Fayetteville is a city in northwest Arkansas. It is located near the University of Arkansas campus, which is why it has been known as an academic center and college city. But it is more than that. This college town offers quite a lot of dining options. What are some of the best places to eat in Fayetteville AR?
The city is also home to the Clinton House Museum, the first home of Bill and Hillary Clinton. You can always find vintage and modern airplanes on display in the hangar at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum.
Inhabited by young and adventurous residents, Fayetteville is home to a booming food scene. Let’s see what the city has in store for visitors.
What is Fayetteville Arkansas famous for?
The city has long been known as an academic center. Many call it the Athens of the Ozarks. It is also famous as a hilly area because of the 7 hills around and within it.
The beautiful college town in the Boston Mountains, a subset of the stunning Ozark Mountains, is home to the main campus of the University of Arkansas. The campus is home to the famous Razorbacks.
Fayetteville attracts the outdoor type of people because of its abundance of state parks, community green space, playgrounds, parks, and many, many walking trails.
Today, we will talk about the best places to eat in Fayetteville AR.
Best Restaurants in Fayetteville
Hugo’s Restaurant
Let’s start with a local burger joint that is one of the best restaurants in town. Located in a basement den, they serve casual American food and beer.
Locals and tourists love going down a flight of stairs to reach the cozy space. Its casual atmosphere is what brings locals and outsiders in.
Once you are there, try their Smoky Cheddar Burger. If you are there with friends, order the Macho Nachos to share.
Hammontrees Grilled Cheese
Hammontrees Grilled Cheese is a sandwich shop and bar that has some creative sandwich dishes. They also serve hot dogs.
This is one of the best places for breakfast and brunch. Their unique grilled cheese sandwich is always a good option.
Some of their specialties are the Gouda-Bacon fries and the White Buffalo Sandwich. If you are a hot dog fan, we recommend the Cali Dog.
James at the Mill
This Fayetteville best restaurant blends traditional and contemporary American food with a touch of French cuisine. The result is innovative and tasty dishes.
If you want to experience their full menu, order the tasting menu. It is made of dishes that will guide you from appetizers to the main course to dessert.
This way, you will get all the signature dishes.
Penguin Ed’s BBQ
Penguin Ed’s BBQ is a family-owned best restaurant that has been serving locals and tourists for close to 20 years. They are still going strong thanks to their hickory-enhanced method for smoking meats.
Some of their best meats include pulled pork, beef brisket, Polish sausage, and pulled chicken.
You can have your meat in a sandwich, with a salad, or as part of a dinner menu. And if you are in a hurry, grab a takeaway.
Wright’s Barbecue
There are two locations of Wright’s barbecue in Fayetteville. One is down Main Street from the Johnson Fire Department.
The dining establishment is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Fun fact: they close when the meat runs out.
You can buy meats by the pound or BBQ sandwiches.
A taste of Thai
This laid-back Thai restaurant is famous for its classic Thai cuisine. And of course, in a Thai restaurant, there are plenty of vegetarian options.
Often cited among the best places to eat in Fayetteville AR, it is a great spot to try Asian cuisine in a cozy ambiance.
The interior is decorated to look like a lovely period home. Now, for the great food. Try their mango curry chicken for your main meal. You can thanks us later.
Sassy’s Red House
Sassy’s red house is a casual barbecue restaurant with a lively atmosphere. Many call it the best birthday restaurant in town because of the comfort food options.
Celebrate your special day by eating and drinking while watching games from the mounted TV screens. Our pick for food is BBQ smoke wings followed by a serving of Beef Brisket.
Greenhouse grille
This Fayetteville restaurant prides itself on practicing sustainable business techniques. They serve dishes created using local and organically-grown ingredients.
There is a new special every day and a large and extra menu for weekends. Try their carrot and kale summer rolls, cage free chicken, or Bourbon chocolate chunk pecan pie.
You can pair your meals with an organic beer or a glass of wine.
