Destination: Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The start of racing season at Oaklawn is a good time to dive into all the magnificent wonders there are to experience during winter in the Spa City. Here's a fine selection of articles on where to stay, play and dine in Hot Springs.

Taco Pronto is 47 Years Old and Now I've Tried It.

Sometime the research I do in my never-ending quest to chronicle Arkansas food is fantastic. Sometimes it's not. And sometimes I get mixed results. That seems to be the verdict on Taco Pronto, a Hot Spring mainstay serving up quick, cheap eats since 1969.

A Pizza and a Smile at Rocky's Corner in Hot Springs.

Great food can be found across the street at Rocky’s Corner.  This longstanding Italian eatery has delighted residents and visitors alike for generations. Let's take a look.

Float Up Service at Fisherman's Wharf in Hot Springs.

Enjoying the great weather on Lake Hamilton? Want a bite to eat? Head over to the east side of the Highway 7 bridge and pull up and dock at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The Ohio Club, Arkansas's Oldest Bar.

The last of the legendary gambling houses in Hot Springs still stands today, with a magnificent bar and a pretty good burger, too.  Let's visit the Ohio Club on Central Avenue.

Delectable DeLuca's in Hot Springs.

Love Neapolitan-style pizza? Hot Springs is home to a new pizzeria where the thin-crust pies are the star, and each one comes topped with local produce and sauces. Let's check out DeLuca's.

Taco Mama, Freshest Mexican In All Of Hot Springs.

You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Mexican restaurant in Arkansas… whether it’s authentic, Tex-Mex or Ark-Mex. Some are good, some are decent, some you wonder how and why they survive.

But no one ever asks why Taco Mama survives. They already know. It’s magnificent.

Central American Fare at Rolando's Nuevo Latino Restaurante.

Next time someone tells you they’ve had great southern food, suggest a visit to Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurante. It’s not only southern, it’s south of the southern border… and even south of the south-of-the-border sort of food you’re used to.

Central Avenue Eats: Angel's in Hot Springs.

While exploring Hot Springs Bathhouse Row, one might pick up a substantial appetite.  If that appetite is for Italian food, you might make your culinary destination Angel’s Pastaria.

Breakfast on the Lake at The English Muffin in Hot Springs.

Searching for breakfast with a great view in Hot Springs?  The English Muffin sits right off Lake Hamilton, and has a lot to offer.

Pieday: Key Lime at Rolando's

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, all my entries right now are focusing on places that have cheese dip on the menu. Technically, this is not the case for Rolando’s, since what you read on the menu is “Queso Flamado.” And that, my friends, bears little similarity to native Arkansas cheese dip. Doesn’t mean it isn’t good…
The pie, though, bears special mention.