By Amber Stanley-Kruth/NWA Media
As the sentiment of spring slowly thaws the winter air, there is a primal urge stirred in the bellies of many that awakens a craving for crisp and succulent foods.
Luckily for Northwest Arkansas, those that hunger for fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, jerk-seasoned chicken and meaty seafood don't have to hunt or forage for a spring-time meal. The offerings at The Boardwalk Bar & Grill in Fayetteville can deliver fresh and flavorful dishes that spark nostalgia of seaside fare.
The Boardwalk, located at Crossover Road and Joyce Boulevard in east Fayetteville, opened nearly one year ago on April 10. The casual eatery has a refined approach to food and drinks, while also generating a neighborhood bar vibe.
The growing lounge crowd enjoys Happy Hour from 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday with $2 pints, glasses of house wine or well drinks. All draft beers are served at that price, including the newly added Smithwick's.
Tuesday nights, all bottles and glasses of wine are discounted 50 percent off. Also, the "2 for $2.22" special serves two glasses of house wine for a total of $2.22.
With an outdoor patio, a renovated bar and a casual dining room, the restaurant caters to a wide range of guests. The eatery has served many dinner parties, including book clubs, baby showers and wedding showers. The bar and patio offers a fun atmosphere for friends looking to unwind after work, while the dining room is frequented by couples enjoying a special evening together.
"We want it to be a place for anyone and everyone, where you can get great service and great food, every single time," owner Jennifer Flake said. "Everybody deserves a good night out. That's what I believe in and that's what I wanted to do when I opened this restaurant, so that will never change."
The menu offers a range of appetizers, such as corn cakes or mozzarella sticks priced at $7, or coconut shrimp and mahi cakes priced at $10.50 and $12, respectively. Large dinner salads, priced from $10-$13 are topped with grilled shrimp or blackened chicken, fresh fruit and an assortment of toppings including gouda, sliced almonds, avocado and bacon. Housemade dressings complement the salads. Sandwiches, wraps, burgers, sliders and fish tacos are favorably portioned and served with a choice of side for $9-$12.
There are nine high-quality entrees starting at $13, including shrimp scampi over angel hair pasta, mahi mahi stuffed with creamy Parmesan crab and beer-battered fish and chips. Top-selling signature dishes include The Riptide Grill with seared, medium-rare yellowfin tuna, The Kamikaze Pasta with Caribbean jerk-rubbed grilled chicken and The Delta with an 8-10 ounce sirloin paired with grilled shrimp.
There are also selections specifically crafted to children, such as spaghetti and meatballs plated to look like an octopus, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crust removed.
It is more than the inspired flavors that has built a strong clientele, however. It is also the dedication to personalized service and food preparation.
"We are definitely willing to, and love to, alter anything on the menu. If we have the product, we'll make whatever you want," Flake said.
In addition to the regular menu, there is also a two-page menu of items specifically prepared without gluten. More requests from guests with food sensitivities inspired new preparation methods and menu items.
"With our last menu change, we definitely tried to be more gluten friendly. We have separate fryers for our gluten-free items – even our corn cakes are gluten free," Flake said.
The inspiration for new flavor combinations or recipes is encouraged from the staff, and a note in the kitchen requests such ideas. The creativity from the cooks has even sparked a devoted following from one guest in particular.
"We have a lady who was put on a vegan diet by her doctor. She says, 'let him know I'm here,' and she never orders, (our cook) just surprises her every week. She has come in 18 weeks straight," Flake said.
This special treatment is offered to all of the guests, and that has helped forge a genuine relationship between the staff and the customers.
"Our guests have been really good to us, and beside that we have made some really good friends, particularly at Signature Bank," Flake said.
Sharing the same shopping plaza as Signature Bank has encouraged many of the employees to frequent The Boardwalk. Recently, Flake fulfilled a catering request for a birthday cake.
The birthday honoree stopped by to share her praise of the confection, stating that "everybody raved" and it made her feel like "queen of the day."
That feedback and interaction from the guests is what keeps Flake passionately invested in her restaurant. In fact, it was a bachelorette party that inspired her to renovate the bar.
A temperate night allowed the group to celebrate on the patio, and Flake knew she wanted to make the bar into that kind of atmosphere. She closed the restaurant for three days at the start of the year and her partners, with the help from a devoted employee, built bar tables to look like boardwalk piers.
The bar setting, paired with cushioned leather stools and a couple of high-back booths, has transformed the room.
"It's been so exciting, we have learned so much. We have had a lot of fun and I love it even more than I do when I started," Flake said.
The Boardwalk opens for dinner at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and opens at 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday. A brunch menu is also offered on Sundays until 4 p.m. and $3 mimosas, screwdrivers and Bloody Marys are served.
More information is available by calling (479) 287-4151 or online at theboardwalkfayetteville.com.
NAN Dining Guide Cover on 02/23/2014