Baskin-Robbins

10102 N Rodney Parham Rd. #A Little Rock, AR 72227 (501) 227-5656 

Decor: This place is right next door to Terri-Lynn’s, so it shares much the same decor. The building is showing its age, with some peeling paint and dingy walls. They do the best they can to create a bright and cheery place. It’s your typical Baskin-Robbins interior. As a bonus, there is a table outside so you can sit and watch the traffic go by on Rodney Parham.

Cleanliness: Just like the decor, they do the best they can. It’s not a dirty place at all, but the rundown building makes it feel like something needs to be cleaned. Hopefully, whoever owns the building will pony up the cash to renovate it someday.

Service: The employees do a great job. It can’t be easy for them dealing with lines that run out of the building and small herds of screaming brats all wanting Superman flavor. They manage to make the lines move fast, build your desserts nice and large, and still keep a smile for the next person.

Cost: Baskin-Robbins has always been one of the more expensive ice cream parlors.  That doesn’t seem to stop people from keeping the place packed.

Taste: Not bad. The ice cream is good, but you can get the same taste from ice cream at the grocery store. This place really shines at having lots of different flavors and switching them out often. The taste gets better when you get one of their big sundae concoctions. They use popular, name brand toppings.

Tips:

• If your wallet is light, you can get one of the large sundaes and share it. We recommend the Reese’s one.
• If you want a great tasting food experience, get a good lunch next door at Terri-Lynn’s and then stop by here for dessert.

Leo’s Greek Castle

2925 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR 72205  (501) 666-7414

Decor: Leo’s Castle isn’t really a castle. It’s more like the gardener’s shed. This place is TINY! The inside is about as big as a large walk-in closet and looks like a concession stand at a high school football game. There are a grand total of 4 tables gracing the inside, with one of them blocked in the corner where you can only get to it if nobody else is there. Good luck with that. The outside has the feeling of eating at a Mediterranean cafe mixed with a drive-in diner. Or maybe that should be drive-in dive. Outside, you get a view of the trees and traffic on Kavanaugh as long as you can fight everyone off of one of the three tables.  There is very limited parking, about 7 spaces in total, one for each table.  Most of the decor is blocked from view because this place is packed literally wall to wall with customers.

Cleanliness: It’s so busy and crowded that it’s hard to tell. They didn’t really have time to clear tables between customers. There are a few flies buzzing around because the door never closes completely. There are that many people going in and out. Outside, they try to keep the flies away by aiming fans at the table.

Service: The workers were very friendly and nice. The problem is that they are so busy and there are only two old men working, that it takes forever to get your food. If they can’t carry something on the first trip, just forget about it because you won’t get it. Leo’s has overgrown it’s building and workforce. They need to get a larger building and hire some more people. If you get rained on and need to leave, they will give you a to-go cup for your drink, but they won’t be nice enough to top it off for you, even if it’s water.

Cost: They have prices that are average for mom and pop restaurants. A little more expensive than fast food, but much better quality food. The appetizers are way too expensive and they are tiny portions.

Taste: This is an unfair category for them on this visit. When we went, it was a bright, sunny day. We chose to eat outside, mainly because that was the only open table. It turns out that we should have just taken it home because soon after we sat down, the clouds rolled in. We were hoping that we could finish eating before the rain started, but weren’t too worried because they have a roof over the tables. We got 2 bites into our food and the rain poured down. Right through the roof into our food and drinks and all over the table. We salvaged what we could and Mike went inside to get a couple of boxes to take the rest home. It was so crowded in there that it took him about 10 minutes just to get that and pay. They did not argue when he told them that Ebony never got her order of fries. They didn’t offer a discount for their roof leaking in our food, either. Those first two bites were very good, even better than the food at the Greek festival. But, by the time we got it home, it was all cold and congealed and not very appetizing at all.

Tips: 

• Check the weather report before going.
• If you are eating outside, just have a seat and they will come out to you.
• The place is packed constantly. Be courteous and leave as soon as you are done so others have a chance to eat.

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.

Coldstone Creamery

12800 Chenal Parkway Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 225-7000

Decor: Coldstone is set up to look like a little coffee shop. They have the ice cream bar at the back and a few tables scattered around the front. There are two doors, one an entrance and the other an exit. To most people, the entrance is on the right and the exit is on the left. The problem is, you make your order on the left side of the bar and pay on the right. This ends up causing a traffic jam in the middle sometimes. Two of the walls are covered with menus describing the different desserts they make.

