And here it is! The best chicken fried chicken in Northwest Arkansas, maybe the best anywhere. I've got to say, I've met a lot of nice people here in Arkansas since we've been here, but none are any nicer than the people here at Neal's Cafe in Springdale Arkansas. And owner, Don Neal is about as nice and personable a man as you'll find anywhere. If you are ever in this neck of the woods, you owe it to yourself to treat yourself to sit down to an amazing meal here! In the short time I was here I heard several people comment on how good everything is. I stopped in out of curiosity, and am now an instant regular! read more

Neal's Cafe - Moist and juicy, and freshly prepared. This is amazing food. - Diners Near Me - Springdale, Arkansas

20 years ago I moved away from Northwest Arkansas without ever having tried Neal's Cafe. But when I first walked in here recently, I felt like I had never left home. The first thing a waitress hollered (in classic Arkansas drawl), was "Sit wherever y'all want." They were so kind the entire time! We had fried chicken and beef and noodles (maybe they called it beef tips?). And amazing sides! And The Best Coconut Cream Pie. This food is PERFECT country cookin'. Forget Cracker Barrel Neal's has been doing it since the 1940's and they have perfected the art. And the decor! I'll save the surprises for you, but hipsters would pay high dollar for everything on the walls if this was a vintage thrift store. Which sums up everything I think about Neal's: its the kind of place that usually shuts down at some point when it's considered old-fashioned. But if it can survive (and it has!), it will reach a new audience and new levels of success as a true foodie joint. Love! read more

Very tasty home cooked food. Old fashioned service, with the friendly wait staff you would expect in a diner. Simple decor with wood tables and retro chairs, along with real fireplaces which were the perfect accent to a chilly day. I had catfish with fries, brown beans, and fried okra. Each of the dinner entrees come with three sides and either cornbread, rolls, or both. My catfish was delicious. Crispy, but not overcooked; meaty but not soggy. The brown beans were among the best I've had, very flavorful. Okra was tasty and fries were crinkle cut. Cornbread and rolls were good. Portions were very generous. My husband had chocolate pie and it was a treat. Fluffy meringue and flaky crust. My first visit and I will be back. read more

Wow! This place has really turned around! Their food was really bad but we heard someone else was running it, we stopped back in to try it and it was amazing! If you haven't been recently drop by and give them a try. read more

Thursday lunch 8/10/17. Ordered the Turkey and Dressing, brown beans , fried pickles, mashed potato's. What a great meal , I was almost back home at granny's house. Large plate full of great food served with corn bread and rolls. You feel like you stepped back in time 1940's or 50's. Didn't have room for pie but it looked like ones my family had every Sunday. Thanks for Neal's, beats the heck out of most the dinners for miles around. read more

We stopped by on our way to war eagle and was very impressed with the food and the service. We will definitely come back again. Phil from Tulsa read more

I love Nates. It's not for everybody with the hunting motif and simple diner format but the food is great, old men are always bantering and wasting time when I've been there and the food is yummy comfort food. Biscuits and gravy are full of sausage and biscuits ate big and fluffy. The eggs are cooked to perfection. Fast and friendly. Fox News in the background so don't come if you hate hunting and Fox News unless you can overlook it for a greasy spoon that is delish! read more

At just under $20 (over $20 with tip) for the days' "special" (chicken n dumplins with two sides), an iced tea and a slice of pie, I can easily say my money would have been better spent elsewhere. The service was prompt and decent, the food was ok, not the best chicken n dumplins i've had but not the worst. Bland. Fried squash was mushy and remarkably bland. The kicker comes at the register. Upon receipt of my nearly $20 check, I was berated by the gentleman at the register for questioning if our check had been split as requested. This must happen often as he was quick to offer the suggestion "if you think the prices are too high you are welcome to never come back". Sir, I do not plan on it. I can be treated rudely in many other places for much less than $20 and eat better food. Two stars as the food was nothing more than edible. read more

Neals Cafe is the best for Fried Chicken and brown beans in NW Arkansas. This is the best for down home country cooking you can get, next to your mommas. This is a place to go if you want to be comfortable, especially on a cold day with the two fire places going. If you like home cooking you need to go read more

Not good...at all. Very disappointed. Chicken fried steak...DISGUSTING! Cheeseburger...no better.

Neal's is a long time family favorite. It's the only place that I'm not afraid to order chicken livers. It's the closest thing to old fashioned home cooking that you'll find anywhere. The wait staff are friendly and out going. read more

Tough part about this review is that Neals has great fried chicken and mashed potatoes. The breakfast is just average and the servers seem to not care. If they figure out how to improve their service this place would be great. read more

Went here with my family this morning. It was our first time. When we first walking in we stood waiting for a minute when a waitress from a distance called out in an unfriendly way "anywhere's fine" . We sat at a table and we waited too long for anyone to come to us. Seems like the waitresses couldnt care less about us or their job. They weren't friendly at all. Made me feel uncomfortable. Also the food is over priced and no pictures or description of what the food is like or what comes with it. The worst part has to be they dont even have half n half for the coffee. Just powdered creamer! Also the food was sub par. Their motto on their coffee cup says "the best of better foods" or something like that, it's more like the worst of the worst. The waffle was not fresh, the pancakes were very flat and grainy, the bacon was old tasting and too hard, not crispy. The hash browns were undercooked. The breakfast burritos had bad tasting sausage and fake cheese. The hot chocolate didn't have whipped cream. We didn't like it at all. I will not be back. read more

