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Dining Guide

Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue

Photograph by Daniel Vaughn

The tagline stenciled on nearly every surface at Stanley’s is “Be Kind, Have Fun,” a somewhat incongruous entreaty in this traditionally rough-and-tumble East Texas railroad town. But Stanley’s lives up to the motto, combining a world-class barbecue joint with two bars stocked with a dizzying selection of beer and assorted whiskeys and a honky tonk–inspired stage for live music. Owner Nick Pencis’s smoked meats are consistently great, anchored by the towering Mother Clucker smoked chicken sandwich and the baby back ribs rubbed with an eleven-spice dry mixture. Above all, Stanley’s is a community gathering place where staff and guests embody the fun and kindness that the restaurant’s slogan extols.

City: Tyler

Cuisine:

Method: Pecan and post oak; offset and wood-fired rotisserie smokers

Pitmaster: Spencer Carl, 34; Nick Pencis, 44

Pro-tip: Head to the bar and savor a variety of whiskey flights, featuring ryes and bourbons that range from the budget stuff to high-dollar pours.

Rating: ★★★★

Address: 525 S. Beckham Ave, Tyler, TX

Hours: Mon–Sat 11–9 or sold out

Phone: 903-593-0311

Website: www.stanleysfamous.com

Year Opened: 1960

Last updated: May 3, 2013

Reviews

  • Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue

    By

    Owner Nick Pencis isn’t going to take it anymore. For years he felt compelled by regional tastes to serve lightly seasoned briskets without a speck of fat on them. But when he renovated his restaurant in 2012 (adding a new …

  • Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

    By

    On a trip down to Nacogdoches, the family stopped for ‘cue in Tyler at Stanley’s. I’d visited once before with a friend and found many faults with Stanley’s although it seemed to have potential. After meeting owner Nick Pencis at …

  • Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

    By

    The four meat sampler plate should become a staple of every self-respecting BBQ joint. The idea of piling a plate with multiple proteins, and diggin’ in without the distractions of cole slaw, pinto beans or anything else to slow down …

  • Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

    By

    The Brother-in-Law, a sandwiched smorgasbord of chopped beef, butterflied hot links, and cheese, has a powerful (and well-deserved) reputation in East Texas, but order the old-fashioned hand-pulled-pork sandwich, filled with juicy shreds of perfectly smoked pork shoulder. Nick Pencis, the …