Grayson's Barbecue transports you back to the 1950s with its quaint, hole in the wall style located in the Village of Clarence, one of many outskirt towns in Natchitoches Parish, LA. Grayson's menu features a variety of delicious, slow cooked meats and a favorite has to be their barbecue sandwiches. You cannot order the sandwich without including the homemade buns they offer. I like the chip sandwich which includes their deliciously tender chipped and shredded barbecue beef. The sandwich runs about 3.69 (tax included) for a heap of beef on a planet-sized bun. The service is speedy and hospitable so with that being said, I don't see a reason why you aren't hopping in your car and making your way to Grayson's! read more

Ribs were perfectly cooked. Coming from Texas, I did not appreciate the beef. The ham was well-smoked but saltier than I would have preferred. Biggest let down was sauce, could have been the perfect complement to the beef but was underwhelming. Interesting take on potato salad... mashed potato salad. Beans were okay but nothing to write about. read more

I stumbled on to this place passing by and I should have kept going. Stop by the 1st time for a menu to go for a later visit. You would have thought I asked for something they never heard of or something! They are not a very friendly bunch either. Gave them the benefit of my doubt. Returned for some food to go. I guess customer service and friendliness is not their forte. My gut said leave but my stomach said stay. I ordered a rib plate. Ribs served from the counter they laid on. Now my gut is screaming at me to leave but I didn't want to be rude so I stayed. They bagged my food and I stood there wondering who do I pay cuz nobody said anything. Finally paid and left. Now to the food....should have listened to my gut!! Food was ok at best and ribs were really fatty. Tender but fatty. Mash potato salad and routine bake beans were ok as well. Everything served was sweet. If you're looking for a nice friendly dining experience; this is not the place. read more

looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool racist place but good food. i dont go very often.

Be forewarned, this isn't the most modern place around. Definitely the kind of "hole in the wall" place that gets by a lot on regulars more than travelers. But there's a huge stack of wood out back and smoke emanating from a chimney somewhere, which should be a requirement for any place with "BBQ" in the name. The ribs were done to perfection, which is my benchmark for a BBQ joint. Sides are basic BBQ fare; beans, potato salad, chips. Their homemade buns are great. I only give three stars because of the atmosphere inside the place, it's a little dark and dingy, and the beef on the chipped beef sandwich was a little tough and didn't have that great smoky flavor you want in good BBQ. read more

Love this family owned restaurant! Best Bar BQ in town and nearby Natchitoches! A landmark , that you absolutely must try!

Legendary barbecue place in the Natchitoches, LA area. Chipped beef on a home made bun is just as spectacular now as it was 30 years ago when I ate my first one. Then you can get half a dozen chocolate brownies/cookies which are also to die for. Definitely worth a trip if you ever get in that vicinity. read more

As a Tennessean by birth and long residency, I'm naturally skeptical of barbecue and ham from other areas. But I was dragged to Grayson's after moving to Natchitoches, and am a convert in some areas. 1) The ham is wonderful. I think it's pecan-smoked, which may make the difference. (I still wish I could find true TN country ham around here, though.) 2) Brisket's good, though I'd like it sauced a little. 3) Pork is okay: I think folks here are unaccustomed to working with pork butt in a smoker. 4) Sandwiches are good, though the texture of the ham is unpredictable. You might get chunks, you might get slices. And if you get pulled pork, you must ask for slaw to top it. With all this niggling, you wonder why the four stars? It's that wonderful ham! My wife and I eat there as often we can. I just figure newcomers need to know that the very worst they'll find there is actually pretty darn good! read more

Started eating BBQ at Grayson's while at NSU in the early 60's at their old place little out of Clarence on the Winnfield Hwy. Only son and Dad then plus about 2 kitchen helpers. Walked through shot gun house to back and sat at a bench table. BBQ goodness has not changed. Dad has long passed son turned over business to his sons. Man I feel old! read more

