16 Unique Restaurants In Arkansas That Will Give You An Unforgettable Dining Experience
Calling all foodies! Arkansas is a state known for its great Southern hospitality, scenic camping vacations, and scrumptious food! Although mouthwatering barbecue is a local dining staple for most Arkansans, the state offers an eclectic variety of restaurants that offer fresh ingredients and warm, friendly service. No matter what you’re craving, you’re most likely not far from a restaurant that serves it, and we’ve got the inside scoop on some of the best restaurants in Arkansas where you’ll undoubtedly have an unforgettable meal.
From the atmosphere to the food, these places consistently knock it out of the park and they’re worth a road trip from any corner of the state. In no particular order, here are some unique restaurants in Arkansas where you’ll have an unforgettable meal.
1. Dondie’s White River Princess: Located on the shore of the White River in downtown Des Arc, this popular place is patterned after an old riverboat and is one of the most unique places to eat in Arkansas.
You can dine on board without ever leaving the ground. It was built to resemble the steamboats that once traveled up and down the White River, docking at Des Arc, Arkansas.
Visit the Dondie’s White River Princess Facebook Page for more information.
2. Purple Cow: This beloved Little Rock burger spot serves up premium, hand-dipped shakes from the soda fountain in addition to delicious gourmet burgers and diner dishes.
Inspired by a restaurant in Fresno, California built in the 1950s, the menu here features hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, a salad bar and dinner specials.
4. Cafe Africa, Little Rock Zoo: Walk with the animals, talk with the animals, and eat with the animals! This cafe is housed in the historic lion house at the Little Rock Zoo.
The lion house at the Little Rock Zoo was built in 1933 and is a Works Progress Administration all-rock building. The restaurant features a stone fireplace and multi-level dining.
5. Cotham’s Mercantile: This is by and far the most popular “general store” in Arkansas. This eatery in Scott occupies an old general store which partially sits on stilts in the rear, overlooking Bearskin Lake.
Note: Sadly, Cotham's Mercantile has permanently closed, but the sister restaurant is still open. Now boasting a sister restaurant in Little Rock, Cotham's is where Arkansas elite meet to eat and is known for its trademark "Hubcap Hamburgers" and handmade onion rings.
6. Historic Oark General Store & Café: The oldest continuous-operating store in Arkansas, established in 1890; the building has the original floors, walls, and ceiling.
7. Abe’s Ole Feed House: This South Arkansas restaurant (located outside of El Dorado) is housed in an old country store and has gained a regular following with its all-you-can-eat dining options.
This restaurant's menu includes fried catfish, seafood, barbecue ribs, a variety of salads and vegetables, plus desserts and enormous homemade cinnamon rolls.
Meats here are smoked on-site and served on plain white bread with thin, vinegar-based sauce and cole slaw. The restaurant has been featured in national magazines & television.
9. McClard's Bar-B-Q in Hot Springs: Once a beloved hangout of President Bill Clinton, this legendary Arkansas barbecue restaurant offers meats pit smoked daily on the premises.
McClard's is also known for their sauce, cole slaw, beans and hot tamales, all made from scratch from old family recipes. They have been family owned and operated for over 75 years.
10. Doe's Eat Place in Little Rock: This Little Rock landmark is known for huge steaks and homemade tamales. It gained national attention during the 1992 presidential election campaign.
Clinton campaigners and staffers made Doe's their hangout and it was also the setting for then-candidate Bill Clinton's interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
11. Venesian Inn in Tontitown: This tiny Arkansas town is best known for its Grape Festival but also has a lovely location for soaking up the food heritage of this place that was founded by Italian immigrants at the end of the 19th century.
The AQ Chicken House is known for its secret-recipe chicken and casual family dining. The pan fried chicken is the house specialty.
13. Weinkeller Restaurant: Located in Wiederkehr Village, the Weinkeller Restaurant at Wiederkehr Wine Cellars serves Swiss and other charming European dishes to go along with Arkansas-made Wiederkehr wine.