I happened to be in Springdale for unfortunate circumstances (Dad in hospice) and went to Neal's with my sister and step-mother for dinner after a really long day. The food was fantastic, and my step-mother, who understandably hardly ever eats these days, still talks about it. We went in right before closing and as there was a U of A football game going on they understandably wanted us to "git gone" but were not rude about it. And I'm confident that if we had explained the circumstances we could have sat there all night if need be. Step-mom had the catfish dinner special (all you can eat although she barely ate) and as I said is still talkin', sis had a bbq sandwich which she devoured as though it were her last meal and I had fried chicken which was delish. A side of broccoli was steamed crispy and not mush - hard to find anywhere. The pie served to those around use looked amazing, and I was wishing that time and belly space allowed for a slice. I loved the decor and have recommended Neal's to friends as worthy of a side trip for any road food lover who happens to be in the area. For the record, I live in Chicago and if Neal's was around the corner I'd weigh 300 lbs by 2010 and would have my picture on the beautiful pink cement block wall next to the fabulous taxidermy. Is it wrong for me to go back to visit my father just so that I can go to Neal's again? read more

Sunday lunch with friends. The food is always fresh and well prepared. We had a new waitress who was learning but after a missed que did well for this outing. Always a family member at the register. read more

The waitress didn't come back, she left us hanging while she ran to take care of others and I had to go get my own to go box. Then when we went to check out, the woman was grumpy, punched in the wrong number for the credit card total and then made us feel bad because SHE cheated the waitress on the tip. Poor customer service! read more

This is a pillar to the Springdale community and it has earned the title. It is a diner down to the pink building. This is home cooking and comfort food at its best. Do not miss the fried chicken or chicken fried steak. The white gravy is a must and the brown beans are the way Grandma made them. If at all possible save room for the pie. I have always been partial to the chocolate, but many people love the coconut cream. They are friendly, clean, fast and affordable. Most of all it is dang tasty! read more

I ate at Neals for decades, but I wouldn't go there today if they paid me to eat there. I am only giving it one star because there's no lower rating available. read more

Drove 150 miles just to try this place based on previous reviews. 3 out 4 orders were served with wrong items. Side items were cold and not very tasty. Service was decent. Chicken was dry. read more

Came here for the first time last November & now it is on my "must visit" list when I come to NW Arkansas. My favorite breakfast is eggs & catfish ... the fish is crisp but not greasy. Service is stellar. You should try this place for sure! read more

Great food, great service and don't forget to save room for pie! I'm from Chicago and was travelling to Springdale for work. I found them on Yelp! and I'm glad I tried it. I was dining alone and the staff and owner, Don Neal, made me feel right at home. Talk about Southern hospitality! It's a Springdale landmark and a great find. read more

Our favorite breakfast stop when visiting Northwest Arkansas. Primarily a local spot, but it makes you wish you were local. Great omelets, biscuits, gravy, you name it, it's really good. We never miss an opportunity when we come to town. read more

PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. This place used to be so good. Now nothing under $11, and it's terrible. Very small portions. Cold small chicken with no flavor, plain green beans no flavor, cold mashed potatoes that taste like instant potatoes. Even the soft drink was terrible...flat. Once they drop you food off you don't see the waitress again. They stand in the corner and talk with each other. Had to get up and get more flat soda. read more

I've been here several times over the years and with mixed results. Their specials are sometimes very good and sometimes mediocre.

Do not go by the menu prices posted online!! I was already on the edge of not ordering based on the prices being nearly $10 for country fried steak, which is cheap food, but I was so hungry for it and I had never tried this place so I figured I would suck it up and go get some anyway. Imagine my shock when I was given a bill for over $28 for 2 dinners! I was floored that it was $12.99 per dinner. This place is WAY overpriced for a diner. The mashed potatoes were bland and the fried okra was okra mush from the steam in the to-go boxes by the time I got home. SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I PAID OVER $28 for that! read more

Down home cooking at reasonable prices. Service is always good. Blue plate specials are a thing of the past unless you eat here . It is always packed for a reason. You cannot pass up dessert! Choose a piece of ANY of the homemade pies , you will be happy you did. read more

As far as a cafe goes Neal's is pretty near perfection. Good hearty fare and their cornbread is good! You gotta love a place that serves beans and cornbread. And the waitresses are all cutie pies! :) read more

Great food, great service, huge portions, and great prices. Forget about that chicken place down the street. This is the place to go if you want good food. read more

The Chicken Fried Chicken was the best I've ever had. Top it off with Fried Okra, Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes. I think I'm in a Food Coma. Is the ground moving or is it just that I still feel like I'm driving from Dallas? Kelly was what made for a fun experience. She forced a piece of Chocolate Pie on me and wouldn't stop asking if I needed more tea or anything else. She was absolutely hilarious and even offered to serve my food to me in my car, on the floor or that I could have my Green Eggs and Ham anywhere. I recommend this place to anyone giving it 5 stars and two thumbs up way to go. read more

