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Info for RVers... |
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...from a fulltime RVer |
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Eating
Out in Hot Springs
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Arkansas
September, 2006 |
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While out walking along Bathhouse Row, it was a warm day and when I got hungry, I wanted something filling but not hot and heavy. When I saw their menu outside the entrance, I thought this is exactly it - their "Endless Lunch" where for $7.99 you can mix it up and get all you can eat of your choice of tossed greens or potato salad, with homemade soup and sandwich. You have to walk up a flight of stairs to get there, but it's definitely worth the climb! |
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Manager
Terry Miller (far left), said she makes all items on the menu fresh
every day, so the selections change daily. She grinned when she
said they almost named the restaurant the "Nothing Fried Cafe'."
She wanted to go with an "Old World Style with Southern Flair."
The combo definitely works! Her famous chicken salad is made frequently
since it's a local favorite - ordered here by a couple of regulars
being served by cute & friendly Emily, a family friend. Her
tomato basil soup is another often requested item. I tried that
and her egg salad sandwich on croissant with a cool salad and it
was so delicious - the perfect ticket to get me back out on the
street for more sightseeing! As for the "Nice Lady Desserts,"
ask her about the "secret" ingredient that keeps her carrot
cake dense, moist and one of the most tasty I've ever had. Terry
has lived in Europe and left the security of a government job to
settle in Hot Springs 10 years ago. She said she learned life is
"not about money, but about quality of life." Why Hot
Springs? Her reply "I live in a National Park with the cleanest
thermal water in the nation - it's a small town with a worldly feel
and great history since the 1500's." She also runs the
Abelard Inn,
a Bed and Breakfast with only two rooms - another family affair
tended with loving care. I really enjoyed meeting Terry - another
woman not afraid to go for her dreams and make them come true on
her own terms - you go girl!
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Bill Clinton grew up in Hot Springs, and he said McClard's Bar-B-Q was his all-time favorite BBQ place. You can trust him on this one! Scott McClard (standing) fixed me up with samples of everything I wanted to taste. As a Texan, I warned him I was picky about my BBQ, but I have to tell ya - I have never had more tender or tasty meat in my life. Easily cut with a fork, the brisket and pork were perfectly complemented by a spicy sauce that also satisfied the Cajun in me. The two seated here are hand rolling one of their most popular items - tamales made with their chopped beef - so good I could have eaten a dozen except I also tried their ribs, beans and coleslaw, and I was so stuffed by that time, I contented myself with buying a few bottles of their sauce for me and family members. Scott says the ribs & fries (real potatoes of course) and tamale spread seem to be the local favorites, but I betcha you can't go wrong with anything you order here. I got a kick out of reading how the McClards began to make their mark on the Hot Springs eating scene over 75 years ago and how they came across their now-famous priceless secret sauce. Check out their website for this tale and the many other reviews from far and wide. |
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Chinese
buffets are among my favorite places to eat out - I like being able
to pick and choose exactly what and how much I want. If buffets
aren't your style, you can also order from an extensive menu here.
I asked the assistant manager, Kai, what were their most popular
dishes. He said most people say they have the best egg rolls around.
I had already decided that after a taste of one, but it was hard
to choose my favorite between that and the spring rolls. He also
said the shrimp, veggies & mushroom dish, the chicken broccoli
and the catfish reel them in all the time. On the lunch buffet there
were several seafood choices available, and at night they feature
snow crab legs. Not being a seafood fan myself, my favorite was
the spicy Szechwan beef. Go say hi to Kai!
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Hotsprings Pages: Bathhouse
Row • CG & Misc.
• J & J RV Park •
Let's Eat Out • Andrea
Rose Day Spa • Open Bike
Rally
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