The Hickory Tree Restaurant
at Smolan School

304 E. Walnut Street
Smolan, Kansas 67456
(785) 668-2164

Friday & Saturday: 5PM - 9PM
Sunday: 11AM - 2PM

The Hickory Tree Restaurant at Smolan School
Smolan Kansas High School - The Hickory Tree Restaurant
Smolan High School District Number Four - The Hickory Tree Restaurant

The Hickory Tree Restaurant is a unique Kansas Restaurant, the food is good and the atmosphere is very cool.

They offer a buffet with a nice selection of BBQ - chicken, ribs, pork chops, chopped pork and beef brisket. The buffet includes a variety of side dishes, deserts (the peanut butter chocolate desert was good both time I visited), and beverages. All that for about $12. Beer is available for an additional charge. You pay before being seated, then provide all of your service.

Hickory Tree Restaurant occupies the former Smolan High School which operated from 1926-1950. The last graduating class had 3 members. From 1946-1987 elementary and middle school classes were held here. The Holzworths started a catering business out of the old school in 1993, and 3 years later opened the BBQ Restaurant. Open only Friday & Saturday evenings and Sunday for lunch.

The dinning room in the small old gymnasium. The walls are decorated with maps, yearbooks and old board games. The small stage at the south end has a wonderful, old advertising curtain from another area school.

The hallways of the building are decorated with school items, and the top (3rd) floor has the old classrooms set up for private dinning rooms, each decorated to the theme of the class that was held there. I particularly liked the music room and library.

On my first visit, Hickory Tree Smolan School Restaurant made it onto this website on the strength of atmosphere. None of the food stood out. On my second visit, the pork steak was replaced by  pork chops and was quite good. They had also added chopped pork, which I liked. But best of all was their beef brisket.

Hickory Tree Restaurant does not appear to be handicap accessible, but you might call to check on that. Rest rooms are on the second floor.

Gymnasium dining room at Hickory Tree Restaurant.
Gymnasium - dining room


barbecue ribs, beef brisket, pork chops, chicken, baked beans, mashed potatoes

School stage curtain at Hickory Tree Restaurant
Stage


3rd floor music room

library dining room at Hickory Tree Restaurant
3rd floor library

Hickory Tree Restaurant website
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copyright 2007-2008 by Keith Stokes