Catalpa Cafe And General Store - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

A great place to stop and eat if you're doing the TransAmerica Trail. We had brisket burgers and a hamburger. Both were delicious. It's unfortunately closing this year. The property is being sold and it sounds like the new owners do not want the cafe to continue. The current owner would like to keep it open up to Thanksgiving to do his annual Thanksgiving dinner. So stop by if you can. #TAT

It's been a while, but my memories are special. Lived in the valley for several months and shared my business between this great place and the Oark Store. Both served me well

Randy is a culinary genius!!! I typically let him serve me whatever he deems best every time I visit! The key lime pie is out of this world! His combos usually have a little bit of the best of everything.

Hidden gem with lots of vegetarian options. Must try

Bacon and Bleu burger was excellent. Key lime pie dessert was a joy too

You have to take a scenic drive to the Cafe but so worth it! Delicious food all made by owner Randy.

Stopped by my first time on 2/10/24. Food was absolutely delicious, best burger ive ever had! Super nice folks! Will be back very soon!

Best burger in Arkansas, no question.

We had a delicious lunch, Randy is a great cook. Will definitely visit again on our next trip to the Ozarks.

Every thing Randall cooks is scrumptious! Catalpa Cafe is a destination you don’t want to miss. Well worth the trip. AND… the pies are spectacular!🥧🥧🥧

We loved this place. My cousin and I stopped and had the special which was Street Tacos then a piece of pie each. From now on out I will drive right by the burger joint down the road. This is my new go to.

One man show restaurant in the middle of the forest. He accomodated out group of 16. Got all of our food out at the same time, hot, and no errors. Fantastic burgers

What a great place!!! We had the best cheeseburger I have had in ages!!! Flavorful large beef patty cooked almost crisp for that rich meat flavor. HOMEMADE FRIES! Lots of them!!! The wait staff was so cheerful, back often for refills. Cherry pie hot out of the oven. The atmosphere is down-home, historic building. We drove 90 miles for lunch there - worth the drive.

Every time I am back in Arkansas I make a point of stopping in at Randy’s Catalpa Cafe. I try to bring friends who are amazed that such a talented chef practices his art in this quiet, remote part of the state. The meals Randy prepares are a delight and served with passion and good conversation. Jerry

I came here while visiting family in the area. The food was so delicious, I had to go a second time while I was in town. Tried the Rueben, brisket, and burgers and all were fantastic. The pastrami on the Rueben is like none I have had before. The owner Randy is a culinary genius, I will come back every time I am in the area for sure

Fantastic breakfast tacos!!! All of the food was made fresh and used farm fresh eggs. Randy was a really genuine and nice guy. I wish I lived in the area so I could go every day. It's a little off the beaten path but is 100% worth it! Could not recommend enough!

If you are anywhere near this place and looking to eat well, come here. We are visiting from the Midwest for a week and this was our favorite meal. Great roasted chicken, smoked pork tacos, fried okra, corn bread, and key lime pie. Almost took home a second meal for dinner....Great ambiance and conversation. Highly recommend not missing this meal. Wish we could have eaten more!!!

Had a great buffet meal here today for Sunday lunch/brunch. Unique place with great food. I would highly recommend if you’re in the area. Meatloaf and the cheese grits were on point. I Will return.

Would I return? Yes! When in near Oark, Arkansas, this little place is a great choice! Homemade food, fresh! Wow!

We are at the catalpa cafe and let me tell ya. “It’s money dude” it was my wife and mine 5 year anniversary and we went there and got a Ruben and a BLTCA and it was amazing. Great service. If you want to see a one man kitchen Tun like a top go see the man himself.

Love this place when we need to eat while motorcycle riding. Food is always fabulous, freshly made..Randy is great…had dinner reservations ate tender prime rib, baked potato, asparagus, homemade rolls, key lime pie.. perfection

This was my first visit to the Catalpa Cafe and the food was fantastic and the atmosphere was great.

If you are in the area this is a must!!

The chicken quesadilla was delicious but I'll be going back to try a hamburger.

Come sink your teeth into the best gourmet burger you can possibly flap a lip on.

A gorgeous little gem hidden within the Ozarks.... The food delicious and wonderful heart of abundance. My gratitude and love to you, making moments last forever 🙏🏻♾️🤗

The owner was really cool and they have the best Mac n Cheese.

