SIMPLY NAJIYAH’S FISHBOAT AND MORE This is kind of an odd place. First there’s the name, which doesn’t really roll off the tongue (or the fingers on a keyboard). Then it’s the lack of cars we see there, despite its convenient location on a busy corridor of University across the street from UALR. When we went there for lunch at 11:45 a.m. on a recent weekday, our party of two was the only group there. (And nobody else showed up the one hour we were there). The friendly waiter took our order and pointed out the specials written on the whiteboard. Our buddy ordered it, only to have the waiter come back and say the special wasn’t ready yet and it would be at least 30 minutes before it would be.
So instead we ordered catfish and beef brisket — and just after those dishes arrived out came the chef with a large helping of the special (penne pasta with faux crab, chicken and a few veggies in a cream sauce) and the “carrot casserole,” which looked like and was spiced like yams. It was on the house.
Another odd thing — we requested and received a to-go menu, which, interestingly enough, includes several things that aren’t on the menu that is handed out at the tables — including two chicken sandwiches, a chili dog, chicken wings and all the salads. And when we left we saw a sign by the drive-thru window for a seafood po-boy, which isn’t on either menu.
However, the catfish was pretty darn good, as were the “corn fritters,” which really are fried cornbread hunks studded with corn. Fried okra and fries were right from a food service bag. The brisket was somewhat tasty but smothered in sauce and was a must-be-forked sandwich. 2900 S. University. No alcohol, CC. $-$$. 501-562-3474. LD Tue.-Sat.