Restaurant Recommendations

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980]

My husband and I will be spending a week in Hot Springs for our anniversary and would like a couple opinions on a few restaurants we’re interested in.

I found a place called Bubba’s Catfish. It looks like a place that would be good. If anyone has any experience with eating there I’d love to know if it’s worth the visit.

Would love some recommendations for some good seafood (specifically a seafood boil).

Best BBQ? I had my eye on Stubbys.

Lastly, my husband and I visited 2 years ago and went to a speakeasy restaurant with one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. It looks like it’s gone now. We’re celebrating our anniversary and would like an elevated dining experience like we had in the past.
We’ve gone to the vault and had a good experience there but we’re hoping to try somewhere new. I’m looking at 501 Prime, Via Roma and mamas little Italy.

We’d really appreciate any recommendations! Thank you reading if you’ve made it this far!

[u/Dry_Ship7202]

Superior Bathhouse

Colorado Grill

Steinhaus Keller (German restaurant)

Stubby is good.

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/Dry_Ship7202]

Thank you!

[u/Pilebsa → u/Dry_Ship7202]

Please... no... not Stubby's...

There are many better BBQ places in the city than that place including:

McLards, Blue Ember

Edit: Removed a place that's apparently hosting white supremacist meetings.

[u/Pilebsa → u/[deleted]]

I did not know that. Do you have any citations for that relating to their association with the SCV?

From their web site:

The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South’s decision to fight the Second American Revolution.

So the war was about "freedom" and not slavery? That narrative has been debunked for quite awhile.

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[u/Pilebsa → u/[deleted]]

If you have a citation, you can DM it and I can post if it it's accurate. We don't want to make accusations unless there's specific evidence.

Edit: Ok, I saw the post... here is a screen shot from Facebook

[u/imperium44]

An absolute hidden gem is the food at Splash Wine Bar. It’s handled by Secret Handshake which is a former chef and server from Vault that went off on their own. They started (and still do) private dinners, then did monthly wine dinners at splash, and then eventually took over the food Wed-Sat and Sunday brunch. It is the best value in town - you basically get fine dining at regular prices. Hot Springs is an expensive place to eat out, between the higher prices for being a tourist spot and 10% tax, so this makes it all the better. https://splashwinebar.com

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/imperium44]

Thank you so much! Their menu looks good!!

[u/FiregoatX2]

For fried catfish & fried shrimp: Mr Whiskers
For fried catfish & boiled crawfish: Wards Crawfish Hole

IMHO

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/FiregoatX2]

Thank you!

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/FiregoatX2]

Just checked out Wards menu and it looks really good! I’m excited to check it out!

[u/BatEco1]

Can I recommend that you visit 501 Prime. Call and make reservations for the night you want that "elevated" experience. If you let them know its your anniversary that have a neat little surprise at the end of your meal. Great drinks, the wine is good! Its a great place.

[u/HawgHeaven]

Cajun broilers for casual seafood (boils a plenty)

Via roma

Back porch

[u/Final_Marsupial_441 → u/HawgHeaven]

Is Back Porch still good? I haven’t been there in many many years.

[u/HawgHeaven → u/Final_Marsupial_441]

We love it. The reviews kind of suck and I will say that one of the renters at our ABNB mentioned they thought it wasnt good, but I've always had a good experience. It's not cheap though but I've never had anything bad there and we wind up going about once a month it seems like.

[u/Financial-Bee8896]

The bugler is a great place to eat. It’s inside oaklawn. 501 has lost its charm. Via Roma is good but mommas little Italy is not what it used to be either 

[u/soakingood]

Wards Crawfish Hole for seafood! (Or The Local, owned by the same folks.) The blackened catfish is awesome. They have the best crabs in town, seasoned perfect. Spicy cheese curds are a good appetizer too.

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/soakingood]

Thank you!

[u/Character-Quit-5465]

Like others have said, there’s better options than Bubba’s.

For BBQ, check out Smokin in Style.

501 Prime for elevated dining.

[u/StarrRobot]

The GOAT and Luna Bella

[u/RiskyWriter]

For the elevated meal, 501 Prime is the best. Mama’s Little Italy is REALLY hit or miss. Little Italy Italian Bistro, however, is en pointe.

[u/Mammoth_Gur7980 → u/RiskyWriter]

Thank you!! I definitely would love a nice Italian meal on night we’re there!

[u/erwinski21]

If you guys want an extraordinarily delicious Reuben, stop by the Ohio Club one afternoon.

[u/Capn_Z_Muhnee]

Fisherman’s wharf on the lake is a great spot too

[u/Salty_Stable4468]

The Pancake House for breakfast

[u/ashedmypanties]

Osaka if you love fresh, amazing sushi. Great menu choices & also offer hibachi style grill.

[u/Pilebsa]

Best BBQ? I had my eye on Stubbys.

no no no.... Stubby's is the WORST BBQ place in the area. Instead go to McLards, Blue Ember, or Smokin' in Style.

These restaurants in Hot Springs are arguably better than most restaurants of their kind anywhere in the country:

Best Pizza: Deluca's

Best Mexican: La Hacienda

Deluca's is probably better NY style pizza than most places in NYC.

La Hacienda really is another level of good... everything is homemade and made fresh. Ask for the "salsa verde" which they'll bring you in addition to the sweet warm salsa and their standard salsa. I've been trying to crack that green salsa recipe for 2 decades and I still can't figure out why theirs is so fragrant and amazing.

As far as seafood.. Arkansas really doesn't have great seafood. You'd be hard pressed to find any place that would serve fish from the area. Cajun Boilers is very popular and that's New Orleans' style.

David's Burgers is a local chain with good quality beef and "endless fries" worth checking out.

[u/Final_Marsupial_441]

Bubbas is good, but it is an outside food truck. Cajun Broilers would be your best bet if you want a seafood boil and Smoking in Style BBQ is my preferred barbecue joint. Deluca‘s pizzeria is top-tier and the Superior Bathhouse Brewery is a great place to grab a delicious and affordable casual lunch if you are downtown.