Nick’s Bar-BQ & Catfish
Hwy 13 N, Carlisle, AR, 72024
Nick’s Bar-BQ & Catfish Menu
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Address :
Hwy 13 N
Carlisle, AR, 72024 - Phone (870) 552-3887
- Website https://www.nicksbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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stephen k.
i have driven over 600,000 miles and this is one of the top 3 places in the usa for baby back pork ribs. excellent flavor you can still taste the meat not over killed but smoked just right with traditional hickory . the ribs are some of the best i have eaten. the onion rings and backed beans are outstanding. this is as good as it gets !!!!!!!! travelin man
(5)Eric R.
Not to be long winded here...but this was a refreshing little stop on my way back to California! I stayed the night in Carlisle, and had dinner at this wonderful little bbq restaurant in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. Although it was the middle of summer, and this California boy felt like he was in a pressure cooker with all the heat and humidity, Nick's really made it all better! The service was good, the sweet tea was awesome and the bbq was superb. If I'm ever back that way again...I'll definitely stop in for a bite.
(5)Lynn V.
My husband and I have noticed Nick's billboard and have always wondered if it would be good. We travel from Illinois to Fort Worth two or three times a year. After reading the raving reviews, we were excited to try. Unfortunately, we did NOT agree with the reviews. The ribs were disappointing and the brisket was horrible. The brisket tasted as if it had been reheated on a greasy grill. I would certainly give this a thumbs down! We left throwing away our money. Ugh!
(1)Vickie P.
Thanks to the yelp reviews we decided to try Nick's out. Very glad we did! Food was excellent and service was great. Plan on stopping on our way back through.
(5)R B.
Update. Last Christmas we stopped by on our way to see family. We bought several cases of made in house BBQ sauce for Christmas gifts. Everyone loved it!
(5)boo h.
We eat here every trip coming and going - Texas to Ohio. Excellent service and food. Possibly the best bbq ever. Slightly inconsistent in that sometimes its pepper-ier than other times. Heads up: The ac system leaks from the ceiling panels so seat yourself away from any ac vents or stained ceiling tiles.
(5)L M.
I just moved down here from SD a few months ago and have eaten at Nick's about a dozen times now. I have tried just about everything that they have to offer and love it all. They have great food and friendly service. I will continue going to Nick's as aften as I can. Hoghly recommend that you try it.
(5)Nicole E.
We stopped in here in the middle of our long drive. The staff was friendly and the restaurant packed. We both ordered bbq sandwiches (me chicken and hubby the pork). Everything was delicious from the sandwiches to the sides! The service was friendly and prompt and it was the perfect pit stop on a very long day of driving.
(4)Brian C.
Friendly and prompt waitstaff. Every thing we had was great. Around the table we got beef bbq, catfish, pork bbq, and a hamburger. Onion rings are freshly made. If you don't want bbq sauce on the meat be sure and tell them when you order.
(5)Amy P.
Tasty catfish, onion rings and coleslaw! I also really loved the fried pickles but there just wasn't enough of them. Waitstaff, not so awesome but it's not 5 star dinning either so who am I to complain.
(4)Stacy C.
Just passing through from Atlanta to Oklahoma. Dang! I'm so glad we didn't go to a chain restaurant. The BBQ sauce was sharp and tangy, the coleslaw was crispy and flavorful, everything was terrific.
(4)Barry B.
Great food, great service. This place is always busy but worth the stop off if you are heading from/to Little Rock or Memphis. The catching and BBQ, especially the ribs and chicken are really good.
(5)Robert S.
On my way from TN to CA, I was hungry and my place in Memphis wasn't open yet so I was forced to keep on driving. I saw their sign and thought I had better get something quick here before I get into Little Rock and another couple of hours go by since I was getting hungry. Got my lunch to go and it was a deep-fried heart attack on a tray. Ohh it was good! They know how to cook catfish, it was crispy but not overdone. Likewise, the hushpuppies were crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. The onion rings were some of the best I ever had! Nick's was a pleasant experience that was more than I expected.
(3)Jerry B.
At exit 183 on I-40 about1/4 mile off the interstate. Very casual dining, I ordered thy 1/2 rack of ribs. They were very good and the meat fell off of the bones. My wife ordered the catfish and it also was delicious. The service was good and very friendly. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends. There is plenty of parking for semi trucks.
(5)Nikki M.
Best ribs ever...and I am from Texas! I need to call and order their BBQ sauce too! Well worth the stop!
(4)Denise E.
Saw the billboards forever and it caught our eye. Went online and the menu sounded interesting. Entering the front door you could smell the BBQ smoke. Yum! Place needs updating but we didn't come for decor, we came for good food. Spouse ordered sausage plate and I ordered the 1/2 ribs. All of it was tasty BUT our food was lukewarm. Kind of like being called to supper and arriving 15 minutes late. Still tasty. Would we go back? We wouldn't shun the place but we would probably try a new place. P.S. Our waitress was super kind. All of the waitstaff was friendly.
(3)Tina D.
Road trip We stopped by on our drive back to DC. We were attracted by this gigantic billboard. Environment: Was super busy; incredibly friendly service! Decor was exactly as expected. I was hoping it to be a bit more divey. Food: I am usually made fun of b/c of my inappropriate ordering at places like this ie: too healthy. So, I decided to get cat fish, okra and onion rings .My friend got the pork dinner, "worse pork bbq I have ever had". Catfish was chewy. Disappointed. Nothing spectacular but the people were very nice. I would have rather just driven thru somewhere and not wasted time at a sit down for mediocre food, at best.
(2)Dennis W.
Good but not great. I had a catfish plate and was satisfied with the taste. Location is good for an East Texas to East Tennessee traveler. Service was good on a rainy, busy day. I will be back next time I take that route.
(3)Cara O.
Disappointment. There is virtually no decor so I thought to myself "ok, they are saving money on decor to have a better quality food. I can respect that." I was wrong. The food is mediocre. The meat has virtually no flavor of it's own. They drown it in a mediocre bbq sauce. The baked beans were CANNED with a few chunks of their brisket thrown in. The fried okra was pretty good though. We also shared the homemade chocolate fried pie. The pie crust was one of the best ever. The chocolate filling was nothing but cheap pudding. Our waitress was cute, sweet and helpful. I think this place has the best bbq in town only because its the ONLY bbq in town.
(2)Keri P.
My family and I drive I40 a lot through Arkansas, and we've made it a point to stop here often. The barbecue is great, and I grew up in Memphis so my standards are pretty high. I tried the barbecue salad last time I was there, and it was delicious. I had never had barbecue on my salad before, but I can't wait to go back and order it again. Hamburgers are good too. It's a great country-style restaurant. No frills and delicious food. You can tell it's frequented by the locals.
(5)Andrew B.
Dog food. I got suckered in by the big sign on the interstate! Craving good BBQ on a road trip, wound up with garbage that my dog thought twice about eating the leftovers. And the service was S...L..O...W. Molasses in winter slow. Canned Sloppy Joe's are better than the pork sandwich I had. Blecchh...
(1)Talisa J.
Well this is a winner! Right off of I-40 and easy to get to, this place serves some of the best catfish I have ever eaten; a terrific, seasoned cornmeal coating that is fried to perfection with no hint of grease. We had a platter that includes the catfish and ribs. The ribs are very tender and are served without sauce, allowing you to add as much, or in our case usually, as little as you want. Speaking of the sauce, it is great...sort of a cross between sweet and vinegar-based versions that is the perfect balance. We even bought a bottle to take home with us. You definitely won't go hungry with the portion size. The platter, which included 4 fillets, 4 ribs, hush puppies, Texas toast, and 2 sides was $13.99 and, honestly, we could have shared. The place was almost full, and clearly does a bang-up carry out business, too. Service was good, and the only negative was that it doesn't give the cleanest feeling when you walk in the door. We will definitely be hitting this joint again when we travel this way.
(4)Saba B.
Close to Memphis, Nick's is truly a southern treasure in the middle of a swamp. The parking lot is always packed (we ate here twice, ahem) but the service is excellent. Lawdy though, the smoky pork barbeque and fried catfish with hush puppies are the holy trinity. You know you've crossed the Mason-Dixon when you are served cole slaw to put on your BBQ sandwich. The catfish are farm-raised, thus clean and almost sweet, not muddy tasting like the wild cats. A placard listing pies baked daily included peach and apricot. Fried pickles and green tomatoes are also available, although we didn't try them. Check out the paeans to Nick's by the front door, including signed pics from Pink and Johnny Cash. Regulars here come in daily and sit at the same tables and I surely don't blame them.
(5)Anita R.
Friendly service, fun and comfortable environment. We stopped on our way to Texas and liked it so much we stopped again on the way back. The fried pickles were the best we ever had. Our 12 year old son devoured a half rack of ribs. The brisket and pork bbq dinners were very tasty too. Wasn't a fancy place but quaint and simple. If you're between Memphis and Little Rock I can't imagine there's anything any better, at least until you got to the bigger cities.
(4)Paul B.
Five stars for their fried pies! We stopped for bbq on the way home from a family reunion. I wish we had found it on the way so we could have stopped twice. I think the bbq was good, as were the sides, but the fried pies were awesome. We split a pair, then ordered another pair, then ordered a second one of each!
(5)Robert M.
Out on the highway, somewhere in Arkansas (just east of Little Rock on I 40), is Nicks. It is a truck stop BBQ joint. The serving are huge, the price is low and the food is good. I will recommend the chicken and the ribs. Both top notch. The brisk, well let's just say not Texas worthy. The brisk is sliced paper thin, dry and doused in sauce. This is probably to cover the dryness. But again, ribs & chicken fantastic. Onion rings are hand battered and fresh. Baked beans were good. Once you have stuffed yourself, dig into the fried pies. Fantastic. A solid 3.5
(3)Sally G.
Nick's BBQ & Catfish was a real good choice for us. The BBQ ribs were ok (no smoked flavor, but very tender), the fried catfish & hush puppies were very good. But the very best were the onion rings!! Out of this world good! We decided we should've just ordered the rings-they were that good. And I've never been one to care for them since most places offer some pre-breaded minced onion things that are soggy and greasy. We finished off our meal with fried pies that came out freshly made and still hot. Delish!!!
(4)Lori L.
Stop here on my road trip to Nashville Tennessee my server it was Courtney it all went downhill from there I ordered the barbecue pork salad it looks so disgusting when I got it because the pork look like bacon and lettuce was cheap iceberg lettuce that was a little bit soggy I don't know maybe freezer burn. also I had a moldy tomato and my salad and every other tomatoes with brown spots on them. the salad here was really gross and I definitely won't come back and would reccomed any other place but here or mabey eat here but dont get the salads
(1)Ricardo A.
i had a great time at Nick's...i was traveling on the highway and i saw those big billboards and decided to give it a try! Best thing i did all day! the service was great and the food was really good...but the one thing that impressed me the most was their pies!! i had the coconut pie and it was amazing! i will defiantly visit this place again next time i am around this way.
(4)Joe S.
Popular spot on I-40 - Carlisle, AR, between Little Rock and Memphis with lots of billboard advertising. Service is attentive and friendly. I have had better barbecue, and the sides I had were kind of bland.
(2)Bob M.
Best onion rings ever......Best ribs on the road..... way too much to eat, never get a full rack of ribs unless you share with 2 others...... huge parking, big enough for trucks!
(5)Kim E.
The other reviews are right. It is a lot of food. And the good ends there. I had the chopped pork. No smoke flavor at all, it was most like a thinly sliced roast pork. The coleslaw had no flavor--needed a dose of salt. The beans were okay, as was the fried okra. However, a location I would have given three or four stars, simply because it's a non-chain in a teeny pull-off area, dropped all the way to a two because of the wait staff. Nick's wait staff left a bad taste in my mouth They were rude, and very unfriendly. I almost walked out after being first ignored, then rushed, and then listening to the waitresses snipe at each other. It wasn't a very good atmosphere. At least the waitresses lounging at a dining table were being quiet while ignoring patrons. Save your money and go across the street to Sonic. They were friendly and made a great limeade. :)
(2)Craig L.
I had the ribs and my wife had the shrimp. My wife thought the shrimp was a bit over-breaded but they were butterflied and nice and plump. What really stood out was the excellent staff. Everyone was happy and friendly and it mad for a very mice evening. We will be back.
(4)Philip R.
Service was friendly, food was tasty, and portions were extremely large. Pork ribs fell off the bone, Baked beans had a spicy kick, and onion rings were crisp an tasty. They were out of beef by 2pm which I believe is a great sign. Definitely get a lot of bang for your buck. A great experience from a traditional southern BBQ place with great southern hospitality.
(4)Karen S.
I loved this place... The Pork BBQ was to die for. And the onion rings? Whoo hoo! We took a piece of fried coconut pie, yeah, fried coconut pie home. You just have to try that too!!!! Will def come back.
(5)Lauren D.
