Interesting place in a sleepy town. I was here on business for a couple of nights. Was glad to find this first and then I was told that it is incredibly hard to find a table without reservation. Somehow we got a table for four. Food was fantastic but it took about an hour to get it. The waiters were apologetic and nice. Thereby cannot give three stars. We tried a local IPA and Orleans pasta with crawfish, shrimp, and crabmeat. It was delicious. If I'm here next time, will definitely consider for dinner as the other options are pretty bad. read more

Service was subpar. I have never had to eat my appetizers with my fingers. We asked for napkins and were told they had cloth napkins which would come with the main course. We literally were brought two paper drink napkins for six people. $175 spent. I will not be back. read more

This place is 5 stars for sure in the little town of El Dorado. Not much to choose from in terms of edible food, but this place served up some great food. I had the goat cheese salad... not bad. The spicy pork (Cajun) pasta was nice. The pork was cooked to perfect, although I could have skipped the onion straw (that's so 1995). Cool Dead Guy Ale and frosty cold glasses. Above all, you MUST have the bread pudding! I demand it! :) read more

Fayrays - Dead guy ale! Yum - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

Wow, this place is awesome. The food was mind blowing. And the beer just awesome. I will be back every time I'm in town. read more

Fayrays - Blackened Catfish with crawfish etouffe and cheesy grits. - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

It was a Tuesday night and a company located in nearby Smackover had the whole place reserved for two separate parties. Fortunately, I was in one of those parties. Dinner started at 7:00 with wonderful drinks and outstanding appetizers (the crab cakes are the best but the artichoke dip is a close second) and we all stayed till almost 10. Huge selection of beer. Check it out at the small bar in the back of the room. Great service even with a full house. The chef (owner?) makes his way through the guests at intervals but he won't share his red pepper Hollandaise sauce recipe. The red pepper soup is still top notch. Salads are good as well. I still love their Sea Bass which is a regular item on the menu. Probably should have tried their Sea Bass special (lightly blackened with...) but couldn't miss out on the mango salsa that comes with the regular menu item. Absolutely top notch Southern Pecan pie -- still the best I've ever had. Warning: We ordered it early in case they ran out but when it came out before our entree we realized it came with ice cream and had to eat it right then. So sorry, NOT! Fay Rays remains one of my favorites - a gem tucked away in Southern Arkansas. read more

Nice little spot in a small southern town. Prices seemed a little high for the town. Food was good but not for the price. read more

Fayrays - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

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The roasted red pepper soup wasn't that great to me as a starter, but it is probably just my palate. The turkey stack sandwich was outstanding. However, I was a bit surprised that with the awesome atmosphere and up-class feel, they were made with regular hamburger buns. The price wasn't too bad for lunch. I loved the King Kong theme that greets you as soon as you enter. Be sure and check out the small piece of sheetrock that was framed by one of the back tables! Service was outstanding as I expected. It's worth at least one lunch there if the dinner plates are too expensive. read more

After coming to El Dorado for over 50 years, there is finally a place that serves great Cajun pasta, steaks and even snails! Service is excellent and the owner chef makes sure you get the level of spice you desire. We had kids with us and that care was most appreciated. read more

Fayrays - New Orleans Seafood Pasta- Well Spiced!!! - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

The food is okay but the entrees are waaay overpriced by $5-$10. read more

Fayrays - Veal Marsala - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

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Passing thru on a Friday night. Wasn't busy at all. Hostess asked if we had reservation. There were 3 tables seated in a place with 20 tables. Go figure. Food was adequate. Had meatloaf on menu and servers said they were out of that and several other items. Don't go there if you look at menu on line. Guess it was owner/ cook. Had on the chef garb. He socialised with other diners which he obviously knows. Pulled up chair and sat with them. NEVER came by our table to see if our service and food was ok. Seemed very cliquey and not at ALL interested in food or service. When we come thru here again will make another choice. Repeat is based on food,service and welcoming. For the $ is ok. For a repeat . If you want rude. Go here read more

