Great Wraps

11400 N. Rodney Parham Rd. Suite B Little Rock, AR 72212 (501) 225-9727

Decor: When you first walk in the door, you are faced with the menu that takes up the whole wall. Then you travel down the food prep area and tell them what you want. The place is a giant bowl of yellow and red with huge art pictures of their food on the walls. Then there are the Great Wraps signs. Too many of them. Back off already, we’re already in here eating. You don’t have to advertise to us anymore. Luckily, there are a couple of TVs in there so you can watch other restaurants’ ads.

Cleanliness: It’s clean in there. It has held up well, probably because it’s not really a place that you take the kids. They keep it tidy and don’t let food trays pile up. Most of the people that eat there are conscientious enough to clean up after themselves.

Service: Pretty good service. Sometimes the employees seem a little out of it, but it can’t be too mentally challenging to make fancy burritos all day. We would daze off too. They go out of their way to make their customers happy. See the tips below.

Cost: It seems like it’s expensive for a wrap until you realize that it works out to about the same as a SuperSize meal at a fast food burger place.

Taste: The food is pretty good. The ingredients are fresh and there is not a lot of heavy sauce or condiments to cover up the flavors. If you are not used to something like this, it is a little odd tasting at first because it tastes so healthy. The fries are a little plain and drab when you get them. That’s why they have their spice bar (more like 4 little shakers) over in the corner. You can pick from such treasures as Loaded Baked Potato.

Tips:

• Be sure to use the spice bar if you get fries. We recommend sticking with the Original flavor. The others were not that good to us.
• I hope this doesn’t ruin it, but try to go near closing time. Last time we went, they gave out the last of their cookies so they wouldn’t have to throw them out.

Schlotzsky’s

11815 Mara Lynn Dr. Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 224-4119

Decor: This place has two dining areas, with the ordering counter between them. Both areas have TVs in them, but the sound is off and there is old easy listening music playing.

Cleanliness: The place is clean. In fact, when we went in, one of the workers was mopping the floor. They usually keep it neat and tidy.

Service: The worker was friendly and eager to take our order. Our sandwiches were made very fast.

Cost: This place is insanely expensive. We have gone there a few times and it has never been under $20 for two sandwiches and drinks.

Taste: This is why we keep coming back. They have this yummy sourdough bread that makes you eat a much larger sandwich than you should. They have pizzas and many sandwich varieties, but we like the Original and Turkey Original the best.

Tips

• They have wheat bread and wraps for those who are watching their diet.
• Make sure you have good brakes on your car. This place is surrounded by the Little Rock Himalayas.
• Bring a jacket as well because they keep it cold in there.

Firehouse Subs

12312 Chenal Pkwy., Ste. 40 Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 228-5553

Decor: This place is a three year old boy’s dream come true. It is full of firefighter equipment and decorations. There are firehats on the wall next to a gigantic painting. Each Firehouse Subs location in town has its own custom painting of firehouse life in Little Rock.

Cleaniness: The only thing dirty about this place is the bottles of hot sauce that are sitting out for customers to use. Other than that, the Chief runs a clean place.

Service: When you open the door, someone always yells, “Welcome to Firehouse!” The lines move pretty fast even when they are swamped. Your order takes a few minutes, but not long enough to make you upset. If they start taking too long, you can always start on your chips. You get your own drinks, so you can refill as much as you want.

Cost: This is one of the more expensive sub shops in town. You can count on them being consistently good though.

Taste: Mike loves subs. Mike reallllllly LOVES subs. Mike likes Firehouse the best in Little Rock and the only place that comes close is Lenny’s. Ebony thinks it’s good too. The first thing that makes these subs special is that they are steamed. This makes the sub moist and tender without getting mushy. The second thing is the Firehouse sauce. This is another one of those things that Mike would eat with a spoon if he could get away with it.

Tips:

• They have wheat bread now, so it’s not as bad for your diet.
• Skip those crusty hot sauce bottles and go for the Firehouse sauce. Yes, Mike wrote this tip.
• Tell them you want it “Fully Involved” if you want everything on it.

San Francisco Bread Company

101 S. Bowman Rd Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 537-0200

Decor: Large cafe setting. It has large windows that look out on Bowman and Markham so you can watch traffic go by as you eat. It’s yellow with red trim and pictures of famous San Francisco landmarks. There is a bar in the corner with a large TV for watching sports and a few computers for those who did not bring a laptop. There is soft jazz playing in the background.

Cleanliness: Somewhat clean, but there is usually a table or two that hasn’t been cleaned yet. We almost always have to wipe down our own table.

Service: A little slow to normal. The line goes quick, but they are slow with making drinks. Food orders take long enough to annoy you.

Cost: Expensive. Two small mochas cost $8. This makes it even more expensive than Starbucks. Their desserts are crazy expensive as well, costing about $8 for two slices of cheesecake.

Taste: Good. Not great, but it’s always fresh, filling food. Mike likes to get the clam chowder in a bread bowl. Ebony likes the wraps.

Tips:

• They have a drive through if you are pressed for time
• Come here when you have some time. You can bring your laptop and work on your blog.
• If you come here often, you most likely have seen “That One Guy”. You’ll notice him and his headset eventually. We have not yet been able to get a picture of this elusive creature.

Lenny’s Sub Shop

11401 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 103 Little Rock, AR 72211 501-225-9800

Decor: Basic deli style with TVs in the corners.

Cleanliness: Always clean, even the bathrooms.

Service: Excellent. Friendly and fast. You are always greeted at the door. They usually come to your table to bring your order and refill your drinks. They clean up after you when you’re done.

Cost: Expensive, but the large is as big as your forearm. Free refills and lots of meat and toppings ease the pain.

Taste: Awesome! Made just like you want with fresh ingredients. We’ve tried almost everything and have never been disappointed.

Tips:

• Tell them you want the hot pepper relish. It’s not that hot. It IS that good. You’re welcome.
• Cookies. Get as many as you can carry (but leave two for us!). Ladies, you know that kinda sweets we get cravings for? It’s these cookies calling you.
• Don’t go during lunch hour. About 20 parking spaces serve 5 businesses, including a Starbucks with no drive through. Large vehicles may have problems navigating in the tight, triangular parking lot.

Terri-Lynn’s Bar-B-Q and Deli

10102 N Rodney Parham Rd. #B Little Rock, AR 72227 (501) 227-6371

Decor: Looks like a junior high cafeteria from 1979.

Cleanliness: Not really dirty, but weak lighting makes it look like Gramma’s attic.

Service: Your orders are made fast.

Cost: A little pricey until you see your monster sandwich.

Taste: Excellent. A pulled pork sandwich and a brownie will kill your munchies for a week.

Tips:

• We once saw a couple bring their dog and sit at the table outside. That was one ecstatic dog.
• Baskin-Robbins is right next door for dessert. Stop at both of these places and you won’t need popcorn at the movies down the street.

Jason’s Deli

301 N Shackleford Rd. #H1a Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 954-8700

Decor: Boring, crowded decor. It’s a hundred tables in a tiny room.

Cleanliness: The salad bar is always clean, but the dining area is full of sticky kids and dirty dishes.

Service: The lines are long, but they move fast and you get your food quickly.

Cost: Too high. They have enough traffic to charge less. Besides, it’s a freakin’ salad!

Taste: It’s decent. You can find better. You can find worse.

Tips:

• Parking sucks on Friday and Saturday nights. All the drunks at West End take the parking spots.
• Grab a free ice cream cone. Cover it with strawberry shortcake from the salad bar.