Light Lunch, grilled catfish with hushpuppies, side salad, and baked potato. Grand total: $6.51 Oh my gosh, this meal was huge and delicious. I went into this, random ass restaurant on the side of the road in Arkansas, feeling pretty dang hungry. The lovely bbq aroma upon entering, hit me like a hurricane, and pictures of all the past beauty queens made me feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb, oh well. The waitress was super nice and the food came out really fast, too, which was a delight because my stomach was eating itself. So the food- the grilled catfish was seasoned and piled with salt and lemon juice... oh my gosh it was great. Every bite was just as amazing as the first. The potato was soft, buttery, and huge and the salad was petite and fresh. I was not a fan of the hushpuppies, but my friend devoured them. Overall, the meal was two thumbs up, 4 stars and I would give them a pat on the back. The reason why it did not reach 5 stars is because I felt like a just consumed 5000 calories because, for sure, there was a pound of butter on my fish and potato. But ohhhh man, for six dollars, I think I would sacrifice my health anyday. Good job Nick's, good job.
(4)Anne L.
Always a good meal and the staff is always super sweet. We always stop on our way through. Good BBQ.
(4)Marco C.
Stopped here for lunch with a group of ~35 college guys in my choir as we drove across Arkansas. Good speed, authentic food, great value - perfect if you're on I-40 and don't to stop some fast food chain. Service/speed: I called ahead of time, so they were all ready for us and very prompt to seat, bring water, take orders. Payment was also as quick as could be for that many people. Staff were friendly enough and explained dishes when asked by clueless Yanks. Food: Disclaimer: I'd never had fried catfish before. But this was delicious and the portions good, especially for the price. You can choose sides: my sweet potatoes were indeed very sweet, and the fried okra tasty. Fried chocolate pie wasn't so appealing though - kind of like an empanada with chocolate inside it. Ambiance: made me feel better that there were a lot of locals, truckers, etc!
(4)Jim H.
Jumped off of the interstate to try some Arkansas barbecue. The BBQ ribs were good with a sauce that was better off in the jar. The BBQ pulled beef sandwich was good - which is were the good parts of the meal ended. The cole slaw was just OK and the baked beans should have stayed in the can they were poured out of. You expect much better tasting baked beans from any place selling BBQ. We might have been able to overlook the terrible service if the food had been great. We waited for more than 5-minutes to have anyone approach our table; than we waited for 20-25 minutes for food that is already prepared and just needs to be dished up. We have definitely tasted better BBQ, but combined with the poor service really made us wish we would have kept driving down the road.
(2)Peter G.
Really good ribs. I wasn't a fan of the french fries, but the onion rings are very good.
(4)Ho H.
The pretentious Hollywood Eurasian fusion crap I've eaten for the last 10 years in S. CA can shove it! This is how real men eat. For $15 bucks, this is the best blackened Cajun catfish man can buy. Last time I had fried okra, or fried green tomatoes this good was when I was still living in N. Florida. You know you're at an authentic restaurant when the dining room is packed with truckers, hunters, blue-collar workers, pretty blonde misses in their tight jeans and cowboy hats. Yeah! this is how I used to rope em, before I moved to CA and became...Asian?? Yeah, I might look like a grown-up version of Data from the Goonies, but I pack a mean gun where it counts, and know good food when I taste it. If I ever get a chance to visit Little Rock, no way I'm gonna leave without my fill at Nick's Catfish house.
(5)Tim H.
This place is epic. Every time when I am close to Nick's I will stop. That would make me a very fat person if I would live in the area. How can you not like it? Real southern cooking, Memphis style bbq(is there any other kind - we are not in Kansas anymore). The tea is amazingly sweet(almost diabetes in a glass but the friend pickles balance it out). If you looking for fancy wall decor and to have a discussion about Nietsche: This place isn't it. Amazing food for good prices. THIS IS THE PLACE TO TAKE A FAT GIRL ON A DATE
(5)Tim Y.
Decided to check this place out on April 6, 2012. Short wait for service. Waitress pleasant and helpful. Bathrooms were unpleasant. However, the food was was passable. The ribs were tender but parts were dry and overdone. Beans were tasty. Fries soggy. Hush puppies were crisp outside while tender and slightly sweet inside. The catfish (which is available in a lunch, small, regular, and deluxe plate) was lightly breaded and cooked well. It had a very good flavor. The baked potato was a bit underdone for my preference. Our waitress was polite and showed the right amount of attention. All in all will try Nick's again.
(4)Lauren H.
So I probably made a mistake in ordering a chicken sandwich considering the name of this place contains "BBQ" and "Catfish"... but oh well. The chicken sandwich was alright. The okra was Southern perfection. The clientele was exactly what I would have expected for Carlisle... kind of that "walk in the door and everyone turns to look at you because you're not from around these parts" crowd. But friendly enough. I feel like the big draw here is the fried pie... I mean, really, you can't go wrong with frying something that is delicious to begin with.
(3)A W.
Never did I eat in restaurants located in little towns between Memphis and Little Rock. Well, my husband told me that he would like to just check Nick's Bar-BQ and Catfish. His friend strongly recommended this place to him. In the end, we stopped and had a brunch there. Dishes tasted good and perfectly prepared. Fried Green Tomatoes were crisp. Creamy ranch dipping sauce enhanced flavour the dish. Lite Catfish dinner was all right. Hush-puppies were crispy outside and tender inside. Coleslaw was not overly sweet or sour. My husband enjoyed Fish and BBQ combination dinner. The plate was huge. The place is relatively clean and smell-free.
(5)Marc J.
Normally in joint like this you wouldn't think to order the seafood don't continue the prejudice here, be sure to order a combo plate and try the catfish (or the shimps) they are (I think) the true specialty of the house, not taking anything away from the ribs but this place really knows what it's doing when it comes to frying (some if the best onion rings I've had in a long time too), they even fry their pies (really more of a turnover) get one a la mode or the peanut butter pie (a pie of the truer sense). I don't want to get a reputation for judging the waitstaff but there are some lookers here FYI. Definitely stop in if your driving through Arkansas across I-40 not that you would very often I'd think.
(4)Sarah E.
If this was my last meal on this earth, I would be a happy camper. My husband and I are very well-traveled eaters and this is the best BBQ we've ever had. Great service, not too hard to get to from the highway, and healthy servings. We may even make a special trip just to have a repeat in the future.
(5)Brian K.
Whoever gave this place one star needs to be sentenced to 30 days of Bic Macs and Whoopers. NICKS IS OFF THE HOOK!!! YUM, YUM and YUM!!! Great ribs and great catfish. I always get the combo platter so I can have both. It's a lil spendy but worth every penny! To my former truck driving bretheren, they have big rig parking as well which is most excellent considering how most places treat truckers like second class citizens when it comes to wanting our business. There's a reason NICKS has so many 4-5 star reveiws guys: the food and service kick butt!!!
(5)Trisha C.
When I say YUM, capitol letters don't do it justice. This spot was AWESOME!! Now I see why it was so packed, the food is delicious. This place is a jewel. The catfish was great, the ribs were excellent & every single side dish was fantastic (yes, we ordered them ALL). We stopped in during a cross country drive after seeing the sign at the off ramp gas station. It was worth the detour, at this point, it might even be worth the drive back to Arkansas! ;) Loved it!
(5)James E.
I arrived at 7:30 and there was one couple left in the dining room on the right. The girl behind the counter motioned me towards the room on the left and said pick any clean table. The waitress followed me to the table with a menu and returned 30 seconds later with my water. The room was about half full and everyone else was already eating. I was the only new customer. I looked at the menu for about a minute, then closed it and slid it across the table. The waitress came right over and took my order - chopped pork BBQ, onion rings and cole slaw. I sat there for 15 minutes. Several people left and a few more came in. They also received their drinks right away. But during that 15 minutes NO food was served to anyone. There appeared to be some sort of activity in the kitchen, but it didn't result in food being brought to the dining room. As I was leaving I told my waitress she could cancel my order.
(1)jules c.
O yes....BBQ at its BEST!! I pray to the Lord almighty that we had BBQ like this in Cali. The wait staff were friendly and on the ball. The prices were crazy reasonable. The decor was not much to see, but the food makes you say "Who Cares?" Their Wall of Fame says it all when you walk in....
(4)Tom O.
There isn't a lot to say except WOW! Great service and great food. Don't miss this if you are passing through Carlisle...
(4)Eric R.
Not to be long winded here...but this was a refreshing little stop on my way back to California! I stayed the night in Carlisle, and had dinner at this wonderful little bbq restaurant in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. Although it was the middle of summer, and this California boy felt like he was in a pressure cooker with all the heat and humidity, Nick's really made it all better! The service was good, the sweet tea was awesome and the bbq was superb. If I'm ever back that way again...I'll definitely stop in for a bite.
(5)Oliver N.
Four and a half years later I go to review the place, and discover someone beat me to First by a week. Odd how the universe aligns... I came upon Nick's in an act of serendipity. I was headed home on a leave of absence from college, and in the middle of my epic 3 day, 3,000 mile journey from Santa Cruz to DC, I pulled off of I-40 for gasoline at what was then a truck stop that is apparently known as Carlisle, Arkansas. I asked the lady at the gas station's register if there was a place in town to get food. She pointed me in one direction - down the road, to Nick's Bar-BQ & Catfish. I pulled into a mostly empty parking lot. I still remember, almost half a decade later, the feeling I got walking inside. Three incredibly cute girls made up the wait staff, and I swear they giggled at me as they got me seated and fed. It just seemed so warm and authentically American - if you allow that the South is an area with particularly American traditions. I felt more comfortable in that restaurant in the middle of Arkansas as a stranger passing through town than I ever have in San Francisco. So I'm sitting down for my meal, and another patron is seated at the table next to me. He's a big white guy, shiny bald head, heavyset - a real American, if you will. He sits down at his table and after ordering, he leans over and asks, "Is that your rig out there?" I started to explain that yes, that was my souped up Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T, before I realized he was talking about trucks. Like, trucking trucks. The kind that anonymously haul nebulously defined "loads" across America's highways, and that supposedly power large sectors of our economy. It turned out that his, in particular, was hauling formica to somewhere points west. My new trucker friend and I spent an entire meal discussing our lives. It was one of the most open discussions I've ever had with a stranger, talking to each other from across our lunch tables. He had been a normal family man in North Carolina until him and his wife divorced. His grown son away in the Army, he decided - f*ck it, I'm selling the house and buying a rig. And off he set to deliver things like formica through places like Carlisle. Total strangers from relatively different worlds, on neutral meeting grounds at (oh right, I'm reviewing a restaurant) one of the most authentic, delicious, richly appointed culinary establishments I've had the pleasure to enjoy. So, in the tradition of Memphis Minnie's (a BBQ spot in my SF neighborhood), I raise a glass of sake in honor of this gem: To Nick's, with enduring gratitude for a warm memory and a fantastic meal. And to my trucker friend, I hope you found that the journey was indeed everything you were looking for.
(5)Katie J.
This was a great find! Excellent pulled pork sandwich and fried green tomatoes! Winner!
(5)jerry a.
Hands down some of the best bbq&catfish ive ever had. If you are on I40 between little Rock and Memphis, you should stop here to eat. Don't let the big rigs parked out back scare you away, this place knows BBQ and Catfish. Come inside and have a seat or call ahead and drive thru the window. They will even sell you meat by the pound, but be sure you order buns, for some reason it doesn't come with buns!
(5)Sam Y.
day 27 of my space odyssey musings from the road. wonder why there are so many jesus billboards? wonder why there are so many xxx stores off the freeway? hmm weird america is. either i was delirious or it was a sign. but i must have seen 20 signs for nick's. i skipped over tons of exits to finally get to this place. it called me like a beacon. yelp update the address its on 1012 north bankhead ave. man yelp needs to pay me for all this modifying i am doing. either case so i came here and passed up a lot of other joints. for a while i was scared driving through the ozarks and i pulled over and saw hunters with mullets, one nodded his head at me. no mullet will nod at me! so i drove off! but this place was cool cuz... i dunno i saw the signs. the place looked like the roadhouse from the movie, roadhouse, with swayze. who called the cooler. as soon as i got there i felt a little better cuz i saw black family leave. haha call me american survivor man but any type of diversity is a good sign for me. i am always nervous when i am in a homogeneous area. all asians, blacks, hispanics, whites, etc. like it makes me wonder, why aren't other folks around here? what you all do to them?? when i got inside i guess this place is famous cuz they had a lot of autographed photos of arkansas stars who had visited, from miss arkansas who is a super hottie, to country singers, to razorbacks. the food here was good. real good bbq. the catfish was delish and the ribs tender. a bit too smothered for my taste but most people here probably like that. they bring you sweet tear and i got tiny taters and fried okra and hush puppies. its a must. i cleaned my plate, one of the few people to. i will show these people how small asian people eat! my waitress was super cool and she asked me about what brought me here and she was really interested in it. it really is starting to hit me that this sort of thing is not common haha. she told me about her own traveling and she is moving herself to north carolina. nice. the thing i noticed about people here. related to the sports here. i can see why so many athletes, like football players, and power lifters and large athletes come from here. cuz they eat a lot of protein, starch, and carbs. that will get you big, and create big athletes! and a strong sports program. and if you don't do sports or work out, i guess you will just be large then. its funny one of the waitresses was 19, married with kids. art imitates life imitates art. i really felt the southern hospitality from my waitress though. i saw one dude tip her with change from his pocket. i was like hell no. so i had to tip extra for that dude. which was like 30%. dang i can't afford to do that anymore but when people make me feel good, i want to make them feel good. another enemy of the traveler besides getting lost is, losing time. i passed another time zone so i lost another hour. danggit! so arkansas is the home of bubba clinton and of a town known as texarkana and also the ozarks. they even got an ozark university. and mullets are still cool here. and so is living large. and pageants too. miss arkansas is like a big deal there. on my way here i also passed the hometown of bob dole and carrie underwood! so sometimes big things come out of small towns. imagine you looking like carrie underwood coming out of a town so small, you must be like religion there. or imagine looking like me living in la, wow i would be sam y! i ate all this! static.px.yelp.com/bphot… so good and so salty and so rich and so sleepy...
