This restaurant has been around for a few years yet we have never gone. For full disclosure I really do not like fast food style service unless I am paying fast food prices. The Flying Fish does NOT have that pricing. After standing around looking at the menu hanging above the counter I decided on fried tilapia fish tacos and my wife wanted the shrimp/chicken basket. We had to get someone's attention who in turn got someone to wait on us. My wife ordered a 6 oz margarita but when we got to the table there was a table tent advertising 10 oz margaritas for $9. The same price as was on our ticket. My wife took it back and exchanged it for the larger. My wife was not a fan of the margarita nor her food. At one point she even said she would rather have had Long John Silver's. My fish tacos were okay but a little odd they were hard shells. Eventually I chopped up everything and ate it with a fork. Overall I personally would have given it a 3 but when the manager was leaned against the front counter on his phone and there were numerous tables that were dirty I had to reevaluate and lower my score.
(2)
Suzannah G.
Beautiful children's meal in little steam boats. Loved the music. Catfish was great. Oysters 75 cents each on Sunday. Really nice flying fish on wall.
A taste of a shore vacation deep in the heart of NWA. Best ever fish tacos- seriously, they are. The Hula Popper appetizer- jalapeño, shrimp, cheese-mmmm don't leave without trying. The decor is 1950's throw back meets the Jersey Boardwalk which simply says- comfortable, fun, and come as you are. Great food. You will NOT be disappointed.
(5)
Brent W.
Took 5 adults to the location in Bentonville and we all felt the meal was great. The catfish was very good and as previously rated, the hushpuppies were fantastic. We will be back.
(4)
joe c.
This place was great; good amount of fish for the price paid. A La Carte menu so order what you can eat. Got the protein plate with large grouper filet, two red snapper fillets, and grilled veggies; threw on a corn on cob. Fish was "snappy" or spicy style which had a good kick of heat. Fish was cooked properly and flaked easily. Veggies grilled perfectly and good compliment to fish.
(4)
Zach J.
My mom and I treat ourselves to a lunch date once every couple weeks and one of our favorites is Flying Fish. Though not the healthiest option, we always get the fried catfish and french fries. The fish is as fresh as can be and the batter is crisp and well-seasoned. The fries are hardly needed because the pieces of fish are so big. The tartar sauce that is available is pretty generic tasting, but good, and you can get as much as you want. This is a great place for a quick meal, maybe a beer and to hang out for a bit.
(4)
Leang E.
This place was not initially on my list of places to dine at while I was in town, but I was very glad I made it here anyways. The menu options are huge as were the size of my eyeballs. I wanted to try everything! I ended up getting the grilled tilapia fish tacos and the hula poppers. My food was delicious. I was able to substitute the beans and beans and rice for green beans. The nicest person took my order taking my switch after I already placed my order and got me bbq sauce. He was so accommodating with everyone. This is a true example of how excellent customer service should be. Prices were moderate. I would have gotten the oysters had I known there was a Sunday Special. The menu wasn't updated above the register with what was at the table. How do you pass on .50 cent oysters?!
(4)
Lesley K.
I have been coming to this restaurant for three years. I come for the cheap oysters, fried calamari and fried fish tacos. I tried almost everything on the menu and didn't think the rest are worth mentioning. It used to be 50cents oysters on Sundays but it increased to 75cents. I gave this a 2 rating because it's a hit and miss with the food quality. I had gotten over salted calamaris and soggy fried fish on some occasions. Crawfish and crab sometimes are fresh and sometimes had mushy texture. My last two visits on 2015 was not a good experience. The bad is becoming more than the good. Their promo of free meal after several meals is not consistent. They give you a card and it gets a stamp for each meal ordered. One time I paid for a group of five and received 5 stamps. The next trip, I was only given one stamp. I was told that it was per receipt. The cashier was not happy when I asked. I was hoping he would give me two extra stamps since I'm so close to completing. So in the future, we all learned to pay separately. They have a rule that you order and pay first before you grab a seat. It's annoying that I follow the rule but find others not doing so. I had seen one person reserve a while table for 8 without an order buzzer. The restaurant management should do something about this especially during busy times.
(2)
Jen L.
I love this place. The atmosphere is so great. Quick clean and friendly. The food is delicious and the service is always with a smile. Jambalaya SPICY! Perfect. The fried shrimp so yummy! The kids boats are to cute ! And we shared a Margarita DELICIOUS ! Gem in downtown.
(5)
David P.
We are frequent diners! Ordered the combo two catfish and four shrimp basket. Substituted fries to get coleslaw. Love the catfish and tarter sauce. First time to order shrimp. Looked liked someone had pounded a bitterly shrimp flat in order to give a larger appearance. Also the hush puppies were about half the normal size. Disappointing as they are so good! Anyway, we love the food quality overall..
(4)
Curt W.
I'm not a seafood aficionado, so I'm not sure what my review is worth for flying fish. But I am experienced at eating good food, and this place is exactly that! I favor the fried shrimp and catfish combo. The cocktail sauce is weak, almost plain ketchup, but there is horseradish on each table so you can spice the sauce up to perfection. The fries are good old fashioned style, so they're probably terrible for you, but great to eat. Try the fried jalapeno slices for something different, very spicy and additive. I'm not the biggest fan of standing in line to order - especially when this place is busy, the lines can be long! But this is part of the character of this establishment. The food, atmosphere, and pricing easily make four stars.
(4)
S. B.
I did not see this on Yelp - shame! Hotel led me here and it was awesome. Casual, order first, they bring to table. Variety of fried & grilled options. Had grilled trout w/ veggies which was generous slices of grilled summer squash/zucchini & Mexican shrimp cocktail. Heaven!
(4)
Ed R.
Stopped in after a meeting while walking through downtown Bentonville. I knew that it was going to be good when we asked someone hows the food and they replied you have to come in. The jalapeño poppers were a little spicy, filled with cheese, shrimp, wrapped in bacon and fried. How could I go wrong? The shrimp was fried and sprinkled with an old bay blend that was flavorful and a little spicy. The fries were cooked perfectly as was the chicken and they too had the blend of old bay. Overall I was very happy with my meal. When I stopped got back to the airport and paid for my car the guy at the counter asked where I went to eat. I let him know the Flying Fish, he and the guy inline next to me said "The Flying Fish! That place is great!" The guys behind the counter were super nice and answered all questions. They checked in on us and after the meal wanted to know how everything was for us. Highly recommend!
