Lucky Luke’s BBQ Gets 3.5 Stars (Business Lunch Review)

We were pretty lucky to get to eat at Lucky Luke’s BBQ for a lunch review.

It’s a small place that seats about 12 inside on Garland Avenue a few blocks north of the University of Arkansas campus. There are also a couple of tables outside for warm-weather dining.

The minute we walked in, we were greeted by the savory smell of barbecued meat and hot sauce.

Ordering is simple, and the prices are cheap. We ordered at the counter and took our seats in the dining area. Our sandwiches arrived a few minutes later.

One diner had the beef brisket sandwich in a basket that included barbecue beans and homemade potato salad for $4.60. The potato salad, with its chunks of fresh tomato, was “very tasty,” she said. The baked beans were also delicious, served with a few slices of jalapeno pepper and onions. The sandwich was tender and the meat plentiful, and just the right amount of sauce was included.

That diner also noted that Lucky Luke’s restaurant appeared to be very clean. The stacked cups, sliced lemon and other condiments around the soft drink and iced tea station were neatly arranged, clean and well-stocked. Each table had a table cloth, extra sauces and a roll of paper towels for the barbecue lovers’ convenience.

Another diner at our table had the large pulled pork sandwich ($3.75) and said it is his favorite barbecue pork sandwich in town.

The third diner at our table ordered the small hot links sandwich ($3.25). The biggest difference he noticed was it being served on a bun rather than Texas toast-style bread. Otherwise, it was as tasty as another place in town at which he often orders a similar sandwich.

The teen-age daughter of one diner quickly devoured the chocolate chip and pecan brownie that had been taken home to her wrapped in waxed paper. Her only words were “it was good,” but that’s a rave review from this finicky 13-year-old.

Lucky Luke’s also has smoked chicken on the menu. A whole chicken is $8, with a half chicken selling for $4.75 and a quarter for $3.25. The “Hmm-mm chicken dinner” includes hickory-smoked dark and light meat with two side items for $7.

Although none of our diners had one, Lucky Luke’s offers its sandwiches in a third size — “Huge!” — for $4.50.

The restaurant also serves a smoked chicken chef salad ($4.25) and hickory-smoked pork ribs, with prices ranging from $1.50 per rib to $15 for a whole rack of 13 ribs.

Lucky Luke’s also has a location at 501 Sanders Ave. in Springdale.