Savoring Siloam Springs at The Park House Kitchen + Bar

Siloam Springs is a historic city in northwest Arkansas, named for the purported healing powers of the spring water feeding Sager Creek. Across from the creek, in the city’s revitalized downtown area, sits The Park House Kitchen + Bar, a favorite downtown gathering and dining location.

The Park House building was constructed in 1897 and operated as The Park Hotel. In 2018, Alma Sanchez and her fiancé, Wesley Nicholson, opened the renovated structure as The Park House Kitchen + Bar. The renovation included removing walls on the first floor to improve natural light and the line of sight, so diners could enjoy the pristine, relaxing views of the creek and park. The couple also added an outside patio and a stage for music performances, which take place Thursday through Sunday evenings.

Alma was raised in Hardy and worked in a country cooking restaurant while she was growing up. She has 12 siblings, which meant that every meal was like cooking at a restaurant. She attended college to be a teacher, but always kept a job in the service industry. In the end, she decided to follow her passion of running her own restaurant. “It has been a challenge, but I truly love what I do,” she said. Her young daughters, Natalie and Lucy, can often be seen helping at the restaurant.

I could tell that Alma has a deep passion for downtown Siloam Springs, as she talked about the outstanding business partnerships that exist. She said that Siloam Springs is a very family-focused city, and her restaurant participates in every event possible.

The menu at The Park House reflects Alma’s creativity with food. She delivered a new favorite treat to my table — Avocado Fries. The avocado slices, panko-breaded and lightly fried to a beautiful golden brown, had just the right amount of crispness and were served with house-prepared chipotle ranch dressing.

Next, she served some Reuben Eggrolls that were out-of-sight good. However, my favorite appetizer was the Pimento Cheese Fritters with homemade pepper jelly glaze. The hush-puppy-like fritters were filled with freshly made pimento cheese, breaded and fried to perfection; the jelly enhanced the flavor experience.

Alma developed an incredibly unique menu item while pregnant — the Blackberry Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich. A craving that has become one of the restaurant’s most popular selections, the sandwich features grilled sourdough bread, homemade blackberry jam, melted Swiss cheese, crispy bacon and fresh jalapeños. You may be skeptical, but you will like it, just like I did.

The delicious Jalapeño Popper Burger included lean ground beef, bacon, fresh sliced jalapeños and cheddar and goat cheeses. In addition to a variety of burger options, The Park House offers wraps, including a Roasted Veggie Hummus Wrap with roasted vegetables, spring mix, hummus, goat cheese, basil pesto and balsamic glaze. Served on a croissant, and featuring toasted almonds and lettuce, the signature Chicken Salad Sandwich is a local favorite.

Desserts include Carrot Cake and an outstanding Dutch Apple Pie. I tried the Turtle Brownie Sundae, a warm brownie, candied pecans and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry. It was as good as a sincere hug from an old friend.

I loved the savory and sweet Chicken and Waffles with a jalapeño maple syrup that elevated the dish to a whole new level. Better yet, the Chicken and Waffles are available for dinner and brunch. Brunch and breakfast are offered on the weekends with specialties like the Monte Cristo Sandwich, Huevos Rancheros and an impressive lineup of morning specialties.