This is the worst diner I have ever eaten at. This morning I gave Neal's another chance for breakfast with my wife and daughter after a below average experience with lunch two weeks ago. I ordered a bacon and cheese omelette which came with toast and hash browns. My omelette was the most disgusting sight I have ever had in my life. There must have been a half pound of bacon with very little cheese, the bacon was moist and looked like it had been boiled in a pot of hot water or grease. My hash browns were mushy and far from crispy, my toast was not buttered like I asked and it was cold and overcooked. I explained all my issues to the owner and he just froze up in silence and refused to comp any of my pig slop of a meal. If the owner was a man of integrity he would have comped my meal and welcomed my comments. read more

Finally went to Neal's, won't be going back. We were there for an hour and 10 minutes, which is fine it was dinner rush, but our server literally came to our table 3 times. Once to order drinks, then food, then deliver food. But yet I watched as she went to a couple that must have been regulars, 5-6 times in 20 minutes. None of the food tasted homemade. A lot seemed like it was pulled out of the freezer and warmed up. Also, as were walking out the server walked up and said the reason we never got rolls was they had run out, but yet while we were eating I saw them bringing some out to a table. So obviously they had some when we first came in. Worst money spent on food. Better off going to Walmart and doing it your self read more

A well traveled friend was visiting, so I took him to Neal's Cafe. I asked if he'd ever had meringue 4" thick on a pie before. He said, yes, in New York and it was $9dollars a slice. So, after the best fried chicken in Arkansas, we had lemon meringue pie for dessert. And we were out the door after paying a check of less than $20dollars. And for those commenting on the decor - there's a story behind every arrow and spearhead, gun and animal mounting. read more

My wife and I ate here as people we knew kept recommending it. The food was very good. Just like old fashioned home cooking, which is hard to find in this area. The service was excellent and it had a very nice family atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because everything is overpriced in my opinion. Great food, service, and atmosphere at a considerably higher price than I care to pay will keep me looking for something better in overall value. read more

Pie is great but you pay for it. Fried chicken is above average but not as good as Harps. Vegetables are canned but that's what you get anywhere. Plenty of weapons and dead animals on the wall. Steady dose of Fox News. Service? Depends on your ethnic background. Have been with my lily white friends and it's fine. Have eaten with my non-lily white friends and there is a noticeable difference. This is Springdale and the old guard is still in place. read more

I have been going to Neals for lunch for 16 years now. Love the food, the staff, and the owners. Great to see some places still in operation after 50 plus years in business. If you want good "home" cooked food and plenty of it then this is the place for you! read more

I grew up with Neal's being a great local restaurant to eat at. Today I took my wife there for the first time. We just missed the breakfast cutoff time so we decided to go ahead and try their lunch menu. The BLT was about what you'd expect and her grilled cheese was nothing extraordinary. The real issue we had was the cleanliness of the staff and practicing proper food handling techniques. The staff could use a little more guidance and at least try and hide the Windex instead of putting it right next to your crackers. read more

Yikes if you are going to spend that much go to Cracker Barrel!!! The best part was the crushed ice, tea, and ranch! The meat was good too. But they apparently don't use seasoning and when you let who seemed like a owner or manager know that you did not like the onion rings he just tells you no one else has not liked them and still charges you $2.60 ish for them. Guess that's more important than making an effort to keep customers. read more

Everyone raved about it so we tried it when our daughter was visiting. First disappointment was breakfast isn't available after 10:45...we were hoping for breakfast...second disappointment is they are pricey for what you get. We ordered the fried egg and bacon sandwich on their lunch menu....$7.00 for an egg/bacon sandwich on plain white toast with a small bag (like 1/2 oz) pre-packaged potato chips, the kind the dollar store sells for a quarter!! Won't be going back. read more

Stopped around noon on a Saturday. Waitress arrived at our table talking to someone else on a cordless phone. Not a good start! We split the chicken dinner, which is three pieces with three sides. Chicken was nicely fried, not greasy, but it had NO seasoning and no salt. White meat was also overlooked and dry. The waitress said they never salt the chicken due to so many people being on special diets. Really? People on special diets shouldn't be eating fried chicken anyway. :-) Everything else was salted though. Like a previous reviewer said, the green beans are from a can- no doubt plenty of sodium there. The fried okra was squishy, not crispy, and was greasy. The mashed potatoes were runny. Cornbread was dry and crumbly, but the homemade dinner rolls were excellent. We didn't try the pie and don't plan to return. This is too bad because we love supporting small businesses, and Neal's also has a bit of nostalgia surrounding it since they've been in business since the 1940s. Bummer! read more

Since moving to Northwest Arkansas, we have eaten at Neals several times. This is down home good cookin'. (We make the two hour drive especially to eat at this restaurant). The food is just like your mama's. In fact we like the dressing so much, we've ordered it for our Thanksgiving dinner. Haven't tried the breakfast yet, but I will soon. read more