Pesto Cafe
1830 N College Ave, Fayetteville, AR, 72703
Pesto Cafe Menu
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Address :
1830 N College Ave
Fayetteville, AR, 72703 - Phone (479) 582-3330
- Website https://www.pestocafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Tiffany Y.
I had high hopes for this place because even though it looks pretty dumpy from the outside, I thought it may be a hidden gem. Well, unfortunately it wasn't. Our waitress was fabulous, but that was about it. At $24 for pesto pasta primavera w/added shrimp, I expect a damn good entree. The portion size lived up to the price and I appreciated that there were lots of veggies which often doesn't happen with pasta primaveras, but the pesto was extra oily and lacked the aromatic basil flavor I was looking for. The lack of flavor would have been more acceptable if the price was about 1/3 what I paid. I won't be coming back.
(2)John R.
Solid lunch experience. Had a veal ravioli primavera that was awesome! I'm a big eater and still had to bring some home. Love the hidden nature of the place and the cool interior. Staff was really nice and food very tasty.
(4)R H.
I have been eating here since 1998 easily over 100 times. In all the times I have eaten there I have only had one bad experience and one average experience. The other 100+ times the meal has been exceptional! I have had everything on the menu at least twice. I would say that my three favorite dishes are the Egg Plant Parm. The Angel By the Sea, and The Seafood Vera Cruz. But you really can't make a mistake. This is Semi "old world" style mixed with a kind of hippie type vibe(food and decor). Service has gotten much better over the years, but don't expect it to be perfect.. As a restaurant owner myself, Pesto Cafe is the #1 local restaurant recommendation that I give for NWA, at my bar or onine.
(5)Bryan S.
Top line: very good, fresh Italian with a fantastic atmosphere (other than the motel). I will be honest, I was dragging my feet to eat Pesto Cafe because of the fact it is near a motel, but that was a big mistake! Inside, Pesto Cafe is very cute, with tons of art/concert poster to look. We ate there on a Thursday night and there was a guitarist playing, which added to the vibe. Service was solid, but the real star was the food. We had a Pizza, which was a fantastic thin crust topped with oodles of toppings (very tasty), and a pasta dish. Not sure if the pasta was made in house, but it was very fresh and tasty, the sauce and toppings were light, fresh and flavorful. Overall, I plan to eat here frequently, and would recommend anyone else to!
(4)Jim C.
Lived in NWA for 5 years and had heard nothing but glowing reviews and finally made it there tonight. The only phrase I think that adequately sums up my experience is "wildly disappointed". The "chicken Marsala" had no Marsala flavor, the salad tasted like they bought it at Sam's Club down the street and the bread was so poor that I passed. For $50 bucks for two, with no drinks, I should of waited another 5 years as this place will likely be closed.
(1)Anna H.
Ate here on a Thursday night. Hole in the wall type place. Busy inside. Tables are very close together. When I sat down at our table I could have laid my head on the shoulder of the person sitting behind me. Pretty loud, had to yell to hear others at our table. Live band playing in the corner (two guys playing bluesy guitar stuff). Had the spinach artichoke dip for an appetizer. Comes with garlic bread. The dip had lots of artichokes. I hate it when places skimp of the artichokes and have mostly all spinach. Everyone at our table loved the dip. Meals come with cesar salad. This in my opinion was these worst part of the meal. Mine tasted like wet lettuce with parmesan cheese. No flavor of dressing at all. I had the fettuccine Alfredo. It came in a frying pan. Huge portion. Very rich and cheesy. Just what you want when you order Alfredo. Someone else at the table ordered the lasagna and it looked good, it was huge and had spaghetti on the side. Lots of meat in the lasagna if you are a meat person. They also have veggie options. Someone ordered the pasta primavera and it had lots of good veggies on it. Overall good experience. Was a little loud, not good for conversations. Salad was bad. Actual meal was very good.
(3)Thomas W.
This place is excellent. The service was friendly and the food is off the meters! I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)Flora P.
