Little Rock: Restaurants
Little Rock will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the city Tyler and I fell in love with together and then it was the city where I had my first big girl apartment, big girl job, and big girl friends. And I didn't expect to fall in love with it the way I did. But, I digress, let's get to the food.
These are by no means the only great restaurants in Little Rock, but these are my tried and true's that I found myself going back to over and over again for the year and a half that I called this city home (including more chains than I 'd like to admit but... I like what I like).
BRUNCH
Both of these brunch spots do brunch all day on the weekends and close in the late afternoon. There's always a line to order at the register but it's always worth it. They both support local farms which makes them hard not to love.
@ The Corner - Downtown River Market
They do new menu items each season and every weekend. Brunch is usually themed. The Sampler of the South and a cup of coffee is always my go to while Tyler usually has one of the weekend specials. This place uses a lot of farm fresh ingredients so it's a little more expensive at around $20 a person but at one point we were coming here almost every weekend. It was my go to for brunch with out of town friends. They offer lunch during the week and it is always a treat as well. Closed on Mondays!
The Root Cafe - SoMa
This is the cheaper of my two brunch places and the restaurant itself is super unique. I was hesitant to try this place at first but once I did I was a goner. When I did Whole30 this place was my lifesaver but it was a staple for Tyler and I any other day as well. I live for their creamy house dressing (which is Whole30 approved). I love to get the Shiitake Benny , a side of fruit (if the good stuff is in season) and a cup of coffee. Made mostly out of storage containers, it's got a very southern hipster vibe (if that's a thing) complete with cloth napkins, mismatched mugs and plates, and mason jar glasses. They have a lot of outdoor seating and a mural to take pics in front of which makes it a great place for a sunny day brunch. They do specials every weekend as well and their dessert case is always tempting.
LUNCH AND DINNER
Zaza's - Heights
Salads, Pizza, & Gelato. I get the half size Sante Fe South salad with fried chicken. Yum. I frequented it to pick up dinner after work but they have a great patio too.
Big Orange - Midtown & Promenade
Salads. Burgers. The Best Sweet Potato Waffle Fries Ever. Also Bomb Normal Fries with BOB sauce. Shakes. This is another place I usually brought out of town guests to!
Three Fold - Downtown Main St.
Dumplings. Noodles. Taro Chips. We've loved this place since they used to be down by the convention center, but they've since moved to Main St. (which was farther away from my work but closer to my apartment :P). They have a very simple menu that has expanded some with the move and they're the only really good place to get bubble tea in Little Rock and it happens to be dairy free. They do Baozi for breakfast too!
Flying Saucer - Downtown River Market
Best soft pretzel ever. Fried chicken friday special. All the beers. This place is mostly known for the variety of beers they have on tap and otherwise but I had quite a few work day lunches here. Get the Saucer Bratzel - Pretzel covered with cheese, brats, and green onion with queso to dip it in. It's a meal by itself. They also do a honey fried chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli on Fridays for lunch that I'm pretty fond of.
La Madeleine - Chenal/Markham
Quick country french. My love for La Madeleine started when my mom took me to one by her apartment in Austin and I would go by myself and enjoy a meal on the patio during the summer I spent there and pretend I was at a cafe in Paris so the tradition just continued when they opened a place in Little Rock. They have my favorite chicken caesar salad but I also love to get the sampler with potato soup and strawberries romanoff (strawberries with fruit dip). The lattes and bakery case are not to be forgotten. And the free bread and jam is just an added perk.
Zoes Kitchen - Chenal
Fast Mediterranean. Another favorite that I was introduced to in Austin. I always order the steak kabobs with salsa verde and a side greek salad or grilled potato salad and veggies. Most of the time we get the basil pesto hummus with white pita as an appetizer because it's kind of my favorite.
Tacos 4 Life - Shackleford Crossing
Cheese dip. Mustache Punch. Fluffy fried shells. Reward system that results in free tacos and cheese dip and a dip trio for your b-day. Each meal you buy provides a meal for a hungry child. What else do I really need to say? Grilled chicken taco and korean bbq steak ( previously the Counselor) taco 4 life.
Slim Chicken's - Midtown/Markham
Ya'llllll - Sunday is chicken Sunday in mine and Tyler's home... Fried or grilled chicken strips, salad, wrap. Fries. Fried Okra. Fruit flavored tea. Dessert jars. They like to take their time in the drive thru like they've gone out to kill a chicken but that's okay because we keep coming back.
Whole Foods - Bowman
I'm that weirdo that spends hours just walking around the grocery store looking at new products for fun. And since I can't afford to actually do all of my shopping here, I usually stop by the salad/hot food bar to pick up dinner... and a case of mochi ice creams.
Honey Pie's - Bowman
This is a new favorite that I didn't really get around to going to until right before I moved but they just expanded so they have a lot of seating, it's super cute in there, and their salads, soup, and chicken salad sandwiches are bomb. Ashamed to say I never got to try their pies.
Scallions - Heights
Cheese soup. Warm poppyseed muffins. Salads. This place is only open for lunch and is closed on Sundays. They are sometimes understaffed for the amount of business they are getting and a little pricey but they have a huge patio under big old trees to wait under if you have the time. We endured the wait for the soup and the muffins many a day at work, right Sky?
The Pantry Crest - Hillcrest
German/European food. Candlelit. Old house. Bacon Wrapped Dates (trust me they're good). Cheeseboard. Best Cheesecake I've ever had. Late night. This is a great date night restaurant but Tyler and I have definitely shown up late at night in sweats more than once. Cheese boards and a bunch of sides for dinner in old houses turned restaurants are my very favorite and this place offers just that. Plus it has a patio with those twinkly patio lights I dream about.
SMOOTHIES
Paninis & Company - Midtown
Formerly I Heart Juice Bar. Closed on Sundays but one of the few places you can get an Acai bowl or a good smoothie in Little Rock. My personal faves are the Pitaya bowl or the Pink Dragon smoothie.
COFFEE
Mylo Coffee Co. - Hillcrest
When I first moved to Little Rock Mylo was one of the only coffeeshops in town. I had to go to Common Grounds to get coffee downtown before work. The LR coffee scene has changed drastically in the past year. There are tons of great options east of Midtown now but Mylo has remained my favorite. Mostly for the studying atmosphere because they are open on Sundays and open late when not many others are. But they also have a great London Fog and pastries/food and they support local farms. I won't pretend to be a coffee expert because I really love Lattes and syrups but I think theirs is pretty good.
DESSERT
Scoop Dog - North Little Rock
Looks sketchy. Better than Andy's. Junkyard dog and pumpkin cheesecake concrete. We took many a late night drive to NLR for this place.
Le Pops - Heights
Gourmet popsicles. Great midday pick me up or dessert after dinner at Zaza's. Dip it in chocolate, graham crackers, whatever your heart desires. Their pop flavors change weekly.
Yogurt Mountain (YoMo) - Chenal
My froyo place of choice after a $5 Tuesday Movie at The Rave or for dinner if I'm making bad choices that day. I'm a fan of the original tart flavor topped with mochi, popping boba, fruit, a brownie chunk, and nutella.
Whimsy Cookie - Bowman
All pink and gold decor. Fell in love with this place at their original location in Memphis and they opened up their first franchise in Little Rock right before I moved. Their gooey butter cookies are the best cookies you will ever put in your mouth. The sugar cookies have almond frosting, and maybe one day the LR location will get the oatmeal creme pies that have my heart.
