Bar Cleeta

Wow! Incredible food, hospitality, and vibe. A friend who used to be the Executive Chef at Crystal Bridges said Cleeta was a must and he wasn’t wrong! The Green Goddess Salad is a show-stopper and great to share amongst 2-3 people. The tarragon in the dressing really elevates this dish. Oysters – Solid choice. I did half east and half west coast. Chicken Croquettes… excellent starter and comes with 2, so order more if you’re with a larger party. Everyone deserves to sample this. Pozole Verde Campanelle – Lovely pasta dish. I’m a sucker for anything with Manchego. Six Day Wagyu Brisket – This dish was delicious, but not our favorite. Not because anything was bad, but the other dishes seemed to outshine this one. Next time I’ll go for the Grilled Quail or Pastrami Lamb Ribs. Overall, highly recommend Bar Cleeta. Staff was incredible, attentive and knowledgeable. Go hungry and with a group. Order as many items as possible. 😂 Be sure to make a reservation by emailing them. Do this several days ahead to allow for the email correspondence. Note that they are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

As a real estate advisor in Northwest Arkansas and a self-proclaimed foodie, I’m always on the lookout for great local spots to recommend to clients and friends. Bar Cleeta is an absolute gem in Bentonville! With a combined experience from NYC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, Trae and Weisi Basore have truly brought a slice of culinary excellence to Northwest Arkansas. The food is outstanding—creative, perfectly balanced, and delicious. Every dish is crafted with precision and attention to detail, delivering a dining experience that rivals top restaurants in big cities. Beyond the food, the service is impeccable. The staff is warm, knowledgeable, and attentive, making you feel like you're their top priority. It's rare to find a restaurant where both the food and service are equally amazing, but Bar Cleeta delivers on all fronts. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a high-end dining experience in Bentonville!

*Unpleasantly Surprised* Preface: This cornerstone restaurant nestled in Bentonville houses a buzzing restaurant with pricey food and an extensive drink list. Even though it is a staple in the neighborhood, I was disappointed in both the food and service execution. Food: I ordered Duck Rillette, Beef Tartare, and the Sobermesa cocktail. The duck rilette was something new i hadn't had and was interesting, with the cocktail being strong yet refreshing. The beef tartare, however, was over salted. With my dish average being about $15, it wasn't the worst value, but it was unfortunate that the food wasn't mind-blowing. Service: The servers there were nice and hard working. However, the execution of service was poor as I was given the wrong drink, and the server who took my order rang in the incorrect food item, which resulted in long lead times for my food. They worked quickly to rectify it, but I expect more from a cornerstone restaurant. Atmosphere: Clean, warm, and inviting Overall: I don't believe that I will be returning here as the value provided did not outweigh the cost during my visit. It was still pleasant to see, and I can see how it can be an enjoyable experience.I just feel that I can get a better experience elsewhere for the amount I paid.

Atmosphere was intimate and the courses were amazing. I moved from Dallas and thought I’d never find better oysters and bone marrow. Well this place delivered. Best bone marrow I’ve had across the country and the service was very attentive. Will definitely be back for more oysters and marrow. Very well done

Love, love, love! All-around best experience for atmosphere and quality. If you are looking for sharables with friends, fabulous service, specialty cocktails, a superior wine experience (best list ever!) you have to try Bar Cleeta. I'm a wine girl and it's one of the only places in town where I will venture out for a cocktail. Also, if you like oysters you know it's all about location and the shuck :). I've never been disappointed and can always count on Bar Cleeta to deliver the best oysters in Bentonville. Each dish is a surprise on a plate. Always beautiful and absolutely delicious. The menu changes seasonally and the staff is always there to impress through their knowledge of ingredients and the perfect pairing. Hands down best service and food in Northwest Arkansas.

Service was short staffed. They don't seem to like walk-ins as an FYI, just get a reservation ahead of time (unfortunately they only seem to accept them via web form). Good food but a little pricey for the quality. Wasn't wowed like expected for the size of the bill. Nonetheless, about the most sophisticated gastronomy you'll find in NWA. Just manage your expectations if you're used to chef-driven restaurants in foodie cities. In a nutshell, good...not great.

