Central Arkansas is home to several hidden gems where you can enjoy a delicious meal as well as a new atmosphere for a date night.

An event to try this month is dinner and a tour at Marlsgate Plantation on Nov. 16. (The tour begins at 6 p.m.)

You’ll have to head a little outside the city for this stately dinner at the Marlsgate Plantation in Scott. Marlsgate is a columned Greek Revival Mansion shaded by oaks and a pecan grove overlooking Bearskin Lake. It plays host to weddings and other large events, but they also schedule dinner events, that anyone can attend by reservation, when there are openings in the schedule.

The evening begins with a tour of the house and gardens, including an all-glass conservatory as well as a carriage house that holds a gift shop. Martha Ellen and Beau Talbot own and live at the plantation and Beau is a chef and prepares the food for the dinner. Past menus have included items such as a boozy bread pudding, escalloped yukon gold potatoes, roast pork ribeye and more. The menu changes each time.

According to Martha Ellen, the meal is served on her grandmother’s china with silver flatware. Tickets for the dinner are $55; call Martha Ellen at (870) 717-2789 to make reservations. Visit Marlsgate.com or the Facebook page  for more information.