(5)Angela B.
Awesome ribs, great people. Fast, friendly, not expensive & plenty of parking. On the long drive from Memphis to Little Rock, Nick's is a welcome respite from fast food chains. Gr8 BBQ!
(4)Brian M.
AHHH, NICK'S. Been a long time in getting back. Been coming here for 10 years, which don't amount to a hill of beans when you consider that means only 3 times, LOL. AND I CAN PARK MY TRUCK. "Must Have" barbeque, and catfish. Pretty girls who are happy to serve you. and prices that make you happy they did. This time, I had ribs, and a couple of hush puppies, which I thought were too small, beans in a small dish, and some gigantic onion rings which impressed the heck out of me; and to pop that last button, some pecan pie and ice cream. I now know why the small dish of beans. If I had been served more, they would have gone to waste. Big serving of ribs. When I truck I-40 east of Little Rock, I will always be stopping at Nick's. Hey, remember: Follow the truckers. Have a good trip, y'all
(5)Jack S.
On a major equipment move from Huntersville, NC to Denver, CO when I spotted the signs several miles from the restaurant. Had to give it a try as I was sick of hamburgers. Wonderful setting as I drove in, so my anticipation went up. I asked the very friendly waitress what they meant by a 'lite lunch' on the catfish. She said it was three fillets. That was plenty. I also asked if they had something along the lines of a rice or vegetable for a side, in response to her cheerful explanation I was entitled to two sides. "Well, we don't really have anything healthy here." I just about rolled on the floor laughing at this straightforward admission. I asked her what her boss might say about that. "Just tryin' to be honest is all." I told her to stay away from the statehouse as her approach to life would cause a lot of commotion there. In any event, you don't go into a southern style frying place for your health. I settled for the fried okra and potato salad. All very delicious and the portions were just right. I hadn't had fired okra in ages, but they really set the tone for the meal. The catfish was cooked just right; not over cooked. I had been told by the sweet little lady down at the gas station that the Bar-BQ was OK, but the catfish was the best. She was right. I will always stop here when I come through again.
(5)Phil J.
I have no idea where all the 4- and 5-star ratings for Nick's are coming from. I was westbound on I-40 bound for Austin, saw Nick's highway signs, starting salivating for bbq. Got there and ordered the ribs. They were a 2 on a 1-10 scale. They were NOT restaurant-quality ribs. Mostly fat, cooked in an oven, not a real smoker (and cooked about two days earlier), and mushy. Dust and a couple of dead flies covered the window sill next to my table. The 'lemonade' was from a powdered mix. Service was good, BUT DON'T DO THE RIBS! The good part of this highway stop was cheap gas at this exit.
(1)stephen k.
i have driven over 600,000 miles and this is one of the top 3 places in the usa for baby back pork ribs. excellent flavor you can still taste the meat not over killed but smoked just right with traditional hickory . the ribs are some of the best i have eaten. the onion rings and backed beans are outstanding. this is as good as it gets !!!!!!!! travelin man
(5)Brian M.
AHHH, NICK'S. Been a long time in getting back. Been coming here for 10 years, which don't amount to a hill of beans when you consider that means only 3 times, LOL. AND I CAN PARK MY TRUCK. "Must Have" barbeque, and catfish. Pretty girls who are happy to serve you. and prices that make you happy they did. This time, I had ribs, and a couple of hush puppies, which I thought were too small, beans in a small dish, and some gigantic onion rings which impressed the heck out of me; and to pop that last button, some pecan pie and ice cream. I now know why the small dish of beans. If I had been served more, they would have gone to waste. Big serving of ribs. When I truck I-40 east of Little Rock, I will always be stopping at Nick's. Hey, remember: Follow the truckers. Have a good trip, y'all
(5)Jack S.
On a major equipment move from Huntersville, NC to Denver, CO when I spotted the signs several miles from the restaurant. Had to give it a try as I was sick of hamburgers. Wonderful setting as I drove in, so my anticipation went up. I asked the very friendly waitress what they meant by a 'lite lunch' on the catfish. She said it was three fillets. That was plenty. I also asked if they had something along the lines of a rice or vegetable for a side, in response to her cheerful explanation I was entitled to two sides. "Well, we don't really have anything healthy here." I just about rolled on the floor laughing at this straightforward admission. I asked her what her boss might say about that. "Just tryin' to be honest is all." I told her to stay away from the statehouse as her approach to life would cause a lot of commotion there. In any event, you don't go into a southern style frying place for your health. I settled for the fried okra and potato salad. All very delicious and the portions were just right. I hadn't had fired okra in ages, but they really set the tone for the meal. The catfish was cooked just right; not over cooked. I had been told by the sweet little lady down at the gas station that the Bar-BQ was OK, but the catfish was the best. She was right. I will always stop here when I come through again.
(5)Gary C.
This Place is worth the Trip!!! True Southern Hospitality from the Minute you walk through the door. Service was EXCEPTIONAL!! I am truly glad I stopped here. I got the Combo Platter : The BEST ONION RINGS I've ever had, Fall of the Bone Smoked Ribs, Hush Puppies, and, Crispy, Crunchy Fresh Fried Catfish! Home Made Desserts. Treat yourself to some Sweet Tea also! From the minute you walk through the door, you'll be treated like family! If you're on the road, make sure you don't miss Nick's. Enjoy, Chef Gary Curry!
(4)R B.
Update. Last Christmas we stopped by on our way to see family. We bought several cases of made in house BBQ sauce for Christmas gifts. Everyone loved it!
(5)boo h.
We eat here every trip coming and going - Texas to Ohio. Excellent service and food. Possibly the best bbq ever. Slightly inconsistent in that sometimes its pepper-ier than other times. Heads up: The ac system leaks from the ceiling panels so seat yourself away from any ac vents or stained ceiling tiles.
(5)L M.
I just moved down here from SD a few months ago and have eaten at Nick's about a dozen times now. I have tried just about everything that they have to offer and love it all. They have great food and friendly service. I will continue going to Nick's as aften as I can. Hoghly recommend that you try it.
(5)K M.
We have been eating here for 15 years. Every time we drive from West Texas to Memphis we time our trip to eat here. 4 generations of our family agree that Nick's is the best!!!!!! Except for my back yard I have never had better cat fish! The ribs are very tasty. They are not Texas ribs but they are never-the-less excellent. I have had them many times. I would eat them more often but the fish is so good, you understand my problem. Try Nick's you will not be disappointed.
(5)Jim K.
Nick's just might be the best bar-b-que restaurant in America! It is that good. We were a party of three so we tried a variety of the food they had to offer. The fried green tomatoes were outstanding and prepared better than we had ever had. My 80 year old mother had the chicken strips and they were the best we have ever tasted. The sides, fish, and meats were all excellent tasting. We finished up with fried pies and that taste of the south came out in them. Living out west it has been a long time that we tasted a fried pie this good. If you are trying to decide if you should get off the HWY and try this place you need to just do it. They truly have fall off the bone ribs. I went with the fish and BBQ combo and would do it again in a heartbeat. Great food and service! What more could you ask for? We will be back when down that way again
(5)J S.
We stopped through on a road trip because we saw the billboard on the highway. Great service, and amazing food! It has been a long time I enjoyed everything on plate. The beef BBQ I had was not only smoked to perfection, but the sauce was packed with flavor! I enjoyed the potato salad, and baked beans had a great "spicy" taste to it! Also they have pie! Which is a make or break for me, and any place I eat! I love me some pie! I will definitely stop by if I ever come back this way!
(5)Nicole T.
The BEST!!!!! I had the Rib & Fish combo w/ fried okra & onion rings and my boyfriend had the same combo w/beans & baked potato...and because we wanted to try the bbq we ordered 2oz of pulled pork. Sooo delicious!!!!!! By far the best. I wish we had BBQ like this in California. To top it off we finished up with a hand made apple pie w/ice cream OMG!!!! Perfect! And the service was awesome. We're in love, cant wait to take another cross country trip Totally had to take a togo box
(5)Justin B.
Having lived in Memphis my whole life, I've been surrounded with great places to eat BBQ. Were it only that Nick's was closer so that I could frequent them more often! Best smoked ribs I have had in the area and a seriously good BBQ sandwich. Most of the Memphis places I have been to don't hold a candle to the very obvious smokey flavor of the ribs and BBQ here. It is good enough to eat without sauce and to savor the infused flavor of the thick, meaty ribs, and since I am more of a wet BBQ person myself that is saying something. The sandwiches are great, and the toasted bun is the perfect thing to top if off along with their delicious house sauce which is a little more unique than most of your garden variety BBQ places in the Memphis area. I loved the onion rings as well. Not a big fan of the fries or baked beans I got, they were ok, but obviously what you come here for is the BBQ and it is well worth it! I only wish I had been able to try the catfish, but I guess I will do that next time since we make occasional trips to AR. This will definitely be a regular stop for us! I'd say this is now one of my favorite BBQ places. Nothing wrong with the service during our time there either. I thought it was really cool that while we were there, the manager (not sure who it was other than a head staff person) came out from the back and talked several minutes with a customer about how they prepare their BBQ and their philosophy on how they approach it, then talked with another customer about the same thing. As we left he asked us how we liked it. I really loved the personal touch and the fact that he would come out and have conversations like this. I also enjoyed learning more about how they think about what they do and I could tell they were serious about it. All in all I highly recommend it!
(5)Craig S.
Wow. Driving from Memphis to Little Rock cant miss the billboards for this gem. Large portions and great food. Save room for the fried pies. Staff is friendly. Manager also came around to say hi and ask how everything was. Had the traditional bbq and fish special- brisket and catfish. Onion rings were best part of the meal. Definitely worth the stop
(4)Cindy B.
Not only great food but fun and friendly people and took me back to my grandmothers kitchen!
(5)Harold H.
Definitely a 4-5 star place. I had the sliced pork sandwich with a side of slaw and onion rings. The pork was juicy and tender and the slaw was homemade. The onion rings were some of the best I've ever had. The only thing I would change is to add some sliced pickles or a spear. My wife had the light lunch catfish with house cut fries and slaw. Her plate came with the aforementioned pickle spear. We wish we had room for the homemade fried pie!
(4)Henry J.
I've come here before and I will always come back. I'm a huge bbq fan, second only to fried catfish. This is part of the legacy of having lived in the south for the majority of my life. So each chance I get to come to Nick's is worthy of a celebration. Because Nick's serves up only the best barbecue and catfish in the state of Arkansas, if not also the couple states surrounding it (with apologies to fine bbq establishments in Memphis). The ribs are meaty. The briskets are tender and well-cooked. The catfish is thinly-breaded and fried to perfection. The particular highlight here is their home-made barbecue sauce. It is absolutely delicious and provide a perfect compliment to any dish (including fried rice!). I've actually ordered their barbecue sauce to be shipped to me in Ohio just so that I can at least get the Nick's barbecue taste even if the meat has to be purchased from elsewhere. It's really that good. As for their portions, I'm a huge eater. But even I can't finish an entire plate of their samplers. The ribs are huge and meaty. The brisket portions are beyond what most barbecue restaurants serve, too. The only downside is that the owner has no plans of franchising it out anywhere!
(5)Jodi S.
We LOVED our meal ! When in Arkansas you must have bbq and catfish ... Followed by a fried pie!!!! The coconut pie is the best thing I've ever tasted !
(5)Eric M.
Have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it .
(4)Teresa G.
Slow service, food was fair. It had for stars but we were not impressed and didn't finish our food. Better luck at sonic.
(1)Becky H.
This place is worth a stop! Carfish, ribs and shrimp are wonderful and onion rings are awesome. Good iced tea. Will stop whenever we're traveling this way.
(4)Benjamin S.
The restaurant was nice and casual and the servers were really nice. The bbq was really good, and came out warm. It's a great place to stop for a meal of you're on a road trip.
(4)Ebony W.
Yum!!! I just wish they had grits to go with their catfish. This was our first on our road and it wasn't bad at all. The locals stare at you but the staff is great. If I had to be in Little Rock again I would return to this restaurant. The pecan pie was delicious.
(5)Jessica R.