(4)
Denny T.
A block from the town square. Beat up fish diner. Large selection of seafood selections and very limited alcohol selection. I wanted to see why this was rated higher than neighboring business. Ordered the gumbo, grilled fish with rice, beans, and grilled squash. This place was a major miss on seafood and everything. First notes beer cup given still had leftover seafood on side of cup. Not fresh at all for most of the meal. Gumbo came cold, and fish came over cooked and under flavored . Vegetables about only thing that could not have been messed up. Rice and beans seemed like they were reheated. Service for the food was slow. Overall only one star for the filthiest restaurant that I saw out in Bentonville. Food was not good. Not much to say about the whole experience except wish I never went here.
(1)
Andy R.
What a disappointment. The catfish and shrimp are so thin and bland it made us sick as we ate it. The calamari was hard as a rock from being thin and over cooked. Also, how do you screw up corn, they found a way. $50 for 2 people to eat 10 bites and get sick to the point of almost throwing up. Guess that's why it was dead in there at 7:30 on a Friday night. Wouldn't go back even if you paid me.
(1)
Joab N.
No thanks on this place. I like fish but this isn't for me. I gave it a second chance but everything I've had and tried there just wasn't very good.
(2)
Robert F.
My brother and I stopped by for dinner after a Sunday afternoon concert at 21C. The restaurant was not particularly busy. Ordering was quick and the food was ready in under 10 minutes. I had a combo platter with chicken and catfish, while my brother opted for the catfish platter. The catfish and fries were hot and tasty, though the fries were obviously shoestring potatoes out of a frozen bag. The hushpuppies were tasty, but come on guys! Two hushpuppies the size of large marbles is kind of a joke. Surely cornmeal and onions are not that expensive. Golf ball size hushpuppies are called for. The chicken was abysmal. I've had better chicken strips at gas stations. In fact, they should probably be listed as fritters as there was so much breading you could barely find the chicken. What chicken was there was dry and stringy. What's sad is the fish seemed to be a premium hand-breaded product while the chicken was the cheapest Sysco CN style product imaginable. It wasn't even fit for a kid's plate.
(2)
Benjamin P.
I loved this local favorite. We were visiting the museum and someone recommended flying fish. Love the decor of silly fish heads, photos of friends and family, and general sea fun stuff. The food was great, not fancy or unnecessary, just simple tasty fried fish and sides.
(4)
Yi-Miao H.
Like this place! Fresh seafood taste good. This place is cool, interesting decorations hanging on the wall!
(4)
R G M.
Great food and service, A little hard to find a parking place because of construction but if you hit it just right enjoy the food
(4)
Grace N.
great atmosphere and tasty menu. the food quality is hit and miss, but it's still a fun place to take a group. the fish tacos are the highlight.
(5)
Danielle M.
This is definitely a locals' favorite! As soon as you walk in you see the checkered tablecloths and 1950s style seating. The decor makes you think you're eating at the wharf! The menu on the back wall highlights many different kinds of specialities, including frog legs. My husband said the legs were great! He also raved about the coleslaw. Although the hush puppies were a bit over cooked, the fries and chicken strips (perfect for kids) were great. Make sure to check out the Billy Bass Adoption Center. If you donate a Billy the Bass, it seems that you get a free catfish basket. Can't wait to visit again!
(4)
John K.
Really good fish place. I recommend the whole red snapper, Veracruz style, and some Oysters, with a Pacifico beer.
(4)
Anissa T.
Don't get me wrong - I'm very happy to have this option in Bentonville. However, after being here numerous times, there are some inconsistencies that need to be addressed. Primarily, I feel if a majority of your business is going to be fried food, that your fried food should be very consistently prepared. And yet we've had way overlooked fried jalapenos and almost raw hush puppies on more than one occasion. They should be able to do better.
(3)
Krystin B.
Really good, nothing is going to blow your mind. Still, we go here a lot for quick, casual suppers. Service is always friendly and fast. I love getting a big Blue Moon beer in the huge frosty goblet! Almost always get the grilled fish tacos or fried oysters. Once I had reeeally fishy fish which isn't the best freshness sign, but usually they are great. Hushpuppies are often an overlooked food, but one of my favorites, so I need to comment- more than half the time they are soaked all the way through with grease rendering them inedible. Does this mean they aren't fried at the proper temp or are re-fried maybe? Who knows. I keep trying them. I wish they'd get it together on those because when they are good, they are perfect, outstanding little morsels. A big MUST are the jalapeño poppers- Bacony cheesy yummy. Sometimes spicy, sometimes mild depending on your pepper, either way, they are SO good.
(3)
Linda L.
I want to love this place, and I do love the ambiance. But after eating there twice now, I have found the food really bland. I had the grilled grouper, and it just had no taste at all. I also had shrimp and oysters, all fried. I was surprised by how bland they were, dipped in a light flour coating. I put salt on the shrimp to give them any taste (and salted the grouper, too). I love seafood, and I really want FF to succeed, but right now, I find the cooking pretty poor.
(3)
Larry V.
Take it from this Florida boy. Not bad for a local joint. I would recommend it over any chain fish place. I found the place clean and the food was fresh, tasty, and if you go with fried, not full of breading. If I ever get back this way I will come back.
(4)
Austin R.
I was told this was a good local place. Food is really good. I had the two catfish filets and four shrimp fried. I felt that the prices are a little high for classic comfort food. Order heavy because portions are a little small. Overall food is okay and its always nice to support a local joint. Just watch those prices before you offer to pay for your friends' meals.
(3)
Erin H.
Stick to the fried stuff. This was our first time at Flying Fish. We're a family of 4. The atmosphere was great. Casual. Lots of quirky fishing stuff all over the place. You walk up and order and then wait for your pager to buzz to go grab your food. Among us we got the fish tacos, frog legs, grilled grouper plate, and raw oysters (.50 ea on Sundays!). Fish tacos were awesome. Frog legs were awesome (according to my husband and sons... I don't eat them). The oysters were good and fresh. They are Gulf oysters, so a little different than if you've had Pacific. Unfortunately, my grilled grouper didn't even taste like fish. All I could taste was the burnt bitterness of the dirty grill covered in nasty char, and it was mushy to boot.
