The Barbecue Inn

116 W. Crosstimbers at Yale Houston 77018 713.695.811 thebarbecueinn.com

Without a doubt one of Houston’s longest running restaurants, this little near north-side jewel opened  in 1946 and has been operated by the same family ever since…that’s 76 years, folks.  This is the quintessential country café in the city, with comfortable booth seating and friendly waitresses who call you ‘Hon’ and who may deliver your order with the plates stacked up one arm.  The customer base appeared to me on a recent visit to be long-established regulars, and easily recognized and welcomed by the service staff.  I decided with difficulty to pass over the barbecue on the menu and order a chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and cream gravy, since it had been a couple of years since I had had one at The Broken Spoke in Austin.  Appetizers & Salads  * Shrimp cocktail, regular or large  * Shrimp salad  * Potato salad  * Cole slaw  * Lettuce & tomato  & Chef’s salad  * Barbecue dinners  * Beef brisket, Sliced pork, St. Louis style ribs, One-half chicken, and sides of baked beans, potato salad, salad, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, green beans, chopped tomatoes, and baked potato  * Mains  * Fried oysters  * Shrimp & stuffed crab  * Seafood platter  * Fried catfish  *  Hamburger/cheeseburger  * Cold boiled shrimp  * Stuffed crab  * Catfish filets  * French fried shrimp  * Chicken fried stead (or chicken breast)  * Desserts  * Lemon meringue pie  * Cheese cake  * Assorted other pies