Me and my son were coming from hunting and needed a drink so we thought we would stop in to get a to go glass of tea. We walked in the door and the owner immediately asked if I was part of a certain group and I said no, he then told me he was sold out! And could not serve us. I told him all I needed was a drink and I’d be on my way, so I bought my son a can Mt Dew and left. The most rude person Iv ever met , he had no idea what I was there for or what I needed before asking if I was in that crowd and if not I wasn’t welcome and he would not cook for us.

Just when I thought life could not get any better...we found this marvelous place. Missed it the first time we tried but, found it today. Randy runs it by himself it appears. We got lucky and he wasn't too busy when we got there. I couldn't decide between pork or brisket tacos....he made me both. Life changing tacos. OMG. Make the time to go by and dine with Randy. He is truly an artist!

Update: Based on owner’s response, maybe I misread him. Finding places I can eat as a vegetarian is dicey and frustrating when we’re on the road. Many places are to busy to make something not on the menu. When we are back in the area, we will try again Did not stay to eat. The vegetarian black bean chipotle burger option that we found on their Facebook page was not on the menu and there was nothing else on the blackboard menu for a vegetarian to eat. According to the owner’s response he can accommodate if asked.

Love the food and very friendly

Randy is a rock star when it comes to cooking. He served over 20 of us in CMA in 58 minutes. Off the beaten track but worth the drive.

Have eaten here dozens of times. My favorite place to eat in all of Arkansas. Excellent food and good pie!

Walked in looking for wifi, NO phone reception in area. While there figured wld grab a bite. Wow! We’re we surprised!!! Amazing food! Randy does everything himself, be patient if he’s packed! Will be worth the wait! Hubby had burger (BEST burger too!) BEST key lime pie! I don’t even like key lime pie! But this was to die for! Yummy! Plan on going back regularly.

Had hamburger and tator tots. It was all good. He uses special sugar in his tea. It was very good Nice fella

Never heard of this place till yesterday morning. Planned a scenic drive to visit my mom for the weekend in NWA after reading reviews thought it a no brainer. On arriving the parking lot (I thought was full) so I parked across the lane. Randy met me at the door to let me know that I was trespassing. I quickly moved my vehicle to where he indicated adjacent to his business. When I enter I was I little confused since he was the only ‘employee’? I quickly figured out the lunch menu was to the immediate right on the wall and I should seat myself. Although it was 10ish and breakfast or lunch was an option…since I saw no breakfast menu I opted for the juicy Lucy and beans.I later learned that breakfast is pretty simple and for the most part consists of what he’d prepared with a few options. I wasn’t disappointed with my choices! Patience is the key when you run across a gem like this when the owner is the only employee and has heard it all a thousand times…

Outstanding food and it was fun to watch him prepare our food.

Always good! Great place to enjoy good food after the ride across the mountain.

Great food & the Experience and ride is always worth it. Thanks R look forward to seeing you again this year.

The best 1 person operation ever.

Cool Lil' place north of Oark Cafe.

The owner/chef was very kind and interesting to converse with. He takes his cooking seriously. The baby back ribs were tender and delicious but I would not want to leave out how wonderful the catalpa pinto beans were. Loved every single bite. Thanks!

Small restaurant in the outskirts of the beautiful natural forest. Good old country vibes. Friendly owner that i assume also is the only employee. Fast service. The absolutely BEST biscuits and gravy I've ever eaten!!! We were on a day trip for our anniversary and stopped in for breakfast before our hike. Will definitely be back.

Our first visit to Ozone with intent to Oark Cafe but we when additional 3 miles and found a wonderful lunch at Catalpa Cafe. Gloria had a wonderful pulled pork sandwich and mac-cheese Charlie had a new burger with fried green tomatoes and onion rings Both were great and will return again.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOOD! WORTH THE WAIT! Great service and great good!

I remember eating here with my mama years ago! I’ll never forget the people and the love!

This place is amazing. Finding this hidden gem tucked back in the ozark mountains was the best part of our trip! It is, by far, the best food I’ve ever eaten. There’s no way I will ever come back to the ozark mountains without stopping in at the Catalpa cafe. Wish I could give it 20 stars The second trip was even better! My best advice would be to let Randy cook whatever he’s feeling. We ordered 3 of whatever he wanted to cook and it was not a bad decision. He came out with breakfast tacos (best taco I’ve ever eaten), pancakes, biscuits and gravy, but the cherry on top was the eggs Benedict. I can’t even put into words how delicious it was. Randy, you outdid yourself. Thank you, The Five Course Breakfast Crew

Always amazingly delicious food!

