Local restaurants are producing some of the most astounding dishes we’ve ever tasted.
Even with a dining scene that prides itself in serving simple, modest dishes in casual settings, Little Rock restaurant-goers can, at times, expect plates to truly “wow” them. From a higher price point or exotic ingredients, perfect presentation or a masterful execution, certain culinary creations reach a level of extravagance seldom seen in our city. In Little Rock’s developing food community, it’s often all about a strong word-of-mouth. Well, these dishes will definitely get you talking.
1.Options at Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, one of the city’s premier dining establishments, will blow the mind. Pure luxury starts with a small slab of beautifully marbled Australian waygu beef. Have yours cooked to just above rare and savor each tender bite of this $20-an-ounce cut of meat. But why stop there?
Graduate up to one of, if not the, most luxurious and expensive bites in all of Little Rock, the certified Japanese Kobe (pictured above), also dubbed “The Ultimate Beef Experience.” Each shipment of meat arrives at the restaurant with its own certificate of authenticity, a document that would rival that of your son’s or daughter’s birth certificate. “The thing that separates Japanese Kobe from other steaks is the dispersion of marbling. The Japanese focus on achieving evenly dispersed fat, rather than the pockets and bands you see in many domestic steaks. Kobe beef fat is also very high in unsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids melt at a lower temperature than the saturated variety. This is what gives the meat that melt-in-your-mouth feel,” says chef Brian Kearns. He continues, “At $45 an ounce, this steak is an extravagance. But the customers that order Kobe have usually tried it before in larger cities, and they are all very excited to have a place in Little Rock where they can get their fix.”
2. For starters, it’s almost impossible to trump the jaw-dropping beauty of the antipasto ala Vincenzo ($17, above) at Bruno’s Little Italy. This sizeable platter is filled with aged cheeses, slices of cured meats, black and green olives, anchovies, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes and mushrooms, sweet peppers, chopped salad, and a beautiful boiled egg split right down the middle. The assortment of vibrant colors and varying flavors, along with sizeable portions, are sure to satisfy a hungry table of four, at least until the entrées arrive.
3. Just because Arkansas is a landlocked state doesn’t mean succulent seafood is non-existent. At downtown’s Sonny Williams’ Steakroom, consider passing on the 12-oz. filet or even the monster Porterhouse in favor of some surf. And while the grilled Chilean sea bass or even the halibut may suffice, a platter filled with a pound and a half of Alaskan king crab legs and claws ($56.95, above) is sure to transport seafood lovers to the Great Northwest.
4. Speaking of entrées, none is more visually captivating than Table 28’s aged rib-eye “tomahawk” steak ($75, above). This enormous steak comes equipped with its own 12-inch attached bone, ensuring that heads will turn as it’s transported from kitchen to table. It is cooked medium rare, topped with thin fried onions and paired with a bleu cheese fondue. Diners may opt to split this dish with a tablemate, while ordering a side of mashed potatoes, fried Brussels sprouts or grilled asparagus.
5. Down the street from Sonny Williams, on President Clinton Avenue, is Cache Restaurant & Lounge. One of Little Rock’s latest culinary gems, Cache is home to a variety of eclectic plates, including the seared sea scallops ($39, above). This dish, much like the restaurant itself, possesses a modern flair with sophisticated accents. Jumbo seared scallops rest atop truffle cauliflower cream, accompanied by heirloom vegetables, Cerignola olives and shaved black truffle.
6. If seafood isn’t your thing, head over to Argenta and spend an evening at the charming Ristorante Capeo. While there, enjoy a nice glass of red wine paired with the osso buco Milanese ($45, above). This cross cut of the veal shank is braised with vegetables and served on a bed of saffron risotto. The beautiful yellow risotto topped with bits of orange diced carrots will remind you of fall, but the osso buco Milanese is certainly a dish to be enjoyed year-round.
7. Finally, a meal just wouldn’t be complete without that one transcendent dessert. In Little Rock, nothing tops the combined beauty and deliciousness of SO Restaurant Bar’s chocolate sack ($13, above). First, four layers of tempered chocolate are painted around a wax bag. The bag is then removed, leaving behind a Dutch dark chocolate replica. Next, the sack is filled with layers of ice cream, peanut butter mousse, cherry and raspberry compote, toasted almonds, crumbled graham crackers and whipped cream. Finally, a dusting of cinnamon and sugar, along with one chocolate-dipped strawberry, seal the deal on this world-class dessert. Come hungry or be prepared to split this dessert with at least three other people.