Boar’s Nest bringing bayou and barbecue to Northwest Arkansas

Under new ownership, Boar’s Nest is keeping the classics and adding a little more flavor

Though the menu is changing, do not expect the fan favorites to be leaving the Boar’s Nest tables anytime soon.

Their burgers which can be BBQ themed, Bayou styled or even their Po-Po burger, which you will not find a bun surrounding your patty, instead it is served inside a glazed donut. The burgers starting price is $8.49 and are accompanied with fries.

Also, their ‘bayou’ po’boys are staying put, which are sandwiches with your choice of topping. It can either be a seafood style sandwich or a BBQ classic like smoke brisket.

Their Cajun classic are all $9.99, which include their Red Beans and Rice which is exactly that with smoked sausage. The Jambalaya, which is smoked sausage and rice. Then, the true Cajun Gumbo with rice, chicken and sausage.

The most popular item that customers can’t get enough of are their huge chicken wings. Which are the whole chicken wings, which you don’t often see at a bar typed restaurant.

“Our wings are the best. Monday night is dollar wing night and people love our wings because we smoke our wings, and then we flash fry before we serve them, then toss them in a dry rub,” Hudec said.

Along with the dollar wing night, Boar’s Nest has other specials which include Friday’s where it is all-you-can-eat catfish, Saturday’s all-you-can-eat ribs and along with the dollar wings, Monday is host of ‘Mug Night’. Buy one mug for $5, all refills after that are only $3.

Along with those great deals, the kids are covered too. Kids under 10 eat free with a paid adult, all seven days a week.

The original name of ‘Boar’s Nest”, comes from the restaurant in the television show, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’. Which was a play on words with that restaurant and the University of Arkansas’ mascot being the Razorbacks. Hudec wants to get away from the popular show and have the restaurant be about the Hogs.

This connection with the university comes out every Saturday in the fall, when Razorbacks take the field, the “Game Day Menu” hits the tables. It is also available during any big game. Right now for the NBA Finals, but also games such as big college football bowl games.

Boar’s Nest tries to separate themselves from other restaurants around town to be more of a relaxed, hang out place for customers.

“Dickson street is more college students, more of a party atmosphere. Here we have more of a laid back atmosphere, where we have a lot of regulars come in all the time. And people just come here to hang out. There is no rush, people can come in hang out, have a few wings or have some barbecue or have a couple beers,” Hudec said.

Another way that Hudec is changing from the “old” Boar’s Nest is their beer selection. They will still have all of the nationwide favorites in bottles available, but on tap, they are going to try to stay strictly local.

“We’re trying have most of our taps be local beer. We have Ozark, we have Bentonville, we’re about to have Apple Blossom who is going to start distributing so we are going to pick up one or two of theirs,” Hudec said.

Boar’s Next has two locations in Northwest Arkansas. In Fayetteville at 1189 Steamboat Dr and at 4404 W Walnut in Rogers. Sunday through Thursday they are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday’s and Saturday’s from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information and their menu, go to boarsnestnwa.com.

SEAN LAUGHLIN/NWA MEDIA Boar’s Nest in Fayetteville and Rogers, has been open for ten years, but was bought back in December by John and Heather Hudec.