Really good food! Fried pickles were delicious! Had the fish and bbq ribs- absolutely great service!
(5)Adina W.
I went to Nick's BBQ & Catfish in February 2015 for dinner. I was craving BBQ brisket and smoked sausage. And OH BOY was my cravings satisfied! I'm from Texas and we are known for our BBQ so I was so glad to find a BBQ place that was semi-close to where I live (in Searcy). The brisket was super moist and the sauce was not too spicy for me. I REALLY like the BBQ sauce...so much that I thought about asking someone if it was possible to buy a bottle or a gallon of it! I kind of wish I did now. Anyways the brisket was cooked to perfection as well as the smoked sausage. I ordered the fries and onion rings as sides. The fries were crispy and the onion rings were perfect. Nothing felt too greasy which is GOOD in my opinion. I hate eating fries and onion rings that's just dripped in grease, makes me feel gross afterwards. The combo platter came with two sides and Texas toast for 12.99! THAT IS SUCH A GOOD DEAL!! It is so hard to find a BBQ place that gives you big portions for that price! The service is really good as well. The manager/owner (?) came around and asked each table if everything was good and if there were any issues. I really like that about restaurants! The restrooms are clean too FYI. Parking wasn't a problem since there are so many places. I definitely recommend this place and will be back before the school year ends!
(5)Chuck M.
Bad service and bad food. Took forever to get food and when we did get it, the food was cold.
(1)J C.
I've been behind big time on updating and following up on restaurants I've visited, so I'm going back to re-review some of my favorites and post new reviews. I was passing through Carlisle on my way to Nashville a couple of weekends ago and stopped off at Nick's again. As usual, they did not disappoint. The ribs and catfish are still consistently among the best I've eaten, and the service is still friendly and fast. I did notice a little bit of updating to their decor- which was a nice added touch, but I'm all about the food. As long as they keep it good, I'm sold! Contrary to some of the recent reviews, which seem unnecessarily picky and gripey, I find they do an excellent job. I always ask for Clay, whom I met a few trips back, and when he's there, he will always sit down and visit. It's clear he values his guest's input and their business. Anyway, if you're passing through, stop in and give them a try.
(5)Nicole E.
We stopped in here in the middle of our long drive. The staff was friendly and the restaurant packed. We both ordered bbq sandwiches (me chicken and hubby the pork). Everything was delicious from the sandwiches to the sides! The service was friendly and prompt and it was the perfect pit stop on a very long day of driving.
(4)Brian C.
Friendly and prompt waitstaff. Every thing we had was great. Around the table we got beef bbq, catfish, pork bbq, and a hamburger. Onion rings are freshly made. If you don't want bbq sauce on the meat be sure and tell them when you order.
(5)Amy P.
Tasty catfish, onion rings and coleslaw! I also really loved the fried pickles but there just wasn't enough of them. Waitstaff, not so awesome but it's not 5 star dinning either so who am I to complain.
(4)Maggie H.
It's a Wednesday afternoon around 4:00. We are in a semi truck and have a craving for BBQ when we see the billboards for Nicks BBQ and Catfish. We notice they have truck parking - a huge plus for us so we stop to get some BBQ. Nicks is a cute place with a homey atmosphere. We order our food, I get the brisket plate and my boyfriend gets the BBQ and catfish plate. The Good- Service is good and friendly. The coleslaw is tasty and seems fresh. The catfish is pretty good, but over fried. French fries were good. The baked beans were pretty good but on the sweet side. Personally I like them with a bit of zip to them. The Bad- Our BBQ Brisket was extremely tough, hard and chewy, I couldn't even cut it with a fork. It was also dry and the portion was small. I'm not a huge eater and a small for me is a rare site. I only ate a few bites, the rest was left for the trash. I'm not sure how brisket can get tough and not be moist but they succeeded in accomplishing it. The hush puppies that came with the catfish and BBQ plate were way overcooked, I wasn't even sure what they were because it was almost hard. I read the reviews, unfortunately, after eating here. Hind-site is a bitch. I would have know better than to order the brisket. A few negative reviews a representative commented saying there is always an owner on the premises. If that's the case, why would they serve subpar food? I would think they would know what goes out to the customer. This will NOT be a place we will return to, it's scratched off our stops for BBQ. We love looking for new places to frequent on our visits across the country and we will keep looking.
(1)Ted B.
Stopped in randomly on way back to Tulsa I saw signs on inter star then stopped for fuel. I yelped Nicks and saw good reviews so I tried it. Glad I did! The ribs were good and the catfish was fantastic. Service was friendly and atmosphere southern. I plan to eat here again our next time through. Excellent ! Excellent !
(5)Sandra R.
This was a great surprise. We were headed to Dallas and needed to stop soon. We tried Nicks and so glad we did. I don't have one thing bad to say about this place. The staff is great and service is quick. We will be back on our next trip.
(5)Janet O.
OMG.. the best catfish.. if you leave this place hungry.. you don't know Good food. I go as often as i can. You will leave here happy for price and food.
(5)Wendy C.
Their barbecue sauce and beans are very unique and tasty. My husband doesn't like ribs but he liked theirs because they were not fatty but tasty. The pecan pie with ice cream was very good too. Glad we stopped.
(5)Darryl S.
Best place to eat on I-40. They will give you your money worth of food and it is very delicious. The catfish is great, shrimp is wonderful and the ribs are out of sight. The only thing bad is having to drive after you eat.
(5)Wade N.
How good can a place alongside an Interstate highway be, ESPECIALLY if you've been seeing their billboards for 50+ miles. They must be desperate for business, right? Owners trying to substitute massive amounts of advertising for truly good food, no? Wowzer! Some of the best ribs I've had in the South. I stop there every time I go through now. Here's a tip, drop down and take 70 instead of I-40 for a much more scenic ride from Memphis to Little Rock. . Its often faster because of construction on 40. Small towns, diners, etc. Everyone's idea of how ribs should be cooked, and what the sauce should taste like is different. It just so happens Nicks matches MY idea of perfect BBQ. Two other places for ribs --- The rib Shack in Corinth MS, and Granvilles in Huntsville Alabama compete for MY idea of best ribs in America. I stop at Nicks every time I go past now. Man, I get hungry just THINKING about Nicks...
(5)Alan R.
Very good food. I had the catfish and ribs, finished with a fried apple pie. The catfish average I would compare it to Cracker Barrel, but the ribs were great and the BBQ sauce was amazing. The apple pie was the best I've ever had.
(4)Wesley S.
I'm not going to add much to the posted reviews. I enjoy road trips and I've been visiting this spot for about 8 years now. I'm a fan and have even planned driving times to enjoy lunch/dinner at Nick's. Locals love it, visitors love it, I love it... Servings are large, so I suggest avoiding the large platters. Also,try one of the fried pies...they're super light, for fried fare.
(4)Scott B.
I keep driving by all the billboard advertisements for this place and finally was going by during lunch so I stopped in. The meat was definitely a 5 star product. However the sides were only worth 3 stars. My fries were cold, very apparent they were sitting around while the cook prepared my sandwich. My Baked Beans only had the flavor of jalapeno and beans. No onion or other seasoning. This might be how the south prefers their beans. The price was acceptable and if you are driving along I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock it is definitely better than stopping at a chain place. Hopefully the problems with the sides was just a one time event.
(4)Todd K.
Stopped here on a drive to Arizona and would consider it a good place to eat while traveling. Overall the food and service was good and parking was great. Some additional information: Pros - great parking, quick service and pretty good food Cons - brisket sandwich was covered in sauce and bathroom needed some service In summary, I would not go out of my way to eat here, but I would more than likely stop again if I am ever unfortunate enough to have to drive to Arizona again
(4)David D.
Great place to stop on 40. The catfish and brisket were very good. But the chocolate cake and coconut pie are a must. If you're on 40 be sure to make this happen.
(5)Elizabeth D.
While driving to Memphis we stopped at Nicks bbq and catfish restaurant. Great bbq food and the fried apple pie was fantastic. .so good the bbq I had to buy a bottle...to take back home...we rate this place 4 stars....
(4)Dusty N.
Living in Texas we take long road trips to Wisconsin to see family on a regular basis, and we enjoy stopping at various places to try out foods on the way.. We had seen the billboards on past trips, and decided on this most recent one to stop at Nick's. Our timing was good, and we were hungry when we arrived. We were also a bit disheveled, after hours of constant driving, but any concern about our appearance was quickly forgotten as we walked into the wonderfully aromatic, homey scents in the air, and were greeting with warm, friendly, smiling faced staff that made us feel welcome. A quick glance around made me feel comfortable - folks in everything from dresses to jeans and work clothes. The entrance wall was covered with autographed photos from celebrity customers from State Beauty Queens to Country Music Stars. Great, so far. And, unlike some commenters here, seeing big trucks backed up in a row at ANY place tends to make me want to try it out. I grew up being told (Before Yelp or the Net, you see) to watch for where the truckers stopped to eat, and drop their heads for the night, because they know what road-weary folks need: Good food, fresh coffee, and a clean, comfortable bed. We received quick service from our waitress, and had our drinks before we even finished looking over the menu. The place was busy, and got more so the entire time we were there. Tables cleared were quickly filled. My husband and I shared a large combo platter, at the advice of our waitress, because we were having trouble ordering from the choices (we had been checking out the surrounding tables and booths at various delicious looking things, and at this point wanted to try everything!) and it was perfect. She brought us separate plates and sauces, which was very convenient, and we were overwhelmed that just one platter had so much food! It was perfect for two people. The Brisket was fresh, moist and tender, with a strong but not overwhelming taste of smoke. It was very good, even by the standards of this Texan. The sauce was a bit different from what we are used to, but it was good (Enough so that we got a bottle of it to take home with us). We are picky about Catfish, and the fried fillets had a good clean taste to them, no heavy grease, and the corn meal batter was seasoned, light and crisp. The Fried Shrimp were large, well deveined, and not over cooked. The Baked Potato was huge, as well as the delicious Onion Rings (an extra side that we just had to try after seeing them on most of the plates around). The Steamed Veggies were, well, steamed veggies - broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and squash, but weren't overcooked. The Texas Toast wasn't overly buttered and greasy, like some places, and the Hush puppies were seasoned, crunchy bites on the outside and moist on the inside. Overall, the experience was very good, and even though we didn't get the chance to try other items, we plan to do so on future trips. I'll be sure to update this review then with additional info. Everyone else that was there seemed very happy with their food, and there was a good atmosphere to the place. Our waitress was attentive, informative, and just plain nice.. We had to take the leftovers with us, so we were too full to indulge in one of their delicious looking desserts or fried pies.. But.... we will be back.
(4)JT W.
Nick's Catfish and BBQ... I have eaten here quite a few times, on my numerous journeys between Memphis, Little Rock, and Dallas. Their fried food is quite good. They do an excellent fried catfish, and it is helpful to know that farm-raised catfish are probably sourced from within the local area. Hushpuppies? Good. Fried green tomatoes? Good. Fried okra? Good. Now for their BBQ. Well, this is probably the best brisket you're going to find east of Little Rock. They don't do the Texas thing, slice it in front of you, and offer you moist or lean parts, etc. but their generalized "brisket" serving is better than anything you will be served 100 miles east, over in Memphis, at places like Corky's. Their pork shoulder is decent, up to average Memphis standards. I didn't try their ribs. One complaint I have about this place is that the restrooms aren't the cleanest. Another complaint, considering it is off of I-40, the place is often covered up with 18-wheelers and the associated truckers. They cater to mainly this demographic, with their huge gravel parking lot and elevated sign, and whichever local people are dining there. I mean, you can hear some local good ole' boys discussing the merits of various riding lawn mowers, and you can hear some teenaged jailbait girls yammering away on their cellphones, and see them with very skimpy clothing on. I'd like to call this place "family-friendly" but honestly with the mixture of truckers and scantily-clad teenaged girls, I'm not completely sure about it. If I had a daughter, I probably wouldn't want her associating with those girls, and definitely not with those truckers.
(4)Tom T.
Stopped here on my drive from New York to California. This place was advertised on I-40 almost immediately after entering Arkansas. Let me tell you, they certainly exceeded expectations. I ordered the fried catfish and ribs... Simply amazing! The size of the portions, the flavor of everything including sides was more than I expected. The cornbread, coleslaw and the monsterous onion rings were killer combinations. And the service was second to none. If I ever find myself an hour around this place again, I'm stopping. Easy of the interstate and tons of gas stations. Plan this as a refueling point. The only drawback on this place is I was rather full and sleepy after eating and had to pull off to sleep. :-)
(5)Carla B.
Good pork BBQ sandwich. It's was chopped and in larger pieces than I am accustomed to but the flavor was great. Quick service even though the place was packed. Fried okra was good but greasy.
(3)J B.
Excellent meal. Half BBQ chick and 6 ribs...yummy in the tummy! Our server: Stefanie was PERFECT!!!! Too much food but we couldn't stop eating it! Side salads good, French fries and baked beans were very good! No room for dessert...oh well.
(4)Casey B.
