PJ's White River Lodge & River Run Restaurant - Norfork, Arkansas

Renee Sullivan

We went to PJs for our anniversary dinner. Our experience was just okay. It was a mixed bag, for sure.

The good -
The food and drinks were mostly great. The service was very good as well. The bartender (female) and our server (also female) were friendly and engaging.

The bad -
When we made our reservation online, we mentioned it was a special anniversary dinner for us. We also mentioned it to the hostess. Not one person, including the hostess, gave us so much as a "happy anniversary." I saw a photo of an anniversary plate in the reviews, but that was not our experience. It was disappointing.

The ambiance: For me, a romantic dinner is all about ambiance. I had high hopes walking up. The building is beautiful, and the setting is gorgeous. However, the lighting in the restaurant is terrible. The only light came from outdated, harsh, overhead ceiling fans. There were no twinkle lights. There were no lamps. There were no soft light sources at all. But what was most unfortunate was that there were no candles on the tables. That would be an easy, inexpensive addition that would add so much to the experience. Instead, the restaurant felt cold, stark, and uninviting.

The drinks prices: Our before dinner drinks were really good. But there were no prices on the drink menu, and when the bill came, the price of the drinks was $18 per drink! We travel a lot, and that is outrageous for a drink anywhere - let alone Arkansas. They were good, but not that good. That's just over the top.

Some of the food: My husband's osso buco was overcooked. He almost sent it back, but didn't want to leave me eating alone. Also, our server recommended the coconut cake, and that sounded perfect to us. But it was dry dry dry. It tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It was a disappointing way to end our evening.

We expected the meal to be expensive, and it was. And that's okay if the meal delivers. But for us, the experience simply did not justify the high price. I doubt we will go back.

steve stewart

Took my wife for her Birthday dinner. The service was fast, the host was so sweet and our waitress was as well. Inside the restaurant was a bit dark like they were hiding something then after our food came we quickly found out whay it was. I ordered a burger with the whiskey sauce the whiskey sause was delicious but I had to ask the waitress for a bit more sauces because my burger was dry as a powder house, the fries in duck fat was pretty good. I asked my wife how her food was and she told me it was wonderful. However a couple weeks later i asked if she wanted to go back for a date night and she then told me her food was not good but she didnt want to hurt my feelings because I took her there for he Birthday and she stated she didn't need to ever return there so I guess that one trip was the last trip. The building and grounds were very beautiful but the beauty of the groundd doesnt make up for the bad food for the price.

Matthew Gentry

A great and treasure full reward awaits those that take the journey to this hidden place.

I literally thought I was getting lost as I was getting there. But, the reward of this meal was more than worth the trip.

I come from Texas and I'm almost 50. Needless to say I have spent a lifetime eating steak and drinking margaritas.

Both here were top-notch.

The Cadillac Margarita was perfect. And the full tomahawk steak was one of the best I've ever had.

Get Lost

Restaurant was charming. Service spot on! The food was well prepared and chosen to stir the appetite. Owner/chef made us feel welcome as we arrived. Our service was definitely 5 star. Prices are a reflection of the curated menu, excellent food quality and stellar service presented in a charming river location.

Deb Ramsey

We went here tonight for our Anniversary. It was so good we left completely full. We had the artichoke dip, my husband had the prime rib ( he said best he’s had in a long time) I had the filet mignon. So good full of flavor. And our waitress Brytanie (B2) was absolutely fantastic! She made us feel like there was nobody else in the restaurant. She even brought us a special dessert. Can’t wait to go back. Thank you Brytanie for making our anniversary special.

Tod Brown

We visited family this weekend and had never been to PJ's. The food, service, and dining area were superb. The view of the river is wonderful.

Jeff Hagans

We made the discovery of PJ's Restaurant a few years ago by referral. Best decision we made was to come check it out. By far our favorite restaurant in Arkansas (or Anywhere for that matter). We sometimes come up by river for Sunday brunch or weekend dinner. The atmosphere is as amazing as the food. We have never had a bad meal or drink at PJ's. The staff is friendly and well trained and the food has always been top notch. It's like fine dining in the Ozarks but dress is casual if you like. This is a destination restaurant and well worth the drive. It is a good idea on weekends to get a reservation. I would rate it 10 stars if that was an option!

jeff steinbecker

Fine dining with a casual, friendly atmosphere.
We went for a meal on our anniversary, it was wonderful. Particular emphasis on maple bacon and the duck fries. Both are gourmet for any pallet.