Font of TootiesDo you have a hankering for BBQ? If your mouth is watering for the taste and flavor of BBQ pork ribs, chicken, turkey, beef brisket or delicious hot sausages which have been sloooooowly smoked over perfect green oak wood, then you need to go to Tootie*s Texas BBQ. BBQ has always held a special place on our palate, we are BBQ lovers and we love really good BBQ and we were delighted by the taste, aroma and quality of Tootie*s Texas BBQ. Owners Willard Sterling and Steve Vinson have done it right. They picked an out of the way (although not all that far out of the way) location, they have kept the decor simple and yet reminiscent of a BBQ joint you might find on a side street somewhere in East Texas. They have chosen to keep the prices down so you are not paying an arm and a leg for BBQ ribs, “It’s the Texas way!” says Willard Sterling, who prefers to be called Willard. Fortunately for us, Tootie*s Texas BBQ is right here in the Coachella Valley, in the middle of Cathedral City.

“We would have preferred to serve our BBQ on butcher paper just as they do throughout Texas, but we felt that plates would be more appreciated here in the Valley, otherwise everything is authentic , just as if you were in a Texas BBQ place.” Willard Sterling is the driving force of Tootie*s Texas BBQ, named for his father a renowned Texas BBQ’er. Tootie*s serves nothing but the best lean Iowa pork specially imported for its quality. “We could use any pork,” says Willard, “but that’s not good enough. We bring in only the absolute best ribs, lean, meaty and flavorful, we would not serve anything but the best, it has my father’s name on it.”

Willard, who has a long and colorful history of hotel management and restauranteuring, starting off at the prestigious Hyatt Regency and later at the renowned Camptom Place Hotel in San Francisco where he was befriended Chef Bradley Ogden who became his mentor and instructor. From San Francisco to Executive Chef in an elegant Washington DC hotel for six years then New York for three years back to San Francisco and five years ago Willard moved to the Coachella Valley. Once here he decided that what he wanted was to do something fun to move away from the pressure of the large hotel dining room and he listed everything he would love doing and keep it simple. Fortunately for all of us at the top of his list was BBQ. Hence Tootie*s Texas BBQ was born.

Partner Steve Vinson came from a long line of incredibly great bakers and desert makers, his mother and grand mother. The mix was natural, great BBQ and great deserts, how could you go wrong? And they didn’t. Today Tootie*s Texas BBQ has a following loyal of BBQ lovers. Nearly 40% of their business is pick up and take out and, when time permits, they will agree to do catering.

Tootie*s menu, just as its surroundings, is simple. Great BBQ Pork Ribs, BBQ Chicken, Beef Brisket, Sausage, and Smoked Turkey Breast. You can buy by the pound or by the lunch or dinner. The portions are generous and the taste and flavor are marvelous. Meals come with choice of several sides, for example Mom’s potato salad, Texas Caviar (Black Eyed Pea Salad), Cowboy Beans, Dirty Rice, creamed corn San Antonio Style, Baked Beans, Macaroni Veggie Salad or Tootie*s Cole Slaw. To the diner’s delight prices are kept low as $7.50 for a sandwich and go to $14.95 for a three meat combo. With dinner you get a choice of bread, white, Jalapeño cheese, corn or flour tortillas. Unlike others, Texas BBQ, Texas ribs and meats are not slathered in sauce when they reach the table, but you can ask for Tootie*s Regular tasty and tangy or Tootie*s “Kick Ass” BBQ sauce which totally lives up to its name.

With your meal you can enjoy white wine or beer from a special 120 year old micro-brewery, Shiner Bock Longneck, Shiner Bock Draft, and Shiner Hefeweizen, all real Texas beers for people who really love beer. Soft drinks, lemonade, and Texas Iced teas, bottled water and domestic beers are all available.

For desert, one of our favorite parts of a great meal, Chef Steve prepares the specialties of the house, Bourbon Pecan Pie (“to live for”), Peach Cobbler (Uuuummmm Goood!) and real Texas Sweet Potato Pie (deeeeliciooooous!)

Tootie*s is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. They are closed Sundays and Mondays. Reservations are not necessary, call or come in for take out orders.