New restaurant in Ocala: Wings, barbecue and 'The Meatavore' sandwich

Billy the Gator is on a mission.

Nathan Thacker, a jockey by trade, donned a gator character outfit recently and roamed the area near the newly opened Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue in northeast Ocala to advertise the eatery.

Thacker passed out about 150 flyers in one afternoon. “I tell people to say at the restaurant that Billy the Gator sent me,” Thacker joked.

Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue, 1431 NE 25th Ave. in Ocala, features a pulled pork sandwich dubbed “The Meatavore,” which eatery owner Charlie Hayes said is their most popular and signature sandwich.

The Carolina Meatavore is topped with cole slaw and a sausage variety Meatavore is also available.

Hayes, 60, an Ohio native and resident of the Ocala area since age 13, said his mother operated a restaurant in Ohio and he has always had a “love of cooking.”

Hayes said he worked with his father in construction and he was with the city of Ocala Building Department as an inspector from 2004 to 2011 and later worked in a similar position with the city of Gainesville from 2011 until 2015.

Hayes continues to do construction inspections with Universal Engineering Sciences but he felt it was “now or never” to open a fixed location to complement his catering trailer rig, Charlie’s Real Pit BBQ.

Hayes said he used the mobile outfit to cater the Great Florida Cattle Drive and served about 650 meals, three times a day, for six days during the event.

Hayes brings his experience to Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue and uses ingredients like Boston Butt and pork spare ribs.

The eatery offers Southern fried chicken-style wings, also available in Buffalo and smoked varieties.

Flavorings include Mamma Jamma’s Original Sauces and Rubs like hot garlic, mango - habanero, garlic Parmesan and more.

Numerous sides and beverages are on the eatery’s menu, including a house mixture of lemonade and iced tea called “Billy’s Teamonade.”

Working along with Hayes on a part-time basis is longtime member of the local food service industry, Linda Plumlee, former operator of Linda’s Diner.

Plumlee worked at Pizza Hut early in her 42-year food service career and later with a local wing restaurant.

Hailey Cone and Dominick Gordon round out the crew at Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue, which is a carryout only restaurant.

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Don Wood and his sons, Shawn and Ben, of Outback Pools FL of Ocala, recently visited Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue at lunchtime to try their chicken wing offerings.

“Everything had great flavor. We will be back to get more,” Ben Wood wrote in part in a text following his visit.

Customers can call into Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue restaurant at (352) 304-5402 and order online at TOAST APP.

Restaurant hours (carryout only) are: Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Billy Gator’s Chicken Wings and Barbecue now open in NE Ocala