(3)
Kmc D.
Went in hoping for a good po boy sandwich but wasn't impressed with it. Needs more flavor. Fish tacos seems to be the popular one, but we were not impressed with it either. Needs more zing and flavor over all. Who charges 4.50$ for a bottle of fat tire?
(3)
Nana C.
We thought we were in a food network show, "diners drive ins and dives"! The catfish was yummy! Nice and crispy and served hot. This is a no frills place, it is self serve. The food is good and that is what counts.
(4)
Kim L.
Awesome! Grouper poor boy is the best! Have great chowder...and crab legs! They also have a selection of beer. Staff is always nice and every time you get a meal, you get a punch on your punch card! Once you fill it up you get a free meal! Pretty awesome place and very good atmosphere!!
(5)
A C.
The ambiance is fishing themed and is similar to any small lakeside diner across the country. Order first, then grab a table. The order line was never ending while we dined. A popular place for locals and families. Stools, tables, porch seating and booths available. We tried the jalapeño basket with two sauces, the trout platter and the chowder; all delicious.
(4)
Thad J.
We heard a lot of good things about Flying Fish. Since we were visiting Bentonville, we gave it a try. The decor is remarkable quirky. Pictures of favorite customers, picutes of fishermen with their best catches, stuffed fish with whimsical wings attached. Our table ordered catfish, shrimp, chicken, fries and hush puppies. The orders came out quickly, hot and correct. The catfish fillets were large with plenty of fish and the right amount of corn meal breading. The shrimp was fried well and firm with plenty of flavor. The chicken was a little disappointing with too much batter covering too little chicken. The fries were, well, fries. The hush-puppies were surprisingly wonderful! Small and compact and full of flavor. Tiny bites of fried heaven. The atmosphere is uber-casual and very pleasant. A great place for a relaxing meal, a couple of cold ones and meeting some friends.
(3)
Alice S.
We liked Flying Fish. Husband has fish tacos and said they were good. I had a basket with one piece of catfish, hush puppies and fried okra. We split a side of cole slaw, which was very good and not loaded down with too much mayo like at some places. It's not fancy, but the food is fine. Servers were friendly and helpful. We would definitely go again.
(4)
Michelle F.
After hearing several GLOWING recommendations from friends in Bentonville my co-worker and I decided to try Flying FIsh for dinner one evening. The space is very nice. BIg, open and clean with fun decor all over. We ordered at the counter after studying the menu for a bit. I selected the picked green tomatoes and and the grilled red snapper Vera Cruz. My coworker had a shrimp cocktail and the grilled tilapia Vera Cruz. Apps (cocktail and 'maters) came out quickly and were both good quality dishes. You get lots of tangy tomatoes, love the little bite at the end, don't be afraid the split these two ways. The shrimp where generous in size, clean (you know what I mean!) and plentiful. And here's where it all sort of falls apart. We waited FOR. EV. ER. for the entrees, and this is early evening mid-week. Finally I asked someone who was bussing the next table and she went to check. A manager or supervisor-type guy came right out (he didn't introduce himself) to let us know it would be just 3 more minutes. And he was pretty accurate, except he only brought the tilapia. "Just 5 more minutes" on the snapper... 10 minutes later I finally got it. At this point the manager/supervisor realized he should take some action and offered both of us $9 off our next meal. The Snapper was less grilled and more like fish jerky. It's a good thing the sides were tasty, grilled squash and beans/rice, because that was really about all I could eat. The tilapia was better but the fillet didn't get completely deboned and there were surprises at the end. I want to believe that we hit the Flying FIsh on a REALY REALY bad night. I might go back sometime but it will be a while since I was visiting from KC. I do hope I get to update this at some point.
(2)
G D.
For the price, you can't beat the fresh fish in this place. It's not Bonefish Grill, but you aren't paying those prices, either. I do question the authenticity of the fish species, however, which knocks them down to 3 stars from a possible 4. I usually get the grilled rainbow trout plate, which has always been fine and I believe it's trout, but I've ordered "grouper" and "red snapper" previously, and I know it was not the genuine article. Since when does grouper look like a white trout? I know we're in a landlocked state here, but some of us are well traveled enough to know what these fish look like on a plate. Seafood species mislabeling (er, fraud) is rampant in the restaurant industry, but that doesn't make me accept it. Decent beer selection if you're dining in the evening, and casual enough to "go as you are".
(3)
Robert P.
Had the grilled Salmon Platter; it was excellent!! Very friendly employees and relaxed atmosphere. Will come here again!
(4)
Christopher S.
Was visiting my old hometown and ate here for lunch after enjoying Crystal Bridges. Been to the one in Addison, but its been a few years. Was shocked to find grouper on the menu, so it was all about the grilled grouper. Pretty good, obviously not gonna compare with Frenchys in Florida ( which makes my knees buckle ) on the freshness scale, but good. Not overseasoned so the flavor of the fish is evident, instead of some places were you can't tell catfish from cod. Kudos on that. The beans and rice were, well, beans and rice. And the hushpuppies were good but....different. They were more dense or dry or something. Not bad, not by any measure, just different. Anyway, nummy. Definitely a good option.
(3)
Cassie M.
Tried this place for lunch today. It is a lot bigger on the inside than the appearance outside gives. More seating farther in. It was quite busy but the line moved pretty fast. The menu is overwhelming with many fried baskets and combo's, gumbo, many grilled fish options such as grouper and trout among others, shrimp, crab legs, oysters...everything you can imagine a "fish house" should serve. I settled on a two piece fish basket which came with fries and two shut up dogs (ha-hush puppies). It was all pretty good. I added just a tad of salt. The shut up dogs were a little small and for that, a bit too greasy for my liking but flavorful. I did notice for the non-fish lover they do offer a hamburger or chicken. Another plus, while not at lunch, is they have beer, wine and margaritas. Side additions galore from corn on the cob to okra to spinach. The poor aka Po' Boys sandwiches came in many different varieites as well for roughly $9. I give it two thumbs up. Service was fairly quick even though they were having a problem today with one register not taking credit cards. Didn't seem to make them skip a beat. Hours are 11am-10pm daily. Wednesdays are all you can eat catfish for $15.
