Central Arkansas isn’t blessed with too many options on the breakfast
front. Only a small handful of eateries serve up anything besides the
traditional bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy. And an even smaller number
offer any kind of breakfast on the weekend.

So we’re thrilled that Lilly’s co-owner Nancy Tesmer and chef Jeffrey
Moore have stepped in to fill the void with B-Side, newly open as a
stand-alone restaurant in the former party room of Lilly’s.

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Moore and Tesmer respect old standards, but aren’t always content in
playing them straight. On the experimental side of the spectrum,
B-Side’s take on biscuits and gravy is the decadent — but oh so
delicious — biscuit mountain ($11), two mounds of stacked buttermilk
biscuits, sausage and pommes rosti (fried potatoes and parsnips), with
sausage gravy poured on top and fried eggs plopped on top of that. The
grits ($3.50), mixed with smoked gouda and slow cooked, might be the
best cheese grits in the state. Hushpuppy-shaped beignets ($9) aren’t as
pretty as Cafe du Monde’s puffy squares, but they’re perfect for
sharing and come lightly dusted with confectioners sugar and served with
a side of very thick, creamy lemon curd and whipped cream. French toast
($7) is served on a stick, wrapped in bacon and drizzled in maple
syrup. And figgy piggy ($12.50) is a fig-glazed pork tenderloin served
over sweet potato hash.

Drifting into slightly more standard territory, there’s a daily frittata
($8), which, on a recent visit, came stuffed with caramelized onions,
tomato and smoked gouda and topped with spicy aioli, with an English
muffin and a dab of homemade strawberry preserves on the side.

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B-Side offers several classics unadorned. Like the classic ($7), which
comes as advertised — two eggs any way, toast and bacon or sausage. The
waffles ($6) are thick and airy and recommended. Mimosas ($6) are on the
champagne-y side, coffee — roasted especially for B-Side by Guillermo’s
Gourmet Blends — is on the dark side, and hot tea (like at Lilly’s) is
served up in a pot for two.

If we had any complaint about B-Side, it’s that, thanks to the crowd, we
had a rather extensive wait on a recent Sunday morning visit. We were
surprised to find how quickly news of the restaurant has spread; it
confirms just how much this area has craved a new face in the breakfast
market.

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B-Side
11121 Rodney Parham Road
(next to Lilly’s DimSum Then Some)
554-0914

Quick bite
Finally, a restaurant that appreciates parsnips.

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Hours
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Other info
Credit cards accepted.

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