Fishers Feed Shack
A wonderful family run restaurant!
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is coming across these little "mom and pop" type restaurants. You know the kind of place I am talking about, the little family run establishments that every time you go in they know your name and have your drink ready for you.
Well I am here to tell you about one of these little gems I came across recently in Huntsville, Arkansas. And that is Fishers Feed Shack. Lance Fisher (the owner) is one of the friendliest people I have ever met, as is his wife and the rest of his family and staff. So many businesses these days have lost touch with the art of "customer service", and I am proud to say that the folks at Fishers Feed Shack have not! They make each and every customer feel like they are special, which has created a very loyal customer base.
The Airport Cafe
A Foodie Gem!
I am one of those foodies that absolutely loves coming across those little mom and pop restaurants, that are off the regular path. To me, when I can find one of those little gems, it just really excites me as a foodie. Because I know that generally speaking my taste buds are going to be in for a treat, and I am going to get some really great service.
Granted, I have been to a few that just do not make the cut, not even close. And that is really sad, because they have such a great opportunity to connect with their customers and build a relationship with them that will last.
Well, I am here to tell you about one of those mom and pop restaurants that do hit the mark, and do pride themselves on made from scratch food, and top notch customer service. These folks truly care about their customers, and strive to get to know them by name. In today's day and age, how amazing is it when you go into a restaurant or cafe and the staff recognize you, and even remember your likes and dislikes?
The Front Porch Family Diner
You might ask yourself, what is in a name? Well in this case, it is a lot. Many restaurants and cafe's not only in the south but through out the country call themselves family friendly and true "southern cuisine". But so many times they just can't live up to those expectations.
Good southern home style cooking has not only a rich heritage but also a rich and vibrant taste, and when you get the opportunity to delve into some really great southern food, it can only be described as a "good thing". Now top that with a dash of southern hospitality, and you have a real winning combination.
Tokyo Sushi
Food Nirvana. What does that term mean to you? Well to me it means that I have found somewhere that I can go, sit down and be wowed. To a point that I wonder where this place has been all my life, and I suddenly feel a sense of foodism that envelopes my sole in a warm fuzziness that only great food can provide!
North West Arkansas has many such foodie gems, that sometimes requires a lot of searching to find. But other times, are right there, smack dab in plain site. Beckoning you to cross the threshold, that little voice saying to you "come in, and stay awhile". And it's times like this, you have to listen.
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Hubba Bubba's Subz
Missy Todd and Tammy Plumlee are the owners of Hubba Bubba's Subz, which is located on the main street of Elkins, which is only about a 20 to 25 minute drive from Fayetteville. I would imagine that this sub shop would seat around 45 people or so, it is small but not crowded by any means.
The facility was very clean, and checking out their restrooms those were very clean as well. You can tell that the staff there takes pride in their facility, which is nice to see. In addition, I found the staff to be very friendly and attentive to my needs. Also, when asked for their suggestions, they were eager to explain the menu and seemed very knowledgeable about their offerings.
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Fresco Cafe and Pub
On their facebook page they describe themselves as; full service, fast casual dining that serves
delicious sandwiches, panini's, flat bread pizza's, dinner entree's, soups and salads.
But what their facebook page can not adequately portray to you is just how good the food actually is, and I have to say that so far I have not been disappointed. I have had the chance to interact with the owners, Michael and Dustin, and the one thing I can tell you is that they do have a passion for providing us area foodie's a really great experience. And they embrace constructive criticism and adjust what they are doing accordingly.
Twin Kitchen Thai Restaurant
Authentic and from the heart!
There are quite a few Thai restaurants in the NWA region, not to mention several in the vicinity of Twin Kitchen. So you might ask yourself, what would draw me to this particular restaurant? The answer is quite simple really. Great quality authentic Thai food that is cooked from the heart!
This is a family operation, from a family that has an extensive background in the food industry. And what they have achieved here is just phenomenal, which is keeping the ingredients fresh and allowing the food to talk for itself. What does that food have to say? It says "I am vibrant", "I am authentic", "I have complex yet straightforward taste" and "I will become one of your favorites".
Porky Chicks
I have been driving by their location for awhile now, anticipating their opening and hoping that perhaps another foodie gem was about to unveil itself in NWA. Today I got the chance to stop in and see what was going on, and give some of their food a try.
Out side they have some interesting murals of their logo, which really to help to draw attention to their location. You can tell they do catering, due to the amount of trucks, trailers and cookers on the outside of the building. If I were to guess, I would have to say their catering business is doing well.
