I'm honestly surprised by the bad reviews because this place absolutely doesn't deserve them! The food was delicious! Most of the time, I don't get the chance to leave a glowing review, so when I do, it makes me happy. Everything is homemade--not fast-food quality--and you can definitely taste the difference. Every dish was perfectly seasoned, and the meat was so tender. Oh my gosh, if I could eat it again right now, I would! If you go, get the buffet. It's absolutely worth it! Try a little of everything because it's all so good. And whatever you do, don't skip the soup bar or the desserts--they're amazing! Don't let the bad reviews keep you away. The restaurant was busy, everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves, and the atmosphere was wonderful. We had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back if we ever come this way again. read more

Driving back home from Nashville and we were hungry and tired of fast food. Luckily, we saw this restaurant and decided to stop by. Everything was yummy. The brisket, dressing, all of it. Great staff too read more

We stopped at nearby hotel and we were pretty tired of fast food. The ambiance reminded me ofvs low budget Cracker Barrel. Small gift shop catering to "Southern" in all of us....yadda yadda. For the meal My wife and daughter got burgers to be honest they looked pretty good. I opted for the buffet bc the salad bar looked ok and I'm a sucker for fried catfish. With that being said. Food was mediocre at best. I would not stop again i would move on down the interstate to the next town and look for a well known known chain restaurant. read more

This place is awesome!! Came on a Sunday and everyone in town just came from church and it was a wonderful experience. The buffet had everything you wanted from a buffet and more. Never mind those stupid reviews, this place rocks. Highly recommended!!! read more

We stopped by to grab a late lunch on our travels home from vacation. We were immediately greeted by friendly people. The choice of buffet or menu items is available. We chose to do the buffet. There were many options available for the buffet. The food was great! We had great service the whole time & did a little shopping while there. Highly recommend read more

Has a fair buffet and is 13.99. My wife has an open face hamburger, took about 20 minutes to get. She said it was very good.

Okay. Before I write up this review, you need to understand that this is not a fancy place and it's all about home cooking, so if you're looking for a wagyu beef burger topped with smoked Gouda, keep driving. The folks giving this place less than four or five stars maybe need to understand what down-home cuisine is supposed to be. If you like Grandma's real down-home cooking (the real deal, not the prepackaged fake "homestyle" slop you can get at the chain restaurants), then hit the brakes and come on in. You can order off the menu, or you can enjoy this country buffet -- it's not what some buffets out there are-- huge and filled with mounds of canned institutional fare. This simple country buffet had so many of our homemade favorites-- okra! Chicken fried steak with sawmill gravy! , hominy! Collard greens! If only we had been able to try them all. These are presented buffet style but this isn't Golden Corral. They are continually making fresh food and rotating out anything that is drying out. The hot table is small enough so food isn't sitting overlong. The food here is just like the home cooking I'd get at my grandma's house. We tried the sweet tea, catfish, baked chicken, bbq sausage, pulled pork, black-eyed peas, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread, cheddar broccoli soup, green salad bar with homemade dressings -- we tried the French and the Ranch --, macaroni salad, potato salad, marinated cucumbers, spaghetti -- and the peach cobbler. Everything tasted homemade. Everything was delicious and satisfying. I have only two complaints. I would've liked some 'maters for my salad and the cornbread was good, but a little dry. I liked that the food was seasoned but not overly sweet or salty like so many chain restaurants make. The peach cobbler, especially, was spot on. Very peachy and not icky sweet. If you like true, homemade country cooking, try the Sawmill Cafe. The gift shop was super cute. The front is charming. Waaaaaaay better than any chain restaurant. Service was friendly and quick. read more

Ole Sawmill Cafe - Front with cool antique cigarette machine (non working because who still smokes tobacco?) and antique furniture. - Southern Near Me - Forrest City, Arkansas

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Food was terrible. Most of it was cold. All the food was very bland. Country gravy had absolutely no taste. The yeast rolls were hard. And they charge you for tap water unbelievable. Never have I been charged in a restaurant for water.If this is southern cooking, i'm going back west. Service was excellent. The ambiance was good. Would not return. read more