To die and go to BBQ heaven is to go to Grayson's. I have been coming here, since I was knee high to a grasshopper. The decor is the same, the service is the same and the food is the same. This is the type of place that you would drive right by and never think twice about it. However, the food here is probably one of my all-time 'holy mother of God' kinda places. I LOVE IT. If you happen to be in Natchitoches, stop by and say hello and put your card on the wall next to all of the celebrities that have graces this hole hole in wall. read more

This is one of those places leftover from another time. The walls are a bit dingy from smoke and it has counter seating with those old, round swivel stools I remember from cafes as a kid. As I remember it, the cash register was pretty damn old, too. I've only eaten here once or twice - stopping by in my travels and got it to-go for the road. The chopped beef sandwich was excellent. Being a geologist, I especially enjoyed the collection of local rocks and native american artifacts laying on a table against a wall. Only reason I haven't eaten here more often is I usually pass by on Sundays and they are closed. read more

I'm a third generation customer, my grandparents took my dad there and now I take my kids there as 4th generation customers. If you want bbq this place is great! The homemade buns are amazing, the sauce is perfection, the potato salad is unrivaled, the meat plate is so delish! The only thing you need to remember is it is a bbq place so don't expect the Ritz, and bbq is slow cooked so sometimes it takes a minute to get a server, but it is totally worth any wait you have and if you ever need a holiday ham this is the place to order from, just don't wait till the last minute, because they are busy from October to December mailing hams all over the world! read more

Those that rate this 5-star need to get out more often! Ribs were good. Beans were straight out of a can and bread was plain. In my opinion, what makes a great barbecue restaurant is the sauce and the sides. Their sauce was good but sides were bad. Any moron with a grill, oil and sauce can cook ribs. The key is the little things. Grayson's missed on the little things. Service was sub-par too. read more

Very simple down home BBQ restaurant, but in a good way. BBQ is vinegar based and great if you are a fan of that style. Potato salad is wonderful, a really unique taste. If getting a sandwich I recommend getting it on a homemade bun, the texture of it works well with the meat. Price is about average of what you would expect to find for BBQ. Overall a great place to try. read more

I live fairly close and this place was recommended by a friend, so we went by for lunch one Saturday. It wasn't terrible, BUT it wasn't great. I was definitely expecting a better food experience. The wait staff weren't very friendly at all (strike 1), the meat was very tender but the BBQ sauce is vinegar based and VERY strong (not a fan, strike 2), the sides were meh, and when I got back to the car I realized we didn't get the fabulous rolls that a lot of these reviews go on and on about (strike 3)! If you like vinegar based BBQ, then this may be the place for you. As for me, I'll head on to Pineville or Alexandria for Outlaw's BBQ when I'm in the mood for BBQ. read more

I'm not sure what all the hype is about this place. Limited menu, meat is dried, and only mediocre sides. Gave one star due to on special occasions they make cookies which are awesome. This is in a small town with only small towns around without eat out options and I guess this is the only bar b que people know because for the life if me I don't know why it gets high marks. read more

Wow, just had the ham and it was phenomenal. Some of my favorite flavors and cooked properly.

The absolute best hams ever. I drive 5hrs round trip to pick up hams! Talk about yum! Order yours in advance!!

i used to stop at Grayson's on my trips from Shreveport to Baton Rouge; never planned a trip on a Monday (they're closed). Twenty years ago I moved to northern Arkansas when I retired. Recently moved back to Bossier City to be closer to the grandkids and to get away from the ice storms. Drove back to Grayson's today. It's just as good if not better then twenty years ago. The homemade buns are the best in the world, Coleslaw, potato salad-wonderful and let's not forget the pork and beef. The only item that doesn't come up to their high standards is the beans and they ain't bad, just not a 10. Top the meal off with homemade cookies or pecan pie. I almost forgot to praise the dill pickle chips and bbq sauce served on the side at no additional charge. Great friendly and fast service. Grayson's is well worth the trip from Shreveport for the worlds best bbq. read more

