<body><div>AY About You’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll highlights establishments from across Arkansas turning out memorable dining experiences. Some establishments are familiar to the winner’s circle, having topped their categories year after year. There are also many newbies that make the list, not all of which are new to Arkansas but perhaps new to this prestigious list.We congratulate the owners and staff on this achievement and wish them well in bringing great food, service and experiences to their communities for years to come.<h2>Barnaby – AY’s Speakeasy Winner</h2>When one walks off of Kavanaugh Boulevard into George’s Little Rock, they are met with a cozy, neighborhood Italian restaurant feel. However, a short walk through a series of hidden doors transports patrons to Barnaby, the speakeasy that resides under the same roof and offers guests an entirely different experience.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Z2bTT_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Z2bTT_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="398" ><figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Barnaby)</figcaption></figure>“When you’re there, you feel like you’re in a hotel bar in London, Paris or New York,” said George’s operating partner Greg Baber. “That is probably what I’ve heard most from guests when they walk in. They’re like ‘Man, I forgot that I’m in Little Rock when I’m back there,’ which is really cool.”No speakeasy is complete without a host of spirits to enjoy. General Manager David Hesselbein said the staff prides itself on keeping Barnaby’s cocktails classic and simple.“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “We want to use ingredients that we have to make delicious cocktails that go with the experience and with the menu.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=32hLcJ_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=32hLcJ_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="600" ><figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Barnaby)</figcaption></figure>All of the Italian fare on George’s menu can be ordered in the speakeasy area, and the drinks have been created to pair well with the dishes.“[The areas] might seem extremely different, but they rely on each other,” Hesselbein said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3rch4j_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3rch4j_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="482" ><figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Barnaby)</figcaption></figure>Some of the most popular cocktails include the bar’s espresso martini and a drink called the Spaghetti Western, which is a take on an old-fashioned.Whether people choose to come just for a cocktail or for a whole meal and to sit in Barnaby, it is guaranteed to be a unique experience unlike any other in Little Rock.BarnabyLocated inside George’s Little Rock5510 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock501-353-2239Monday: 4 to 10 p.m.; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday through Sunday: 4 to 10 p.m.________________________________________<h2>Cross Creek Sandwich Shop – AY’s Sandwich Winner</h2>While Cross Creek Sandwich Shop in Conway is new to the Readers’ Restaurant Poll list, it has been a destination well known for its sandwiches since it opened in 2009.The restaurant was first opened in Jenifer’s Antiques after Christine Jennings connected with the shop’s owner, Jenifer Hendrix, and they agreed to open a restaurant in the building together.“The two women knew each other because one frequented the other’s shop, but they weren’t friends at the time,” current owner Caitlin Bailey said.A couple years later, Jennings was looking to retire, and Bailey, who had worked there in her college years, came on to help her get everything in order to be able to sell it. A long road followed that led to Bailey and her husband buying Cross Creek themselves from Jennings.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2S0vRV_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2S0vRV_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="455" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Cross Creek Sandwich Shop</figcaption></figure>When asked if she ever saw herself owning a restaurant, Bailey answered quickly.“Absolutely not,” she said. “I jokingly tell people Chris tricked me into buying it.”However, many people in Bailey’s family have been business owners, so owning a business had always been a dream. She just never suspected it would be a restaurant. She said she does not always feel qualified despite loving to cook and serve people.“It’s a challenge every day,” she said.Cross Creek exudes comfort from its food to its ambiance, which Bailey said is supposed to give the vibe of grandma’s house.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4YbtGG_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4YbtGG_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="306" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Cross Creek Sandwich Shop</figcaption></figure>“Everyone feels comfortable at their grandma’s house,” she said.Also like Grandma’s house, all the food is made from scratch, including the restaurant’s beloved cookies and its popular chicken salad sandwich.