Simply Southern

Chef Michael Lanphere knows visitors to the Chancellor Hotel in downtown Fayetteville have plenty of options.

“Our guests can walk to nine different restaurants in five minutes,” he says.

But the thought of soulful Southern dishes often stops them in their tracks. The newly reconfigured and renamed 6494 Bistro has made sure of that. Sales at the restaurant, located on the first floor of the hotel, are already outpacing goals.

“Frankly, we’ve done a lot better than we thought,” says Jay Johnson, general manager of the hotel.

The Chancellor Hotel opened in September 2012 after a thorough remodeling of the existing hotel structure.

Bowman Hospitality Group, which runs restaurants such as Theo’s and the soon-toopen Deluxe Burger, operated the first restaurant there, calling it Union Kitchen + Drinks. Bowman left the space on Oct. 13. The new restaurant, operated by the hotel, served breakfast the next morning.

The idea for 6494 Bistro - which draws its name from two years during which Arkansas Razorback sports teams won a national championship - was to do classic food well. The focus falls on Southern food.

Lanphere built the menu.

Previously, he’s worked at Vetro 1925 and many other restaurants in Fayetteville.

He wanted to make the dishes familiar but unique.

For instance, 6494’s fried chicken plate takes at least 24 hours to prepare. The chicken breast sits in a brine for that long, and then it’s fried andpaired with rosemary and white wine gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans ($12).

The Cajun Alfredo has similar Southern-styletouches. Shrimp in that dish gets blackened, then served with a cream sauce with a hint of Kentucky bourbon for a lighter, slightly sweeter cream ($12).

Other such dishes include the fried green tomatoes, served as an appetizer. These Southern staples get an update with a touch of goat cheese and a creamy roasted red pepper dipping sauce ($8).

One of the most popular dishes at the new restaurant is the peanut butter bacon burger. Served with fries for $9, it hits all of the flavor and texture profiles - salty (courtesy of the bacon), savory (beef), crunchy andsweet (peanut butter).

6494 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Available between 6:30-10:30 a.m. are dishes such as French toast, served with bacon or sausage ($8); a breakfast wrap, with eggs, bacon, cheese and salsa ($7); biscuits and gravy ($7);

and two different omelets, one with grilled chicken and feta cheese and the other with ham and cheddar cheese ($9 each).

Several salads are available at lunch, as are choices such as the blackened chicken wrap with chicken, romaine lettuce, red onion, parmesan, Caesar dressing, all served with fries ($9).

Dinner options includeshrimp and grits, served with roasted red peppers and andouille sausage ($15);

a seafood option of the day (market price); and a filet, served with caramelized onions, bleu cheese, mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach ($25).

The restaurant’s happy hour - called De Vour Hour - has a particular interest in food. From 4 to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday, the restaurant offers a series of appetizers for $4. Options include the fried green tomatoes, pork sliders, baconbeer cheese dip and chicken wings.

Reservations can be made by calling 442-1515.