I was in town for business and tried Fayrays for dinner. The food was good. Everyone at our table had something different and everyone enjoyed it. The drinks are very strong (which is a star all by itself) and the staff was friendly. HERE comes the but and why only 3 stars. It is an expensive place for a small town in Arkansas. I was sticker shocked by the prices and I was not even paying. They recently switched owners and I believe name too. I am guessing they survive on business travelers. I can not see locals spending that much on dinner more that once a year. read more

I love the house duck. Taste delicious Dont foget to add the mask potato with the corn The price is a little to much compare to big city. But in such a small town like this you can not find any place that have good food and steak like this. read more

Excellent food and especially the service. Lyndsey is definitely a great representative for the place whose recommendations I recommend you follow. As for mine; The Goat Cheese Salad is the bomb! read more

I've previously posted a negative review of this place, but since then it has changed hands and improved magnificently. On my last visit I started with the artichoke frites, which were light, crispy and served with a tasty honey-mustard sauce. (I might suggest a remoulade?) My jerk snapper entree was well-seasoned and well-cooked, and served with garlicky mashed potatoes and some deliciously tender-crisp brussel sprouts. I tried the creme brulee for dessert (my main complaint in my last review) and it was delicious; smooth and creamy with a caramel crust and a swirl of chocolate sauce. The decor is just as fun as ever and the service is good. It also seems that the new owner has moderated the prices slightly. The selection of dark beer is excellent. read more

I thought the hamburger was quite good and was excited they offered an optional fried egg on top. A fried egg in a burger is supposed to be slightly runny and creamy, instead what I got was about the equivalent of practically scrambled eggs on top. The blue cheese was very good. Secondly I would ask for the mayo on the side as it had a big thick layer on both the top and bottom bun, it was just way too much. The artichoke dip was divine and definitely something I would get again. read more

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Fantastic! Dined here with a colleague while doing business in El Dorado - We walked in about 30 mins before closing - We were the only patrons, but they didn't scowl, in fact, the lady working the front of the house and the gentleman working the back (who I believe was the chef) were incredibly inviting - You could tell they were proud of their restaurant and rightly so! We split a goat cheese salad - Beautifully plated (check out the pic) and super yummy! Colleague had the salmon plate with shaved brussel sprouts and corn, and cabbage as sides, while I dined on the ravioli with half red sauce / half alfredo. We then finished off our meals with the bread pudding and vanilla ice cream - Everything was delicious, but I have to specifically call out the brussel sprouts side and bread pudding as OMG mouth-watering divine! Fayrays was a gold-star winner for both a vegetarian and carnivore - And bonus points if you know the movie referenced by the restaurant's name (my colleague is full of random factoids) - HIGHLY recommend! read more

Fayrays - Half goat cheese salad - New American Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

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This place has been around for a long time, changed owners a few times. If you're looking for exquisite food and tablecloth dining, this is your place. Great food and bar stock. read more

First time we've been back since the new owners took over. I was pleasantly surprised the food is much better. Steak was perfectly cooked with just the proper amount of seasonings that it didn't overwhelm the quality meat. Ravioli was also very good. The Calamari appetizer was as good as can be expected this far from the coast. The beer was very cold in a frosty mug. read more

Fayrays is a gem in the rough. El Dorado is not that large of a town. With that said so far, it's the most upscale restaurant in town. I ordered the duck, medium rare, nicely done with the sweet glaze, the chef made homemade okra and tomatoes, Cajun style. It was a sleigh ride for your tongue. I have not seen the wine list but I recommend this restaurant to anyone. The owner and chef was very friendly and took the time to recommend the duck. Bon appetit! read more

This is a great little restaurant in downtown El Dorado. I had a cup of the roasted red pepper soup and the crab cake appetizer. The soup was rich, creamy, and very tasty. The appetizer is served with two crab cakes & four boiled shrimp. Very tasty! The server was attentive & friendly. A delightful experience. The restaurant is small & probably crowded at lunch most days. read more

Let's face it, this is just about the only actual restaurant in the entire town of El Dorado. That said it's pretty good if you are looking for a nice meal in a casual atmosphere. Had the ribeye and it was pretty good. Certainly not the best forty dollar steak I've ever purchased but nothing to complain about. Great drinks as well, but be prepared for a major city tab to go with your small town meal. Don't complain, it's the only real restaurant in town. read more