(4)
R H.
Good, but not great fish. I am a fan of the place, but it is not something I would recommend to out of towners. I do love the thousands of "billy bass" on the walls as decore. I have also eaten at the little rock location and feel the same way about them both.
(3)
Alan H.
Bentonville, Arkansas has been my second home lately. After a long day, Flying Fish was the only restaurant opened pass 9PM. I'm from Southern California where variety and nutrition are important. My pallet isn't use to the greasy, deep fried southern cuisine. Nothing really worth mentioning but It was good enough for dinner. The wait staff are extremely friendly, something I'm not use to in Southern California.
(3)
Jason B.
My wife and I ate at the Flying Fish in Bentonville (1st time) yesterday. It was Friday night and the place was jam-packed with the line all the way through the store out the door on the sidewalk to the street! Even w/ the crowd the wait wasn't too bad. Lots of fried food on the menu (and the hush puppies were great), but there are some healthier choices for the more discerning taste. We shared a plate of grilled salmon, grilled veggies with rice and beans, plus 2 sides and some great fresh lemonade. It was all fresh and ready quickly. The only complaint was the fish was slightly charred for my wife's taste (it wasn't burnt or over-cooked, just had almost black grilled markings on one side). We spent $20 total and enjoyed the food. We'll go back sometime with the kids, I'm sure!
(4)
Daryl B.
Stopped by between lunch and dinner crowds on Easter Sunday and really enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. My wife had the Fried Shrimp Basket, with a side of pickled tomatoes and I had the Grilled Snapper with grilled veggies and red beans and rice. We also started with a Fried Calamari which was excellent. The food was cooked exactly right and service was prompt. We enjoyed the experience and expect to go back.
(4)
katherine h.
I am from California and in town for business. I searched on yelp and found this place. I liked the family environment ambience. The place was pretty packed! I ordered the Hog Wallow Fry - it was delish!!! The portion was huge. The oysters were a bit too fried but it was still yummy. I didn't really eat the fries but the slaw it came with is yummy. I enjoyed my meal so much I'm coming back tonight.
(4)
Kisma K.
I wasn't impressed with this place at all. My hubby and I both had grilled Grouper, and it was so over cooked, it was rubbery. Their squash was so salty, I couldn't eat it. Raw oysters were old, and wouldn't come off the shell. Only good thing was my kids fried catfish.
(2)
Ed C.
Great option for fresh fish in this part of the country. The red snapper plate is my favorite. My wife even likes Flying Fish and she is not a seafood/fish person.
(5)
B M.
Just had dinner this evening, with plans to skate at nearby Lawrence Plaza's outdoor ice rink. Just off the Northwest corner (across from Harp's) of the Bentonville Square area. Street parking was easy to get, and there was no wait to get inside. You step into the outer area - like a gigantic, enclosed porch - and into the inner realm of a down to earth Bubba Gump meets bayou / fishermen's haven. The menu is pretty extensive and affordable. The 5 of us totaled $40 for 2 kids' boat meals (has a cute fish fortune cookie wisher) , Shrimp Po-Boy, Fish Taco and a vegetarian double side of red beans/rice and spinach, and drinks for the kids and hubby. Checkered blue and white tablecloths with a tray of 5 different kinds of hot sauces and spices - Tabasco red, green, Cholula, and another Habanero-based sauce. My daughter, the foodie, wanted to order more, so I told her to wait the required 20 minutes to see if she was still hungry. She wasn't, but she was already thinking about the next visit. The hush pups were tasty,especially with Tartar Sauce, Food took about 5-10 minutes to be served (they call you to the order desk), and is piping hot. We will return and eat more, and so should you!
(5)
Rudy W.
gumbo was not you are expecting, but then there arent any good gumbo outside new orleans. the food is too saturated with salt. you would think that they will use fresh jalapeno for the ingridient. but NO.... big mistakes.
(2)
Adam D.
The food was ok. I had the fried catfish. Was a little under-done for my liking. The service was non-existent. From ordering to pickup, it didn't seem very efficient.
(2)
Paul M.
I give the Flying Fish a 5. The food was delicious, the corn meal batter they use on the fried crawfish is outstanding, and they have 5 different hot sauces to choose from at each table. They have Tabasco (both the red pepper and jalapeno), Cholula, Louisiana (my favorite) and a brand I'm not familiar with called Melinda's. The service is great and the menu is pretty substantial. I'm from out of town but I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant. The crawfish poboy was the best I've had since I left Biloxi in 2002.
(5)
Don W.
We gave it a shot opening night and it was busy. We were in a line of 20 people and got to the register in about 10 min, so it goes pretty fast. The front porch area is misleading and makes it seem a lot smaller than it is. For longer lines, they have a second register that just sells beer and deserts. Start there or have your spouse buy you a beer to wait in line ;) They have a huge menu that I plan on trying systematically over the next few months, but this review is based on the Chowder and Catfish/Shrimp basket I did have. The chowder was very good. Thicker than I would have preferred, but very chunky and filling. The catfish and shrimp were great in that roadside diner meal sort of way. This place fills another gap of what the area was missing and I'm sure that they will have many more years of crowded success.
(4)
Nancy C.
My family recently visited Bentonville. We ate lunch at the Flying Fish. Everyone ordered a different combo/entree and we were very pleased with the excellent food, service and ambience.
(5)
Lily B.
YUM! The only downfall is how busy they get during "rush" hours. If you go b/t 2 and 4ish you will be fine. Atmosphere makes you feel like you are on the beach:)
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Lonnie S.
