Dining Adventures by Boat

Arkansas’ lakes aren’t just playgrounds for paddlers and boaters—they’re highways to good eats.

Across The Natural State, you’ll find restaurants where the dock is the front door, the soundtrack is lapping water and boat motors, and the dress code is relaxed. Walk the dock to find burgers and fries, fresh catfish, barbecue, hand-cut steaks or a cold drink on a hot afternoon.

Whether you're refueling after a day of water sports, looking for a sweet treat or grabbing a meal to keep the adventure going, these spots serve up great food while keeping the water vibe alive.

The best meals come with a view and in The Natural State, the views don’t get much better than this. Here’s where to pull up, tie off, and taste the best of Arkansas—one boat-accessible bite at a time.
 

Dock and Dine: Where to Eat on Arkansas Lakes

From shoreside pizza deliveries to full-service dining with a view, Arkansas’ lakes serve up more than just scenic beauty. Whether you’re craving a burger fresh off the grill or a milkshake to cool down after a day on the water, these lakeside spots have you covered.

Greers Ferry Lake

• Janssen’s Lakefront Restaurant sits right on Greers Ferry Lake, with dedicated boat parking that lets guests step straight from the water to a table with a view. For decades, the lake breeze and kitchen aromas have been reeling in hungry boaters. Since 1978, members of the Janssen family have been serving up scratch-made comfort food and the menu is anything but ordinary. Hand-cut Black Angus steaks, fresh seafood, and daily specials—like oyster po’boys, NY Strip ramen, grilled Greek wraps, and crawfish étouffée—add variety to every visit. Then there’s the famous Sunday brunch—a feast of eggs benedict, thick waffles, homemade Pop-Tarts, shrimp creole, baked salmon and more. And when it’s time for dessert, their colossal cakes pack four decades of decadence into every bite.

Lake Hamilton

• Pull up to Bubba Brew’s Sports Pub & Grill on Lake Hamilton for a laid-back dining experience right on the water. This three-story hotspot serves up daily specials and a diverse menu stacked with everything from wings and wraps to ahi tuna and hand-cut steaks, plus pizzas, pasta, and a mouthwatering weekend waterside brunch you don’t want to miss. Handcrafted brews and coffee are as much a staple as the lake view. Kick back on the patio or head indoors. Beyond the food, Bubba Brew’s is a destination for entertainment. Live music sets the vibe, while pool tables, numerous large-screen TVs, and outdoor games keep the fun going long after sunset. Expect warm hospitality, great food and a memorable lakeside ambiance.
• Satisfy your seafood cravings and soak up the view at Fisherman’s Wharf Steak & Seafood, a casual family dining restaurant on Lake Hamilton. Grab your sunglasses and a seat on the covered patio overlooking the water. Order some delicious seafood, steaks and cocktails, or sandwiches, salads, soups and chowders and more for lunch or dinner. There’s plenty of comfy seating inside too. It’s a flavor-packed stop that adds perfection to a day on the lake.
• Back Porch Grill is a family-owned and family-friendly favorite where boaters looking for a bite go for great food and a laid-back lakeside atmosphere. Nestled on the shores of Lake Hamilton, it welcomes boaters to its relaxing outdoor patio or warm interior decor. Known for legendary hand-cut Black Angus steaks, Back Porch Grill goes beyond beef with a menu featuring seafood, pasta, salads and signature appetizers. If you’re winding down after a day on the water, don’t miss their handcrafted martinis on the bay.
• At 501 Lakeside on Lake Hamilton, the fun starts the moment you tie up. Two food trucks, a liquor wagon, and outdoor games set the scene for a lively lakeside hangout. The menu keeps it simple and satisfying—hot dogs and burgers piled high with toppings, served with chunky potato fries that don’t skimp on flavor. Frozen drinks, cocktails, beer and wine are on hand for those looking to kick back and soak up the lake life. The setup is made for summer. A pavilion-style metal roof shades half of the expansive patio, where picnic tables offer plenty of room to gather. Shade sails and trees provide dappled cover over the open-air seating of square tables with comfy chairs. Along the patio’s edge, barstools line a ledge for a front-row seat to the lake. A covered dock and walkway lead straight to the good times.

Bull Shoals Lake

• Bush’s Pizza in Bull Shoals isn’t dockside, but that won’t stop you from getting a hot slice on the water. Call in your order and they’ll deliver right to your boat at any dock or ramp in Bull Shoals, Lakeview or Fairview, including private docks. Their signature crust is a locale favorite, they offer a gluten-free cauliflower crust. Want more than pizza? Their hot subs are the talk of the town, plus they serve calzones, wings and salads. Call 870-445-4100.
• Just around the bend from the Peel Ferry—the last public ferryboat in Arkansas—Anchor Pointe Resort & Restaurant is a dock-and-dine favorite on this stretch of Bull Shoals Lake. Whether you’re pulling up for a quick bite or winding down after a full day on the water, the full-service restaurant serves up hearty dishes like pizza, burgers, barbecue and lake-inspired fare. Weekly specials keep things interesting and a lineup of cold beer, iced coffee and milkshakes ensures complete satisfaction. The on-site general store has lake life essentials covered, from bagged ice and snacks to fishing gear and camping supplies. And don’t skip the cherry cobbler—consider it the sweet finish to a perfect lake day.

Lake Norfork

• Milkshake anyone? Jordan Marina has you covered, along with pizza and wings (bone-in and boneless). Call in your pizza orders — 870-499-7348 — while you’re out on the water and they’ll have it hot from the oven for you when you hit the dock. Tables and chairs are available for you to kick back and enjoy the food before heading back out on the lake.

Beaver Lake

• For a more secluded stop, head to Ventris Trails End Resort in Garfield on Beaver Lakes’ north shore. Tie up at their small dock and take a short walk through the wooded path to the resort’s kitschy restaurant, offering sandwiches, burgers, chili dogs, pizzas and fresh salads. Indulge in one of their summertime desserts like banana splits, sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream sodas, soft serve cones and root beer floats.
• Pull up, tie off, and dig in. The Captain’s Seat at Prairie Creek Marina is Beaver Lake’s floating hangout, serving up big flavor for lovers of this big lake. Kick things off with shareable bites like cheese curds and pickle fries, then keep it light with a wrap, salad or sandwich—or go all in with fish and chips, a pork tenderloin, a gourmet burger or a hot, fresh pizza. Fried pies dusted in powdered sugar make for a sweet send-off. Open seasonally, so check social for the latest.