Thursday, August 8, 2013

Hot Burgers, Cold Ice Cream and Nostalgia at The Dairyette in Mt. Ida.

Since 1958, Mt. Ida's Dairyette has been the go-to dairy diner for locals and visitors alike, seeking ice cream and burgers. Find out more about this great roadside stop.

The best place to quench your thirst and extinguish your raging hunger after a crystal dig in the region around Mt. Ida, Arkansas is the Dairyette. This family (and pet) friendly
drive-in located in the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World offers a moderately sized dining room and a couple of walk-up windows to order at, along with plenty of outdoor seating.  It’s been a great place for locals and for travelers who enjoy searching for crystals and taking a dip in Lake Ouachita all the way back to 1958.


The Dairyette offers 1/3-pound burgers and 1/6-pound "junior" burgers with or without American cheese. Chopped iceberg lettuce, wrinkly hamburger dills, and a slice of tomato come on the burger by default, along with a swipe of mayo. If you want mustard or ketchup, just ask. The patty itself is what burger aficionados call a “smashy,” a thinner burger smashed flat on a hot iron griddle.


That hot griddle also makes up one of the best patty melts in the area – the same flat, almost crispy patty of beef grilled together with onions and mushrooms and a slice of Swiss cheese.  The grilled application is applied to toasted Texas toast for a very decadent and savory sandwich treat.  Whether you choose a burger, patty melt, hot dog or something else, you can have your item with crinkle cut fries, Cajun fries, onion rings, or tater tots.


The Dairyette's shakes are impossibly creamy, with a bit higher milkfat consistency than other shakes (I suspect a combination of soft-serve and whole milk is behind this).  The chocolate shake and chocolate malt are ordered the most often, but I also like the strawberry, cherry and orange cream versions.


Of course, there are soft serve ice cream cones available, but if you want to really experience dessert, share a banana split with your dining party.  If it’s hot and you choose to sit outside at one of the picnic tables on the west side of the restaurant, it’ll be a race to see who can finish before you have a paper boat full of ice cream soup.  Don’t go too fast, though – you don’t want an ice cream headache.


You’ll find the Dairyette on the south side of US Highway 270 just east of downtown Mt. Ida.  For more information, call the restaurant at (870) 867-2312 or visit the Dairyette Facebook page.

Dairyette Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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