Conifer

This restaurant was hands down, one of the top places I have ever eaten. The food, experience and our server were fantastic! I cannot eat gluten and was filled with joy to try so many options here. The flavors were absolutely amazing and creativity was an A+. My husband and I dined here for our one year anniversary and did not leave disappointed. We will be back!!

Conifer is a beautiful local farm to table restaurant serving gluten free food ( safe for persons with Celiac disease). The cheddar biscuits with whipped butter, scallions and coarse salt were amazing. The entrees were delicious, fresh, and creative. I had the lamb meatballs with creamy polenta. My better half had the chicken with dumplings. We ended our meal with a crème fraîche ice cream with macerated sour cherries which was perfect. We enjoyed a lovely dinner.

Our first Conifer experience and it was truly excellent. I had been seeing it get James Beard Award recognition in recent years and now I can certainly see why. The atmosphere is a nice fine dining atmosphere but also feels modern and lively. We started with the biscuits, which are hard to believe are gluten free given how delicious they are. We both went with some mocktails that we both loved. It’s not everywhere that puts so much effort into making their mocktails so flavorful. I absolutely loved the gnocchi and I can’t wait to try more of their entrees. My wife had the short rib and wow, amazing. We were too full for dessert but they were kind enough to let us try a small portion of the sorbet and, you guessed it, also great. Kat took great care of us with recommendations and making sure any accommodations were met. Much appreciation to Conifer for a great date night!

Conifer was the perfect spot for welcoming our dear friends from NY to NWA! Our server Carol was particularly attentive to our dietary requirements and as always the dishes were a delight to the eye and served at their peak moment! Thank you for another memorable evening.

We enjoyed our visit to Conifer. Really relaxing and romantic atmosphere. Our waiter was phenomenal! We had cucumber salad (our favorite) & another one of the salads on the menu. Really enjoyed those. For entrees we had Pork Schnitzel & the Braised Beef. We weren’t super impressed with those two entrees, however with that being said they were both still very good & we would still come back to try some different dishes!

Conifer in Bentonville delivers a memorable dining experience. The chicken fried mushrooms were crispy and unique, while the fig carpaccio was beautifully plated and full of flavor. Their mocktail of the day was refreshing, but the standout for me was the rich, tender lamb meatballs. Refined yet welcoming, Conifer is a must-visit.

Fabulous dinner! An absolute joy for gluten free people. Everything we tasted was creatively curated and beautifully plated. Such a pleasure to dine in a restaurant where everything is gluten free and nothing is sacrificed! You don’t even know it’s gluten free what a soulful dining experience!! Chicken fried lions mane mushrooms, outstanding. Gnocchi, fluffy clouds of deliciousness. Berry crumble with anise ice cream, amazing! My non gluten-free husband had schnitzel and loved it.

We made a reservation here for my sister’s birthday. The restaurant was very quaint, dimly lit with soft music playing. We were a little confused when we came in from the back entrance but we were directed to the host stand and were seated immediately. They have a rotating menu so it was just one page but the whole menu looked delicious. We ordered 3 appetizers and they were by far my favorite part! The tuna with beets and Brussels sprouts were amazing! I ordered the gnocchi which was delicious but a little soft for my liking, great flavor. The cocktails and mocktails were very good as well! I’d love to come back for drinks and appetizers any day! They also brought out a cookie with a candle for my sister’s birthday ! Everyone was very sweet, Zach was our waiter and I hope we get him again next time we come in because he was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant.

I rarely get to write this type of review, a positive one. Having wanted to go for some time, I finally had the best dinner partner, my mother, who was visiting from out of town. We were excited to get (a little) dressed up and experience an all-gluten-free menu. Although it's a little tricky finding your way into Conifer due to the street construction, once you make your way into the space, you find yourself in a bit of awe at the restaurant's beauty from both a functional and aesthetic stance. We were immediately escorted to our table and greeted by the most dazzling server, Frankie, who was just as pretty as she was friendly. We both ordered our mocktails and were given an overview of the items not featured on the menu. We started with the beet salad and the cornbread for our appetizer while we continued to pursue all the delicacies illustrated on the menu page. The beets were exceptional for an appetizer, and the cornbread's butter was fresh and zesty. I ordered the chicken and dumplings, and my mother ordered the crab cakes for our main meal. We split the brussels sprouts, and both ordered dessert...yes, we couldn't stop eating. Between the oohs and ahhs, Frankie would appear to see how we were doing, and each time, she shared a little about the restaurant, the owner, and how much she enjoyed working at Conifer; such pleasant conversations to go along with such an exceptional meal. The meal was on par with any other celebrated cuisine, and I have had the luxury of eating at several Michelin-starred and James Beard-winning establishments. NW Arkansas has some excellent restaurants indeed, fewer than you might think for a gentrified area such as this, but a few. I can always find a few things on any restaurant menu that allows me to eat out wherever I go. Conifer has won the top slot! Is it pricey? Well, perhaps to some, but for me, having no choice other than a gluten-free diet, it was a delight to eat as I did before having to eliminate gluten. There was something on the menu for everyone, even those without gluten allergies. The chef, Matthew Cooper, was kind enough to come to speak with my mother and me. He was just as cool as his food, and his food was delicious. Eating at Conifer was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and I am excited to head back and try something new each visit.