“We want to be known for better-than-plain food,” she said. “We want our food to be memorable and be an experience you really want to be a part of.”Cross Creek Sandwich Shop 1003 Oak St., Conway501-764-1811Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday: Closed________________________________________<h2>Tall Paul’s – AY’s Catfish Winner</h2>It is a tall order to have the best catfish in Arkansas, but Tall Paul’s fills it.The restaurant opened its doors only a few months ago in August 2025 after renovating what used to be known as J’s Place in Cabot, making it more sleek and modern-looking inside, said co-owner Johnny Campbell.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2FFz2T_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2FFz2T_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="362" ><figcaption>Tall Paul’s. (Photos courtesy of Tall Paul’s)</figcaption></figure>Campbell and co-owner Tim Higginbotham started discussing the idea casually in a barbershop one day about a year ago. Higginbotham told Campbell he wanted to open a place and name it after his father, whose nickname was Tall Paul, Campbell said.“An ironic nickname because he was not tall,” Campbell said.Since opening, the restaurant has made a name not only for its catfish but also its Monte Cristo sandwich and bone-in pork chop. The menu also features two favorites from Campbell’s past concept, Mockingbird Bar &amp; Tacos in Little Rock, which are the smoked wings and the award-winning cheese dip.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3bTM0d_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3bTM0d_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="509" ><figcaption>(Photo courtesy of Tall Paul’s)</figcaption></figure>The restaurant features both casual nights where people can relax and enjoy the company of their dining companions, as well as more lively event nights, including weekly bingo, karaoke and live music.“The response has been great,” Campbell said. “We filled a need in the market.”Tall Paul’s 12406 Arkansas 5, Suites A and B, Cabot501-446-2040Monday through Thursday: 3 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.________________________________________<h2>Zeke and Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse – AY’s Cake Winner</h2>When husband and wife DeWitt and Sherrye Ginn moved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Heber Springs, they brought the flavors and dishes of home with them.“[Opening a restaurant] was always the plan,” Sherrye Ginn said. “It’s a huge leap of faith to do something like that. We just decided, ‘What have you got to lose?’ and here we are.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2FlIQ9_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2FlIQ9_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="532" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Zeke and Lizzy’s</figcaption></figure>Since Zeke and Lizzy opened its doors in 2022, the city has taken to the restaurant, especially during the summer months, when visitors come in for recreation at the nearby Little Red River.“Summers are wonderful here,” Ginn said. “We have a great bunch of guests. They eat with us, and a lot of them have become friends.”The restaurant has a family-friendly section and a 21-and-up area, all with an upscale diner vibe.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4AmS89_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4AmS89_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="367" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Zeke and Lizzy’s</figcaption></figure>“You can come in dressed up if you want to, or you can come in your shorts and flip flops, and that’s just fine,” she said. “There is no proper way to be with us as long as you are wanting to eat good food.”One of the most popular dishes is the fish specials, which feature whatever is fresh when the owners order it and have it shipped in from Louisiana.“You can’t get it anywhere else,” Ginn said.Of course, guests cannot forget the delectable scratch-made cakes.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2eV5Te_19NhXX9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2eV5Te_19NhXX9A00" width="500" height="435" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Zeke and Lizzy’s</figcaption></figure>“As a way of expressing my creativity, I started baking cakes for the restaurant,” Ginn said.Week to week, she is not sure what flavor she will bake. It just depends on what mood she is in, she said. The chocolate cake and classic coconut cake are some of the most popular flavors.“It’s all made totally with love,” she said. “It’s my passion”Zeke and Lizzy’s Seafood and Steakhouse404 S. Seventh St., Heber Springs501-365-3300Wednesday through Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 to 8 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.</div></body>

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AY About You’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll highlights establishments from across Arkansas turning out memorable dining experiences. Some establishments are familiar to the winner’s circle, having topped their categories year after year. There are also many newbies that make the list, not all of which are new to Arkansas but perhaps new to this prestigious list.

Restaurant Award Winners Share Stories Behind Establishments, Menus

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AY About You’s Readers’ Restaurant Poll highlights establishments from across Arkansas turning out memorable dining experiences. Some establishments are fa

Restaurant Award Winners Share Stories Behind Establishments, Menus

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