Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)
Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)
Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)
Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)
Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)
Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
(5)
Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)
Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)
Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)
Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)
Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)
Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)
Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)
Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)
Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)
K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)
Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)
Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
(2)
Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)
Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)
Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)
Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)
James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)
Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)
Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)
Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)
Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)
Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)
Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)
Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)
cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)
Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)
Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)
Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)
Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)
Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)
Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)
Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)
Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)
Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)
Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)
Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)
David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)
Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)
Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)
Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)
Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)
s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)
Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)
Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)
Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)
Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)
T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)
Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)
Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)
Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)
John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)
Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)
Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)
Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)
Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)
Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)
Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
(4)
Lisa J.
Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)
Diane W.
9-20-2015 Atmosphere is great! I ordered blackened chicken Alfredo. It was so spicy hot it was inedible! (No where on menu did say it was spicy hot) Waitress replaced it, I then got pot roast, smashed potatoes, and green beans. Pot roast good, potatoes good but the green beans were so sweet, sweeter than my sweet tea! I have never had sweet green beans before....too too sweet! Also in salad I got blue cheese, there were so many huge chunks of cheese hardly any dressing. One chunk was the size of a small egg! We won't be going back.
(3)
Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)
Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)
Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)
Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)
Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)
K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)
Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)
Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)
Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
(5)
Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)
Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)
Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
(2)
Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)
Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)
Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)
James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)
Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)
Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)
Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)
Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)
Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)
Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)
cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)
Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)
Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)
Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)
T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)
Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)
Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)
Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)
Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)
Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)
Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)
Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)
Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)
Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)
Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)
Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)
Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)
Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)
Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)
David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)
Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)
Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)
Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)
Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)
Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)
Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)
Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)
Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)
Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)
s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)
Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)
Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)
Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)
John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)
Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)
Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)
Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)
Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)
Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)
Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
(4)
Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)
Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)
cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)
Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)
Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)
Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)
Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)
Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)
Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)
Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)
Lisa J.
Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)
Diane W.
9-20-2015 Atmosphere is great! I ordered blackened chicken Alfredo. It was so spicy hot it was inedible! (No where on menu did say it was spicy hot) Waitress replaced it, I then got pot roast, smashed potatoes, and green beans. Pot roast good, potatoes good but the green beans were so sweet, sweeter than my sweet tea! I have never had sweet green beans before....too too sweet! Also in salad I got blue cheese, there were so many huge chunks of cheese hardly any dressing. One chunk was the size of a small egg! We won't be going back.
(3)
Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)
Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)
Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)
Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)
Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)
K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)
Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)
Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)
Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
(5)
Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)
Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)
Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)
Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
(4)
Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)
Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)
Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)
James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)
Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)
Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)
Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)
Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)
Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)
Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)
Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)
Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)
Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)
T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)
Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)
Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)
Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)
Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)
Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)
Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)
Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)
Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)
Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)
David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)
Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)
Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)
Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)
Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)
Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)
Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)
Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)
Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)
Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)
s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)
Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)
Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)
Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)
John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)
Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)
Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Lisa J.
Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
(5)Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
(5)Charlotte C.
Food was good. However, appetizers, soup, & salad all arrived at the same time followed closely by the entrée. Not good. Made us feel hurried. A little too efficient for comfortable dining.
(4)Shan D.
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
(2)Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
(4)Jesse B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant back when I was a student at Hendrix college. During a visit my fiancé and I decided that we just had to eat dinner here, and boy are we glad that we did!! It is every bit as amazing as we remembered it being. The fried green tomatoes are a must, and my prime rib was melt in your mouth delicious. The waiter was helpful and very friendly. I literally have nothing negative to say.
(5)Cassie T.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
(4)Lisa J.
Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)Diane W.
9-20-2015 Atmosphere is great! I ordered blackened chicken Alfredo. It was so spicy hot it was inedible! (No where on menu did say it was spicy hot) Waitress replaced it, I then got pot roast, smashed potatoes, and green beans. Pot roast good, potatoes good but the green beans were so sweet, sweeter than my sweet tea! I have never had sweet green beans before....too too sweet! Also in salad I got blue cheese, there were so many huge chunks of cheese hardly any dressing. One chunk was the size of a small egg! We won't be going back.
(3)Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
(5)Charlotte C.
Food was good. However, appetizers, soup, & salad all arrived at the same time followed closely by the entrée. Not good. Made us feel hurried. A little too efficient for comfortable dining.
(4)Shan D.
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
(5)Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
(2)Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
(4)Jesse B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant back when I was a student at Hendrix college. During a visit my fiancé and I decided that we just had to eat dinner here, and boy are we glad that we did!! It is every bit as amazing as we remembered it being. The fried green tomatoes are a must, and my prime rib was melt in your mouth delicious. The waiter was helpful and very friendly. I literally have nothing negative to say.
(5)Cassie T.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
(4)Jordan J.
The food is decent but overpriced. DO NOT host a rehearsal dinner, party, or other event there, you will be sorry you did. I recently hosted an afternoon bridal shower at Mike's Place and absolutely would not recommend it to anyone after the experience I went through. After I had a horrible experience with one of his employee's who barked at my guests (including the bride), I called the next business day to explain what happened to the manager, expecting a sincere apology. The manager, Mike, was VERY rude to me as a customer, interrupted me several times, and told me that I should have just been grateful that they didn't charge me their standard $600 room fee (since it was a 2:30pm shower and the room wasn't going to be used anyway, we just ordered food and they waived the rental fee - but NO excuse to be rude to my guests!) I've told several friends who are looking for places in central Arkansas for rehearsal dinners to stay away from Mike's Place and will continue to do so.
(1)Kevin M.
