What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1500133
MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2023 WHAT'S UP! RIVER VALLEY Advertorial Feature River Valley dining guide story By Karen Rice The husband-and-wife team of Jason and Christen Haid set out on a mission to bring a unique dining experience unlike any other to the Fort Smith area, one that echoes their core values of culture, inclusivity, intentionality, and creativity. The result is Revel—an American fusion restaurant and bar that's making a neame for itself in the area. Anyone who has had the pleasure of experiencing Revel knows what a truly unique experience it it. The restaurant features dishes like braised prime short ribs and fish flown-in fresh every single week, things that are relatively unique to the Fort Smith marketplace. "We make our dishes very technique- focused and very intentional with our flavors," Jason said. "We are just as focused on the back end as we are the front to make sure it all comes together the right way." A perfect dish to illustrate this approach is their amazing Black Truffle Prime Beef Tenderloin filet, a favorite of customers. Jason prepares the Prime beef using the sous vide immersion technique - a method of cooking meats by vacuum-sealing and immersing them in a warm water bath. This process offers unparalleled control over your product, letting you cook it to a desired specification. "This method slowly and carefully breaks down the protein, allowing it to become so perfectly tender that a knife isn't required," Jason said. "We then sear the filet in and pan-braise with our black truffle butter." Jason's wife, Christen, is in charge of the craft bar cocktails. And they get the same level of care and creativity as the ethe mouthwatering inventions that come from Jason in the kitchen. "The uniqueness of her and our mixologist's creations sets us apart from any other establishment," Jason said. "Not only can you get an exceptional meal, but you can have an incredible cocktail you've never had… anywhere!" Just listening to Christen describe what goes into a cocktail named The Jupiter gives you an idea of the thought and skill that goes into the craft beverage creations. First, it just looks amazing, served in a wine glass with sugar and rose petals on the side resembling stained glass. The drink itself includes Empress Gin, lavender syrup, hibiscus rose, lemon juice and topped with Moscato. "It may seem like a jumble of ingredients, but they all meld together to create a truly unique experience," Christen said. "The lavender syrup, which is homemade from our garden, compliments the juniper berry in the Empress Gin perfectly and mellows it out. The sweetness from the Moscato brings out the citrus of the gin and tartness of the lemon juice as it pulls the flavors to the front of the palate" Beyond their extraordinary menu, another very important component of Revel is the atmosphere and feeling you get when you dine at the restaurant. "Our culture is something we hold above all else," Jason said. "We like to think that we are as inclusive as it gets. We want all walks of life all different kinds of attitudes to feel welcome and comfortable as possible. That's our focus for the restaurant itself. When you hear 'New American fusion' you usually associate it with fine dining. We don't like to say 'fine dining' because of the pretention associated with that description – we want our food and experience to approachable and accessible." The ambience is representative of both Jason and Christen's roots. "It's kind of an urban/suburban mishmash," Jason said. "I'm from Pittsburgh and Christen is from Fort Smith. We have a lot of brick with an urban feel while, at the same time, we have big, soft comfortable chairs to keep it warm and welcoming. We want people to not feel rushed and to know they are invited to stay as long as they like enjoying a bottle of wine or coffee and dessert." Already having a fan base built up from their previous restaurant, River City Bistro, Jason and Christen were able to open strong. So much so, they have had to switch to reservations only the nights they are open—Wednesday through Saturday. "Quality of life is very important to us," Jason said. "We have two kids so getting to spend time with them is a rarity in this business and we take advantage of that." And now, they're also offering Saturday brunch, running from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Head to their website to make your reservation! If you haven't 'reveled' in the Revel experience, make a reservation and find out what everybody in the Fort Smith area is talking about. Revel Restaurant LOCATION 9201 R.A. Young Jr. Dr. Fort Smith, AR 72916 HOURS: Wed. – Sat. 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Saturday brunch 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. RESERVATIONS: 479-274-2074 ONLINE: www.justrevel.com Revel in this dining experience