Amazing every time. Best Italian in NW Arkansas, hands down. Cozy place with good atmosphere. Usually pretty noisy, but worth it to me because of the consistent, top quality food. Reasonable prices for what you get. I always have leftovers.
(5)Emily F.
Always love the food at Pesto!! Garlic bread and salad are ok, but mains (pizza, pasta, etc) never disappoint!! My family favorites are the Rebecca's pie and the pesto pasta. They have a good wine list too!
(5)Jordan G.
Based on the glowing reviews I've seen on here and other sites I was extremely disappointed. Atmosphere: If you're expecting an intimate Italian atmosphere don't. Atmosphere is good for the "keep Fayetteville funky" mood but not what I was looking for in Italian. Service: The people there were kind and polite. Appetizer: Bread was about the only redeeming quality other than service that this restaurant had. Sliced baguette toasted with a side of butter and garlic. Basic but decent. Salad was at least crisp but the dressing very watery and bland. Meal: Had the chicken parmesan. I must ask who is the manufacturer because it reminded me of a TV dinner. The breading was soggy and about the only distinguishable flavor was the twangy sour flavor in the sauce. I just had a hard time stomaching the food. I believe I read in another review that the choice of local Italian around here is anemic which is pretty accurate. If I want fresh Italian I'll be hitting up the chains or cooking at home.
(1)DANE E.
I still love this place but I think the good is slipping a little bit. Not sure if it's me or if they changed chefs but I've been so shay less than satisfied with the last few meals here. I'll keep coming hoping for the manic to come back.
(4)Gino A.
I asked for a reco at the hotel and they highly recommend Pesto Cafe. We enjoyed the experience, but were a little concerned when we drove up then through the no-tell motel parking lot. It was better once we entered and I enjoyed the atmosphere. Service was excellent. The food was very good. Two of us had the Chicken Milano. Made a substitution with no problem. Only down side, it was a little expensive. None of us finished our meals (my Italian Aunt would NOT happy "Mangia, MANGIA!") so that tells me they are serving too much food.
(4)Eve S.
This is one of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that has great food and a funky atmosphere. I love the eggplant Parmesan and the dinner salad is made with romaine and a nice dressing. It is a real find.
(4)Candace G.
When you drive past Pesto Cafe it looks super shady being in a motel parking lot. The only reason I stopped by was because a friend recommended it . The inside is small but significantly nicer. Food was very good, but the service could have improved. I got the cheese tortellini in alfredo sauce with artichoke hearts added; I would definitely reccomend it. It seemed a little heavy but that is to be expected with a cream based sauce. The serving was enough for me to make two good sized meals out of it. My friend got a pizza and also loved it. The pizza was enough for three small meals. The bread before the meal wasn't great but I really didn't mind. I felt like my drink was empty several more times than I would have expected which was mildly frustrating. The entire staff was friendly though, so maybe I was just drinking fast. It isn't the best Italian food I have eaten in my life, but for the area it is pretty good. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Chris L.
Overrated. Heard a lot of great things about this place, but found the experience disappointing. The food is mediocre at best, service just ok, and the price high for what they offer. Bordino's is a much better bet, and may literally only cost an additional $5 per guest. If you're in Bentonville, stick with Tavola. Overall, the only positive I can share about Pesto Cafe is the decor, always nice to find a restaurant with posters of Jerry Garcia and Johnny Cash hanging in the dining room!
(2)Leandra A.
Mediocre at best. Had a hair in my salad and food is overpriced for the quality. Flavorful but sauce drowned the food and seafood was overcooked.
(3)Brenda-David L.
I do not understand why people rave about this place!! Have been four times and not impressed at all; bland over cooked pasta. Tasteless sauces, bread hard and salads warm. As for the person who said it had a romantic atmosphere - hmmmm it is apart of a parking lot of a dumpy motel - kind of scary to me - not romantic at all unless you pay by the hour.
(2)Anissa T.
