Dickey's Barbecue Pit

Dickey’s started in Dallas in 1941. It took more than 50 years for the first franchise location to follow, but now there are around 175 restaurants in 22 states. The newest Dickey’s Barbecue Pit (1911 Taylor, 832-673 0077) just opened in the Heights area and is owned and operated by Ahmad Talebizadeh, a veteran of the food business with more than 20 years of experience. “I wanted to join a well-known brand, and since Dickey’s is one of the fastest-growing chains, I felt this was a good opportunity, especially since there isn’t one in Houston. When I was researching franchises on the Internet, I found that many of the people who own a Dickey’s own more than one, and I thought that was important,” says Talebizadeh. “We are a reasonably priced fast-casual place that prides itself on service.”

When Dish stopped by for lunch the week Dickey’s opened, we were surprised by how busy the place was, especially since it’s a little tucked away, in the Target shopping center off I-10 near downtown. The Dickey’s brand already seems well established. The order-at-the-counter system keeps the line moving fairly quickly, and the food is delivered in no time. Dickey’s offers waffle fries and onion strings, two sides not normally found in most barbecue places. Free whole pickles and soft-serve ice cream are a welcome treat. As for the meat, while the brisket was a tad dry, the ribs were juicy and fell off the bone. The Polish sausage was spectacular.

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