We were stopped at the McDonalds for a comfort stop and it was around dinner time so we decided to give the SawMill a try. NOPE.. not a good idea. There is a quaint country store as you come in and a long counter. At the end of the counter a door we assumeTd was the entry to the restaurant. A gruff comment by the cashier told us we could go in and sit in the middle section which we did. Passing the buffet we decided to give it a try. NOPE... not a great idea. Most of the food was at best tepid at worst cold. The fried chicken was golden crusted but dam dry, the variety of beans...unflavored... the catfish moist with a nice crispy crust but no flavor to spice it up. The "ice cream" is ice milk and ...well not ice cream... the desserts looked great but cool cobbler just doesn't hit the right cords. OH and the "cornbread" thin and really crisp from sitting toooooo long in the warmer. Sweet tea was nice but it took us awhile to get refills and the service was as the front counter gruff and unwelcoming. Wasn't all that busy so shouldn't have taken so long. Would not recommend it nor would I return. read more

We were looking for a place to stop for a late lunch on our road trip from Nashville to Texas. This restaurant popped up and had some good reviews, so we decided to give it a try. We both got the lunch buffet which is currently priced at $13.99. Fabulous price (cheaper than Chipotle:-)) The food was real home cooked southern food. The fried chicken was perfection. We had chicken, all the sides, salad bar, and dessert. We loved every bite! read more

GREAT! I highly recommend. The salad bar was so good! Between my husband and I we had some of almost everything -passed on the pulled pork and "greens". I had liver and onions yumm, really good. Banana pudding was very good as was the peach cobbler. Stop in. read more

We stopped in because options were limited in the area. we opted for the buffet which seemed to be the popular choice based on other customers. Buffets are not my favorite, but it looked pretty good so i gave it a try. the salad dressings were house made and the toppings were fresh but the lettuce was bagged. The buffet items ranged from BBQ to fried and baked chicken, fish, and other entrees. Sides were not cold and bland. the desserts looked and tasted like prepackaged. They do have an ice cream machine. The dining area is pretty drab and the entrance is very unappealing. It literally looks like a yard sale. The items looked as if they were brought from someone's home. everyone was friendly but I can't recommend you stop. the food is pretty tasteless and for the quality overpriced. read more

Ole Sawmill Cafe - Southern Near Me - Forrest City, Arkansas

We are about what Melissa L. posted! She was spot on about this gem! Great service from Emily, so sweet and efficient. Food was hot and fresh. My husband had the buffet, which was right up his alley of southern comfort food. I had a bacon cheeseburger from the menu along with a side of onion rings. It was one of the best burgers I've had in a very long time! Onion rings were screaming hot but delicious, not too much coating, which is how I like them! Not a huge amount of choices other than fast food at this exit, so if you're wanting to get waited on and have some friendly, southern food, this is the place for you! read more

Food was fine. Had a salad with chicken on it. The Restaurant decor was fine, looked like an old country store. Here's the part that was difficult to wrap my arms around and it was how long it took to get this salad to the table. If you're interested in eating from the buffet then great, your food is right there. But I ordered from the menu and by the time I got my salad most everyone else was about through with their lunch. read more

Great buffet and salad bar. Great service. Home style atmosphere. Just the ticket for a great lunch. We were very pleased.

We came at lunch time on Friday and I got the buffet. There was very few things that I could actually eat but the one thing that I could eat and was looking forward to was the hush puppies and the entire hour I was there, they didn't bring out any more hush puppies. They brought out buckets mounded with fish and buckets mounded with chicken but never brought out the hush puppies. We asked several times to multiple people and still no hush puppies were brought out. When we first got there the restaurant was practically empty and an hour later when we left it was full and still no hush puppies. The tomato soup was terrible, almost unedible. Service was nice but no one seemed concerned about customer service, only kept apologizing for no hush puppies. Everybody kind of just standing there apologizing but nobody doing anything to actually SOLVE THE PROBLEM. It just didn't make any sense. In the line of hospitality and after having worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for combined 30 years, it's very aggravating to see somebody drop the ball on something so simple to remedy. Very average tasting food. read more