Glad I stopped! Brisket was very good. I am not usually a fan of BBQ sauce but was pleasantly surprised at the flavor.
(4)Mike P.
First time visit per recommendation from several on my FB page when I asked where I should eat when going to Little Rock from Memphis. I'm glad we stopped in! Place only had a few tables open when we got there which is a good sign! Tucked away in the small town of Carlisle, AR it seems to be a favorite of many! Started with an order of Fried Pickles. The batter was just perfect and had a great crunch to it but was lite and airy. Score! I ordered the Whole Slab of Ribs as I was really wanting some Pork! BAM, what a portion of Bones it was! The bones come precut already and the ribs are dry and sauce comes on the side. Being from Memphis I really prefer my ribs wet off the smoker..these were amazing. Ate a few dry and simply dipped the rest in the mild sauce, which was pretty sweet but had a tad of spice to kick in as well. The Ribs could stand on their own. Very smoky tasting and a nice St. Louis style cut with PLENTY of meat. For $18.99 on the ribs with bread and 2 sides, I felt was a bargain. Most places would be $22-$24 for that portion. The Onion rings were like the pickles with the same lite crunchy batter and we fought over them. Even the Cole Slaw was tasty as I am not really a cole slaw fan. This is high on my list for recommend if traveling thru Arkansas on I-40. Get off at Exit 183 for Nick's BBQ & Catfish. Worth the drive! Oh and 1 more thing. The Staff super friendly and service was great!
(5)Enrique S.
Excellent place to eat by the highway. They serve huge portions for a great price!!! The brisket is great and the cat fish is perfectly cooked. Great job guys!!
(4)Richelle T.
Hello there roadtripper! I feel your pain. Jittery legs aching for a stretch, bladder about to burst and lets not forget the hunger pangs. Try as you might to ignore these bodily urges for the pursuit of just one more mile, alas you succumb and start looking for nourishment and indoor plumbing. Enter slightly annoying, hard to ignore billboard promising fried catfish, tender ribs and of course, sweet urinary relief: Nick's Nicks is a friendly little place right off the highway where the people are friendly and the food is good. We shared the combination with catfish, ribs and shrimp. We two ladies were full to the brim! Good food for two for under $20, sign me up! All on all it's worth the stop and you won't be disappointed by the food, the staff and of course their porcelain throne
(5)Kristy R.
My husband and I found Nick's years ago. He is very picky about his catfish and we love this place. The ribs are out if this world and they fall off the bone every time. I have never had a bad experience here. Call ahead if your in a hurry and it's ready to go in no time. Staff is friendly and very well trained. This place is ALWAYS packed, but the food still comes out quickly. Baked beans are sweet and spicy, not too spicy though. Okra is crunchy and super tasty. Love all of their food, you can't go wrong at Nick's.
(5)Jme K L.
So disappointing! All the great reviews and my husband really loves it, plus a wait at 2:30 pm, so I was expecting something yummy. My experience must've been atypical, then. The fried pickles had a great flavor but they were seriously greasy, as if the oil temperature was too low. My brisket was swimming in bland sauce. I couldn't taste the meat, so I didn't even eat it. The ribs were not bad, but not good either. The coleslaw was yesterday's coleslaw. The potato salad was fresh, although too sweet for my taste. The pecan pie slice had about 6 pecan halves on it (the top was browned, so it took me a second to catch that). The best part of my meal was my sweet tea, and the hush puppy my husband gave me from his catfish plate. The service was good. All in all, I'm very disappointed with my experience.
(2)Larry W.
Great place to eat between memphis and Little rock. The cat fish is excellent along with the fries and ribs.
(4)Ken M.
Excellent catfish! Save room for a coconut hand made fried pie! Worth the stop off the Interstate.
(5)Michael D.
Amazing barbecue! Stopped in here on a cross-country trip and the food was just amazing. I've been trying out a lot of the BBQ joints while driving through the South and this was one of the highlights. I got the barbecued pork and brisket at the suggestion of a trucker we met inside who stops there every time he passes through town and it was just amazing. Also bought a bottle of their world famous barbecue sauce and have been enjoying it thoroughly ever since. Highly recommended!
(5)Ed E.
Stopped at Nick's on our way home from Texas. l loved the fact that it wasn't a chain restaurant. Great staff seated us and took good care of us. My wife ordered the BBQ Pork and l had to have Catfish. Both plates were delicious, large portions. We tasted each others back and fourth and her only complaint was the coleslaw, didn't taste quite right to her. The lady know her slaw so that was the only thing at all and the waitress truly looked hurt. No biggie the wife said. l hurt myself eating all my catfish because l knew it wouldn't travel well in a doggie bag. We did bring back her bbq and l just finished eating it as a late night snack. We were more that happy with the Memphis bbq sauce they use. l very much like the well trained staff and high-five Nick for impressing the importance of costumer service. We'll be glad to stop back by.
(5)Lynn V.
My husband and I have noticed Nick's billboard and have always wondered if it would be good. We travel from Illinois to Fort Worth two or three times a year. After reading the raving reviews, we were excited to try. Unfortunately, we did NOT agree with the reviews. The ribs were disappointing and the brisket was horrible. The brisket tasted as if it had been reheated on a greasy grill. I would certainly give this a thumbs down! We left throwing away our money. Ugh!
(1)Vickie P.
Thanks to the yelp reviews we decided to try Nick's out. Very glad we did! Food was excellent and service was great. Plan on stopping on our way back through.
(5)Stacy C.
Just passing through from Atlanta to Oklahoma. Dang! I'm so glad we didn't go to a chain restaurant. The BBQ sauce was sharp and tangy, the coleslaw was crispy and flavorful, everything was terrific.
(4)Barry B.
Great food, great service. This place is always busy but worth the stop off if you are heading from/to Little Rock or Memphis. The catching and BBQ, especially the ribs and chicken are really good.
(5)Robert S.
On my way from TN to CA, I was hungry and my place in Memphis wasn't open yet so I was forced to keep on driving. I saw their sign and thought I had better get something quick here before I get into Little Rock and another couple of hours go by since I was getting hungry. Got my lunch to go and it was a deep-fried heart attack on a tray. Ohh it was good! They know how to cook catfish, it was crispy but not overdone. Likewise, the hushpuppies were crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. The onion rings were some of the best I ever had! Nick's was a pleasant experience that was more than I expected.
(3)Jerry B.
At exit 183 on I-40 about1/4 mile off the interstate. Very casual dining, I ordered thy 1/2 rack of ribs. They were very good and the meat fell off of the bones. My wife ordered the catfish and it also was delicious. The service was good and very friendly. I would recommend this restaurant to my friends. There is plenty of parking for semi trucks.
(5)Nikki M.
Best ribs ever...and I am from Texas! I need to call and order their BBQ sauce too! Well worth the stop!
(4)Denise E.
Saw the billboards forever and it caught our eye. Went online and the menu sounded interesting. Entering the front door you could smell the BBQ smoke. Yum! Place needs updating but we didn't come for decor, we came for good food. Spouse ordered sausage plate and I ordered the 1/2 ribs. All of it was tasty BUT our food was lukewarm. Kind of like being called to supper and arriving 15 minutes late. Still tasty. Would we go back? We wouldn't shun the place but we would probably try a new place. P.S. Our waitress was super kind. All of the waitstaff was friendly.
(3)Tina D.
Road trip We stopped by on our drive back to DC. We were attracted by this gigantic billboard. Environment: Was super busy; incredibly friendly service! Decor was exactly as expected. I was hoping it to be a bit more divey. Food: I am usually made fun of b/c of my inappropriate ordering at places like this ie: too healthy. So, I decided to get cat fish, okra and onion rings .My friend got the pork dinner, "worse pork bbq I have ever had". Catfish was chewy. Disappointed. Nothing spectacular but the people were very nice. I would have rather just driven thru somewhere and not wasted time at a sit down for mediocre food, at best.
(2)Dennis W.
Good but not great. I had a catfish plate and was satisfied with the taste. Location is good for an East Texas to East Tennessee traveler. Service was good on a rainy, busy day. I will be back next time I take that route.
(3)Keri P.
My family and I drive I40 a lot through Arkansas, and we've made it a point to stop here often. The barbecue is great, and I grew up in Memphis so my standards are pretty high. I tried the barbecue salad last time I was there, and it was delicious. I had never had barbecue on my salad before, but I can't wait to go back and order it again. Hamburgers are good too. It's a great country-style restaurant. No frills and delicious food. You can tell it's frequented by the locals.
(5)Cara O.
Disappointment. There is virtually no decor so I thought to myself "ok, they are saving money on decor to have a better quality food. I can respect that." I was wrong. The food is mediocre. The meat has virtually no flavor of it's own. They drown it in a mediocre bbq sauce. The baked beans were CANNED with a few chunks of their brisket thrown in. The fried okra was pretty good though. We also shared the homemade chocolate fried pie. The pie crust was one of the best ever. The chocolate filling was nothing but cheap pudding. Our waitress was cute, sweet and helpful. I think this place has the best bbq in town only because its the ONLY bbq in town.
(2)Talisa J.
Well this is a winner! Right off of I-40 and easy to get to, this place serves some of the best catfish I have ever eaten; a terrific, seasoned cornmeal coating that is fried to perfection with no hint of grease. We had a platter that includes the catfish and ribs. The ribs are very tender and are served without sauce, allowing you to add as much, or in our case usually, as little as you want. Speaking of the sauce, it is great...sort of a cross between sweet and vinegar-based versions that is the perfect balance. We even bought a bottle to take home with us. You definitely won't go hungry with the portion size. The platter, which included 4 fillets, 4 ribs, hush puppies, Texas toast, and 2 sides was $13.99 and, honestly, we could have shared. The place was almost full, and clearly does a bang-up carry out business, too. Service was good, and the only negative was that it doesn't give the cleanest feeling when you walk in the door. We will definitely be hitting this joint again when we travel this way.
(4)Andrew B.
Dog food. I got suckered in by the big sign on the interstate! Craving good BBQ on a road trip, wound up with garbage that my dog thought twice about eating the leftovers. And the service was S...L..O...W. Molasses in winter slow. Canned Sloppy Joe's are better than the pork sandwich I had. Blecchh...
(1)Saba B.
Close to Memphis, Nick's is truly a southern treasure in the middle of a swamp. The parking lot is always packed (we ate here twice, ahem) but the service is excellent. Lawdy though, the smoky pork barbeque and fried catfish with hush puppies are the holy trinity. You know you've crossed the Mason-Dixon when you are served cole slaw to put on your BBQ sandwich. The catfish are farm-raised, thus clean and almost sweet, not muddy tasting like the wild cats. A placard listing pies baked daily included peach and apricot. Fried pickles and green tomatoes are also available, although we didn't try them. Check out the paeans to Nick's by the front door, including signed pics from Pink and Johnny Cash. Regulars here come in daily and sit at the same tables and I surely don't blame them.
(5)Anita R.
Friendly service, fun and comfortable environment. We stopped on our way to Texas and liked it so much we stopped again on the way back. The fried pickles were the best we ever had. Our 12 year old son devoured a half rack of ribs. The brisket and pork bbq dinners were very tasty too. Wasn't a fancy place but quaint and simple. If you're between Memphis and Little Rock I can't imagine there's anything any better, at least until you got to the bigger cities.
(4)Paul B.
Five stars for their fried pies! We stopped for bbq on the way home from a family reunion. I wish we had found it on the way so we could have stopped twice. I think the bbq was good, as were the sides, but the fried pies were awesome. We split a pair, then ordered another pair, then ordered a second one of each!
(5)Robert M.
Out on the highway, somewhere in Arkansas (just east of Little Rock on I 40), is Nicks. It is a truck stop BBQ joint. The serving are huge, the price is low and the food is good. I will recommend the chicken and the ribs. Both top notch. The brisk, well let's just say not Texas worthy. The brisk is sliced paper thin, dry and doused in sauce. This is probably to cover the dryness. But again, ribs & chicken fantastic. Onion rings are hand battered and fresh. Baked beans were good. Once you have stuffed yourself, dig into the fried pies. Fantastic. A solid 3.5
(3)Sally G.
Nick's BBQ & Catfish was a real good choice for us. The BBQ ribs were ok (no smoked flavor, but very tender), the fried catfish & hush puppies were very good. But the very best were the onion rings!! Out of this world good! We decided we should've just ordered the rings-they were that good. And I've never been one to care for them since most places offer some pre-breaded minced onion things that are soggy and greasy. We finished off our meal with fried pies that came out freshly made and still hot. Delish!!!
(4)Lori L.
Stop here on my road trip to Nashville Tennessee my server it was Courtney it all went downhill from there I ordered the barbecue pork salad it looks so disgusting when I got it because the pork look like bacon and lettuce was cheap iceberg lettuce that was a little bit soggy I don't know maybe freezer burn. also I had a moldy tomato and my salad and every other tomatoes with brown spots on them. the salad here was really gross and I definitely won't come back and would reccomed any other place but here or mabey eat here but dont get the salads
(1)Ricardo A.
i had a great time at Nick's...i was traveling on the highway and i saw those big billboards and decided to give it a try! Best thing i did all day! the service was great and the food was really good...but the one thing that impressed me the most was their pies!! i had the coconut pie and it was amazing! i will defiantly visit this place again next time i am around this way.