Conifer is good. But in order to be great, I would plead with them to rethink their plate structure. I've been here twice in the past 6 months and the 1st time here I had the pork chop with grits and black eyed peas and mostarda. It was a good, rich dish but got old after the same bite over and over with no vegetable or something to break up rhe richness. The morstada was very sweet. Same with my most recent visit and the lamb meatballs. 5 meatballs and 2 cups of grits with a pistachio sauce is a lot with nothing to break up the richness and saltiness of the lamb and grits. The lamb is high quality and delicious btw. At these prices, they should be able to put something pickled or vegetable forward on the plate to break up these dishes. Or, offer vegetable sides. Also, large portions of starch don't exactly invite me to order dessert or drink more. Both entrees I had, had a lot of starch on the plate. Overall, I'd encourage a visit to Conifer and I'll give it another shot myself as the seasons and menu changes with it.

Unexpectedly amazing. I visited from Las Vegas as a solo diner and got to sit at the bar. A very talented young man shook the night away all by himself. I ordered the clarified punch and man, the foam was incredible and it went so well with my chicken and waffles. The plate was very generous so I opted not to order any more food although I admired the kitchen all night along with the food it produced. Cheers to your success, I hope to come back to NWA just to eat here again.

Wow, this restaurant was incredible! Every dish was bursting with flavor and absolutely delicious. I love how the menu changes seasonally based on availability. I had the Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, crab cakes, and beets -- each dish was better than the last! I just wish I lived in the area so I could come back more often!

Amazing food! Great selection of gluten free items. The revolving menus keeps you coming back for more! This restaurant has a very intimate atmosphere. The chefs and staff are great!

Had a delightful dinner with friends at Conifer on Friday night. The whole menu is gluten free which is great for people with dietary restrictions. Most of the dishes we ordered we really enjoyed. Consensus was that the halibut was our favorite dish and that the mushroom pasta was too salty. Other dishes that we loved were the beets, falafel and chicken with dumplings. The restaurant was pretty large but still managed to feel cozy and service was friendly and attentive. Our waiter was incredibly helpful in reviewing the menu choices with us. For dessert, we had the apple crumble and the chocolate cake. Both were good but not exceptional. Overall, we really loved Conifer and would be excited to come back next time we came to town.

We liked this place but did not love it enough to give five stars. We would come back again because they change their menu based on what's in seasonal and local food. Loved the concept and the decor. Service was wonderful. Flavors were unique yet approachable. It felt a bit overpriced for what it was, like they are trying but slightly missed the mark.

This gluten free restaurant is a little strange to access from the road. But once you find it, it is beautiful and extremely posh. I had a salad and fried mushrooms--they are bug generous oyster mushrooms the size of a lamb's head, and pretty delicious. To be honest, they could do with less sauce as it overpowered the delicious mushrooms a bit. Honestly I had a great experience here, I just think the prices are a bit steep. If you need a lot of food, there are great places in the area that are more affordable, if a bit less unique.

The food and ambience are exceptional... and the sides/apps are novel and delicious. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the evening enjoying appetizers and drinks. Conifer is ridiculously expensive though. $60 for a moderately sized piece of halibut! Worth a trip for a special occasion. The menu is somewhat limited as well--not a lot to choose from. Happy to have been there, but because of cost, I may consider other alternatives in the future.

Friendly and responsive team as well as amazing GF cuisine. My only negative is that the noise level is too loud in the dinning room and had to eat on the patio, with perfect evening weather it was wonderful.

