Monte Ne Inn Chicken

What can I say about Monte Ne Inn chicken. It is the best within at least four states, and right up with the top 10 nationally in my opinion, and that include Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons in Savannah, GA (possibly my #1 but that's a very difficult and complex thing to determine). The restaurant decor at Monte Ne Inn has a lot of antique cooking and everyday farm tools and nostalgic signs, the service is great, and the menu simple -- white meat only or mixed chicken and all the fixings served family style until you are full, then you can add on fresh cobbler w/ ice cream if you've got enough room to handle it! This gem has been operating and excellent for over 50 years!

Definite middle of the road......My wife and I went here for lunch yesterday. It is suggested to make reservations, as this place fills up quickly. We were seated promptly, and served the bean soup which was pretty fantastic. Our server Nathan was attentive and on point for our dining experience. Price was pretty reasonable for a bottomless chicken dinner with all the fixins. When you walk in, there is definitely a lot of history inside this establishment......Main-course wise is a family style chicken dinner, for which you can get more food if you are hungry. Dinner consisted of fried chicken, cole slaw, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and home made bread. The food arrived hot, but the chicken was very very dry. Everything needed salt (I prefer it this way, as I can salt my food to taste but you cannot remove too much salt). The bread was hard to cut, as it was very soft and the knife to cut it was in need of sharpening.

The bean soup is the best. Chicken and sides are really good. Great service staff is super attentive. Not fancy just good food.

First, the positive:1. The service is spectacular! We came not realizing that reservations are suggested; however, they seated us despite being busy. Our waitress was excellent!2. The bean soup and green beans were very flavorful.So why only 2 stars? To start, the menu is extremely limited. Second, this place has been recognized for having the best fried chicken, be it in NWA or Arkansas as a whole; however, I don't understand why. The dark meat was average, nothing to write home about. On the other hand, the white meat was dry. Combine that with bland corn, lackluster mashed potatoes, and unseasoned gravy (seriously, put some salt in it!), and the overall dining experience was unremarkable. At $17.95 per adult, I would expect at least the chicken to have a wow factor, but since it is all-you-can-eat, it's clear that it's about quantity rather than quality.Most of the clientele were past the retirement age, so it seems that the nostalgic factor, combined with local support, keeps this place in business. That's all well and good, but I would dispute the claim that it's Arkansas's "best fried chicken." It's essentially Cracker Barrel with a limited menu.

So other than wait all was wonderful. They do take reservations. We had one and still waited. The soup was a hit and the chicken was fantastic. Usually they have pieces with no bone. The mash potatoes were okay and the corn needed a bit more seasoning. They family style and atmosphere was just was we expected. NWA icon you have to give it a try.

We had a large group on July 3rd eve. We had reservations, were seated right away, and well taken care of the entire meal. Excellent service. All food is served family style all you can eat. A bit over-priced but the price point would be doable if they upped their food quality. Chicken was over cooked and dry, although seasoned well. Corn and green beans were likely from a can. Pinto bean soup was the best thing they served and cobbler were very good but very sweet.

Five stars because there is no option for 10. Monte Ne Inn Chicken is nowhere near the beaten track. The location is well out of the way even for Northwest Arkansas. The building looks like it may have been there for 100 years (it is closer to 50). The restaurant itself feels old, the walls hold all sorts of farm equipment, the fixtures are warn and feel "old cheap". The kind cheap from the mid-1900's that lacked luxury but was built to last indefinitely. As for the food, I am partial to "in-your-face" flavors and am partial to Louisiana fried chicken.And yet...I would hold Monte Ne Inn Chicken up against any Michelin star winner (no matter how many stars) or any other award winning restaurant. It is for this reason that Monte Ne Inn Chicken itself has a pile of awards that seems to continue to grow.Despite being outside my flavor profile preference, I could taste the mastery of their culinary craft in every bite. I say again to highlight the point...mastery! With the chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and bread on the table, my family all picked their favorite dish. No two people picked the same dish and everyone agreed with each others take. Through and through, dish to dish, this meal was phenomenal. The chicken is no doubt the highlight though, cooked to fall-off-the-bone perfection the secret recipe leaves you with the impression that this is how chicken was meant to be cooked.The staff is stand up on your chair and applaud worthy. They are fast, focused, and yet still manage to be cordial and welcoming. It was impressive, from sitting to exiting every detail of our experience was guided by the Monte Ne Inn Chicken staff. Some would say it was clockwork, but it would not be mere clockwork here, it would be master chronometer certified.Let's be honest, it's doubtful anyone would just happen upon Monte Ne Inn Chicken. Most likely, someone recommended it anyone walking through their door. Thus, I feel comfortable summarizing by saying, whoever recommended this place to you isn't lying. They're telling the truth. It is that good.For me, I took my family there with some skepticism, I left with a core memory. 10 out of 5, can't wait until my next visit.

I've been coming to this restaurant for many years and it's always been delicious. Love the servers as always. They really know take care of the customer. Definitely a family friendly place to eat.

The chicken was so-so and the veggies tasted like they came out of a gallon can!Came from the Southwest to visit relatives and asked for them to take us to a great chicken restaurant in the Bentlnville- Roger's area and they took us to Monte Ne Inn. Sorry, I've had better chicken at KFC!

great service and friendly staff! all you can eat chicken and sides. you can't go wrong!