Bar Cleeta is my partner and I’s go to for our anniversaries. It is centrally located. Privately owned and efficiently operated. The space itself is warm and rarely crowded. Each dish is obviously made with skilled intent and the menu has changed each time we have gone. Small plates here, so you get to try many things and experiment with pairings from a fabulous wine selection. The owners are very sweet. This is an experience for any special occasion.

Excellent customer service from our server! Very good drinks and vibe in Bentonville, Arkansas with shared plate dining. Our favorite dishes were the Spanish octopus and crispy bacon. We love that this spot was opened by a husband-and-wife team and an Arkansas native. This was our first trip to Bentonville and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality flavors!

They call this place a bar but wow, what a gem for a regular meal. The place itself was a bit on the darker side like a bar but otherwise had a lovely feel. Phenomenal dishes with great flavor and creativity. I judge a restaurant by its octopus and this may have been the most tender octopus I've ever had. Alongside some delicious brisket and the pozole verde campanelle. You could tell a lot of thought and time was put into making these dishes. You cannot go wrong with a dish here - would definitely come back.

Every experience I've had here has been immaculate. The food is delicious, service is attentive and helpful, and drinks are wonderful. While pricey, every cent spent here is worth it. Best place to dine in Northwest Arkansas.

We came here for an early dinner. Our table was immediately ready, and the menus were brought. The dishes are tapas style which I love because you get to try more. We ordered some salads, flat breads, pastas, meats and vegetables all to be shared family style and there was not one thing we all did not absolutely loved. For most of my group it wasn't their first time there, but it was for me, and I was SO happy they brought me here. Not only was every dish excellent, as mentioned above, but the service was incredible too. Owned by a couple, they not only plan seasonal menus, but they also work the restaurant bringing out plates, and are great at recommending wines/ drinks for the meal. The restaurant inside is also a point to mention. Clean, cozy and neatly accessorized with hanging plants and rustic touches. Desserts were equally delicious, but I must recommend the Semifreddo. Why am I not recommending for the other plates, you ask, because honestly ALL were amazing and ALL worth trying. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Bar Cleta is a MUST!

Look no further for a great bistro dining experience in Bentonville. Incredible staff. Inventive menu. Exceptional wine list (which is hard to come by in Bentonville). And warm and lively setting. Bar Cleeta is our go to.

Not terrible but severely overpriced. This place is not what it thinks it is. The hype is not merited.

OMG, ALWAYS on our list of favorites in the area. The cocktails/wine are great. Food....chicken croquettes & arugula salad are a must! If the quail is on the menu....GET IT! The staff here is amazing, can't wait to try Big Lieu! Ben is a treasure!!!

By far the best food in Bentonville. There is no comparison. Every dish extremely unique and full of "new to B'ville flavor". Service was outstanding, speedy and courteous staff. Our new favorite place of all time. We'll be back again and again!

We loved it. The food was very imaginable and creative. Specializes in small plates that the table can share. I highly recommend The brisket, tomatoes and jalapeños, the fingerling potatoes, and The arugula salad. Our server was wonderful and described everything very well. We got there early and it was Nice but is the evening progressed and it became crowded it was a little loud. We still enjoyed the ambience.

Fantastic dining experience! All the food was 10/10, no complaints. Drinks were also fantastic. Get the Spanish Octopus. Service was great - attentive hostess and servers. I have a dairy allergy and they were so accommodating and had the menu fully memorized and helped to choose items that had no dairy.