This restaurant has been around for a few years yet we have never gone. For full disclosure I really do not like fast food style service unless I am paying fast food prices. The Flying Fish does NOT have that pricing. After standing around looking at the menu hanging above the counter I decided on fried tilapia fish tacos and my wife wanted the shrimp/chicken basket. We had to get someone's attention who in turn got someone to wait on us. My wife ordered a 6 oz margarita but when we got to the table there was a table tent advertising 10 oz margaritas for $9. The same price as was on our ticket. My wife took it back and exchanged it for the larger. My wife was not a fan of the margarita nor her food. At one point she even said she would rather have had Long John Silver's. My fish tacos were okay but a little odd they were hard shells. Eventually I chopped up everything and ate it with a fork. Overall I personally would have given it a 3 but when the manager was leaned against the front counter on his phone and there were numerous tables that were dirty I had to reevaluate and lower my score.
(2)Suzannah G.
Beautiful children's meal in little steam boats. Loved the music. Catfish was great. Oysters 75 cents each on Sunday. Really nice flying fish on wall.
(5)Summer C.
Been here a couple times. Both times I had a good experience. You order at the counter and then bring it to your table when it is ready - no waiter service here. They customer service was good. Environment was good too. Nothing incredible, but a good place to come get some fish. Food: I had the salmon fillet with veggies, rice and beans. It was yummy! My husband got the Basket of Fried Tilapia (2 fillets) with fries and hush puppies. He liked his as well. I'm not dying to come back, but I would come back. The décor/environment is funny. We sat next to a wall where it was filled with billy bass mounts. You could bring yours in and they will adopt it for you haha. There was another wall with people's pictures and a description of their fishing experience. WAIT: We came during lunch time during the week and didn't have to wait at all. It was around 11:30am. It gets more crowded the closer to 12. We tried coming here another time when there was an event going on at the square and the line was incredibly long.
(3)Dean G.
A taste of a shore vacation deep in the heart of NWA. Best ever fish tacos- seriously, they are. The Hula Popper appetizer- jalapeño, shrimp, cheese-mmmm don't leave without trying. The decor is 1950's throw back meets the Jersey Boardwalk which simply says- comfortable, fun, and come as you are. Great food. You will NOT be disappointed.
(5)Brent W.
Took 5 adults to the location in Bentonville and we all felt the meal was great. The catfish was very good and as previously rated, the hushpuppies were fantastic. We will be back.
(4)joe c.
This place was great; good amount of fish for the price paid. A La Carte menu so order what you can eat. Got the protein plate with large grouper filet, two red snapper fillets, and grilled veggies; threw on a corn on cob. Fish was "snappy" or spicy style which had a good kick of heat. Fish was cooked properly and flaked easily. Veggies grilled perfectly and good compliment to fish.
(4)Zach J.
My mom and I treat ourselves to a lunch date once every couple weeks and one of our favorites is Flying Fish. Though not the healthiest option, we always get the fried catfish and french fries. The fish is as fresh as can be and the batter is crisp and well-seasoned. The fries are hardly needed because the pieces of fish are so big. The tartar sauce that is available is pretty generic tasting, but good, and you can get as much as you want. This is a great place for a quick meal, maybe a beer and to hang out for a bit.
(4)Leang E.
This place was not initially on my list of places to dine at while I was in town, but I was very glad I made it here anyways. The menu options are huge as were the size of my eyeballs. I wanted to try everything! I ended up getting the grilled tilapia fish tacos and the hula poppers. My food was delicious. I was able to substitute the beans and beans and rice for green beans. The nicest person took my order taking my switch after I already placed my order and got me bbq sauce. He was so accommodating with everyone. This is a true example of how excellent customer service should be. Prices were moderate. I would have gotten the oysters had I known there was a Sunday Special. The menu wasn't updated above the register with what was at the table. How do you pass on .50 cent oysters?!
(4)Lesley K.
I have been coming to this restaurant for three years. I come for the cheap oysters, fried calamari and fried fish tacos. I tried almost everything on the menu and didn't think the rest are worth mentioning. It used to be 50cents oysters on Sundays but it increased to 75cents. I gave this a 2 rating because it's a hit and miss with the food quality. I had gotten over salted calamaris and soggy fried fish on some occasions. Crawfish and crab sometimes are fresh and sometimes had mushy texture. My last two visits on 2015 was not a good experience. The bad is becoming more than the good. Their promo of free meal after several meals is not consistent. They give you a card and it gets a stamp for each meal ordered. One time I paid for a group of five and received 5 stamps. The next trip, I was only given one stamp. I was told that it was per receipt. The cashier was not happy when I asked. I was hoping he would give me two extra stamps since I'm so close to completing. So in the future, we all learned to pay separately. They have a rule that you order and pay first before you grab a seat. It's annoying that I follow the rule but find others not doing so. I had seen one person reserve a while table for 8 without an order buzzer. The restaurant management should do something about this especially during busy times.
(2)Jen L.
I love this place. The atmosphere is so great. Quick clean and friendly. The food is delicious and the service is always with a smile. Jambalaya SPICY! Perfect. The fried shrimp so yummy! The kids boats are to cute ! And we shared a Margarita DELICIOUS ! Gem in downtown.
(5)David P.
We are frequent diners! Ordered the combo two catfish and four shrimp basket. Substituted fries to get coleslaw. Love the catfish and tarter sauce. First time to order shrimp. Looked liked someone had pounded a bitterly shrimp flat in order to give a larger appearance. Also the hush puppies were about half the normal size. Disappointing as they are so good! Anyway, we love the food quality overall..
(4)Curt W.
I'm not a seafood aficionado, so I'm not sure what my review is worth for flying fish. But I am experienced at eating good food, and this place is exactly that! I favor the fried shrimp and catfish combo. The cocktail sauce is weak, almost plain ketchup, but there is horseradish on each table so you can spice the sauce up to perfection. The fries are good old fashioned style, so they're probably terrible for you, but great to eat. Try the fried jalapeno slices for something different, very spicy and additive. I'm not the biggest fan of standing in line to order - especially when this place is busy, the lines can be long! But this is part of the character of this establishment. The food, atmosphere, and pricing easily make four stars.
(4)S. B.
I did not see this on Yelp - shame! Hotel led me here and it was awesome. Casual, order first, they bring to table. Variety of fried & grilled options. Had grilled trout w/ veggies which was generous slices of grilled summer squash/zucchini & Mexican shrimp cocktail. Heaven!
(4)Ed R.
