Off the Rail Cafe

My Cousin and I went to OFF The Rail July 25, 2025 about 10:30 a.m. I had breakfast. He had lunch. This was a great place to have a meal. The staff was very friendly and a special shout-out to our waitress Kaylyn. She was very attentive and friendly. She seemed to always notice when I might need a refill on my coffee. I had the Banana Foster French toast (It was to die for) and my cousin had the Build-a-Burger. The restaurant has two levels - the lower level which is handicapped friendly and the upper lever which is the part that is the converted train car. They also had a cure outdoor seating area but it was too hot the day we were there. They have one family bathroom outside off to the side of the outdoor seating area. It was clean, well stocked and had a baby diaper changing station. Overall it was a very pleasant dining experience. It had the right combination of good food, friendly service, and interesting atmosphere and reasonable prices. I would DEFINITELY eat there again.

The food was absolutely amazing.The best biscuits i've ever eaten. The shrimp and grit bowl cannot be beaten

Hands down the best breakfast. I had the steak n eggs, wow love the seasoning just right, bb pancakes, fluffy eggs you will have to come down and get your own delicious plate. Love the train railcar theme. Don't miss this train come get u some!! Luv you chefs, nice professional staff!! 😉

This is a neat little place with lots of character. The main dining area is a renovated rail car, although they do have attached dining beside the railcar (and a nice outdoor patio area). Sometimes it's super busy and you can't get a table, so try and catch them when it's not as busy. Very kid friendly, lots of menu choices, and good portions. I love the chicken fajita omelet and get it almost every time we go. My husband raves about their eggs Benedict, and my kids love their pancakes. They do have a bathroom in a separate little building by the patio. There is also free street parking available. It's usually pretty easy to get a spot within a block.

Take the kids and enjoy a piece of history and descent meal! It is certainly better than average. The outstanding service and price made it all an outstanding experience. The wait staff really cares and stays busy hoping table to table inside the old rail car. The car has been completely restored with beautiful wood and furnishings. I had steak, eggs, avocado, Bloody Mary, and fresh decaf coffee. My coffee or water glass never got below half without a fresh refill. The staff are top-notch, greeter to waiter. I wouldn’t likely serve the steak in my place BUT, it was cooked precisely as requested and the meal was brought out immediately when prepared. I’ll defiantly go back!

What a unique experience! The railcar and outdoor garden area on a main street is full of character. The food was so enjoyable. Our family had chocolate gravy and biscuits. The semi-sweetness was perfect for breakfast, like grandmama made it. The avocado toast was fresh and filling due to the fat layer of avacado and thick toast. The Philly cheese steak omelet was flavored really well. The potatoes remind me of potatoe wedges (cut) with that yummy seasoning. The cook definitely has experience making eggs the way you want them. We will be going back especially because of the service. Our server was top notch, we didn't want for anything.

By far the best place I like to go eat breakfast. Great and I mean great food at a very good price. Get plenty to eat as well. The wait staff are always friendly and happy to greet you. No the best thing on the menu is the Bloody Mary just plain awesome got to try it.

Really good food. It was busy at lunch time, so that was a good sign. Fast and good service. We didn't get to sit in the rail car, but that's fine. Only one bathroom so the line backs up. Other than that, it was great.

I've been wanting to stop by this place for years! I finally got the chance to, last time I was in the area. Every time we ever drove by it was closed. So last time when they were open I was excited to finally go inside and scope it out! Honestly kinda disappointed but not in the service or food. Just in the experience itself. I was expecting the inside to look way cooler but it just seemed old and unkept. I think a place like this would be more of an experience while eating. Kinda like rainforest cafe where yeah the food is good but there is so much cool stuff to look at. When you eat here you are literally in a train car but it just feels like they took the train car out of a junk yard and put tables in it. It's not that bad but it's just not what I thought it would be. Still. The food I got was tasty and I really liked it. The service was great, very nice and helpful. I'd go back but for the food not because it's in a train car.

Found this place in TikTok videos, they actually do it no justice. Although everything was beautiful and the food was fabulous! Lydia, our waitress was fabulous!! Thanks girl! I love the court yard, which isn't mentioned on the videos.