I've got a fever for a Cajun Fix & Mikes place is just what the doctor ordered. 1Rx for Shrimp Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, followed by a perfectly Blacken chicken Brest. Oh my, oh my! I feel my fever lifting with each passing minute.
(4)cheiko s.
Nice water patio. But the food was not good. Had the chicken which was smaller than ever. Changes to fried chicken and let's say the chicken was blaaaa. The fried part or the skin, was salty the chicken was bland no taste at all. I can say the bake potato was also not good was not even hot. And I found water at the bottom of the potato. Food here is not the best at all. Bland bland bland at a price which is Tomuch. And to add it all the place had people and pricy but the food is not good at all.
(1)Tim S.
Great find. Nice local restaurant located in historic downtown Conway. They have aged steaks, ribs and seafood on the dinner menu. They also have a full bar, which just a few years ago was unheard of in this city located in the Bible Belt. For Conway, this is five stars. Now comparing Mike's to the places I have been to across the country, it is more like 3 1/2 stars. Very solid place to get a good meal in Conway. I got the ribeye for dinner and another person in my party got the scallops. I thought the scallops were pretty small but still tasty. The steak was okay. I ordered it medium rare but it came to the table rare. So, the service was good and the food was solid. Not the best I have had but a great choice for Conway. I wish Mike's Place the best and I will return the next time I am in Conway.
(4)Mark H.
Being from South Louisiana, I was kinda, well I was not expecting to find a great New Orleans menu in Central Arkansas. Mike's Place is a charming place to bring your wife or a first date. I did both. After the wife ordeal, I brought a good friend there for our first date. You can be tucked away for privacy or in the middle of the action if you desire. As someone who loves his steaks rare, I was a bit worried when it came back over cooked. However, the server noticed, as I was eating it, that it wasnt cooked to my desired temp and asked if he could bring me another steak. It was actually good at that temp so I declined. The flavor was perfect. If Yelp had a .5 rating system, then Mike's Place would be a 4.5 If you are passing though Conway, Arkansas on I40, and see the sign for Mikes Place I advise you to take the short detour and experience a taste of New Orleans in Central Arkansas.
(4)Sarah H.
Well, I decided to try this place as it had serveral good reviews. Every other time I've been afraid to try anything in the small town other than the Outback. To start, I ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms...delicious! Then I had a salad with the house specialty - seafood crapes. Very good to start. Although I ran into trouble when I went to taste the muscles on top of the concoction. Now I love, love, love muscles...but the minute I bit into one, that was it. The bartender I'd been talking to was watching and knew something was wrong...here's where the rating comes in. Although there was a misstep with the muscles, the attentive bartender quickly reported the foul to the chef and assured me they were taking steps to make sure no one else got a bad one. Now I didn't expect them to roll out the red carpet... it was just one bad bite in a really good meal. The muscles were just a garnish. And I'm just not the kind that carries around a bug to get a free meal or complains just to get a discount. But because the bartender was paying attention to his customers, he did his best to leave me with a good impression of the restaurant. When I got my check, they'd comp'd the dish - the main dish. So...I ordered the Creme brule!
(4)Emily F.
This place is very nice, the service was very good, and the food was great. My date got the ribeye and it was delicious. I got the raspberry chicken and it was delicious as well, but the sides were fairly small. Fried green tomato appetizers were also very good. I would definitely go here again.
(5)Joseph M.
This place is great in so many aspects. The atmosphere, food, service, and price are of but a few things Mike's Place has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Carey H.
Nice atmosphere. Nice staff. Nice service. Food was good. Had crepes, tasty. Would go again. Beef tenderlion, fabulous!
(4)Geoff R.
Mike's Place offers a rich menu - with items from burgers and pizza to several different preparations of shrimp. All of my meals have been very good. After one meal where a few things didn't go quite right (cold food, wrong meal), the owner actually comp-ed the entire meal (minus alcohol because of the law), even though the problems had already been resolved. They know how to make sure the words of mouth spread about their restaurant is positive! Both the food and the service at Mike's Place are excellent. Be sure to make a reservation, as the wait without one can be lengthy.
(4)Sean H.
This is likely the best restaurant in Conway bar none. The service, food and atmosphere are down to a science. There is nothing on the menu that is not fabulous. Must go eat at location in Conway! Affordable lunch menu too.
(5)Bryan T.
I went with my dining partners at 3:00 PM on a Monday, perhaps the worst time to eat in a restaurant. Even though the server can't possibly be busy, it seems like you get awful service at that time. But this wasn't the case at Mike's! Our server was very attentive and as jovial as you'd expect in the South. The decor was also very nice - definitely classier than you'd expect to find in Little Rock's satellite city. But people don't come to a restaurant for the decor, right? So on to the food... Together we had the crab bisque, Caesar salad, prime rib, chicken & bowtie pasta, pork chop, bread pudding and creme brulee. The bisque was tasty, and it had more crab in it than I'd expected to find. The Caesar salad was a little pathetic but it seems like nowadays they usually are. The prime rib was actually cooked as I ordered it - always a plus - and it was delicious! One of my dining companions reported that the chicken & bowtie was also good (the bowtie was cooked spot on), but the one who ordered the pork chop was a bit silent. I tried a bite to see why and discovered it was dry and kind of bland. I loved the bread pudding because it wasn't overly boozed up and it didn't have raisins in it, perhaps a cardinal sin in New Orleans but this ain't New Orleans. The portion was way too much for one person to eat and even with a little help we ended up taking half of it home. The creme brulee was wonderful, although we aren't too picky when it comes to it. The caramelized top was substantial rather than that thin, pathetic layer you sometimes get in restaurants. All in all, Mike's has good food, good service and good decor. The only mildly annoying thing about the experience was that we had to sign up to become a "member" of the restaurant, a work-around for the dry county's alcohol laws, even though we didn't intend to drink. We're pretty sure that you don't need to be a member if you're not going to drink, but they were pretty pushy about it. Anyway, it's not the best restaurant you'll ever dine in but it's tasty and reliable, and isn't that good enough?
