The Barbecue Pit

Established in 1947. Our commitment is to keep our product and service at the highest quality for you, our valued customer. The Browning and Jenson families have appreciated the loyalty of our customers who have supported us for over 60 years. The first Barbecue Pit family restaurant was opened on Dec. 16, 1947. It was located in the Maryland Hotel on 6th Ave. in downtown San Diego. It was opened by Joe & Lila Browning and Ed & Mella Jenson. Lila and Mella were sisters. Joe Browning arrived in San Diego during World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy where he fell in love with and married Lila Coates. Joe came from Texas where he learned the barbecue business from his step-father, R.T. Shoemaker. R.T. owned several barbecue restaurants in the Dallas area called Shoemakers Famous Barbecue. After the war it took just one hot summer in Texas to convince Joe and his new bride, Lila, that San Diego was the place for them. Currently there are two restaurant locations owned by Joe & Lilas son, Gary and his wife, Sue. At the Fletcher Hills and National City restaurants, Gary & Sue Browning along with their sons, Todd and Tim, continue to maintain the high quality of homemade and slow cooked barbecue that was established.