Marion, Arkansas, in the Arkansas Delta is not a place one would immediately expect seafood, especially in a converted former fast-food restaurant near the interstate. But on one evening when a friend and I were visiting our favorite steakhouse in the vicinity, I noticed the smell of Cajun seafood wafting across the parking lot from that small non-descript building, and I noticed a lot of cars around the building. If the smell of any place reminds me of the spicy smell of seafood from the French Quarter of New Orleans, I am certainly interested.
On my next occasion to be west of the Mississippi River, I went straight to the place, which is known as the Seafood Shack. The place from the outside kind of has the look of a chain restaurant. Even the restaurant logo has a TM under it for “trademark.” But it’s unclear whether it is the last holdout of a long-forgotten chain, or a restaurant that took precautions in case they wanted to be a chain one day in the future. What is clear upon entering is that despite the building’s fast-food origins, it has been fully converted into a fast-casual restaurant, with plenty of decor and a warm and welcoming environment. On an early Sunday evening, the place was packed from wall to wall.
Of course you go to a seafood restaurant for the seafood, and my catfish filets and fries were delicious. They have shrimp, various kind of fish, burgers and even steaks. Prices are not cheap, because seafood has to be sourced, and Memphis is not close to the ocean, but Seafood Shack’s prices are reasonable. Service is cheerful and attentive. The Seafood Shack gave me a seafood meal as good as any other seafood option in the Memphis area, and at a very reasonable price. It’s worth a trip across the bridge.
Seafood Shack
308 Bancario Rd
Marion, AR 72364
(870) 559-5088