We were there earlier this year (sometime in the Fall) and really enjoyed it. I wish they were open on the weekend because we're usually only in town on Saturdays. I have to eat gluten free, and the waitress was very good about finding out from the chef what I could eat. He even came out at one point to ask me something. I had the duck, and it was very good (not just the duck itself but also the accompaniments). The salad before that was also very good. The dessert was awesome (I think it was crème brûlée). The wine was nice and we had good service. We enjoyed it a lot and will come back when we can. We don't live in town, so we only get there occasionally. Definitely our favorite restaurant in the downtown area (not that it's saying much as it's way better than anything else down there). read more

Love the Orleans pasta dish and filet mig is good. Dip Duo is pleasant. Service is always nice but a bit overpriced for regular visits. Calm, casual atmosphere with good drinks. read more

Fayrays has the best steaks and seafood hands down in El Dorado. Plus great salads and desserts not to mention the awesome beer selection, wine selection and full bar!! read more

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This place is a gem. Arrived in El Dorado late on a Friday and were greeted with great hospitality as we wandered into Fay Rays. Cute, ecclectic old Hollywood (KING KONG!) decor. Fantastic beer list, served with chilled glasses. We started with the famed red pepper soup- which is all it's cracked up to be and more. I had a delectable salmon with fired okra. My better half ordered a steak from the specials. Both were cooked to perfection with a terrific Southern flair. Chef Richard came out to check on us and when he noticed we were beer enthusiasts, he proceeded to come back with various tastes of beers from all around the world. Great service, diverse and creative menu, and wonderful Southern charm! Can't wait to go back. read more

the food at this restaurant was excellent. had the roasted red pepper soup which was fantastic. crab cakes were tasty and the shrip appetizers also we had were nice. ordered the chilean sea bass which was perfectly cooked. For a small town in AR i think very expensive. i was with a group and someone else expensed it, but i think he told me the soup was $9 (for a very small cup) and the seafood and steaks were like $45 each. read more

I should have sat earlier. The place is quaint and that will take you far here but not over the top. I had the blackened catfish and frankly the crawfish that was on top tasted old. I almost had them take it back but it was late and decided to push it down with hopes it wasn't going to try an escape later that night. They close doors at 9 so I had to leave 3/4s of a beer. Maybe if I could have finished my beer it would have been worth another star but a man needs to keep his principles. 3 stars it is. Next time use fresher crawfish. read more

Was here on a business trip. We ate there last night. Food was delicious. We had the meatloaf and the salmon both excellent choices.

The duck was so good! We shared a delicious goat cheese salad and the red pepper soup as well. Everything was great.

Visited Fayrays a few weeks back. This was maybe the best food I had in Eldorado in the pass 15yrs which doesn't really say much. However my fish was over cooked the food wasn't as fresh as it should have been. Its like it was prepared earlier and set on heat lights then plated as ordered. The bread pudding was pretty good better than my meal of course. 3 stars I will do one more visit in the coming weeks hopefully I have a better experience. read more

Passing through el dorado in business.... Something I never thought I would say... Anywho... This place is excellent, easily best in town. I know that's not saying much but this place could hold its own in a bigger city. Chef is a Johnson and whales guy and it shows. 1. Had the biggest old fashioned in my life. Granted it was $12 but I'm not complaining. 2. Brussels sprout appetizer - get it, best part of the meal 3. Went with meatloaf which was above average but I think I should have gone steak or salmon/scallops. 4. Get shredded Brussels and corn Only bad part was the tax on the meal. I think it totalled over 10%!? WTF E! Dorado? Only place to go in town for a grown up meal. read more

Honestly feel like we were robbed!!! The food was so OVER priced!!! It's appalling! I could not believe what we paid for the terrible food we got!!! I have NEVER experienced a place like this...a stinky piece of frozen fish and a diner salad was $48!!!! I'm not kidding!!!! I am still mortified by this place the next day!!! Incredibly disappointed!!! read more