Fleeting happiness. What could have been a great cute moment took a turn for the worst. What appeared to be an artisanal experience because it's a restaurant in a train cart quickly just went from oh.. to ohhh nooo.... Food was sub-par/mediocre at best. Eggs Benedict - 2/10 The ham was cheap packaged sandwich meat you use when you're broke and need to whip up a quick brekkie. Eggs and hotdog kind of broke. The English muffin the whole thing sat on was crumbling soon as you picked it up and has the texture of cardboard. The bacon was so over cooked, but upon further inspection you can tell it's the cheap thin stuff, possibly Oscar Mayer or Bar-S quality bacon. The only reason I gave this meal x2 stars is the fact that I asked for hollandaise on the side and they listened. The sauce itself was bland ZERO lemons must have been used during prep. More so, I don't know why you'd advertise "lemon hollandaise" that's literally what it's supposed to come with. Interior - 4/10 very aesthetically pleasing, but major points knocked off due to the excessive heat. There is no circulation for the 2nd floor (where the Box Cart is located) there's just a single wall unit about 20-30 feet from the first table. So you'll get the heat rising from below. If there were fans they sure as heck weren't doing the job. Recommend going before 10am no later.

Cute place get to dine inside a train caboose. Service was good. Order breakfast items is my advice. choo choo!

Located in beautiful downtown El Dorado, Arkansas. You get on the this unique Train journey setting, with cozy ambiance, not too crowded of a menu and let go of your imagination No walls, overlooks a unique scenery of down town El Dorado, all through the beautiful decor of glass doors/walls. Very clean, we were greeted with a welcoming smile, and our server, Lidia, really made us feel at home. Good food, my wife and I enjoyed our meal, and we plan on returning. Remember, they close at 2 pm, so it's breakfast and lunch, and breakfast is served all day. I do recommend you to give it a try, and you may very well have a similar experience as ours. Cheers

I hear the breakfast is good. However we went for lunch. Nothing special or particularly noteworthy there.

The train car is what hooked us on trying this place. The food was ok, could've been better. It did smell like cigarettes inside, which was a turn off. We went about 9:30 in the morning & they weren't super busy. Our waiter was great though!

This place is fun. You can sit in a train car, which is very unique. The food was great. Overall great experience. We went for brunch.

What a gem! The restaurant is super cute and cozy with incredible service and food. The staff and management treat customers like family and are very accommodating. I've been to restaurants all over and the value and quality are outstanding

The staff was super friendly and attentive. They were so busy but you could tell they love their customers. I loved the history of the wooden train (read the first page of the menu to learn it's origin and background). To be dining in such a historic piece of this train made me feel connected and appreciative of our meal. The wait was a bit long but that's what happens when you know good food is coming. We sat outside and competed against the aggressive summer flies to eat our food. Come here for brunch if you're in the area, but be prepared to wait!

So glad we couldn't find a Cracker Barrel or Waffle House, when we were looking for somewhere to eat breakfast. This place popped up on yelp and it's a little gem! Yevette is a great server, she had great suggestions! If we are ever back in the area we will stop again!

The food was good but they were definitely stingy with the portion size of the eggs and potatoes that came with my meal. It took over an hour to get our food and they weren't busy. My blueberry pancakes were delicious, though. Unfortunately, this was my first and last time visiting them.

Great place and service is amazing! We love sitting and having coffee outside with breakfast in the morning.

I have found my new favorite breakfast spot. We visit El Dorado often and we will be stopping by at least once for every visit. Great food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Highly recommend. ​

I've ordered food from here numerous times, but today was the first day I've actually dined in. The servers were nice. It was pretty busy and Off The Rail is not known to get food out fast. The food was good, but what really stood out about this experience was unfortunately the owner. As soon as a family walked up to the door, he could be heard telling the staff "they're just going to have to wait" with a very smug look on his face. Understandably they were busy, but there's a thing called professionalism. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've experienced his rudeness. I'm a huge supporter of small businesses, but I'm very big on professionalism & customer service. Hopefully others do not have to experience this.

Sarah had the stuffed French toast and said it was the best she had ever had. Melissa had the shrimp and grits and really liked them other than the number of onions. I had the pancake and eggs, pancake was one of the best, the eggs needed to cook a little longer for my taste, the biscuit was large and very good. The service was a little slow but they were super busy and I can see why. We will come back on our next visit, really cool area.

Fun variety on their menu, can't go wrong for breakfast or lunch. We enjoy taking friends here because the dining room is so unique, and the food is always delicious.

What an amazing place in a beautiful town. Go experience dining in the rail car! The food is good too. The waitresses were very attentive and made this quite the enjoyment. Great views out to the town of El Dorado!