This is the best spot in NWA! As soon as we walked in, we immediately appreciated the layout and ambiance, and we were seated quickly. Their drinks were amazing, and we started off with the oysters. After polishing those off in record time, we had their lamb ribs and pork roulade. These are easily their best dishes, and is some of the tastiest food I've ever had -- nowhere comes close to the quality of food at Bar Cleeta. We also had their octopus, which was amazingly tender and flavorful. Some people here have apparently complained about the portion sizes, but they were all perfect -- we left extremely full and satisfied. The prices were fantastic, especially for the quality of food and level of service. This place deserves a Michelin star, or two... The server was fantastic as well! We will definitely be going back. You'll never regret visiting Bar Cleeta!

This is my favorite upscale restaurant in Arkansas -- my husband and I visit every time we're in town. Most recently, we had their tomato dish, chicken croquettes, octopus, beans, rabbit bologna, pasta and peanut butter dish -- each one was unique, flavorful, and composed of really high quality ingredients. The interior is airy and green. The service is warm and friendly -- highly recommend for any special occasion or just a treat!

Best service I've ever had! The food tasted wonderful and that's still an understatement in my opinion. Perfect for a date night and not too expensive for the great quality of food you get. The cocktails are a must have!!

Not a great first impression with the hostess pushing me to sit at the bar. Being a single diner that evening, and having experienced that before at many restaurants while traveling for business, I get it. However, I'm not a drinker and know how busy bars can get, but without a reservation, it was either that or the "lounge seating at a couch and coffee table" set up. I chose the bar. Once there, I got the menu and ordered. I asked to keep the menu as I was planning on ordering more small plates and the bartender seemed hesitant but left the menu anyway. I would soon learn why. Oysters, raw and roasted, came out quickly and were excellent. Spanish Octopus came next and was somewhat dry and slightly tough. The Octopus was accompanied by potatoes which were phenomenal and saved the dish. The Chocolate mousse for dessert was fantastic, the best I've ever had. The bartender came to get the menu I had asked to keep because I guess they only had one for the bar, being there were only two people there at that time. At no time during my entire meal was I asked how my food was. I would have sent back the Octopus and gotten the Beef tartar, but as I feared, the bartender was extremely busy and alone. I never got the menu back, so I left slightly hungry and somewhat dissatisfied. Aside from one plate, all the other food I had was outstanding. I'm sure if you get a table there the experience would probably be much better.

The Spanish octopus dish is literally made me having tears after one bite for too much vinegar.

Out of all the restaurants we ate in while visiting Bentonville, this place was head and shoulders above the rest. Outstanding, eclectic menu, super staff (Thank you, Samantha!) and friendly owner. (Thanks, Weisi!) We will definitely make Bar Cleeta a regular stop on future trips to B'ville!

I visited Bar Cleeta on a short work trip to Bentonville, and knew from the minute I walked past that I had to try it! It's located within the town square and is a bright, inviting space. The servers are extremely attentive and you have a slight view of the kitchen from the dining area. I drank a Prosecco-inspired sparkling wine that tasted close to a hard cider, definitely recommend on a hot summer's day! For my appetizer, I ordered the Duck Rillette. The duck was tender and came topped with a delicious red onion jam. It was a great balance of savory and sweet, while the mustard accompanying it cut the richness of the dish perfectly. The toast that accompanied it was crispy on the outside, but still soft enough to bite through. Overall, the dish was well balanced and unique. Lastly, I got the Pozole Verde Campanelle. I'd never had a tomatillo ragú before, and while slightly on the saltier side, it was great once I asked for some chilli flakes to add on top. I think the crunchy garnish was toasted corn kernels, and it added great texture to yet another unique dish. My experience was wonderful and I definitely recommend Bar Cleeta to anyone visiting the area!

Excellent customer service from our server! Very good drinks and vibe in Bentonville, Arkansas with shared plate dining. Our favorite dishes were the oysters, Spanish octopus, and crispy bacon. We love that this spot was opened by a husband-and-wife team and an Arkansas native. This was our first trip to Bentonville and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality flavors!

My friends and I were out enjoying our afternoon of App Crawl and Alcohol which led us to check out Bar Cleeta. The atmosphere is clean, fresh, and organic. The staff was so friendly and warm while the drinks were refreshing and tasty. We even dabbled in a few appetizer which was very enjoyable for all of us to share. We didn't stay for long as our journey needed to continue, but I would love to come back for dinner in the future. Even though it was short-lived, we still all really enjoyed our visit.

