Cathy?s Corner Slings Down-home Cooking

On a recent road trip to Siloam Springs, a friend told us to meet her at Cathy’s Corner at 1910 U.S. Hwy. 412 E., in Siloam Springs. It would be down-home cooking, she assured us. And we were not disappointed.

If you snake your way from Fayetteville on Arkansas Highway 16 for about 30 miles — through the kudzu and pine by Lake Weddington — the road will deposit you on U.S. Highway 412 right in front of Cathy’s Corner.

We knew right off the bat that the food would be good at Cathy’s Corner because the parking lot was full — except for one space. We were lucky, and we knew it.

Inside, the restaurant looked a little like an Arkansas grandmother’s house. There were setting hens on the wallpaper and signs that said such things as, “Good food,” “Fresh eggs” and “Friends are always welcome here.”

“I think the atmosphere looks like the food tastes, home cooked and personal,” my Siloam Springs tour guide said. “It’s fitting.”

The eatery’s business card says, “Country cooking at its best.”

Water arrived immediately from a waitress who buzzed around our table like a bee around a barbecue. She was never far away and made sure we had everything we needed as she sprinted from table to table.

The menu featured breakfast and lunch items. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Breakfast is served all day, which is good for people like reporters who frequently wake up at noon. The menu was chocked full of omelets, skillets, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, burgers and plate lunches.

In spite of being a big breakfast fan, I opted for a lunch plate. So did my dining companion. She ordered the chicken fried chicken ($7), which has always confused me simply because of its name. And I ordered the hot open roast beef sandwich ($6).

My friend described the the chicken fried chicken as “very good.”

“I appreciated that it was served very hot,” she said. “It was a lot of food — a huge portion.”

The hot roast beef sandwich was also very good. The mashed potatoes and gravy were extra delicious, and the green beans were the perfect complement.

The plate lunches consisted of so much food, neither of us could finish our meals. But, of course, we had saved a little room for dessert.

My friend ordered strawberry cream pie, and I had blueberry pie ($1.50 each), which the waitress made a special point of saying was “homemade.”

We were both pretty happy with our choices. For that matter, it may have been the best blueberry pie I’ve ever had.

The next time we’re in Siloam Springs, we’ll be sure to stop by Cathy’s Corner for another lunch or maybe even a noontime breakfast.