Eureka Springs great for food, fun

When I saw a bar named The Rowdy Beaver, I had to stop in.
I was in Eureka Springs last weekend for a little Halloween revelry and “The Beav” — as locals called it — looked like a good time. I was right.

Musicians often entertain on the streets of Eureka Springs

But, let me correct myself: The Rowdy Beaver Restaurant and Tavern is up on Highway 62, just up the road from historic downtown Eureka Springs. The bar I stopped in at was The Beaver Den, a smaller version of the original restaurant and tavern. It is located at 47 Spring St. in the heart of the city’s historic district.  Either way, it was a good time.
The Beaver Den offers up a good selection of burgers, beers, appetizers and cocktails. The small pub’s front windows offer a view of Eureka’s historic downtown — it is a great place to pull up a bar stool and people watch.
On Halloween in Eureka Springs — as you might guess — there were plenty of costumed people to watch.
Food and drink prices at The Beaver are super reasonable, especially by Eureka Springs standards. Cocktails ran $5.50, a pint of Shiner Bock was $4 and appetizers were $6.99.
I hadn’t had a Shiner is a while and forgot what a great beer it is. The Shiner, Texas-brewed dark amber is available in bottles around Joplin at most beverage retailers where craft ales and lagers are found.
It comes in at 4.4 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and isn’t as bitter or malty as many craft selections can be. It’s a smoooth drinker and worth a try.
Little Rock brew
Another must-try in Eureka Springs is Sparky’s Roadhouse Cafe, 147 Van Buren.
After a few hours at The Beaver watching the town’s native hippies scare timid tourists, it was time to head up the hill for dinner. Sparky’s has a great covered and heated patio, a fun cocktail lounge and serves 25 beers on tap.
I ordered a tall blonde ale from Diamond Bear, a Little Rock Ark., brewery. I had never heard of the brewery before and was feeling adventurous. It was a good call.

The Balcony Bar at the Basin Park Hotel is a great place to grab a drink and watch tourists and shoppers below.

At a little more than 4 percent ABV, and slightly bitter, the Southern Blonde ale — as the brewery calls it — hit the spot.
After a little Little Rock brew, I opted for a Red Seal Ale (5.5 percent ABV) from North Coast Brewing in Mendocino County Ca. Since 1998, North Coast has been a leader in the craft beer revolution.
Red Seal is a great full bodied, copper-colored ale with a spicy finish and was a great choice with the Cuban barbecue platter I ordered. Red Seal is a bitter brew, but great if that’s your style.
My pork platter ran $11.95, a large chef salad came in at $7.95 and a Jack & Coke was $6. A pint of Red Seal was only $2.75. Sparky’s also offers a good selection of wines, a full bar and reliable, friendly service.
Local Flavor
A couple of times a year I make it down to Eureka Springs and always stop in for brunch at Local Flavor, 71 South Main Street. The longtime Eureka eatery is a solid choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Sunday morning was warm and sunny and patio seating was available — that doesn’t always happen. I saddled up for some eggs Benedict piled atop an English muffin and sliced medium filet. A great meal.
A hearty chef salad came in at $9, my eggs Benedict was $13 and a bloody mary was $7. A double vodka cocktail was a bargain at $9.
Many places will charge you double the single cocktail price for an extra shot, but Local Flavor cuts you a deal on the double tall drink. This place always impresses and offers a good wine list and one of the best patios for people watching on a sunny morning.
I spied a new wine bar and wanted to give it a try, so I sat down on the patio of Cafe Luigi, 91 South Main Street, a well known Italian restaurant, and decided to kill a few minutes until The Stone House opened at 3 p.m. While I didn’t eat at Luigi’s this trip, I have before and it’s a good spot if pasta is what you crave.
A bottle of Shiner Boch was $3.50 and a Jack & Coke was $6. It seems that $6 is the going rate for cocktails in Eureka Springs, these days. Just about everywhere I went, that was the price for a liberal pour.
We finished our drinks and headed over to The Stone House, 89 S. Main St. It’s a great little place that has recently undergone a massive renovation. I was so impressed by Stone House that I decided to dig a little deeper and report back for our “On the Table” section, which debuts next Wednesday. Pick up a Joplin Globe next Wednesday for a full report.
Other options
* At the Basin Park Hotel’s Balcony Bar, 12 Spring St., well drinks were $4, a Michelob Ultra was $3.50 and a screwdriver was $5.
*  At Jack’s Place, 37 Spring St., a bar with free live entertainment the weekend I was there, cocktails were $6 and there was no cover charge. The drinks at Jack’s were pretty standard and the crowd a good time.
* Henri’s Just One More Martini’s and Grill,191⁄2 Spring St., a cocktail was $6.50. The staff at Henri’s served up stiff drinks and good fun. Give it a try the next time you head south to Eureka Springs.
Cheers!