Anyone rating this place less than 5 clearly doesn't understand how pubs work. First Seat defines pub atmosphere and food, and is a place for everyone who thrives on that experience. It's cozy but lively, the service is quick and they get it right. The bartender is top shelf (just like the bourbon they serve) and works his butt off to make sure everyone is being served. The food is wonderfully bar food, fried pickles and thin sliced chips with lots of chicken and meaty burgers. Great place. read more

Worst bar and burger in Bville! The bearded bartender can't stay focused on serving bc he is too busy cheating on his wife with the waitress. You'll be lucky to find a seat in the small space that doesn't drip rain water in your food. If the regulars aren't deteriorating their bones with alcohol or pushing for fatty liver, they'll be high on ozempic. The guy at the end of the bar can hook you up with a batch for the low-maybe even get a free side of cheese curds. Ranch might cost extra. Speaking of extra, one waitress loves to add some drama with every transaction. Not worth the time or money. Just waiting for a Texan to turn it into a Jamba Juice. read more

Crowded with a few high tops and only six tables, I lucked out as a couple departed a few minutes after I arrived. We had a table and enjoyed our dinner. I chose the Bentonville Hot Chicken sandwich and it was tasty though not as spicy as I'd have liked. Mrs. K. enjoyed her fish and chips. Looking back, getting the Truffle Parmesan Chips was a mistake - they were delicious but really, how many of these flat chips can you eat in one meal? Since we had chips as the sides on both our meals, maybe next time I'll choose something else and go with the wings, too. Great friendly service, a nice little sports bar/pub with a good menu. It's not easy to find - the entrance is on the parking lot side. And you'll need to arrive early as it is a very small establishment. read more

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This place is the epidomy of a whole in the wall. Even finding the entrance took some skills. When you walk in, you can see is a cozy bar with college bar vibes. If you're not prepared for that energy you might want to turn around and walk out. Don't! The food and service were fantastic. There was one waitress for the entire place and she was very attentive of us. The food was delicious. We loved everything we ordered. The Cajun pork rinds were crispy and flavorful. They were still popping as they arrived to the table. The wings super flavorful. Both handhelds were fantastic. read more

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Had lunch there yesterday........definitely middle of the road. Ordered the fish and chips, which were served hot and tasted good. However, it was very very greasy.....would suggest that they set them on a drying rack or something before serving to get rid of the excess grease. My wife had the fish, and a side salad instead of chips. While the salad was large and tasty, the lettuce should have been cut to smaller bite-size pieces. Oh, and it would have been helpful if they told us that there was an additional $2 for a salad to be substituted. read more

The First Seat - Fish and chips - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

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This is a staple in the Bentonville community. It has great and good priced drinks. It has a fun dive bar vibe and usually you can get everything you need quickly! I always my time at First Seat. read more

Went to the bar with a group of people. We were all having a great time and the owner Pamela Harrison was trying to walk through the crowd yelled "get out of my way" and then decided to shove one of my buddies to the ground with almost no time for him to try and get out of her way. Everyone in the bar reacted against her and she then proceeded to kick him out of the bar when he did absolutely nothing. Horrible place, horrible owner. The employee who kicked him out once we were outside gave a little apology and said "yah she's kind of crazy". read more

The entrance is kind of hard to find, seating is pretty limited and it kind of looks like a hole in the wall, but don't let that deter you. One woman working the whole place and she was killing it! Great service, only to be matched by the great food... hot, fresh and delicious! The sandwich was perfectly crispy,hot and flavorful (see picture) my husband got the wings and said they were really tasty and my son got the chicken n chips also great. read more

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Service was great. Very casual atmosphere and excellent burger and wings. This is a quaint establishment with A/C.

UPDATE: went into first seat to try them again, staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about current beer selections. Food was great and atmosphere was very chill. Great sports bar to watch NFL games! read more

The First Seat - Truffle fries & fried cheese curds - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

Ashton is absolutely amazing and always the kindest person ever! He is always super friendly when you want in and all throughout service.

