Lassis Inn, one of Arkansas’s oldest restaurants, opened in 1905 and has been serving up fried fish in its current location since 1931. It’s a Little Rock staple with a strong following and a surprising connection to the civil rights movement.
Joe and Molassis Watson (the restaurant’s namesake “Lassis”) opened the restaurant after their business selling sandwiches out of their house took off.
More than 100 years later, you’ll find the restaurant that popular sandwich business spawned in a small, light blue building on E. 27th Street.
Lassis Inn played a small but important role as Little Rock became the epicenter of the civil rights movement in 1957.
Daisy Bates, who mentored the group of nine Black students who fought to desegregate Little Rock Central High School, used Lassis Inn as a place to organize with other community leaders, as the restaurant was a rare safe space at the time.
In recent years, Lassis Inn has racked up honors in recognition of its consequential place in Arkansas history.
It received a special citation from the Arkansas State Senate, was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame’s first class, and was given the American Classics Award by the James Beard Foundation.
No need to worry about decision paralysis here: the menu is just a single, small page.
You’ll have your pick of catfish steaks and fillets or "big bone buffalo," along with sides like fried okra, cole slaw, french fries, and hush puppies.
If you’re not from Arkansas, you should know that a buffalo is a fish – a type of freshwater suckerfish similar to a carp that can measure up to four feet long and weigh over 70 pounds.
The bone-in ribs are a state specialty, and Lassis Inn is one of the best places to find them.
From humble beginnings to its continued success over a century later, Lassis Inn has solidified its place in Arkansas restaurant history.
But even if you didn’t know any of that going in, it’s still a prime destination for fried seafood in Little Rock. This historic restaurant doesn't have much of an online presence, so you'll have to check it out in real life to learn more. Leave a comment if you’re planning to make a visit to Lassis Inn!
Looking for more fun in Little Rock? Check out Rock Creek Trail in the middle of the city.
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