Restaurant Reviews

• Bella Cucina
• Th’ Barn Café
• Big Creek
• Buzzard Roost Inn
• Chili's
• El Charro
• The Grapevine
• Whitewater Grill
• "Best" List of Area Reataurants

Bella Cucina
4 E. Seventh Street
Mountain Home, AR
870-424-3785
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday thru Saturday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

Finally, an authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of Mountain Home. We have missed fine Italian dining since we left the Chicago area, and would cringe when yet another pizza parlor opened up. Michael does not consider pizza a dinner item. We are pleased to say that this place has a lot to offer.

The two most important things to us are the sauce and the bread, both of which met with our enthusiastic approval. The pasta dishes are all excellent, with the pasta cooked to perfection, and a rich bold sublime sauce to go with it.

For starters, their excellent bread is served with olive oil and tomato paste for dipping. Their bread is shipped in, and has the texture we so sorely missed in Arkansas breads—crisp on the outside, moist and chewy on the inside.

Their salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing is probably the best salad in Mountain Home. With a big portion of mixed greens, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, almost a meal in itself. A variety of other dressings are available.

The appetizers are also excellent. We’ve tried the calamari and the mussels, and both were cooked to perfection.

We still haven’t gotten past the pasta selections, so we can’t speak for the rest of the menu. Betty likes the Spaghetti and Meatballs, Michael the Penne with Sausage or Bracciole. Prices are reasonable and portions are large, although everything is ala carte. Betty plans on trying the eggplant next.

By the way, they serve some very good wines, and for you pizza lovers, they have what look like some very good pizza, with interesting toppings, such as portabella mushrooms, capers, artichoke hearts, pineapple??, kalamata olives, mussels, clams, etc.

The décor is subtle and quite soothing, with soft green and purple walls, a tin roof, unusually high ceilings. Betty loves the atmosphere, and is pleased they copied the colors of her home.

One caveat: Betty was not impressed with the meat entrée she tried. Neither the meat, potato or vegetable were noteworthy. Our advice: Definitely try this mostly outstanding restaurant, just skip the meat entrees and stick with the wonderful pastas and sauces, appetizers and salads on the menu.

Th’ Barn Café
Hwy 202, (1/4 mile from the resort)
Oakland
431-4294
No Alcohol
7:30 to 1:30 Sat-Thurs
7:30 to 6:30 Fri

Under new ownership. Welcome to Marlene Berezik & Brian Smith from Clinton Township, Michigan.

Big Creek Golf and Country Club
Hwy 62 West, Mountain Home
Phone: 425-0333
Alcohol
No Smoking

Great relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant is a private club, but we can make reservations for you for lunch or dinner, or for golf, as our guests.

Buzzard Roost Inn
4271 Buzzard Roost Road (Hwy 178)
2-1/2 miles east of 62/412 Bypass
Phone: 492-5187
Open Wednesday thru Saturday 4 - 9 p.m.
Open Sunday Breakfast 8 - 11 a.m.
Alcohol
No Smoking

We found a great little place to eat. A little far afield, but worth the drive. Sue and Dennis Dymek are the owners, who cheerily welcome you to their little restaurant. They have a varied menu, with Iowa Black Angus steaks, buffalo burgers, and more.

But what we really love is their weekly specials and their special gourmet dinners, usually with wine pairings. Their weekly specials are either ethnic or comfort dinners. For instance, this week it’s stuffed peppers. They really know how to cook.

The other thing they do really special is every four to six weeks they serve a special gourmet dinner, usually with a wine pairing. For instance, their upcoming Valentine’s Day dinner will include Veal/Pork Terrine (Appetizer), Onion Soup, Hearts of Romaine Salad, Prime Rib, Twice-Baked Potato, Broccoli with Hollandaise, and Persian Lover’s Cake. Gourmet Dinners usually average $25 per person. Wine pairings not included.

We’ve been going here awhile, and are never disappointed. Give it a try.