Best lil cafe in arkansas. Gourmet chef in house! A must if your out riding the Ozarks and the pig trail!!

Wonderful food. Worth the drive from Ft. Smith

Love this place and the food is always excellent. Love the homemade pies!

Friendly, quiet and quaint location.

Some friends and I hiked a 35 mile section of the OHT, and noticed this cafe while we were setting up shuttle cars at different trailheads. After a quick Google search, we knew we were having lunch here after we finished up our hike. None of us regretted the decision.... WOW! Great burgers, friendly service, and oooh the pie (get the key lime). Wanted onion rings, but they were sold out... Which just means we have to hurry back so we can try them out. Thanks Randy!!

Increíble food. I traveled pretty far out of the way to eat here and it was soooooo worth it. Order a few items and everything was so delicious. Took a slice of pie to go because we ate so much, and my biggest regret is not getting more! I will be back!

Hands down the best hidden gem I accidentally stumbled upon. There is a gravel road that gets you there, but it’s extremely worth it. Randy is one of the greatest chefs I’ve ever encountered. My group ordered 4 different entries and sides to go. He cooked the entire order in about 15 minutes, to the highest quality one could get, and had everything done at the same time. Everything we ordered was amazing. French toast, fried potatoes/veges, burgers, and broccoli cheddar soup. My only regret is not knowing how great this place is and not ordering more. Treat yourself.

Its well worth the drive very delicious and friendly and great prices

Great food and atmosphere. Everyone needs to support this private owned small town business .

I’ve been there as many times as I can make happen. Some of the best food and pies I’ve ever had, nothing there is bad. He’s fun to interact with as well, can’t ask for anymore than that.

It's the best 1 man show and in backwoods Arkansas on top of it. 5 star chef and the atmosphere was cozy.

My family and I have been traveling to eat a Catalpa from Northwest Arkansas for the last couple years. Randy makes the best burgers we have ever had, and his pies are amazing. This is the only burger we would ever drive nearly 2 hours for anywhere. We will continue to visit when we can after we make our move to Minnesota. Always amazing food Randy.

Great food. The Bacado turkey hoagie was fabulous. Very big, fully loaded sandwich.

We enjoyed a very nice pepper steak sandwich and chicken strip sandwich for lunch. They came with fries and potato salad, one of which I had never had before. The steak was not chewy as some would expect. I will definitely return because this place is amazing.

Amazing pie, food, people and atmosphere! If you're looking for something quaint and perfect, this is it!!

We had breakfast and lunch here during a stay here. The food was freshly cooked to order and a surprise culinary treat with seasonal ingredients when your are expecting traditional diner food. Watching Randy interact with his regulars with care and humor was a bonus. The menu rotates, and you probably can't go wrong with anything you order. We enjoyed the French Toast, the breakfast tacos, Juicy Lucy Burger, and you must get the onion rings if they haven't sold out yet!

The food is great...but the KEY LIME PIE is delicious...get a Juicy Lucy...messy but dam its good !!!

This place is great! Friendly owner. I hope to get to go there again sometime.

Always amazing. Homemade fresh food. The most delicious peanut butter pie

Great food, comfortable atmosphere, great service

Try the onion rings you will be happy

Great place to grab a bite. friendly people and good food.

Best damn breakfast anywhere. Love the omletes, breakfast tacos, and the drive to get there.

This is a hidden gem absolutely worth visiting. Delicious food. It's a small place and most of the time a one man show. If you are bringing company please call ahead and let him know how many people are coming. It will save you time and make for even a better experience.

Excellent service. Excellent food. Excellent Prices I would have paid double for the Bacon Lettuce Tomato Cheese and Avacado sandwich I had. Owner is nice and very funny.

Delicious ice cream cake ask Randy about the secret ingredient. You'll never guess.

Really good food and really good service

Loved it! Enjoyed getting to eat great food! Just ask Randy to cook you something good! You won’t be disappointed.

What a hidden gem !! Only about 10 tables and well off the beaten path but fantastic food !! Everything is cook to order, homemade pies, and a cozy place to eat ! If you are traveling make sure to call before you go ! You want to make sure he is open !!

