Drive Highway 64 between Clarksville and Ozark and you will pass more good meals than you might expect. Some of these spots sit in small towns, one is inside a historic winery, and one is out on a river road in the Ozark backcountry. The list covers steak, burgers, Cajun seafood, Swiss-style cooking, and Southern comfort food.
A few have limited days, so check the hours before you head out. Even people who have lived here for years may find a new place to try, or a menu item they have never ordered.
1. Wiederkehr Wine Cellar & Weinkeller Restaurant, Wiederkehr Village, AR
Swiss cooking in the Arkansas hills is not what most people expect, and that is the appeal here. The Weinkeller Restaurant sits inside a historic Swiss-style winery at 3324 Swiss Family Dr, right along the Highway 64 corridor between Clarksville and Ozark.
The menu leans German and Swiss. Look for Cheese Fondue, Swiss Onion Soup, a Swiss Sausage Platter, Beef Stroganoff, Quiche Lorraine, and Steak & Shrimp Lugano. Sauerkraut is on the menu for vegan diners, and Black Forest Cherry Cake covers dessert.
The restaurant sits on the Arkansas Wine Trail, so a winery tour and tasting fit naturally into the same visit. Views take in the vineyards and the Ozark Mountains, and a fireplace adds to the historic setting.
Lunch and dinner are served daily, with hours running 11 AM to 8 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9 PM Friday and Saturday, and 11 AM to 7 PM Sunday. Reservations are accepted, and Saturday afternoon and evening are the busiest times. Weekday mornings are much quieter.
Free parking is usually plentiful, and a private dining room is available for groups.
2. Alligator Rays Cajun Sports Bar, Altus, AR
Crawfish Bisque in a small Arkansas town sounds like a typo, but Altus has it. Alligator Rays at 109 W Main St serves Cajun seafood and gumbo in a lively sports bar setting.
The menu includes Seafood Gumbo, Smoked Boudin, Oyster Orleans, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, Stuffed Shrimp, and Blackened Chicken Pasta. A vegetarian Bayou Deluxe gives meat-free diners an option too.
Live music and bar games are part of the draw, and the place works for watching sports. A kids’ menu and high chairs make it workable for families, and reservations are accepted.
Plan around the schedule. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday, opens at 4 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and opens at noon on Sunday. Friday evening is the busiest window, while Wednesday is the quietest.
Parking is free and usually easy.
3. Arkansas Brewing Company, Ozark, AR
A historic building near the Arkansas River is home to a brewery that also runs a full restaurant. Arkansas Brewing Company at 201 S 1st St, Ozark, pairs house-made craft beers with pub fare and live entertainment.
The Chicken Sandwich is a menu highlight. Lunch and dinner are served, and late-night food is available on the weekend nights when the kitchen stays open.
The setup is easygoing. There is outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi, a kids’ menu, and dogs are allowed inside and out. Curbside pickup and takeout are options too.
Hours are limited. It is closed Sunday through Tuesday, open 11:30 AM to 10 PM Wednesday and Thursday, and open 11:30 AM to midnight Friday and Saturday. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest.
Parking is free and usually plentiful, and reservations are accepted.
4. Ozark Burger Company, Ozark, AR
Pie shows up on the menu at a burger joint, and that pairing is the first clue this place does things its own way. Ozark Burger Company at 303 N 18th St serves handmade burgers and fresh pies in a casual dining room.
Fried Pickles, Fried Mushrooms, Chili Cheese Fries, a Grilled Chicken Wrap, a Grilled Cheese, and the Ozark Melt round out the lineup. Fries are cut fresh, and the portions run large.
Families fit in easily. The restaurant has a kids’ menu, high chairs, and outdoor seating, and it takes reservations.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. It is closed Monday. Sunday afternoon is the busiest slot, so arrive early if you want a calmer table.
Parking is free.
5. Crosswoods Restaurant & Sports Club, Clarksville, AR
Evenings are the main event at Crosswoods, which opens at 3 PM and stays open late. Located at 2614 W Main St in Clarksville, it combines a sports bar atmosphere with a menu built around steaks and signature sides.
Ribeye and Chicken Fried Steak are the staples, and the chicken fried steak comes in a big portion. Nachos, a Hamburger, a Gyro, and Sweet Tea are on the menu as well.
Food is cooked from scratch, and service has a quick, friendly pace. Live music, a good beer selection, and TVs for sports keep the room busy on weekends.
Hours are 3 to 10 PM Sunday through Wednesday and 3 PM to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings are the busiest. A kids’ menu, drive-through, takeout, and outdoor seating are all available.
6. Kasper’s, Clarksville, AR
Prime rib is the signature at Kasper’s, a historic steak house at 501 N Johnson St in Clarksville, across from the college. It is the original location of a restaurant that has since added a second spot in Dardanelle.
Steak fans can choose a New York Strip or Ribeye. Other dishes include Shrimp Scampi, Salmon Sliders, and Kasper’s Signature Pan Seared Chicken. Crem Brulee covers dessert, and there is a full vegetarian menu.
The setting is upscale yet rustic, with a private dining room for gatherings. Catering is offered too, and the tea selection stands out.
Kasper’s serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday evenings draw the biggest crowds, so weekday meals are calmer.
7. Byrd’s Mulberry Riverfront Restaurant, Ozark, AR
Getting here means leaving the highway behind. Byrd’s sits at 7037 Cass Oark Rd in the Ozark backcountry along the Mulberry River, with forest and water as the backdrop.
The menu is Southern comfort food. Catfish and hand-dipped onion rings are the headliners, joined by Chicken Fried Steak, steak, shrimp tacos, chicken, and desserts. Hushpuppies and green beans come alongside, and burgers, buns, and fries are made in-house.
It works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and coffee is a highlight. Outdoor seating, a kids’ menu, and curbside pickup are offered, and dogs are welcome outside.
Check the schedule carefully. It is closed Monday through Thursday, open 5 to 8 PM Friday, and open 8 AM to 8 PM Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are accepted.
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