Stopped in after a meeting while walking through downtown Bentonville. I knew that it was going to be good when we asked someone hows the food and they replied you have to come in. The jalapeño poppers were a little spicy, filled with cheese, shrimp, wrapped in bacon and fried. How could I go wrong? The shrimp was fried and sprinkled with an old bay blend that was flavorful and a little spicy. The fries were cooked perfectly as was the chicken and they too had the blend of old bay. Overall I was very happy with my meal. When I stopped got back to the airport and paid for my car the guy at the counter asked where I went to eat. I let him know the Flying Fish, he and the guy inline next to me said "The Flying Fish! That place is great!" The guys behind the counter were super nice and answered all questions. They checked in on us and after the meal wanted to know how everything was for us. Highly recommend!
(4)Denny T.
A block from the town square. Beat up fish diner. Large selection of seafood selections and very limited alcohol selection. I wanted to see why this was rated higher than neighboring business. Ordered the gumbo, grilled fish with rice, beans, and grilled squash. This place was a major miss on seafood and everything. First notes beer cup given still had leftover seafood on side of cup. Not fresh at all for most of the meal. Gumbo came cold, and fish came over cooked and under flavored . Vegetables about only thing that could not have been messed up. Rice and beans seemed like they were reheated. Service for the food was slow. Overall only one star for the filthiest restaurant that I saw out in Bentonville. Food was not good. Not much to say about the whole experience except wish I never went here.
(1)Andy R.
What a disappointment. The catfish and shrimp are so thin and bland it made us sick as we ate it. The calamari was hard as a rock from being thin and over cooked. Also, how do you screw up corn, they found a way. $50 for 2 people to eat 10 bites and get sick to the point of almost throwing up. Guess that's why it was dead in there at 7:30 on a Friday night. Wouldn't go back even if you paid me.
(1)Joab N.
No thanks on this place. I like fish but this isn't for me. I gave it a second chance but everything I've had and tried there just wasn't very good.
(2)Robert F.
My brother and I stopped by for dinner after a Sunday afternoon concert at 21C. The restaurant was not particularly busy. Ordering was quick and the food was ready in under 10 minutes. I had a combo platter with chicken and catfish, while my brother opted for the catfish platter. The catfish and fries were hot and tasty, though the fries were obviously shoestring potatoes out of a frozen bag. The hushpuppies were tasty, but come on guys! Two hushpuppies the size of large marbles is kind of a joke. Surely cornmeal and onions are not that expensive. Golf ball size hushpuppies are called for. The chicken was abysmal. I've had better chicken strips at gas stations. In fact, they should probably be listed as fritters as there was so much breading you could barely find the chicken. What chicken was there was dry and stringy. What's sad is the fish seemed to be a premium hand-breaded product while the chicken was the cheapest Sysco CN style product imaginable. It wasn't even fit for a kid's plate.
(2)Benjamin P.
I loved this local favorite. We were visiting the museum and someone recommended flying fish. Love the decor of silly fish heads, photos of friends and family, and general sea fun stuff. The food was great, not fancy or unnecessary, just simple tasty fried fish and sides.
(4)Yi-Miao H.
Like this place! Fresh seafood taste good. This place is cool, interesting decorations hanging on the wall!
(4)R G M.
Great food and service, A little hard to find a parking place because of construction but if you hit it just right enjoy the food
(4)Grace N.
great atmosphere and tasty menu. the food quality is hit and miss, but it's still a fun place to take a group. the fish tacos are the highlight.
(5)Danielle M.
This is definitely a locals' favorite! As soon as you walk in you see the checkered tablecloths and 1950s style seating. The decor makes you think you're eating at the wharf! The menu on the back wall highlights many different kinds of specialities, including frog legs. My husband said the legs were great! He also raved about the coleslaw. Although the hush puppies were a bit over cooked, the fries and chicken strips (perfect for kids) were great. Make sure to check out the Billy Bass Adoption Center. If you donate a Billy the Bass, it seems that you get a free catfish basket. Can't wait to visit again!
(4)John K.
Really good fish place. I recommend the whole red snapper, Veracruz style, and some Oysters, with a Pacifico beer.
(4)Anissa T.
Don't get me wrong - I'm very happy to have this option in Bentonville. However, after being here numerous times, there are some inconsistencies that need to be addressed. Primarily, I feel if a majority of your business is going to be fried food, that your fried food should be very consistently prepared. And yet we've had way overlooked fried jalapenos and almost raw hush puppies on more than one occasion. They should be able to do better.
(3)Krystin B.
Really good, nothing is going to blow your mind. Still, we go here a lot for quick, casual suppers. Service is always friendly and fast. I love getting a big Blue Moon beer in the huge frosty goblet! Almost always get the grilled fish tacos or fried oysters. Once I had reeeally fishy fish which isn't the best freshness sign, but usually they are great. Hushpuppies are often an overlooked food, but one of my favorites, so I need to comment- more than half the time they are soaked all the way through with grease rendering them inedible. Does this mean they aren't fried at the proper temp or are re-fried maybe? Who knows. I keep trying them. I wish they'd get it together on those because when they are good, they are perfect, outstanding little morsels. A big MUST are the jalapeño poppers- Bacony cheesy yummy. Sometimes spicy, sometimes mild depending on your pepper, either way, they are SO good.
(3)Linda L.
I want to love this place, and I do love the ambiance. But after eating there twice now, I have found the food really bland. I had the grilled grouper, and it just had no taste at all. I also had shrimp and oysters, all fried. I was surprised by how bland they were, dipped in a light flour coating. I put salt on the shrimp to give them any taste (and salted the grouper, too). I love seafood, and I really want FF to succeed, but right now, I find the cooking pretty poor.
(3)Larry V.
Take it from this Florida boy. Not bad for a local joint. I would recommend it over any chain fish place. I found the place clean and the food was fresh, tasty, and if you go with fried, not full of breading. If I ever get back this way I will come back.
(4)Austin R.
I was told this was a good local place. Food is really good. I had the two catfish filets and four shrimp fried. I felt that the prices are a little high for classic comfort food. Order heavy because portions are a little small. Overall food is okay and its always nice to support a local joint. Just watch those prices before you offer to pay for your friends' meals.
