few dining options to choose from including the bar/lounge area, in-door dining and outdoor patio areas. We started in the bar/lounge area while waiting for a seat outdoors so we could enjoy the weather and live music. Our server was very nice and honest- even when he hadn't tried a dish he told us how others rated it. We shared the SEARED AHI TUNA appetizer and added an additional side of bread 8/10 (it honestly should come with more!) Each ordered the THAI GINGER COCONUT SALMON which I am still thinking about! 10/10 The portions were generous and I saved 1/2 to make room for dessert. I was glad to enjoy leftovers the next day. We finished with the DULCE DE LECHE CHURROS which were highly recommended by our server and did not disappoint in presentation nor taste. 10/10

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Mini Beef Wellingtons
    Mini Beef Wellingtons
    Mini Beef Wellingtons

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    We visited tonight for the first time and had quite a few questions and a complicated order, and…read moreKrista at the bar was an absolute gem! She listened to our needs and helped us choose foods and drinks that turned out to be perfect. When the Meat Lover's Pizza arrived, she asked "do you want some ranch" like she was reading our minds. She was serving a big crowd due to a ball game on the overheard TVs and did so with charm and grace. Because of you, Krista, we'll be back real soon!!

    Food & band deserved more, but service and billing ruined the experience…read more This was both our first and last visit to this establishment. Don't get me wrong--the food itself was great once everyone finally received their meals, and the live band was absolutely phenomenal. We came in with an open mind as a family of four and really enjoyed the atmosphere and music. There was a mix-up early on when we were told there wasn't enough steak for everyone to order what they wanted. We were understanding and chose different menu items instead. When the food came out, my youngest son's burger was missing. Followed by being served another tables burger - resulting in it being taken back. He had to wait an additional 25 minutes before finally getting his meal. On top of that, my sides were incorrect. When I asked for the fries I had originally ordered, the waitress came back and somewhat just flopped them onto the table. After finishing our meal, my husband and I took a moment to agree on a proper tip. We wrote it in clearly, added it to the total, and left the bill for the waitress to pick up. We stayed well over an hour afterward enjoying the band, but she only came back to our table twice to check on us. Later, when we checked our bank statement, we noticed we had been charged a different amount than what we had written. I called to ask about the discrepancy and was told that the tip amount we knew we had written was "clearly" something else. I was told I could come down to collect the difference, followed by, "What do you want me to do about it?" I was also told it was her first night alone on the floor, and if I was "insinuating she changed it, she didn't." It was a horrible way to end what could have been a really enjoyable evening. The food was great, the band was amazing, and the staff at the bar were friendly --but the repeated issues and the tip modification left the worst taste in our mouths. We won't be returning. My only recommendation for those who do go: bring cash.

    Photos
    Buffalo chicken salad
    Buffalo chicken salad
    Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy.
    Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy.
    Onion rings, crunchy and gigantic!!!

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    Onion rings, crunchy and gigantic!!!

    Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue - bbq - Updated July 2026

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