First time eating at off the rail cafe. They had a lot of items on the menu that sounded good but I went with the eggs Benedict. The flavor was really good but I was disappointed with how my poached eggs turned out. The middle is supposed to be runny but mine were not. The grits were not the best...Very very bland no seasoning at all. The potatoes were very good though. Service was great! The atmosphere was really cool. Loved how the dining room was inside a rail car.

I have only been here once for brunch. Love the atmosphere, the food was good and a bit pricey.

Very cute place. The food was amazing and service was very welcoming and kind. My waitress made sure my coffee stayed full and instantly came up when I finished eat.

The food is the best, definitely the best breakfast and lunch place in El Dorado. The service is great the atmosphere an ambiance is wonderful. I can't even begin to tell you all the wonderful dishes. But I will point out that they do carry some Greek food items. Something that no one else has in El Dorado. And of course their egg dishes are to die for as well as their sweet potatoes stuffed pancakes. Yum.

My wife and I eat here regularly. The food is consistently good. Since this is the only place to get breakfast in El Dorado and they have a very small kitchen if they are busy then you have to be understanding if the service is slow. They have outdoor seating and your pets are welcome to join you. We bring our bird with us and they treat her like a celebrity. Avocado Toast

We eat here all the time when in town staying at the guest quarters. This morning Jessica prepared and served my breakfast while explaining that Mondays they had a limited menu and crew. it certainly wasn't limited for me as she had my plate of eggs, sausage, and French toast in front of me in less than five minutes. Jessica's got the mad short order skills! You should seriously consider giving that lady a raise! We will see y'all next time!

I hosted a bridal shower luncheon here. The manager was pleasant and accommodating in the planning process. Prices were reasonable and the salad plates they served were visually appealing and delicious. The service was on point. I have eaten here for other occasions and have never been disappointed. The restaurant is located in a historic train car in our beautiful downtown.

The service here was incredibly fast, the food came out hot, and most importantly the bacon was CRISP without being burnt. This was a fantastic breakfast!

Can't say enough good things about this place. It was extremely busy (morning after a huge concert), the staff warned us it would be a wait for food, but the food arrived much faster than we expected. I've searched the world over for the best Cuban sandwich. I consider myself an expert (as much as a non-Cuban white guy can be). If I see a Cuban on the menu, I order it. It was breakfast time, but they graciously allowed it, and I'm glad the did. Like any sandwich, it's only as good as it's bread. It comes on a baguette, seems odd, but it's perfection. Get this sandwich! My wife got the avocado toast (even though she's Brazilian, she's basic) it was also delicious but I don't care enough about it to sing it's praises, that effort is reserved for the Cuban sandwich!

The pancakes are huge, I clearly should of only got 1. Great taste, fresh blueberries, nice & fluffy.

If you're reading this review because you're trying to make a decision of whether you want to eat here or not, let me help. You do. Stop right here and head over to Off the Rail Cafe right now. If you're still with me and still need convincing, let me do that. I just have to say this was one of the best breakfasts I've had in quite a while. I grew up on El Dorado and drove down to visit family this weekend. I had always seen the Union Square Guest Quarters downtown and always wondered what it was like, so we booked a room (which was great also) and found out we get $10 vouchers each for breakfast from 8-10 at the restaurant next door. I probably wouldn't have tried it if not for that. So glad I did. The restaurant is in an old train car, so that in itself would sell me. It feels a little awkward walking in because you're basically in the middle of chaos until you get seated. Not an issue, just awkward at first having to sort of walk through or past the open kitchen. There's not much room for a register, so paying afterward, I felt like I was in the way of people walking in/out and servers trying to get by. Again, not a big issue at all. I mean, it's a train car; you only have so much room to work with. Okay so, the food. Oh, the food! I ordered the shrimp Benedict with grits and seasonal fruit and my boyfriend ordered a breakfast burrito and an order of biscuits and chocolate gravy. The shrimp Benedict is eggs Benedict with beautifully seasoned and beautifully cooked shrimp instead of the Canadian bacon that's typical. This was perfect. The English muffin tasted fresh and the eggs were picture perfectly poached. The side of grits: yellow stone ground grits with butter. Again, perfection. The fruit cup even had beautiful fruit, which I didn't expect in late November. My boyfriend's breakfast burrito was huge and came with a big side of salsa. He said it was great. It looked really hearty and he said he'd definitely order it again. So, I don't really love biscuits and chocolate gravy (yes, I'm from the south and no, I don't need a lecture on that) but I tried it and I at least can comment on the biscuits. They were big and warm and flaky and felt like the cook had just pulled them out of the oven. I'll definitely order biscuits and sausage gravy next time. My boyfriend said the chocolate gravy was pretty good. I'm not sure how, because this was SO much food, but he ate it all, so it must've been good. The service was really good. I can't remember the server's name, but he was really helpful and paid the optimal amount of attention to us. You know, not ignoring you to the point of a parched throat, but also not stalking you and asking you every three minutes if you're okay and need anything else. Service was great, food was great, prices were very fair, and...it's in a train car. A restaurant with excellent food and a lot of character. Okay, now go. You'll thank me.