Chili’s
Hwy 62 East in Mountain Home, by the new Wal-Mart Supercenter
Phone: 492-4294
Hours: M-F 11 to 9, Sa-Sun 11 to 10:30
No Smoking
Alcohol

We have only eaten here once, and we liked it! The portions are large, the prices are quite reasonable. You get fresh cooked vegetables with your entrees. The appetizers are excellent. This place is sort of Mexican, or Southwestern themed. We loved the way they grill their meat. Betty had their grilled chicken and shrimp, and it was cooked to perfection with a hint of spicy. The only drawback is it is very busy, and even though they have a non-smoking section, Betty could still smell the smoke.

El Charro
Hwy 62 East in Mountain Home in College Plaza
Phone: 425-7877
Hours: M-Th 10:40 to 9, F 10:40 to10, Sa 10:40 to 9:30, Sun 11 to 8:30
No Alcohol
No Smoking

This restaurant has been around for awhile, but we just started going to it regularly this past year. We eat here all the time, especially when we’re short of time. You can be in and out in 20 to 30 minutes, service is that quick. They never rush you. The servers are pleasant and efficient. Not much English is spoken here. The best Mexican food in town. They also have lots of vegetarian entrees, and you can order a child’s portion for less if you have a mini-appetite. We almost always order the beef tacos with rice and beans. We like the soft tortillas. You have to let them know if you want them this way, otherwise they come crispy. The complementary chips and salsa are brought to your table almost instantaneously, and are freshly made. The sauce is mildly zippy, but you can ask for hotter if you like. Our grand-nephew Michael Gelsomino, who is vegetarian, loves this place.

Whitewater Grill
Hwy 62 West in Mountain Home
Phone: 424-3800
No Smoking

This place is rumored to have some connection with President Bill Clinton's White Water scandal. It is owned by one of the White Water investors. The place is top notch. Food, service, atmosphere are all excellent.

Among the stand outs is their dinner salad which comes with the entree. It is by far the best salad in our area, with really good salad dressing too. Another standout is their french fried sweet potatoes. They also have excellent garlic mashed potatoes, as well as regular fries and baked potatoes if you prefer.

Their entrees are excellent. Great steaks. One of our oldest customers (number of years with us, not age), Bob Upton, claims that they really know their stuff when it comes to salmon, and he's really picky! They also have great catfish, Mexican dishes, fried chicken, and we hear they make a great portabella mushroom sandwich too.

"Best" List of Area Restaurants

PLEASE CHECK WITH US BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO ANY OF THESE RESTAURANTS. Find out in advance if we still stand behind these recommendations, and be sure to find out the days and times the restaurants are open, and whether or not reservations are recommended. Also, find out if they serve liquor and if a membership is required. Things could be mighty different than what you're used to.

Best Appetizer: 178 Club (Potato Skins), Bull Shoals (No Smoking)

Best Atmosphere: Big Creek, Mountain Home, (No Smoking)

Best Bar-B-Que: Al-B’s, Lakeview
Phone: 431-4020
Hours: M-Th 11 to 8, F-Sa 11 to 9, Closed Sunday
Beer and Wine
Smoking

Best Breakfast: Th’Barn Café, Oakland
No Alcohol

Best Buffet: The Front Porch (Daily), Yellville

Best Entertainment: Hopper's Dinner Club, Mountain Home (no smoking, music, food and drinks)

Best Hamburger: The Back Forty, Mountain Home

Best Italian: Bella Cucina, Mountain Home

Best Lunch: Sodie’s, Flippin

Best Chicken: White Water Grill (Fried), Mountain Home; Sodie's (Chicken Tenders), Flippin; Wendy’s (Spicy Chicken Sandwich), Mountain Home; Chili’s (Grilled Chicken), Mountain Home

Best Oriental: Blossom Cafe, Mountain Home - all fresh ingredients and not overcooked! Vegetarian dishes plus Oriental and American beer and wine. (No Smoking)

Best Prime Rib: 178 Club (Saturdays), Bull Shoals

Best Ribs: Hopper's Dinner Club, Mountain Home; Full Bar (No Smoking)

Best Salad: White Water Grill, Mountain Home

Best Seafood: 178 Club, Bull Shoals
Fred's Fish House, Mountain Home (catfish)

Best Steaks: 178 Club, Bull Shoals;
Hopper's Dinner Club, Mountain Home

Best Value: Chili’s, Mountain Home; Th’Barn Café, Oakland

Best View: Gastons, overlooking the White River, Lakeview