Benson’s Grill a Fort Smith favorite at any hour
Benson’s Grill in Fort Smith is a longstanding restaurant known for its fresh, homemade food served in a warm, diner-style atmosphere. It has maintained a loyal customer base since opening in 1968 and emphasizes large portions and good prices.
The restaurant had a few different names over the years and was renamed Benson’s Grill in 1997. It is currently owned by Ted Cserra and managed by Alan Parr, who highlights the establishment’s focus on fresh, local food and solid reputation.
“If you leave here hungry, it is your own fault,” Parr said with a grin. “Word-of-mouth is the only advertising that we have had. Benson’s is a Fort Smith institution with a few generations of loyal customers.”
The restaurant offers an old-school vibe with an attentive and welcoming staff, serving satisfying meals cooked on a griddle.
Benson’s has a slogan, “Where breakfast is served all the time.” During my visit, I sampled a few of the many breakfast menu options, including the All-in-One, featuring two eggs, two huge fluffy pancakes and bacon (ham and sausage are also options). The over-easy eggs were the work of a skilled cook, while the thick bacon had a great hickory-smoked flavor and the pancakes were plate fillers.
I dove into the Man Size Breakfast next. It was more than I could have eaten on an empty stomach: three scrambled eggs, a huge portion of hash browns, two sausage patties and two pieces of cinnamon raisin toast. This was another hit.
Next up, their G.O.T.cha! Breakfast was unveiled. This inventive dish begins with an open-faced biscuit, followed by a layer of fresh hash browns, then two scrambled eggs finished off with a choice of ham, bacon or sausage. The whole plate is smothered in outstanding white gravy. According to the staff, this popular breakfast is so hearty that finishing the plate nearly guarantees you’ll need a nap afterward.
The triple-decker Philly Club is another original creation with a Philly sandwich on top and a BLT sandwich on the bottom. Toasted sourdough bread ensures that the sandwich is sturdy enough to withstand the generous array of ingredients. This one is a winner for sure. A big serving of crunchy onion rings accompanied the sandwich.
Benson’s is known for hamburgers, so I tried the Cyclops Burger, including a griddled one-third-pound, hand-patted burger with lettuce, onion, American cheese, bacon, a fried egg, tomato and pickles on a toasted bun. There is nothing like a hamburger that features a tiny bit of crunch that only a well-seasoned griddle can deliver.
The restaurant has two famous specialty items: Mamma’s Mexican Surprise and Benson’s Burger Bowl. I opted for the burger bowl. What a fun item. It featured a big bowl of golden-brown crinkle-cut fries, topped with a one-third-pound hamburger, white gravy, an over-medium egg, crumbled bacon and a bit of shredded cheese.
Desserts like freshly made pies and cheesecakes sweeten any visit.
Benson’s Grill is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and certainly lives up to its tagline, “A place like no other.”