The recent destruction by fire of Lindsey's Barbecue in North Little Rock left the state with one less source for pulled pork, fried pies and iced tea. But there are still plenty of great barbecue joints in Arkansas.
What is your favorite barbecue restaurant in the Natural State? What types of 'cue do they serve? Pork or beef? What about the extras: beans, potato salad, bread?
I'll kick things off with a vote for Whole Hog in LR's Riverdale Shopping Center. Great beef brisket, pork, chicken and six kinds of sauce on each table. Good beans, decent tater salad, great tea with big glasses and serve yourself refills. (No fresh lemon though; they have those little plastic pkts of reconstituted juice.)
A bit pricey but there's a reason they have all those awards from BBQ festivals and contests. I think they have recently opened new locations in other arkansas towns (Conway?)
Of course there's always Sims in LR, but the loss of Lindseys was quite a blow. Loved the sign in their main room that listed the meats they would gladly smoke to order... I remember the list included exotics like squirrel and coon. Also great fried pies. They'll really be missed.
By far the best BBQ is Mr Mason's Pit Bar-B-Que and Catering Co. It is located at Capital and Main in downtown Little Rock. The most succulent ribs, great chicken, suburb homemade and propriety sauces.
Great smoked hams and turkeys for holidays. None better!
Evenings are easy and not rushed or you can call in an order to take home. They also deliver.
My family and friends say that others are more well know, but nobody compares to the quality and taste
We love Mr. Mason's BBQ in downtown Little Rock. They have the several different sauces that rock and really great brisket, sausage and chicken! They also have a really fun and outgoing staff that greet you with a big welcome.
Mr. Mason's is our favorite. Taste like the barbecue I would make if I had the time, talent and equipment. Our family likes to go in the evening. They have full service then and a kid's menu. Their staff is always helpful and the place is just plain great!! Try their combo platters, a taste of everything!
Mr. Mason's BBQ Downtown Little Rock
They have great service and I have had caterings form time to time from them and they are always very friendly and professional. The food is to die for you will really be pleasantly surprised when you try their food it is awesome!!!!
Man, I have to say Mr. Masons the crew there always makes me feel like at home not only with there kindness but you can really taste the difference in the time and effort they put into there meals, I always get my holiday Ham and Turkey from them and I am always the one person my family makes sure I am going to be there so I can bring that great food. Thanks Mr. Mason’s for making me a hit with my family and loved ones!!!!
You have got to try it your self and you will understand!
Mr. Mason's in downtown Little Rock has the best BBQ I've ever eaten. Their ribs are fantastic and are the best I've ever had. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting. I also absolutely love their pulled pork sandwiches. Yum!!! Also, their chicken is fabulous and their potato salad is absolutely delicious.
I just ate at Mr. Mason's. (Capitol & Chester, if you don't know.) I have eaten at all the BBQ's around central Arkansas and I am wow-ed by their pull pork. It has no fat, no gristle, no yucky stuff at all. Their brisket is the best I have eaten. (Dare I say it, this side of El Paso.) If you haven't eaten there, you should do yourself the favor. By the way, try the Mr. Mason's Make A Grown Man Cry Sauce. I cried.
Our family loves Sim's. To us, their sauce is just right, not too hot, not too sweet. We went into mourning when the Barrow location was closed for a while due to fire. We like the rib sandwiches and both the chopped beef and pork sandwiches, too. The beans and slaw are also good. And those over 21 can get a large icy cold beer with their meal. MMM - just writing about it makes me want to run out for a sandwich right now!
Mr. Mason's ROCKS!!! It is by far the best Bar B Que in AR. The owner is extremely personable; the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Ribs are Wickedly Awesome!!
For hot BBQ -- Craig's BBQ in DeVall's Bluff is hard to beat. (I emphasize the "hot," though.)
McClard's in Hot Springs gets a lot of attention, but Stubby's is a time-tested, hard-to-beat place for ribs. And, yes, I realize it's a chain, but Shorty Small's has great ribs as well.
Though they are know as an award winning Pizza joint, you haven't had the best BBQ till you eat BBQ at Tommy's Famous in Mountain View Arkansas. For a real treat and the best of both, try their BBQ Pizza. Get directions at TommysFamous.com - a regular visitor.
Hmmmm. I'll have to try Mr. Mason's and Sims. I've always heard they are the best. The best I've tasted has to be either the Cross eyed pig or Whole Hog Cafe, but the best Sauce I've had is Stubby's in Hot Springs. I've actually made the hour long-one way trip just to get some bottles of sauce. It's not spicy, but it's a sweet sauce that just compliments everything!
Lindsey bar-b-q is still open for business. the new temporary loaction is on 15th street. One Block up from the old loaction. so for all you pork, beef, fried pies and catering needs. Contact Lindsey's Bar-B-Q. 374-5901
I enthusiastically second the previous vote for the Whole Hog Cafe as the very best barbecue in Arkansas! They set the standard in quality of meat, (something that is often overlooked in BBQ ratings) as well as variety of kinds of meat - beef, pork and chicken; as well as a vast selection of sauces. I was never a fan of chicken barbecue until I tried the Whole Hog's delicious chicken BBQ sandwich, and became a convert.
It's great to not have to travel to Memphis anymore to Interstate BBQ to enjoy fabulous pit BBQ.
Although I also appreciate Sim's for the friendly service and good flavor of their sauce, unfortunately the meat quality just isn't as good, and the white sandwich bread although tradition there, has got to go. Overall however, Sims, Chips, Terry Lynns and most everyone else can take solace that their BBQ sandwich will never be as bad as Corky's, where my family had the most tasteless BBQ sandwiches we've ever encountered.
The good news is that no matter what your preference, luckily Arkansans are afforded various choices in this particular food venue.
I live in west texas now. and nothing in texas touches craig's BBQ. I make special trips each year to get it. I just wish I could order the sauce online.
Craig's BBQ in DeValls Bluff is amazing. My grandparents grew up in Biscoe, so we would stop on the way. It's classic Southern BBQ made the way it should be. Feastro's in Sherwood is another great place that a lot people don't know about. It ranks at the top of my list with Craig's. The food is not only delicious but reasonably priced with good portions. It's a family owned business with the parents and the chidren running the business. The sauce is sweet with brown sugar and molasses not heavy with vinegar and mustard like most places. Whole Hog is ok, Sims used to be good when I was younger. If you want true, old-fashioned, slow cooked bbq check out Craigs and Feastro's you won't regret it at all
I beg to differ on Craig's sauce. The sauce is not sweet at all, and is mustard based. I like their sauce, but on my last pass through Devall's Bluff, I was not pleased with my sandwich. I got it to go, and it was very cold and chewy. I've always thought that Craig's Q was all about a tasty sauce masking very average meat. That only works if the food is fresh and hot. I do love their slaw, the beans are good, and the atmosphere is classic Southern Barbecue joint. I also like Shadden's Barbecue outside of Marvell. Their sauce is kinda sweet, but the meat is superior to Craig's.
10/12/2007 12:06:00 AM
