The 11 Unique Arkansas Restaurants That Absolutely Have To Go On Your Bucket List
By J.B. VanDyke|Published August 30, 2017
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J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
You’ve come to the right place. You are looking for restaurants here in Arkansas that are truly unique in some way, right? Well, friend, below you’re going to find 11 places where you can get absolutely delicious food in restaurants you can’t find anywhere but the Natural State. From gorgeous views to tiny trains that deliver food to your table, these 11 restaurants need to be experienced to be believed.
You can find links to entire articles about all of these restaurants in the descriptions.
Cliff House Inn is poised above the Arkansas Grand Canyon, giving it a perspective unlike any other restaurant. From a breathtaking view from the windows in the dining room to the home-style fare that will remind you of your grandma’s kitchen, Cliff House Inn is well worth the spectacular drive up scenic Highway 7.
You can see some truly stunning pictures of this eatery
at this link.
The Oark Cafe has only been a restaurant for a few decades, but before its transformation, it was the oldest general store in the Natural State. Their burgers are great, their atmosphere is fantastic, and the drive is a pleasure all its own. This is one little eatery well worth driving out into the wilderness for.
You can learn more about the Oark Cafe and find directions
at this link.
Located on the grounds of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Weinkeller Restaurant offers delicious European food paired with wines made from grapes grown on the premises. The restaurant is built on the original wine cellar hand dug back in the 1800s, making for ambiance unlike anything else in the Natural State.
We can’t have a list full of unique restaurants with incredible views and great food without including Cajun’s Wharf. This Little Rock institution has views of the Arkansas River that you’ll love, an atmosphere that you’ll adore, and food you’ll savor.
You can find more information and directions
at this link.
If you’re looking for hands down the best steak you can find in an off-the-beaten-path restaurant, Toad Suck Buck’s is the oddly named restaurant that should go right at the top of your list. Toad Suck Buck’s has a sense of atmosphere unlike most other Natural State eateries, but with cold brews, pool tables, live entertainment, and some of the best steak you’ve ever tasted.
Nobody does grilled cheese better than Hammontree’s. With quirky names for their delicious sandwiches and more flavor combinations than you might expect for the old cheesy standby, you certainly won’t be bored with their menu. Throw in gourmet hot dogs and soups you won’t believe, and this grilled cheesery is well worth a trip up the hill.
Hammontree’s has two locations in Northwest Arkansas. You can find both their addresses
here.
Ozark Cafe is located in the tiny town of Jasper. It’s had some serious staying power here in the Natural State, due largely to its homey atmosphere and impeccable home-style cuisine. The Ozark Cafe is one of the oldest restaurants in Arkansas, and it’s about time you discover why they’ve been around so long.
When it comes to unique, you can’t beat a restaurant built to look like a riverboat and set on the shores of the White River. At Dondie’s White River Princess, you also can’t beat their impeccable seafood buffet. For golden, flaky catfish with all the fixings and an incredible atmosphere, head to Dondie’s White River Princess.
Airplane food might not have much appeal, but how does eating some fantastic home-style fare on a grounded passenger plane that has been transformed into a dining room. You can explore the cockpit of the retired jetliner as well, but I imagine you might be too busy enjoying your dinner for that.
For top-notch lakefront dining with a totally gorgeous view, look no further than the hills above Lake Norfork. The Grill at Whispering Woods has a patio with unrivalled views and food so good you’ll want to come back for more.
To read an entire article about the Grill at Whispering Woods,
click here.
How does a train-themed restaurant sound? What if tiny trains delivered your food to you? That’s exactly what you’ll find at All Aboard. Tiny trains run around the tracks above the tables and deliver piping hot plates of awesome right to you at All Aboard Restaurant & Grill, making it an experience unlike anything else in the Natural State.
You can find a delightful video of the food-delivering trains at the end of
this article.
You’ll want to add these restaurants to your bucket list as well. In fact, here’s another expansion for your ultimate Arkansas good eats bucket list.
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