Entered the restaurant with my friend and then the waitress was brand new and didn't know anything about the menu, I asked multiple questions and then she eventually went and brought her supervisor I guess, I was wearing a rainbow Apple Watch band, I kept getting the most uncomfortable looks from the staff and from the customers, didn't bother me much and then when I ordered only 1/2 of my order came over and my friends order has been completely fulfilled, I asked for the same waitress to come back and told me why did I receive half of my order she said that she is very Sorry and then she will fix that right away, took her another 15 minutes to get my food and in those 15 minutes I tried to cancel the order so I can just go home, she didn't cancel it she brought it back anyway, she didn't even offer any sort of discount for the mishap although my friend finished eating While I was still waiting, then we asked for dessert hoping that things will get a little bit better, he ordered a coconut pie and I ordered a lemon pie, those were the two worst part is that I've ever had in my life! I don't know where does this place gets his reputation or his treatment to the customers especially the brand new ones that hurt quite a lot about the place yet you come over and you get shocked by this miserable treatment, I will make sure that I will spread the word all over and never come back again! read more

This place is amazing. We just moved to the area and were looking for food similar to Hunts in Dothan. Stumbled on The Ark and was so happy we did. The food was delicious and the service was just as good. My favorite place are BHM thus far for sweet tea! read more

We ate there on a friend's recommendation (boy, is he in trouble!) on August 30 around 7 PM. We ordered the fried catfish and the fried oysters. We give the fried catfish a B+, but the rest of the meal was a big disappointment. The fried oysters were tasteless; if I didn't know what I was eating, I could not have identified what the food was. The hushpuppies were an exact uniform size and shape, dry and with very little flavor- they had to have been frozen and baked. My baked potato had a large black solid piece in it near the skin the size of a small egg and I had to return it (after a frustrating time trying to get any waitress back to our table). I here note that the little black girl clearing tables was the only person being nice to us and asking if we needed anything. They need to promote her to waitress. They charge you $1.50 extra for any side other than slaw or french fries and I think this is a rip-off as, given their prices should amply cover these choices. Prices, as some have reported, are not really reasonable with the amount and quality of the food served. Our waitress, Tammy, took our order, served it and disappeared for almost the rest of the meal. She did come over just as we were finishing with a pitcher of drink. We thought the table service and attention was very bad. Save your time and money. There are much better seafood places in the Riverside area. Scope them out. read more

Ate here twice during race weekend in May 2012. Its close to the track and right off the highway. I got the shrimp and my dad got the catfish and we both enjoyed. These shrimp are better than shrimp I have had on the Atlantic coast. There is a picture of Dale Earnhardt Sr. On the wall, with I guess the owner. The plates come with slaw and French fries but I am sure you can substitute. This place has great fish and shrimp! read more

Delicious shrimp and catfish! You will not be disappointed! The service was friendly and fast. This is great seafood restaurant!

The Dorrance, Egan and Field Families have started getting together at different restaurants within say a 50 mile radius. This time it was the Ark in Riverside, AL. A very friendly staff seated us at a table set for six. Our order was quickly taken and was soon on the table. We all had catfish and something else. I must say that the catfish was a good serving size and tasted very good. I had oysters with my catfish. Martha, Anna Lee, Mot and Buddy had shrimp and Bob had crab with their catfish. All were served with very good French fries, hush puppies and slaw. Everyone had a glass of iced tea. I give this restaurant an A+ 4 Star rating. The food was hot and tasted very good. The service was fast and friendly. The cost was moderate. They had a Lunch Menu price list and and a slightly higher Evening Menu price list. We were there for lunch. We all enjoyed our meal and had a good time being together. -Jay Dorrance, Pelham, AL September 16, 2011 read more

I have been going to the ark for forty years and has to be the best catfish and hush puppies. I do have to say that my experience today was not a good one. The catfish was ok. Not the best I've experienced from there. The hush puppies were store bought frozen hush puppies. Not the homemade ones that I've been used to for all these years. Just not what im used to from the ark and very disappointed. read more

Our recent visit may be our last. While service was good and food ok the flies and hot room temperature was not a pleasant experience at all. read more

We had the worse experience at the Ark. Waitress clearly forgot to turn our order in but tried to tell 4 people that we arrived after 3 other tables. Funny how we seated ourselve so chose the empty booth. Thought I was ordering a side of onion rings, but was charged for as an appetizer. Funny how the "appetizer" was promptly dropped on the table after my husband complained about the wait. When questioning the side that I recieved as an appetizer, I was told by the owner, Well you ate them didn't you? Won't be back! read more

I have been eating here since 2000 with Paw Paw Red. He is the one that introduced me to the center plate and I always have it with whatever I order ( usually the 2 or 3 piece whole catfish.) The hushpuppies are so good that I usually order some to go. You know what you are doing here ( coleslaw also awesome! ) so don't ever stop. Thanks, LJ read more

Stopped on the suggestion of the lady at the welcome center. Almost never found the place. We were turning around and happened to see the old sign. We had lunch. My friend had a fish filet and shrimp. I had hamburger steak, hamburger patty with can gravy and onions. I don't eat seafood. The baked potato and salad for $1 more was really good. The waitress gave us one check . When we went to pay the people in charge couldn't split the check. They were very quick to tell us the waitress was suppose to ask us how to fix the check. I didn't care because our waitress had been good and fast. The man rang it up and our meals went from $22.++(on one check) to $26.++(on individual) checks. Our one and only experience. Won't go back. read more

Wont make a long article but just have to say that if youre in the area and want great seafood, this is it. I go once or twice a month just for the shrimp. It is fantastic. The building itself is old, kind of run down...but I even like that too. read more

the best catfish, hushpuppies and fried pickles near Birmingham, totally worth the drive!

im not the one that likes to put bad comments on people. but i feel the need to haft to put this one up. we went to eat there last night been waiting a while to get to go . everything was nice had a few older couples in there looked over to my left seen a older couple saying their pray over there food in which my husband and i did the same thing when we got our food . like i said everything was going great now here comes the bad part well about 10 people came in they were in a group drinking them a few beers then here come the bad words talking really loud with there bad words nothing said to them .well i was ready to just take my food and go as i was getting a to go box for our food i also seen the other couples doing the same thing. i think its pretty bad that you cant go in to a family place to eat without hearing all these bad words . i told the lady checking us out what was going on all she said was im so sorry . but she let 5 couples walk out instead of going to that one table and saying something to them . when i heard the word g.d for the 4th time it was time to go . i think they should have said something to that table .we had the same right to set there and enjoy our meal as they did . im just so sorry that couple in there late 70s that was praying over their food had to hear that. by the time we got home food was cold . as im sure theirs was to because they got a to go box also alone with the other 3 couples so they let 5 good couples walk out and let the bad ones set there and be loud and use all those bad words well i will never go back in there again and i remember going in there when i was a kid with my family .its just a shame . i guess they was hoping for a bigger sale and tip. but stuff like this will put you out of bussiness when people stop going in there because they dont want to hear that kind of talk . never again they got my last 45.00 dollars. donna read more

my husband and i eat here twice a year when we go to the races. love the place and the people there are the best. wish we lived closer but we're going to the track tomarrow to drive your car around it so we will be eating at the ark. i'm going to enjoy that more than being on the track can't wait to eat the seafood platter and a cold beer. read more