Hot Springs, AR guys.....what's open 1/1
 

4 years ago some friends and I started taking a New Years Day ride. This year will be from the Shreveport, LA area to Hot Springs, AR for lunch. Now it is all about the ride, but I'd rather not eat at a fast food joint. Problem is that I don't know what's there that would be open on New Years. Would some of you that are familiar with the area be able to make some recommendations?

Thanks, Ride Safe

Not sure what will be open but I have to ask, will there be snow that time of year? Last year I was stationed at FT Polk La and we went to Branson for thanksgiving and on the way back decided to go through Hot Springs and it was snowing. Not sure what the weather is that time of year but figure I would through it out there. You planning on taking HW 7 starting in El Dorado AR?

There's so many places to eat there you need to close your eyes and pick one

Hot Springs, AR
 

Try the place directly across the street from the horserace track, it's biker friendly with bike parking right near the front door, and the food is pretty good and cheap.

Rocky's Pizza, excellent I must say. Full bar also. Chicago Style!
If your into BBQ, Sticky Fingers is awesome! FT

Don't know if it's open or not, but (I think) on the North end of town just off the highway, they have a place that has a great buffet. First place I ever ate where the buffet had frog legs. Yummy!!!

Wife and I got married there in February of 2006. In the middle of an ice storm. The entire town shut down. I mean SHUT DOWN. Staff at the hotel wouldn't come to work, so we couldn't even get clean linen. So we honeymooned in Eureka Springs after an all day, scary as hell, drive up Hwy 7 to get there. Ice was so thick, it looked like 6" of snow had fallen.

BE CAREFUL!!!

Used to "work" the races every year. Ate many a meal at Rocky's!!

http://www.rodspizzacellar.com/ (get the "Godfather" pizza. Best I've ever had!)

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
3836 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71913-6903
(yeah it is a chain, but it is better than any of the others I've ever ate at.)

http://www.mcclards.com/ (you can't go wrong here)

Just a few of my favorites......

Thanks, guys. Pizza place sounds good. I'll call and make sure they're open on New Years Day.

You mean that little pizza/Italian food shop next to the Best Western Hotel? If yes that is quite a nice little place.

There could be snow. If so, we won't go. We decided when we started doing this that if the temps aren't at least 40*, we won't go. Same thing with ice and snow. If the weather is crappy, we can always ride south instead of north. Yes, the plan is to ride HWY 7 up to Hot Springs.