The original wine cellar, hand-dug by Johann Andreas Wiederkehr in 1880, was converted to house the Weinkeller in 1967. The restaurant is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
14. Green Corner Store in Little Rock: Eco Lifestyle Store features turn-of-the-century hand-tooled, old-fashioned wooden pharmacy fixtures including white oak shelving, glass displays and marble counters.
16. Charlotte's Eats & Sweets : Located in a historic pharmacy building in Keo, Arkansas, Charlotte's serves ice cream concoctions such as shakes, sundaes, malts, along with sandwiches, salads, burgers, homemade pies and cakes.
AR restaurants always offer a great place to have a “sit down” meal! Of course, this list is just a sampling of some of the best restaurants in Arkansas – all Arkie residents have their own favorite dining spots, and travelers from the biggest cities find themselves coming back to even the smallest towns just for a second or third helping. Did your favorite restaurant make the list? Are there any unique restaurants in Arkansas you would add? Let us know in the comments below!
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Address: Dondie's White River Princess, 203 E Curran St, Des Arc, AR 72040, USA
Address: Mammoth Orange Cafe, Redfield, AR 72132, USA
Address: Zoo Drive, Zoo Dr, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Address: Cotham's In the City, 1401 W 3rd St, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Address: Oark General Store, 117 Co Rd 5241, Oark, AR 72852, USA
Address: Abe's Ole Feed House, 2299 Lawson Rd, Lawson, AR 71750, USA
Address: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, 219 W Louisiana St, Marianna, AR 72360, USA
Address: McClard's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, 505 Albert Pike Rd, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913, USA
Address: Doe's Eat Place, 1023 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Address: Venesian Inn, 582 W Henri De Tonti Blvd, Springdale, AR 72762, USA
Address: A Q Chicken House, 1207 N Thompson St, Springdale, AR 72764, USA
Address: 3324 Swiss Family Dr Wiederkehr Village, Altus, AR 72821, USA
Address: Ozark Cafe, 107 E Court St, Jasper, AR 72641, USA
Address: Charlotte's Eats & Sweets, 290 Main St, Keo, AR 72083, USA
Address: 1423 Main St D, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
Address: 1490 Higdon Ferry Rd, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
unique restaurants in Arkansas
October 04, 2020
Jackie Ann
What is the most popular restaurant in Arkansas?
No matter what type of cuisine you’re in the mood for, there’s a kitchen in Arkansas that’s serving it. With thousands of restaurants peppered around the Natural State, it can be difficult to decide where to dine. If you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex, you can’t go wrong with a meal from Taco Mama in Hot Springs. For finger-licking-good BBQ, Sims Bar-B-Que has a huge fan base with locals who will tell you it’s the best BBQ in the state. Of course, if fried seafood is what you’re craving, Eat My Catfish will certainly fill you up, and they’ve got locations in both Little Rock and Benton,Arkansas.
Where can I find the best burgers in Arkansas?
When you’re looking to sink your teeth into a big, juicy burger, Arkansas has plenty of options for you. In Hot Springs, a local favorite is Bubbalu’s, which specializes in bodacious burgers, hot dogs, and more. For a nostalgic diner experience, head over to the Dairyette in Mount Ida. This humble little diner has been serving some of the best burgers and shakes in the state since they opened in 1958, and well worth a visit. Other favorites include CJ’s Butcher Boy Burgers in Russellville, Feltner’s Whatta-Burger in Russelville, and David’s Burgers in Conway,Arkansas.
Where are the best bakeries in Arkansas?
Arkansas may not have a signature dessert that’s known worldwide, but those near Searcy County in the Ozarks would beg to differ. Known as the Chocolate Roll Capital of the World, this sweet treat is a kind of cousin to the cinnamon roll, and perfect any time of day. Misty’s Shell, a gas station in Leslie, Arkansas, is known to have some of the best chocolate rolls around. If you’re in the mood for a cupcake, you should pop into Sugar Dumplin’s. This little bakery in Bryant, Arkansas features over 80 cupcake flavors in rotation, plus freshly baked cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other delicious baked goods.
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