Best Restaurant

Cypress Social

North Little Rock

Despite starting on the threshold of the the tumultuous years of the pandemic, Cypress Social has quickly risen to claim its place as AY’s 2023 Best Restaurant. This might not come as a surprise, as Cypress Social is just one of the latest exploits of legendary restaurateur Jim Keet who can list Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and Petit and Keet as just two of the successes on his resume. Cypress Social has breathed new life into what was once the North Little Rock landmark Cock of the Walk with what the restaurant’s interior designer Garry Mertins described as “Casual, Southern food with no attitude.” Southern classics like cornbread and fried green tomatoes come in right alongside redfish pontchartrain and sous vide beef filet for a menu to suit any occasion, not to mention a beautiful lake-side venue.

Best Mexican Baja Grill

Benton, Little Rock

California-style Mexican food is the name of the game at Baja Grill featuring fresh ingredients, great tacos and even better house-made margaritas. With two locations in Central Arkansas, Baja Grill falls under the The Taco Society, a concept group of restaurateurs Heather Baber-Roe and Craig Roe. The Roes also own Valhalla Kitchen + Bar, Valkyrie Axe Throwing and RŌBER Cocktails & Culinary. Baja Grill originally started as a small food truck in 2012, but has grown to a traditional restaurant. Each item is meticulously prepared at Baja Grill, with meats smoked for 20 hours on-location. Baja Grill is the Best Mexican recipient for this year’s Reader’s Restaurant Poll and in 2022 was named in the top three for AY’s Best Of 2022.

Best Chicken Wings Foghorn’s

Fayetteville, Siloan Springs, Springdale, Rogers

Foghorn’s is known for its world-class wings, burgers, sports coverage, live music and so much more. Located conveniently throughout Northwest Arkansas, the restaurant prides itself on having the best TV set-up in all of its locations. No matter what kind of wings you want to dig into, Foghorns has something for every wing lover to savor, with 50 different sauces and eight unique dry rubs to choose from. This Arkansas original has won awards with house sauces such as Acid Rain, Cryin’ Hawaiian and Habanero Sweet Barbecue. If you’re craving fantastic wings, don’t hesitate to head out to a Foghorn’s location to enjoy a game, an entree and good service.

Best Happy Hour Sauce(d) Bar and Oven

Little Rock

If you’re looking for gourmet, chef-inspired meals prepared from fresh local ingredients, look no further than Sauced Bar and Oven. To sweeten the deal, make sure you visit from 2 to 6 p.m. any day of the week to take advantage of their happy hour. The Sauced specialty is gourmet Neapolitan-style wood-oven pizza, accompanied by house soups and salads and exceptional pasta, paired with signature cocktails, wine on tap and local draft beer. With a private dining room available for special occasions and an open kitchen where you can watch a professionally trained staff work, Sauced boasts an experience to match its menu.

Best Cheese Dip Local Lime

Little Rock, Rogers

Cheese dip is a staple of any Arkansan’s diet and restaurants all over the state have worked to create their own special recipes. At Local Lime, the staff is focused on providing the very best food and service to its customers. The menu is packed with unique and traditional menu items, with cheese dip being among the most popular. Local Lime is part of the Yellow Rocket Concepts suite of restaurants, which includes many Arkansas owned and inspired establishments such as Zaza Fine Salad & Wood-Oven Pizza Co., Big Orange, Lost Forty, Camp Taco, Bentonville Taco & Tamale Co. and Heights Taco & Tamale Co.

BEST APPETIZER

Red Moon Tavern

Little Rock v

BEST BAKERY

PattiCakes Bakery Conway v

BEST BARBECUE RIBS

Whole Hog Cafe

North Little Rock v

BEST BARBECUE SANDWICH

Count Porkula

Little Rock, North Little Rock v

BEST BARTENDER

Veo Tyson, So Restaurant

Little Rock v

BEST BEER SELECTION

Waldo’s Chicken & Beer

North Little Rock v

BEST BISCUITS & GRAVY

The Croissanterie

Little Rock v

BEST BREAKFAST

Big Bad Breakfast

Little Rock

BEST BRUNCH

@ The Corner

Little Rock v

BEST BURGER (NON-FAST FOOD)

Big Orange

Little Rock, Rogers v

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH

Homers East Little Rock v

BEST CAJUN/CREOLE

Copper Mule Table & Tap

Bryant v

BEST CATERER

DownHome Catering Benton v BEST CATFISH

Eat My Catfish

Benton, Conway, Fayetteville, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Rogers, Siloam Springs v

BEST CHAIN

RESTAURANT

David’s Burgers

Benton, Bryant, Conway, Cabot, Hot Springs, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Mabelvale

BEST CHEF

Aaron Fowler, Cypress Social North Little Rock v

BEST CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

NeNe’s Dishes Cabot v

BEST CHINESE

Three Fold Little Rock v

BEST CLASSIC RESTAURANT (20+ YEARS)

The Terrace Little Rock v

BEST COCKTAILS

Petit & Keet Little Rock v

BEST COFFEEHOUSE (NON-CHAIN)

Nexus Coffee & Creative Little Rock v

BEST DATE NIGHT Table 28

Little Rock

BEST DELI

Burge’s Lewisville, Little Rock v

BEST DESSERT Trio’s Little Rock v

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

Cache Little Rock v

BEST DIVE BAR

Town Pump Little Rock v

BEST DONUTS

Shipley Do-nuts

Batesville, Bryant, Dardanelle, El Dorado, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Magnolia, Maumelle, Newport, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Russellville, Searcy, Sherwood, Stuttgart, Texarkana

BEST ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT

Valhalla Restaurant & Axe

Throwing Benton