The Common grounds
This establishment started off as a gourmet espresso bar. Then, they developed into a restaurant, the perfect stop for a daily caffeine fix and something to eat.
The Common Grounds often host music events. They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or after-work drinks.
Forget the food, and try the beer of the week to get a free pint glass to take home.
Spoon Fusion Korea Oh K-Dog
As an academic city, Fayetteville has a rich international cuisine tradition. Spoon Fusion Korea Oh K-Dog serves Korean hot dogs. The place is quite popular in the United States, with more than 20 locations in the country.
They have a simple menu with no more than 13 menu items. Their sauces include Gochu hot sauce, sweet chili, and garlic sauce.
Atlas the Restaurant
Located in the historic Ellis Building in downtown Fayetteville, they serve upscale food from every continent.
The menu is not extensive, but the entrees are detailed. Desserts are the star of the show here. Try their frozen strawberry mouse with a blueberry coulis or mascarpone mousse with sage ice cream.
Warning: they are open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Plan your visit accordingly.
Catfish Hole Fayetteville
The informal seafood restaurant praises itself on family-style dining. It is casual, yet cozy. They have simple dishes and décor, but tasty food.
We recommend trying fried catfish steak with French fries. And for dessert, try their Cobbler a la Mode.
Wood Stone Craft Pizza
You cannot go wrong with pizza, right? Every city needs one. And a college city even more. This pizzeria offers wood-fired artisan pizza made with local ingredients.
You can try more than one flavor if you like by ordering Mason Jar Trio. If you are a group of friends, order the 12-inch craft pizza for the whole table.
Theo’s
This American bar serves vegetarian food, vegan food, and fast food. That combination is what makes the eatery attractive to guests. You can find a bite for everyone.
Their signature dishes include succulent steak and seasoned potato wedges. They are famous for their bar and dining room.
If you stop by happy hour, you can enjoy a couple of the share plates while sipping a drink.
Little Bread Company
There is no rule that says the best places to eat in Fayetteville AR should be restaurants. We have a bakery on our list as well. This pastry shop is a community baker where everyone knows each other.
The Little Bread Company uses seasonal ingredients from local farmers to deliver fresh baked goods. If you want a delicious breakfast, stop by for a ham, egg, and cheese breakfast bagel. There are also hot sandwiches for lunch.
Leverett Lounge
Leverett Lounge is a trendy restaurant serving small plates. The menu might not be huge, but there are varied options. For example, you can order Korean fried chicken, rainbow trout, or mussels steamed in lager.
For your dessert, we recommend trying their pure joy ice cream or sorbet. They are closed Sunday and Monday.
Petra café
The Mediterranean café is a relaxed place to enjoy a light lunch. There is a different special platter each day at Petra Café. This way, visitors can stop by for lunch several times per week.
Some of their dishes include falafel, chicken pitta, stuffed grape leaves, or a Greek salad. If you want to bring that taste home, bulk pots of homemade hummus are available.
Pesto café
The casual Italian restaurant offers delicious food while listening to live music. If you want a classic Italian experience, stop by Pesto Café.
Enjoy a cozy atmosphere while trying some of their amazing wine selection. Two of our favorite dishes include the homemade meat lasagna and the Amazing Aphrodisiac pizza.
Bordino’s Restaurant
Let’s finish off the list of best places to eat in Fayetteville AR with Bordino’s restaurant. It is a fine dining establishment serving Italian and New American food.
It is hard to beat this corner restaurant when talking about the coolest places to dine in Fayetteville. No matter the occasion, be it a family gathering, romantic date, or meeting up with friends or colleagues, Bordinos will have you covered.
For your main course, we recommend trying the Coffee Rubbed New York Strip. It is hard to beat. And when it is all said and done, finish off with maple and vanilla crème Brulee.
Hi, I’m a clinical psychologist and inclined towards best buying practices for home and kitchen things. Critical towards choosing the best product and honest with my feedback. I’m a seasoned writer having more than 4 years of experience in multiple niches as well.
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