Best food in El Dorado! Service was great too! If you don't like the price of great food and great service then Mc Donald's is only a mile away! There's also a great variety of food here.. Everywhere else in town all they serve is fried catfish or swine.. Glad I don't have to drive out of town to find a nice place to eat on date night! read more

I met a client here for a business lunch. This is one of El Dorado's "fancier" lunch and supper options. The restaurant is located right in the Central Square of downtown El Dorado, and has a very classy ambiance. The restaurant opted for linen rather than paper napkins and tablecloths, and the silverware, dishes and glassware were of good quality. We were offered a wine menu when we arrived, but because we were having a "working" lunch, we opted to have nonalcoholic beverages. The menu offerings were varied and the appetizer selection was not the usual local fare of fried cheese/mushrooms/pickles/other standard friable appetizer-portioned food. We ordered the crab cakes (I spent a lot of time in the Baltimore area for work, and came to appreciate the local crab cake culture, and my client was actually from that same area, so we both had pretty high standards). Given the location of El Dorado, the crab meat was likely frozen, but the cakes had a good flavor, and the accompanying sauce was tasty as well. When browsing the menu for main courses, I found the menu to be somewhat limited. Each dish offered seemed to have its own particular and distinct flavor, and if you were looking for something more standard, you were somewhat out of luck. For instance, if you just wanted to order a filet, their only offering is "peppered." I am. It a particular fan of peppercorn in large quantities, so if I wanted a steak that wasn't "themed," I would have to get the ribeye. For our main course, my client ordered the Goat Cheese Salad and I ordered the Orleans Pasta. When the salad arrived, I was shocked to see that it consisted of literally a slice of cheese, quartered, three or four leaves of kale/lettuce, a single radish and a few cherry tomatoes. There were a few nuts sprinkled on the plate, and the dressing (if I recall correctly, as this particular visit was a few months back) was "artfully" squiggled over the "salad." My client (who had apparently been here before, while this was my first and only visit, to date) insisted that was enough for her. My pasta was more substantial, but also a smaller (lunch) portion. The pasta was well seasoned, but just seemed to be missing... "something" in the flavor. I don't mean to imply that it wasn't tasty, but just that, for my own particular tastes, there was something lacking that my brain seemed to think would make this dish "perfect" (umami?). We did not order dessert. Overall, I found Fayrays to be ok but rather pretentious. It's nice to have somewhere in town that you can take a client that is upper scale, but I found the menu offerings to be limited, and (the lunch portions, at least) to be small. While the food was ok, it wasn't "amazing," such that I would be excited or even motivated to return (and I haven't). The prices were surprisingly reasonable, given the atmosphere, and in line with food prices of other area restaurants. This was the main deciding factor for me, when deciding between a two and three star rating. read more

Prices appeared high when I arrived, but after being served greasy, fried buffalo shrimp appetizer and old, bland chilean sea bass I now think this place is way overpriced. Even the skillet potatoes and green beans were boring, plain and flavorless. Save your money and your stomach, go one block over to the Black Cat cafe and enjoy the tilapia for one third the price. read more

The Ceasar Salad @ Pasta New Orleans were great, with a glass of Pinot Noir. But topped off with Bread Pudding & coffee... was the bomb. Will be back! read more

Ok, I was waiting for the 5 stars here...The ambience was very nice but I have to say I'm a water snob.I really don't like to drink pool water our worse.if you have a nice restuarant spend the money on a water filter..sorry, its just a pet peave. Anyway, down to the food, the server was obviously new and did not know the menu well. This review was from 2012 I have them 3 stars. Returned in 2013 and the sea bass was amazing! I will go here every time in the area. It is pricey but when you are used to travel and expect quality go here. Service was good bit great but food causes 4th star. read more

An oasis of fine dining in El Dorado: Fayrays sticks out as the one spot on the square that I could go to again and again. Just go, but call ahead for reservations. read more

Over priced!!!! Steak was fair; garlic mashed potatoes were horribly disgusting!!! Another person had etouffee and they only ate a portion of the meal because it was not that good. Slow service; so don't be in a rush. Nothing to write home about and definitely will never go back!! Not worth the money. read more

Really enjoyed the bam-bam shrimp and coconut shrimp. Very nice wait staff and fast service.