Hay's Smokehouse Lexington TN

Has anyone been to Hay's since the new owner took over? Is it still outstanding? I plan to stop by when I'm in the area next month.

One mans opinion below but I think the consensus is it's just ok.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19636&SearchTerms=hay%27s

When Dennis Hays owned it, I would put it up against any BBQ place in the USA. He did whole hog and the entire place was his design. He delighted in showing off his pride and joy and his smoker was a piece of art. He used hickory and his smoked meat was truly outstanding. He enjoyed sitting down with you and talking. Each time we visited there, it was the same.

I guess Dennis was getting old or saw a financial opportunity and sold out to another person that the Mayor, Poverty Pete and Pogophiles had visited before. At that time he had a pretty good operation but Larry visited there about a year or so ago and indicated that since he had bought it, the quality was no longer there.

Perhaps he has improved and I hope to hear a report from someone. I hope you visit there as we all would like to hear about it. I am not sure anyone has been there since larry's report.

Mr Hayes kept the place as neat as a pin.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

A couple of the Roadfood guys who attended the Nashville get-together last year, made the side-trip to Lexington to check out the new operator. They came back with a "not very good" report, and a seeming lack of caring by the people in the place.
After years of excelllent reports it seems a shame that a place will go downhill relatively quickly. This is a real loss to the Roadfood BBQ followers!

AL-
Wasn't that Travelin Man who drove over and was disappointed in the place? Hopefully, he will chime in here.

After hearing about other's disappointing experiences, I no longer made getting here a priority.

Yeah It was TTM, but he'd better be busy doing his Baseball Trip Report !!

We used to look forward to a visit to dennis Hays and his wonderful 'Whole-Hog' cookers. I miss both him and his great BBQ.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll still give it a shot in a few weeks and report back. Hopefully they've worked out all the glitches.

Thanks Johnscreek, we hope we are wrong and the place is as good as it ever was! Please add a report to this thread after your visit.

Mr & Mrs QFan are heading up that way in Oct and had hoped to make several TN que stops as well as other long anticipated RF recommendations. Will be waiting for Johnscreek's report w/ great interest!

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

I agree with the concensus. The place has gone from great to okay. If I were already in Lexington I might give it a go; the food isn't bad. It's just no longer worth the side trip off of I-40 when there are other good choices between Memphis and Nashville.

I think they've dropped the Hays name, too.

quote:

Originally posted by ctfrasier

I agree with the concensus. The place has gone from great to okay. If I were already in Lexington I might give it a go; the food isn't bad. It's just no longer worth the side trip off of I-40 when there are other good choices between Memphis and Nashville.

I think they've dropped the Hays name, too.

This is sorta sad to me as I always enjoyed Dennis Hayes BBQ, ambiance and his personal personality. His food was outstanding. I am sure that Dennis is not happy either.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

---nuff said.

Dennis told me he'd been flat broke, and a millionaire, 3 times in his life so maybe he's working on one or the other. He was pretty involved in a local hog buthcering business.
However, so sad to hear it;'s gone downhill. What a shame.

quote:

Originally posted by Earl of Sandwich

Dennis told me he'd been flat broke, and a millionaire, 3 times in his life so maybe he's working on one or the other. He was pretty involved in a local hog buthcering business.
However, so sad to hear it;'s gone downhill. What a shame.

I am glad that you talked to Dennis as he is a prince of a person. Al, Poverty, Bushie, myself and some others visited Dennis's hog butchering business. He supplied all of the whole hogs for many of the BBQ places prevelant around the Lexington, TN.

I wish Dennis would reserect his BBQ business. He was very good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I was surprised to see Hays' Smokehouse listed as the featured restaurant today.  There does not appear to be new information that Dennis Hays has "unretired," for which I was truly hopeful.  I was one of the ones who visited the "new" Curt's Smokehouse last year as a side-trip from Nashville.  It was ordinary - not bad, but surely not of the same status that others felt about Mr. Hays.

Perhaps it just got lost in the shuffle, but is this one review that should be archived?

 I checked that also, TTM. Then I noted that the review is My Original Review from 2005.  It does NOT give current info about the quality of the Former Hays-run operation.

Best BBQ I ever had was from a stand just west of Lexington.  It was just a 2x4 and window screen building with a pit under it.  I think it was only there that one summer or so, but I don't believe I've ever had better.  That was probably around 1977.

I'm not even sure how to describe it; but it was like cotton candy in a way, it just seemed to melt in your mouth.

Travelin Man -- I can verify that Mr. Hays has not "unretired".  My brother made a recent stop at Curt's and unfortunately it does not appear to have improved any.  Best to stick with Scott's if you're passing through Lexington.

Scott's has always been pretty good.  I usually stop by the Pig House in Jackson now when I'm in town.