Arrived on a Saturday night, 7:30 and the dining room was about 60-70% full. By 8:30 it was nice to see they were at full capacity, crowd arrives a little later I guess. My wife and I were immediately given water, and we ordered drinks. They have a good selection of Gin, I ordered a G&T with Gray Whale. My wife ordered a Bees Knees...we waited 25min. Should be at most 10min IMO. We ordered the bread basket which were dropped buttermilk biscuits. Excellent, I think they (3 of them) were $12 and if you think that's expensive, they exude homemade and are just delightful. Served with whipped butter....worth it! We each also ordered the Caesar Salads and they had a cheese (can't remember which cheese) dressing with these delightful tiny croutons, or similar, which really went well. Of course it was a Caesar Salad but I really didn't think I was eating a Caesar Salad, simply delicious, fresh and not typical of the common analog dish. Also, we each ordered the Strip Steak with chimichurri. I had originally thought when ordering it would be a skirt steak or similar because it was described as strip steak but it's a NY Strip Steak. No problem. The plating had very typical home style potato's, likely deep fried. I will say that the steak was described as 14oz and when delivered I thought it was all of 16oz. The steak was tough and dry and the potatoes were also dry. That's all that was plated and fell short of anything approaching above average. I thought it was strange that the potatoes were dry, not a typical experience but nevertheless. Honestly, I could have gotten better at a pedestrian diner. I dealt with it with my water and second G&T. The chimichurri helped some but the steak was so tough and dry, its meager assistance simply didn't suffice. I get the Conifer sources fresh and locally and I'm happy to pay more for that...I don't blink twice to pay hundreds of dollars for a good dinner...worth it. But the entree was $80 and simply wasn't worth it, fell way short and I think it was a $45-$50 plate at most. The plating shouldn't have had home style potatoes, perhaps a Brazilian potato recipe, plenty of choices there. And if they served the home style potatoes, for $80 I personally think they should have added something more to the plating to expand the experience. Not just the steak and potatoes, such as a Brazilian side greenery. We did order dessert. Hey Conifer, I'd be dining with you again, this wasn't my first experience. I'd also be happy to spend another +$300 bill again. But the Strip Steak entree you were serving fell short your standards. It was lazy plating. It would also be nice if the drink service can be more responsive.

Terrible service - had to order dessert from the waitress twice, she never checked in with me about how the food was, and the description of the dessert didn't match the actual not even close. The matcha cake was supposed to have matcha powder on top but it didn't. It was this very dry, stale tasting loaf where I couldn't taste the grapefruit and the top was tough, almost over baked Further...there's a 3.5% transaction fee for cards which I didn't know about until I saw the receipt The entree was alright if not a little over cooked. Sauce was good and the veggies were yummy. Between the price, the dessert, and the service this place is pretty bad.

We had the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, they were very good ! Then we both had the Bansley Pork Tenderloin, it was cooked perfectly, (cut easily with a fork) I didn't know fennel could taste that good! The finely diced red wine apple was a perfect addition to the pork! The service was outstanding, I would suggest making a reservation, we arrived at opening time and were advised that the only seating was at the bar or on the patio. Will definitely try Conifer again!

Food and service were both amazing! This place is great for a date night with quality food and atmosphere.

I'm a local and Conifer is my absolute favorite. It's fine dining that isn't pretentious. The service is always top-notch. I've been here so many times for date nights, group dinners and even my baby shower dinner party in the private room in the back (strongly recommend!). Chef Matt and his whole Conifer team consistently produce beautiful dishes with locally-sourced ingredients that taste fantastic. The host, servers and bartenders are always extremely knowledgeable and welcoming. Five stars!

Love having an all gluten free restaurant that also caters to other dietary needs! They have a unique dishes and change their menu seasonally. It is an expensive menu, however you can tell there is a lot of effort put into every dish. The downside was that we planned ahead with reservations and were expecting more of an experience than was provided. We were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes (we ordered drinks, apps, and our meal). We wished that our server was more explanatory about how their menu works. All of the food was brought out at the same time, but we wanted to enjoy each plate as it's own. Many of the dishes are prepared to be shareable, which we assumed on our own, but the flavors did not mesh well. While everything was delicious, it did not deliver a cohesive flavor profile. For the price, there needs to be a better service and more of an experience. Lots of opportunity for this new restaurant and definitely recommend giving it a try!

