Hays Smokehouse - Fantastic!

Hays Smokehouse Pig-Out!
Earlier today my brother drove up from Memphis and we ate lunch at Hays Smokehouse in Lexington, Tennessee. It is only 20 minutes from here and worth walking to. Every time we go we cannot decide what to get since everything is great. This time we ordered ribs, chicken and some pork. After spreading it out on the table we dug in. Mr. Hays recognized us and he had a chance to pull up a chair and visit.We always enjoy talking with him and would be disappointed if he had been too busy. We learned everything about the current price of pork and how the futures were looking. You forget about everything after an enjoyable conversation with the pit master himself. AS usual the food was fantastic-the meat falls off the bone and stays juicy with the best smoked taste you ever had. There are sauces on the table but we rarely use them. Who would want to cover up the natural taste of superbly cooked meat.
After an hour it was time to go. We always comment that we hate to leave because the food is so good and the atmosphere relaxing. I could not leave without getting a slab of ribs to go and ordering a turkey for Christmas. Fortunately our son will be visiting from Minneapolis next week and will want to head on over to Hays immediately. I guess I will just have to volunteer to take him--life is tough!

You know--what with everyone that tries this place raving about it--Im gonna HAVE to make a trip up that way!!!If Hayse is half as good as you all say--its got to rank up there in the top ten and dont want to miss it!

Dennis Hays is a fine man. He runs a homey BBQ restaurant that deserves every compliment it receives. If ever there was a sterotypical Roadfood Establishment, Mr Hays's place would be it.
The meat qualifies as done the right way and with care. The service, even for take-out and during 'rush' traffic is congenial and all in all it is a great place to relax and see how things should be done.

Anyone who visits should be sure to tell the cashier, or Mr Hays himself if he is present, that you are a "Roadfood.com" member or reader and that we are doing all we can to let folks know of the quality of that western Tennessee Hog-cooker. We hope the Sterns will visit his place and include it in the next published edition of the Roadfood Bible.

Here is Dennis Hays doing what he does best with his Massive Cookers !!

I cannot claim to visited all the "great" BBQ places in North Carolina, Kentucky and everywhere else but I have been to many and it is my opinion that "Hayes Smokehouse" is by far the best I have ever visited. The experience of talking with Mr. Dennis Hays and his wife is worth several points. I might also mention that the place is extremely clean and neat. I sincerely enjoyed every piece and type of BBQ that they sell. Their sides are also very good.

It is a hike from Knoxville (about 300 miles) and I have done it twice and I will do it again. Hopefully in February with the same crew that I was there last February.

Paul E. Smith

Paul mentioned a Saturday visit to Hays in february. Check your calendars for the President's Day weekend and see if that would be a good time to do a visit to Mr Hays and his wonderful Smokehouse. We can homestead a few tables and munch away 1/2 a day or so there...rather than eat and run as we did last winter. It is just about 90 minutes east of Memphis (off exit 108 on I-40) so getting there is pretty easy from all directions. We left Louisville in the morning (6am) last visit and were there by 11am or so.
We'll call for a Roadfood Gathering after the holidays, to let the Xmas celebrations settle a bit .

Count me in!!!!!!

Perhaps there are others around Knoxville that would like to make the trek.

That is a easy 300 mile trip for me. I put it on cruise when I leave Knoxville and take it off when I reach exit 108.

Mayor, I agree on just one place. The last time, it was a bit of an adventure trying to go from place to place. It was not highlighted by My Three Sons

Hays was definately the highlight. I like the idea of a six hour munchathon. Do you suppose Mr Hays would provide a little nap room?

Would that be February 19th or 26th?

I am sure that Pogophiles, Bushie and Poverty would be interested.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

In the words of my friend Sundancer, Count me in!!!
(lemme check, does this make 500 posts?)

Congratulations My Esteemed Friend , on reaching the new Plateau in the Roadfood Kingdom !!
We'll invite everyone who can get there to enjoy a very long lunch !

Poverty, you have reached another level and I must admit that each of your post has been solid and right on.

Looking forward to the next BBQ trip to Lexington, TN.

Glad we have no election issues to discuss

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I hope that the trip can be arranged. You fellows have provided many interesting tales and I would really like to meet all of you. Count me in when the date is set.

Bob Sadowski
Jackson, Tn.

Sign me up too! If the weather's ok (and it is iffy about that time of year), I could make it from ATL in about 6 hrs.

Great... This is starting to take shape nicely. If you think about it for the holidays, there will be plenty of time to get plans rolling after New Years ! We'll get Crystal to bring her family over to introduce them to Tennessee BBQ !
And Maybe Rick F can make it this year.
Remember the place is only open Friday and Saturday, so our visiting days are limited a bit. If we get enough folks seriously thinking about joining in we can plan ahead with Mr Hays to get the full tour and some of the famous BBQ 101 lessons ! Bring coolers to haul home the take-out orders too!!

Mr. Mayor, I think this will shape up beyond our wildest dreams. This fantastic one of a kind place offers a BBQ'ers wildest fantasie. If we are not careful, we could have more than a housefull due to the location which is so central to folks who really get into BBQ. It would not suprise me that several folks from East Tennessee would have a interest once they are aware of the adventure.

I sincerely think we ought to go for a record of attendence. You guys did a great job on the west coast, the crab cake in Maryland went over super and the cheese steak thing was super but this has the opportunity of infecting every member on this forum. Dennis Hays would flip out if we delivered a hundred hungry roadfooders to this wonderful place.

I think your job as moderator is to promote this as a wonderful February winter trip. Nothing better than great smoked pork in cold weather.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I'll be there if the timing is right...

I'll swing through "Nakutish", throw RickF in the back of the truck, crack open another beer, and we'll meet ya there!