For the area, it is a good option. Compared to an area rich in Italian options, it would only be fair. Good - beer and wine options are pretty respectable in selection and reasonably priced for the small venue. The entrees I've tried were the Rigatoni pesto which was very different - more creamy than expected for pesto, yet not cream based. Hard to describe - but I loved it! I also had plain angel hair with pesto and artichoke hearts and enjoyed it. My husband had chicken parmesean and I agree that the marinara was much better than the many other local places who over-sweeten it. Desserts have all been good. Music is usually enjoyable. The Ok - salad and bread are completely unremarkable. 2 top tables are elbow to elbow and getting whacked in the head with a purse is common. Parking is usually awful during busy times. Service can be good, but a little inconsistent. Prices are a few dollars more than I would expect, but would gladly pay without a thought if they would improve the quality/selection of bread/salad included with the entrees.
(4)Thomas B.
I was hoping the food and the service was better than it was, but unfortunately, I was left sadly disappointed on both fronts. I came here after reading some decent reviews about this place, and hearing about it from some of the people I know down here. And sure enough, I was craving Italian food tonight, so I came to Pesto Cafe, but there wasn't anything special about this experience at all. In fact, it was downright disgusting. I walked into Pesto Cafe and asked for a seat. Immediately, the experience turned awkward when someone asked me "How many?", I told the person, then they went to another table to do something, then someone else asked me "How many?", and sat me. I immediately felt like there was a lack of communication in the restaurant. After I sat down, I ordered my drink, but rather than confirming what I said, the waitress went to the back after hearing me, I suppose. I should mention that the person who ended up waiting on me was the person from earlier who asked me "How many?", but then left without seating me and seemed distracted. After she left, I took some time to look over the menu. The menu is not too large, but when the waitress came back, I had to ask for more time. The selection on the menu was small, the menu items were a bit different than I ever saw in an Italian restaurant, the menu read more like a review of their own menu items than descriptions of their menu items (I remember one saying something like "This menu option is a refreshing, light choice", even though all menu items except for the salad and pizza come with angel hair pasta, and pasta is not light), and ... nowhere on the menu were meatballs!!! I mean seriously, how could an Italian restaurant not offer any dishes with meatballs? Strike 1. This alone had me tell the waitress, when she came back with my drink, that I needed more time to look at the menu (I didn't know what to order due to almost all offerings being different than the traditional Italian restaurant.) Eventually, I settled on the chicken Parmesan. Each entree came with a Caesar salad and bread. Eventually, my salad and bread arrived. The salad had Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and croutons, but something was missing on it flavor-wise. Even worse, however, was the fact that the bread looked and tasted like it came from a garlic bread box found in the grocery's frozen aisle. Strike 2. And then, there was the chicken Parmesan. It was lacking flavor, did not taste like it was fried correctly (the breading had no taste to it), and if it were not for the angel hair pasta that was served with it, I would not have eaten any more of my entree after having one bite of the chicken Parmesan. Now, for the service. Two major issues happened during the course of the meal. First, while I was at my table, one of the waitresses there was trying to move some tables together to seat a party of eight or so. While she was moving the tables, the waitress yelled "That is gross!", referring to most likely something she either saw on or near the tables while she was moving them. A restaurant employee saying something like that, at least where the customers can hear them, should never happen. Thanks to me hearing that, I was thinking that there was some sort of health code violation here that needed to be looked into, and started to wonder about the food that I was about to be served. Also, my waitress seemed to be in her own world the majority of the time I was being waited on: after my dislike of the food, she asked me if I wanted a box, I said "no", making it quite apparent that I was ready to leave, but for some reason, she refilled my drink right after I said that. Why would someone even think about refilling a drink after the customer made it clear that they are ready to leave? Strike 3...you're out!!! I never thought that I would give a 1-star review to anything, but Pesto Cafe has earned it. There are much better options for Italian food in the Northwest Arkansas area, and for that matter, places that actually serve their customers decently and have true Italian food. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of food I was served at Pesto Cafe.
(1)Justin L.
Good food, nice staff, and big portions. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the atmosphere was warm inside.
(4)Cassie M.