(3)Erin H.
Stick to the fried stuff. This was our first time at Flying Fish. We're a family of 4. The atmosphere was great. Casual. Lots of quirky fishing stuff all over the place. You walk up and order and then wait for your pager to buzz to go grab your food. Among us we got the fish tacos, frog legs, grilled grouper plate, and raw oysters (.50 ea on Sundays!). Fish tacos were awesome. Frog legs were awesome (according to my husband and sons... I don't eat them). The oysters were good and fresh. They are Gulf oysters, so a little different than if you've had Pacific. Unfortunately, my grilled grouper didn't even taste like fish. All I could taste was the burnt bitterness of the dirty grill covered in nasty char, and it was mushy to boot.
(3)Kmc D.
Went in hoping for a good po boy sandwich but wasn't impressed with it. Needs more flavor. Fish tacos seems to be the popular one, but we were not impressed with it either. Needs more zing and flavor over all. Who charges 4.50$ for a bottle of fat tire?
(3)Nana C.
We thought we were in a food network show, "diners drive ins and dives"! The catfish was yummy! Nice and crispy and served hot. This is a no frills place, it is self serve. The food is good and that is what counts.
(4)Kim L.
Awesome! Grouper poor boy is the best! Have great chowder...and crab legs! They also have a selection of beer. Staff is always nice and every time you get a meal, you get a punch on your punch card! Once you fill it up you get a free meal! Pretty awesome place and very good atmosphere!!
(5)A C.
The ambiance is fishing themed and is similar to any small lakeside diner across the country. Order first, then grab a table. The order line was never ending while we dined. A popular place for locals and families. Stools, tables, porch seating and booths available. We tried the jalapeño basket with two sauces, the trout platter and the chowder; all delicious.
(4)Thad J.
We heard a lot of good things about Flying Fish. Since we were visiting Bentonville, we gave it a try. The decor is remarkable quirky. Pictures of favorite customers, picutes of fishermen with their best catches, stuffed fish with whimsical wings attached. Our table ordered catfish, shrimp, chicken, fries and hush puppies. The orders came out quickly, hot and correct. The catfish fillets were large with plenty of fish and the right amount of corn meal breading. The shrimp was fried well and firm with plenty of flavor. The chicken was a little disappointing with too much batter covering too little chicken. The fries were, well, fries. The hush-puppies were surprisingly wonderful! Small and compact and full of flavor. Tiny bites of fried heaven. The atmosphere is uber-casual and very pleasant. A great place for a relaxing meal, a couple of cold ones and meeting some friends.
(3)Alice S.
We liked Flying Fish. Husband has fish tacos and said they were good. I had a basket with one piece of catfish, hush puppies and fried okra. We split a side of cole slaw, which was very good and not loaded down with too much mayo like at some places. It's not fancy, but the food is fine. Servers were friendly and helpful. We would definitely go again.
(4)Michelle F.
After hearing several GLOWING recommendations from friends in Bentonville my co-worker and I decided to try Flying FIsh for dinner one evening. The space is very nice. BIg, open and clean with fun decor all over. We ordered at the counter after studying the menu for a bit. I selected the picked green tomatoes and and the grilled red snapper Vera Cruz. My coworker had a shrimp cocktail and the grilled tilapia Vera Cruz. Apps (cocktail and 'maters) came out quickly and were both good quality dishes. You get lots of tangy tomatoes, love the little bite at the end, don't be afraid the split these two ways. The shrimp where generous in size, clean (you know what I mean!) and plentiful. And here's where it all sort of falls apart. We waited FOR. EV. ER. for the entrees, and this is early evening mid-week. Finally I asked someone who was bussing the next table and she went to check. A manager or supervisor-type guy came right out (he didn't introduce himself) to let us know it would be just 3 more minutes. And he was pretty accurate, except he only brought the tilapia. "Just 5 more minutes" on the snapper... 10 minutes later I finally got it. At this point the manager/supervisor realized he should take some action and offered both of us $9 off our next meal. The Snapper was less grilled and more like fish jerky. It's a good thing the sides were tasty, grilled squash and beans/rice, because that was really about all I could eat. The tilapia was better but the fillet didn't get completely deboned and there were surprises at the end. I want to believe that we hit the Flying FIsh on a REALY REALY bad night. I might go back sometime but it will be a while since I was visiting from KC. I do hope I get to update this at some point.
(2)G D.
For the price, you can't beat the fresh fish in this place. It's not Bonefish Grill, but you aren't paying those prices, either. I do question the authenticity of the fish species, however, which knocks them down to 3 stars from a possible 4. I usually get the grilled rainbow trout plate, which has always been fine and I believe it's trout, but I've ordered "grouper" and "red snapper" previously, and I know it was not the genuine article. Since when does grouper look like a white trout? I know we're in a landlocked state here, but some of us are well traveled enough to know what these fish look like on a plate. Seafood species mislabeling (er, fraud) is rampant in the restaurant industry, but that doesn't make me accept it. Decent beer selection if you're dining in the evening, and casual enough to "go as you are".
(3)Robert P.
Had the grilled Salmon Platter; it was excellent!! Very friendly employees and relaxed atmosphere. Will come here again!
(4)Christopher S.
Was visiting my old hometown and ate here for lunch after enjoying Crystal Bridges. Been to the one in Addison, but its been a few years. Was shocked to find grouper on the menu, so it was all about the grilled grouper. Pretty good, obviously not gonna compare with Frenchys in Florida ( which makes my knees buckle ) on the freshness scale, but good. Not overseasoned so the flavor of the fish is evident, instead of some places were you can't tell catfish from cod. Kudos on that. The beans and rice were, well, beans and rice. And the hushpuppies were good but....different. They were more dense or dry or something. Not bad, not by any measure, just different. Anyway, nummy. Definitely a good option.
(3)Cassie M.
