CONWAY, Ark. — This week we’re going rogue! We visited a locally owned restaurant that’s also a brewery, a winery, and a coffee shop!
Welcome to The Rogue Roundabout in downtown Conway, named appropriately for the city's unofficial mascot, the infamous roundabout.
The Rogue Roundabout began opening in phases in 2018. The vision is that of Chris and Jessica Smith. They dreamed up a unique concept that they felt Conway needed and shared their business plan with friends and community leaders.
That’s when 154 people put their money where their mouth is, literally! The couple rapidly raised over $50,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. This early support propelled their dream into reality.
Craft concoctions are the name of the game here. Whether it’s the beverages, brew, or food, it’s all uniquely handcrafted.
Co-owner Chris Smith describes the menu flare as “nostalgia but with a twist.” Boasting items such as a Reuben sandwich made with pastrami and corned beef, and items like chicken pot pie.
“I wanted to bring classic dishes to life again,” said Amanda Denys, the restaurant's executive chef. “A lot of our menu items are family recipes that were reimagined using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.”
One of the biggest sellers here is the Grit Cakes. These are SCRUMPTIOUS bacon fried grit cakes with smoked gouda, topped with hot honey.
The rice is locally sourced from the Ralston Family Farms in Atkins. Many of the craft beers are also made with rice sourced from the Ralston farm.
Perhaps you’re not a beer connoisseur, but craft wine appeals to you. Smith tells us this year they are focusing on crafting unique wines that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Right now, they are working on pineapple and jalapeno/lime wines.
This weekend, The Rogue Roundabout will begin serving brunch on the weekends.
Their menu and hours of operation can be found on their Facebook. The restaurant is located at 804 Chestnut Street.
