Lassis Inn Menu with Prices 2026 (United States)

Lassis Inn is famous for serving golden-fried buffalo fish ribs and bone-in catfish steaks alongside holding a historic role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Founded in 1905 by Joe and Molassis Watson, the restaurant butchered large freshwater buffalo fish so the coarse-grained, flavorful meat remained connected to big rib bones, allowing diners to eat the fish like pork ribs. The dining room earned prestigious honors including a 2020 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award and induction into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

Lassis Inn is also known for serving as a safe meeting hub for activists like Daisy Bates and Thurgood Marshall during the 1957 integration of Little Rock Central High School. The dining room maintains vintage 1940s wooden booths, a classic blues jukebox, and famous "No Dancing" signs posted to prevent energetic patrons from overturning narrow tables.

The most popular signature menu items of Lassis Inn include Fried Buffalo Fish Ribs, Fried Catfish Steaks, and Golden Hushpuppies. Fried Buffalo Fish Ribs features large, meaty pieces of freshwater buffalo fish seasoned in cornmeal and fried on the bone. Fried Catfish Steaks delivers thick cross-cut bone-in catfish fried with a non-greasy, crispy exterior and tender interior. Golden Hushpuppies presents deeply seasoned, crispy cornmeal fritters. The following list presents popular bestselling menu items of the historic restaurant.

• Fried Buffalo Fish Ribs: Meaty freshwater buffalo fish cuts fried on large bones and eaten like ribs.
• Fried Catfish Steaks: Thick, bone-in cross-cut catfish coated in seasoned yellow cornmeal.
• Crispy Catfish Fillets: Boneless catfish fillets fried golden with a light, flaky texture.
• Golden Hushpuppies: Heavily seasoned deep-fried cornmeal balls served warm.
• Green Tomato Relish: House-made sweet and tangy chopped green tomato condiment.
• Crinkle-Cut French Fries: Classic fried potato sides served hot.
• Creamy Coleslaw: Traditional shredded cabbage dressed in chilled mayonnaise dressing.

Customers at Lassis Inn can choose from simple beverage options including Sweet Lemonade, Ice-Cold Beer, and Canned Soft Drinks. Sweet Lemonade delivers an intensely sweet, chilled citrus refreshment that ranks as a local crowd favorite. Bottled Cold Beer provides domestic lagers like Coors Light to accompany fried fish platters. Canned Soft Drinks offer chilled sodas including Coca-Cola and Sprite. 

The small order of Catfish Steaks, priced at $6.00, represents the lowest-priced main meal option on the Lassis Inn menu. Catfish Steaks feature a smaller portion of bone-in freshwater catfish cross-cut into steaks, coated in seasoned cornmeal batter, and deep-fried until crisp, served with bread.

The highest-priced dish on the menu of Lassis Inn is the Large Buffalo Fish Rib Plate, which costs $20.00. Large Buffalo Fish Rib Plate delivers a generous platter of seasoned, deep-fried freshwater buffalo fish ribs served alongside crinkle-cut french fries, two hushpuppies, homemade coleslaw, and a beverage.

The healthiest meals on the Lassis Inn menu include Catfish Steaks, Buffalo Fish Ribs, Green Tomato Relish, and Fresh Coleslaw. Catfish Steaks provide lean freshwater protein rich in omega-3 fatty acids, holding less cornmeal batter than thin fillets due to thick bone-in cross-cuts. Buffalo Fish Ribs supply hearty lean fish protein. Green Tomato Relish offers a raw, nutrient-dense condiment made from chopped green tomatoes that provides vitamins without added fats. Fresh Coleslaw delivers shredded cabbage that serves as a lower-calorie side compared to fried potatoes or hushpuppies.

Lassis Inn maintains standard budget-conscious pricing rather than publishing scheduled discount coupons or sales. The eatery occasionally introduces custom weekend menu features like Smokey Sundays highlighting smoked meats alongside classic fried fish, while servers recommend multi-person beverage combinations to maximize value.

No, Lassis Inn does not maintain a customer loyalty rewards program. Operating as a legacy family-run dining room founded in 1905, the business relies on consistent, low-cost menu items and traditional hospitality rather than digital apps or punch cards.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer pre-packaged family meal bundles on its regular menu. The streamlined menu provides individual dinner platters and single-serving sides. Families dining together build shared meals by purchasing multiple plates of buffalo fish ribs, catfish fillets, and extra baskets of hushpuppies.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer a dedicated vegan menu, and plant-based items are unavailable on the menu. The menu centers entirely on fried freshwater fish, while side dishes like hushpuppies, fries, and fried okra share fryers with seafood and contain dairy or egg ingredients.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer gluten-free options on the menu. Fish batter recipes blend cornmeal with wheat flour, and all items cook in shared fryers, creating high cross-contact risks that make the food unsafe for diners with celiac disease or gluten allergies.

No, Lassis Inn is not pet-friendly inside the dining room. As an enclosed indoor diner without a dedicated outdoor seating patio, Arkansas health codes restrict animals from the building, permitting entry strictly to certified service animals.

Yes, ala carte ordering is available at Lassis Inn since customers can purchase standalone pieces of fish and individual side orders. Diners can order fish-only portions of buffalo ribs or catfish without sides, adding single orders of green tomato relish, coleslaw, fries, or fried okra separately.

Aside from counter-service table dining, Lassis Inn offers call-ahead takeout fulfillment and walk-in ordering. The dining room preserves 1940s-era wooden booths and a vintage blues jukebox, providing an authentic historic atmosphere for visitors collecting carryout orders.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer formal event catering services. The restaurant operates strictly as a walk-in and counter-service dining room, preparing fresh fish orders directly for individual table dining and carryout pickup.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer private venue rentals or event space buyouts. The compact, historic building operates exclusively for public dining and carryout service without private party rooms or event accommodations.

No, Lassis Inn does not offer house delivery. The restaurant operates strictly on an in-person dining and carryout model without direct delivery drivers and third-party delivery app partnerships.

Customer reviews for Lassis Inn are very positive, holding an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars based on more than 900 reviews across dining platforms. Diners praise warm hospitality from longtime owners Elihue and Marie Washington, who frequently share stories about the restaurant's Civil Rights history and James Beard Award honors. Food quality earns high acclaim for perfectly seasoned, non-greasy catfish and unique buffalo fish ribs. Reviewers appreciate the cozy juke-joint atmosphere with historic "No Dancing" signs, while noting that seating is limited and side dishes remain simple.

The main competitors of Lassis Inn are Eat My Catfish and The Flying Fish. Below is a list of competitors in the Southern seafood category.

• Eat My Catfish: Eat My Catfish is a popular Arkansas fast-casual seafood chain serving fried catfish, crawfish, and hushpuppies.
• The Flying Fish: The Flying Fish is a casual downtown Little Rock seafood restaurant on President Clinton Avenue serving fried and grilled catfish.
• Lazy Pete's Fish and Shrimp: Lazy Pete's Fish and Shrimp is a local Little Rock dining spot known for Southern-style catfish and shrimp baskets.
• Crazee's Café: Crazee's Café is a neighborhood diner in Little Rock serving classic Southern plate lunches and fried fish.
• The Faded Rose: The Faded Rose is an established Little Rock restaurant serving Creole-inspired seafood, catfish, and steaks.
• Captain D's: Captain D's is a national fast-casual seafood chain offering fried fish fillets, shrimp, and hushpuppies.
• Long John Silver's: Long John Silver's is a quick-service seafood chain known for batter-dipped fish and fries.