The early days | Solid Values | 4th Generation | Fun Facts | The Pappas Difference | Our Success
Ever wonder how the mighty Pappas company got started? It all started with one little Pappas Bar-B-Q in downtown Houston. That little ol’ Bar-B-Q spot got so popular, it grew into a full concept that really started it all for one of the largest family-owned and -operated restaurant companies in the United States! The Pappas family of restaurants offers many different cuisines and traditions, but common to all is an obsession with quality food and superior service that's reflected in every aspect of the Guest experience. The Pappas philosophy hasn't changed much over the years. The drive still comes from a passion for excellence, a focus on innovation and an attention to detail and quality in everything we do.
The Early Days
Goin’ Back To Our Roots
The warm, inviting atmosphere and family-focused attitude you find in every Pappas restaurant started well before the Pappas brothers opened their first restaurant. It all began with their legendary grandfather, H.D. Pappas. He left Greece in 1897 and traveled to America to pursue his dreams. He brought with him a passion for quality and service that became the benchmark of his success as he opened restaurants throughout Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. H.D. passed this dedication to quality and service down to his sons and grandsons. His sons, Pete and Jim, chose a different path than their father and entered the restaurant equipment and supply business. They opened Pappas Refrigeration in 1945. It wasn’t until 1976, when Jim's sons, Chris and Harris, following in their grandfather's footsteps, opened their first restaurant, bringing’ the family’s American dream full circle.
Solid Values
Stickin’ to Our Guns
We're a family-owned and -operated restaurant company, which means our core values have been passed down from generation to generation. We're constantly focused on innovation, attention to detail and quality in everything we do. Over the years, our steadfast values and top-notch team have kept prospective employees seeking us out and satisfied Guests coming back.
To us, you’re like family, and we’re out to prove it every time you visit.
4th-Generation Restaurateurs
This Ain’t Our First Rodeo
Harris and Chris still lead the chain of Pappas restaurants with more than 90 locations in eight states: throughout Texas, and in New Mexico, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Colorado and Alabama. Based in Houston, the still privately-owned and -operated business is a highly respected leader in the industry nationwide.
Pappas Restaurants are known for outstanding food, exceptional service and an atmosphere where people go to be treated like family; to be entertained and to enjoy great food with the Pappas trademark of quality. With warm, inviting atmospheres; big, open layouts; and exciting themes to each concept, Pappas offers a range of cuisines, all served in generous portions by our highly trained, attentive wait staff. The success has been built on the same principles that grandfather H.D. Pappas brought with him to the New World: a passion for quality food and service, careful attention to detail, and a determination to treat every person that walks through the door as a welcome Guest.
Pappas offers somethin’ for everyone. Guests can enjoy the best slow-smoked pit Bar-B-Q around at Pappas Bar-B-Q, as well as fresh seafood and Louisiana-style favorites at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen; legendary Tex-Mex at Pappasito’s Cantina; prime, dry-aged steaks in an exquisite, fine-dining environment at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse; mouthwatering, Texas-sized, prime beef burgers at Pappas Burger; unique, flavorful cuisine from the Mediterranean at Yia Yia Mary’s Greek Kitchen; the freshest Gulf Coast seafood around at Pappas Seafood House; and comfort food 24 hours a day at Dot Coffee Shop.
The Pappas Difference
Scratch-Made From Start to Finish
When you walk up to Pappas Bar-B-Q, you can already smell the Bar-B-Q smokin’ away and feel your mouth startin’ to water and oh boy, you know you’re in for a real treat! We’ve been making Bar-B-Q for over 40 years now, and people come from miles around to enjoy our finger-lickin’ meat and scratch-made sides. We buy the freshest ingredients and start early in the morning, chopping all our veggies for the day. No frozen French fries here! And ya know, we even make all our own sauces – including the mayo – to ensure our sides are packed full of fresh flavors. That makes everythin’ so darn delicious!
And truth is, we don’t just run our restaurants to feed our loyal Guests day in and day out, we also own and drive the trucks that deliver the freshest meats to our restaurants every day. Everything in our Bar-B-Q restaurants is hand-painted, and our craftsmen create the unique wagon-wheel light fixtures and leather-wrapped wood bar tables by hand. We make, own and operate almost everything we need to ensure we continue to serve only the highest-quality products in a comfortable environment that keeps Guests satisfied and coming back time and time again. This type of business organization is called “vertical integration,” and it helps us ensure there's never a holdup in the process and that we provide the absolute best for our Guests.
We know classic slow-smoked pit Bar-B-Q like the back of our hands, and we’re focused every day on doing it right so your experience is just as delicious on each and every visit. But we’re also constantly trying out new flavors to keep bringing y’all tasty new meats and fixin’s, like our tangy Sweet Caroline Bar-B-Q sauce, huge beef short ribs and more. So come on by, y’all, and enjoy!
Learn How We Prepare Our Incredible Bar-B-Q
