Wagon Wheel” was the name of a popular country song a few years ago, but its popularity pales in comparison to that of the Wagon Wheel Country Café in Springdale.
Linda Bryant, a retired long-time food services manager for the Springdale School District, opened
Linda Bryant (right) and her family provide super service for guests.
the restaurant about nine years ago and has been pleasing customers with home-style cooking ever since.
The restaurant has a great homey feel and is close to several major employers. The down-home décor mirrors the kind, sincere service that the staff offers guests. The team that makes the Wagon Wheel rock includes Bryant’s daughters, Michelle Wolfe and Jennifer Edwards, as well as Michelle’s daughters, Bethany Wolfe-Rodriguez and Shelby Wolfe.
“We are mindful of the quality of our food and always work to provide excellent service to our customers,” Michelle said. “For example, we use real potatoes. We go through gallons and gallons each week.”
Another example of the freshness is the fried green tomatoes. These delicious hand-breaded slices of country heaven are never frozen. They are sure to make anyone raised in the country grin with joy, as they are fried green awesome!
The country fried steak is a menu favorite.
The country fried steak is cooked to a perfect, crispy, golden brown. This delicacy is served with real mashed potatoes and gravy, a roll, and your choice of another side dish. I opted for the greens, which were seasoned with the distinctive bacon flavor that any true greens lover adores. There was nothing frozen about this plate. It was one of the best country fried steak, real potatoes and greens dishes that I have ever had.
“We have many people that dine with us three times a day,” Michelle said. “They are like family and we love seeing them. With the growth in this part of the state, we see many new faces each day.”
Some of the more popular offerings at the Wagon Wheel include the fried chicken livers and gizzards, and the homemade chili. She said the ham and beans with fried, hand-cut potatoes with onions, and homemade cornbread are always popular.
The frog leg dinner is a winner.
Frog legs are a menu item that stands out, as I loved them growing up. The Wagon Wheel serves
For those looking for a salad, I recommend the Spinach Strawberry Salad. This beauty includes fresh spinach, strawberries and cashews, served with a house blueberry vinaigrette dressing. The flavor combinations make this salad a winner.
The Wagon Wheel is well-known for its pies featuring
The Dutch apple pie is a must-try.
homemade crusts. I sampled the buttermilk, the coconut cream and Dutch apple. All three were scrumptious. The buttermilk was my favorite, but you won’t find a dessert that you won’t love. Selections vary each day.
I heard one diner tell his waitress, “This pecan pie is the best I have ever had, just don’t tell my wife. But, I think I’m going to buy one for Christmas.”
Make plans to roll over to the Wagon Wheel Country Café for a great dining experience in a relaxed, family environment.