There’s more food coming to downtown Little Rock.
Chris and Samantha Tanner, owners at Cheers in the Heights, are opening up another restaurant in the Mann on Main Building at the corner of Fourth and Main. The restaurant, Samantha’s Tap Room and Wood Grill, will have a clear mission with its food: Fresh and simple.
Chris Tanner says the menu will be a la carte style with hip appetizers and great sides like fresh grilled corn topped with cilantro, grilled asparagus and mustard turnip green mix. Patrons can also expect a few salad options and a couple of desserts, but like the rest of the menu, expect fresh and simple.
The main courses will be mostly comprised of Tanner’s best-sellers from his catering business.
The restaurant will have a bar area that overlooks Fourth Street with 32 types of beer and 20 different wines, all on tap. Tanner says there will be some higher-end wines available by the bottle, but otherwise, the drinks will come from a tap or keg.
Samantha’s will also feature about six or seven different bourbons, rums, tequilas and vodkas, and there will be house-made margaritas on the rocks.
The 4,600-SF restaurant will feature wood grills, 20-foot ceilings and seating for about 100 in the main dining area, in addition to 32 more at the bar and about 26 patrons outside. Tanner says guests can expect a farm house-style table with rustic plates and simple glassware.
Tanner said the restaurant is still in its early stages and would not speculate on a possible open date, although it could be next year before Samantha’s is open to the masses.
Until then, we’ll have to sit and dream of what will be.