Been a couple times, but this was my first time trying the food. The space is small and not updated at all. The service was kind of slow. The food was good, but it's never top of our list when deciding where to go on the square. read more

The First Seat - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

This is a fun, eclectic spot to grab an inexpensive meal. We started with the cheese curds. It didn't end up being a huge order, and nothing special. I got charged extra for the marinara, but I wasn't asked if I even wanted marinara. Our table had the pork tenderloin, fish and chips, and Bentonville hot chicken. All of our meals were served with flat fries. The entrees were big. Service was excellent, food was good, and atmosphere was fun. read more

The First Seat - Flat fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

GREAT DIVE! Downtown Bentonville - I was looking for some sustenance after a flight into XNA and exploring the town. The First Seat is tucked away down a quiet street and it is a very small space (love this). I was lucky to arrive at a quiet time just after the opened and took my seat at the bar. Drinks were strong, wings were fantastic and the bartender was absolutely wonderful. Locals galore means the sign of a solid bar and the bartender seemed to know everyone well. Once lunch time rolled round, the seats filled up fast so if you plan a visit (which you absolutely should), be prepared to wait. It's worth it. I'll be back for a burger next time I'm in town. read more

The First Seat - Wings are fantastic - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

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Love the pork rinds and the fish and chips! Small place but great food. Friendly people and love they are open on Sunday

It's a dive, with limited seating, but the burgers and fries are great. Don't go here if you are having a lunch meeting or have a large party, and that's ok. The staff is great, always down for some friendly banter. If ambiance and a polished wait staff is what you are looking for, go somewhere else. Don't go here and then write a negative review, you've been advised. read more

The food is amazing here. I've tried most of the items on the menu over the years. No complaints! The First Seat has a cool history too. The restaurant is small but isn't too crowded. The bar is nice too. read more

We have been here a few times. The last couple of times have not been as inviting as the first few times we have been there. One time we were there expecting certain things on the menu and when they passed us a menu, several items were covered with black duct tape, not just a couple either. I felt this was not professional. Today when we went for a drink, the bartender did not look happy to be there. He wasn't rude, but not really friendly either. He was trying to cover up the fact he was vaping behind the bar. A customer that seemed to know the bartender was also vaping from the bartender's vape pen. The server was also vaping as she walked up beside me to pick up drinks. I am pretty sure this is not ok, as this is a not smoking bar/restaurant. Until they change a few things, I hate to say we will not be back. I absolutely hate giving a less than a 5 star review. read more

If you enjoy a staff that's intoxicated and yells at their customers to "get the fxck out the way" this just might be the place for you! The staff clearly hates their job and the people coming in. Definitely "hole in the wall" vibes.. I could name at least 10 other places in the area you should go instead of this place. 1 star because 0 isn't an option.. read more

The 410 sandwich took me back home to Iowa. Very good along with the fries made a very full and tasty meal. The service was so much fun! Very prompt and attentive and entertaining. Drinks were very well made and were delicious. Will definitely go back! read more

If you are interested in local and homemade here's the place. Very small, pretty loud little bar with way better than bar food. Homemade sauces etc. came here with my daughter and son-in-law which are locals or we'd never known about it or would considered as it looks like a hole in the wall place. To our surprise some great food and excellent service. Music is loud and TVs going with various sports. Great prices on most items. Fish and chips, excellent but 3 small pieces of fish, they offer for additional pieces and the fries are very different and thinly sliced wide and really good. Their BBQ sauce fantastic and tarter definitely homemade really nice. Our server didn't write anything down and they food came out perfect and fast. Come here for great service and great food and dang it I did get any pictures cause I saw the food and dug in, next time ! read more

