The Sale Barn Cafe gets Four Stars
by March 17, 2003 12:00 am 95 views
The only thing keeping The Sale Barn Cafe from being rated even higher is that it’s only open two days a week. The pies are 5-star material. And the food always leaves you very satisfied and very full.
Proprietors Deana Gunsaulis and her mother, Shirley Pardue, cater to cattlemen on Wednesdays and Thursdays in their small diner at the Washington County Livestock Auction. They also run the cafe at the Centerton Livestock Auction.
Only lunch is served on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the cafe opens for breakfast at 6 a.m. on the actual sale day at the auction and stays open as the menu says “until the cows go home.”
Our regular diner at The Sale Barn Cafe said he feels as if he’s gone home every time he eats at the cafe.
Each day there are lunch specials ($4.95) served with potatoes, a vegetable, bread and a salad. There are also numerous regular menu items such as a variety of sandwiches ranging from a BLT ($3.50) to a one-third pound bacon cheeseburger ($3.75). A big bowl of beans with cornbread can be had for $2.50.
Other regular items include a chicken strip dinner ($5.25) complete with Texas toast and side items of the day. There is also a chef’s salad ($4.95) with the choice of ham, chicken or shrimp.
On our most recent trip, our regular had the pork steak. It practically fell to pieces just looking at it. Every bite of the large portion was savored. He believes it was comparable or better than more expensive steaks in Northwest Arkansas.
On this day cheesy mashed potatoes were served. They were almost as mouth-watering as the pork steak.
Our guest said his favorite special was the chicken fried steak. We’ve also enjoyed the roast beef, grilled pork loin, brisket and hamburger steak.
But the star of the show at The Sale Barn Cafe is the homemade pies. Asked if her mother was the better pie maker, Gunsaulis said, “Let’s not start a fight.”
Even a few members of our office that have not ventured to The Sale Barn Cafe have enjoyed the pies as other employees have kindly brought back a few slices on occasion. All of the pies are $1.75 a slice, $2.25 with ice cream.
Our regular’s favorite was the chocolate peanut pie until he tried the turtle pie. Now he’s confused.
Other pies include coconut, banana cream, chocolate cream, apple, peach cobbler, pecan and rhubarb.
They also have ready-to-serve sweet and unsweet iced tea. That’s a plus.
Don’t worry about dressing up to venture to south Fayetteville to The Sale Barn Cafe, but watch your step out in the parking lot.