Talked to the SO last night---and even though we have no budget at the moment!--i just may make it to this shindig---sure woukd hate to miss the opportunity to break bread with this crew---especially when the "bread" is a good as this seems to be! Sundancer may be right---this could be a heck of day!

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

Talked to the SO last night---and even though we have no budget at the moment!--i just may make it to this shindig---sure woukd hate to miss the opportunity to break bread with this crew---especially when the "bread" is a good as this seems to be! Sundancer may be right---this could be a heck of day!

Tiki, I do not know what part of OK you reside but you are basically one state away from Tennessee and Lexington is just a few miles from Memphis.

The Sundancer guarantees that you will enjoy the BBQ at Hays. The place is as neat as a pin. The rest rooms are just as clean and neat as the rest of the place. Dennis Hays and his wife are wonderful people.

The first time our group visited there, we got there at 10:00AM and we thought they were closed. We went in and they made us feel at home and immediately started visiting with us. We made great conversation even before we ate a bite.

I have returned since and got the same great service. Each time the Hay's took us on a tour of their outside BBQ smoking facility. It is a treat.

If I were you, I would regard this as a BBQ vacation and make the trek. It ain't far across Arkansas. It is I-40 all the way. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer---like i have said once before--anyplace that gets so many folks here that have so much knowledge about bbq this excite has GOT to experianced!!!! I say we all invite the Stearns to jion us and make this a real event to remember!

PS--im really just down the road from the Arkansas border offr I40 and have friends i could stay with in Memphis!! I really think i can make it to this one!!

Just checked out the rte to Lexington--469 miles--just under 8 hrs driving-447 miles of it on I40. So now i get to pick out pit stops!!!! Got a freind in Memphis that will put me up too. Looks like i should be able to do this trip!

Excellent, Smithers!

I filled up for $1.56/gallon at Krogers yesterday. Looks like the Gas Gods may smile on this trip if things continue this way for a few weeks.
More to follow- mark your Calendar !!

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

I filled up for $1.56/gallon at Krogers yesterday. Looks like the Gas Gods may smile on this trip if things continue this way for a few weeks.
More to follow- mark your Calendar !!

$1.52/gal this morning in Muskogee Oklahoma!!

We posted the following over on the Washington CD meet n eat thread, but Sundancer asked me to put it in the right place. It was an answer to Scott (Cheesewit)'s question about info on the upcoming meeting of the Tennessee BBQ and Glee Club.
We have been thinking that it should be the Friday/Saturday of the Presidents Day weekend (Feb 18/19). Lexington TN is just off the I-40 at the 108 exit. That puts it @100 miles east of Memphis and about 150 west of Nashville.
I say the Friday and Saturday to accomodate the folks who will be traveling from more than a Days ride away. The main activity would be a several hour visit at Mr Hays Smokehouse on Saturday. If we let him know we are coming, I am sure he will be happy to share his cooker, and some real lessons in the "How to Do it" area. We would also head down the road a short distance to his Slaughter house (optional), as he supplies whole Hogs and other critters to area barbecuers. Since some folks will be driving in on Saturday we would probably start the day there at about 11am or so, and figure on about 4 hours for eating everything we can, and the tours etc. We'll put up the location where we will be staying the friday evening before, so those who want to come down early can enjoy a supper , and maybe a Waffle House Breakfast !! All this is tentative right now...But the date looks right to several of the folks who talk of coming.
Sundancers comment on visiting Memphis on Friday then driving over to Lexington Saturday Morning is a good one. We will think about how it all fits together and see how many folks are interested in a 2 stop meeting..or the one and only Hays SmokeHouse only !!

The date sounds good to me! I will be eating lunch at Hays on Thursday and picking up my turkey on Friday. I will be thinking of everyone as I enjoy the food.

I've made the 2 1/2 hour trip from Huntsville to Lexington once for my birthday and Hays Smokehouse was CLOSED! Broke my heart. I want to make that trip tomorrow, but I want to make sure that Hays is open. I've called three times today (731-967-3222) and it's either always busy or I get a fax tone. What's the phone number and when are they open?

KVON

quote:

Originally posted by KVON

I've made the 2 1/2 hour trip from Huntsville to Lexington once for my birthday and Hays Smokehouse was CLOSED! Broke my heart. I want to make that trip tomorrow, but I want to make sure that Hays is open. I've called three times today (731-967-3222) and it's either always busy or I get a fax tone. What's the phone number and when are they open?

KVON

Friday and Saturday for sure. They may be open on Thursday. Bushie or Al can give up a update. Stand back for the best BBQ you ever had in your life. Get their ribs or pulled pork and their sides are excellent. Neatest place I have ever been.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Friday Saturday only...call ahead to be sure the holiday hasn't altered the plan. The phone number I have (from the hat) is 967-1411

I'm really looking forward to this gathering----just a thought--with folks comin in from a wide area of barbecue country for this gathering--might this be an opportunity for all of us to bring along some of our favorite BBQ sauces and try em all out? i know i have two brand new bottles of Head Country--one hot one not! I dont like meat dripping in sauce but i do like a little dippin bowl on the side--it goes so well with white bread!!. Think i will save them for this trip!

I am just sitting here (all the way down in SW FL) dying cause it's so far from here. May not be able to make the gathering, but am planning a Road Trip in the spring to Nashville and the S Illinois area. Will definitely put Hays on the itinerary. Good luck all and good eatin'
QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

Sundancer and Mayor,
Just called the new number you gave me (967-1411) and that is the meat house, but she said that Hays closes between Christmas and New Years every year. Only open on Friday and Saturday, but not this weekend at all. Correct number for Hays Smokehouse is 731-967-3222.