This is a hidden gem for the town of Bentonville. Loved this place, small but local friendly. Went in for the fried pork tenderloin sandwich. It did not disappoint. The size was as large as the basket it comes in. Thin shaved plank style French fries was a nice touch for this large and tasty as well as crispy breaded sandwich. Added mayo, lettuce and red onion. Very good!!! Washed it down with a sweet ice tea. This should be a go to for folks around these parts for good food, good environment and great local hang. read more

Visiting from out of town, we had such a tasty late-afternoon bite - nice strong iced tea, delicious fried pickles and a fabulous crispy chicken sandwich. Really nice, friendly service. Such a good find! read more

Service and food were great both times I've gone. Made friends and sat at the bar for a couple hours just chatting. It's a cool little hole in wall type of place with an upscale atmosphere. read more

Was immediately met with rude staff here. We are in town for a family wedding, and we were looking for a spot to spend the afternoon. A family member walked in to check out the inside, and see if there was space for our group of 6 to sit down. When he came back out to flag us down, he stood in the doorway to call out to us, and was screamed at by a female staff member to close to door. It was so loud we could hear it from across the lot outside. Other patrons left around the same time and said to us on their way out how strange of an interaction that was, and how they should have lost our group's business from how loudly they yelled. We have had a great encounters visiting the town up until that point, very disappointing establishment and I would not recommend. Lady slipper next door will be a lot kinder to you read more

Wonderful food, fast service and nice bar and grill type atmosphere. So glad we found it on Yelp!

This small local bar with friendly staff is tucked away down an alley. Came in for lunch on a weekend and sat myself immediately at the bar. It was busy, but not crowded. The BLT, which was amazing, was generously portioned, and the wide, flat French fries were unique and delicious. In addition to the sandwich, I sipped on a Deep Eddy Ruby Red with soda and lime while I watched live sports on the TVs behind the bar. Would definitely eat here again next time I'm in town. read more

The First Seat - BLT with fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

Went to lunch here (again) a few days ago. Always a pleasant experience. Pros and cons of this little "dive bar" set behind all the fancier restaurants and bars. Not technically in the alley, but if you are downtown Bentonville using the alley to get there is the easiest way, unless you are driving, which in that case it is adjacent to one of the public parking lots. It's not very big which is a pro and con. Pro that this place would be so noisy you wouldn't be able hear your lunchmate if it held any more people. Con that unless you time it right it might be hard to find a seat. "Sit wherever you want" is the seating option. I have sat at tables most of the time, but on occasion I have sat at the bar. Staff is quick to clean tables so if you get there and it's full... start scouting tables where it looks like someone is about to leave then stand by it, once vacated, and someone will rush over and clear it. On this particular day I ordered the Clubhouse Chicken which came with the Flat Fries. Once again, really good. I did have to ask for a knife to cut my sandwich in half otherwise it was too large to manage without me making a mess. Plus, once cut in half I was able to use my free hand for the fries and drink of my soda (which was refilled promptly). The soda comes in a "normal" size glass. I'd guess 12-16 ounces. Too large and a drink could become watery so I liked having a fresh soda midway through our lunch. To note, I have had the Fish and Chips, the 410-derloin, a burger, the cheese curds and more over the years. Nothing has ever disappointed. My wife ordered the Cocky Balboa (chicken breast and marinara with provolone cheese and parmesan peppercorn dressing. Also served with Flat Fries. According to her the chicken was crispy and the cheese was melted. The marinara was delicious. Looking back, it must have been really good as she didn't offer me a bite of it. In the past I have had a few of the different beers and ciders that are offered. Good selection but you need to know what you like. I was helped and ended up enjoying a local pear cider type of beverage a few years back. Overall, a great little hole in the wall that I hope doesn't get any bigger but will be around forever. read more

This is such a great vibe! I came here to watch the world series and it did not disappoint! The Service was perfect, the food was delicious and we want to come back for more! I got the Pesto Chicken sandwich read more

