The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
By Aaron Eley and Katherine Dzurilla
From brain food that keeps you full and focused to comfort food that helps you through a stressful week, it’s important to know where to find good food while in school. This information is especially important for students with specific diets, such as vegetarians and vegans. Thankfully, the University of Arkansas is surrounded by incredible local restaurants that offer a wide variety of options. In the post below, two current students (one vegetarian and one not) share details about three of their favorite restaurants in Fayetteville. Dig in!
Hammontree’s Grilled Cheese
Aaron (Non-vegetarian): Hammontree’s was one of the first restaurants I tried when I moved to Fayetteville, and it is still one of my favorite places of all time! Their main focus is specialty grilled cheese sandwiches, but they also have great hot dogs and gourmet French fries. You can either order a pre-built sandwich from the menu or build your own with custom ingredients. I think all of their sandwiches are worth a try, but my personal favorite is the “Chewbacca”: various kinds of melted cheese with pulled pork, grilled onions, bacon, and cilantro sauce on sourdough bread. Another great one is “The Scarlet Cheddar”, which blends 3 types of cheddar cheese with smoked turkey. On a chilly or rainy day, I love to go to Hammontree’s for a savory sandwich and a warm cup of tomato soup.
Katherine (Vegetarian): Hammontree’s is one of the best options for vegetarians or vegans trying to find a sit-down lunch or dinner close to campus. Hammontree’s not only has vegetarian melts on their menu but also has options to replace hot dogs and certain cheeses with plant-based alternatives. A delicious vegan option is “The Beatnik”. This melt will come with grilled zucchini, caramelized onions, artichoke hearts, vegan cheese, and garlic aioli on sourdough. As a vegetarian, I always get their “Apple Dog” with a vegetarian dog and no chili. These meals come with a pickle spear and kettle chips and are sure to satisfy.
Pesto Cafe
Aaron (Non-vegetarian): It’s easy to drive past this restaurant, never knowing it’s there, but you would be missing out on some of the best Italian food in Fayetteville. Pesto Cafe has a quiet atmosphere, great service, and a lot of authentic pasta dishes. A few of my favorites include the Homemade Lasagna, the Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken, and the Shrimp Scampi. I enjoy how these entrees have a fresh, delicious balance of meat, cheese, and sauce. One thing I really like about Pesto Cafe is the generous portions. Each order gets you a large amount of pasta, garlic bread, and salad; one dish could likely be a dinner for two!
Katherine (Vegetarian): If you are looking for a local Italian option, Pesto Cafe has great food for vegetarians! They offer several vegetarian pizzas including ‘Freaky Steve’s Veggie Delight’ and ‘Pesto Pizza’. If pizza is not exactly what you are looking for, then they have an entire section on their menu dedicated to vegetarian dishes. My personal favorite is their Eggplant Parmesan. All their dishes come served with garlic bread and a Caesar salad.
The Farmer’s Table Cafe
Aaron (Non-vegetarian): The Farmer’s Table is known for its natural ingredients, local partnerships, and fun location. While it has great lunch options, including a Build-Your-Own-Burger menu, where the restaurant really shines is breakfast and brunch. They have omelets, pancakes, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, grits, fresh jam, biscuits and gravy… the list goes on! They also offer unique breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and burritos that combine the complementary items above into fantastic dishes. When I visit The Farmer’s Table, I like to order the “Arkansawyer” or the Berkshire Omelet. You really can’t go wrong starting your day here.
Katherine (Vegetarian): The Farmer’s Table is arguably the best place to go for vegan and vegetarian brunch. Everything from pancakes to burgers can be ordered to fit all sorts of dietary needs! Their morning mushroom mash is a delicious vegan breakfast bowl that comes with quinoa, potatoes, a vegan sausage patty, local veggies and kale, all with cashew cream. If you are wanting something a little more on the sweeter side, then their coconut almond pancake is sure to please.
If you’re a fan of exploring a ton of different foods and flavors, Fayetteville has got what you need. Try our favorite spots to eat, and we’re sure you’ll soon become a fan, too!
