Chola cafe — Restaurant in Bentonville

My wife and I are huge fans of Indian cuisine, and Chola had been on our radar for a while, with her nudging me to check it out. Our expectations were high, thanks to our Indian neighbors who share their incredible homemade dishes. Walking into Chola, the vibe was distinct—lively and a bit chaotic, but in a good way. There’s no dedicated host; the staff works as a team, and you grab a menu from the counter or scan a QR code that prompts you to download the Chola app.

Once seated, you’re set up with a pitcher of water, glasses, silverware, and napkins. If you’re familiar with Indian dining, the casual, hands-on eating style (my favorite part ) feels authentic. The app offers helpful dish photos, which we appreciated. The place was packed, with a steady stream of customers ordering at the counter, keeping the front staff on their toes. After browsing the menu, we settled on chicken varutha, mutton Rogan Josh, dosa, samosas, and two types of naan—garlic and green chili. Most dishes come with steamed white rice. (See attached photos for our picks.)

One person said they'd be back to take our order, and noticing the “self-service” sign and the bustling atmosphere, I decided to place our order at the counter using the app to show our selections—pronouncing the dishes isn’t my forte. They were out of samosa chaat, so we got regular samosas, which we devoured. They were crispy, fresh, and paired perfectly with two sauces—one savory, one sweet (I loved mixing them). The main dishes arrived soon after. The mutton Rogan Josh was aromatic, tender, and flavorful, though I’d have liked a bit more meat. It paired beautifully with the naan. The chicken varutha had a spicy kick, especially with the peppers, and my wife and I both loved it, so I let her have the lion’s share. The garlic naan was a standout—hot, fresh, and perfect with the curries. The dosa, new to me, was a thin, crepe-like dish served with three sauces: a yogurt dip and two curry-style gravies. It was fun to tear and dip, though we saved it for after the mains due to table space. We noticed others enjoying specialty drinks, which we’ll try next time.

Chola’s hustle-and-bustle vibe, reminiscent of an authentic Indian eatery, was a highlight. It’s not your typical restaurant setup, but that’s part of the charm. The food quality, paired with reasonable prices, makes Chola a winner. It’s now our go-to spot for Indian cuisine. Chola...

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas Restaurant: CHOLA CAFE Cuisine: South Indian w a touch of Indo Chinese Special Notes: Everything is good, most things are spicy 🌶

We had no idea what we were walking into when we entered the doors of Chola Cafe off of SW 14th Street in Bentonville - Arkansas. The huge crepe looking thing is called the “Paper Dosa” $11 and is the most interesting, spectacular crispy delicious Indian Treat you might ever come across!!!! It comes with all kinds of accompaniments that are full of flavor and spice.

This restaurant represents someone’s love affair for food and you can taste the heritage in every single bite. I felt as if I was sitting at someone’s kitchen table in South India 🇮🇳 and they were cooking just for my family and myself. What a wonderful feeling, thank you 🙏

We also ordered the Butter Chicken $13 as mild as they could make it. It was so rich and creamy and bursting with flavor. 💫 I will say it was pretty spicy still and I appreciate that. If I ever come without my kids I might try the heat level a little more spicy 🥵 I love spice!!!! Especially when the flavor meets the heat.

We also tried the Tikka Masala $13 which was delicious and spicy as well. If you don’t do well w spice ask the staff to guide you. There are some Indo Chinese dishes that I bet they can make without heat.

We had a dessert that was these freshly fried doughnut type delicious balls in a rich syrup. Forgive me but I forgot the name. Literally every single thing was amazing at this restaurant. My oldest daughter Norah said that Indian was her new fave food 🥘 because of this one meal.

If you have ever been here I would love to know your favorite dish. If you come for the first time and find a favorite I would love to hear about that too. Tell the team Chef Pauly from The Chefs...

We were very disappointed with our Onam Sadhya. On Facebook, there was a post stating, "Message us or call (…)" for pre-orders.We sent a text message to that number the day before to place a pre-order for a takeaway (to-go) box. When I called the restaurant around lunchtime to confirm, they said they had not received any message under our name. We explained that we had sent a regular text message, but they informed us the number was a landline and that messages had to be sent via Facebook Messenger — something that was not clearly mentioned in their post.

In the end, they said there was no pre-order in our name and only dine-in was available. Unfortunately, we were not in a position to dine in, which is exactly why we tried to place a takeaway order in advance. Due to the unclear instructions and lack of support for our situation, we were left without the Onam meal we had planned. It was very disappointing. When it comes to food, especially on such special occasions, such miscommunication and lack of responsibility shouldn't happen.

We sincerely hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves the clarity of their communication in the future to prevent similar issues. This is a humble request from a...