Audio By Carbonatix
Hoochies Oyster House (207 S. Bell, Denton) held a quasi-secret soft opening last week to a small but boisterous group of beer-guzzling Dentonites. We checked it out on a perfectly breezy night and have already planned the next few visits just to sit on that magic patio and drink beer that costs less than gasoline.
Hoochies’ owner, John Blackwood, could be mistaken for any one of his casual and friendly patrons. Blackwood has intentionally done little to showcase Hoochies and feels confident Denton will take care of business.
“When you have a huge grand opening, it can be hard to maintain that level of hype. I want to spend that time to perfect the service and food, and let it grow on its own.”
One thing Blackwood has already perfected is using the nearby A-Train route to his advantage. The train rushes through Denton mere yards away from the bright yellow patio, making a noise akin to that noise the train made in Fried Green Tomatoes when Buddy Threadgoode got dead. When this happens, the people rush inside because select draft beers are just a buck. John 2, Train 0.
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Let’s talk about that patio. The walls are bright yellow and cleverly adorned in marine-esque décor. There are hand-painted driftwood signs as well as hand-painted song lyrics that range from Bob Seger to Garth Brooks. The picnic tables are numerous and the whole damn thing is dripping with twinkly lights. Thanks to the area’s typical pier and beam foundation, the patio is perfectly elevated.
Hoochies’ menu is typical coastal fare: baskets of fried things that used to live in water (with fries, duh), Po’ Boys, fish tacos, corn and potatoes, and of course raw oysters by the dozen. Blackwood sources his always non-pasteurized oysters straight from Galveston, claiming the Gulf oysters are simply the best.
Of course, it will help if they have them. The oyster bar ran out of oyster the night of my visit, we’re thinking they’ll have to remedy. Enter the New Orleans Po’Boy. The tartar sauce is more a garlicky aioli than tartar sauce, but it still gives this damn good sando a tasty co-star. See below, commence drooling.
Yes, Denton is on the moon. Yes, gas is $9/gallon. But let’s all imagine a world where oysters float to your table while you drink $1 beer on a twinkly patio made of magic.