(4)Joe S.
Popular spot on I-40 - Carlisle, AR, between Little Rock and Memphis with lots of billboard advertising. Service is attentive and friendly. I have had better barbecue, and the sides I had were kind of bland.
(2)Bob M.
Best onion rings ever......Best ribs on the road..... way too much to eat, never get a full rack of ribs unless you share with 2 others...... huge parking, big enough for trucks!
(5)Kim E.
The other reviews are right. It is a lot of food. And the good ends there. I had the chopped pork. No smoke flavor at all, it was most like a thinly sliced roast pork. The coleslaw had no flavor--needed a dose of salt. The beans were okay, as was the fried okra. However, a location I would have given three or four stars, simply because it's a non-chain in a teeny pull-off area, dropped all the way to a two because of the wait staff. Nick's wait staff left a bad taste in my mouth They were rude, and very unfriendly. I almost walked out after being first ignored, then rushed, and then listening to the waitresses snipe at each other. It wasn't a very good atmosphere. At least the waitresses lounging at a dining table were being quiet while ignoring patrons. Save your money and go across the street to Sonic. They were friendly and made a great limeade. :)
(2)Craig L.
I had the ribs and my wife had the shrimp. My wife thought the shrimp was a bit over-breaded but they were butterflied and nice and plump. What really stood out was the excellent staff. Everyone was happy and friendly and it mad for a very mice evening. We will be back.
(4)Philip R.
Service was friendly, food was tasty, and portions were extremely large. Pork ribs fell off the bone, Baked beans had a spicy kick, and onion rings were crisp an tasty. They were out of beef by 2pm which I believe is a great sign. Definitely get a lot of bang for your buck. A great experience from a traditional southern BBQ place with great southern hospitality.
(4)Karen S.
I loved this place... The Pork BBQ was to die for. And the onion rings? Whoo hoo! We took a piece of fried coconut pie, yeah, fried coconut pie home. You just have to try that too!!!! Will def come back.
(5)Lauren D.
Light Lunch, grilled catfish with hushpuppies, side salad, and baked potato. Grand total: $6.51 Oh my gosh, this meal was huge and delicious. I went into this, random ass restaurant on the side of the road in Arkansas, feeling pretty dang hungry. The lovely bbq aroma upon entering, hit me like a hurricane, and pictures of all the past beauty queens made me feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb, oh well. The waitress was super nice and the food came out really fast, too, which was a delight because my stomach was eating itself. So the food- the grilled catfish was seasoned and piled with salt and lemon juice... oh my gosh it was great. Every bite was just as amazing as the first. The potato was soft, buttery, and huge and the salad was petite and fresh. I was not a fan of the hushpuppies, but my friend devoured them. Overall, the meal was two thumbs up, 4 stars and I would give them a pat on the back. The reason why it did not reach 5 stars is because I felt like a just consumed 5000 calories because, for sure, there was a pound of butter on my fish and potato. But ohhhh man, for six dollars, I think I would sacrifice my health anyday. Good job Nick's, good job.
(4)Anne L.
Always a good meal and the staff is always super sweet. We always stop on our way through. Good BBQ.
(4)Jim H.
Jumped off of the interstate to try some Arkansas barbecue. The BBQ ribs were good with a sauce that was better off in the jar. The BBQ pulled beef sandwich was good - which is were the good parts of the meal ended. The cole slaw was just OK and the baked beans should have stayed in the can they were poured out of. You expect much better tasting baked beans from any place selling BBQ. We might have been able to overlook the terrible service if the food had been great. We waited for more than 5-minutes to have anyone approach our table; than we waited for 20-25 minutes for food that is already prepared and just needs to be dished up. We have definitely tasted better BBQ, but combined with the poor service really made us wish we would have kept driving down the road.
(2)Marco C.
Stopped here for lunch with a group of ~35 college guys in my choir as we drove across Arkansas. Good speed, authentic food, great value - perfect if you're on I-40 and don't to stop some fast food chain. Service/speed: I called ahead of time, so they were all ready for us and very prompt to seat, bring water, take orders. Payment was also as quick as could be for that many people. Staff were friendly enough and explained dishes when asked by clueless Yanks. Food: Disclaimer: I'd never had fried catfish before. But this was delicious and the portions good, especially for the price. You can choose sides: my sweet potatoes were indeed very sweet, and the fried okra tasty. Fried chocolate pie wasn't so appealing though - kind of like an empanada with chocolate inside it. Ambiance: made me feel better that there were a lot of locals, truckers, etc!
(4)Peter G.
Really good ribs. I wasn't a fan of the french fries, but the onion rings are very good.
(4)Ho H.
The pretentious Hollywood Eurasian fusion crap I've eaten for the last 10 years in S. CA can shove it! This is how real men eat. For $15 bucks, this is the best blackened Cajun catfish man can buy. Last time I had fried okra, or fried green tomatoes this good was when I was still living in N. Florida. You know you're at an authentic restaurant when the dining room is packed with truckers, hunters, blue-collar workers, pretty blonde misses in their tight jeans and cowboy hats. Yeah! this is how I used to rope em, before I moved to CA and became...Asian?? Yeah, I might look like a grown-up version of Data from the Goonies, but I pack a mean gun where it counts, and know good food when I taste it. If I ever get a chance to visit Little Rock, no way I'm gonna leave without my fill at Nick's Catfish house.
(5)Tim H.
This place is epic. Every time when I am close to Nick's I will stop. That would make me a very fat person if I would live in the area. How can you not like it? Real southern cooking, Memphis style bbq(is there any other kind - we are not in Kansas anymore). The tea is amazingly sweet(almost diabetes in a glass but the friend pickles balance it out). If you looking for fancy wall decor and to have a discussion about Nietsche: This place isn't it. Amazing food for good prices. THIS IS THE PLACE TO TAKE A FAT GIRL ON A DATE
(5)Tim Y.
Decided to check this place out on April 6, 2012. Short wait for service. Waitress pleasant and helpful. Bathrooms were unpleasant. However, the food was was passable. The ribs were tender but parts were dry and overdone. Beans were tasty. Fries soggy. Hush puppies were crisp outside while tender and slightly sweet inside. The catfish (which is available in a lunch, small, regular, and deluxe plate) was lightly breaded and cooked well. It had a very good flavor. The baked potato was a bit underdone for my preference. Our waitress was polite and showed the right amount of attention. All in all will try Nick's again.
(4)Lauren H.
So I probably made a mistake in ordering a chicken sandwich considering the name of this place contains "BBQ" and "Catfish"... but oh well. The chicken sandwich was alright. The okra was Southern perfection. The clientele was exactly what I would have expected for Carlisle... kind of that "walk in the door and everyone turns to look at you because you're not from around these parts" crowd. But friendly enough. I feel like the big draw here is the fried pie... I mean, really, you can't go wrong with frying something that is delicious to begin with.
(3)A W.
Never did I eat in restaurants located in little towns between Memphis and Little Rock. Well, my husband told me that he would like to just check Nick's Bar-BQ and Catfish. His friend strongly recommended this place to him. In the end, we stopped and had a brunch there. Dishes tasted good and perfectly prepared. Fried Green Tomatoes were crisp. Creamy ranch dipping sauce enhanced flavour the dish. Lite Catfish dinner was all right. Hush-puppies were crispy outside and tender inside. Coleslaw was not overly sweet or sour. My husband enjoyed Fish and BBQ combination dinner. The plate was huge. The place is relatively clean and smell-free.
(5)Marc J.
Normally in joint like this you wouldn't think to order the seafood don't continue the prejudice here, be sure to order a combo plate and try the catfish (or the shimps) they are (I think) the true specialty of the house, not taking anything away from the ribs but this place really knows what it's doing when it comes to frying (some if the best onion rings I've had in a long time too), they even fry their pies (really more of a turnover) get one a la mode or the peanut butter pie (a pie of the truer sense). I don't want to get a reputation for judging the waitstaff but there are some lookers here FYI. Definitely stop in if your driving through Arkansas across I-40 not that you would very often I'd think.
(4)Sarah E.
If this was my last meal on this earth, I would be a happy camper. My husband and I are very well-traveled eaters and this is the best BBQ we've ever had. Great service, not too hard to get to from the highway, and healthy servings. We may even make a special trip just to have a repeat in the future.
(5)Brian K.
Whoever gave this place one star needs to be sentenced to 30 days of Bic Macs and Whoopers. NICKS IS OFF THE HOOK!!! YUM, YUM and YUM!!! Great ribs and great catfish. I always get the combo platter so I can have both. It's a lil spendy but worth every penny! To my former truck driving bretheren, they have big rig parking as well which is most excellent considering how most places treat truckers like second class citizens when it comes to wanting our business. There's a reason NICKS has so many 4-5 star reveiws guys: the food and service kick butt!!!
(5)Trisha C.
When I say YUM, capitol letters don't do it justice. This spot was AWESOME!! Now I see why it was so packed, the food is delicious. This place is a jewel. The catfish was great, the ribs were excellent & every single side dish was fantastic (yes, we ordered them ALL). We stopped in during a cross country drive after seeing the sign at the off ramp gas station. It was worth the detour, at this point, it might even be worth the drive back to Arkansas! ;) Loved it!
(5)James E.
I arrived at 7:30 and there was one couple left in the dining room on the right. The girl behind the counter motioned me towards the room on the left and said pick any clean table. The waitress followed me to the table with a menu and returned 30 seconds later with my water. The room was about half full and everyone else was already eating. I was the only new customer. I looked at the menu for about a minute, then closed it and slid it across the table. The waitress came right over and took my order - chopped pork BBQ, onion rings and cole slaw. I sat there for 15 minutes. Several people left and a few more came in. They also received their drinks right away. But during that 15 minutes NO food was served to anyone. There appeared to be some sort of activity in the kitchen, but it didn't result in food being brought to the dining room. As I was leaving I told my waitress she could cancel my order.
(1)jules c.
O yes....BBQ at its BEST!! I pray to the Lord almighty that we had BBQ like this in Cali. The wait staff were friendly and on the ball. The prices were crazy reasonable. The decor was not much to see, but the food makes you say "Who Cares?" Their Wall of Fame says it all when you walk in....
(4)Tom O.
There isn't a lot to say except WOW! Great service and great food. Don't miss this if you are passing through Carlisle...
(4)Phil J.
I have no idea where all the 4- and 5-star ratings for Nick's are coming from. I was westbound on I-40 bound for Austin, saw Nick's highway signs, starting salivating for bbq. Got there and ordered the ribs. They were a 2 on a 1-10 scale. They were NOT restaurant-quality ribs. Mostly fat, cooked in an oven, not a real smoker (and cooked about two days earlier), and mushy. Dust and a couple of dead flies covered the window sill next to my table. The 'lemonade' was from a powdered mix. Service was good, BUT DON'T DO THE RIBS! The good part of this highway stop was cheap gas at this exit.
(1)Oliver N.
Four and a half years later I go to review the place, and discover someone beat me to First by a week. Odd how the universe aligns... I came upon Nick's in an act of serendipity. I was headed home on a leave of absence from college, and in the middle of my epic 3 day, 3,000 mile journey from Santa Cruz to DC, I pulled off of I-40 for gasoline at what was then a truck stop that is apparently known as Carlisle, Arkansas. I asked the lady at the gas station's register if there was a place in town to get food. She pointed me in one direction - down the road, to Nick's Bar-BQ & Catfish. I pulled into a mostly empty parking lot. I still remember, almost half a decade later, the feeling I got walking inside. Three incredibly cute girls made up the wait staff, and I swear they giggled at me as they got me seated and fed. It just seemed so warm and authentically American - if you allow that the South is an area with particularly American traditions. I felt more comfortable in that restaurant in the middle of Arkansas as a stranger passing through town than I ever have in San Francisco. So I'm sitting down for my meal, and another patron is seated at the table next to me. He's a big white guy, shiny bald head, heavyset - a real American, if you will. He sits down at his table and after ordering, he leans over and asks, "Is that your rig out there?" I started to explain that yes, that was my souped up Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T, before I realized he was talking about trucks. Like, trucking trucks. The kind that anonymously haul nebulously defined "loads" across America's highways, and that supposedly power large sectors of our economy. It turned out that his, in particular, was hauling formica to somewhere points west. My new trucker friend and I spent an entire meal discussing our lives. It was one of the most open discussions I've ever had with a stranger, talking to each other from across our lunch tables. He had been a normal family man in North Carolina until him and his wife divorced. His grown son away in the Army, he decided - f*ck it, I'm selling the house and buying a rig. And off he set to deliver things like formica through places like Carlisle. Total strangers from relatively different worlds, on neutral meeting grounds at (oh right, I'm reviewing a restaurant) one of the most authentic, delicious, richly appointed culinary establishments I've had the pleasure to enjoy. So, in the tradition of Memphis Minnie's (a BBQ spot in my SF neighborhood), I raise a glass of sake in honor of this gem: To Nick's, with enduring gratitude for a warm memory and a fantastic meal. And to my trucker friend, I hope you found that the journey was indeed everything you were looking for.