We visited Grayson's in August 2013 and loved it. It is a unique Southern BBQ experience. The servers were very friendly and helpful. Nothing fancy here, but the food was great, especially the ribs and potato salad and gingerbread bars for dessert. Even if the BBQ is not quite to your taste, you'll love this place. Apparently the locals do too, since it was pretty busy at lunch time. If you're in the area, don't miss it. read more

Most tender, generous ham sandwich I've ever had. I was an idiot for leaving without a whole smoked ham for $99. Nick in Palm Springs read more

It's one of the best, if not THE best barbeque joint in north Louisiana! Old-style classic dining area, with canned sodas instead of fountain drinks (even has peach Nehi), and the smell of the meat smoking will pull you in without even thinking! It's worth the trip from Natchitoches, and is the only reason I take Highway 71 from Alexandria to Shreveport. The ham sandwich is the best, in my opinion. read more

First ate at Grayson's in 1966 on a family trip to Texas, and the meal was so good that it literally became part of family lore. I have been back 2x in the last 6 months, and it is still good, and I swear that it seems like a Twilight Zone episode that the main section looks so similar .. feels like if I had left a pair of sunglasses on a table in '66, they might still be there. And let me tell you that it's not just about the BBQ flavor .. the local flavor just envelopes you when there is a crowd, so that Grayson's is also a cultural experience. Now, they don't try very hard to impress, although the service is fine .. it's about the meat (and home made buns). And unlike in '66, the Interstate has taken most of the north-south traffic, so that the drive up/down Hwy 71 is also an experience. Maybe not a bucket list place, but if you're in the neighborhood . . . read more

Been eating here since I was a little girl. It is always the best. Everyone will tell you that from miles around!

Been eating this stuff before they even moved into the location it's at noww My first Home was Clarence. I now live in Haughton, make several trips down 71 to pick up sanwiches. More good reviews than poor reviews. There's a reason for that... read more

We now live in Lafayette, LA; however, we at one time lived in Red River Parish. Grayson's has been a place to get the best bar-b-que for years. The people who work there are awesome. The food is to die for! I go see my mother in Coushatta, and Grayson's is the logical stop between her house and mine. The beans and potato salad are some of the best I've ever eaten. Let's not forget the homemade buns! :) I appreciate the prices have always been reasonable, and the food is always terrific. I have never been disappointed in the the food or the service! Thanks for a lifetime of good memories! read more

The barbque ribs and sandwiches are great!! Service leaves a whole lot to be desired. We have come from out of town for years to have their ribs and sandwiches on their homemade buns (A MUST). IF you come to dine in, be ware...you're lucky if you get waited on in 30 minutes. Hailing a server does no good, either. This was one of many experiences that we have there when dining in. This past sunday, we went in at 11am, 4 tables in the dining area, many in line for togo's. We sat at table #4, others came in after us at #5, #3, #1, #8, in that order. We could tell they were more into visiting and serving regulars. The server kept coming in bringing food, would get another order, then disappear again. 1 server in the whole dining room and it was getting busier. Finally, my husband went to the front and put in our order, the server came in and hit 3 tables for orders and they all said and pointed, "they were here before us", the server came to my table and I told her my husband got tired of waiting and went to the front...all she did was walk away. This as well as the last couple of times have been horrible service. They need to accommodate for the influx, and get better personnel to serve everyone, not just their friends. read more

Amazing ham sandwich served on a homemade bun. Everyone is incredibly friendly. The food is excellent. If you want a ham for Christmas you need to order early. read more

