Bean Palace - Rogers, AR

Posted By Michael Stern on May 17, 2010 5:30 AM

A nineteenth-century water-powered grist mill restored in 1973 by Kentucky rifle maker Jewell Medlin and wife Zoe Medlin Caywood, The War Eagle Mill produces corn meal, flour, rye, grits, and cereals. Also on sale are two stories of rustic kitchenware, locally put-up preserves, hard-to-find regional cookbooks, and all sorts of fascinating Ozarkiana, including a collection of patent medicines.

On the third floor of the mill is The Bean Palace, a family-friendly café that offers a taste of country cooking in a hay-loft environment decorated with vintage flour sacks. From March through January, you can breakfast on buckwheat waffles or biscuits with sausage gravy and lunch on cornbread and beans or smoked ham sandwiches on whole-grain bread. The must-eat dessert is cobbler, especially if that day's flavor is multi-berry. Sweet, tart, and more diverse than a fruit stand in August, War Eagle cobbler is served warm and available a la mode with nice French vanilla ice cream. Meals are served on lovely graniteware dishes (for sale on the floor below).

Don’t be surprised if you think you feel the earth move as you dine. The huge mill is just below the dining room; and when it grinds grain, the floor shakes.

Overall Rating

buckwheat waffles

cornbread

Yellow Corn Grits

Beans, Cornbread & Slaw

Millie's Choice

15 out of 16 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By chris blair on August 23, 2011 12:48 PM

I have visited nearby Bella Vista, Arkansas many times, and almost always make the short trip to the War Eagle Mill while I'm there. They have great dry mixes, grains, syrups, jams, local arts/crafts, and much more in the quaint three floor building. Staff is super friendly. Last weekend was the first time I'd eaten at the Bean Palace upstairs, and the pecan and blackberry cobblers were amazing! Definitely making plans to try breakfast and/or lunch there on my next trip.

Overall Rating

Cobbler

1 out of 1 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Steve Monty on July 28, 2010 9:09 AM

War Eagle Mill is a terrific destination for a day trip. My wife and I like to stop there on our way to or from Eureka Springs. The gift shop is great and its a terrific place to just stroll the grounds or have a picnic. The Bean Palace however leaves alot to be desired. First of all, the day we went there we were extremely annoyed at the unfriendly and complacent service. If I want that kind of service I can stay here in Tulsa and get all I want. Secondly, the food left much to be desired. The beans and cornbread were just not very good and isn't this what the Bean Palace is supposed to be famous for??? All in all the mill and grounds are a fun place to visit but plan to eat somewhere else.

Overall Rating

cornbread

Beans, Cornbread & Slaw

1 out of 1 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes