Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen, a Texas-style smokehouse in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood, enters its eighth year on Butler Street this summer holding a 4.1-star Google rating across more than 1,800 guest reviews.
The restaurant opened in September 2018 inside a 16,000-square-foot corner building on Butler Street, launched by the team behind Morgan's Barbecue in Brooklyn. Nearly eight years on, it draws diners from Lawrenceville, the South Hills and surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods, along with visitors working their way through the city's barbecue scene.
Asked what the restaurant has become known for, co-owner and pitmaster Chris Morgan points to four things: brisket smoked over hickory and oak for roughly 14 hours, a Southern weekend brunch built around chicken and waffles and French toast, catering and private parties for groups the dining room cannot seat, and an outdoor yard stocked with picnic tables and oversized games. The smokers run on site rather than off premises, and during the cooler months they double as a heat source for outdoor seating while pulling wood smoke down the block.
"Brisket teaches you patience, and that is what we want people to taste," said Chris Morgan, co-owner and pitmaster at Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen. "Our goal for the next eight years is simple: keep the fire honest and keep the neighborhood at the table."
The kitchen's credentials sit with its owners. Morgan spent more than 20 years in the New York City, central Texas and southern Texas culinary scenes, honing pitmaster work while traveling the state, and co-owner Joel Bolden brings more than 20 years across high-end New York dining rooms and downtown lounges. Together they account for more than 40 years of combined restaurant experience, a depth uncommon among Pittsburgh barbecue operators, most of which run without a Texas-trained pit program.
Operations reflect a walk-in neighborhood restaurant rather than a reservations-first dining room. Walter's seats most guests first-come, first-served and holds limited reservations for parties of six or more. Weekend brunch, which opens at 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, is seated on a walk-in basis to keep service moving. Off-site and on-site catering covers weddings, corporate functions and family gatherings, with menus built around smoked meats, Southern sides and desserts. The restaurant reports a typical spend of $20 to $30 per person on its Google Business Profile.
Community programming has become its own draw. The yard hosts summer movie nights on the big screen, seasonal décor takes over the bar area through the holidays, and DJs regularly work weekend service. The building is dog-friendly, and the restaurant lists itself as LGBTQ+ friendly on its Google Business Profile.
"People remember how a room made them feel long after the plates are cleared," said Joel Bolden, co-owner of Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen. "We are building the kind of place where a birthday, a first date and a Tuesday all fit."
Guests planning a Lawrenceville dinner, a walk-in weekend brunch or off-site barbecue catering for a Pittsburgh wedding or corporate event can review current menus, brunch service times and catering options for Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen at https://walterspgh.com/reservations/
Information is believed accurate at the time of publication. Contact Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen directly for current hours, menus and event availability.
About Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen
Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen has served Texas-style smoked meats and Southern kitchen classics in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood since 2018. Co-owners Joel Bolden and Chris Morgan bring more than 40 years of combined culinary experience from New York City and Texas. The restaurant offers lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, private parties and both on-site and off-site catering. It is located at 4501 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, and can be reached at (412) 683-7474 or https://www.walterspgh.com/.
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For more information about Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen, contact the company here:
Walter's BBQ Southern Kitchen
Joel Bolden
+14126837474
info@walterspgh.com
4501 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201, United States