Banjo's BBQ
Mark Smithson just started up Banjo's Bar-B-Que in mid November of 2010, but has already made a name for himself for some really good BBQ. I got the chance recently to swing by his place and try first hand some of his offerings, and I have to tell you I was very glad I did.
Many times restaurants and food establishments end up muddling their menus, and find it necessary to create overly fussy and complicated foods. To the point that the "heart" of the food is lost in all the frills and fuss, they forget that the golden rule of thumb is just "keep it simple".
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JC's Catfish House
Unfortunately I have no shots of the exterior of the building or signage due to the time of night I was there, as well as the lighting being out on the exterior sign by the roadside. When you are driving by this place at night, it is very easy to miss, as it used to be an old house and in the dark it looks the part. They are literally right across from the WalMart distribution center, on the curve. So just keep your eyes open as you hit the curve.
And with the only signage being a banner above the front door that is apparent at night, it is very easy to miss. I was told they are working on fixing the lighting on the roadside signage. As for the banner on the front, that is a shame because it tends to make the place look "temporary" or like someone just set up shop there, and they have been in business for two years now, I have been told.
Sassy's Red House
Sassy's has been one of those places I have wanted to get by and try out for awhile now and just never could find the time to, and they have come up in discussion with my Facebook users on far more than one occasion. So after many requests by my readers, I finally got by there and am very glad I did.
The interior of the restaurant has a sport related theme, and is very vibrant and colorful. You will also find a bar area, as well as an exterior dinning area.
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Spiedini's Italian Grill
I have had the pleasure of eating at this establishment numerous times, and have found the food to be very good overall. And I have had the opportunity to speak to Robert, the owner, also on several occasions.
The one thing I can tell you for sure, is that a restaurant will not succeed unless the owners and staff have a passion for food. That is one of the first key factors in any good eating establishment. And Robert has that passion in spades!
You can tell that he puts the highest priority on his customers getting good quality food, for a reasonable price and backing that up with good service as well.
Buck Nekkid BBQ
Quality control and consistency, is it there?
(this is the most recent addition to this review)
I decided to give their food another try and try out something I had not yet, which was a pulled pork sandwich. After I ordered and paid for the sandwich and side of cucumber salad, I got to my seat only to realize that the sandwich had a little "extra" something. Which ended up being a big ole piece of aluminum foil. They store the meat in foil which is then put inside the warming trays.
So when the server used the tongs to pull the meat out of the foil, he also got a nice sized chunk of foil. At this stage, he then puts a bun on the top which means he should have seen the foil as it was quite obvious (see photo). Then he proceeds to put the side of cucumber salad on the tray, which gives him another chance to see what he is serving me.
After sitting down and seeing this, I took a photo with my camera phone and took it up to them, to show them what they had served me and request a new sandwich. They apologized and fixed up a different sandwich for me.
What I am seeing on my visits there when I do decide to eat some food, is that they just do not seem to put much importance on quality controls which is going to affect their ability to consistently provide good food to their customers.
Fleur de Lis Grill
When you think of a really great foodie experience, what are the factors that are important to you? I think I can speak for most foodies and say we look for fresh ingredients, cooking from not only scratch but from the heart, a clean and inviting decor and last but certainly not least we want wonderful customer service.
To most of us this may seem like a no brainer, and should be so easy to find. But as many of us have come to find out through our own personal experiences, this is no easy task to pull off at the end of the day. So when we foodies get the chance to come across an establishment that can meet that criteria, we have to shout at the top of our lungs to let everyone else know.
Celi's True Mexican Cuisine
There are so many wonderful restaurants in North West Arkansas, a person could spend a large part of their lives just trying them all out. Now don't get me wrong, that would be a great life indeed. And I count myself as very lucky to be able to go out and try so many of these wonderful foodie gems. So when I get the opportunity to try out a new foodie hot spot, I jump at the chance!
For those of you who love great authentic mexican food, this is going to need to be on your list of "to try" places. I recently got the opportunity to stop into Celi's True Mexican Cuisine (formerly known as Osegueras) and sample a number of their dishes, as well as visit with the owner. And I have to tell you, I was impressed.
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El Tapatio
Asking my facebook users for a suggestion of places to try out, El Tapatio came up. I was told it was a newer restaurant in Prairie Grove, AR and I am always looking for new spots to go and try. They are located on the corner of Buchanan St and Pittman St.
I started off with the camarones al mojo de ajo, as this is one of my favorite dishes at Mexican restaurants. And unfortunately this one left me a bit flat.
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