Amanda Banks
tl;dr – Go try this place and get whatever sounds good. Try to save room for dessert!
We had a group of 8, and even with people in front of us in line our food came very quickly. Collectively we tried the chicken schnitzel, banh mi, Caesar salad, Cubano, potato salad, cinnamon roll, and chocolate chip cookies, and we had only positive feedback. Great portion sizes.
I had the chicken schnitzel and it had such wonderful flavors. I think next time I’d ask for extra of all of the toppings, just because they were so good and in my mind it could only be better with more. I also had the brown butter chocolate chip cookie, and it was very good, but I couldn’t help be envious of the amazing looking cinnamon roll that my coworker had. Next time!
… moreAyla June
Wowza!! It was my first time trying this little cafe in the Fayetteville Public Library. I was excited to check it out and was NOT disappointed!
It’s an “order at the counter, served to the table” kinda place.
The menu isn’t very big. The staff were so friendly and helpful (I didn’t know what chow chow was). There are a number of gluten-free and vegan options available. They have some merch, clothing, and small things to sell as well.
The dining area is small and comfortable but it feels large with the tall ceilings and windows and tons of natural light coming in. It was quite a pleasant atmosphere.
I ordered the Ozark Banh Mi sandwich and the Thai salad.
The freshness and quality of the ingredients shocked me beyond my expectations. The first bite was absolutely fantastic (my mouth is watering just thinking about it)!
The flavor blends were perfect!
Ordering was super easy and they brought it to my table pretty quick.
… moreMi2
Found inside the Fayetteville public library, this is a food paradise. If you are vegetarian or vegan – don’t worry – they’ve got you with knock your socks off flavor and options. The atmosphere is bright, friendly, and comfortable.
I highly recommend this wonderful new NWA gem.
… moreAlyssa Burleson
This place is the definition of good vibes. Their chicken sandwich is the best in Fayetteville and I will be dreaming about the rosemary focaccia. 10/10 recommend!
… moreCaylee Mathis
Omg, best chicken sandwich I think I’ve ever had! Everything was so delicious, and my vegetarian husband got one of the vegetarian bowls. He said it was delicious as well.
… moreWendyjean Bennett
This place is a welcome lunch addition to Fayetteville scene. I’ve eaten here twice, first time was veggie sandwich with roasted sweet potato and mummarah. This time was Chicken Pesto sandwich. Everything is excellent here.
… moreTeresa Cornett
I am thrilled that a restaurant has reopened in this unique space in our public library! The atmosphere has been warmed up with the addition of some color, murals, and background music. I’ve only tried a few things on the menu, but can’t wait to try more. Everything I’ve tried is consistently delicious–each part of the dish has wonderful, rich flavor. For example, I had the spinach artichoke grilled cheese sandwich: every layer had flavor, from the bread to the spread, and the tomato soup was rich and just a bit spicy. The owners are collaborative and community minded, with lots of ideas for being creative with the space and their menu. I can’t wait to try more!
… moreJessica Serio
Atmosphere looks great, I bet the food and the service are lovely. Really wish the owners would have considered the total community and those who frequent the library the most: broke college students, young families, and the unsheltered.
I just visited, excited to try the food, and saw that I would be paying $15 for a small sandwich. This is a blow to library patrons of all economic statuses, and for parents of kids who loved going to “the deli” (641.Deli) and being able to get a meal for four at a great price after visiting the children’s library space. I used to be able to buy an amazing chicken curry wrap for $6. Now a main dish seems to be $10-$15. The side dishes and kids’ meals are $7 and under ($7 for a turkey sandwich!). That’s just not “affordable” for many people in the community who want to be fed more than a side dish or only buy a meal for their kiddos. I had hopes that the new place would keep affordability in mind. No luck.
I hope the owners can find a way to put more affordable options on the menu in the future. I get that the times are hard and businesses have to raise prices but it’s still disappointing to see NO options for a decent meal (again, 641.Deli had a $3 bowl of delicious and filling soup), especially since “Hall and Ray told us their plan is to serve ‘accessible, affordable food that is bright and tailored to the space'” according to an interview with Fayetteville Flyer.
… moreJudy Hall
I have been eating Jameson’s food since he was in about second grade and he never disappoints. Handshake is no exception! I had a farro bowl and it was delicious. The pickled red onions, crunchy cucumbers, and toothy perfect grains mixed with fresh greens topped with a generous scoop of whipped feta and hummus and dressed with a tart lemon tahini. WOW! I also had some of the delicious cookies which came in a two pack and were enough to share and still take some home. The snickerdoodle made me feel all the buttery cinnamon comfort and the trail mix is nothing but delicious goodness but makes you feel like you are being healthy. We had a great space to eat, wonderful options to drink. It came fast and the price was good. So proud of this. Go check it out for yourself. I will see you there because I am trying everything on the menu one at a time… I’ll get back you ya on my fav. Let us know which is yours.
… moreJenny Dowd
Delicious! I love this menu, so many veggie and gf options, I actually had a tough time deciding what to try. This time I had the veggie sandwich and it was great, that means a lot coming from a near lifelong vegetarian, it can be hard to impress me with a sandwich! I also appreciated the portion, for me just a sandwich is perfect. I don’t dine out much due to cost, but I will be back!
… more