Smalls doesn't fall short
A.J. Berna
Issue date: 2/11/05 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Shorty Smalls is an eccentric restaurant chain in this part of the country. It involves a crazy 1800s story about a guy who wanted to start a restaurant with a fun atmosphere, especially for little kids.
Shorty Smalls Express is what I assume is their attempt to break into the semi-fast food market. The service is similar to McAllister's. You place your order, are given a number, and then go to sit down. Soon the waiters will bring out your meal or your appetizer if you order one.
Some of the decorations were in tune with a little off-the-wall restaurant, but there were some odd dolls that were pretty creepy, and overall it didn't feel like a typical Shorty Smalls. It didn't have that family-friendly feeling the non-Express restaurants have. I did enjoy the street signs that were in one corner, they looked like real highway information signs. Even though the decorations weren't what I was expecting, I could tell serious effort had gone into the restaurant to make it look good. And it did look good, just kind of peculiar.
I received my appetizer after maybe five minutes, max. I ordered cheese dip, as central Arkansas is the cheese dip capital of the world and I wanted to see how it stacked up. It was pretty good, I have had better, but I have had a lot worse. It said it has spicy beef in it, but I didn't get any meat in mine although there was a distinct meat taste to it.
Next I tried the broccoli cheddar soup, which I am not a huge fan of. I enjoyed it, but only in limited amounts. I think overall the soup would rate pretty high against others of the same kind. Unlike McAllister's, it is not delivered in a bread bowl, which I hear makes it better.
I opted for a wrap. My wrap was in a wheat wrap, with ham and other items. I thought I ordered one thing, and wasn't exactly sure what I got. It was alright as wraps go, but nothing to shake a stick at. I had some ranch to dip it in, but overall it was a disappointing sandwich... wrap... thing.
Shorty Smalls Express is what I assume is their attempt to break into the semi-fast food market. The service is similar to McAllister's. You place your order, are given a number, and then go to sit down. Soon the waiters will bring out your meal or your appetizer if you order one.
Some of the decorations were in tune with a little off-the-wall restaurant, but there were some odd dolls that were pretty creepy, and overall it didn't feel like a typical Shorty Smalls. It didn't have that family-friendly feeling the non-Express restaurants have. I did enjoy the street signs that were in one corner, they looked like real highway information signs. Even though the decorations weren't what I was expecting, I could tell serious effort had gone into the restaurant to make it look good. And it did look good, just kind of peculiar.
I received my appetizer after maybe five minutes, max. I ordered cheese dip, as central Arkansas is the cheese dip capital of the world and I wanted to see how it stacked up. It was pretty good, I have had better, but I have had a lot worse. It said it has spicy beef in it, but I didn't get any meat in mine although there was a distinct meat taste to it.
Next I tried the broccoli cheddar soup, which I am not a huge fan of. I enjoyed it, but only in limited amounts. I think overall the soup would rate pretty high against others of the same kind. Unlike McAllister's, it is not delivered in a bread bowl, which I hear makes it better.
I opted for a wrap. My wrap was in a wheat wrap, with ham and other items. I thought I ordered one thing, and wasn't exactly sure what I got. It was alright as wraps go, but nothing to shake a stick at. I had some ranch to dip it in, but overall it was a disappointing sandwich... wrap... thing.