The people have spoken.
We’re happy again to announce the winners in the Arkansas Times’ annual Readers Choice awards to the best restaurants in Arkansas. It’s the state’s longest-running restaurant contest.
We ran ballots on successive weeks in November. We spent weeks afterward tallying thousands of votes. Now we present the winners, accompanied by features on a variety of food-related topics from all over Arkansas. We have barbecue, curry, a historic Heights haunt, baseball park cuisine and a find in western Arkansas, among other gastronomic delights.
The winners follow. Runners-up are listed alphabetically.
OVERALL
LITTLE ROCK
Brave New Restaurant
RUNNERS-UP:
Ferneau, Starving Artist Cafe, Trio’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Mike’s Place of Conway
RUNNERS-UP:
Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs, James at the Mill of Johnson.
NEW
LITTLE ROCK
Bill Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant
RUNNERS-UP:
Arthur’s, Bonefish Grill, Cregeen’s.
ITALIAN
LITTLE ROCK
Capeo
RUNNERS-UP:
Bene Vita, Bruno’s, Villa.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Ermilio’s of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Belle Arti of Hot Springs, DeVito’s of Eureka Springs, Pesto Cafe of Fayetteville.
ASIAN
LITTLE ROCK
Lilly’s Dim Sum Then Some
RUNNERS-UP:
Fantastic China, Mount Fuji, P.F. Chang’s.
MEXICAN
LITTLE ROCK
El Porton
RUNNERS-UP:
Cotija, Hacienda, Senor Tequila.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Hacienda of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Jose’s of Fayetteville, Los Amigos of Conway.
FUN
LITTLE ROCK
Chuck E. Cheese
RUNNERS-UP:
Cajun’s Wharf, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Murry’s Dinner Theater.
OTHER ETHNIC
LITTLE ROCK
Star of India
RUNNERS-UP:
Bossa Nova, Leo’s, Terrace on the Green.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Bavarian Inn of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Blackwood’s Grill of Conway, Taste of Thai of Fayetteville.
BAKERY
LITTLE ROCK
Community Bakery
RUNNERS-UP:
Boulevard Bread Co., Old Mill, Silvek’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Ed’s of Conway
RUNNERS-UP:
Klappenbach’s of Fordyce, Little Bread Co. of Eureka Springs, Rick’s of Fayetteville.
BARBECUE
LITTLE ROCK
Whole Hog Cafe
RUNNERS-UP:
Corky’s, Mr. Mason’s, Sims.
AROUND ARKANSAS
McClard’s of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Bubba’s of Eureka Springs, Craig’s of DeValls Bluff, Penguin Ed’s of Fayetteville.
BREAKFAST
LITTLE ROCK
Ozark Mountain Country Restaurant
RUNNERS-UP:
Delicious Temptations, Mimi’s, Satellite Coffee Co.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Common Grounds of Fayetteville, Cracker Barrel, multiple locations; Ed and Kay’s of Benton.
CATFISH
LITTLE ROCK
Flying Fish
RUNNERS-UP:
Catfish City, Cock of the Walk of Maumelle, Grampa’s of North Little Rock.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Denton’s Trotline of Benton
RUNNERS-UP:
Catfish Hole of Fayetteville, Dondie’s of Des Arc, Fish House of Conway.
DELI/GOURMET SHOP
LITTLE ROCK
Boulevard Bread Co.
RUNNERS-UP:
Diane’s, Fresh Market, Jason’s Deli.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP:
Cheese Corner of Hot Springs, Ozark Natural Foods Co-operative of Fayetteville.
HAMBURGER
LITTLE ROCK
Buffalo Grill
RUNNERS-UP:
Arkansas Burger Company, Cotham’s, Sports Page.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Hugo’s of Fayetteville
RUNNERS-UP:
Sparky’s Roadhouse of Eureka Springs, Whatta-Burger of Russellville.
PIZZA
LITTLE ROCK
Damgoode Pies
RUNNERS-UP:
Iriana’s, U.S. Pizza Co., Vino’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Larry’s of Bryant
RUNNERS-UP:
Chelsea’s Corner Cafe and Bar of Eureka Springs, Rod’s Pizza Cellar of Hot Springs, Sonny’s of Eureka Springs.
SEAFOOD
LITTLE ROCK
Cajun’s Wharf
RUNNERS-UP:
Bonefish Grill, Brave New Restaurant, Flying Fish.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Dondie’s of Des Arc
RUNNERS-UP:
Cajun Boilers of Hot Springs, Denton’s Trotline of Benton, Fisherman’s Wharf of Hot Springs.
STEAK
LITTLE ROCK
Sonny Williams’ Steak Room
RUNNERS-UP:
Butcher Shop, Doe’s, Faded Rose.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Mike’s Place of Conway
RUNNERS-UP:
Coy’s of Hot Springs, Herman’s of Fayetteville.
DESSERT
LITTLE ROCK
Trio’s
RUNNERS-UP:
Capriccio Grill, Community Bakery, Gypsy’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Charlotte’s of Keo
RUNNERS-UP:
Ed and Kay’s of Benton, Marketplace of Conway, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs.
COFFEE
LITTLE ROCK
Starbucks
RUNNERS-UP:
Boulevard Bread Co., Satellite Coffee Co., Sufficient Grounds.
AROUND ARKANSAS
McDonald’s, multiple locations
RUNNERS-UP:
Arsaga’s Block Street Bakery of Fayetteville, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs, Something’s Brewing of Conway.
HOME COOKING
LITTLE ROCK
Dixie Cafe
RUNNERS-UP:
Franke’s Cafeteria, Homer’s, Your Mama’s Good Food.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Ed and Kay’s of Benton
RUNNERS-UP:
Holly’s Country Cooking of Conway, Neal’s Cafe of Springdale, Oasis of Eureka Springs.
PLACE FOR KIDS
LITTLE ROCK
Purple Cow
RUNNERS-UP:
Buffalo Grill, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Chuck E. Cheese.
ROMANTIC
LITTLE ROCK
1620
RUNNERS-UP:
Brave New Restaurant, Capeo, Ferneau.
WINE LIST
LITTLE ROCK
Crush
RUNNERS-UP:
Arthur’s, Ferneau, Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant.
OTHER CITIES
We asked readers to vote for their favorite restaurant of any description in several cities around the state.
EUREKA SPRINGS
Ermilio’s
RUNNERS-UP:
Cafe Soleil, Rogue’s Manor, Sparky’s Roadhouse.
HOT SPRINGS
McClard’s
RUNNERS-UP:
Back Porch, Belle Arti, Cafe 1217.
FAYETTEVILLE AREA
James at the Mill of Johnson
RUNNERS-UP:
Bordino’s of Fayetteville, Copeland’s of Rogers, Penguin Ed’s of Fayetteville.
CONWAY
Mike’s Place
RUNNERS-UP:
Marketplace, Oak Street Bistro, Stoby’s.
THE WINNER
Bill James won $100 in our ballot drawing.