Located at 203 Keyser Ave., Sweetie’s Bar-B-Q and Blues House is a business where owner Daryl Walker’s top priority is making food that tastes good. Sweetie’s is not only a place where people travel from all across the region to dine, but it is also a place that harbors an atmosphere of belonging for Natchitoches residents.
Sweetie’s is open every week Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The inside of the restaurant is filled with more than enough tables for seating, features blues music playing in the background and showcases a wall of trophies that highlights Walker’s accomplishments over the years.
“Cooking with my mom and dad when I was younger, we cooked a lot of stuff back then: meat pies, crawfish pies and tea cakes,” Walker described what inspired him to start his food business. “The love of cooking, as I got older, just stuck with me.”
Walker always had a passion for cooking, even at a young age. At only 19 years old, he started his own construction business while continuing to hone his craft in the kitchen. “I was doing both. Construction during the week and on the weekends, I was cooking,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for Walker to finally start his restaurant. He was determined not to let his chance at a business go to waste. “When Covid hit, I said, ‘if I’m ever going to start a restaurant, I need to go ahead and do it now,’” Walker stated.
What began as a small business for Walker and his wife, Trisha, Sweetie’s soon developed into a more prominent food stop in Natchitoches. On top of already having established careers as a General Contractor and Mental Health Therapist, they worked alongside each other to create what is now known as Sweetie’s.
Not only is Sweetie’s a popular spot in its hometown, but it is also an award-winning business across the world. Natchitoches residents Daryl and Trisha Walker have won countless competitions across the globe, such as Memphis in May Ribs 4th Place World Champion, 1st Place Rib in Alaska and 1st Place Whole Hog in New York.
Sweetie’s originally began as a food truck before Walker decided to buy a place for Sweetie’s permanent residence. “We did about two years in a food truck, then I bought a building on Texas Street. We stayed there for another two years, and then we moved here,” he said.
Walker described the current location of Sweetie’s as being directly situated in the blood vessel that runs through the center of Natchitoches: Keyser Avenue. It is one of the main roads connecting NSU to multiple businesses, such as fast food restaurants and grocery stores.
“Everything is going to pass through this way. People just gravitate to this place. They’re curious. They want to know what it tastes like,” he said.
Walker wants Sweetie’s to offer his customers the chance to reminisce about their younger years when enjoying his cooking. “My mom, she had this cornbread dressing that she made, and I ate that all my life. It makes you think of good, warm times,” he said. “So when customers eat the cornbread dressing, it takes them back.”
The cornbread dressing is one of the most popular items on the menu, though Sweetie’s offers a large variety of menu items, from ribs and pulled pork to green beans, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and more. Sweetie’s even offers catering options for large events such as parties and social gatherings, bringing their food to anyone in the Natchitoches community. For more information on preordering, give Sweetie’s a call at (318) 228-8592 or visit their website.
Walker remains driven to continue his business because every day is different for him. “I want to challenge myself every day to make the food taste even better the next time somebody tastes it. That is really what motivates me,” he said.
Providing a welcoming place for customers is one of Walker’s many roles at Sweetie’s, along with cooking and training his staff. Walker values hospitality and connectedness, especially within the walls of his restaurant.
“As far as the customers, I want to greet them every time they come in and just really see how their day is going. I make sure that I say something funny. Really, I just want to cater to their needs when they come in,” Walker said.
As Walker looks to the future, he is sure that Sweetie’s will remain a thriving business. “I see myself expanding, and I would like to expand this year. I had set a goal two years ago to have at least three or four restaurants in different parts. I would love to see some here and there,” he stated.
For those looking for a restaurant that prides itself on serving food that tastes good and offers a welcoming place for all, look no further than Sweetie’s Bar-B-Q and Blues House.