This place is a GEM for anyone to be lucky enough to dine there but ESPECIALLY if you have any food allergies or intolerances. The *entire* restaurant is gluten free and many of their dishes are dairy free and nut free. The Chef goes to great lengths to make an inclusive environment and everything is beautiful - the restaurant itself, the table settings, decor, lighting, plating etc. Top notch! The service was phenomenal as well. We chose this spot for our anniversary dinner and it was such a lovely experience from the time we sat down to the time we left. Our server (Sara I think?) was SO attentive (but not intrusive) and she took her time to explain the drinks and menus and didn't make us feel the least bit rushed even though our reservation was a later one. Such a doll and she even brought us a little candelit treat to celebrate our anniversary! Such a thoughtful gesture. The hostess was also extremely welcoming. We honestly felt like they rolled out the red carpet for us! And for all of you seeing the menu prices, I will say, even hearty appetites shouldn't leave hungry. We felt like the portions were very generous for a higher end restaurant! My only critiques would be that it was difficult to find and parking wasn't the easiest due to some construction. Also, do note that if you're celebrating a romantic occasion, the acoustics in the restaurant aren't great for that. It was a bit loud in there. But other than that, I'd give them a 10/10!

A true culinary experience! The menu changes at unknown times with the seasons which always keeps it interesting. The dishes are bursting with flavor. Ever dish I've had is excellent.

As a celiac, I was super excited trying to Conifer but also a little sceptic from all the hype this restaurant has received. Let me tell you the hype is NOT enough!!! I had the best meal with my family. The staff is super nice and attentive. A must try in Bentonville!!! They did a really good job on creating a cozy atmosphere! Their menu is seasonal so it gives me an excuse to come back very soon!!

A beautiful new restaurant right off the square in Bentonville offers gluten free fine dining yet very casual. We started with cocktails that were excellent. I ordered the Cobb Salad which was very large and had a great dressing, I could only eat half of it. My wife had the Mushroom Flatbread that was full of flavors. We both ordered the Trout and we both loved it. it was seasoned very well. I had the Panna Cotta for dessert and it was really good. My wife had the chocolate cake and really enjoyed it. The food, atmosphere and service was outstanding. Quite expensive as well.

Great place with an inspired cocktail list and menu. However the dining experience is impacted greatly when the tip I would have chosen is the lowest option! Dont start at 20. Start at 18 and let people choose 20. I shouldn't feel like crap for giving 20%. From another country and Just found out what the minimum wage is in the US. 20% is a good place to start!!

Pork chop looked like it was microwaved, beans were hard/undercooked, almost everything was bland. I have low expectations for NWA but if you're gonna tout the James Beard nom then at least act like it. Agree 100% with Carolina's review. It's obvious the talent doesn't match the $$$.

Had a fantastic experience. Restaurant was recommend to us by a bartender at another establishment in town. She mentioned the menu was gluten free and (as a bread-lover) I tried my best to convince the rest of our group to select a different restaurant. Against my will, I was drug along for the ride and am so grateful it worked out. I had the best biscuit of my entire life and would have NEVER suspected they were made from gluten-free ingredients. Everything we ordered was delicious and if I ever find myself in Bentonville again, I will be sure to visit again.

Service - amazing. Food - to die for. And the coolest atmosphere! 5/5 stars, will definitely be coming back!

The atmosphere is great. Very cute place. The food was wonderful!lots of vegan options which is great. We were happy with the service as well. Definitely planning to come back!

Their website, their phone and their frontt door all say they're open at 5 on Sunday. They are locked right. The farmstand Nextdoor is wide open but no one is there. I knocked on the interior door there no answer.

Lovely gluten free restaurant in the heart of Downtown Bentonville with an amazing atmosphere with welcoming service. Not only does Conifer showcase the incredible quality ingredients and outstanding food but Conifer also encapsulates the dedication, passion and love local Northwest Arkansas farmers have for their products. Conifer does an amazing job at supporting local farmers by consistently modifying their menu to accommodate the respective season's products all year long. You can truly taste the love and the commitment to quality on every plate.

If you're more into animal proteins, you'll find limited selections, however, they have a very creative yet small menu that hasn't disappointed. I like the gnocchi the best and every dessert has been great. The restaurant space is very attractive.

Overpriced food. Wines we had both had unpleasant aftertaste. Setting is very nice and more upscale but very loud. Server was helpful and tried to provide an alternative wine which turned out to be just as marginal.

