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When you want to elevate your mood over a good breakfast or lunch (or dinner on the weekend), check out Ella’s Table, located in the Inn at Carnall Hall on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
Who is Ella?
Carnall Hall was built as the state’s first women’s dormitory on the University of Arkansas campus in 1916 and named after Miss Ella Howison Carnall. Miss Ella was an associate professor of English at the University of Arkansas in the late 1880s.
As time marched on, Carnall Hall ceased being a women’s dorm and, according to historical facts found at historichotels.org, was the location of a fraternity, the anthropology department, the geography department and the sociology department.
Today, the Inn at Carnall Hall is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and yes, this is a working inn! Guests can order room service from Ella’s Table (named after Miss Ella), located down the front hallway, pass guest rooms, Lambeth Lounge and across from registration, there is the entrance into Ella’s Table.
More than room service for guests.
After renovations to restore the original building and dedication in 2003, the Inn at Carnall Hall opened, along with Ella’s Restaurant.
I fondly remember the old Ella’s Restaurant as my husband and I would escape the Walmart supplier crowd up north in Bentonville. We often sat silently to hear the conversations around us at Ella’s. It was so refreshing! The vibe was very professor-meets-under graduate-meets-locale-meets-traveling-family-member-visiting-their-college-student.
Ella’s Restaurant went through a refresh about ten years ago and became Ella’s Table. I’m happy to share that the vibe is still the same (except I don’t need to escape from the supplier crowd anymore).
Ella’s Table isn’t just a restaurant for guests at the Inn. It’s available for all of us for breakfast, lunch or a weekend dinner.
Cozy vibe with a touch of elegance.
Historic buildings usually have gorgeous touches of ambiance and charm, and Ella’s Table is no exception. Once you walk through the entrance of the Inn, you are greeted by a massive wraparound porch. Step inside, walk down the long hallway and admire the crown molding and quality workmanship.
Once you pass the hallway, you and your party can meet in the lobby before eating and catching up on the day’s news. Ella’s Table is a place to slow down and enjoy your surroundings.
Let’s eat!
Ella’s Table changes its menu seasonally and features fresh and high-quality ingredients.
Start with breakfast (or weekend brunch) on the lighter side of fruit, granola, avocado toast, or simple sides of egg, toast, country potatoes, and cheddar buttermilk biscuit. Perhaps you want to stop and have a coffee and catch up on your inbox before heading to the office. Or, if your appetite is strong, go all out with traditional breakfast entrees of farmer’s omelets, chilaquiles, or buttermilk pancake stacks.
My usual stop at Ella’s Table is for lunch. I highly recommend jumping on the soup of the day. My latest visit had me head-over-heels over the best-tasting Cream of Asparagus soup I can remember!
Ella’s has large Entrée Salads for lighter and full-on Entrees for heavier appetites. My latest visit had me choosing a Handheld, served with a side of house-cut salt and pepper fries, or garden side salad.
I chose the Avocado Turkey Club (minus the bacon) with house-roasted turkey, heirloom tomato, avocado, butter lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, and sundried tomato aioli on sourdough bread. This is EXACTLY how a sandwich should taste!
Oh, and I barely mentioned those house-cut salt and pepper fries. They are worth the visit, all by themselves.
While it’s been a while since I’ve got to Ella’s Table for dinner, it’s back on my to-do list. Dinner is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. I recommend you call ahead and make a reservation. Then again, that lobby is a pretty sweet setup to relax until your table is ready. Grab a drink across the hall from the Lambeth Lounge, and sit back and take it all in. Thanks, Miss Ella.
Ella’s Table at the Inn at Carnall Hall on the Univesity of Arkansas campus
465 N. Arkansas Av.
Fayetteville AR 72701
479-582-0400, press 3
HOURS:
Breakfast: Monday-Friday – 7 AM – 11 AM
Brunch: Saturday-Sunday – 7 AM – 2 PM
Lunch: Monday-Friday – 11 AM – 2 PM
Dinner: Thursday-Saturday – 5 PM – 10 PM
Room Service for guests at the Inn
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