Can you suggest better restaurants in the Little Rock area, price no object. We'll be there for a week, and need ideas for dining alone and for entertaining business clients. Whatever suggestions you have would be appreciated. Need help soon because we're flying east in a week. Thank you.

Go to the 'South' message boards at chowhound.com -- lots of good info there.

Chowhound.com is always suggested, but the information is so spread out it's not that easy to access and use. But will try anyway.

My favorite restaurant in Little Rock is 1620; very upscale and delicious food. It's only open in the evenings. The phone number is 501-221-1620; address--1620 Market Street. You cannot go wrong going here for fine dining,with or without business clients. Get the chocolate souffle--it is fabulous!!! I suggest calling for reservations.

Another good choice is Ashley's at the Capital hotel. Again, great food,and very fine dining. 501-374-7474; it's in downtown Little Rock , at Markham and Louisiana. Call for reservations. The food here is delicious but I like 1620 better--not quite as "uptight." Reservations are recommended.

For great Italian (fine dining again), try a newer place called Bene Vita. I've been here once and loved it and will be going back (tomorrow night, as a matter of fact). The phone number--501-666-8482; address--3701 Cantrell. The chef who owns this place also has another great restaurant right behind it called Loca Luna--501-663-4666; address--3519 Cantrell. This place has food such as steaks, seafood, and pasta. Both of these places have delicious food and the atmosphere of each is more casual than 1620 and Ashley's.

1620 and Ashley's are both good upscale choices. My favorite, however, is Brave New Restaurant. In my opinion it's better than the other two. It doesn't take reservations, so if you're there on a weekend prepare for a wait. I'd strongly advise against Bene Vita or Loca Luna. Bene Vita was pretty good when it opened but has gone downhill fast. There's another option downtown (along with Ashley's). It's Sonny Williams Steakhouse, and though I haven't eaten there in a while it gets good reviews.

I think the BEST is Vermillion 448-7100. Mike Selig runs the best restaurant in town. This is also the only one that will let you sit and watch the cooking .Very upscale and worth every dollar !

Now that I'm home from vacation my head is a little clearer and I have another great restaurant suggestion. It's Spaule's...a really special dinner place, very small but wonderful food. I think both it and Brave New Restaurant would be wonderful places to entertain clients. So is Ashley's, but it's pretty hard to compare hotel dining to upscale restaurants, even if the hotel is wonderful!

Never dreamed so many Arkansans read this post. If you like Japanese food in LR try Sekisui on Shackleford or ICHIBON on Rodney Parham. For alone there is Macaroni Grill and Franke's, I beleive Andre's is still open if you like French food. Sims BBQ in the downtown area is good but far from upscale, might offer a nice change of pace.

The Vermillion Bistro and also Vermillion Waterfront in the Rivermarket District. The same for Trio's at Pavillion in the Park or Rivermarket. Very delicious. Don't forget Acadia nice dining on the deck if weather's nice or La Scala both on Kavanaugh. LR has many outstanding restaurants to choose from. Still trying to get to all of them!

Trio's is very good, as well as Capriccio (Italian) in the Peabody. We ate at Capriccio in the Memphis Peabody and it was very good! If you go there try the Calamari.

I used to live in Little Rock. It's been several years, but Ashley's was my favorite--very elegant.
Is Andre's still open? I thought it was closed after Andre was murdered (very shady deal-??Clinton scandel--I saw Hilary in the back room with her buddies there several times). It was a truly excellent restaurant and Andre was a true gentleman--always sent home treats to my boys.

Geez...yes, Andre was murdered, it was awful. But it had nothing to do with the Clintons, lol. This is a perfect example of how the Clintons got blamed for stuff they had no involvement in.

Andre's has opened a new location on Kavanaugh. Their food is mediocre and the service is the same. My guess is that they won't survive long.