Arkansas’s fifth most populous city and the home of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro is fast becoming a flourishing cultural center. Here we profile Jonesboro’s best local restaurants.
Club
Bar, Restaurant, Steakhouse, Seafood, Fast Food, American, Wine, Beer
The 501 Club is the perfect marriage of delicious, hearty food and an upscale dining experience. The decor is old-fashioned and elegant, with dark wood panelling, rich deep colors and a carved bar serving an extensive variety of wines and cocktails. The menu specializes largely in steaks; what sets the 501 Club apart from other steakhouses is its varied and creative approach to the dish. Highlights from the menu include the goat cheese filet, a filet mignon stuffed with tomato, basil and goat cheese, and the whiskey mignon, a melt-in-the-mouth tenderloin sautéed in a whiskey sauce: the ultimate decadence.
Bistro on the Ridge
A casual restaurant from the outside, the Bistro on the Ridge offers a busy, welcoming atmosphere on the inside and an extensive menu. The bistro specializes in quick, yet high-quality, home-cooked dishes. For those in a hurry, the restaurant has an excellent range of sandwiches, with different and exciting combinations of ingredients. Their pimento cheese sandwich, with pimento cheese, crispy bacon, a fried green tomato and lettuce, all served on fresh, soft bread, is a wildly popular choice. It can be grilled for that extra dose of comfort. For those who wish to linger, the Bistro on the Ridge has warming, generously portioned dishes, as well as a list of daily specials for those who want to try something new.
Chef’s In is the place to go in Jonesboro for delicious, old-fashioned Southern comfort food. The restaurant operates a buffet-style service, with customers paying at the door before tucking into an all-you-can-eat meal. With the incredibly variety of options available, it is understandable to not know where to begin, but impossible to go away hungry. Each day has a regular daily special, such as tender pork chops, crispy fried chicken or meatloaf, as well as a range of alternative meat and vegetarian dishes, homemade sides, a salad bar and an enormous dessert selection for those with a little more room remaining. Family-owned and run, Chef’s In is the perfect choice for a spot of Southern hospitality.
The Edge Coffeehouse
Cafe, Coffee Shop, Coffee, Tea , Fast Food, Vegetarian, American
The Edge Coffeehouse is the perfect antidote to the soulless cafe chains filling up towns and cities. Instead of typical decor and a standardized menu, The Edge Coffeehouse offers a quaint atmosphere. The charming, converted old house is filled with mismatched tables and chairs, some of which spill out onto the porch and lawn – ideal for relaxing on sunny days. Tea and coffee are served in porcelain cups and saucers, and can be accompanied by a range of homemade cakes, hearty soups or sandwiches. The cafe has a thriving sense of community spirit, hosting business meetings, college student’s study sessions and young children’s board game parties. This makes it a cozy, welcoming spot for a slice of cake and local culture.
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Godsey's Grill
Bar, Restaurant, American, Fast Food, Vegetarian, Wine, Beer
Godsey’s Grill’s emphasis on creativity and fun is evident from both its atmosphere and menu. The interior is a perfect blend of quirkiness and a retro, vintage style, with exposed brick walls, classic graffiti and vibrant paintings filling the space. This bold approach carries through to its food, which serves contemporary twists on American cuisine, such as the Philly steak burger or its wood-fired ‘Piggy Pie Pizza,’ with a base of BBQ sauce and topped with pulled pork, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. The restaurant also serves generously portioned appetizers, from nachos to a bacon cheeseburger dip. It is an ideal spot to drop by after a long day’s work and unwind over drinks and shared appetizers with friends.
Hiro
An excellent alternative to the abundance of American cuisine in Jonesboro, Hiro offers a wide-ranging and enticing menu. It is filled with both Japanese classics and contemporary fusion dishes, mixing Japanese cuisine with local ingredients. Be sure to check out their United States sushi rolls, including the Philadelphia roll with cream cheese and the Kentucky roll with chicken katsu and honey sauce. Great emphasis is put on presentation, with each plate arriving at the table artistically presented, with an array of beautiful patterns and colors vying for attention. They make food that is almost, but not quite, too beautiful to eat.
Lazarri's Italian Oven
Restaurant, Pizzeria, Italian, Fast Food, Vegan, Vegetarian
A local, family-run establishment, Lazarri’s Italian Oven specializes in authentic, delicious Italian cuisine with fresh, flavorsome ingredients and dishes prepared on location. The restaurant’s wood-fire oven is one of its biggest draws, yielding thin, crispy, hand-stretched pizzas topped with various Italian cheeses and herbs. It also serves up freshly baked, steaming bread, crusty on the outside and soft and light within. Lazzari’s Italian Oven also offers an all-you-can-eat lunch option for the truly indecisive, allowing you to sample across the range of their delicious pastas and breads.
Omar’s Uptown has all the charm of small-town local dining with all the elegance and class of an upscale restaurant. The restaurant is located in a beautiful, historic brick building in the heart of downtown Jonesboro. The main dining area builds on this luxurious first impression with sleek yet comfortable seating, tables covered in crisp white tablecloths and ambient lighting. The dishes complement this modern twist on upscale dining: chef Omar Barry experiments with new ingredients and techniques to create fresh flavor combinations. The seafood menu is particularly tempting, with dishes such as oolong seabass and pecan salmon sure to spark curiosity.
Skinny J's
Restaurant, American, Fast Food, Vegetarian, Vegan
Skinny J’s first opened its doors in 2009 in a tiny little venue just outside of Jonesboro. As word got out about its mouthwatering steaks, juicy burgers and delicious homemade pastas, Skinny J’s found itself hugely in demand. This resulted in a packed house every weekend and eager customers queuing at the door. Thanks to its popularity, Skinny J’s has now moved to a larger location in downtown Jonesboro, but still offers the same excellent cuisine made with high-quality ingredients and local produce. The restaurant is also known for its dinner entertainment. There’s nightly live music in a variety of musical genres and styles playing late into the night.
Sue's Kitchen
Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan
Sue’s Kitchen‘s location in an old converted federal building lends this homey little restaurant a quaint atmosphere and a distinctly local edge. The restaurant emphasizes this cozy local feel with a menu stocked with delicious, homemade fare. The bread rolls, biscuits and muffins are all freshly baked and are served alongside a variety of homemade quiches, hearty soups and freshly made sandwiches. Sue’s Kitchen also dishes up an excellent all-American breakfast, from pancakes served with sizzling bacon and drenched in maple syrup to a decadent banana-praline French toast.
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