One of Houston’s highest profile barbecue joints is opening a second inner loop location. Pinkerton’s Barbecue has claimed the former 59 Diner space in Upper Kirby for a new restaurant.
Pitmaster-owner Grant Pinkerton announced via a social media post that he had leased the building at 3801 Farnham for the third location of his eponymous restaurant.
“This is a place I ate at as a kid, and it’s killed me that it’s been closed for the last six or seven years,” he said in the clip. “So what better way to revive it than by serving some awesome barbecue in it?”
According to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the new restaurant is expected to open in April 2025. It will join the original Heights location that opened in late 2016 and a San Antonio outpost that debuted in 2021. Pinkerton has yet to respond to CultureMap’s request for comment about his plans.
59 Diner closed in 2016.
Photo by Eric Sandler
Whenever it opens, the new restaurant will serve Pinkerton’s signature spin on Texas barbecue. The restaurant cooks its proteins with both post oak and mesquite woods that gives them a distinct flavor. In particular, its known for sweet and smoky “candy paint” glazed pork ribs, massive beef ribs, jalapeno-cheese rice, and smoked duck and sausage jambalaya. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant also offers a full bar that includes a well-chosen wine list.
The Houston location earned a spot on Texas Monthly’s 50 best barbecue joints list in 2017, while the bigger San Antonio location earned that recognition in 2021.
For Pinkerton, opening near River Oaks brings his alma mater of Lamar High School. It also fulfills his original plans to open Pinkerton’s in the area, but that location fell through due to insufficient parking. That won’t be a problem at 59 Diner, which has plenty of spots.
59 Diner was a retro-styled diner that served hamburgers, milk shakes, and other classic American comfort food. The Farnham location and two others closed suddenly in 2016. It had a brief run as a halal Mexican restaurant but has remained empty since the short-lived concept closed in 2017.
