Need a great hamburger? Make a pit stop at Smitty's Garage

In my unrelenting pursuit of hamburger nirvana, I have searched far and wide for the best hamburger money can buy. My search has taken me to restaurants, cafes, diners, drive-ins and dives across a wide swath of America. I just might be the Guy Fieri of hamburgers.

Over the past 10 years, I have eaten hamburgers both large and small, great and not so great, tasty and not so tasty. And while it has been a sacrifice, I realize that somebody has to do it. Don't get me wrong -- I am not a martyr -- I was simply made for this job.

I also do a fair amount of hamburger research right here in northwest Arkansas. Occasionally, I find a gem worthy of reporting. Recently, Linda and I decided to try Smitty's Garage in Fayetteville. Smitty's Garage came to be after three men sat down together to formulate what it would take to make the best hamburger and fresh-cut fries in the area.

Now, I can appreciate the sort of vision that would cause these guys to set out to create a great hamburger. Personally, I think they have achieved their goal and maybe more. Smitty's Garage offers a number of hamburger options which include the Classic Burger, a fried onion burger, a spicy guacamole burger and numerous others. Smitty's offers Angus beef, turkey, bison, garden and grilled chicken patties. So, when you go to order, you first pick your burger, then your choice of meat. Your choice of bun includes a wheat option, or you can order a lettuce wrap if you are watching carbohydrate intake.

Smitty's also offers fork and knife hot dogs, salads, wraps, tacos and more. Besides fresh-cut fries, it offers sweet-potato fries, garlic-parm fries, Tijuana fries, house potato chips, Herman's slaw and sriracha slaw, which is Herman's slaw with sriracha sauce, fresh jalapenos and cilantro.

The first time Linda and I ate at Smitty's Garage, I ordered the fried onion burger with fresh-cut fries. I was immediately impressed with the flavor of both the burger and the fries. I'm guessing (but do not know) that Smitty's uses beef fat to cook its fries. I will say that they have to be some of the best-tasting fries I have ever eaten. And the hamburger was tremendously good. It tasted great with just the right amount of "umami."

When you walk into Smitty's, the first thing you notice is the menu. The menu is written in chalk over the counter where you place your order. To the left of the counter is the bar and a large dining area, while to the right of the counter is a large dining room and arcade area. Smitty's is a busy place with mostly young folks present, but all ages can be found there. If you don't mind loud music, then you will enjoy Smitty's because the food tastes so good. I don't mind the music because I tend to focus on my meal. And the noise makes it easy to visit without fearing people at nearby tables will overhear you.

Linda tends to notice loud environments sooner than I do, but then the first time we ate at Smitty's she ordered some kind of chicken wrap. If I ordered a chicken wrap in a burger joint, I would notice the noise too. Sad to say, Linda does not share my passion for great burgers, so my search for the perfect burger is a lonely one. If it were not for the burgers themselves, I don't know how I would sustain myself.

The second time we ate at Smitty's Garage, I ordered the Classic Burger which comes with an Angus beef patty, onions, tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard. This burger was perfect. I have no complaints whatsoever. I can't think of anything that would make this burger better. And the fries were a perfect match for the burger.

When we were ordering, Linda hesitated when trying to decide whether or not to order fries. In my mind's eye, I could see her eating about half of mine if she didn't order some of her own, so I told the lady at the counter that she wanted fries too. This ended well since she couldn't finish all of her fries and I had to help her out. I'm good with that. I think husbands should step in and help their wives when they can't finish their meals. At least if it is something we enjoy eating, like fries and such. Chicken wraps? Not so much.

Smitty's also offers a huge list of craft beers, most of which are brewed locally. I have not tried any of these, but they seem to be popular since the bar does a brisk business.

But if you are looking for a great hamburger for a really low price, I don't think there is a better choice than Smitty's Garage in Fayetteville. I would rate Smitty's Garage Classic Burger the best hamburger in northwest Arkansas. And its fries are the best I have ever eaten.

Smitty's Garage is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday. The restaurant is located at 100 East Joyce Boulevard. It can be reached at 479-301-2046.

Sam Byrnes is a Gentry-area resident and weekly contributor to the Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 08/02/2017