10/10 service and food!! The honey gem lettuce salad was amazing!! Jewels was a great server!! The wine selection was also great.

Great small plates. Not a huge restaurant but nice ambience. This has food you would never take the time to cook at home. Definitely order family style

I thoroughly loved celebrating my birthday here. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu so we let her curate our meal. We had oysters, arugula, broccolini, risotto, grits, chicken croquettes, sweet potato and the steak special. Everything was spectacular and the wine and cocktails were tasty as well. This is my new favorite restaurant in Bentonville.

Bar Cleeta is hands down one of our favorite restaurants in NW Arkansas. In fact, it's one of the few restaurants we've made multiple return visits, and it's largely due to its creative menu items and excellent service. Whether you're catching up with old friends or celebrating a birthday, this is a great place for just about any occasion. SERVICE: ALWAYS excellent. The staff is very informative and accommodating. They make great recommendations so don't be afraid to ask! FOOD: Roasted Oysters ~ 4 stars: Topped with chorizo butter, breadcrumbs and jalapeno, this is a great choice to kickstart your meal. The oysters are presented beautifully sitting on top a bed of sea salt. Careful since it's served piping hot, so wait a couple minutes before you dig in. Once you do, you'll love the fresh briny oyster mixed with the chorizo butter and breadcrumbs. Wild Baby Arugula ~ 5 stars: It's rare for me to say a salad is the best item for any meal but Bar Cleeta has done just that. Fresh local arugula tossed with parmigiana reggiano, sunflower seeds and lemon vinaigrette - sounds simple. It's because it is and that's why it's a must-have. The pepper arugula goes really nicely with the lemony dressing. Tarte Foresiere ~ 4.5 stars: This is an oven-charred flatbread topped with fontina and mushrooms. Again, a really simple dish that shines. It's light and savory, and serves as the perfect course as you transition into your mains. We get this every visit. Spanish Octopus ~ 4 stars: Good, not great. Definitely worth getting if you enjoy octopus, especially with a little bit of heat. Six Day Wagyu Brisket ~ 3 stars: Great texture but always a little too salty. We've tried this dish on two separate visits and it was the same thing both times - over-seasoned. I recommend passing on this and giving one of their other mains a try. COCKTAILS: The specialty cocktails on their menu are great. My personal favorites from their list are the Sobremesa (mezcal-based) and Forefathers (bourbon-based). However, I recommend telling your server what type of alcohol you like and having the bartender surprise you. For example, during our last visit, I requested a drink that wasn't too sweet, made with a very peaty scotch. What they came back with was something I would gladly enjoy by a fireplace on a Winter night or in front of the pool on a Summer day. It was bold yet refreshing, and it went down easy.

One of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of experiencing! It's spendy, so it's a special spot. Great service, atmosphere, and top-notch food. Extensive wine selection, mostly by the bottle. The grilled octopus, the oysters, the brisket and the Napa cabbage are all outstanding. There are enough options for a gluten free diner to have a nice selection - it's not listed on the menu, but the servers are knowledgeable and willing to guide choices. It's best to share plates with your dinner partner - and save room for dessert! Sit at the bar if you didn't get a reservation. Don't miss this one!

Okay so I debated on a 4 or 5 star... only reason I would give a 4 was because of ONE particular dish we had. The rest of the dishes, the experience, the service, the drinks were all deserving of 5.... So I'm going that way. This wasn't a planned visit so we ended up sitting at the bar which was perfect. (I do recommend getting reservations if you wish to not take chances). First let me say how amazing the staff was- our bartender Ricky was hands down perfect. We also met Ben and Joe. HUGE shout out to the chef and owner Trae Basore! Dish names and thoughts are with pics. I will say this concept is a share 2-3 plates and yes it's pricey but sooo worth it.