This was such a neat place! I only had a club sandwich but it was delicious! I placed my order to go and pickup is in their general store area. I was so surprised at some of the cute items they had for sale. Will visit here again when in Forrest City. read more

A throwback to times before COVID...in all the good ways. Got here before the normal dinner crowd and new dishes kept coming out. Well, I assume seafood gumbo, Chicken, spaghetti, bbq are their usual, but the stuffed crab, shrimp and oysters on the half shell on the buffet were awesome. Service was great too! She was so attentive. read more

I was refused service because my service dog registration did not stated the service my dog provides. The uneducated lady on the front assured that she needed to know. Here is some answers to her, maybe she needs to learn more about it. I would never be back or recommend this place read more

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Yes, it's a buffet restaurant. I've been patronizing this independently-owned business for the past few decades, and I keep returning. They must be doing something right. The best thing about this place is that as long as you don't waste food, you can reload your plate as many times as you'd like. I'm not encouraging overeating, but if you fill up on mainly vegetables and salads, you'd be surprised at how calorifically low your meal could be. And, usually, this restaurant has fresh and well-prepared veggies and lettuce. If you're so inclined, they feature a gift (junk) shop. You can't miss it, because you have to go through it in order to make your way into the dining area. Avoid the men's restroom, otherwise your appetite might be ruined. There has never been a time when it hasn't strongly smelled of stale urine. Despite my constructive feedback to the restaurant, they still haven't mastered the skill of thorough cleaning. (I subtracted one star, due to this rank laziness.) read more

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I've stopped here for breakfast twice on my way home from Memphis! The food is home style delicious cooking. Much better than any chain restaurant breakfast! read more

We like buffets when traveling they are so much faster. Average for food. Cute country store. read more

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A Must-Stop for any meal!! Buffet style or order from menu, however Buffet was fantastic for lunch, with fresh foods and vegetables and homemade desserts, and all for 12.99! Super-Great waitress named Vakita! Super clean facility. Was so good, we're planning to stop here on our next vacation from Texas!! read more

Ole Sawmill Cafe - Vegetable plate. Needed 2nd plate for meats, salad, desserts, and ice cream. - Southern Near Me - Forrest City, Arkansas

I do not understand some of the whack ass reviews on this place. It's as solid of a buffet as I have ever been to. Understand when you walk in where you are, and what it is they do. Adjust yourself and your expectations and eat some pretty good food. On top of it being good the owner seems to really want to be great and to make sure you enjoyed it. He looks like he responds to every review. All you shitty redneck folk bashing this place should go eat at McD's because that's where you belong anyway. Ain't that right tater?!?!? The people were all very nice, everyone that I encountered at least. My server was attentive and efficient, especially for a buffet setting. The lady at the cash register with the crazy hair was also very nice. How does she do that every day? Damn I had way too much food to eat here. I think I tried a little of all of it honestly. The tortilla soup was really good and sort of a cheesy version. The fried chicken was fucking fantastic! The salad was fresh and the bar was bountiful. All of the other proteins and veggies I had were tasty as well, but the fried chicken stole the whole damn show! Cornbread was solid, as were the rolls. I appreciate the soften butters available for me to help it all slide down my throat hole. I also appreciate all of the condiments available at the bar as well. The peach cobbler was epic! It was sooo freaking good y'all!! Sucks that the other desserts were meh and the ice cream was busted but oh well. All in all, I would make a U-turn to come back to this place and eat. Solid buffet food for traveling through Arkansas for sure! read more

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If you're ever near Forrest City, Arkansas, the Ole Sawmill Cafe is a must stop!!! The buffet is full of authentic Southern cooking that feels just like home. The fried chicken is absolutely amazing...crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The staff are so warm and welcoming, it truly feels like Sunday supper at Gramma's house. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Buffet was good and very clean, not much ambiance but just fine for a lunch. Easy on and off of highway

