Eat Arkansas

Rocky's is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Arkansas. Cheese pizza. Sausage grinder. Cold beer at the bar while watching the Oaklawn (and other tracks') races live on satellite. I like to bet the feature and last race, then head over to Rocky's and drinker cheaper beer, and eat fabulous food, while seeing whether I won. Good times.

Rocky's pizza is my favorite in the world, but Rocky's combo Italian sausage and meatball sub is great if you just can't decide which meat you want on your sandwich. The right answer is both. Facci's is great and kid friendly. The regulars look like the cast of the Sopranos. Sam's Pizza out on the lake is good and fun.

Bella Arti is great. Angel's also has fine Italian food and a delicious little wood oven pizza. Get a pizza for an appetizer, then get something fancy like Crab Stuffed Veal with Portobella and Provolone Ravioli in a Vodka Cream Sauce (I don't know if that's really on the menu, but they do stuff like that).

Rolando's is fine, and different--South American/Caribbean influenced Mexican dishes and lots of unusual entrees.

I'll miss Coy's and Bohemia. Herr Adolph Rupp is a real soup master. I hope he enjoys his retirement. Hot Springs Brau Haus takes up his slack with good German and Continental dishes.

La Hacienda is it for Mexican.

My favorite steak house is the Back (or is it Front) Porch Grill at the boat dock of the hotel (Sunbay?) across from the Clarion. Great steak and seafood. I like the Beef Wellington. The sports bar restaurant in the Clarion serves a mighty good burger.

My favorite bar these days is the place in the old Ohio Club, now called Al Capone's Ohio Club, I think. Big strong drinks and they use real juice and a shaker glass instead of Kool Ade mix for drinks like Margaritas and Sours. The magnificent wooden back bar survived the fire.

Maybe the bar in the Park Hotel will be brought back to life. It used to be a fun place. The Lobby Bar in the Arlington Hotel is as grand or grander a space to have a drink as the Memphis Peabody. It can take you back in time.

I can't wait to take a trip to the Spa City. I'll have to take several trips this meet to even eat at all the places I've just listed, and I'm sure I didn't remember to list all of my favorites.

Hear that bugle? It's a call to the post. Everybody take your money to Hot Springs and leave it there. You'll get loads of fun, laughs, excitement and great food in exchange for your fun tickets.

EAT ARK: Hey, thanks for great post. I'm hungry.

Yeas, I am the Chief Executive Volunteer for Hot Springs tourism. The only way I can get paid is if you suckers put your moolah in a pari-muruel pool with me at the track.

That IS a great post, whoscrumdown. In all my years of going to the track I've never set foot in Rocky's. I'll have to try it.

Bohemia was always my favorite place to eat in HS. I also loved Coy's and Pompeii (when Jay owned/started it--haven't tried it in years).

Big Fun...I'm pretty sure I saw you at the races on MLK day.

Hugh Mann,

I indeed was there. Didn't make it to Rocky's, though I considered it. But did power down a fabulous corned beef and a brew or three. You should have said hey. And don't eschew Rocky's. You're missing out in a major way. Try the pizza and the sausage grinder, if that floats your culinary boat.

Has anyone tried the Porterhouse? They have this great bread that is the bomb. And I like their beef.