
The tips starting coming into the Heron newsroom this week: The pits at Pinkerton’s Barbecue are smoking.
Sure enough, a sign on the front doors of the much-hyped barbecue joint from Houston reads “We open Feb. 13.”
That is the latest from Pinkerton’s Barbecue, a 5,000-square-foot Hill Country-style barbecue restaurant at the Weston Urban park, along West Travis Street between North Flores and North Main, across from the Frost Tower.

In an interview with the Heron in 2019, Pinkerton’s Barbecue owner Grant Pinkerton described the food as craft-style barbecue. “Man, we have smoked everything,” he said. “Everything” translates to prime brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs (glazed or dry), turkey, chicken and pulled pork. Pinkerton’s is also known for its Cajun selections.
In terms of libations, Pinkerton’s has made a name for itself in Houston for its craft cocktail and wine programs meant to pair with smoked meats.
Pinkerton said Weston Urban convinced him to open a restaurant in downtown San Antonio, in particular at the 1.2-acre park, a focal point of the company’s redevelopment of west downtown.
“They came to Houston and ate our food and presented a really unique opportunity for the whole development down there,” Pinkerton said. “It’s a pretty unique opportunity for somebody to open a restaurant in that park space. I thought it would be a great fit for a barbecue joint, one that feels like Texas when you come in. A big part of our place in Houston is that it’s an experience.”
After months of delay due to Covid-19, developer Weston Urban opened the 1.2-acre park in early November.
Related
» Pinkerton’s Barbecue of Houston to open in Weston Urban park
» ‘It was important for us to open the park to people right now’
» A glimpse at west downtown in 10 years
Heron Editor Ben Olivo can be reached at 210-421-3932 | ben@saheron.com | @rbolivo on Twitter