The best food in the state that I have found is at AL'S ON THE SQUARE at 200 East Main in downtown El Dorado, AR 71730 The phone number is 501-863-0404 and the Fax is 501-863-0652 Angela Jenkins is the owner, the chef, and you might as well call her the Vice President of Customer Service as well.
The food is different, exotic, wonderful, delicious, exquisite, delightful ---- you name the adjective, the food here lives up to it and then jumps over the mark. 

 Angela sees to your comfort, personally, you get to dine inside, outside, or under a canopy, plus, there is an upstairs dining area. Even the napkins impressed me, the glasses, everything about the decor is top-of-the-line good. Al's Corner Cafe is right beside the Union County Courthouse, to decorate the heart of downtown. There are lanterns, flowers, and of course, El Dorado itself, to enhance the pleasure of dining here. On any day of the month, it is well worth the drive, from anywhere. But Angela also has SPECIAL DAYS where the food and the atmosphere are out of this world. Write to Angela for the next date, and make a date with anyone you want to impress. Al's will do the impressing.

Then there is Country Kitchen, in Stuttgart, (better known as SUGAR town because if you take the Ts out, that is what you have left). Country Kitchen is almost out of town, on US 79, the road (almost north) going to Ulm and Roe. You won't see the restaurant until you pass it. If you get plumb out of town you went too far, back up and try it again.
The decor here is rustic, beautiful, peaceful. There is plenty of room, lots of light, and plenty to look at. The waitress we got was sympathetic to our peculiarities (I can't drink out of plastic and James can't eat more than one piece of pie) and even joshed with us a little. The service was professional. The place was neat as a pin.

Everything comes off a menu, but there is lots of it, and lots of variety to the dinner. All the food is melt-in-your-mouth good. The atmosphere is about like being at home, or maybe visiting with your sister Sue. The antique plaques caught my eye more than anything else.  The country motifs and dolls catch a lot of attention too.

Then there is Sonny's B-B-Q & Fish in Little Rock.  Phone 501 570 7898 for directions.  This is little more than a hole in the wall, but the food is delicious.

Try your hand at our puzzle then
Send your puzzle-loving friends here too.

Gaston's Restaurant has won so many other awards in the state that you probably know more about it than I do. Dining there is an experience to be remembered; the arrangements are truly creative. The outside is right there, the inside welcomes you with open arms, the service is terrific, the clientele are having fun, and when the sun goes down, it gets even better. The only thing left to tell is the phone number… 501 431 5204 

The area from Brinkley to Marvell is prime geese country. During the winter Honkers will literally cover the fields. Brinkley is also a natural stop for anyone fleeing to Little Rock from Memphis. Brinkley had thousands and thousands of geese in the air this morning just outside of town. They flooded the sky from horizon to horizon.

My first pie at Gene's Barbecue was pecan. I honestly believe it is the best pecan pie I have ever eaten. Wednesday I had coconut creme and it was the best coconut creme pie I have ever eaten. Sunday I came back and tried the apple with three of my friends. They were as astonished by the texture and flavor of these wonderful pies as I was. You will be too.

Besides pie, Gene's dishes up frog legs, catfish, four kinds of barbecue and numerous other specials. Now, please be aware that the decor lacks much, but also realize that the food makes up for it.

Nothing compares to the pecan pie of course,

The pie at Gene's Barbecue is the best in the country.

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   Bowen's has been around for about 30 years now. It is right beside the Best Western Continental Inn in Arkadelphia on Hiway N. 67 Phone number is: 501 246 8661
   

Their specialty is a lavish feed called the buffet for like $4.95 or less. The serving table is about fifty feet long, and has two sides. I saw five different kinds of meat and all five were delicious. The vegetables looked like they came out of a garden where people live high on the hog. It wasn't just the quality of the food, but the care in presenting it, the originality in arranging it that showed up.

I hate to say this because you might not respect the quality of all the other food when I do, but it must be said: The best thing there was the coleslaw! It was so good I went back for seconds, and then thirds. The rest of my plate got filled up each time with new temptations, but the coleslaw? --- it could not be beat, and I didn't even try. James gained four pounds here, and I gained six.

We got there well after one and all the trays were still full, the food still fresh. On the downside, the dinner plates were not big enough, and there aren't any labels on anything there so you don't know if you are getting a cheese ball or a banana rolled in nuts until you sit down to take a bite. After I found out it was a banana I would have chosen the banana, but I would have liked to known what I was eating first.

Perhaps the most arresting part of the decor was a painting of Lake Gray by Candace Buck. I came back to it several times. 

They have a big long mirror behind the serving table which is interesting to an observer like myself; It lets you see people from two sides at once. Other than that, it is mostly open space, good tables and firm, strong chairs. Seating looks like about 150, but I was told there were more rooms to open up when things get to bustling, like on Saturday morning.

Speaking of Saturday mornings, the breakfast buffet is $3.29 and comes with eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, juices too. Served from six to 10 I think.

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   Friday and Saturday night is special for a seafood buffet at $8.50 shrimp, clam, pollack, catfish, and something that looks like frog legs.
   
    
    
    
    
     
Tuesday night's buffet is Tex-Mex, and only $4.29 Bowen's supplies the tacos, sanchos, enchilladas, spanish rice, sopapillas and such like, you bring your appetite. The only thing missing is taquitos.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
They have locally made pecan brittle there by the gallon, or little bag. The lady who waited on us was sweet, friendly and fast.
Her name is Kim, ask for her by name and you'll get good service from anyone else there waiting on you. 
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And, Here is a local review for Conway

We have a couple of noteworthy places in Conway to check out... Go by Frank Brannan's on Harkrider just down from Hendrix College, they have the best Lemonade available anywhere and good old fashioned greasy... I mean "juicy" burgers!

Just down the street from Frank's, visit Shorty's Bar-B-Q and order a milk shake and tell them that you DON'T want a lid!
Also... when in Ashdown in SW Arkansas, be sure and stop at Miss Mac's and have a Chicken Fried Steak Special.... My cholesterol level climbs just thinking about it!

Your dining experience articles are wanted.  Drop a line to me.