Tried this place for lunch today. It is a lot bigger on the inside than the appearance outside gives. More seating farther in. It was quite busy but the line moved pretty fast. The menu is overwhelming with many fried baskets and combo's, gumbo, many grilled fish options such as grouper and trout among others, shrimp, crab legs, oysters...everything you can imagine a "fish house" should serve. I settled on a two piece fish basket which came with fries and two shut up dogs (ha-hush puppies). It was all pretty good. I added just a tad of salt. The shut up dogs were a little small and for that, a bit too greasy for my liking but flavorful. I did notice for the non-fish lover they do offer a hamburger or chicken. Another plus, while not at lunch, is they have beer, wine and margaritas. Side additions galore from corn on the cob to okra to spinach. The poor aka Po' Boys sandwiches came in many different varieites as well for roughly $9. I give it two thumbs up. Service was fairly quick even though they were having a problem today with one register not taking credit cards. Didn't seem to make them skip a beat. Hours are 11am-10pm daily. Wednesdays are all you can eat catfish for $15.
(4)R H.
Good, but not great fish. I am a fan of the place, but it is not something I would recommend to out of towners. I do love the thousands of "billy bass" on the walls as decore. I have also eaten at the little rock location and feel the same way about them both.
(3)Alan H.
Bentonville, Arkansas has been my second home lately. After a long day, Flying Fish was the only restaurant opened pass 9PM. I'm from Southern California where variety and nutrition are important. My pallet isn't use to the greasy, deep fried southern cuisine. Nothing really worth mentioning but It was good enough for dinner. The wait staff are extremely friendly, something I'm not use to in Southern California.
(3)Jason B.
My wife and I ate at the Flying Fish in Bentonville (1st time) yesterday. It was Friday night and the place was jam-packed with the line all the way through the store out the door on the sidewalk to the street! Even w/ the crowd the wait wasn't too bad. Lots of fried food on the menu (and the hush puppies were great), but there are some healthier choices for the more discerning taste. We shared a plate of grilled salmon, grilled veggies with rice and beans, plus 2 sides and some great fresh lemonade. It was all fresh and ready quickly. The only complaint was the fish was slightly charred for my wife's taste (it wasn't burnt or over-cooked, just had almost black grilled markings on one side). We spent $20 total and enjoyed the food. We'll go back sometime with the kids, I'm sure!
(4)Daryl B.
Stopped by between lunch and dinner crowds on Easter Sunday and really enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. My wife had the Fried Shrimp Basket, with a side of pickled tomatoes and I had the Grilled Snapper with grilled veggies and red beans and rice. We also started with a Fried Calamari which was excellent. The food was cooked exactly right and service was prompt. We enjoyed the experience and expect to go back.
(4)katherine h.
I am from California and in town for business. I searched on yelp and found this place. I liked the family environment ambience. The place was pretty packed! I ordered the Hog Wallow Fry - it was delish!!! The portion was huge. The oysters were a bit too fried but it was still yummy. I didn't really eat the fries but the slaw it came with is yummy. I enjoyed my meal so much I'm coming back tonight.
(4)Kisma K.
I wasn't impressed with this place at all. My hubby and I both had grilled Grouper, and it was so over cooked, it was rubbery. Their squash was so salty, I couldn't eat it. Raw oysters were old, and wouldn't come off the shell. Only good thing was my kids fried catfish.
(2)Ed C.
Great option for fresh fish in this part of the country. The red snapper plate is my favorite. My wife even likes Flying Fish and she is not a seafood/fish person.
(5)B M.
Just had dinner this evening, with plans to skate at nearby Lawrence Plaza's outdoor ice rink. Just off the Northwest corner (across from Harp's) of the Bentonville Square area. Street parking was easy to get, and there was no wait to get inside. You step into the outer area - like a gigantic, enclosed porch - and into the inner realm of a down to earth Bubba Gump meets bayou / fishermen's haven. The menu is pretty extensive and affordable. The 5 of us totaled $40 for 2 kids' boat meals (has a cute fish fortune cookie wisher) , Shrimp Po-Boy, Fish Taco and a vegetarian double side of red beans/rice and spinach, and drinks for the kids and hubby. Checkered blue and white tablecloths with a tray of 5 different kinds of hot sauces and spices - Tabasco red, green, Cholula, and another Habanero-based sauce. My daughter, the foodie, wanted to order more, so I told her to wait the required 20 minutes to see if she was still hungry. She wasn't, but she was already thinking about the next visit. The hush pups were tasty,especially with Tartar Sauce, Food took about 5-10 minutes to be served (they call you to the order desk), and is piping hot. We will return and eat more, and so should you!
(5)Rudy W.
gumbo was not you are expecting, but then there arent any good gumbo outside new orleans. the food is too saturated with salt. you would think that they will use fresh jalapeno for the ingridient. but NO.... big mistakes.
(2)Adam D.
The food was ok. I had the fried catfish. Was a little under-done for my liking. The service was non-existent. From ordering to pickup, it didn't seem very efficient.
(2)Paul M.
I give the Flying Fish a 5. The food was delicious, the corn meal batter they use on the fried crawfish is outstanding, and they have 5 different hot sauces to choose from at each table. They have Tabasco (both the red pepper and jalapeno), Cholula, Louisiana (my favorite) and a brand I'm not familiar with called Melinda's. The service is great and the menu is pretty substantial. I'm from out of town but I will definitely be coming back to this restaurant. The crawfish poboy was the best I've had since I left Biloxi in 2002.
(5)Don W.
We gave it a shot opening night and it was busy. We were in a line of 20 people and got to the register in about 10 min, so it goes pretty fast. The front porch area is misleading and makes it seem a lot smaller than it is. For longer lines, they have a second register that just sells beer and deserts. Start there or have your spouse buy you a beer to wait in line ;) They have a huge menu that I plan on trying systematically over the next few months, but this review is based on the Chowder and Catfish/Shrimp basket I did have. The chowder was very good. Thicker than I would have preferred, but very chunky and filling. The catfish and shrimp were great in that roadside diner meal sort of way. This place fills another gap of what the area was missing and I'm sure that they will have many more years of crowded success.
(4)Nancy C.
My family recently visited Bentonville. We ate lunch at the Flying Fish. Everyone ordered a different combo/entree and we were very pleased with the excellent food, service and ambience.
(5)Lily B.
YUM! The only downfall is how busy they get during "rush" hours. If you go b/t 2 and 4ish you will be fine. Atmosphere makes you feel like you are on the beach:)
(5)