Ventured here with some friends before a show at the WAC. Sometimes you just know that these little "dive" places in crappy no star motels will be good. This one is not really. I'm somewhat surprised by all the good reviews. Trying to eat healthy and low carb is difficult here because pasta is about all you can order. Seeing that they had "grilled chicken" pasta dishes, I inquired whether the kitchen could accomodate me ordering a grilled chicken breast and adding a side of veggies perhaps or stick to salad. I was informed by the waitress that they don't grill anything. It all comes in bags and they just put it together in the kitchen. So is the sauce you speak off from a jar? I envision a hot plate in the back whipping up these "authentic" dishes. I ended up with a flat bread pizza and limited toppings to spinach, "that bagged chicken", tomatoes and pesto. It was marginal. Not sure you will get me back here.
(2)Rick S.
Disappointed! Waitress was in cut offs and tshirt while the rest of the patrons were dressed nice but casual. Food is overpriced and bland. Appetizer was soupy and served Luke warm. Terrible waitress with a sour expression and bad food. Not returning
(1)J J.
Fabulous service! Fabulous food- best marinara sauce in NWA! Filtered water, so good coffee and you're not drinking chlorine.
(5)Kelli H.
As good as it gets! Cozy little restaurant with red and white plastic tablecloths and warm atmosphere. Our waitress was outstanding! Friendly, happy to believe, attentive, and open to giving her favorites and customer favorites. I had the Chicken Milano and it was incredible. Sauteed chicken medallions in a unique blend of organically grown shiitake mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. The mushrooms are locally grown and very good in taste. The sundried tomatoes were rich and robust in flavor. It was all served over angel-hair pasta with a creamy tomato sauce that was to wonderfully tasting. The entire dish was so good and each item was delicious and I tended to eat one item at a time because all had such unique flavor. A also had the pear frangelico for dessert and it was just too good. the pear was delicate and the the entire dessert was creamy and not too sweet. I will definitely be going back.
(5)John C.
Everyone recommends this restaurant. Been there twice and both times walked away disappointed. They try to deliver a home made experience, but you ould think a restaurant with this much history would do a btter job of perfecting the basic dishes like Chicken Parm. This place is barely a cut above your typical chain restaurants in the area.
(1)Samuel D.
The food and service at Pesto are great! Been enjoying the food there for years. Only downside is that the building is small and can get noisy.
(5)Frank E.
I let my facebook friends know I was heading to Fayetteville, and asked for some suggestions. Considering their suggestion last time I asked was great, I figured they would not steer me wrong again. And I was not disappointed in this suggestion either. Pesto Cafe is one of those places that if you were to just base your opinion on the exterior of the establishment, you may continue to drive by and never give it a try. And as many foodies have found out, looks can be deceiving. I can honestly say that I have driven by this business many times, going about my daily tasks with my head down. It is a very unobtrusive structure, that just doesn't jump out and yell at the top of its lungs "Stop and try the food!". The interior of the cafe is very cozy and as the waitress mentioned, eclectic. There is a definite music theme going on here, with many photos of various musicians that have been to their establishment. I found myself wondering around looking over the nicnacs and photos after I ordered my meal. Due to a tight schedule, I did not have time to try a variety of the menu items but I picked one that I felt would represent the ability of the chef and quality of the product. Their menu is very simple and straight forward offering I would guess about three dozen dishes, and their wine selection and drink menu has ample choices for most any taste. I can tell you first hand that I would much rather be in a dining establishment that has a fewer number of offerings and know how to do them well, than a large and cumbersome offering that they can not execute. I went for their "Angel by the Sea". Which consisted of sauteed shrimp, scallops, salmon, and bell peppers in a white wine based pink sauce over angel hair pasta. The cost of the dish was $13.50, and came with a simple green salad and bread. Scallops are easily undercooked or overcooked, and these were just perfect. The shrimp were cooked well as was the salmon. The salmon tasted very fresh and had no hint of that "fishiness" you can get sometimes in this kind of dish. The peppers were cooked perfectly, and the angel hair pasta was great. So all in all, this dish was a winner! I would strongly suggest this cafe to anyone, take the time to go by there and try their food. The service was good, my waitress stayed on top of my drink. The restrooms were clean, and overall the interior of the establishment was a very "neat" experience. I could have easily spent another hour there just checking out all the photos and decorations. Read the rest of the review on our website.
