City: Branson, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (417) 336-4680

Address: 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway

Description: At the IMAX Entertainment Complex, this restaurant has established a strong reputation for good food. McFarlain’s says there is no secret to their great food, they just make it the old-fashioned way, like it was made at home—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That means gathering fresh-as-you-can-get ingredients and serving them in great menu selections, delivered as soon as the food is done. That also means no buffet lines. It may take a bit longer, but McFarlain’s believes life’s too short to eat bad food. But for all their being down-home, they are really uptown—you can download the menu from their Web site. The restaurant is known for fried green tomatoes, sweet potato fries, pot roast, and chicken potpie. They make great desserts, and pies are their specialties: apple, cherry, strawberry-rhubarb, coconut, chocolate, and even some sugar-free varieties. When it comes to pie, McFarlain’s motto, on a prominently placed sign, is, “Life’s too short. Eat pie first.” Not bad advice. Try the Branson Traffic Jam pie!