Cleanliness: There is never any clutter around, but they are very busy and don’t have time to wipe the tables. The trash is usually full, which is too bad because it is next to the tables.

Service: Get everything you want the first time. Once they hand you that cone and take your money, they are on to the next person and you cease to exist. This is bad because it is always packed and you pretty much have to cause a scene or get back in line if you forgot a spoon or something. On the plus side, you get to watch them pound the living bajinkeys out of your ice cream, which is the whole point of going to Coldstone, right?

Cost: Expensive for ice cream.

Taste: Mike thinks it’s good. He likes a lot of the flavor combinations, especially Germanchokolatekake. Ebony doesn’t like it that much. She likes Shake’s much better because it’s richer and less crowded.

Tips:

• Bring a drink. They don’t have a water fountain and drinks are expensive.
• They have non-fat and low calorie desserts available.

Starbucks

11500 Financial Ctr Pkwy Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 954-7646

Decor: It’s your typical Starbucks layout, but it’s surrounded by millions of books because it’s inside Barnes and Noble’s. Grab a magazine or work on your blog while you drink.

Cleanliness: It’s clean, but seems cluttered because it is so crowded. It’s also a little spot in the corner, so it seems more cramped than your typical Starbucks.

Service: They are friendly, but the service is slow because they are so crowded. It can also be hard to find a table.

Cost: A little pricey, just like all Starbucks, especially the food items. You can offset this some by reading the latest Stephen King book for free.

Taste: It’s Starbucks. It’s good. The frappuccinos are even better. Mike likes the Java Chip frappe. Ebony likes the Vanilla Bean or Mocha. Her favorite is the White Chocolate Chip when they have it.

Tips:

• If you go on a Saturday afternoon, you can play with puppies and kittens at Petsmart. Even better, adopt one!
• Browse the web with their free WiFi, or sit at the outside tables and people-watch.
• If you don’t mind a short walk, parking is easier further down by Toys-R-Us.

Shake’s Frozen Custard

12011 Westhaven Dr. Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 224-0150

Decor: Or should that be Da Car? Because that’s where you’ll be eating at this old-fashioned drive-in eatery. This time, the decor is whatever you are driving.

Cleanliness: It depends on how clean your car is. If you walk up to the window, you will see a clean interior. You also get to watch the machines stirring up your Concrete. Yes, the building is clean, but sometimes you have to wonder how clean the workers’ bloodstreams are. They seem to be the same crowd that hung out behind the bleachers in high school creating that funny-smelling smoke cloud.

Service: Their speech may be a little slow, but they make your dessert fast enough. Don’t be fooled by the building that looks like a Sonic. The only ways to get your order are the walk-up window and the twin drive throughs.

Cost: It’s a little expensive, but very much worth it. They have mini treats for those on a tight budget.

Taste: This should be illegal, it’s so sinfully good. It changes your life, just like the first time you tasted chocolate.

Tips:

• Make sure your AC works in the summer and your heater works in the winter.
• Bring something to drink. There’s no water fountain, unless you want to sneak a sip from their garden hose.
• If you don’t want to eat around a bunch of people, try driving around to the left side where the exit is.

TCBY

11418 W Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72211 (501) 221-9020

Decor: Ghetto mobile home that’s falling apart. This charming fixer-upper features water leaks, wobbly tables, and sloppy paint.

Cleanliness: The tables are usually sticky. You start itching after 5 minutes. Even the napkins make you worry about germs.

Service: Fast, but… let’s just say if you can still feel like eating after seeing the workers, then you probably also let the dog lick your plates clean. And if you’ve been there before, you know who we’re talking about.

Cost: Pretty cheap compared to other dessert places.

Taste: Good, especially when you realize it’s candy on top of fat-free, sugar-free, carb-free… hmm, what exactly IS this stuff?

Tips:

• Trust us, just use the drive through. You’ll be happier living in denial about what’s in your cone.
• Bring your own drinks. The fountain is permanently broken and this is the only place that water is more expensive than gas.
• It’s great if you’re on a diet!