(5)Brent M.
Fairly average Italian restaurant. I had the mussels and angel hair dish that came highly recommended by our server, but which was underwhelming in the end. The experience wasn't helped by the slow-ish service, but it has to be said that the staff was very friendly. Given the mediocre ambiance and food, I also found it to be overpriced. Maybe this place rates more highly given the lack of options in the area, but for anyone that has had really good Italian, it's hard to feel anything more than 'meh' about Pesto Cafe.
(3)Steve H.
Not bad. Flavors are not bright and crisp, more like over-simmered and homestyle-like. Try Tavola in Bentonville for VERY good Italian this far from NY/RI/MA.
(3)Jennifer C.
Good food. Salad was a little wilted. Bread was stale but tossed nicely with good seasoning. Chicken parm was good sauce was a little on the acidic side. Raviolis were delicious no complaints there. Garden veggies were nicely toasted and had a nice amount of sauce. Service was good. Would recommend for a nice lunch. Cozy atmosphere.
(3)Micah C.
Tasty. Kinda loud. Definitely share a plate.
(3)Lesley S.
The Pesto Cafe's rep is built upon the whole experience rather than the food. It's a tucked-away little hippie cafe with paintings of shrooms everywhere and plants astray with the windows decked in Indie cloth. Have a glass of wine and chill. The salad is my favorite item. The bruchetta is very good. The rest of the entrées that I've tried are just "ok"...and kind of all taste the same. Sorry, but the food is nothing special...and it's overpriced for the food value. If you have a few more glasses of wine, you might start to really enjoy your meal. The best Italian is at the Olive Garden or Noodles...still waiting for a local joint to beat the chain.
(3)ranchomic S.
My girlfriend Jill introduced me to the Pesto Cafe. Very Very good! Be early to avoid the wait. Minestrone would be a nice addition to this Italian menu. Mike Simas, Rancho Murieta , California
(4)Tiffany C.
Excellent little restaurant that serves great Italian fare. My dining companion got the Full Moo Pizza, which was very interesting, but tasty. I ordered the chicken picatta, but have to say I was surprised. The dish, albeit delicious, was unlike any other picatta I've ever had. It was doused in shitake and button mushrooms, the earthiness of which overpowered the gentle lemon sauce it's supposed to have. And where were the capers? It was still very good, though, and I would come back here again. They have live music, which may or may not be your thing.
(4)Kathy K.
Nice atmosphere, wish I had gone to olive garden instead.
(2)Jeri F.
This is one of my husband's favorite restaurants. I too, enjoy it. Very quaint, unique atmosphere. The food is fresh. They do a great business and the waitresses are always on the go...yet still provide customer service. I especially like their pizza.
(4)Rick A.
Daughter graduated last week (Go Razorbacks!), took our group here after the ceremony, 8 of us. Been here before, loved it, and also did not disappoint this time either. Each person in our group ordered something different; not one of us had anything critical to say; fantastic food (plenty of it), great service, great atmosphere. A hidden gem of a little restaurant; you'll pass it if your not paying attention. Save a little room for the cheesecake also; fantastic.
(5)Taylor W.
Nice nostalgic Italian place. My fiance and I always get an appetizer and split one entree (since they're so large). It's atmosphere and ambiance makes it great for a romantic dinner, and there's live music on Sunday evenings. You can also sit at a bar and have a drink if you just want to enjoy the place and music without buying a meal. Oh, and you can't make reservations so expect to wait in line if it's busy because it's a local favorite.
(4)Ben T.