Matt Cooper continues to turn out creative and tasty food with local ingredients in a warm and inviting atmosphere. We have eaten here many times and it has never failed to satisfy. The chicken and dumplings hit all the right notes for elevated comfort food joy. Also, a shout out to the staff because it is not easy to put together a consistently capable, friendly, knowledgeable staff for fine dining in NW Arkansas and somehow Conifer has made that happen. This alone elevates Conifer above many of the other aspiring fine dining establishments in the area. The bottom line is that Conifer is getting a lot of attention and for all the right reasons. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

I tried Conifer for the second time. It has been great both times. The service is professional and prompt. The food is always great, especially the appetizers. The sweet potatoes were easily the best dish. I had their oat cake and was less of a fan of the texture, but that's understandable perhaps for a gluten-free cake. I plan to return next time I visit Bentonville.

Loved our dinner and drinks at Conifer last night! We had a small group of 4 people (2 vegans, 1 vegetarian and 1 omnivore) and we all loved it! Our favorite dishes were the sweet potatoes and hummus, Brussels sprouts, and the parsnips 3-ways. Great textures, flavors and plating designs. Especially enjoyed our pre-dinner Ginger Honey Mocktail! The ambiance and decor was beautiful and clean, with amazing live-edge wood and warm soft lights. Even the art on the walls (with the hidden waldos) was a nice touch. Our server Sara was wonderful and knowledgeable, and even gave us other recommendations for exploring in Fayetteville. Thanks y'all! PS: In response to my partner's passing comment on her love of Ice Cream, they even brought out a complimentary scoop of vegan Golden Mylk Chai ice cream, which was also lovely and flavorful! What a sweet gesture.

My fiancé and I have been to a lot of restaurants across NWA. We both agreed that the flavors we had here were the best in the area. The drinks, apps, entrees and desserts were excellent. Our waiter was very polite and provided detailed explanations of the menu items. I can't recommend this place enough.

This one's hard. Love the casual-yet-sophisticated atmosphere, the super friendly staff, the unprecedented-in-the-area attention to modern dietary preferences. But doggone it, three visits in (with menu changes between), and the food continues to disappoint. On each visit, appetizers were unrefined and gloppy. One person's "Wow, look at the portions!" is another's overkill. The fried hearts of palm with a celery-based salad was okay but big fried sticks thrown onto a pile of overdressed celery and bok choy felt heavy-handed (again). The spaetzle with mushrooms entree was the real disappointment. The mushrooms had a nice meaty texture, the spaetzle was the right consistency but all of it was soaked in a watery, inedibly salty, lemony pool. No flavor or dimension except uber salt and lemon. A few bites in and we couldn't take it anymore (and we were starving) and at $30+ ... The menu is so tight and the descriptions so compelling, we root for it every time only to be baffled by the results. The first two times we blamed ourselves - thinking we just ordered the wrong thing. The third time broke the logic (and wasn't a charm).

Food was fantastic, service was fantastic, and the ambiance was fantastic. The only reason for the 4 stars is because when dining inside, it is so LOUD (when restaurant is semi full) that you can't carry on a conversation at your table.

So, wow! I've been here once before and it was really good, but my visit tonight was top tier. One of the best dining experiences I've ever had honestly. I love it in there, Simple but elegant with nice lighting and decor. We had the Buffalo mushrooms with a Gorgonzola mousse and also tried the pork belly appetizer special. The Gorgonzola mousse was so amazing. Next was the gnocchi and Halibut. The mushrooms and sauce with the gnocchi was so really next level. But the bell of the ball was somehow the Daikon radishes. I asked their secret and they said lots of butter. While I'm sure it's more than that, they were such an awesome pairing to the fish and hummus. I feel dumb for not remembering the desserts names but we got a couple and one was a vegan dessert and it was actually the best one. So rich and full of flavor. Then there is the staff. Our waiter was perfect. We were checked on by other staff as well. In total I believe we were taken care of by a total of 4 staff members including the hostess. We also had a delicious mocktail. The wine list was extensive, if that's your thing. We weren't drinking but the table next to us was complimentary of their wine offerings. Considering they drank a couple of bottles they probably knew what they were talking about. Our bill was about the same as a normal night out in Denver too. I wouldn't say it's pricey for the quality at all. Check this place out. We made a reservation. I think that's the move.

Great food! Great service! Great atmosphere! The halibut was the best dish I have ever had!