(4)Lisa J.
Love Mike's Place! Makes me want to come back to Conway if I'm ever even close. The place is quite lovely (we sat out on the beautiful bricked back patio but the inside is also quite nice). Food was great - as in "great" not just good. All four of us were very happy, Mike and his staff were wonderful, prices were a great value - a terrific part of our trip through Arkansas; surely the best part, actually! Thanks, Mike! We'll be back!
(5)Diane W.
9-20-2015 Atmosphere is great! I ordered blackened chicken Alfredo. It was so spicy hot it was inedible! (No where on menu did say it was spicy hot) Waitress replaced it, I then got pot roast, smashed potatoes, and green beans. Pot roast good, potatoes good but the green beans were so sweet, sweeter than my sweet tea! I have never had sweet green beans before....too too sweet! Also in salad I got blue cheese, there were so many huge chunks of cheese hardly any dressing. One chunk was the size of a small egg! We won't be going back.
(3)Elizabeth D.
So the food is pretty ok here. But the prices are stupid. For instance, I had the blackened bleu chicken salad and added on the Beef Tenderloin. This was $28.48. The beef was good. The salad was Romaine lettuce with some tomatoes and croutons. (So, I replaced the chicken with the beef but did not get charged any less so may as well have kept the chicken for another meal - maybe the price would have then been worth it). Let's compare this steak salad to the one at Brave New. The one at Brave New is $28.50. This salad also comes with 6 oz of beef, but it has lettuce, artichoke hearts, vegetables, roasted tomatoes, and an array of fancy cheeses. I think Brave New's salad is expensive too, but I get 2 meals out of that one and for 0.02cents more, it is worth the drive.
(2)Ben R Q.
I moved to Conway in 2006, about 6 months after MIKE'S PLACE opened. I became a regular within a few weeks. I know most of the staff and the owner, the best part, they know me. My wife and I feel like part of the family , as do most of the regulars!!! I have eaten in the finest restaurants around the globe. I must say, MIKE'S PLACE is at the top. The food, the service and the atmosphere keep my wife and I coming back, as well as recommending it to everyone we meet! !!! Great job Mike and staff. We'll see you again soon!!!!!
(5)Micah C.
This place was great! A bit nicer than I was expecting. We were in our travel clothes and although it wasn't an issue I could totally see this place as more of a date night type place! We shared the 14 oz prime rib with smashed potatoes and an extra salad. The prime rib had a wonderful & unique flavor. The bread was very tasty. I ate 2 loaves by myself. The reason for 4 stars is bc of the server. He was a bit impersonal. I like to ask for recommendations so i did. The server told me "the items in red are the most popular and we won an award for the best steak in Arkansas. " A completely acceptable response but I like when the servers aren't so scripted and matter of fact, and interact a little. Then again that may be how they are trained here. Overall, this is another place I'd come to again if I were a local!
(4)Diana D.
To die for! We are self proclaimed foodies. We have lived in Texas, California and now Arkansas and I must say that this is one of the best places we have been to. We had salads with their hot bacon dressing which is very good!!! I had the chicken wood fire pizza And if you like cracker-like crust that's the dish for you. It was crispy, non-greasy which is a huge plus for me because I don't like drinking grease with my pizza and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the brownie cake which was amazing and totally worth the calories. The red beans and rice were very good and our 4 year old really liked their cheeseburger which is unheard of for as picky as she is! We came here after church on Sunday and it was not crowded and the service was amazing! I highly recommend this place and will be back!
(5)Brian R.
Number one place to eat in Conway period. Been going here for years whenever in town on business. Great atmosphere both in the dining room or outside. For a dry county in Arkansas, has a solid beer selection. Go for the crwere your own trio meal and sample a few things, they're all great. I recommend blackened chicken, crawfish etouffee, and shrimp Brantley.
(5)Charlotte C.
Food was good. However, appetizers, soup, & salad all arrived at the same time followed closely by the entrée. Not good. Made us feel hurried. A little too efficient for comfortable dining.
(4)Shan D.
Decent place to find in Conway area. You won't see any college students around here. Highly recommend to go at least once.
(5)K. E.
Lunch sandwiches are fine, but overall the food here is mediocre. If you consider yourself much of a "foodie," this is not the place for you.
(2)Erin A.
