12 Best Restaurants in Arkansas, USA

One of the newest players at the table of Little Rock's fine dining landscape, chef-owner Payne Harding, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, puts a contemporary spin on old-fashioned flavors, as, for instance, in his prosciutto-wrapped rabbit with gnocchi and braised apples. A good-value lunch menu includes interesting salads, small plates, sandwiches, and pizzas. From the bar, try a Kicking Mule, a craft cocktail concoction of whiskey and cayenne pepper.

A short drive to "the quiet side" of Eureka Springs will deliver a culinary experience that will make you think you're across the big pond. Chef-owner Linda Hager brings her passion for Mediterranean travel to the plates of her guests with dishes like shrimp à la Grecque—shrimp, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes seared in olive oil and garlic, then tossed with capellini pasta and feta cheese. The international wine list offers 15 wines by the glass. Check the website for special wine dinners, scheduled on Sunday nights throughout the year.

Dining in the 1860s log cabin built by John Gaskins as his family home will give you a taste of authentic Eureka Springs hospitality. The steak-house designation is well earned, but pescatarians and vegetarians will feel comfortable at the table, even if their choices are somewhat limited. Plan to enjoy your meal by not being in too big a hurry. Reservations are not accepted, but you can call up to 30 minutes ahead of your arrival to be put on the waiting list.

This third-wave downtown coffee and teahouse could have been plucked from Portland or San Francisco. The nitro cold brew on draft and other coffee options are all made with single origin beans, and nearly everything on the menu is organic or natural and locally sourced. Build your own bagel, or try one of the "healthyish" breakfast/brunch options, available all day. There are also delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches with something for every dietary restriction.

Catering to a broad range of tastes, Local Flavor is a real crowd-pleaser—light eaters will appreciate a selection of healthy salads and small plates; vegetarians get a generous nod; and burger buffs can wrap two hands around hearty half-pounders. Kids get their own menu at lunch and dinner, and it's more sophisticated than most. Doing Sunday brunch? Try the gingerbread waffle topped with seasonal fruit, toasted pecans, and real maple syrup. Reservations are taken by phone only, by a live person, during regular business hours—no voice-mail or email reservations.

Established in 1928 and owned by four generations of the same family until 2020, the legacy lives on at this award-winning barbecue joint. McClard's is still the place to use up a wad of napkins while eating a plate of ribs dripping in the family's famous barbecue sauce. The restaurant is on the west side of town, in a squat, white-washed, stucco building with neon signs outside and interior walls plastered with accolades.

Cool as the other side of the pillow, South on Main serves sophisticated Southern cuisine at an accessible price, wrapped in a comfortable architectural design of French bistro with a drawl. What's more, it's kissing cousins with Oxford American magazine, a literary buffet of Southern culture. When the two families get together, which is often, they dish up an eclectic entertainment menu of musical performances, literary readings, and anything else that brings the magazine "from page to stage."