Flying Burger lands on Summerhill Road
Texarkana has proven that it loves new restaurants by the traffic jams their opening creates.
But this opening today didn’t have cars lined up down the street, blocking driveways and intersections. Not because it’s less than wonderful — but because it planned ahead and had more parking spaces. Of course, it also helped that there was a big grassy field behind the building that was easily accessible for parking.
This new, roomy, clean restaurant is called the Flying Burger. That may seem foreign to a lot of us, but one of the owners is actually very familiar. Gina Barry Smith is the daughter of Dean Barry, and wife of Robert Smith, who started the chain in 2008 in Magnolia, Arkansas.
Other locations they have opened since then are in El Dorado, Arkansas, Caddo Valley/Arkadelphia, Ruston, Louisiana, and Longview, Texas. Coming up soon are restaurants in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area, Northwest Arkansas and Bossier City, Louisiana.
“I’m excited to open a Flying Burger in my hometown,” Gina Smith said. “The first couple of opening days is always a little difficult, but we are on track with no major issues.”
The inside of the building is just as roomy as the parking lot. The clean, bright interior is well-lighted with huge windows all around, and comfortable booths decorated in blue and red. It gives off a ‘50s diner vibe with black and white checkerboard flooring and red accessories.
“We love the Flying Burger. We have eaten at the Magnolia and El Dorado locations,” said Phyllis Shiner of Texarkana. “They are really doing a great job getting the orders right out.”
Sitting with Phyllis was husband, Dan Shiner, Becky Burns and Pam Lindsey, all of Texarkana. Burns was excited about the opening. “Flying Burger is delicious; I couldn’t wait for them to open here.”
The menu is a wonderful mix of burgers, fish tacos, fried, grilled and boiled seafood — crab legs and shrimp — catfish, salads, baskets and Cajun dishes such as gumbo, poor boys and fried crawfish tails. The restaurant has sides you don’t expect to see on a fast-food menu, including mustard greens, pickled green tomatoes, new potatoes, grilled zucchini and squash, freshcut fries, and two kinds of gravy, along with the usual sides you would expect. As for dessert, customers can choose between a sweet, fluffy, warm cinnamon roll the size of your hand, or Blue Bell ice cream. You can even have the cinnamon roll with Blue Bell on the side. Also on the menu to take home is a gallon of ice tea.
Franchise owners and firsttime restaurant owners Brian and Michele Daugherty are from Magnolia. They, along with Robert and Gina, were assisting the new staff in the kitchen, at the counter and on the floor with customers. It was “all hands on deck” but Brian and Michele both stopped long enough to say, “We’re excited to bring Flying Burger to Texarkana.”