The cool thing about Mikes Place is it is locally owned and nestled in historic downtown Conway. The decor and over all layout is unique by comparison to most. There are two slightly different areas to dine...as you walk in the front entrance to the main floor, the ambience is bright and friendly with the kitchen and chefs exposed to watch as they do their thing. The second area is partitioned by large brick columns and is a much more intimate setting for you and your sweetie pie. I have dined here twice, once for dinner with friends and another for lunch with my boyfriend. At night the atmosphere is fun and vibrant. Now on to the nitty gritty...THE DRANK & EATS! The food is decent, not bad but definitely nothing impressive considering the price of the main menu. To be honest I've had better chicken dishes and prime rib sandwiches at chain restaurants. Luckily they serve their lunch section 7 days a week. The drinks are so so so very basic, too much grenadine and puckers and not enough fresh ingredients or ALCOHOL! (Ha) Personally I am a lemon drop martini kinda girl and I was extremely disappointed. Overall, the atmosphere is pretty cool, the waitstaff is friendly, and the food and drinks....are meh.
(3)Maurice H.
A restaurant that claims to have traditional New Orleans food should have traditional New Orleans style BBQ shrimp not grilled shrimp with BBQ sauce on them. I was very disappointed.
(2)Gerard N.
Walked over to this location with colleagues for a working lunch (we'd just moved to the downtown area). Not only was the food great, but the waiter was exceptional. He not only gave us great inside service, but great outside service as well. One of my colleagues inadvertently left a folio at the table. As we were nearing our office, we heard someone running behind us. Yes, it was our waiter with the folio in his hand (almost out of breath) stating one of us left this. Sorry, but you can hardly beat that kind of service or care for the customer. Above & beyond? Yes, I think so!!
(5)Eddie S.
Good atmosphere. Food was good. Prices were fair for food, see exception below. I had the 14oz Prime Rib, Medium Well. The temp was a little off for medium well, but the meat was tender and well prepared for a medium PR. Had the Creme Brulee for desert, which was good, but a little plain. The sampler appetizer was good, but overpriced at $15. Overall was a good choice for a visitors.
(4)Mark K.
Great food, great ambiance. I had the pecan encrusted grouper and my wife the scampi, both fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved the salad, lots of cheese. Two gripes. One, the fresh green beans side is served sweet, they add brown sugar to the beans, Blechh!! Must be an Arkansas thing. Two, I was hoping for a selection of local micro brews, maybe there aren't any. A little pricey but well worth it.
(4)Sandra S.
I went with one other person about 12:30 pm on a Sunday. When we walked in we were ignored. After waiting for 5 minutes for someone to offer to seat us, another couple walked in the door. The host who came out of nowhere immediately rushed to greet them saying "party of two?" When I stepped forward with a puzzled look and said that we had been waiting a while, the guy said "oh, it doesn't matter. We can seat them or you". Strange statement and no apology or explanation for the wait. Once we were seated I found they only serve Pepsi products- yuck! We placed our order (appetizer, soup, salad). After a while the waiter brought us some rolls and butter, probably because he knew it was going to take a loooong time to get our order to us. We had no napkins or utensils to spread the butter on the rolls. Waiter never came by to ask or check on us. Finally after our order arrived (about 30 minutes) he realized we had no utensils. He brought our check later and disappeared again. We waited so long for him to come back we decided to walk up to the register and pay directly. Food was OK. Nothing special. Lack of organization and poor service will keep me from going back.
(2)Mike S.
Great atmosphere and service was fantastic! Had stuffed shrimp, pecan crusted grouper. All excellent.
(4)Ryan W.
Mike's Place is perhaps the most underwhelming "fine" dining experience one will have in Conway. To be fair to them, they have it easy. The nearest "Louisiana-style" food joint that is meant to be at the same caliber is in Little Rock, at least a 30 minute drive, and just as expensive. There isn't much competition for Conway's lavish dinner market in general. But this has got to be the worst of them. The ambiance was fine. It's quaint, a rather sizable restaurant laid out so that it doesn't feel huge, but organized into little nooks here and there so one gets the feeling they are in a smaller, quieter place. Our waiter, Ryan, was briefly attentive, with the kind of Matthew McConaughey southern drawl that really draws you into a conversation. That was great. The only problem was, he did very little speaking. In fact, I'm fairly certain the only words he said after introducing himself were in order to take our orders and bring us the check. There was no helpful banter about the menu, no specials mentioned, and little to no personality within Ryan's comings and goings. This isn't the end all of the restaurant, but compared to the wait staff of many other upper-end restaurants in Conway, he had the personality of a McDonald's employee. It wasn't what I expected. Nor did I expect the woman who brought our food out to not say a single word, and set my wife's plate in front of me, and mine in front of her, then leave without asking if everything was in order. It was mind-boggling. But hey, we had some amazing, 20$ plates of food in front of us, and we were on a date night, our first since our child was born. It had to get better, right? It didn't. The food was simply the most underwhelming thing to enter my mouth at a restaurant in Conway in quite some time. My wife ordered a pick-two-entrees sample meal, and her options were bacon-wrapped scallops and Brantley shrimp. The Shrimp were not even warm, and the scallops were well overdone. I tried them both myself because I barely believed her, but she was right, and it was barely edible in the state in which in came to our table. I ordered fried shrimp, which was fine. It's fried shrimp, and hard to do wrong for even the most rudimentary chef. But they got my order wrong, and brought me broccoli with some powdered Parmesan on top. No big deal, I thought, I'll just ask Ryan about it and have him bring me the fries I actually ordered. Ten minutes after our food arrived, when he finally emerged at our table once more, I asked him about the fries, and he brought them, commenting that I could keep the broccoli as a "bonus." Gee, thanks, I thought, as I touched the cold, hard, broccoli on my plate. It was as if they microwaved broccoli and scooped it on the plate. I also had fried okra, which was fine, but again, can be obtained almost anywhere and even a new chef could master fried okra rather easily. I could go on, but suffice it to say that we paid over 60$ for a meal with quality little better than an average chain restaurant, which would have cost us half what we paid at Mike's Place. As I said before, Conway has far better options, and perhaps someone will come along and challenge their reputation by delivering quality bayou-based cuisine in a much better way than Mike's. The worst part is that Mike's Place is a locally owned joint with a customer base that lives for the idea that locally owned is best. This is actually great for our community. We don't have to live off the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters that many other cities have come to enjoy, never knowing that a place like Mike's can stand out in quality and service. It's the kind of place that can and should thrive in Conway, but to be frank, Mike's Place just doesn't fit the bill, and the people deserve better.
