Food is excellent, lots of choices, they usually have a daily special. I had a hamburger & fries…read more If you drink water, it's about $11. Service is good, ambiance has a log cabin feel. Love music on porch sometimes.

The 5-piece Catfish Dinner has huge pieces of fried fish; I saved a couple to enjoy with lunch the…read morenext day! My wife's Chicken Sandwich was good, and the Chocolate Malt finished it all perfectly!

The young waitress was super: did great at her job and was so sweet. The food was good and arrived…read morespeedily. I had a steak. It was good. Highlight is the view of the river. Overall a good experience while on vacation.

Really nice place to eat. The atmosphere is great and the waitress are great also. Just make sure…read moreif you're going for supper get there early. It really fills up fast. Not too long of a wait but it's really worth it.

A breakfast burrito that rides the rails straight into legend…read more Some meals feed you. Others announce themselves--plant a flag in your memory and refuse to leave. Jesse James Foods, a train-car restaurant tucked into Batesville, Arkansas, does the latter with the confidence of a place that knows exactly who it is and what it's doing. I arrived from Austin with the quiet skepticism of someone who's eaten well and often. I left recalibrated. The stage is already set the moment you step inside: a railcar theme reborn as a diner, humming with the kind of honest energy that only comes from food made by people who care. And at the center of it all is Jesse himself--part conductor, part craftsman, wholly in command of his kitchen. I ordered two takeout breakfast burritos (mom in hospital) that could not have been more different in temperament yet equally accomplished in execution: the Ghost Aioli Ham Breakfast Burrito and the Sausage Breakfast Burrito. Let's talk about the ghost pepper first--because Jesse did. Knowing my Texas background and my respect (and caution) for ghost pepper heat, he paused. He explained. He offered a taste, not as a dare, but as an assurance. That confidence was earned. The ghost aioli, when paired with the ham, is a masterclass in restraint. The heat is real--but it's civilized. The richness of the ham tempers the ghost pepper's fire into something warm, aromatic, and deeply satisfying rather than aggressive. It doesn't shout; it hums. Of the two burritos, it was the clear favorite--layered, bold, and balanced in a way that tells you this wasn't an accident. This was thought through. The sausage burrito, meanwhile, is comfort done right. Savory, grounded, and generous without being heavy. It's the kind of breakfast that steadies you for the day ahead. And then there's the detail that separates good from great: a proper crispy hash brown aside the burrito. Not limp. Not steamed into submission. Crispy. Structural. Intentional. It adds texture, contrast, and proof that Jesse understands breakfast at a fundamental level. Service matters, and here it shines. Jesse and his staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely proud of what they're serving--because they should be. There's no pretense here, just hospitality backed by skill. Jesse James Foods isn't just a stop. It's a destination. If you're anywhere near Batesville, you owe it to yourself to climb aboard. This is a must-try--and a reminder that some of the best food in America isn't found in big cities, but in railcars run by people who care enough to get every detail right. - M. Brown

Great place! Smokehouse burger was great. Great flavor and the bread didn't get in the way. The…read moreboudin burger was good but I'm from Louisiana and like spicier boudin. The hot chicken sandwich had good kick. On another note, this is a Christian business that is not ashamed. I loved it. Keep up the good work!

This place is perfect for drinks and bar food that is restaurant quality (not your standard grill)…read more My kids really like the food here, but the atmosphere can be overstimulating for some of us. Get the thin and crispy fries!!! They're worth the wait. My first time here I ordered one of their loaded fry entrees and it was okay, but when I returned for a second shot I had a spicy grilled chicken sandwich that was very good and generously portioned. The drink menu looks promising, unfortunately I haven't made it to this restaurant without kids yet so I haven't tried anything from the bar.

We always look for new places in the area when visiting our cabin in Arkansas and I saw Twisted…read moreSpud pop up in Yelp while looking for places in Batesville. I was excited to try it as it's not often you see a restaurant whose specialty is a baked potato. We were seated right away on a Monday for lunch. Our server was so sweet and took time to answer all of our questions about the menu. I decided to go with the Chicken, Bacon, Ranch loaded potato which was a touch choice as every potato on the menu sounded amazing. My husband got the Bourbon Blitz burger which was on special. Y'all....the potato was HUGE and the BOMB!! It had queso, shredded cheese, ranch, hand breaded chicken tenders, fresh bacon, onions, lettuce, and tomato. There was not one square centimeter on that spud that wasn't topped with something. My husband said his burger was the best he ever had which is saying a lot. The crinkle fries were just your basic frozen variety but they are fried in beef tallow which made them extraordinary. We both pretty much cleaned our plates and my husband kept moaning lol. I just left a couple bites of potato because of its colossal size but I gave it my best shot. If you are in Batesville, go try this place!! You will not be disappointed. Every plate we saw go by looked amazing. If you have room afterwards there is a delightful coffee shop in the library across the street called Rocket Brew which our server recommended.

The food is definitely home cooked by a local, it might take an extra minute bc it is only one man…read morebut it food is tasty dine in country style or order to go. Either way you'll be back

Evening went very smoothly food was good and hot cook wuz amazing definitely recommendread more

Best bbq ribs I have ever had. Nondescript building but…read morenice staff. If you're in the area, be sure to stop here.

The food was delicious. We had the Bigger Burger. It tasted like home made. I will go back again…read morenext time I am in Batesville. The service was very good. Very nice people.

Decided to go here for dinner on a Wednesday evening . The place had a nice crowd. They serve…read morealcohol here and that was nice since its in a dry county. I decided to sit on the patio and it was nice. The menu is small and changes often. I had the smash burger and onion rings. Prices are very reasonable. The burger was good but I was expecting a little crust on the edges but overall a really good burger and still juicy. Onion ring were ok. Dont think they were homemade. Overall its a nice place and really good place to relax after a busy day. Check this place out.

Another exceptional visit to Polk & Paddle. They're open for lunch on Saturday, love how it's…read moredecorated. service is good, both beer & food are delicious!

Hidden gem on the hillside in Timbo, AR! "This place is great", she gushed! We loved it; rustic…read moreand unnassuming, with outstanding sandwiches and burgers! Even better; the staffers were extra friendly - we want to go back and see them again! My Reuben was fresh and full of flavor, and my wife loved her Chicken Sandwich. Plain okd chips instead of fries - to remind you that we are in a podunk area, even if the food is GOOD. LOVED IT.

I passed this place several times while en route to my field study sites, and had to try it since…read moreit looked cute and the sign claimed they had the "best catfish in the Ozarks". Since I began exploring Arkansas, I have tried a variety of catfish meals, and this one was pretty good. I ordered a catfish basket, which included 2 breaded and fried catfish fillets, fries, 2 hushpuppies, coleslaw, pinto beans, and pickled tomatoes (or was it tomato relish?). Our order took a little time (not much), but because I assume they made it fresh, which is nice compared to other catfish places I have tried in the Ozarks. The catfish was pretty good - fillets not to thick or thin, nice crunchy slightly spiced exterior. Fries and hushpuppies were pretty good, too. I really liked the cole slaw. It didn't look like typical cole slaw, as it had more dark green slaw and also had tomato. Never been a fan of pinto beans, and I have little experience with pickled tomatoes, but it tasted much like salsa, actually. I admit I wasn't a huge fan of the tartar sauce, but I think it is made in house, so that's good I suppose. All in all, plenty tasty, plenty of food for the price. Service was friendly, interior doesn't knock your socks off, but it is clean and bright, and they feature local art prints and originals. The art up when I went was pretty nice - I would have considered buying something were I not a poor student.