Mr. Burger / Photo: Chance Chapman
We’ve seen a lot of restaurants come and go in Fayetteville since we started the Flyer in 2007.
That’s the nature of things in a college town as thousands of new freshmen move in to start school at the University of Arkansas each year, and with them, nearly as many seniors graduate and move on to careers outside the city.
Maybe it’s that semi-transient population, or maybe it’s just the way the world works in a capitalist society, but just as the influx and students ebb and flow into the city like the rising tide, so goes the world of eateries, cafes, and diners that make up the local food landscape of the city as the semester comes to a close.
All of that considered, and adding the fact that these are really tough times for local restaurants at the moment, our local places have been heavy on our minds lately.
We wrote last week about our desire to update our popular’Most missed restaurants in the history of Fayetteville list, and this week, we are finally getting around to the task.
We compiled the original list six years ago in 2014, and since then, some local institutions in Fayetteville have closed their doors. Places like Jose’s, Common Grounds, and Hog Haus on Dickson Street come to mind, as well as other well-loved places from around town like Greenhouse Grille, Mr. Burger, Hog’s Breath Eatery, ROTC on 112, and so many others.
We asked our readers here on the site, as well as our followers on social media to update us on what Fayetteville eateries restaurants they miss the most, and we did out best to compile all the feedback and merge it with our original list to come up with what you see below.
The list is in no way scientific, but we figured it’s as good a time as any to remember the local places we’ve lost as a reminder to support the local places we love now. So that we can keep them around.
Some of these predate our experience, and lots of them predate the internet, so feel free to correct any names that have been mis-remembered.
Feel free to add your own favorites in the comments below.
DLux / Photo: Facebook
And feel free to keep supporting your favorite local places any way you can, as we try to make sure they don’t end up on a future version of this list.
Without further ado, here are the 160+ most missed restaurants in the history of Fayetteville (2020 edition).
1. ROTC on Dickson
There’s a new No. 1 on the “most missed restaurants” list. Hoffbrau topped our 2014 version, but the restaurant has been supplanted by Restaurant on the Corner on our latest list. Known locally simply as ROTC (pronounced “rot-see”), the restaurant got its start on the corner (hence the name) of Dickson Street and Rollston Avenue, but eventually moved out to Highway 112 before closing for good in May 2017. Most of those who responded said they missed the original location for its great diner-style atmosphere, and focus on a delicious of sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, brunch items, and more. When developers for the 3 Sisters Building purchased the property in the 1990s, the restaurant, along with across the street neighbors The Grill had to relocate, leading to the consolidation of the two restaurants in a location on Highway 112. It was one of the first places we frequented for coffee with friends in high school. Sorry waiters and waitresses. We most likely overstayed our welcome on more than one occasion.
2. Fuzzy’s
Former burger and barbecue joint Fuzzy’s came in as the second most missed restaurant in Fayetteville. It was located on Garland Avenue, across from Fast Tracks in a building that has since been demolished as part of a street widening project. It was the place where I ordered my first legal beer. They had crazy good battered fries, nachos, and so many good sandwiches and burgers. They closed sometime in the early 2000s, but we have heard that the original owner’s son is still in the restaurant business, and operates a place in Colorado.
3. Hoffbrau
Steaks, burgers, a good salad bar, and crazy drink specials are what we remember most about Hoffbrau, formerly located at 31 E. Center St. off the square in the space currently occupied by Damgoode Pies. The restaurant closed in the early 2000s, but apparently still lives on in the minds of several Fayettevillians. It was the most-mentioned restaurant in our original poll, and was mentioned by many this second time around as well.
Hoffbrau / Photo: Rod Jacobs
4. Goldie’s
Goldie’s is another restaurant that was mentioned by more folks this time than in our original poll. The restaurant was located at 3251 N. College Ave. in the space currently occupied by First Watch. The restaurant was actually part of a chain that still operates locations in Oklahoma. The restaurant specialized in pretty standard fair of burgers and sandwiches, but what we remember most was a burger basket night, and the self-serve pickle and salsa bar. They also had a pretty nice patio out front.
5. Muley’s
Tons of you had fond memories about Muley’s. It was on the south side of Colt Square in a relatively large building, and its heyday was probably in the late 1980s and early 90s. We don’t remember much about the food, because we were probably eating from the kids menu back then, but it seems like they served some pretty standard American fare of burgers, sandwiches, a few steaks, and salads. Onion straws also come to mind. We also remember it nearly always being packed. What do you guys remember about Muley’s?
6. Jerry’s Restaurant
Jerry’s Restaurant was located near the corner of Dickson Street and College Avenue, in the space currently occupied by a t-shirt shop in one side and a jewelry store in the other. They served a killer breakfast in a great diner-style atmosphere. We remember comfortable booths, and a steady supply of coffee. It was the first place I ever tried my eggs sunny side up. The restaurant closed sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s.
7. Brenda’s Bigger Burger
Good old Brenda’s Bigger Burger. The little roadside restaurant at 645 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in south Fayetteville served up some delicious burgers for 47 years before closing in 2012. It was an order-at-the-counter experience, and you could either take your burger with you, or enjoy it on one of the picnic tables out front. In addition to great burgers, they also had some tasty onion rings, served in a paper sleeve secured with a toothpick, and really delicious malts and milkshakes.