Had dinner here with family and friends when I was in town. We had chicken croquettes baked oysters Napa cabbage salad cheese board and several other delectable shared plates. The food is unbelievably good. The wine list is extraordinary and very fairly priced. This restaurant is sophisticated and the service is friendly and unobtrusive. Highly recommend. A local treasure.

Favorite restaurant in all of Northwest Arkansas! Best wine list in the area too. Fantastic food, even better service. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. We have gone dressed in jeans, or dressed up for a date night and feel right at home in either attire

We love this place! The food is always a delicious and an experience in itself. The staff is amazing. They are so friendly, accommodating, and have the best recommendations. This is our favorite place in Bentonville. I'd recommend most dishes, but the octopus and brisket are a must!

Incredible food with detailed service and intentionality. We can't recommend this restaurant enough. The drink selection is excellent and each dish was prepared to perfections. Definitely worth an evening experience!

We went there last night for a nice dinner on our trip from Oklahoma. We were BLOWN AWAY by the food. Our server described to us how the menu worked (small plates, family style). Typically when we travel, we share a our plates anyway, so this was perfect! We started with the croquettes and some oysters. They make sure to have you order all at once, then time it to come out in courses. Next, our server brought out the octopus and the Tarte. My fiancé had never tried octopus and he said it might have been his favorite thing, until the Wagyu Brisket. When I tell you, it was so tender it just fell apart. We definitely plan on coming back to Bentonville and this will be on our list of places to eat at again.

The service here is outstanding and the wine list is deep and interesting. While the food is good, it's not phenomenal--some of it is a bit too fussy and I would recommend the kitchen hone the menu down a bit. The lamb was exceptional though!

Amazing restaurant! New York comes to NWAR! Incredible, off the grid, one of a kind menu! A must see in Bentonville. Rabbit bologna, steak tartare, and 6 day brisket are fabulous. Daily specials are always to die for!!!

Bar Cleeta is a nice addition to the downtown Bentonville restaurant scene. Fun and relaxing place to hang out for appetizers and beverages. It is an expensive night with the plates averaging between $11 to $14 with the suggestion from our server to have 5 for a couple. The service was great and we really appreciated the wine pairing suggestions from the owner. Those exceeded our expectations. I hope they get their air condition and air flow fixed. Our server said they couldn't control it from the restaurant. Bar Cleeta is a great place to go for conversation and relaxing with a group.

What an outstanding place! Great food and ambiance. The plates were not only good but presented well and with good timing. Our server was Claire K. and she was attentive and very good at explaining the food and how their unique service worked. A great place for a date or with friends.

Lighthearted casual atmosphere with friendly knowledgeable staff. Interesting wine selection to enhance delicious small plates. Tuna was terrific, but charred beans were my favorite.

OH MY WORD. I have never had cocktails this good, and the food is a foodie's dream. Duck rillettes, in Bentonville? I can't believe it. Also I love how far apart the tables are. I will be confidently coming here to eat and drink, even if the cases keep going up. I wouldn't feel safe in other restaurants, but I would here.

This was a real treat! My stomach was in heaven. The duck rilette is a game changer. The blood sausage and octopus are musts. And the butternut squash is a fun exciting take on holiday flavors. The wine list has creative flair. From the menu alone you get the feeling you're in good hands. If you are looking for an experience, Bar Cleeta is the destination!

We were in the area on a weekend getaway and eating here was the highlight of our trip. The service was exceptional and the food and drinks were fantastic. What a talented chef. They went above and beyond to give us a great experience.

Bar Cleeta is hands down the best kept secret of NWA. I'm letting the secret out, reluctantly, but it's that good. Their drinks are AMAZING. Their flambé is something you will dream about for years to come. Their oysters, top notch. The vibe, impeccable. But most importantly, the service is out of this world. You cannot NOT come to Bar Cleeta. It's our favorite date night spot.

