Stacy F.
Yelp
Oh where do I start? Probably with that 5 star rating above, right? Folks, I cannot say enough good things about this place! From the moment I walked in until the time I left (nearly 3 hours later!), it was stellar service, out-of-this-world food, delicious signature cocktails and just an absolutely delightful evening overall.
So let's start at the beginning. Now, a warning: this place is small. But, somehow, even as packed as it was, the gentleman behind the big L-shaped bar helped me find a space to sit at the bar most comfortably. There, I ordered the "Main Attraction" from the specialty cocktail list [bourbon? yes please!] and it was amazing. He was attentive in cleaning up my space before I sat down and, also in checking in with other patrons aound me drinking and dining at the bar. (yeah, I eavesdrop a bit) :-)
A couple of friends showed up very shortly after and somehow there was room for them too in an already-full-to-the-rafters place. [How is this possible? Is this place magic? A TARDIS of sorts, perhaps?] We chatted and sipped our drinks as they made up our 8-seat table for us.
**NOTE:** The reason I mention the space size is to make sure you're not scared off if you come here and the lot is full and the place seems packed. I think we've all been places where we get ignored or treated like we're hassling the workers in those circumstances, right? You won't be here. Not if tonight was any indication.
So on to what you want to hear about, right?
THE FOOD!
This establishment is conscious in using locally-produced foods as much as they can. Because of that, it's a real treat too: the menu changes often! If you're on the Book of Faces, you can look them up there to see the current offerings (they're also very good at responding to FB messages: I asked them a question earlier this week that way about their menu and they responded within the hour!). There are sandwich and salad staples, but rotating dinner plates. And vegetarians? Delight! Meat-free dishes here for you to enjoy on the staple menu and the rotating one as well, as well as sides to choose from instead of just your standard side salad. (though don't overlook that either! yum!)
Since we were a group of seven, we all ordered different things, so I'll only speak on mine here.
First: an appetizer of house-made chips we all shared with a variety of dippings for them. My friend liked the horseradish one; I'm a blue cheese girl. Divine! The chips are out of this world and the chunky blue cheese spot on.
Second: I got a hamburger. I almost hang my head in shame writing that here, but after the chips, I knew I couldn't eat a big dinner plate. That, and I'm going to assume every other review is about the fancier foods so...hey. Let's see if this place can actually cook a burger "medium" when you ask for medium, shall we?
OH MY GOODNESS, they can. It was the most perfectly cooked burger that I've had in a long time. AND it also came out at the same time as every other person's meal at our table. Usually in a bigger group that means your burger will be overdone while sitting under a heater or something. Not so here -- well done, Pea Ridge!
Since I already had the chips as an appetizer, I switched my side to the soup. They had just ran out of the first soup of the day (a tomato-based vegetable) but had another waiting in the wings: a creamy mushroom one that was absolutely divine! [if you see an oyster mushroom soup on the menu when you go? get! you won't be dissapointed. well, unless you're allergic to mushrooms or something. then you might be.] ;-)
THE SERVICE!
Through it all: all three courses (of course there's homemade desserts too!), drink replenishments, etc.? One word: Attentiveness. Another word: Super Friendly. (okay, that's two.) Always right there if you needed something but never in your face otherwise. And remember how packed this place was when we walked in? STILL that kind of service.
The icing on the cake for me (I was too full to actually eat REAL cake - though it looked delicious), was when they offered to wrap up the half burger I couldn't finish, noticed I still had about half of that delicious mushroom soup left I couldn't either (I ate a LOT of those homemade chips, y'all!), and so they put THAT too in a to-go container for me as well. I've never had any place save my soup for me like that before and I'm tickled that I'll be able to warm it up again for lunch tomorrow.
Okay, y'all -- so I think I've waxed poetic enough about this place already, yes? If you've made it this far? 1.) Thank you! and 2.) What are you waiting for? Go give them a try yourself! I'm already making plans to go back.