Time changes everything in the world both good & bad and Grayson's Barbeque isn't imune. My familes been going there since it opened over 40 years ago. The meat has always been very good because Mr Grayson cooks meat the way it should be and has been doing it right for years so no need to change. The "homemade buns" they use make the sandwich though. With a regular bun the sauce turns the sandwich into, tryin' to describe it, "meat with a sponge, but the sponge won't hold water, it just melts away!" It isn't worth messing with and taking the time to drive that far to make or buy a sandwich. Definitely not what Grayson's has offered and known for making available. Mr Grayson has worked hard to continue the service and reputation of his business but something has changed. Don't know who is in charge these days but service definitely has dropped. Driving 25 minutes one-way to buy sandwiches for 4-6 people to have, is something my family has done since Grayson's opened!. Putting their good sauce on any bun & then driving 25 minites home, the bun is by then soggy and melted away some but with a regular bun, by that time the bun is mush. No one wants that for the money & time spent. That is why we have most always ordered by the pound & got the homemade buns & some sauce separate, then we to build sandwiches and eat them right then where the bread is not soggy. Last trip there while my 'To Go' order is being filled the waitresses notice that my order of 1.5lbs of meat with 4 buns will leave them with just a couple of the homemade buns and they won't have enough "If" someone comes in to eat in the last 20 minutes that they're open. I see the homemade buns in her hand as she is about to complete my order, the meat is already weighed & packed, when the manager stops the waitress and says "We keep the 'Good Buns' for customers that eat inside!" Surprised and dissappointed that I drove this far out of town to get something everyone at home is waiting for and knowing this would not be what the others were anticipating, I almost left without purchasing anything. Not wanting to make a scene I took what was given & paid $20 for my order just as my grandfather would have done, & I left. He taught me that we should take our business to locally owned businesses first because they support the backbone of our community & it's people! I've tried always to follow most of his teachings, but when a business puts a customer that may or may not appear 20 minutes before closing in front of or more important than taking care of a local customer, that has rarely drove by the place without stopping to purchase something, my support local philosophy is no longer going to be followed. The reception I recieved upon returning with the plain buns was not pleasant. We ended up ordering from Domino's soon after. Shopping & buying from local businesses around my home town is how I was raised and most hometown retailers take care to keep regular customers happy and coming back over and over again. That's what makes the small town businesses successful. There isn't much in the small community of Clarence, La. Just 1 stop light, 2 convenience stores and Grayson's, the saying, "Blink and you'll miss it" actually describes the place as when going thru it, there isn't much other reason to stop there but Grayson's. Everything else in Clarence has been torn down, closed & boarded up. Locals have kept Grayson's in business, how long that continues with this kind of treatment to customers, not to mention the restroom being atrociously filthy, only time will tell when it is gone also. It would be a shame! Maybe Natchitoches will have someone open a barbeque place in town again. Competition brings changes usually for the best and businesses will appreciate customers more when they have to work harder to keep 'em. Even small details that show appreciation for business have dissappeared. I don't ever recall a time since I was very young that when leaving Grayson's Barbeque, I don't remember hearing Mr Grayson say, "Come back and see us!" Little details do make a difference don't they! Then maybe bad days happen to us all. Knowing now about a new policy I may one day go back again, as other than MacD's, Burger King or the other regular fast food chains there isn't anither barbeque place for many miles. I will "CALL BEFORE GOING" though to make sure they have everything that makes their product one of the best in both food & service and all the world will be happy again. How good life would be! read more

This is the second time I have gotten the pulled pork plate,,, it is awesome. I have trouble with sore teeth, cannot take tough meats... but the pulled pork I had was so good and so tender,,, we are going back this week end to get a couple pounds of it. and Some of that great potato salad... It may be an old place, and nothing fancy, so I guess they concentrate on good food, instead of the frills... because it certainly was good. and Is always. read more

i stopped there to avoid a storm that i was driving into last weekend. Just a hole in the wall place, but you could tell that it had been there for a long long time. the folks were nice and the ribs were to die for. i will go out of my way to eat there again. well worth the trip. read more

Don't see the hoopla. The meat is properly smoked, menu simple, prices fair. If you like sauce, don't get your hopes up. It's sweet and otherwise flavor less. Don't let this stop you if you like BBQ. Bon appetit. read more