Crasymaker

Looks like the folks over at LunchTour might be back in the game. After a long-standing hiatus, it appears as though there might be some more reviews on the horizon.

The latest post, which appeared yesterday, looks to be the first in a two-part series entitled “Chicken Battle Royale” in which the LunchTour gang will find out once and for all who makes a better chicken tender in NW Arkansas, Slim Chicken’s or The Rockin’ Chicken.

Head on over to LunchTour to see what the buzz is about and let’s all hope that this isn’t just another false alarm.

Don’t forget to check out the Lunch Tour! site from time to time. In case you don’t know, it is another blog that I post on with four other co-workers/friends. Basically, we became incredibly bored of going to the same old lunch spots and decided to venture out where no professional has been before. Along the way, we have discovered some excellent food and some even more excellent service tucked away in the cracks and corners of Northwest Arkansas. And then we write about it.

A few of the highlights so far have been The Cafeteria at Washington Regional Hospital, The Mercantile (gas station) Grille and Taco Place.

I liked Taco Place so much that I wrote and recorded a radio jingle for them. Wanna hear it? Yes? Sweet, then head on over to the Lunch Tour! site and check it out. We even have some awesome merchandise if you’re interested. Yay!

Paul Westerberg “Jingle”

The Lunch Team’s continuing quest to find the best of the lesser-known lunchtime spots in and around Fayetteville, Arkansas. Check out the official Lunch Tour! site here!

Jawbreaker “Tour Song”

Some of the guys I work with and I have come up with a totally badical idea. It’s called Lunch Tour and it involves eating lunch at obscure locations around Fayetteville rather than the normal places that bore the hell out of us on a consistent basis. After compiling our lists, we came up with a good handful which includes:

• Washington Regional Hospital (cafeteria)
• Springdale Bowling Center (snack bar)
• Sam’s Club (snack bar)
• Aviator Grill (at Drake Field airport)
• Brenda’s Bigger Burger
• Charlie’s Chicken
• Chili Billy’s
• Curt’s Place
• Art’s Place
• Flapjacks
• Hog’s Breath Eatery
• Rick’s Iron Skillet
• Waffle House (not obscure but still sweet)

I guess we should start rating these places or something and possibly post a list (or blog) online, however, I am not sure any place is going to be better than the one we visited today. We should’ve saved this one for later in the tour instead of blowing the Lunch Tour 2005 wad in the first week.

Enter the Sale Barn Cafe in South Fayetteville. It’s a TINY place next to the building where the weekly cattle auction takes place. If it weren’t for the fact that Dustin’s grandfather used to own the auction, we might not have ever found out about this gem of a restaurant. The smell of fresh cow crap greets you as you pull into the gravel lot and the sounds of terrified cattle fill the air while walking to the front door of the Sale Barn Cafe. Once inside, if you can deal with the fact that you’re the only person in the room who is not wearing boots, a hat and carrying a spit-cup, then you’re in for quite a suprise. Your choices are pretty much limited to a hamburger, cheeseburger or the “Special” (which today was brisket, taters, beans and a roll). My cheeseburger was damn good and according to Jay and Dale, the brisket wasn’t bad either. Dessert options included an assortment of homemade pies and a peach cobbler. I had banana cream. Mmm.

I’m not even going to attempt to give directions. Even if I led you directly to the building itself, you would easily miss it, given it’s tiny white paper sign that is taped to the door. If somehow you can find the Sale Barn Cafe, I highly suggest it for the experience alone. But they’re only open on Wednesdays and Thursdays so good luck…

Songs: Ohia “Peoria Lunch Box Blues”