(2)Jesse B.
This used to be my favorite restaurant back when I was a student at Hendrix college. During a visit my fiancé and I decided that we just had to eat dinner here, and boy are we glad that we did!! It is every bit as amazing as we remembered it being. The fried green tomatoes are a must, and my prime rib was melt in your mouth delicious. The waiter was helpful and very friendly. I literally have nothing negative to say.
(5)Cassie T.
Excellent place for a great meal. The Mahi Mahi was fantastic and the fillet was cooked to perfection!
(4)Leigh R.
Always look forward to going here for lunch/dinner. The atmosphere is the best and a great local place in downtown Conway!
(4)Steve N.
Is the chef a consultant from Chicago? Just sayin. Mike's is competent, not creative or distinctive. The bread was especially disappointing. Everything I ate (rice and beans, pecan-crusted grouper, Parmesan spinach) was rich; but a lighter touch may stop Mike's from being the treat that it is for some. Prices were reasonable ($17 for the entree, $6 for a bowl o' soup). A hip beer list.
(3)James H.
I have made it a point to stop here for something to eat every time I am in Conway no matter what time of the day it may be. Their fried green tomatoes are outstanding and they have an excellent selection on the menu with everything being delicious. Do not think twice about coming to Mike's to eat.
(5)Nathaniel H.
The best summary of this place is "Amazing". The food was wonderful and the service has been great each time I've been there. Each time it is just me, so it makes it difficult to try a small amount of multiple things. Their choose two platters are perfect for this situation. I recently wanted to try a half portion of an appetizer and they were able to accommodate. If they had been unable then my order would have been a little smaller. Great customer service results in more $$.
(5)Will T.
Not what it once was, which is sad. This placer was a long time in the making for Conway, and it used to be the go-to place for an anniversary, date, or birthday celebration, but as of late, it's just a disappointment, which, for the price, is unacceptable. I've been to Mike's probably 8-10 times over the last few years, but each time it just fails to meet expectations, and, sadly, last night was probably the last time I'll go of my own accord. The ambience is still great. It's well-adorned and a perfect mix of classy & casual, appropriate for a pricier place in Conway, AR. However, the waitstaff is inattentive and seems poorly trained these days. Most importantly, the food is now grossly over-priced for the quality. Having travelled and eaten all over the USA (and the world), including New Orleans, I have realistic views on what quality fare costs, but this is just no longer up to par. Last night the wife & I got fried green tomatoes, which were delicious as always. Then different fish, and both were just OK. And the sides were just gross. My red beans and rice had ZERO flavor (this is a Cajon influenced joint?), and our Parmesean Spinach was little more than warm spinach spinach in butter and cheese with no flavor. Finally, for all of this and water, our bill was close to $60. Mike, thanks for the memories, but we won't be seeing each other any time soon.
(2)Tom S.
Late review but...... Wow! Great food! Came in friday on recommendation from the prople at the airport and the hotel. I wanted the tuscano pasta but the waitress talked me into the filet. Glad she did. It was one of the best ive had. I ordered it medium plus and was glad for the plus part but really it was cooked perfect. The salads are excellent too. I went back the following day for lunch and got the pasta and it was really good too. Cant believe this place is in such a small town but if you are in conway you must try it!
(5)Joel C.
Ate here with a friend. We both ordered ribeyes medium rare. One blackened, the other with mushrooms. they were cooked to perfection and were top choice cuts of meat, not too fatty. great atmosphere and the service was top notch. My friend got a business call when the apetizer came out. Our server held off putting in our entre order until he returned to the table so he would not have a cold meal.
(4)Jere J.
I agree with most, that this IS the best dining in Conway. Try the prime rib...excellent. I'd have given it a fifth star but they don't offer French dressing for the salads and no seasonal blue moon beers. Everything else is great!! Recommended!!
(4)Terry B.
So I've been hard on Mike's before, but I tried them for Lunch yesterday and couldn't be more pleased. Fast Food costs have skyrocked as of late, so I decided to go to a sit down resturant, and I am glad I did. The Service as always is on point. I ordered the Shrimp lunch for 8.99. Now this meal comes w/ bread, salad, and the shrimp (5 or 6 good size shrimp) and honestly this was a steal. The salad here is always top notch, no skimping on lunch salad, you get the same great salad you get for dinner. The bread good, and the Shrimp spiced nicely. 13 to 15 bucks and I was full. Good value
(4)Lindsay W.