I'm from the East Coast, lived in NY, NJ, San Francisco, blah blah blah. So I have to look at the big picture and not rate this place solely on what other anemic Italian options there are in the area. Everyone in the area raves about this place, and it came highly recommended by anyone I've talked to. It's solid, but not spectacular. Let's not get crazy. Bottom line: If I was back in Hoboken, and it was a 5-block walk to get to this place, I'd eat here occasionally (that's intended to be praise). But there would definitely be better options nearby and I might pass by it just as often for a place that was 8 blocks away, but had better food. It would depend on how much I felt like walking that day. That said, it's far superior to the 2 other comparable Italian places I've been to in the area (Mama Z's and Bella Napoli - My review is around here somewhere). I won't compare it to Bordino's because it doesn't aspire to be "fine dining", it's more of a rustic Italian place. The good: Service is extremely friendly, like I'm finding out is really the norm here in NWA. I had the chicken parm, which was pretty tasty, and what I would consider above average. I know it's hard to fry chicken, cover it with tomato sauce and cheese, and have it taste bad. The red sauce was better than any I've had so far down here. Other places put sugar in it (I think) and it's super sweet. I don't care for it. This was more of a traditional, tangy red sauce that I'm accustomed to. The linguine is made to order and isn't bad. Entree portions were a good size for the price ($15-$20 range). They had a nice wine list, compared to other restaurants in the area. The Caesar salad that comes with the meal was really good, if you overlook the rock-hard croutons. They have live music, and at 7 PM a Willie Nelson impersonator (I shit you not) started setting up his gear. We didn't stick around for that, but I bet it was pretty freakin' awesome. Here's what I think is not so good (some of these are minor): The location is horrendous for several reasons. First, it's attached to a run-down motel, and the parking setup is terrible. We didn't have trouble this time because we came at 5, but the parking has kept us from eating here in the past. Cars can't get past each other. You sit there waiting for someone to pull out, but they can't pull out because you're sitting there. It's hard to explain, but this is the #1 reason I usually steer clear. No bread on the table. This is blocking and tackling for any Italian restaurant. True, meals do come with garlic bread, but some bread with oil/balsamic for dipping should be a given. The menu was missing a few standards in my opinion (like penne bolognese, or a simple pasta dish with meatballs for instance. Come to think of it, I don't think there was anything with meatballs even on the menu.). Also, no veal on the menu. So no veal saltimbocca, no veal Parmesan, no veal milanese, no veal piccata. So I like veal. The garlic bread that accompanied the meal was more like herbed than garlic, and it was hard. Almost like a dried sponge. I can typically devour a loaf of decent garlic bread, but I didn't even eat a whole slice of mine. We had a Caprese salad that was just OK. They skimped on the razor-thin slices of fresh mozzarella, and the tomatoes were a little limp. All in all, a serviceable option and I don't think we'll find anything better in this area - so we'll come back.
(3)Stacy G.
Good pizzas and like the red sauce. White sauce was just ok. Nice wines.
(4)Cathy C.
When I first moved here, everyone from my office recommended Pesto Cafe. It took me a year before I actually ate there, and I'm disappointed that I waited so long before trying it. The food and wine are delicious, and the dinners are a great value. You get a Cesar salad and bread with each meal. My favorite is angel hair pasta with meat. The serving sizes are huge. I usually end up having 1 or 2 more servings as leftovers. The restaurant is small and is in an obscure location since it is next to a beat up motel, but don't be discourage by it. The average wait is about 30 minutes, which is a pretty long time for Northwest Arkansas. However, it is totally worth the wait! Since my first time here, I have taken 3 other people and each one of them have expressed the same love I do for this place. This is definitely one of Northwest Arkansas's best mom & pop restaurant.
(5)Brian M.
