Arkansas Times

Eat Arkansas

« Cheap eats | Food for Time Travelers. »

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Another Take On Barbecue.

Posted by Kat Robinson on Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 6:51 PM

click to enlarge

The Arkansas standard for barbecue, traditionally challenged by people on all sides of the argument, is for a beef or pork sandwich on white bread or bun with coleslaw and a peppery sauce. Variations therewith are sometimes challenged on the tiniest variations, such as Sim's vinegar-soaked meat, Old Post's slug of sweetness in the sauce, and McClard's use of chopped cabbage and mayo instead of a pre-mixed coleslaw.

However, I have yet to find anyone else who's tackling the same variation on a theme like Chip's. The local favorite is all but unheard of outside of town, but has been operating non-stop since 1961. The Chipman family's eatery adheres to most of the unwritten rules of Arkansas barbecuteries: meat is served smoked with sauce on the side, sandwiches come with coleslaw, and the store's closed on Sunday. Like other smoke-and-sauce restaurants, Chip's has its own specialties, such as a magnificent cheese dip and a restorative potato soup well known around this neighborhood for its curative properties. It also has its eccentricities, such as the above pictured Muffin Special ($5.35), barbecue meat served up on a toasted English muffin with American cheese in addition to slaw and sauce. Miracle Whip as a condiment is also a possibility. I tend to make sure to go for sauce on the side; while a good and typical example of Arkansas-style sauce, it's a bit too strong for my taste, and I'd rather lay on a thin layer with a butterknife than take the gob they normally dollop under the bun.

But there's another reason to visit this time of year... more on the jump.

click to enlarge

The big reason to visit Chip's this time of year is to round out the Christmas buffet at your own home. And I do mean "round." As in pies. Chip's makes hundreds this time of year in all sorts of great flavors... coconut, chocolate, sour cream lemon, pineapple, chocolate walnut, banana walnut, pecan, and banana cream (pictured here). There's also an incredible housemade cheesecake that's more on the hearty fluffy side than sweet -- which can be served up plain or with strawberry or cherry toppings. Slices run $3.49-4.29, but you can take home a whole pie starting at $16.35. Whole cheesecakes are a bit more -- $34.50, but they're huge. You can also grab that in a half-size for $18.50.

You'll find Chip's at 9801 Markham, about a block west of the Markham Street Baptist Church. The restaurant is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday - Saturday (it'll close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve) and they do take call-ahead orders at (501) 225-4346.

        
Tweet
Share

Comments (4)

Showing 1-4 of 4

Add a comment

Haven't gotten down to Chip's yet. I am still working my way there. The pie sure does look good.

report

dislike

Posted by Chris Finklea on 12/22/2008 at 7:51 AM

You can't go wrong at Chip's. And the pies are DAMN good.

report

dislike

Posted by Nemo on 12/22/2008 at 11:35 AM

I like Chips a lot. I take it home a lot b/c I like beer w/bbq and chips doesn't serve beer. In fact, I may run out there tonight after shopping for something to eat w/the football game.

report

dislike

Posted by bopbamboom on 12/22/2008 at 4:12 PM

Chips has been one of my favorite place for bbq for years. Also for variety try their bbq salad or their nacho salad with their homemade chili on it.

report

dislike

Posted by Never Vote Republican on 12/22/2008 at 7:34 PM

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-4 of 4

Author Archives

Outstanding... yes, in the field.

Jody Hardin and Barbara Armstrong's Scott Heritage Farm, Chef Lee Richardson and his team from the Capital Hotel, P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm and the folks with the traveling Outstanding in the Field culinary tour bus join forces for a dinner on the land.
- by Kat Robinson
- Oct 19, 2011
Get stompin'

It's time once again for the Altus Grape Festival. Yes, I'm trekking that way today.
- by Kat Robinson
- Jul 29, 2011
Burger joint of the week: Herman's Ribhouse

How often do you get cracked up by a restaurant? I mean, seriously laughing hard for a good reason or two? I have to say, I was more amused by Herman’s Ribhouse in Fayetteville than I have been by any restaurant in a long time. The fact they put out a damn good burger just enhances the restaurant’s esteem with me.
- by Kat Robinson
- Jul 14, 2011
More »