LITTLE ROCK — Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges. Restaurant reviewers’ visits are anonymous and all expenses are paid by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Bargain means a meal (without beverage or dessert) is typically less than $12. Moderate is $12 to $25. Expensive is $25 and up. Visit arkansasonline.com/restaurants.
Catfish
CATFISH CITY & BBQ GRILL
1817 S. University Ave., Little Rock, (501) 663-7224
This veteran serves catfish as tasty as ever — fried or grilled — plus shrimp, frog legs, hot wings, chicken tenders and barbecue.
Lunch Mon-Sat, dinner Mon-Sat. Reservations (large parties). Bargain.
DENTON’S TROTLINE
2150 Congo Road, Benton, (501) 315-1717
Satisfying Saline County catfish devotees for decades has earned heavy traffic for this buffet eatery that dishes up shrimp, chicken, gumbos and — for an extra charge — snow crab legs.
Dinner Tue-Sat. Full bar (private club). Reservations. Moderate.
FLYING FISH
511 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 375-3474
The seafood shack still serves up fine fish, fried and otherwise, including some of the town’s best (and best drained) catfish (all-youcan-eat on Wednesdays, $14.99).
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Bargain-moderate.
GRAMPA’S CATFISH
100 Shadow Oaks Drive, Sherwood, (501) 834-5400
The Sherwood restaurant, behind Fort Thompson, is staying open despite a recent bankruptcy filing, still serving crisp, golden, allyou-can-eat catfish plus a variety of steak, chicken and seafood selections.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (six or more). Moderate.
Barbecue
CAPITOL SMOKEHOUSE AND GRILL
915 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, (501) 372-4227 Doug and Candy Wilkerson, who once upon a time ran the Lucky 7 on East Sixth Street, have supplemented their award-winning barbecue (top notices from publications as diverse as Sync and Maxim for the ribs and pulled pork, respectively) with their topof-the-line plate lunches. Lunch Mon-Fri. Bargain.
CORKY’S RIBS & BBQ
12005 Westhaven Drive, Little Rock, (501) 954-7427; 2947 Lakewood Village Drive, North Little Rock, (501) 753-3737 This nice, polite, suburban Memphis-based franchise barbecue operation, which serves well-smoked ribs, wet and dry, and some of the best baked beans, takes no risks but also threatens few surprises.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations (eight or more people). Bargainmoderate.
SIMS BAR-B-QUE
2415 Broadway, Suite B, Little Rock, (501) 372-6868; 1307 John Barrow Road, Little Rock, (501) 224-2057; 7601 Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock, (501) 562-8844
Old-school Sims can always be counted on for serving solid, messy and no-frills barbecue.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Beer. Bargain.
UPDATE! WHOLE HOG CAFE
2516 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-5025; 12111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 907-6124; 5107 Warden Road, North Little Rock, (501) 753-5228
Sweet and sticky ribs, savory beef brisket and plush sourcream potato salad are some of the rewards awaiting diners at this award-winning barbecue restaurant.
Lunch, dinner Monday-Sunday on Cantrell and West Markham, Monday-Saturday in North Little Rock. Beer, wine. Bargain.
Weekend, Pages 48 on 11/22/2012