We've been at Lakeshore RV Park in Lake Village, AR for two months while Ric has been working in Dumas, AR. His commute takes about 45 minutes each way daily and he always passes Hoot's BBQ & Steaks in McGehee, AR. We've discussed the restaurant many times and have received verbal positive reviews from his co-workers frequently since our arrival. Yet, because of the distance, it was a little inconvenient and until recently we hadn't made it there. Finally, we had an excuse to go out of our way to eat there. Our family came for a visit, and it seemed like a perfect place to take them. Our thirteen year old grand daughter is a steak lover, after all. Options for family dining in the area are limited, so this restaurant fit the bill.
According to an online blog
"Tye Dye Travels", Hoot's is owned by David and Suzie Powell, residents of McGehee.
"David and Suzie Powell spent a couple of years after retirement traveling from place to place by RV. When they grew tired of that, they decided to head back to their hometown of McGehee and open up a barbecue joint. The old cattle sale barn out on US Highway 65 was vacant, and so what the heck, the Powells bought it and started fixing it up." (Tye Dye Travels).
I called ahead and made reservations since we had planned to go on a Friday evening. We arrived at 5:30 and were quickly seated. The front foyer/reception area was large with a dessert/bakery counter to the left and a bar entrance to the right. At the dessert counter we drooled over selections like banana pudding, carrot cake, blueberry cheesecake, Italian cream cake and German chocolate cake, promising to save room for dessert. The dining room was straight ahead and five of us were seated at a large, comfortable table. The surroundings were eclectic with a giant chalk board displaying the menu and a collection of signs and gas station memorabilia. The tin and wood accented walls added a homey feeling to the place.
We didn't have to wait to be served. Our waitress got our drinks right away and took our order on an iPad that sent the order through cyberspace and directly to the kitchen, I assume. We ordered brisket nachos as an appetizer, and it was large enough to share with all five of us. The brisket was melt in your mouth delicious and the cheese sauce with a hint of jalapeno gave just the spicy bite we were expecting.
My daughter and grand daughter opted for a rib eye steak. My grand daughter added six grilled shrimp. My gran daughter's friend ordered a BB-Q pork stuffed loaded baked potato, my husband got chicken fried steak and I had a sampler platter with chicken, ribs and brisket. We all shared bites of each other's meals and agreed that it was all delicious. The potato salad was mayonnaise based with little bits of meat mixed in. The beans tasted like Ranch beans smothered in a tasty BB-Q sauce and again, little bits of meat. The fries were thick, hand cut and fried to a perfect crisp while the sweet potato fries were the best I've had anywhere. The steak could be cut with a fork and simply felt like a conglomeration of juices and light spices dancing in my mouth. The loaded baked potato was nothing short of fabulous and the BB-Q pork on top added a unique flavor to the dish. The chicken fried steak was battered perfectly and covered in a gravy that was part white and part brown gravy making a creamy and yummy topping. As for the BB-Q chicken, the meat just pulled off with a fork and the juicy, tender chicken, like the steak, melted in my mouth. The crispy, seasoned skin was as good as the meat of the chicken. The brisket was seasoned to perfection and cooked just right and the ribs had a delicious dry rub and a distinct smoky flavor. Two types of BB-Q sauce were offered on the table: one, a tangy vinegar flavor and the other, a sweet and savory sauce which was my favorite. Alas, we ate too much food, and didn't have room for dessert.
I'm hungry again writing this review. Time to go back for a visit; this time I'm getting dessert! Hoot's is open Monday through Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 10 pm and closed on Sunday. The total cost of the meal including beverages and the appetizer was $120 for 5 people; that's an average of $20 per person. In my opinion, that's a fair price for the large servings, delicious food, and great service.
Next time you're in the area, be sure to stop by and get some of the best BB-Q anywhere.
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