Vittles Recalls Down-Home Feeling of Youth

Vittles Family Restaurant
1203 W. Walnut
Rogers

Grandpa Jones would have been proud.

On a recent lunch visit to Vittles Family Restaurant in Rogers, our trio of reviewers expected to see the late “Hee Haw” character stick his head out of a window and rattle off the day’s dinner menu. Instead, we got a friendly waitress and fast service.

Vittles’ down-home atmosphere reminded us of the country cafes of our youth, where a couple of dollars would buy a cheeseburger and grape soda that didn’t need to be “Supersized.”

The same is true at this locally owned diner we stumbled in on a Saturday amid parties of painters, dry wallers and deer hunters. The locals sat around “repeating gossip” like Minnie Pearl and “Hee Haw’s” chorus of wash tub beauties who hung clothes and their Cornfield County neighbors out to dry.

Vittles, strategically located just across the street from St. Mary’s Hospital at the corner of 10th and Walnut streets, offers “breakfast served anytime” and a lineup of lunch specials that are as well priced as they are prepared.

Our first diner had the hot roast beef on white bread ($4.29) with mashed potatoes and gravy. She added a side dish of beans and cornbread for an extra $3.29, and topped it all off with fresh iced tea.

“The gravy, potatoes and roast beef were really good,” she said.

The second reviewer combined iced tea with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and okra. He said the meal was tasty, but regretted not getting the daily special when he saw it brought out to a nearby table.

The special was breaded pork chops and they looked delicious. Vittles’ daily lunch specials ($4.29) feature everything from catfish to chicken fried steak and spaghetti. There’s also an all-you-can-eat spaghetti plate ($4.29) that comes with a vegetable.

Our final diner got an old fashioned cheeseburger and fries. His only complaint was that he ordered the burger with “mustard, ketchup and pickles,” and got tomatoes instead of the latter add-on. But overall it was “the kind of burger grandma made,” and he would put it up against any other fried burger in Northwest Arkansas — national chains included.

The first two diners got a trip to the salad bar with their meals, and thoroughly loved the clean and crisp selections.

They also had a good laugh over the bowls of mini chocolate and powdered donuts at the end of the salad bar. We assumed they went with the adjoining breakfast bar, and did our best to avoid the temptation.

Other interesting menu items included an all-you-can-eat biscuit and gravy special ($1.99) a number of appetizing sandwiches including a Reuben ($4.39) and a BLT on white or wheat bread ($3.59) and a variety of steak dinners.

We didn’t have any trouble finding a seat on a Saturday, but we’re betting weekday diners would want to beat the noon rush.

There’s nothing “fru fru” about Vittles, but the food and prices sure are fine.

Overall, we gave it a great big Saaallluuute!