Pointer Brewery — Restaurant in Van Buren

Short version: this place is terrific and you should go here.

Long version: OK, yes, this place is weird. They tell you that on their website, on their menu, and on the front door. It's a brewery in a dry county in Arkansas, in an area without much craft beer tradition. When you get there, all the blinds are closed and the windows blocked off. There is a sign saying they can't let you look inside -- really, they can't, because Dry County. Go inside anyway. It's a small, friendly spot with a bar in the back and half a dozen tables in the front.

Beer: very limited selection of common styles. Blonde, amber, IPA, milk stout, that sort of thing. We had the IPA , which is malty like an English IPA but has a good solid hop profile like a West Coast IPA. Enjoyed it. We also tasted a vanilla lemon Scotch ale, and chose not to get a pint :)

Food: Yes, it's Korean food. The owner is a veteran who served in Korea. The spice has been toned down for local tastes, but overall it's very good. We shared a full order of beef bulgogi, and had an app of dumplings and a couple of kimchi sides (cucumber and radish, both good.)

Service: friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent.

5 stars....

Pointer Brewery is a microbrewery and comes with the trappings and expectations one would expect from a microbrewery: beer is the focus, you order at the bar, and you put your card on file ("start a tab") when you order. What is unexpected is that their food selection, although second fiddle to the beer, is (1) robust, and (2) Korean-fusion.

My wife and I visited for a late lunch / early dinner on a quiet Sunday and ordered the spicy chicken, the cucumber kimchi, and the sesame mushrooms. The food was delivered, warm and promptly, in aesthetic bamboo trays. I would have liked some more kick from the sauce on the chicken, but the best thing I can say is that the rice was fresh, which is somewhat of a rarity in the Fort Smith area. The grains were great, too, but I cannot remember what type they were. The cucumber kimchi and the mushrooms were reasonably-priced side dishes and the serving sizes were reasonable for their price (I think $3 each?).

I am hoping Pointer Brewery becomes a permanent fixture in...

My first time there, and it was a fantastic experience. I was there with a friend who had been raving about this place for a long time, so finally we met for a late lunch/early dinner. The selection of kraft beers was interesting, not a lot, but a good cross-section to please anyone's tastes. But the really great part was the Korean food they serve. Not an abundance of items, but something for everyone. I'm pretty sure I've never eaten Korean food before, but I trusted my friend and was delighted with a true joyful eating experience. If you're in the Main Street portion of Van Buren, you owe it to yourself to stop by and sample the beers and the food. Also, can't say enough about the excellent and...