Ed Walker's - Fort Smith, AR Review

Ed Walker's Drive-In is a Fort Smith institution.  It's been around forever, since at least the 50's, and there's a reason for it. 

The food is delicious.  Especially the french dip sandwich (a fresh roast beef sandwich with au jus dipping sauce made by hand at the restaurant).  The burgers are good,too, including the gigantic burger that weighs like six pounds.  The huge burger is good, and a novelty item you'll never forget, and the kids will get a big kick out of,too.   It can easily feed 3 or 4 hungry people.  You most certainly couldn't eat it by yourself, and would be unlikely to be able to finish it with just two people. 

They serve a lovely selection of beers, over 30, including domestic, imported, and microbrew selections, some on tap, some in bottles. 

The decor is 1950's style.  Some of it is original to the diner, but a recent rennovatation removed a lot of the older stuff like the original booths and tables and flooring, and replaced it with new (though matching and 50's inspired) ones.  It's quiant and charming looking.  There's a lot of Arkansas Razorback decor in there,too.  Including a ride-on mechanical Razorback Hog the kids can ride.  In addition to the inside dining room, there is counter service, drive-in service, outside dining tables, and carry out service available.  The drive-in service even includes the state's only legal curb-side beer service.  (The restaurant is so very old, it was able to be grandfather-claused.)

The food is all reasonably priced.  Very much the kind of prices you expect in a diner type restaurant.  It's not a fancy restaurant by any means, but the food is good, and it's one of those places with local flavor.  If you visit Fort Smith, I recommend having a meal (especially lunch), at Ed Walker's.