Hot Springs

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

McClard's Bar-B-Q

More Photos
SISCEC
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
Reviews
3
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-2 of 2
Editor Pick

McClard's Bar-B-Q

  • November 27, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by two cruisers from Ames, Iowa
McClard's Bar-B-Q

He was quoted often as saying McClards was his favorite restaurant. We decided we needed to check out this Bill Clinton haunt. We like to eat lunch early and it’s a good thing! When we arrived about ten minutes before the doors opened, there was already a line formed to get in.

The building is a small white painted stucco cube. Parking is at a premium. The interior is decorated in age defying black and white vinyl tile floor with molded bench seats. Not too comfortable, not too pretty. That doesn’t seem to bother the clientele. Within minutes of the doors opening the place was full. Our waitress should be applauded for keeping orders straight, keeping customers happy and managing to get through the crowded aisles. On the walls are photos of various McClards, and several of Bill (and Hillary) Clinton. Near the cash register are souvenir items for sale such as T-shirts and bottles of McClard’s famous Bar-B-Q sauce. This operation started when a traveler couldn’t pay his $10 bill at the McClard’s tourist court. To settle the debt he gave them his recipe for barbecue sauce. The McClard’s were impressed with the sauce and started a diner that evolved into a drive-in with carhops’ restaurant and finally to the small indoor restaurant we visited. Their specialties are ribs, sandwiches, and barbecue and tamale plate lunches.

We ordered barbecue pork plate lunches. Bill ordered sliced meat and I had chopped meat. The servings are huge. The famous sauce had a little more fire to it than the sauce we are used to. The meat was flavorful but a little dry. The plate lunch includes a large serving of beans (spicy hot) and coleslaw. The coleslaw was outstanding. I discovered that if I took a little of the sauced chopped meat on my fork and scooped up a little of the coleslaw on the same forkful, it was the perfect blend of flavors and textures. If we ever get a chance to come back here I want to try the ribs. I saw the chef carry in a huge pan of cooked ribs and they looked wonderful.

From the outside McClard’s looks like a dive. However the cars parked around it are high end, with the exception of a few tourists, and a mini tour bus. Our lunch with drinks and tip was under $25. McClards is located at 505 Albert Pike in Hot Springs. For more information check their website: www.mcclards.com.

From journal Arkansas - Billgrimage

McClards Bar BQ

  • April 20, 2003
  • Rated 4 of 5 by SISCEC from BRISTOL, Virginia
This is a very busy, small place. We have found you need to be there when the door opens at 11am or wait until after the noon rush. Once you are seated the service is speedy. This is a family business that has been in operation for generations. They smoke their own meat in the back and you can smell it for blocks before you get there. The sauce is unique with a flavor of its own, a little on the spicy side. They serve some of the greatest fries around and their own version of cole slaw. We visit this area yearly and always try to make this one of our stops.

From journal DESTINATION HOT SPRINGS

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-2 of 2

Compare Hot Springs Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Hot Springs Travel Deals