Hope my response is not too late! As mentioned CJ’s in Russelville is a must and the new king of Central AR. burgers beating out Feltners (but I do miss those fried pies at Feltners). See my review of CJ’s here with pics: http://eatoutnwa.blogspot.com/2009/08/cjs-butcher-boy-2803-n.html http://eatoutnwa.blogspot.com/2009/08/cjs-butcher-boy-2803-n.html
 
For Northwest Ar. you must try Monte Ne In http://www.monteneinnchicken.net http://www.monteneinnchicken.net/ for the best fried chicken around and much better than A.Q. (Clinton’s Favorite). Served family style and all u can eat with bean soup, bread with apple butter, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans and slaw. OMG its so good.
 
In Roger’s AR seek out Susie Q’s Malt Shop an original drive in operating for 50+ years serving great burgers and shakes. Plenty of pics here:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Q-Malt-Shop/103743996332542#!/pages/Susie-Q-Malt-Shop/103743996332542 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Q-Malt-Shop/103743996332542#!/pages/Susie-Q-Malt-Shop/103743996332542
 
In downtown Bentonville check out the birthplace of Walmart (Waltons Five and Dime museum) and then head next door to the Station Cafe on the square in Bentonville. Huge flat top griddled burgers with an excellent aged char around the edges of the patty.http://eatoutnwa.blogspot.com/2009/03/station-cafe.html http://eatoutnwa.blogspot.com/2009/03/station-cafe.html
 
For catfish check out Catfish Johns in Rogers or The Catfish Hole in Fayetteville.
Suggested Itinerary:
 
Heading North on 540:
Catfish Hole in Fayetteville
Monte Ne Inn (Outside of Rogers)
Susie Q’s Rogers
Freds Hickory Inn (smoked meats and steaks) in Bentonville
Whole Hog Cafe – Bentonville
Walton’s Five and Dime followed by Station Cafe in Bentonville
 
I would be glad to give you a personal tour of these spots if you make it up here. 
 

A of the as reported by on website to help you on your trip.

 
Wow! Now I want to go to Arkansas.

SC-

Thanks for the effort!  Ozark Smokehouse sounds like what we will be looking for.  I will look into Frontier Diner in benton, since we will be headed that way.

crew84row–

Much appreciate the response.  Unfortunately, Ed & Kay’s closed down earlier this year.  We will miss those amazing pies!  Believe it or not, there isn’t a coffee drinker among us.  I will definitely be looking into Haystack Cafe.

 DANG!  Loved that place, so near my mother’s cemetery.  http://www.roadfood.com/Forums BTW, I’ve seen mixed reviews on Ozark, but “a chacon son gout

But if you’re heading toward Benton, then Frontier might just be the stop. It’s not quite in Benton.  Before the 430 interchange if coming from the airport.  Tiny spot, but they do poached eggs.  I hear the gravy is from a mix, but that might just be a grouser yammering as everything else is supposedly fresh.  Don’t get Travelin’Man-ed, they close at 2PM and are closed on Sundays.

Haven’t been to Feltner’s in ages as I’m not often in that area, but totally fell in love with CJ’s when I went.  Maybe a side-by-side comparison is in order. 

A couple of other options

Community Bakery

Casa Manana

http://www.tiedyetravels.com Kat Robinson’s visit, as reported on the http://www.arktimes.com/EatArkansas/archives/2011/03/11/pieday-pecan-at-your-mamas-good-food#more Arkansas Times website today, reminded me of another restaurant to suggest for your trip: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/200/1035100/restaurant/Your-Mamas-Good-Food-Little-Rock Your Mama’s Good Food. I think it is a better alternative to Franke’s Cafeteria.  They have excellent rolls and I love the homemade banana pudding. Click on Kat’s name above to visit her great website for other suggestions around the state. 

If you go to the Family Pie Shop, meander across the road on over to Craig’s Bar-B-Q.  When I was there last summer, I got two big jars of their barbecue sauce to go.  I took it to Mississippi, Louisiana, then back through those states and then on to Tennessee and Virginia before heading home and it held up well.  Go with the medium sauce ; I think the hot is too hot and the mild is too mild.
 

Just W of Texarkana on I 30 is a great place for road food. One of my favorite road stops is Ramage Farms http://www.chow.com/restaurants/302438/country-store Country Store at Exit 208 for good road food. The restaurant is an old building just off the N side of I30 and has all sorts of food stuff to purchase to take home. They serve outstanding BBQ, sandwiches, combo plates and steaks. Stop by if just to rest and get a cold drink. It’s worth the effort to visit the old store.
Ramage Farms http://www.chow.com/restaurants/302438/country-store Country Store @ 901 http://www.chow.com/restaurants/276654/main-st-cafe Main St., Hooks, TX 903 – 547 – 6187.
# http://www.ramagefarms.com/

No one mentioned West Memphis AR so I will — try Willie Mae’s Rib Haus, great bbq.  Everyone knows Memphis TN BBQ, but I don’t know how many try on the western side of the river —
 
http://www.yelp.com/biz/willie-maes-rib-haus-west-memphis http://www.yelp.com/biz/w…-rib-haus-west-memphis

Ed&Kay’s in Benton is always a good stop! [8D]  Or look into either the Haystack Caf� on Kanis Road or Frontier Diner on Interstate 30.  Some old HS buddies love Frontier’s Hawg Wild breakfast with it’s thick slice of ham and 2 homemade biscuits. 

Sorry I can’t opine on the quality of the coffee at these places.  If WJ was with you I’d say seek out a place that serves Mountain Bird Coffee (roasted up in Eureka Springs, by a childhood friend and neighbor).  There may be a listing on FB.  I believe Fresh Market in LR or NLR still carry the beans.

Ditto on the Old Saw Mill Cafe – fried chicken is terrific.  It is always the stop on trips to and from Little Rock.

Finally made it to Fred’s Hickory Inn in Bentonville. Thanks Gumbo191. I sat in the lounge dining room which is in the original log cabin section of the huge building. The food and atmosphere were both awesome. My sampler platter consisted of a couple of meaty tender dry rub ribs,a nice link of smoked andouille,slice pork,and several slices of smoked eye of round. Beans,cole slaw,and garlic bread rounded it out and they were all really good also. I will be back.
http://fredshickoryinn.net http://fredshickoryinn.net/