I found out about this place when I was searching online for something to do in Woodruff County, which isn’t packed full of interesting. But this place looked intriguing. It’s owned by the guy who started Doe’s Eat Place in Little Rock. When his tamale supplier closed down, he began making them at his farm. Then he decided to turn half his barn into a restaurant. We drove over on a Saturday evening — it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00-10:00 p.m.
The Tamale Factory is out in the country — way out in the country — south of Augusta. The only sign is a small one on the front of the barn.
We arrived right at 5:00, but there had been a leak of something or other, and they were busy cleaning things up. We had to wait perhaps 20 minutes. We got to chatting with two older couples who were there before us. The assured us it was worth the wait.
It wasn’t until we’d been talking to them for 15 minutes or so that I was informed that the man in the cowboy hat was the owner. I don’t think I’d said anything I needed to be embarrassed about. What I did say was, “Wait … you’re the owner and they still make you wait?” They laughed.
It isn’t a large place — maybe 25 tables total — and they were all filled shortly after we arrived. We ordered six tamales and a filet. We told our waitress we were splitting the steak, and she picked up on the fact that I like my steak a little rarer than my wife does. When it came, they’d cut it in half and actually cooked hers a little longer, which was very nice. The tamales, steak, fries, and garlic bread were all delicious. The salad wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. Our waitress was very friendly. But since the menu is very similar to that at the much closer Doe’s Eat Place, we may not get back. But we’re very glad we went once.
We enjoyed the food and the experience very much, although, for the price, it’s probably a good thing it’s a three-hour round-trip to get there. At few years back, it was a nominee for the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, but wasn’t chosen, perhaps because it’s only open 10 hours a week.
We drove through Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge after we ate and saw a ton of herons, egrets, ibises, and wading birds. We didn’t get out of car much — it was 100 degrees and humid.