Unfortunately this is a really cool restaurant (well styled, great location) with crumby food. I loooove interesting and different food, but this place missed the mark. We had the oysters (not good) and rabbit bologna (fair) for starters and then for our main dishes we had the butternut squash carpaccio and the brisket. The squash was just ok, but the brisket was good. My husband had a vodka tonic that wasn't good either. I hate to leave a negative review but hopeful that it will be of use.

Best to go with a small group. Don't go when very hungry - portion sizes are teeny-tiny. The service was wonderful.

Perfect for date nights - delicious food and great service. All the waiters are very accommodating and knowledgeable

An amazing dining experience! Every dish was truly spectacular; the chef's blending and balancing of flavors was creative and delicious! We are not the easiest party to serve, and they accommodated off menu requests with grace and flawless execution. We will go back!

We were looking for a new restUrNt for breakfast. We always end up at one we go to every time. I googled breakfast and they popped up. They are located right behind the Mercy office on 28th. Left at light. Woman running the counter was so awesome even tho they were so busy. We got our table and ordered. Staff were so busy but handles it wonderfully. I could see the cooks and they had it together. Very good breakfast and not over-priced at all. We will come back. Thank you

Let me re-word my original review. We spent $175. $75 on very expensive very small portions of snacks not at all worth $75. We were still very hungry. Our favorite expensive little snack portion was the octopus. We always tip over 20% because it's never the waitresses fault when the food and drinks aren't worth the cost we paid for them. Perhaps if the octopus was at least double the portion it was, we would say "delicious. Worth the $$$$" but it wasn't. There are better mixed drinks in downtown Bentonville that taste delicious and aren't as pricey ($100). Dare I name the location? It's our favorite downtown Bentonville location where the food is always really good, the portions are perfect and the wait staff is excellent. Our bill would have been 1/2 the price there and we wouldn't have still felt so hungry after leaving, like we felt when we left your restaurant. We went somewhere else to fill up on burgers. Any more questions or percentage issues? Because I think I covered everything.

The food tasted good. I never leave a Yelp review. (This is my first time)but for real y'all. Come on. The portions for the price were ridiculously small. I'm still hungry. After an hour and a half we had gotten olives, overpriced cheese and green beans. Not sure if there was an issue in the kitchen tonight but when I order entrees I expect they will come out all at the same time. Good thing we were not in a hurry. Nice atmosphere and friendly wait staff, food tasted good but the delivery and portions killed it for me.

Gather some close friends or a special someone and expect an experience. The atmosphere is very comfortable and dimly lit, so it's easy to chat with your party. You share plates family style, and while the portions are on the smaller side, you get to taste several things (and that's a big plus for a foodie like me). The brisket and gnocchi will go down in my food history as a top-five best meal I've ever had. The drinks were very good and reasonable, but expect to pay for qulity food (that is very worth it).

Wow! Delicious small plates and a wine selection that takes you out of your comfort zone - in the most surprising way. Open the door and you find a warm and relaxing atmosphere. You can casually sip a drink at the bar or dine at a community table or individual tables. Service is great at the bar and tables. Weisi, one of the owners, presents a great wine list that's surprising and delicious. She also provides individual attention and presents the bottle so that you can enjoy the full experience and remember the wine. Whether it is a Pinot Blanc or an interesting Austrian or German wine, all that we tasted were very good and none that I had tasted before. And let's not forget the food. The duck rillette, the 6 day brisket, the gnocchi that melts in your mouth, the crispy tarte flambé, the asparagus, the oysters - I could go on and on. The duck was the most delightful surprise - smeared with tomato jam and served with grilled bread - do yourself a favor and order it. Don't wait, make tracks to Bar Cleeta today!

Had, quite possibly, the best beef tartare we've ever had! So unexpected and delicious! The gnocchi was decadent and awesome. Every cheese we tried was excellent! We'll be back, for sure!

Bar Cleeta has quickly become a regular place for my husband and I to go together for a glass of wine or small plates. Their menu changes regularly and you can always get a great charcuterie board, and we love their vegetable dishes. The owners and staff are amazing and we always feel welcome there. You have to go!