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It will take you less than a second to realize that LOUISE embraces all things aviation. The first observation is quite obvious. LOUISE is located within the FIELDHOUSE of Bentonville’s Municipal Airport, a city-owned, public-use airport. General Manager, Kyle Haggard says, “When we opened up, we were the first partner to open. It’s really come alive now that our friends and family have moved in.” And by “friends and family,” he means a flight school, an exhibition hangar, an FAA knowledge-testing center, scenic flights, discovery flights, lawn games, fuel, provisions, and biking trails.
Thaden FIELDHOUSE is one of the only fixed-base operators in the country that is accessible by the community and the airport. The intention of LOUISE was to bridge the community with the world of aviation. LOUISE is your classic diner-style restaurant yet is elevated to some extent. Kyle shared that the purpose of the restaurant was to “be an everyday diner that can put up great food, remember you and your family and be part of the ‘hood, in a good way.”
Who was LOUISE?
LOUISE is named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979) who was born and raised in Bentonville and was one of the greatest aviators of her time. LOUISE’s website states, “Her pioneering and innovative spirit will inspire all of our guests who dine with us.”
LOUISE is unique.
There is nothing quite like this restaurant. Not only does it provide feel-good home cooking, but also allows you to experience views that you can’t see anywhere else. Seating in the dining room overlooks the apron, a parking lot for small planes flying to Bentonville. And yes, some fly in just to grab a delicious bite. This is one of the reasons why you will see the $100 Burger on the menu – not because it actually costs one hundred dollars – but because the aviation joke that it will cost one hundred dollars in airplane fuel to fly in and grab a burger! For the rest of us, the $100 Burger will cost just 11 dollars and a free view.
What should you order at LOUISE?
LOUISE is redefining breakfast tacos and Hippee Hash, an extremely popular vegetable and egg hash. That $100 Burger is always a favorite for lunch as well as the Chicken Club. If you’re leaning toward something less heavy, the Kale Melt vegetarian sandwich has mad reviews!
Dinnertime is focused on home-cooked meals from meatloaf to chicken-fried steak to vegetable lasagna. It’s also a different type of feel as it is quieter and more intimate with lighting and the sun setting. LOUISE is not formal, but dinner has more of a formal feel than earlier in the day. They have published nightly specials and the regulars come back weekly for Tuesday pork tenderloin, Wednesday roast beef, Thursday baby back ribs, Friday catfish and Saturday chicken pot pie. Kyle loves the regulars and says, “Regulars look forward to the nightly specials. They love coming in and having that place that reminds them what they would’ve eaten with their families back in the day.”
LOUISE serves classic cocktails and unique aviation-themed drinks such as Mail Plane, Overnight Layover, Barnstormer, and the VBT – a refreshing vodka basil tonic that just happens to be named after the Thaden Fieldhouse airport code.
A happy place
“If you look in on breakfast/brunch at the six tables by the window, each table will have high chairs and the kids are happy as can be watching the planes come in,” says Kyle. “There is something for everyone and all ages who enjoy the sights. We are lucky to have that here at LOUISE.”
Whether you arrive by plane, foot, bike or car… LOUISE is a happy place that is waiting for you to stop by.
Bentonville
2205 SW I St. Suite 100
Bentonville, AR 72712
479-250-0477
Located in The Fieldhouse at Thaden Field
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
-Breakfast 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
-Lunch 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
-Dinner 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
-Brunch 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-Dinner 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
*Kitchen closed 2 p.m.-3 p.m., bar remains open
Sunday: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
-Brunch 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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