CONWAY, Ark. — The sidewalks outside Mike’s Place are busy with the chatter of locals and out-of-towners alike, all hoping for a table.
The restaurant, housed in a brick building on Front Street, is a fixture here—one that blends the flavors of the Deep South with a distinctly Arkansas warmth.
At Mike’s, “You can cut the steak with a fork,” says longtime regular Judy Harper, “and Mike remembers your name if you’ve been here more than once.”
Mike’s Place opened in 2004, the vision of Mike Coats and Mike Kraft, and quickly became the first restaurant in Conway to cross the city’s old liquor line, gaining distinction as a private club.
In a city that had not seen a full-service restaurant with a bar since World War II, this was no small feat.
The restaurant’s ambiance was inspired by the old-world charm of New Orleans with exposed brick, wrought iron, fountains, and an abundance of greenery, creating a mood that is both relaxed and quietly elegant.
Owner Mike Coats, along with his wife Tonya, is a familiar face. “It pays to surround yourself with talent and keep a smile on your face,” Coats told Arkansas food writer Heather Baker.
It’s a philosophy that trickles down to every server, bartender, and line cook. The staff’s easy confidence is part of what keeps people coming back.
“The service is always 10/10,” says local diner Marcus Bell, “and the food is always fresh, hot, and delicious.”
The menu at Mike’s Place is a love letter to Gulf Coast seafood and classic steakhouse fare, with a few flourishes that keep things interesting.
Hand-cut aged ribeye steaks and filets are grilled over a wood fire, while jumbo Gulf shrimp, blue crab, and scallops arrive daily.
“Best steaks in town!” proclaims the restaurant’s own website, and the sentiment is echoed by customers who rave about the prime rib and pecan-encrusted white fish.
The gumbo—deep, smoky, and generously portioned—is a favorite starter, rivaled only by the seafood crepes, which Arkansas food critic Heather Baker calls “always incredible.”
Not every dish is a home run, as a few diners point out. “The scallops were overcooked and dry,” says one reviewer, “but the prime rib was the best out of our orders.”
Yet, the highs seem to outweigh the lows. Shrimp Brantley, a dish of sautéed shrimp with mushrooms, tomatoes, and a buttery sauce, has its own following, as do the sweet green beans, which regulars claim are “crazy good.”
The bar program at Mike’s Place is unpretentious but well-executed, with a careful selection of wines, local beers, and classic cocktails.
The restaurant’s designation as a private club means that guests sign in at the door, a ritual that feels almost like being welcomed into someone’s home.
“Good food, good atmosphere, owners are upstanding folks,” reads one recommendation in the Conway Food Facebook group, “I remember one day I went in for lunch to grab a bowl of gumbo and a couple of the servers just sat down to talk for a minute.”
Atmosphere is a big part of the draw. The dining room is lively but never overwhelming, with the gentle hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses.
The prettiest seats in the house are in the rear courtyard, which “has the prettiest outdoor dining area in all of central Arkansas,” says one local reviewer.
Inside, the restaurant’s décor channels the spirit of New Orleans, but the heart is pure Arkansas, hospitable, laid-back, and unmistakably local.
Mike’s Place isn’t without competition.
Conway’s dining scene has grown in the last decade, and other favorites like Pasta Grill and Wunderhaus each have their own loyal followings.
Still, Mike’s Place routinely lands at or near the top in local polls, named the best overall restaurant in Conway by the readers of the Arkansas Times in 2021. For many, it’s the go-to for special occasions, date nights, and family celebrations.
“Honestly, Mike’s is my go-to for special occasions,” says another Yelp reviewer.
The restaurant’s commitment to quality extends to those with dietary restrictions. Gluten-free diners find plenty to enjoy, with a large, clearly marked menu.
“This place was excellent all around,” says one gluten-free patron. “Staff was so friendly, ambiance was nice, they had a large gluten free menu, and the food was top notch.”
There’s something about Mike’s Place that inspires fierce loyalty. Maybe it’s the consistency—the way the pork chops are always moist, the steaks always seasoned just right, the staff always ready with a smile.
Or maybe it’s the sense of place, the feeling that you’re not just eating dinner but taking part in a small-town ritual.
“Mike treats all his customers like his best friend—and remembers you if you’ve been there before,” says one TripAdvisor user.
If there’s a single dish that embodies Mike’s Place, it might be the shrimp and grits. “Hands down, the best plate of food I’ve ever eaten,” declares a local on Reddit, who claims to have spent a week in Florida searching in vain for something comparable.
The restaurant’s kitchen, helmed by a team of seasoned chefs, turns out this Southern staple with creamy, cheesy grits and shrimp so fresh you’d think you were closer to the coast.
Of course, no review would be complete without mentioning the desserts. The key lime pie gets frequent praise, with more than one diner admitting they never leave room for it but always order a slice anyway.
The menu changes seasonally, but the standards remain.
“I am blown away every time I go to this gem in Faulkner County,” wrote Baker of AY Magazine.
For the last 20 years, Mike’s Place has done more than just feed Conway.
It’s given the city a sense of occasion, a place to mark milestones, and a bar to measure the rest of the town’s restaurants against.
“The best part of this business is the people,” Coats said. “Both the ones who work here and the ones who walk through the door.”
In a town that’s grown and changed, Mike’s Place remains a constant, proof that some things, done right, never go out of style.