Came to the restaurant with family. Do not prefer to return. Our waitress was friendly and as attentive as she could be considering it was a decent amount of us. Some ordered the seafood buffet and some of us ordered from their menu. I ordered a BLT w/ fries because it's not something that could be messed up ( I thought). The bread was so tiny. My food came out close to last even though I was one of the first to order. The bacon was either chewy or hard and salty. It was thrown together without a lick of a condiment. The fries tasted like they were fried in old grease. My son's Popcorn chicken was ok but not amazing. My daughter's jumbo shrimp were tiny and came out last so she almost didn't get it. She also ordered a baked potato. Which was literally what she received. Not even a side of butter. Just a potato. I wish I would've taken pictures but I didn't think that this would've been our experience considering they have more stars than all of the restaurants in town. It's very strange, to me. I did like the shop in the front of the store. I don't eat fast food but I would eat that before I ever came back to the Ole Sawmill. Also, I don't think they season their food. I tasted the sauce on the hot wings and I can't even describe it. It just isn't good. My momma liked the peach cobbler the most. This place is probably perfect for older people but someone who enjoys flavor, NO. read more

It did meet the standards I was expecting based on other reviews. My husband got the buffet and the food was cold. The salad had brown pieces of lettuce that I had to pick through. However, the service was good and we had a super sweet server. I ordered off the menu and my food was okay but did not come with the sides listed on the menu. The restaurant itself was clean and spacious. read more

Good food ! It was freshly cooked and was comfort food at its best . Service was also great !

Food was cold and congealed. Even the soup. You better like meat and fried. They are touting home cooking but everything looked processed and canned. read more

The friendly atmosphere was just right. The food was good too. The prices were a bit high for burgers but they were at a nice location right on the water so the extra cost was worth it. Locals hanging out wer nice and has friendly dogs my pup liked meeting. There is also a little park near by if you want to go play with the kids. read more

Says dog friendly so we got off interstate to try it and they said no to my service dog. On the site says dogs welcome. Would not recommend

Not much to pick from for around here, so if you're hungry this is as good as any. Stopped in around 6:20pm on a Sunday night. This is a wanna-be Cracker Barrel. Upon entering you enter the gift shop or Bubbas random gifts from around Forest City. We seated ourselves and was told to dive into the Buffett. It's a Buffett. Food sits under heating lamps for hours on end. It was edible but not mm-mm down home cookin. When the peach cobbler is smoking hot but the mashed potatoes are a tad bit cold this is a 3-star spot. With a sweet tea I made it out at $19.76. read more

I stopped in for dinner and had a pleasant surprise! One of the best home-cooked meals I have had in a long time. Made me thank of my grand mother's cooking. I'll post a couple of pictures to show what was an absolute southern surprise. Thank you very much for great service and wonderful cobbler! read more

Ole Sawmill Cafe - Peach cobbler and vanilla soft serve!! - Southern Near Me - Forrest City, Arkansas

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Just OK food, too much salt on all of the cooked vegetables. The chicken fried steak was salty and greasy. The salad bar was light on veggies, and heavy on mayo laden "salads". Just OK, but lots of food, you won't leave hungry, but if you care about your health, skip this place. The person at the front counter should not be a customer service person, not friendly at all. read more

Buffet( Sunday $14.60 include tax)！！It's ok....... Looks like a cracker barrel.........You can buy souvenir , too. read more

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My dad and I were traveling across the state and wanted a quick lunch, but we weren't interested in fast food. I called the restaurant, and the lady said they have an all day Southern food buffet. It was great. The pulled pork was smoky and tender, and the green beans were well seasoned. I had fried catfish that was put out at 2pm, with a green tomato relish and tartar. The waitress was sweet, and so was the peach cobbler - it was a perfect ending to a good meal. read more

Worst breakfast ever, non quality, cheap, tasteless, unhealthy food, water taste like toilet. Usually the small towns breakfast places are good, but this was not the case. read more

What a fun place! The food is exactly what we were hoping for. An adventure on our road trip for sure. Thank you!!

The worst breakfast buffet I ever had. Free Breakfast at the hotel was gourmet compared to this food. Can't comment on the service. She brought me a soda then disappeared to smoke cigarettes outside. I had to find someone to request the hashbrowns to be refilled. Won't eat here again read more