Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Haven 55 is a casual fine dining oasis
Go to Haven 55 for the delicious American Regional cuisine, stay for the view
Haven 55 is set on a cliffside where you can view cascading waterfalls and people over in Campground at the Falls playing in Little Sugar Creek. From the outside, Haven 55 just looks like a charming little mom and pop shop that would be fun to stop by and wander in on a road trip. But inside is where the magic happens. Open the doors and the floor-to-ceiling windows in the back reveal a peaceful oasis. Take a seat, order a drink and relax while the chef prepares everything from scratch.
Haven 55 has only been open since June of 2012, but its history goes way beyond half a decade. The restaurant and Tavern, which opened a year later, is on the site of the old Havenhurst Mill. The mill was built in 1868 and remained in operation until almost a century later when it burned in 1962. Years later the building was made into a restaurant. Executive chef, Alan Bone, decided to lease the building when the opportunity arose and turned it into what is now known as Haven 55.
Chef Bone studied at the Orlando Culinary Academy where he graduated with the highest honor of summa cum laude. When people ask his mother, back office manager Pam Bone, how they were able to get a Le Cordon Bleu chef to come to the small town of Pineville, Missouri, Bone just laughs and replies, “Well, he was born and raised two miles from here.” Chef Bone studied under multiple chefs and worked with professionals for eight years before deciding to move back to his hometown and open up his own restaurant.
The American Regional cuisine nods its head to the chef ’s Le Cordon Bleu experience with its use of sauces in the prepared dishes. One steak is served with a creamy, crumbled bleu cheese sauce for a tender, melt-inyour-mouth experience. Another steak is plated on a wine reduction with shallots for a more savory bite. The chickens can come with delectable sauces as well. One chicken dish, the namesake “Haven 55,” is served with a creamy portobello sauce. Another is served with a wine reduction with artichokes and mushrooms. The prices don’t always match the delicacy of the food either, in the best possible way. One could order a 16 oz. prime cut New York Strip with two sides for only $25 – and the beautiful view of the cascading waterfalls and creek are completely free!
Although the fare is mostly upscale, there are a few southern-style fried foods available
on the menu, like the hand-cut pommes frites, and fried green beans. Every Tuesday Haven 55 has a fried catfish dinner available, which is served as an entire, large filet instead of those small strips individually fried.
The menu is limited with only eight entrees, but Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights have additional dinner menu items added as a special, like the fried catfish on Tuesdays, prime rib on Wednesdays and fresh catch on Fridays. For lunch, customers can try a variety of sandwiches like the Croque Monsieur, a Salmon BLT, and a BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Nothing on the menu is pre-cooked. It’s fresh, and made to order the second a customer decides to get that dish. But nothing worth having comes easy. The meal might take a little longer on busy nights to reach the customer because the chef doesn’t start cooking until it is ordered so that patrons get the freshest meal possible. Because of this, seating is every thirty minutes to ensure the best possible service and food.
Next door to Haven 55, in the same building, is The Tavern, where customers can grab a drink while waiting for a table in Haven 55 or just to wind down. It has more casual bar fare, like burgers and pizza, but even those items will be made with great detail as well.
The Tavern has a large wood fired brick oven to cook pizzas in and a good selection of domestic and imported beer. It is only open Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. To 1:30 a.m., but each night has a special event. On Fridays they have live music and Saturdays are Karaoke night, so come prepared for a great time.
The dictionary definition of “Haven” is a place of safety or refuge. Upon looking at what the Bones have built here, it is understandable why. The serene views and comforting food create an atmosphere unrivaled. So venture on out, drive on up, and find refuge in Haven 55.
Haven 55 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For dinner. To view Haven 55’s lunch and dinner menu, or to find out about any closings and more visit Haven55.com.