Was in town for business and had been recommended this place by locals (and a quickie online search by looking at reviews/ratings) so we thought we'd give it a shot. Our party was for 4 ladies and when the owner came to greet us before we ordered (guy with an eyepatch - quite friendly and somewhat charming), he chatted with us for a bit. There were a couple common family histories with a member in our group and this gentleman, which prompted him to offer/encourage us to try their Shrimp Brantley. All four of us took this as his offering us this appetizer "on the house" so to speak. We were very thankful and graciously accepted. We all ordered our food and ate. Meals were good - portions were good - prices were fair-ish. We were enjoying our meal. Until we noticed on our bills that the Shrimp appetizer had been split 4 ways on our separate tabs. Each of us wanted to question it but feared making another member of our party uncomfortable so no one did and therefore we just paid and left. But it is my belief that the owner probably pulled a fast one on us. So be aware. I'd go back. It was good food. Really neat venue. Just watch the bill. ***UPDATE: The owner of restaurant looked me up and called me to apologize for the mistake in our bill. He was very sincere and said this was not the intention and wanted to make it up to me. I was impressed with that and have upgraded my review to 5 stars from 3 because of it.
(5)Laura F.
Order the Carribean chicken salad, lots of salad greens topped with an unusual amount of Carribean chicken. It comes with a raspberry vinegarette but I opted for ranch. It was very filling and tasteful. We also had the zucchini sticks as an appetizer, YUMMY!!!!!! I would be willing to eat here again.
(4)Kristin S.
Its our first time in Arkansas, and we have so far been really impressed with the dining. We went to Mike's for an afternoon round of cocktails and appetizers. Upon walking into Mike's, I knew I would like the place. I loved the atmosphere; not too stuffy or pretentious, but still classy... The food was pretty good. We ordered the Shrimp Brantley (which was my favorite), crab cakes, calamari, and artichoke dip. I will say that I was impressed with the drink menu. I ordered a few of their signature martinis. We liked it so much that we are planning another trip to Mike's before we leave town!
(4)T. C.
I love this place! The ambiance is good, the food is excellent. I've had just about everything on the menu and I've only had one instance where I wasn't happy and they were quick to fix it. I can take my family here, or just go one on one with my husband.
(5)Brad W.
Imagine that Popeyes threw up all over Chilis. The menu is formulaic. The food lacks creativity, authenticity, and soul...and that's not a desirable thing when you're looking for great N'awlins style food. On the bright side, the food isn't bad for what it is, and the interior is very well done.
(2)Celeste C.
Lunch for two--$40, and that's without dessert.. The food wasn't very good. Brown 'n Serve rolls, meatloaf from who knows where, soup--small cup with murky broth and chicken squares, "Caesar salad"--romaine and cheese. The booth was way too dark--you couln't possibly read the menu. I was disappointed after researching restaurants in Conway at length; Mike's Placed appeared to be the most popular. Service was OK.
(2)Jeff R.
I'm doing my best to get back on track and up to date with my experiences. This post finishes our quick trip to Arkansas in December. The occasion was my father's 70th birthday celebration so we let him choose his dinner spot. We spare no expense for birthday dinners in the Rapp family and choose Conway's finest in Mike's Place. It was immediately apparent why Mike's is an institution. The fireplace is burning by the door, children are more than welcome and the food is high quality, local comfort food. We started with southern classics - fried green tomatoes and fried okra. I might prefer my vegetables non-fried, but you can't deny the tastiness of good southern flavors, fried or otherwise. I was in the mood for fish, and Mike's has a nice selection. I ordered the server recommended honey glazed salmon, with a side of baked beans and salad. The fish was disappointing, not quite as good as advertised and lacking meaningful flavor. The beans were also only ok. Erica had a similar result with her shrimp. Hal's fish pasta was excellent, and from the clean plate across the table, my Dad's steak and potato didn't stand a chance. If our main courses were hit and miss, the desserts were spot on. Dad's chocolate birthday cake was great, and I ordered an unbelievably good bread pudding for the table. We had a very nice meal at Mike's Place in Conway, AR and I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in the neighborhood. If the main courses were slightly disappointing, we made up for it with great company, wine, and good desserts.
(3)Lisa V.
Visited Mike's Place several times when I lived in Arkansas. The food was always good, and the service was usually good. Loved the pecan encrusted grouper and fresh bread. Quality matched the prices, which were pretty reasonable for the seafood and pastas I tried.
(4)Dena F.
Much more than I expected to find in Conway! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food. Only complaint is the lighting was a bit dim for menu reading.
(4)Tammy T.
Lived up to the reviews. We had the 3 sampler appetizer. Shrimp Brantley and shrimp and cheese fritters were lovely. Crab cake was mostly cake. Would not pick that again. Crawfish bisque was very tasty. Creole Grouper and Pecan Crusted Grouper were well-prepared with nice sauce. Parmesan spinach is a yummy side. Would definitely come here again. Decor is beautiful treatment of 3 historic downtown Conway brick storefronts married together. Easy parking.
