Ozark BBQ

One of the oldest BBQ places on the lake is Ozark BBQ. I was told they were celebrating their 55^th year this year!  Located off TT on the west side of the lake, but easily accessible over the toll bridge and down MM.  Actually the easiest way to get to it is by boat, but since I don’t tend to be in a boat, I go down TT.  It is open Thursday through Sunday, which has caught me more times than I can remember.  Many times making the attempt to go only to find it is closed.  Today when I went it looked closed, but was actually open.  I was the only car in the parking lot, but there were several customers that had come by boat.  

Actually over the years the BBQ has varied somewhat.  Sometimes I have been quite pleased, like today, other times it has been passable.  Today I had the brisket sandwich, waffle fries and coleslaw.  The fries and coleslaw were good, but not great.  The Brisket was excellent.  It is the standard by which I could compare all brisket.  Sliced just right, not to thick or to thin.  Great flavor and just the right amount on the bun.  

They had a very friendly staff, that took pain to make sure that everything was good, and even took the time to have a conversation, no doubt because they were not overly busy.  I am sure that evenings and weekends are a different story.  I must say it is not often that you hear of a good BBQ restaurant located with a Boutique.....

I first came to Ozark BBQ with my parents 35 years ago.  They had an RV parked close by.  They loaded the my family up in the boat and took us around the bend of the lake to the restaurant.  Something only a fool would do today given how small the boat was, and how big and fast the boats are now.  I had not experience much BBQ at that time, and do not even remember what I ordered or how much I liked it, but it must have set off some good vibes, because it certainly was a start of my many BBQ visits since.