Solid Italian food. Some of the best, if not the best, in the area. Would've gotten 5 stars if it weren't for the location. Ambience: This is a cool little restaurant once you find it and get inside. It's got walls filled with kitschy trinkets and memorabilia, mostly music-related, and it's kept dimly lit. Live music is a regular bonus, and I understand that Lucinda Williams was a regular here before she hit it big (her father was a professor at the University of Arkansas). Would be a nice place to go for a date if you're looking for interesting, laid-back atmosphere. It's pretty small inside, though, so it can get full quickly. Food: This is good, home-made style Italian. Nothing fancy. I had the lasagna (yeah, so shoot me), and it was some of the best I've ever had. It comes in a large amount, though, and I was unable to eat it all despite it being darn good. It seems to be a small kitchen, so I imagine it's really moving when the joint is full. That also means that if you have a large group, it may take a little bit to get the food to the table. Seems to be made from scratch. No one at the table was disappointed in the slightest in the food quality, and most of them were out-of-towners who hadn't heard about this place before (myself included). Service: Service was good. We had a larger group (about 10) and it took a bit to get us wedged in there. The waitress was spot-on, though, and constantly attentive. We had a couple of late arrivals, and they worked them in without a hitch (they were anticipated). Location: This is the only real problem. It's basically the attached restaurant to a low-rent motel (Chief Motel). Looks like something off of Route 66 five decades ago from the outside. That means that there are about 4 parking spaces dedicated to the restaurant and the rest of them are for the hotel rooms. The lot is U-shaped and very tight to navigate, so you're likely to end up parking across the street at the A-Q Chicken House. It's conveniently located right next to an army surplus store, too! Perhaps this is the way they like it. Keeps away the non-locals. For the price, though, you'd think they'd have nicer digs. Price: This is a little pricey. Dinner for two would run under $30-40 on average plus tip. Not something you'd do regularly. Overall, definitely a recommend. Wish they were in a better location, so I docked it one star.
(4)L F.
Nothing special about the food here. Straight forward Italian American food. Nothing Italy about it. Nothing inventive either. I had the chicken parm, served with a giant pile of dry angel hair pasta under a heap of chunky acidic sauce. Chicken was dry and the breading was soggy, cheese baked on hard, loaded on top with said sauce. Included caeser salad to start, bottled dressing, bowl of fake shredded parm on the side, homemade croutons however were a nice touch. My husband had the alfredo which was loaded with stringy mozzerella cheese, light instead of heavy cream and topped with fake shredded parm. $30 later, we left feeling plastic full and wishing we hadn't spent the money. It wasnt terrible, just boring and like any other cliche cheesy Italian restaurant. Red and white checked tablecloths to boot. Fayetteville can do better.
(2)Jeff C.
We're relatively new to town (moved from Chicago six months ago) but Pesto's is one of our favorites already. Friendly, local, and delicious. You can't go wrong on your order, but be warned, once you've had the Alfredo, you may never consider anything else.
(4)Chris S.
Hands down wonderful fettuccini and service. Prices a tad high, but overall pleased. They could teach ALL the local businesses how to treat their customers!
(4)Lisa N.
Being in town temporarily, I asked a friend for some suggestions on a local restaurant to eat. This was the first place she suggested...and I'm glad she did. Pesto Cafe is located right next to a sketched out motel in the shape of a horse shoe. it's a casual restaurant with lots of character. The tables are lined with checkered style table covers while the walls are lined with signed photographs of famous peeps and colored lights. I felt overdressed given that we were having a late dinner and I was heading downtown afterwards... I would describe this place as modest, but tasty. There isn't any fancy garnish and the plates were plain white. By the looks of other tables, my date and I figured the portions were huge so we opted to share our meal. We ordered an appetizer of tomatoes/mozzarella/pesto eaten with bread, Caesar salad, some sort of chicken pasta, and tiramisu. We racked up a grand spankin' bill of 30 bucks. Hmm...not bad. The quality of food was actually surprising. There's no hanky panky about it...Pesto Cafe lets all of their food do the talking. One star off for their service and lay out. I hate sitting at teeny tables and having to flag down servers for straws. Meh. Otherwise, my dinner was rather enjoyable.
(4)Brandi R.