(5)Katie J.
This was a great find! Excellent pulled pork sandwich and fried green tomatoes! Winner!
(5)jerry a.
Hands down some of the best bbq&catfish ive ever had. If you are on I40 between little Rock and Memphis, you should stop here to eat. Don't let the big rigs parked out back scare you away, this place knows BBQ and Catfish. Come inside and have a seat or call ahead and drive thru the window. They will even sell you meat by the pound, but be sure you order buns, for some reason it doesn't come with buns!
(5)Sam Y.
day 27 of my space odyssey musings from the road. wonder why there are so many jesus billboards? wonder why there are so many xxx stores off the freeway? hmm weird america is. either i was delirious or it was a sign. but i must have seen 20 signs for nick's. i skipped over tons of exits to finally get to this place. it called me like a beacon. yelp update the address its on 1012 north bankhead ave. man yelp needs to pay me for all this modifying i am doing. either case so i came here and passed up a lot of other joints. for a while i was scared driving through the ozarks and i pulled over and saw hunters with mullets, one nodded his head at me. no mullet will nod at me! so i drove off! but this place was cool cuz... i dunno i saw the signs. the place looked like the roadhouse from the movie, roadhouse, with swayze. who called the cooler. as soon as i got there i felt a little better cuz i saw black family leave. haha call me american survivor man but any type of diversity is a good sign for me. i am always nervous when i am in a homogeneous area. all asians, blacks, hispanics, whites, etc. like it makes me wonder, why aren't other folks around here? what you all do to them?? when i got inside i guess this place is famous cuz they had a lot of autographed photos of arkansas stars who had visited, from miss arkansas who is a super hottie, to country singers, to razorbacks. the food here was good. real good bbq. the catfish was delish and the ribs tender. a bit too smothered for my taste but most people here probably like that. they bring you sweet tear and i got tiny taters and fried okra and hush puppies. its a must. i cleaned my plate, one of the few people to. i will show these people how small asian people eat! my waitress was super cool and she asked me about what brought me here and she was really interested in it. it really is starting to hit me that this sort of thing is not common haha. she told me about her own traveling and she is moving herself to north carolina. nice. the thing i noticed about people here. related to the sports here. i can see why so many athletes, like football players, and power lifters and large athletes come from here. cuz they eat a lot of protein, starch, and carbs. that will get you big, and create big athletes! and a strong sports program. and if you don't do sports or work out, i guess you will just be large then. its funny one of the waitresses was 19, married with kids. art imitates life imitates art. i really felt the southern hospitality from my waitress though. i saw one dude tip her with change from his pocket. i was like hell no. so i had to tip extra for that dude. which was like 30%. dang i can't afford to do that anymore but when people make me feel good, i want to make them feel good. another enemy of the traveler besides getting lost is, losing time. i passed another time zone so i lost another hour. danggit! so arkansas is the home of bubba clinton and of a town known as texarkana and also the ozarks. they even got an ozark university. and mullets are still cool here. and so is living large. and pageants too. miss arkansas is like a big deal there. on my way here i also passed the hometown of bob dole and carrie underwood! so sometimes big things come out of small towns. imagine you looking like carrie underwood coming out of a town so small, you must be like religion there. or imagine looking like me living in la, wow i would be sam y! i ate all this! static.px.yelp.com/bphot… so good and so salty and so rich and so sleepy...
(5)Angela B.
Awesome ribs, great people. Fast, friendly, not expensive & plenty of parking. On the long drive from Memphis to Little Rock, Nick's is a welcome respite from fast food chains. Gr8 BBQ!
(4)Jim K.
Nick's just might be the best bar-b-que restaurant in America! It is that good. We were a party of three so we tried a variety of the food they had to offer. The fried green tomatoes were outstanding and prepared better than we had ever had. My 80 year old mother had the chicken strips and they were the best we have ever tasted. The sides, fish, and meats were all excellent tasting. We finished up with fried pies and that taste of the south came out in them. Living out west it has been a long time that we tasted a fried pie this good. If you are trying to decide if you should get off the HWY and try this place you need to just do it. They truly have fall off the bone ribs. I went with the fish and BBQ combo and would do it again in a heartbeat. Great food and service! What more could you ask for? We will be back when down that way again
(5)J S.
We stopped through on a road trip because we saw the billboard on the highway. Great service, and amazing food! It has been a long time I enjoyed everything on plate. The beef BBQ I had was not only smoked to perfection, but the sauce was packed with flavor! I enjoyed the potato salad, and baked beans had a great "spicy" taste to it! Also they have pie! Which is a make or break for me, and any place I eat! I love me some pie! I will definitely stop by if I ever come back this way!
(5)Nicole T.
The BEST!!!!! I had the Rib & Fish combo w/ fried okra & onion rings and my boyfriend had the same combo w/beans & baked potato...and because we wanted to try the bbq we ordered 2oz of pulled pork. Sooo delicious!!!!!! By far the best. I wish we had BBQ like this in California. To top it off we finished up with a hand made apple pie w/ice cream OMG!!!! Perfect! And the service was awesome. We're in love, cant wait to take another cross country trip Totally had to take a togo box
(5)Justin B.
Having lived in Memphis my whole life, I've been surrounded with great places to eat BBQ. Were it only that Nick's was closer so that I could frequent them more often! Best smoked ribs I have had in the area and a seriously good BBQ sandwich. Most of the Memphis places I have been to don't hold a candle to the very obvious smokey flavor of the ribs and BBQ here. It is good enough to eat without sauce and to savor the infused flavor of the thick, meaty ribs, and since I am more of a wet BBQ person myself that is saying something. The sandwiches are great, and the toasted bun is the perfect thing to top if off along with their delicious house sauce which is a little more unique than most of your garden variety BBQ places in the Memphis area. I loved the onion rings as well. Not a big fan of the fries or baked beans I got, they were ok, but obviously what you come here for is the BBQ and it is well worth it! I only wish I had been able to try the catfish, but I guess I will do that next time since we make occasional trips to AR. This will definitely be a regular stop for us! I'd say this is now one of my favorite BBQ places. Nothing wrong with the service during our time there either. I thought it was really cool that while we were there, the manager (not sure who it was other than a head staff person) came out from the back and talked several minutes with a customer about how they prepare their BBQ and their philosophy on how they approach it, then talked with another customer about the same thing. As we left he asked us how we liked it. I really loved the personal touch and the fact that he would come out and have conversations like this. I also enjoyed learning more about how they think about what they do and I could tell they were serious about it. All in all I highly recommend it!
(5)Craig S.
Wow. Driving from Memphis to Little Rock cant miss the billboards for this gem. Large portions and great food. Save room for the fried pies. Staff is friendly. Manager also came around to say hi and ask how everything was. Had the traditional bbq and fish special- brisket and catfish. Onion rings were best part of the meal. Definitely worth the stop
(4)Harold H.
Definitely a 4-5 star place. I had the sliced pork sandwich with a side of slaw and onion rings. The pork was juicy and tender and the slaw was homemade. The onion rings were some of the best I've ever had. The only thing I would change is to add some sliced pickles or a spear. My wife had the light lunch catfish with house cut fries and slaw. Her plate came with the aforementioned pickle spear. We wish we had room for the homemade fried pie!
(4)K M.
We have been eating here for 15 years. Every time we drive from West Texas to Memphis we time our trip to eat here. 4 generations of our family agree that Nick's is the best!!!!!! Except for my back yard I have never had better cat fish! The ribs are very tasty. They are not Texas ribs but they are never-the-less excellent. I have had them many times. I would eat them more often but the fish is so good, you understand my problem. Try Nick's you will not be disappointed.
(5)Henry J.
I've come here before and I will always come back. I'm a huge bbq fan, second only to fried catfish. This is part of the legacy of having lived in the south for the majority of my life. So each chance I get to come to Nick's is worthy of a celebration. Because Nick's serves up only the best barbecue and catfish in the state of Arkansas, if not also the couple states surrounding it (with apologies to fine bbq establishments in Memphis). The ribs are meaty. The briskets are tender and well-cooked. The catfish is thinly-breaded and fried to perfection. The particular highlight here is their home-made barbecue sauce. It is absolutely delicious and provide a perfect compliment to any dish (including fried rice!). I've actually ordered their barbecue sauce to be shipped to me in Ohio just so that I can at least get the Nick's barbecue taste even if the meat has to be purchased from elsewhere. It's really that good. As for their portions, I'm a huge eater. But even I can't finish an entire plate of their samplers. The ribs are huge and meaty. The brisket portions are beyond what most barbecue restaurants serve, too. The only downside is that the owner has no plans of franchising it out anywhere!
(5)Jodi S.
We LOVED our meal ! When in Arkansas you must have bbq and catfish ... Followed by a fried pie!!!! The coconut pie is the best thing I've ever tasted !
(5)Cindy B.
Not only great food but fun and friendly people and took me back to my grandmothers kitchen!
(5)Eric M.
Have eaten here many times and have enjoyed it .
(4)Teresa G.
Slow service, food was fair. It had for stars but we were not impressed and didn't finish our food. Better luck at sonic.
(1)Ebony W.
Yum!!! I just wish they had grits to go with their catfish. This was our first on our road and it wasn't bad at all. The locals stare at you but the staff is great. If I had to be in Little Rock again I would return to this restaurant. The pecan pie was delicious.
(5)Benjamin S.
The restaurant was nice and casual and the servers were really nice. The bbq was really good, and came out warm. It's a great place to stop for a meal of you're on a road trip.
(4)Becky H.
This place is worth a stop! Carfish, ribs and shrimp are wonderful and onion rings are awesome. Good iced tea. Will stop whenever we're traveling this way.
(4)Jessica R.
Really good food! Fried pickles were delicious! Had the fish and bbq ribs- absolutely great service!
(5)Adina W.
I went to Nick's BBQ & Catfish in February 2015 for dinner. I was craving BBQ brisket and smoked sausage. And OH BOY was my cravings satisfied! I'm from Texas and we are known for our BBQ so I was so glad to find a BBQ place that was semi-close to where I live (in Searcy). The brisket was super moist and the sauce was not too spicy for me. I REALLY like the BBQ sauce...so much that I thought about asking someone if it was possible to buy a bottle or a gallon of it! I kind of wish I did now. Anyways the brisket was cooked to perfection as well as the smoked sausage. I ordered the fries and onion rings as sides. The fries were crispy and the onion rings were perfect. Nothing felt too greasy which is GOOD in my opinion. I hate eating fries and onion rings that's just dripped in grease, makes me feel gross afterwards. The combo platter came with two sides and Texas toast for 12.99! THAT IS SUCH A GOOD DEAL!! It is so hard to find a BBQ place that gives you big portions for that price! The service is really good as well. The manager/owner (?) came around and asked each table if everything was good and if there were any issues. I really like that about restaurants! The restrooms are clean too FYI. Parking wasn't a problem since there are so many places. I definitely recommend this place and will be back before the school year ends!
(5)Chuck M.
Bad service and bad food. Took forever to get food and when we did get it, the food was cold.
(1)J C.
I've been behind big time on updating and following up on restaurants I've visited, so I'm going back to re-review some of my favorites and post new reviews. I was passing through Carlisle on my way to Nashville a couple of weekends ago and stopped off at Nick's again. As usual, they did not disappoint. The ribs and catfish are still consistently among the best I've eaten, and the service is still friendly and fast. I did notice a little bit of updating to their decor- which was a nice added touch, but I'm all about the food. As long as they keep it good, I'm sold! Contrary to some of the recent reviews, which seem unnecessarily picky and gripey, I find they do an excellent job. I always ask for Clay, whom I met a few trips back, and when he's there, he will always sit down and visit. It's clear he values his guest's input and their business. Anyway, if you're passing through, stop in and give them a try.
(5)Enrique S.
Excellent place to eat by the highway. They serve huge portions for a great price!!! The brisket is great and the cat fish is perfectly cooked. Great job guys!!
(4)Richelle T.
Hello there roadtripper! I feel your pain. Jittery legs aching for a stretch, bladder about to burst and lets not forget the hunger pangs. Try as you might to ignore these bodily urges for the pursuit of just one more mile, alas you succumb and start looking for nourishment and indoor plumbing. Enter slightly annoying, hard to ignore billboard promising fried catfish, tender ribs and of course, sweet urinary relief: Nick's Nicks is a friendly little place right off the highway where the people are friendly and the food is good. We shared the combination with catfish, ribs and shrimp. We two ladies were full to the brim! Good food for two for under $20, sign me up! All on all it's worth the stop and you won't be disappointed by the food, the staff and of course their porcelain throne
(5)Maggie H.
