EATS & DRINKS
By Case Dighero | Photos by Meredith Mashburn
Callisto
407 SW A St., Bentonville | (479) 802-4540 | www.callisto.bar
Sometimes it’s important to find pockets of time to escape the day-to-day demands of a busy life — just a moment to reset and find peace. Callisto in Bentonville is the perfect place to find that temporary solace, seemingly taking all who enter into a beautiful island paradise. The tiki-inspired bar and restaurant is a speakeasy at its core, located secretly inside the Midnight Gallery art space on SW A Street, sans any markers identifying its existence. The dark, tropical vibe is the first indication that we’ve arrived somewhere special and relevant, but the level of drink and food seals the deal that we’re certainly not in Kansas — or Arkansas — anymore.
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The bar is comfortable, mysterious and an art exhibition unto itself, equipped and adorned with carved wood, linear rows of exotic glassware, and bar staff creating gorgeous cocktails with house-made potions, tinctures and enigmatic spirits. No doubt, this space was designed to look and feel like the galley of an imaginary ship.
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There are plenty of dark places to land for small groups — all worthy of the experience depending on your mood and companions — but the long, leathered granite bar is exceptional for sipping while devising plans with that special someone. The 72-seat space allows comfortable areas to relax, with one table floating below a large monkey pod tree adorned with small ornaments that seem to sway in a salty ocean breeze. Midnight Gallery also seeps into Callisto with wood-carved oars and interesting art that whispers across the dark walls meaningfully.
The smooth, chocolatey Loose Cannon ($17), made with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and Planteray Stiggins’ Pineapple Rum, then layered with Averna Amaro, pineapple-infused Cocchi Americano Bianco, Demerara and chocolate bitters, packs an easy wallop for those with an affinity for whiskey and good rum. I also adore the frozen Alphonso’s Revenge ($15), designed with Havana Club Añejo Rum, mango, passion fruit, pineapple, citrus and Angostura bitters. And every mezcal connoisseur should pay a visit for The Four Winds ($15), devised with Los Vecinos Mezcal, Hayman’s London Dry Gin, Zirbenz Pine Liqueur, watermelon, pineapple, lime and house-made Thai chili tincture.
Callisto offers an exceptional singular sip in the Scarlet Elixir ($16), a 48-hour clarified milk punch stratified with Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Ramazzotti Rosato Aperitivo, hibiscus tea, pomegranate, almond orgeat, lemon and milk. Perhaps the most opulent and interesting cocktail offering is the Pinky Ring ($44), a smoke-filled treasure chest presentation revealing a single rocks glass teeming with a concoction of El Dorado 21-Year-Old Rum, Planteray XO 20th Anniversary Rum, Carpano Antica, Kopke Dry White Port, Giffard Banane du Brésil, Peychaud’s Aperitivo, citrus saffron tincture and coconut oil… a crowd-pleaser worthy of the attention and quiet whispers that accompany its arrival to your table. And for something on the lighter side, check out the Tears of Bacchus ($14), a bright, tart, bubbly taste of raspberry-infused Wheatley Vodka, adorned with Dolin Blanc Vermouth, grapefruit, green grape, fresh mint, lime and a topper of sparkling wine.
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Although Callisto’s mysterious locale may suggest an exclusive vibe — which it certainly has, so be sure to make a reservation well in advance — it also offers great deals and a place for hospitality folk to land with its weekly Sunday Industry Appreciation Night. It shouldn’t take long for chefs, servers and all the restaurant contingency to feel a kinship with the behind-the-scenes team at Bentonville’s newest speakeasy. Brothers Braxton and Izaak Barrett, who head up hospitality and operations, have a keen eye for detail, and that includes a deep respect and affinity for their contemporaries living and working in their community.
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Executive chef Alex Siharath has designed a perfect shareable menu with the same tropical vibe that echoes the bar. Some of my favorites include the classically delicious Coconut Shrimp ($13); Korean Fried Cauliflower ($9); Manapua Pork Belly Buns ($10), made with sticky pork belly, scallion sauce and fluffy Japanese milk rolls; and the crowd-favorite Hamachi Crudo ($15), stratified with lime, grapefruit, avo mousse, Fresno hot sauce, puffed rice and fresh cilantro.
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If you’re in need of a quick tropical getaway, Callisto is the place. The food and drink are exceptional, and they are guaranteed not to lose your luggage.