(4)Lynnda C.
Passing thru Conway yesterday and saw the reviews on Mike's so decided to check it out. It was great! We had the fried green tomatoes because why wouldn't you? Also tried the Gumbo which was thick and chock full of shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage. Yummy! But the best dish of the night was Shrimp Brantley. Tender shrimp in this incredible, slurpy sauce. They call it one of the house specialities for good reason. We're going to hit them on our way back thru. Oh yes, that good! Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer B.
I love this restaurant! It is definitely the best in Conway. I lived in Conway for several years with my boyfriend, and this is where I always asked to go on special occasions. The bread they serve with real butter is unbelievably good. The fried green tomatoes with remoulade rival those at Cotham's, and that's saying something. The seafood is unbelievably fresh, and the steaks and pork chops are cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is also very dim and romantic, but you certainly would not feel out of place having a nice family dinner here. The drink menu is also superb. And, of course, I have to give a shout-out to the best waiter ever and childhood friend, Blake Reeves, though the entire staff is seasoned and friendly. If you are in Conway, Mike's Place is where it is!
(5)Marla S.
The shrimp and cheese fritters are amazing! The atmosphere is the best thing about the restaurant. It's fun for a date or group meal.
(4)David G.
Mike is a food whisperer. This is my favorite restaurant in Conway due its incredi-cuisine. For this Arkansas-grown fella, the dishes are gourmet-level high-falutin and decadent. The menu offers steaks, seafood, poultry, salads, pasta, and burgers all with a slight cajun bent on the options. Mike even took it to the next level by calling the sides "lagniappes." What a baller. The dining room is just a notch above casual, making it a great date spot for the wife and me. However, they cater to families well, and even the kids menu is tasty. I'm always supremely impressed by their quality food and professional, yet friendly service. I highly recommend the "Shrimp Brantley"... as well as every other food item listed on their menu.
(5)Penny R.
Food is okay - probably the best items on the menu is the seafood. Price is fairly reasonable.The attitude of the wait staff and management team is not always consistant - sometimes friendly, other times a little aloof.
(3)Bill S.
Very good food, great service, great atmosphere. Little pricey but was well worth it.
(4)Marc M.
We liked the decor and atmosphere. Food was average, not really what we expected. Server was good. Overall average place.
(3)Jennifer H.
OK, Mike. I'm bored. How about updating the menu a little? The food is good, but why not try some seasonal items using fresh, local produce? How about a nice salad for the summer that isn't just lettuce, meat, cheese and ranch dressing? There are so many good things in season...zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, eggplant, peaches. Let's see some creativity! What about a weekly burger special for lunch with some interesting toppings? Or a pasta special for dinner? We know you don't have any competition in town except your own other restaurant around the corner, but pretend you do.
(3)Catriona C.
The last time I visited Conway, I ate bad Chinese food and bad Japanese food. Was I scared by the cuisine in this town? Yes, yes I was. This time round, I went in armed with recommendations by some co-workers. No more dodgy cooking for me, no sir. One of the suggestions was Mike's Place. Perfect, I thought, for this newly-turned pescatarian in the South - I should get me some options here. Which I did. Although I do have to say, my fish consumption has been high this week, so I erally shouldn't have had the pecan-crusted grouper drizzled with raspberry (SOLD) bordelaise sauce... or the crawfish etouffee - but I did. Tomorrow shall be a veggie day, for today I feast on fish. I was seated quickly and didn't have too long to wait before my server showed up to take my drinks order - seeing as it was just me, myself and I - I went ahead and ordered after quizzing her on what to try - turns out I could order both without being a complete glutton. On the subject of service, it was very nice - restrained, polite and respectful of leaving me alone to eat my meal in peace. After a while, it turns up. I had almost forgotton what I had ordered - but not quite. Sadly, I seemed to experience the same as others - it looks like my meal was mistimed - while the grouper was of a good temperature, the etouffee was congealed and noticeably cool around the edges. It's a shame, as it was all pretty tasty, but that was definitely a disappointment. I did also try the key lime pie, just to complete my glutton-on-expenses experience - it was large, limey and my first pie experience - too rich for me to finish off - either you need to be less full, or share with a friend - the latter being a better option. Overall, Mike's Place is a better option than others I have tried here in Conway, but I am indecisive on whether it would be worth to go too many times. Jury is out for me on this one.
(3)Jeff E.
Since this is the "Place To Go" in Conway, we had to try out dinner. They sell beer and wine, which is nice in Dry-Little-Conway, AR, and the beer prices weren't too bad. We'd already had apps at a nearby pizza place, so it was just entrees here. I had a combo plate with chicken and scallops w/ bacon. The scallops were wonderfully cooked, while the chicken was "meh" - it was cooked, but had no real flavor. The decor was very nice, the waiter friendly, and Mike even came over to check on the table. I'll go back next time i'm in town.
(3)Anna B.
I am such a fan of this place! I've yet to have a bad meal here- I've tried everything from the pecan encrusted grouper (yum!) to the salad (try their blue cheese dressing) to the porkchops. Mike's is awesome and has such nice servers and a great atmosphere.
(5)Amanda D.