This spot is incredible. I visited this little restaurant on a road trip this summer and completely forgot to post my review. It's a small and quiet little restaurant downtown and it did not disappoint. The staff was incredibly friendly and the food was amazing! I had the eggs Benedict and it had me drooling. After my meal the chef came out to speak with me and asked if I had tried the stuffed French toast. When I told him I hadn't, he went back to the kitchen and made one for me and gave it to me to-go completely complimentary! The kindness of the people here really touched me while I was traveling solo. Thank you so much!

Wonderful food. Great staff. Love the feeling of the rail car experience. We ate breakfast there two mornings. We will definitely be back!!

This place is so quaint and unique. We stopped here on our way through to Hot Springs. It has some of the BEST eggs Benedict I've ever had! My hubby got the stuffed French toast and the were both AMAZING!! It's definitely worth stopping in! You won't regret it.

Great ambiance in an old rail car. Delicious food with large serving size. Dean is an amazing owner! Never had anything I didn't like from here and I visit often. Do yourself a favor and go have breakfast here!

We at here twice during our stay! Both times were great ! The BBQ shrimp Poor boy was wonderful.

Did breakfast really good.the staff was nice and did their job really well .went there earlier in the morning and it was nice and quiet

Attended Off The Rail, and was very happy with the food and service. We there on Saturday and loved seeing the dog friendly patio, greeting showed happy to be working there explained where we could sit. The menu has a wide range of items. The biscuits and gravy was fluffy and creamy, ohhh so yummy.

Such a great place to eat. I love the stuffed french toast, it is amazing! I also get their food delivered with Waitr when I am craving it but do not want to leave the house. The code LOCAL 5 is unlimited use for 5.00 off!

We ate breakfast here and it was delicious!! Excellent pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, And toast. The biscuits and gravy were fantastic as was the breakfast burrito. Fast, friendly service too!

Downtown El Dorado. Eat in an actual rail car. Food has been excellent! Casual and polite.

I'm not sure who was cooking when the pictures from a year ago were posted but my family ate there yesterday morning and the fruit cup had blue berries with a few strawberries, one tiny biscuit for the chocolate gravy, I ordered blueberry pancakes and the waitress brought out more plain blueberries (after I asked about my blueberry pancakes I had ordered) I guess to put on top? And just sat them on the table. The lady seating everyone was just rude and acted thrilled to be at work(no they weren't crazy busy). The car it's self was pretty cool though!

Very disappointing my wife and I were having a little get away and had heard good things The breakfast food looked like come off a continental breakfast Waitress was inattentive at best. Shrimp and grits small and tasteless won't be back

Great service, great atmosphere, good food, so neat to dine in a old fashioned authentic rail car

This place rules so hard! Great food, can eat healthy or gnarly comfort. A focused but unique menu. Highly recommend

It's been a while since we ate here, we celebrated our birthdays here, oin Feb. Didn't take pictures, menu, appealing, had the eggs Benedict, best I've had, friendly, rapid service, inexpensive, definitely worth another visit.

Dean and his staff do a fantastic job. My personal favorite meal is breakfast. Sooo many great options! But lunch and their Thursday night dinners are equally delicious! Great service is the icing on the cake. Go see em!!

I was so excited to go here, which made it all the more disappointing. Our waitress was rude, uncaring. Restaurant was not clean they sat people at dirty tables then would wipe them with a not sanitary rag after they sat down. Food was cold, portions were small. Bland taste not worth the price. We waited almost 35 minutes while people that came in after us got their food. We think our food must've been sitting in the back while our waitress just didn't bring to us, her name on our receipt was Susan. She didn't ever tell us her name so I'm just assuming that was her since it was what was on our ticket. It was so bad we won't even give another chance.