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Brisket cooks in the smokehouse located next to the restaurant. (Alyssa Schnugg)

Josh Witty puts wood into the smoker.

Lots of picnic tables and "green grass."

Little ones can have fun, too.

Customers now order at the counter.

Josh Booth, the new owner of Booth’s Barbeque, grew up in Batesville and moved to Texas, where he learned about barbeque. He has now returned to his home state to open his own restaurant. (Alyssa Schnugg)

Booth’s Barbeque doesn’t look much different than when it was called Lamar Yard just a few short months ago, but there have been a lot of changes recently.

The restaurant closed temporarily in November. In January, owners Nickle Smith and Patrick Ellis brought in Texas pit master Josh Booth, who purchased the restaurant concept.

Booth changed the design of the restaurant from a traditional sit-down, server style to more of an order at the counter, deli-style, with customers ordering their favorite barbeque by the pound – from ribs, to brisket to pulled pork – and then choosing sides and/or dessert cobblers.

The popular “backyard” is still there, complete with picnic tables, a children’s play area, and yard games – everything to make eating there feel like being at a neighborhood, backyard barbeque.

For the grown-ups, there is a full bar and music on the weekends.

“We still have our walk-up windows on Saturday and Sundays where people sitting in the yard can walk up and buy nachos and crawfish,” Booth said.

Booth grew up in Batesville and attended the University of Mississippi. After graduating, he moved to Texas to start his culinary career. There he worked as an executive chef at several restaurants. About 14 years ago, he “found barbeque.”

“I kind of fell in love with it,” Booth said. “I wanted to open my own place so I figured I’d bring it back to Mississippi.”

All of the meat is cooked in the smokehouse next to the restaurant. Booth said some of the recipes he brought with him to Booth’s Barbeque are ones he has worked on perfecting for 20 years.

Booth said opening the restaurant is a dream come true for him and admits he got emotional a few times walking through the yard while seeing his customers enjoying their experience.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for 20 years now,” he said. “And now I finally got the opportunity to do it. And it’s awesome.”

Along with its restaurant, Booth’s Barbeque also offers catering and private events. Located at 2200 South Lamar Blvd., is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays

For more information, visit www.boothsbarbeque.com.

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