This is the best restaurant in Conway, hands down. Walking into Mike's you wouldn't even think you're in Conway, Arkansas. It's super classy and has both a bar and restaurant area. It does get crowded and the wait can be much, so plan ahead. The menu has great options and the food is great. I highly recommend Mike's Place.
(5)Katie F.
This place was great. We had the rehearsal dinner for my sisters wedding here. The private party room was lovely. They had appetizers ready for us when we arrived from the wedding. And the seafood quality for being in Arkansas was amazing. I would definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the praline dipping sauce.
(4)s. m. j.
We have been coming to Mike's Place since it opened many years ago and was the first (non-country club) restaurant in Conway to serve drinks, and we have always loved it. We have eaten in restaurants literally around the world, and it is not only good relative to Conway, but is a quality restaurant compared to any market. When my husband and I order appetizers, we order the fried zucchini, which is delicious. I have also had the shrimp appetizer. Often I may get a house salad or a Caesar salad and my husband the soup of the day, if it appeals to him (they always offer gumbo). The main course is a no-brainer: the pecan-encrusted grouper with two side (or lagniappes as they call them) is one of the best dinners in Conway. Seriously, this is what fish candy would be if there were fish candy! It is SO DELICIOUS! I have also had the filet here, and when I order it very rare, they know how to cook it and it is also delicious. The desserts here are great, too. Tonight we split the warm brownie chocolate cake and ice cream, and it was divine! I love bread pudding, and when I can, I order that here, as it is really tasty! When Mike's Place first opened, you couldn't sit or get near the bar due to the liquor laws in Conway's dry county, but now you can sit at the bar if you want to just have a drink. Tonight, when we got to our table, I ordered a cosmopolitan, and the waiter, Blake, brought it in its shaker, so you get a little more than you do in most restaurants. It was perfection. I also like to have the Coppola claret here with my meals (like I do at Michelangelo's, Mike's Place's sister restaurant around the corner), and it is delicious. The decor here is lovely, very interesting and rich, with exposed brick, appealing artwork, high ceilings and various rooms and spaces in which to dine. There is also a back courtyard, where we've heard music and had drinks before, that is very pretty. Our service is always attentive and friendly, and we have no complaints. If you want to come here on a weekend (or really any night) do yourself a favor and make a reservation. It's deservedly very popular and you can't always get a table without a long wait. They are open all day on Saturday, and when we have the opportunity, we like to come for an early dinner. The booths are comfortable and intimate. We love Mike's Place!
(4)Ashley T.
My favorite place in Conway, hands down! I havent ever had anything bad here. A bit of a splurge because it can be expensive, but worth every penny!
(5)Lydia K.
What a little gem in Conway. Seafood in Conway? Who knew? Came here based on yelp reviews and was very pleased. The atmosphere is nice, seafood was delicious, and the service was friendly and timely. I recommended Mike's Place to my family that live in Little Rock. It's worth the drive.
(4)Jeff F.
Ok. I want to like Mike's. The place has warm tones and is generally pleasant to look at. But being the only game in town hasn't help this restaurant the last few times I've eaten there I wasn't super impressed. My last visit prompted me to write a review. I will say that even with a large party we were promptly seated which is always nice. But from there on in things went down hill. The waiter brought the bread plates out and set them on the table. But we didn't get the bread until we had finished our appetizers. Never a good sign. Eventually the man with one eye showed up with bread and apologized it was late. We never saw the one eyed man again. At the heart of the issue was the inconsistency of the meals and service. Several members of our parties had ordered the seafood crepe and it looked like the meal had been created by four different chefs. The sauce/portions were inconsistent plate to plate; one of our party had to share sauce with another guest. On the upside I enjoyed the salad with Bleu Cheese. It was very good and probably the reason Mike's got two stars. My mistake was asking the waiter his recommendation between two meals. He recommended the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux. When the meal arrived it was cold enough that the "creamy" cheese sauce is cold to the touch. This is seriously the first meal I've had to send back in years. I wasn't the only guest at the table that sent the Blackened Chicken Afredeaux back. So while everyone is finishing their meal we finally get our meals back they're only slightly warmer and the rest of the guests have almost finished their meals. In addition, the difference between the portions seemed like a kids meal versus an adult meal. Once again inconsistency raises it's ugly head. Suck. Summing it all up, the word that keeps popping up in this review is "Inconsistent" or some variation thereof. I really do want to like this place; I'm hoping they'll make an adjustment and really check their food for warmth and consistency before delivering it to the customers. (Hopefully I've made grammatical sense here, I tired and I haven't had much sleep.)
(2)John B.
Absolutely wonderful all the way around and worth driving from Little Rock to try. Everything on the menu can be recommended, and it's one of the few places around Conway where one can have an adult beverage with his/her meal. The lemon drop martinis are generous and about the best I've ever tasted. Almost worth going for alone. It's nice to see Conway has this going for it.
(5)Donna B.
Great food. Been wanting to try this place for a while. We kept seeing food taken to other tables and second guessing our choices but we were not disappointed. The pork chops were succulent and the raspberry chicken very yummy. Will definitely return to try other items.
(4)Kellie M.
I love the atmosphere of Mike's Place. It's not too fancy but a very nice, clean place to eat. The prices aren't that high and the food is good too. Definitely one of my top pics to go to in Conway. The wait staff is usually friendly and it's just a nice place to go with the family.
(4)