McClard's BBQ Restaurant in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, it was just a given that if we wanted barbeque, McClard's was the place to go. We didn't visit it often because we wanted it to be a special place for special occasions. So, when we did go, we indulged!

Many famous people have visited over the years, most notably, President Bill Clinton. Since he grew up in Hot Springs, he was pretty much a regular at the restaurant. I remember on one occasion when he was still the Governor of Arkansas, he came in with his family while we were there. Everyone kind of just looked over at them, not making a fuss, and then went back to eating. One thing I remember the most, was that the Clinton's had to stand and wait on an empty table. That is very common when visiting the restaurant during lunch or dinner hours. You may have to stand for a good amount of time before a table opens up. When one does, as soon as the people leave, you'd better slide on into the booth even while the table is still dirty. If you wait, someone else will jump in in front of you. The waitresses and busboys are quick to clear the table once you sit down. It's almost like wolves attacking their prey - customers attack the table! On that one trip to McClard's, it was our table the Clinton's attacked after we got up. Funny how some things stay in your memory.

Oh, there have been other famous people to visit the restaurant. Ty Pennington was in one time while filming "Extreme Home Makeover" in a nearby town. Had I known, I'd been there in a heartbeat! But, ah, alas, I missed him. A friend of my daughter's got to see him, though. Ty even allowed him to snap a picture of him on his camera phone. I restrained myself from attacking her friend. I let him keep his phone.

Seriously, though, it is a great restaurant and doesn't need to do any name dropping. The food is what pulls people in. It's in a small, cramped and old building, but that just adds to the character of the place. If they were to move, I think a lot of the charisma would be gone.

The business was started about 80 years ago and is still run by the same family. They are now working on the fourth generation and pushing for the fifth to take over some day.

Alex and Gladys McClard first opened a room and board type place a little bit west of where the restaurant now stands. They never intended to open up a barbeque stand, let alone a restaurant. But, in the 1920's, things were tight for a lot of people. One man that had stayed at their place for two months couldn't afford to pay the $10 he owed. (Can you imagine - $10 for a room for two months!) Instead, he offered a recipe for a barbeque sauce. They weren't the type of people to make a fuss and decided that a recipe was better than nothing, so they took it as his payment. It didn't take long before they tried his recipe and found out that they had something far more valuable than $10!

So, in 1928, they opened Westside Bar-B-Q using goat meat instead of beef or pork. It was a big hit! They continued working from the small location for fourteen years before moving to their current location in 1942. For 66 years, McClard's has been at 505 Albert Pike in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's a simple, white stucco building. Once upon a time, they offered a drive up service with carhops. People would pull in, toot the horn or flash their headlights for service - and be greeted with a smile. It was a happening place back then! Now, the drive in service and carhops are just memories. But the building still stands and the tables are always full.

Driving by early in the morning, you can see the family inside getting the goods ready for the day. It all starts way before dawn in order to be ready by lunchtime. You can call in your order for takeout if you wish, but for the best experience, eating inside is the way to go. It's almost a flashback in time. Some of their employees have been with the company for years. I remember one waitress worked there until she died. She always reminded me of Flo from Mel's Diner. All good people there, you won't find grumps, just hard working Americans living the dream their great-great-great grandparents started.

Just to give a picture of how popular McClard's is, here is a breakdown of what is served each week: 7,000 pounds of beef, pork and ribs - hickory smoked and smelling so good it makes your mouth drool! What's barbeque without the sides? Well, they serve 250 gallons of beans, 250 gallons of cole slaw, and 3,000 pounds of french fries - which are fresh cut, not frozen. They also serve 3,000 hand rolled tamales each week. Yes, tamales. They make the best tamale spread - tamales with beans, frito's, cheese, onions and whatever else they put on it! It is amazing and by far my favorite item on the menu. It sets the mouth on fire and makes the eyes water! Of course, it's best washed down with their iced tea. They serve all the basic barbeque items like sandwiches, ribs, and dinner plates, too.

McClard's is not a stranger to being written about. Here's a list of some of the magazines and websites featuring them: travelocity, food network.com, Travel Channel, Southern Living, Gourmet, Runner's World, Sky Magazine of Delta Airlines, a book by Willard Scott - "All American Cookbook", Arkansas Gazette, and Southern Magazine.

My suggestion if you decide to eat at McClard's while visiting Hot Springs, is to get there at an odd time. If you go during the typical lunch and dinner hours, you'll end up waiting for a while and I know some people don't like to wait. They open about 11 a.m. and close by 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The prices are just average - not cheap but not expensive. You always get your money's worth there. So, go enjoy a piece of Hot Springs history and visit McClard's Bar-B-Q Restaurant!