Located across the river from downtown Little Rock, North Little Rock is a fun, family-friendly destination. Popular attractions include Dickey-Stephen’s Park, home of the Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball team, and Verizon Arena, the main entertainment venue of the Little Rock region. For outdoor fun, there’s the charming Old Mill (seen in the film Gone with the Wind) and Burns Park. Here’s our guide to the best places to eat while enjoying North Little Rock, Arkansas.
ZAZA is a pizza and salad restaurant that mixes southern cooking with Italian classics. The restaurant’s menu includes classic pepperoni pizzas, as well as thin crust, wood-fired, Italian-influenced ones, salads like roasted chicken Caesar, fresh seasonal soups, and creamy gelato treats for dessert. The best thing about ZAZA’s, is that it works closely with farms to get the freshest and most sustainable ingredients. Remember to ask about the seasonal salad specials and market pizza specials, which change frequently and are inspired by the chef’s weekly visits to farmer’s markets.
Located at the farmer’s market off highway 161, BJ’s Market Cafe serves homemade meals for breakfast, lunch, and dessert. From fried catfish to pecan pie, the southern dishes are made using the produce from the adjoining market. BJ’s is one of the most comfortable places in town.
Whole Hog Cafe is known for pork barbecue. It’s an award-winning local restaurant that has 30 years of experience in the World Championship Barbecue competitions. Whole Hog barbecues about three tons of top quality meat each week, all of it prepared and cooked over pecan wood just like it’s done in World Championships. In addition to pork, beef, and chicken treats, the restaurant serves sides such as baked beans, coleslaw, nachos, and salads.
Mugs Cafe is one of North Little Rock’s trendiest and friendliest places to go for food and drinks. Its slogan is ‘life is short, drink great coffee,’ but the café also serves a variety of delicious dishes for lunch and breakfast. Mugs encourages slow eating, and the atmosphere is welcoming, making it popular for meetings, relaxing with friends, or working alone on your laptop. The coffee list includes exotic choices like Mayan Mocha, Thai Latte, and Tahitian Vanilla Frappuchino. Lunch dishes include vegetarian wraps and smoked salmon served over spinach greens. If you love the atmosphere and ever find yourself in Bryant, Arkansas, be sure to check out Mugs’s sister location, Speakeasy.
Santo Coyote is a festive neighborhood Mexican food and tequila bar with two North Little Rock locations. The atmosphere is charming and relaxed, and Santo Coyote is known for serving generously portioned dishes. It has a long menu, which is full of Mexican favorites from sizzling lunch fajitas to seafood burritos and chicken enchiladas. Santo Coyote also serves beer, wine, tequilas, and specialty drinks — be sure to also try the signature Santo Coyote Blue Margarita.
Located on the corner of 5th and Main Street in the Argenta Historic District, Ristorante Cápeo offers a simple but outstanding Italian menu. The dishes are made from the freshest ingredients in an open kitchen, and the environment is casual yet intimate. Lunch includes pizzas, pastas, soups, and salads along with a beer menu. For dinner, the restaurant has an excellent wine list to go along with servings of antipasti, including options like fried calamari and stuffed eggplant. Entrees include grilled beef tenderloin and tender lamb braised in wine tomatoes.
Homer’s is a southern breakfast and lunch restaurant. With daily Happy Hour specials and a party room always available for reservations, the atmosphere is lively, fun, and family-friendly. For breakfast, Homer’s serves traditional American dishes like omelets, pancakes, biscuits, and bacon, each in signature homemade style. Some of the most popular dishes for lunch and dinner at Homer’s include shrimp and catfish platters, fresh burgers, hot wings, and Frito chili pies. For dessert, try a homemade fried pie or one of the delicious cobblers.
American Pie Pizza is Little Rock’s very own pizza destination, with three different locations. You can either order one of the popular pizzas from the menu or choose to make a special one with a variety of toppings. American Pie Pizza also serves pastas, soups, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers, including freshly made mozzarella cheese sticks. It’s the best place in town for quality pizza and a nice, family-friendly atmosphere.
Most North Little Rock locals will point you towards Riverfront Steakhouse for the best steaks in town. The restaurant serves a dinner menu of seafood entrees and USDA prime steaks, known for their distinctive flavor. Instead of using an open-flame grill or regular oven, the restaurant swears by a new special preparation process using an infra-red broiler oven. Perfect for a date, business meeting, or other special dinner, the steakhouse has an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere.
Located in Park Hill, Ira’s Park Hill Grill is a traditional American restaurant and definitely worth a visit. Though located in a shopping center, the restaurant has a nice, classy, and comfortable atmosphere. Offering both lunch and dinner, the menu includes a range of fresh salads, pesto pastas, tacos, and grilled meats and fish. The restaurant was opened just this year, but it’s quickly gaining great recommendations and becoming the newest North Little Rock favorite.