I love this restaurant and have since around 1997 or so when it opened. While I admit they have gone through some bumps in the road and on a rare occasion, the food won't be quiet as good as it usually is, I still am a loyal customer and dine here any chance I get. I've lived in Las Vegas and Dallas and still, when I'm asked what my favorite Italian Restaurant is, it's always Pesto Cafe in Fayetteville. They offer an atmosphere I haven't found anywhere outside of Fayetteville. My faves are the vegetable lasagna, fettucini alfredo (omg so good, i've never ordered it but have stolen many bites) and their pizzas. YUM!
(5)Jim S.
Best Italian place in Northwest Arkansas. Definitely a local place. Good consistent service. Food always great. We usually eat the lasagna (best around town) and eggplant Parmesan is superb. Great Cesar salads. The thin crust gourmet pizzas are really yummy.
(5)Kari J.
Love it! You know what they say, if you drive past a "hole in the wall" and the parking lot is always full, it must be good. Pesto Cafe delivers that promise and has been a favorite of mine since I was old enough to drive to Fayetteville by myself. Can't go wrong with delicious Italian food. Try the eggplant parmesean it's the best.
(5)Jenn X.
Great service, but some of the food can unintentially present as "deconstructed'. Stay simple with your orders, when I go back I'll have a basic pizza. If you like large portions (as I imagine some do in this college town) then you will like Pesto Cafe.
(3)Alured P.
Despite being in a run down hotel, amazingly good food. My only problem is that I discovered it shortly before leaving Fayetteville.
(5)Dany C.
I have had mixed luck with Pesto Cafe. I had wonderful Fettucinni one time, and when I went back for more a few months later, it was soupy and not very flavorful. I would like this place a lot more if it weren't connected to one of the sleaziest motels in Fayetteville.
(3)Ellen M.
I guess I will have to give it a 2 star rating for several reasons. It is good that the pasta is made fresh but bad that it will more than half the time be over-cooked and swimming in a plate of greasy water/ sauce. I would prefer some of the liquid to be drained before being served. Another problem is temperature control. Be prepared to wear long sleeves and a jacket any time of year. It's like an icebox in there and every time a ceiling fan will be going full blast. It makes no difference to the staff who are parading around in tacky cut-off shorts. I have no problems with legs showing just would like a dressier look. With that said, they have quite a large staff of young ladies and the place is filthy. Dead bugs and dust are an inch thick on the window sill. Food is all over the floor. I can only imagine how dirty the kitchen may be. The owner seems to be more than a little lax. The chairs are wobbly and tables too close to each other. I think the place needs a good cleaning and better yet a makeover. The restaurant is connected to a junky motel. It looks like a rent by the hour type. The parking is tight. I don't drink much but I did see a good wine list selection. That may compensate for the short comings to some of you out there. I have been there a couple of times the past year and it is going down hill each time so I probably won't eat there again. I like my own cooking better. Speghetti and meatballs are one of my favorites and it's nowhere on the menu. I hope the owner will take notice of this review and make some changes. NWA needs a good Italian restaurant. For those of you willing to ignore the filthy environment, I'd suggest just closing your eyes when you put the food in your mouth or drink a lot of wine.
(2)carol s.
Really great service, cute atmosphere, terrible food. This is more of a throw-it-on-the-plate pasta house - Definitely not a true Italian restaurant. Pasta watery and over-cooked (can imagine fully-cooked bins of it in the back awaiting toppings), "pesto" also diluted and tasteless. Veggies in veggie pasta reduced to mush. Bread was hard and not worth eating. Too bad!
(1)K T.
Really disappointing for me as an Italian from NJ. The pizza wasn't really even pizza, more like flatbread. Service was good though and the caesar salad was ok. I think while I'm living here I'll stick to the pasta I make at home.
(2)Stephen F.
Pleasant and fun staff, alfredo and pizza were very tasty and plentiful.
(4)William G.
I don't eat much Italian but if I did this would be my place, at least as far as Fayetteville is concerned. I've eaten here a couple of times when others were craving and have had a good experience. It is in all honesty 4 star food but the fact that it's in a sketched out motel and the prices are still a bit high is cause enough for me to detract one.
(3)Sue M.
OKay, but everything tends to taste the same. Save your money for Bordino's
(3)