"Two former country-club chefs cooking shrimp and grits and blackened sea bass in a columned Garrison Avenue landmark — book it for a date."
About The Rialto
When Fianna Hills Country Club closed at the end of 2018, co-chefs Keith Jeremiah and James Thomas took two decades of private-club cooking and opened it to the public on Garrison Avenue. The Rialto sits at 720 Garrison in a beautiful white-columned historic building downtown, and it has become Fort Smith's go-to upscale room for seafood and steak — shrimp and grits, blackened sea bass topped with crabmeat, filet mignon. It carries a 4.5-star rating across more than 130 diner reviews. Our seven signs of a great restaurant explain how we weigh a room like this.
The Kitchen
Keith Jeremiah and James Thomas spent their careers cooking for Fort Smith's most discerning diners at Fianna Hills Country Club; when it closed in 2018 they built The Rialto so the cooking could keep going for everyone else. The menu reflects two chefs who know exactly what their clientele expects and do not need theatre to deliver it.
The kitchen leans seafood and steak. The shrimp and grits draws the loudest praise — one Tripadvisor diner called it the best he had ever had — and the blackened sea bass topped with crabmeat and a bearnaise is the dish regulars send first-timers toward. Scallops arrive bedded on risotto with spinach and a creamy sauce rimmed in red; the filet mignon and ribeye hold the steakhouse end up; and the JT chicken is the reliable order for anyone off seafood. Most plates put a dinner at roughly $40 to $70 a head before wine. There are crab cakes and sesame-ginger salmon for variety, but the room is built on doing a tight set of upscale plates well, which is what keeps the 4.5-star average across more than 130 reviews.
The Room
The draw is the building — a white-columned historic landmark on Garrison Avenue, in the old First Security premises, where the high ceilings and the age of the place do the atmosphere for you. Reviewers consistently describe it as sophisticated without being stiff: live piano some nights, a spacious patio for outdoor dining, and service pitched at people who want quality without ceremony. Smart-casual is the register; it dresses up nicely for a date or an anniversary but never insists on a jacket.
Best for a Date Night
Book The Rialto for a first date or an anniversary because the columned historic room and the occasional live piano give the night a sense of occasion downtown Fort Smith otherwise lacks, and the shared-friendly seafood menu keeps the conversation easy. It impresses without intimidating — exactly the register a date wants. See the best first-date restaurants, the best anniversary tables, and our best seafood restaurants worldwide for more.
Not for
Not for a fast, casual lunch on a budget — this is an upscale seafood-and-steak room where a proper dinner runs $40 to $70 a head, and it is built for an unhurried evening.
Frequently Asked
Is The Rialto worth it?
Yes — it is downtown Fort Smith's strongest upscale room, run by two chefs who cooked for the city's country-club set for decades. The seafood is the draw, the historic Garrison Avenue building sets the mood, and a 4.5-star average across more than 130 reviews backs it up. Figure on $40 to $70 a head before wine. See the Fort Smith dining guide for more.
What should I order at The Rialto?
The shrimp and grits is the signature — one Tripadvisor diner called it the best he had ever had — and the blackened sea bass topped with crabmeat and bearnaise is the dish regulars recommend first. The scallops on risotto and the filet mignon are reliable, and the JT chicken is the go-to for anyone off seafood. It leans seafood and steak.
Where is The Rialto in Fort Smith?
The Rialto is at 720 Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith, in a white-columned historic building in the old First Security premises. It is in central the Garrison Avenue district, walkable from downtown hotels, with a patio for outdoor dining and live piano on some evenings.
Do you need a reservation at The Rialto?
For a weekend dinner, a date, or an anniversary, booking ahead is wise — call 479-769-2406. The dining room fills on Friday and Saturday nights, and the better tables and patio seats go first. Weekday lunch and early dinners are easier to walk into, but a quick call avoids a wait.
Who are the chefs at The Rialto?
Co-chefs Keith Jeremiah and James Thomas, who spent two decades cooking at Fianna Hills Country Club before it closed at the end of 2018. They opened The Rialto to bring that private-club cooking to a public dining room, and the menu reflects two chefs who know precisely what their longtime clientele expects.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Rialto
Reserve by phone · 479-769-2406
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address720 Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901
NeighbourhoodGarrison Avenue, downtown
CuisineUpscale seafood & steak
Signature dishShrimp and grits; blackened sea bass
Average spend~$40–$70 per person
Dress codeSmart-casual
ReservationPhone 479-769-2406
ChefsKeith Jeremiah & James Thomas
Recognition4.5-star across 130+ reviews
