Hickory Stix BBQ on Main

I am late getting this one to the pages. This was one of the first restaurants we hit up after moving to town. The thing is… we did take out first. I prefer to visit a restaurant and take it all in. Take Out is like a cheat.

I will say this though… the Take Out was so good, we wanted to go back.

It was September 2023 when we first crossed the threshold. As a new person to town, it wasn’t easy. Haydon and I were at the new house, before the moving truck arrived, and the house was empty. My wife was at her sister’s house and waiting for us to get to her. I decided to do a take out in the heat of the moment – this is not normal for me.

Add to this, I am letting Haydon drive on his permit. We are new to Kansas and everyone says you need to try Barbeque in Kansas, so that is what we searched for on Google Maps. Hickory Stix BBQ had decent reviews, seemed close, and was making our mouths water… so off we went.

Did I mention I was letting my “Permitted” son drive the truck?

We headed down Main Street, and like most visitors – took in the sights. We were looking at the older buildings, the statues, the classic cars that frequent Main Street and next thing you knew… we were near Smith’s Market. “We must’ve passed it”. Haydon executed a left turn into the lot across from Smiths and I am pretty sure hit nearly every bump and curb along the way. We crept up Main Street again trying to keep an eye out for it… but with the tree out front, missed it again.

Haydon executed a wonderful u-turn and just when I was about to congratulate him… he drove past the restaurant again. This time, I could sense he was getting anxious. I was right.

Haydon got in a hurry to get through town to turn around again. I am pretty sure he caught air over the Railroad tracks near GunBros. “Oh My Goodness?!?!” It’s moments like this that become stories for later years. I was glad his mother was not in the truck.

Finally, we park and meander to the door. As we approached, we took the featured image you see in this post, but were greeted by an older couple leaving the restaurant. We asked if the restaurant was good and they tripped over themselves dishing out compliments about the food.

The salivation was at a high point now.

When we approached the counter, a super friendly, polite, and attentive young lady greeted us. We explained it was our first time and she walked us through an order for each of us. We wanted to sample a bunch of stuff, so it wasn’t a modest order. I believe we each went for the three-meat combo, with beans, mac & cheese, okra, and slaw. I was expecting a large bill.

I forget the exact dollar amount, but I may never forget the exchange…

Cashier: Great, that comes to $36.95

Haydon: (Leaning forward in exclamative disbelief) THAT’S CHEAP!?!?!

Cashier: (Blank – shocked stare)

We had to explain that having just escaped California, we weren’t used to the new economy yet. This order in Southern California would easily have exceeded $60.00. Spoiler alert – after actually eating the meal… I would venture to say this would have been an $80.00 meal in SoCal.

A month later it was Haydon’s birthday. This is when we had that awesome interaction and began to know the great family that owns Ax It Up Hutch. After the ax throwing, Haydon wanted to have a sit down back at the Hickory Stix.

This time, we went in tow with my wife (Heidi) and my in-laws – Greg and Vivian. We had a great time. We were greeted by a young man that was very energetic and outgoing. (That suits me well)

I proceeded to try and put two tables together and promptly dislodged the foot on one of the tables. So there I am trying to fix my blunder when this young man comes up to tell me not to worry about it. He also elected us a larger table in the back where we’d all fit — without me rearranging the restaurant.

There is a variety of sauces to add to your meal. I prefer the spicier versions. In fact, if I were to be more specific… I would love to see them put out a hot barbeque sauce. (Really hot) The meats were all moist, tender, and flavorful. I wasn’t too in love with the mac & cheese I sampled, as it seemed bland… but then again — it is MAC & CHEESE. What was I thinking?

The food came out pretty quickly and everyone in our party enjoyed themselves. The only thing that gets me about a lot of barbeque places is the lack of china and silverware. I get it. It’s messy. But I’d really much rather pay an extra dollar per meal and get plates and silverware vs. disposable stuff.

You see this with Pizza places too. The experience is much better with non-disposable utensils. I hate all those greasy paper plates at a pizza place.

Conclusion

Here’s the deal. If you are looking for friendly service and a warm smile with wonderfully prepared proteins… stop by the Hickory Stix. It’s the colorful restaurant behind the big tree on Main Street. If you jump the train tracks… you went too far.