Northwest Arkansas eatery transforms menu

Owner Carl Garrett of Table Mesa Bistro has established a solid reputation of high standards in food and service with his inaugural Northwest Arkansas restaurant on the Downtown Bentonville Square. The menu combines fresh flavors influenced by Latin, Asian and Pacific Northwest cuisine. Through the encouragement of several guests, Garrett opened another Table Mesa Bistro in Fayetteville in March 2013.

The Fayetteville eatery, located in the Legacy Building at 401 W. Watson Street, didn't gain the same foothold as its sister restaurant, but instead of closing the doors the entrepreneur chose to venture in a new direction.

The new outfit, named Table on the Hill, is a modern tavern-style restaurant, with a full bar and a menu that serves refined, American comfort food. A soft opening was held this week with invite-only guests receiving a prix-fixe menu sampling several selections off the new menu.

Previews included charbroiled oysters, shrimp wantons, hand-rolled cheese ravioli with a beef tenderloin bolognese, creamy pot pie with made-from-scratch crust, ground Wagyu meatloaf with yukon gold mashed potatoes and a fried chicken "TV-dinner" that included an individual fruit pie made with fresh apple slices and a housemade pastry crust.

With local beers on tap, wine, sangria, a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic craft beverages, this newly revamped restaurant aims to entice fond memories of a home-cooked meal set in a chic lounge setting. The restaurant is currently open for dinner only Monday-Saturday, and closed on Sundays. More information is available by calling (479) 668-4020.

Experienced restauranteurs expand enterprise

San Miguel Mexican Grill & Bar is a newly opened family-style restaurant located near the intersection of Joyce Boulevard and North College Avenue in Fayetteville. The outfit is owned and operated by Jose and Maria Rodruiguez of Springdale, who also operate La Hacienda Mexican Restaurants in Fayetteville. The original La Hacienda is at 2901 E. Zion Road and a second location near Baum Stadium at 1545 W. 15th Street.

The restaurant, located at 3722 N. Front Street, has renovated the building that was a seasonal home for Halloween Express for the last several years. Set beside Panera Bread, The Bike Route and La Petite Academy, the restaurant can be accessed by Sain Street off College Avenue, or via Front Street, across from Waco Title on Joyce Boulevard.

Look for San Miguel Mexican Grill & Bar in the directory of this Dining Guide and in upcoming issues. More information is available by calling (479) 966-4680.

Thai restaurant brings fresh flavors to Springdale

Thai Taste is a newly opened full-service restaurant with booth and cafe seating. The menu offers traditional Thia dishes with an array of house specialites.

Offerings include crispy fried calamari served with a mild chili-tomato-basil sauce; steamed or fried pork dumplings; Satay chicken; Thai hot wings; coconut shrimp; green papaya or mango salad; Thai noodle soup; cashew nut chicken; Thai BBQ; sweet honey chicken; beef mango stir-fry; sushi rolls; fried beef jerky; Lad-Na; Pad Woon Sen; Pad Thai; Drunken Noodles; Evil Jungle Prince; Thai teriyaki chicken or beef; ginger scallops; grilled salmon; scallop, salmon and shrimp Thai pasta basil; seafood asparagus; crispy duck; and rack of lamb.

Curry dishes include yellow, red, green, Pa-Nang, Ma-Samun, mango, pineapple or duck.

Vegetarian dishes include Thai Spring rolls, deep fried tofu, tempura vegetables, Tom Yum or Tom Kah tofu, vegetable soup, Thai noodles, Pad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, Pad Woon Sen and Pad See-Ew.

Desserts include homemade coconut ice cream, tapioca pudding, sticky rice with mangle, fried bananas and Flambe bananas with Jamaica rum.

The full menu is available at Facebook.com/ThaiTasteSpringdale.

Thai Taste is located at 1200 S. Thompson Street in Springdale, just south of Sunset Avenue. Their hours of operation are currently 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Look for Thai Taste in the directory of this Dining Guide and in upcoming issues. More information is available by calling (479) 717-2999.