Review of The Whistlestop Restaurant in Hot Springs, Arkansas

The Whistlestop Restaurant sits on Highway 270 close to the Martin Luther King Expressway. Although it is easy access to get in, sometimes turning left out of the parking lot can be a challenge. But don't let the traffic deter you from eating there.

The menu offers a variety of food from catfish to hamburgers. Most of the time when we go, we eat off of the buffet. It offers such a variety of vegetables, meats, breads, soups, salads and desserts, there really isn't a need to order from the menu unless you just want a smaller portion.

The price of the buffet is around $14 a person, so it is a little expensive for my taste, but as long as you eat your fill, you'll get your money's worth. Ordering from the menu will be less expensive. Most items start at around $6 and go up from there. It also depends on whether it is lunch or dinner.

One of the best appetizers to order is the fried pickles. These are dill pickle slices dipped in a special batter and deep fried, served with a side of Ranch dressing. Only get one order, though, because one or two people cannot eat the full order then eat a meal. The order is a large plate full and is enough for 5 or so people to munch off of.

The buffet offers meats such as chicken strips, fried catfish and broiled catfish. The veggies offered might be corn, green beans (usually with onions), mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese and pinto beans. The salad bar is pretty typical of any salad bar. They do have dinner rolls set out as well. The dessert bar will offer puddings, cakes, pies, and cobblers. It will also have sugar free items on it as well.

Service is not always the best at The Whistlestop. It depends upon how busy they are. They are also fairly slow when you order off of the menu. So, if you are with a group and you order off of the menu while others eat off of the buffet, you may be sitting for a while watching everyone else eat.

The Whistlestop is not always my first choice when we go out to eat, but I do know people that just love it.