Brenda’s Bigger Burger / Staff photo
8. Coy’s Place
Coy’s Place, the project by charismatic and well loved restauranteur Coy Kaylor, was located on College Avenue in a building that has since been demolished across from Herman’s Ribhouse. It had a large porch out front for folks waiting for a table, and an intimate bar area off the dining room where Coy frequently could be found chatting with customers. I remember they had good steaks and prime rib. My grandfather once took the whole 1996 Prairie Grove Tiger basketball team there, fulfilling a promise to do so if we made it to the state tournament. The place closed not too long after that. We’re not sure of the exact year.
9. D-Lux
D-Lux was a restaurant on Dickson Street on the west side of the currently-vacant space most recently occupied by Aqua Fire (and 1936 Club before that). The restaurant, which according to Once Upon Dickson author Tony Wappel dated back to the 1930s, specialized in burgers and sandwiches. Longtime local resident Ben Schelegel said he remembered the place also had a pretty cool game room on the east side of the building.
10. Momma Dean’s
Momma Dean’s appeared on our original list, but the restaurant’s absence has made the hearts of several Flyer readers grow fonder since then. The restaurant was located on South School Avenue in the building currently home to Mr. Taco Loco, and specialized in soul food favorites and other southern-style cuisine. We remember hearing stories about the proprietor, Mama Dean herself, helping to feed some of the homeless folks who lived nearby. We also remember an anonymous donor or donors who paid thousands in back taxes to help keep the restaurant open. That says a lot about how much the place was loved.
Momma Dean’s / Staff photo
11. Mr. Burger
12. The Old Post Office
13. Uncle Gaylord’s
14. The Station
15. Casa Taco
16. 36 Club
17. LJ’s
18. Hush Puppy
19. Suzi Wongs Rice Bowl
20. La Maison Des Tartes
21. Boardwalk Cafe
22. Bizy’s
23. Minute Man
24. Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy
25. Common Grounds
26. Cheeburger, Cheeburger
27. Schlegel’s Bagels
28. Kirby’s
29. La Familia
30. Chloe
31. Village Epicurian
32. Sassafrass
33. Burger Life
34. Pete’s
35. El Camino Real
36. Charlie’s Chicken
37. Red Bird Cafe
38. Greenhouse Grill
39. Tuesday Mornings
40. Hawaiian Brian’s
41. Twin Kitchen
42. Ozark Brewing Company
43. Farmer’s Daughter
44. King Pizza
45. Cafe Santa Fe
46. TGI Friday’s
47. Lin’s
48. Bogey’s
49. Hoot’s
50. Morning Glories
51. Hog’s Breath
52. Rally’s
53. Widespread Bagel
54. Polly’s Cafe
55. Belvedere’s
56. Hog City Diner
57. The Grill
58. Luby’s
59. Fuddrucker’s
60. Godfather’s Pizza
61. Rufino’s
62. Soul
63. Smokey Bones
64. Tapanazos
65. Fazoli’s
66. Bobby Joe’s Cafe
67. Bonanza
68. Burger Broil
69. Dairy Queen
70. Ma Drake’s
71. Kisor’s
72. Hooter’s
73. El Chico
74. Fat Tony’s
75. Celi’s
76. Jackson’s
77. JD China
78. Joe’s Bistro
79. Poor Fred’s
80. Senor Bob’s
81. Sho’Nuf BBQ
82. Solamente Lo Mejor
83. Taco Mayo
84. Taco Place
85. Tacos and Spuds
86. Tastee Freeze
87. Tim’s on College
88. Asahi
89. Alligator Ray’s
90. Blimpie’s
91. Bowen’s
92. Butcher Block
93. Cable Car Pizza on Campbell
94. Chicken Hut
95. Danver’s
96. Dixie Cafe
97. Early Berlin
98. Great American Hot Dog
99. Ozark Mountain Smokehouse
100. Hjem
101. HuHot
102. Long John Silver’s
103. Mary’s at Ozark Lanes
104. Mike’s South
105. Mr. Burger on College
106. Mr. Quick
107. Jose’s
108. Muskrat Roadhouse
109. My Pleasure
110. Nick’s
111. Deluxe Burger
112. Pizza Inn
113. Ryan’s
114. Sale Barn Cafe
115. Shanghai
116. Smoothie King
117. Top Hat
118. Uber Burger
119. Urban Table
120. Wilson’s Cafe
121. Working Class Hero
122. Shoney’s
123. Louie’s
124. Hog Haus
125. Taco Tico
126. Backyard Burgers
127. Casa Montez
128. Taiwan
129. Rice Village
130. Speakeasy Pizza
131. Katy T’s
132. Pizza Planet
133. Bangkok
134. Taco Bell on College
135. Ye Olde King Pizza
136. Cuckoo’s Sports Bar
137. AQ
138. Antonio’s
139. Zachary’s
140. El Patio
141. Delta Soul
142. A&W Drive In
143. Wheeler’s Drive In
144. JR’s Lightbulb Club
145. Trailside Cafe
146. Lulu’s Fish Shack
147. Bakerman
148. Sunrise Cafe
149. San Lio
150. Orange Mango
151. Smilin’ Jack’s
152. Tilted Kilt
153. Waffle House – Dickson
154. Taco Bell Cantina
155. Besi Dream
156. Buck Nekkid
157. Boar’s Nest BBQ
158. Bull’s Eye Pub
159. Benson’s BBQ
160. Bus Stop BBQ
161. Wet Pig BBQ
162. Cajun Cookers
163. Vintage House
164. Lucy’s Diner
165. Fuzzy’s Tacos
166. Martha’s
167. Tremors
168. The Shack
169. B&B BBQ
170. Dairy Maid
171. Szechuan Express
172. Bourbon Brothers