We shared the Clubhouse Chicken sandwich which was truly stunning. We both loved it. Fries are spectacular, unique and amazing. Cheese curds are breaded which isn't my favorite but still pretty decent. Service is relaxed and attentive. This is a bar with amazing food, sports on a few TVs but not what you normally ally think of for a "sports bar". Not a bad thing at all. We both loved it and will definitely be back. read more

The First Seat - Clubhouse chicken sandwich, fries, and cheese curds - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

My hubby wanted fish and chips for a late lunch. Found this little gem tucked behind the Central St businesses off 2nd Street in downtown Bentonville. We had a lunch basket each. His was fish and chips. Mine was "Jack the Ripper"--burger with jalapeños bacon, Swiss, and BBQ sauce. Delish! Each basket comes with potato flats(fries). The prices were reasonable. Portions are perfect. The service was great! Super friendly staff. Several regulars came while we dined in and were greeted by name. We will definitely be back! read more

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Great little hole in the wall spot. Clean, good service and good food. And the beer was cold. Skip the fancy places on the Bentonville Square & check this place out for some good pub/bar food. read more

I feel like I found a hidden gem off the beaten path. It's located in Bentonville just a block off the square near Main Street and SW 2nd St. behind some buildings. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was delicious and the portions were generous. The selection of draft beers was excellent and the staff was friendly and attentive! You won't regret a visit to this establishment! read more

was a sunday.. good pizza, beer , wine.. small place... watched football.. met more people from montana.. like 5 of us there at one time.. the town has a great vibe... enjoyed my visit read more

One of the best burgers in a long time in a restaurant. Fries are not the average ones so really enjoyed them. Seating is the only complaint, very popular so difficult to find a spot. read more

If you are looking for a wonderful time at a quaint smaller bar with amazing food... found it for you! We have been a few times and no idea why I hadn't reviewed sooner. This is a slight hidden gem away from the square downtown but trust me and go find it. Mimosas did not disappoint. The garlic Parmesan fries were great and I feel that's mainly do to the fresh thin cut steak fries they are. Wings were done right- Nashville Hot was the correct amount of heat to not be overwhelming and allow for the taste/flavor to stand out. Ranch- good. The cheeseburger comes with your toppings on side... which I enjoy so that I can choose how much I want on it. All of this was very flavorful. Service was quick even during a clearly busy time. read more

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We walked in with my daughter and her young children. The outside may suspect but once inside it looked a lot like one my favorite burger joint. The waitress was very helpful with kids. The devoured the chicken fingers and the rest of us were happy with various options of chicken sandwiches. read more

After walking on the square looking for dinner, we found The First Seat. I would call it a hole in the wall place, because you have to look for it.....it's down an alley(?) I expected bar food. What we got was friendly service and EXCELLENT bar food. Pretzel Sticks, Cheese Curds & Pulled Pork Nachos we're OUTSTANDING. And the prices are much friendlier than restaurants on the square. read more

The First Seat - the first seat of a restaurant - Sports Bars Near Me - Bentonville, Arkansas

I've eaten here once before. I heard the fish fry there was amazing and I LOVE fish fry's. They were right...it was amazing!! And the service was fantastic too!! The ambiance wasn't anything amazing...typical bar. But it was nice. So why the two star rating? I went to take mom there for Mother's Day. She LOVES their fried pies!! We checked Google...."Open Sunday at 11". We checked their website... "Open Sunday at 11". Nothing about any special hours for Mother's day on the website. We timed our arrival and even got there 5 minutes early and we're lucky enough to get a parking spot close by. We waited until 11:15. We called. We messaged. NOTHING!! NADA!! No one. Not even a sign on the door. Some may think this rating is unfair for the reason I have made...but isn't the first order of a restaurant to be open? Or at least put a sign on the door if you're going to be closed. I realize it's a "holiday", but usually restaurants take advantage this holiday with people wanting to take their mom's out. read more

The ambiance is unique! Hard to find entrance. Bar is on the smaller side, which is actually very nice! I had the classic burger, which was good, but not fantastic. The fries, however, were superb! Service was excellent. read more