Great place to go grab some food. Love the atmosphere and the scenic roads getting there. No matter which direction you come from it's a great view. The food can't be beat. Everything is so good. Worth the drive!

This place is the poster-child for a "hidden gem". Of all of the places I have been to off the beaten path on our adventures, this place wins the award. Randy is one of the most talented and creative Chef's I have ever had the pleasure to talk with. He honored my love for food and engaged my friends and I in conversations about food. He kept saying "you wanna try something I have been experimenting with" and bringing more tasty bites to out table. A true genius. Sadly I live well over 1000 miles away or I'd be here to see Randy as often as I could. We found the menu to be more of a suggestion, and he really would cook us almost whatever we wanted if he had the time. God Bless this man and his mother and her pies!!

Best burger I’ve had in I don’t know when. My only complaint was it made me so full I just couldn’t save room for pie. Recommendation: Eat pie first. We will be back.

B.L.T. C. A. Yum! Fresh and fast. No matter what I get, it is always good. Wish I had time to go more often.

Do yourself a favor and drive past the "popular" place and go to Catalpa Cafe for some great food.

What a fantastic place to eat. Our meal was cooked from scratch by the owner and was delicious. If I am ever in that area I will definitely eat there again.

I have been to this area many times and never came this far East to try it out. Today was the day to do just that and we were more than satisfied. Great Burger and onion rings and just a real cool place to visit while enjoying the twisty roads of Arkansas on 2 wheels.

I stopped by on a motorcycle & had a great early supper. Everything on the ever-changing daily menu sounded good. I had fried shrimp with a salad, homemade mac-n-cheese and some delicious mashed potatoes. Great experience & I'll be back. The chef loves to make great food!!

Best place to eat!! Will go back!

Food is great! Pies are to die for!!!

Go here every Sunday morning for breakfast. Randy's cooking is beyond the best my family has ever had the pleasure of having! It's a small restaurant, but the food and warm hearted atmosphere that the cafe offers will leave a lasting impression on you for years to come!!

Food is great, do it all Randy is friendly and accommodating.

Came here on a family road trip. My mother was guided here by an old internet article talking about their pies. After taking a short ride down a gravel road we arrived on a Thursday afternoon, which is a good thing since we learned later that they had recently changed their hours. They're new hours as of September 2017 are Thursday-Sunday 7a-7p. Once inside, we took a seat at a table and the owner Randy greeted us and took our order. We struck up a conversation and learned that the internet article that drew us was written when the previous owners operated the Cafe. The food was delicious, but I would recommend the homemade (and made to order) onion rings. They're made with thinly sliced onions and a thin, seasoned batter. No need to add a side sauce to them. So after we found out about the date if the article, we were a little concerned about our dessert. But never fear, they still have pies. Homemade pies made by Randy's mom no less. They were a perfect end to a lunch stop while out on the road. It's off the beaten path, but worth the excursion.

Randy's a hoot and the boy can flat cook. His moms desserts are great as well. I need 10 stars. Wife and I will definitely be back.

You'll feel like you are at the end of the Earth before you get there....but well worth the drive. Very small, quaint place....true Arkansas mountain cafe. The food is fantastic. I highly recommend the "Juicy Lucy". Best burger you'll ever put in your mouth. Just watch out for the pig running loose as you head back to the highway...we had to stop and wait for the owners to get it out of the road before we could proceed. LOL Great day trip....good food and beautiful scenery.

Great food and great atmosphere! The locals are wonderful and the area is beautiful.

This small cafe is the ultimate Ozark experience! Fresh, homemade food, authentic culture and southern hospitality in a historic location. The biscuits and gravy are the best you've ever had and the pies are to die for!

Great food. Very remote location. A good place to get away from it all.

Honestly, how do people give a 1 star review to a place they have never even eaten? Do they not understand how damaging that could be to a small establishment? Reckless and irresponsible and not in the spirit of food reviews at all. Fortunately I have had the chance to eat at the Catalpa Cafe on several occasions on my motorcycle trips through Arkansas and found it a warm and inviting place for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie on a cold dreary Autumn day or a great burger for lunch before going over to the rope bridge to do some creek-side exploring. Another one of the many, many hidden gems all over Arkansas. Keep up the great work! For those of you who haven't had a chance to try the Catalpa Cafe yet, please do so, you won't be disappointed.