Toothpicks Chop House Food Review (Business Lunch)

Toothpicks Chop House
324 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville

When we walked into Toothpicks, we were a bit confused at first. We thought it was going to be a Memphis barbecue place. Instead, it’s decked out in an upscale Texas motif.

But Toothpicks isn’t trying to be a barbecue joint. It’s got a six-shooter gunning for “Western fusion” — a combo of barbecue and steakhouse.

That was evident when we saw fried pickle spears ($3) listed as an appetizer on the lunch menu. We ordered a round and enjoyed the twist on a summertime drive-through favorite with ranch dressing. The batter was light and savory, and the spears were nice (opposed to flat dill rounds), though the pickin’s were a little slim with only four spears.

But what the appetizer lacked in volume was made up in the loaf of warm wheat bread left at the table when we got our drinks.

Looking to sample the barbecue side of the fusion, one reviewer ordered a sliced brisket sandwich ($5), which came with a side of fries. The sandwich was served open face on huge slices of Texas toast, which overpowered the taste of the brisket.

He managed to procure one spare rib from the waitress as a “sample” for a future meal. It was tender, well smoked and had a delicious rub crust, so he’s sure other meats on the menu (including dinnertime steaks) are worthy of a try.

Our other reviewer tried the smoked pork sandwich ($5). She agreed that the thick Texas toast was most of the meal but thought the chopped pork had a great smoky taste. Instead of french fries, she tried the baked beans, which were served warm. They weren’t overly sweet and added a nice barbecue flair.

The house sauce that came with the sandwiches was delicious, though we found out a little late that there were four others to try upon request.

We ordered a slice of bourbon pecan pie with ice cream ($5.50) for dessert. It didn’t have as many pecans as Mom’s, but it hit the sweet spot.