It's a Wednesday afternoon around 4:00. We are in a semi truck and have a craving for BBQ when we see the billboards for Nicks BBQ and Catfish. We notice they have truck parking - a huge plus for us so we stop to get some BBQ. Nicks is a cute place with a homey atmosphere. We order our food, I get the brisket plate and my boyfriend gets the BBQ and catfish plate. The Good- Service is good and friendly. The coleslaw is tasty and seems fresh. The catfish is pretty good, but over fried. French fries were good. The baked beans were pretty good but on the sweet side. Personally I like them with a bit of zip to them. The Bad- Our BBQ Brisket was extremely tough, hard and chewy, I couldn't even cut it with a fork. It was also dry and the portion was small. I'm not a huge eater and a small for me is a rare site. I only ate a few bites, the rest was left for the trash. I'm not sure how brisket can get tough and not be moist but they succeeded in accomplishing it. The hush puppies that came with the catfish and BBQ plate were way overcooked, I wasn't even sure what they were because it was almost hard. I read the reviews, unfortunately, after eating here. Hind-site is a bitch. I would have know better than to order the brisket. A few negative reviews a representative commented saying there is always an owner on the premises. If that's the case, why would they serve subpar food? I would think they would know what goes out to the customer. This will NOT be a place we will return to, it's scratched off our stops for BBQ. We love looking for new places to frequent on our visits across the country and we will keep looking.
(1)Ted B.
Stopped in randomly on way back to Tulsa I saw signs on inter star then stopped for fuel. I yelped Nicks and saw good reviews so I tried it. Glad I did! The ribs were good and the catfish was fantastic. Service was friendly and atmosphere southern. I plan to eat here again our next time through. Excellent ! Excellent !
(5)Sandra R.
This was a great surprise. We were headed to Dallas and needed to stop soon. We tried Nicks and so glad we did. I don't have one thing bad to say about this place. The staff is great and service is quick. We will be back on our next trip.
(5)Janet O.
OMG.. the best catfish.. if you leave this place hungry.. you don't know Good food. I go as often as i can. You will leave here happy for price and food.
(5)Wendy C.
Their barbecue sauce and beans are very unique and tasty. My husband doesn't like ribs but he liked theirs because they were not fatty but tasty. The pecan pie with ice cream was very good too. Glad we stopped.
(5)Darryl S.
Best place to eat on I-40. They will give you your money worth of food and it is very delicious. The catfish is great, shrimp is wonderful and the ribs are out of sight. The only thing bad is having to drive after you eat.
(5)Wade N.
How good can a place alongside an Interstate highway be, ESPECIALLY if you've been seeing their billboards for 50+ miles. They must be desperate for business, right? Owners trying to substitute massive amounts of advertising for truly good food, no? Wowzer! Some of the best ribs I've had in the South. I stop there every time I go through now. Here's a tip, drop down and take 70 instead of I-40 for a much more scenic ride from Memphis to Little Rock. . Its often faster because of construction on 40. Small towns, diners, etc. Everyone's idea of how ribs should be cooked, and what the sauce should taste like is different. It just so happens Nicks matches MY idea of perfect BBQ. Two other places for ribs --- The rib Shack in Corinth MS, and Granvilles in Huntsville Alabama compete for MY idea of best ribs in America. I stop at Nicks every time I go past now. Man, I get hungry just THINKING about Nicks...
(5)Alan R.
Very good food. I had the catfish and ribs, finished with a fried apple pie. The catfish average I would compare it to Cracker Barrel, but the ribs were great and the BBQ sauce was amazing. The apple pie was the best I've ever had.
(4)Wesley S.
I'm not going to add much to the posted reviews. I enjoy road trips and I've been visiting this spot for about 8 years now. I'm a fan and have even planned driving times to enjoy lunch/dinner at Nick's. Locals love it, visitors love it, I love it... Servings are large, so I suggest avoiding the large platters. Also,try one of the fried pies...they're super light, for fried fare.
(4)Todd K.
Stopped here on a drive to Arizona and would consider it a good place to eat while traveling. Overall the food and service was good and parking was great. Some additional information: Pros - great parking, quick service and pretty good food Cons - brisket sandwich was covered in sauce and bathroom needed some service In summary, I would not go out of my way to eat here, but I would more than likely stop again if I am ever unfortunate enough to have to drive to Arizona again
(4)Scott B.
I keep driving by all the billboard advertisements for this place and finally was going by during lunch so I stopped in. The meat was definitely a 5 star product. However the sides were only worth 3 stars. My fries were cold, very apparent they were sitting around while the cook prepared my sandwich. My Baked Beans only had the flavor of jalapeno and beans. No onion or other seasoning. This might be how the south prefers their beans. The price was acceptable and if you are driving along I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock it is definitely better than stopping at a chain place. Hopefully the problems with the sides was just a one time event.
(4)David D.
Great place to stop on 40. The catfish and brisket were very good. But the chocolate cake and coconut pie are a must. If you're on 40 be sure to make this happen.
(5)Elizabeth D.
While driving to Memphis we stopped at Nicks bbq and catfish restaurant. Great bbq food and the fried apple pie was fantastic. .so good the bbq I had to buy a bottle...to take back home...we rate this place 4 stars....
(4)Dusty N.
Living in Texas we take long road trips to Wisconsin to see family on a regular basis, and we enjoy stopping at various places to try out foods on the way.. We had seen the billboards on past trips, and decided on this most recent one to stop at Nick's. Our timing was good, and we were hungry when we arrived. We were also a bit disheveled, after hours of constant driving, but any concern about our appearance was quickly forgotten as we walked into the wonderfully aromatic, homey scents in the air, and were greeting with warm, friendly, smiling faced staff that made us feel welcome. A quick glance around made me feel comfortable - folks in everything from dresses to jeans and work clothes. The entrance wall was covered with autographed photos from celebrity customers from State Beauty Queens to Country Music Stars. Great, so far. And, unlike some commenters here, seeing big trucks backed up in a row at ANY place tends to make me want to try it out. I grew up being told (Before Yelp or the Net, you see) to watch for where the truckers stopped to eat, and drop their heads for the night, because they know what road-weary folks need: Good food, fresh coffee, and a clean, comfortable bed. We received quick service from our waitress, and had our drinks before we even finished looking over the menu. The place was busy, and got more so the entire time we were there. Tables cleared were quickly filled. My husband and I shared a large combo platter, at the advice of our waitress, because we were having trouble ordering from the choices (we had been checking out the surrounding tables and booths at various delicious looking things, and at this point wanted to try everything!) and it was perfect. She brought us separate plates and sauces, which was very convenient, and we were overwhelmed that just one platter had so much food! It was perfect for two people. The Brisket was fresh, moist and tender, with a strong but not overwhelming taste of smoke. It was very good, even by the standards of this Texan. The sauce was a bit different from what we are used to, but it was good (Enough so that we got a bottle of it to take home with us). We are picky about Catfish, and the fried fillets had a good clean taste to them, no heavy grease, and the corn meal batter was seasoned, light and crisp. The Fried Shrimp were large, well deveined, and not over cooked. The Baked Potato was huge, as well as the delicious Onion Rings (an extra side that we just had to try after seeing them on most of the plates around). The Steamed Veggies were, well, steamed veggies - broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and squash, but weren't overcooked. The Texas Toast wasn't overly buttered and greasy, like some places, and the Hush puppies were seasoned, crunchy bites on the outside and moist on the inside. Overall, the experience was very good, and even though we didn't get the chance to try other items, we plan to do so on future trips. I'll be sure to update this review then with additional info. Everyone else that was there seemed very happy with their food, and there was a good atmosphere to the place. Our waitress was attentive, informative, and just plain nice.. We had to take the leftovers with us, so we were too full to indulge in one of their delicious looking desserts or fried pies.. But.... we will be back.
(4)Tom T.
Stopped here on my drive from New York to California. This place was advertised on I-40 almost immediately after entering Arkansas. Let me tell you, they certainly exceeded expectations. I ordered the fried catfish and ribs... Simply amazing! The size of the portions, the flavor of everything including sides was more than I expected. The cornbread, coleslaw and the monsterous onion rings were killer combinations. And the service was second to none. If I ever find myself an hour around this place again, I'm stopping. Easy of the interstate and tons of gas stations. Plan this as a refueling point. The only drawback on this place is I was rather full and sleepy after eating and had to pull off to sleep. :-)
(5)Carla B.
Good pork BBQ sandwich. It's was chopped and in larger pieces than I am accustomed to but the flavor was great. Quick service even though the place was packed. Fried okra was good but greasy.
(3)J B.
Excellent meal. Half BBQ chick and 6 ribs...yummy in the tummy! Our server: Stefanie was PERFECT!!!! Too much food but we couldn't stop eating it! Side salads good, French fries and baked beans were very good! No room for dessert...oh well.
(4)Casey B.
Glad I stopped! Brisket was very good. I am not usually a fan of BBQ sauce but was pleasantly surprised at the flavor.
(4)Gary C.
This Place is worth the Trip!!! True Southern Hospitality from the Minute you walk through the door. Service was EXCEPTIONAL!! I am truly glad I stopped here. I got the Combo Platter : The BEST ONION RINGS I've ever had, Fall of the Bone Smoked Ribs, Hush Puppies, and, Crispy, Crunchy Fresh Fried Catfish! Home Made Desserts. Treat yourself to some Sweet Tea also! From the minute you walk through the door, you'll be treated like family! If you're on the road, make sure you don't miss Nick's. Enjoy, Chef Gary Curry!
(4)Mike P.
First time visit per recommendation from several on my FB page when I asked where I should eat when going to Little Rock from Memphis. I'm glad we stopped in! Place only had a few tables open when we got there which is a good sign! Tucked away in the small town of Carlisle, AR it seems to be a favorite of many! Started with an order of Fried Pickles. The batter was just perfect and had a great crunch to it but was lite and airy. Score! I ordered the Whole Slab of Ribs as I was really wanting some Pork! BAM, what a portion of Bones it was! The bones come precut already and the ribs are dry and sauce comes on the side. Being from Memphis I really prefer my ribs wet off the smoker..these were amazing. Ate a few dry and simply dipped the rest in the mild sauce, which was pretty sweet but had a tad of spice to kick in as well. The Ribs could stand on their own. Very smoky tasting and a nice St. Louis style cut with PLENTY of meat. For $18.99 on the ribs with bread and 2 sides, I felt was a bargain. Most places would be $22-$24 for that portion. The Onion rings were like the pickles with the same lite crunchy batter and we fought over them. Even the Cole Slaw was tasty as I am not really a cole slaw fan. This is high on my list for recommend if traveling thru Arkansas on I-40. Get off at Exit 183 for Nick's BBQ & Catfish. Worth the drive! Oh and 1 more thing. The Staff super friendly and service was great!
(5)Kristy R.
My husband and I found Nick's years ago. He is very picky about his catfish and we love this place. The ribs are out if this world and they fall off the bone every time. I have never had a bad experience here. Call ahead if your in a hurry and it's ready to go in no time. Staff is friendly and very well trained. This place is ALWAYS packed, but the food still comes out quickly. Baked beans are sweet and spicy, not too spicy though. Okra is crunchy and super tasty. Love all of their food, you can't go wrong at Nick's.
(5)Jme K L.
So disappointing! All the great reviews and my husband really loves it, plus a wait at 2:30 pm, so I was expecting something yummy. My experience must've been atypical, then. The fried pickles had a great flavor but they were seriously greasy, as if the oil temperature was too low. My brisket was swimming in bland sauce. I couldn't taste the meat, so I didn't even eat it. The ribs were not bad, but not good either. The coleslaw was yesterday's coleslaw. The potato salad was fresh, although too sweet for my taste. The pecan pie slice had about 6 pecan halves on it (the top was browned, so it took me a second to catch that). The best part of my meal was my sweet tea, and the hush puppy my husband gave me from his catfish plate. The service was good. All in all, I'm very disappointed with my experience.
(2)Larry W.
Great place to eat between memphis and Little rock. The cat fish is excellent along with the fries and ribs.
(4)Ken M.
Excellent catfish! Save room for a coconut hand made fried pie! Worth the stop off the Interstate.
(5)Michael D.
Amazing barbecue! Stopped in here on a cross-country trip and the food was just amazing. I've been trying out a lot of the BBQ joints while driving through the South and this was one of the highlights. I got the barbecued pork and brisket at the suggestion of a trucker we met inside who stops there every time he passes through town and it was just amazing. Also bought a bottle of their world famous barbecue sauce and have been enjoying it thoroughly ever since. Highly recommended!
(5)Ed E.
Stopped at Nick's on our way home from Texas. l loved the fact that it wasn't a chain restaurant. Great staff seated us and took good care of us. My wife ordered the BBQ Pork and l had to have Catfish. Both plates were delicious, large portions. We tasted each others back and fourth and her only complaint was the coleslaw, didn't taste quite right to her. The lady know her slaw so that was the only thing at all and the waitress truly looked hurt. No biggie the wife said. l hurt myself eating all my catfish because l knew it wouldn't travel well in a doggie bag. We did bring back her bbq and l just finished eating it as a late night snack. We were more that happy with the Memphis bbq sauce they use. l very much like the well trained staff and high-five Nick for impressing the importance of costumer service. We'll be glad to stop back by.
(5)