Bohemia-Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA

We parked under this sign!

Bohemia--Great place to meet, greet, eat, and drink with friends.  

That is exactly what we did.  We love these friends!  We get busy with our own 'to-do's", family and just plain 'want to be alone' times! 

It was time to catch up.  The Bohemia is a half-way meeting place.  We had never been there, but it came highly recommended for the Tilapia at lunch.  We didn't know what to expect for Dinner.  We were not disappointed and will definitely come back...maybe give the Tilapia at lunch a try. 


Chuck had one of the night's specials, Beef Short Ribs...they were boneless...with mashed potatoes..."Thumbs Up!"  One of our friends had another special, Halibut,"Thumbs Up!"...her husband had Tilapia, "Thumbs Up...I can't taste the crab meat in the sauce". 

I had an item that is not on the menu on their website...Uneven Pasta with Mushrooms and Wine White Sauce...'Thumbs Up"...I had enough to take home for lunch the next day!


My Mom and Dad lived in Hot Springs in the 70's and 80's.  I remember going there and having Hungarian Goulash. The physical layout and the menu has been updated to a Continental Cuisine menu.

Definitely give it a 'Thumbs Up'...worth your time to give it a try!
!

Pizza Night!!!!

Pizza...at least once a week! 

 We have been wanting to try Palio's on Rahling Road . It is way, way out in West, West Little Rock.  It is a long trip from us in Midtown Little Rock.









We loved the Veggie Pizza and the Salad.  The crust was the thinnest ever. The salad;freshest ever.


However, the atmosphere did not work for us. It is definitely a place for families with children.  They were having a great time.  Two little girls about 4 years old from different families discovered each other.  They were both blond and about the same size...miniature.  It was a delight to behold their joy when they found each other. However, we are childless and our grand-children do not live near-by so we prefer our dining experience a little quieter.  We like to work the crossword puzzle with only our thoughts and suggestions for background noise. 


The cafe was not clean.  The glass doors were covered with fingerprints; the carpet full of crumbs and other unknown matter.  It was a Saturday night, after all.  I could imagine it at noon and a room full of Mom's and children and no time to clean it up before the dinner hour.  They did seem a little short staffed. (BTW the computer order screen was full of finger prints, too:) When we arrived at the order counter we had to wait for the staff member to take the phone order and then take ours.


We decided that it would be a 'take-out' pizza place for us.  Of course, that won't happen because it is too far for us to go to pick it up...and we already have one of those not five minutes from us.  We love Paxton's for our take-out pizza.

Paxton's Pizza Thumbs Up!

Paxton's - our newest favorite 'take-out' pizza!  They are about five minutes from our house.  We call and it's ready in 20 minutes.  Yes, it's actually ready when we get there to pick it up!

Cantrell Pick-up Counter

We like the Classic Supreme, Veggie Supreme, and El Mexicano.  We had never eaten any pizza other than a traditional one until we tried their Mexican pizza.  Now it is added to our 'traditional' list.  


We still haven't bought into  a 'cheeseburger' pizza.  When I want a cheeseburger, I want it between two buns with grilled onions.  I was first introduced to this delicacy at Franke's Cafeteria on Louisiana Street in the 1970's by my friend Carolyn. However, I digress.


Tonight we had the Veggie Supreme with a Diet Caffeine-Free Coke.   For dessert we had honey on the crust. We borrowed that idea from the Pizza Cafe...our favorite eat-in pizza place.


There are two Paxton's in Little Rock.  This one on Cantrell is pick-up only.  The other Paxton's is in Otter Creek and is a eat-in location. So, when you call them be sure and tell them where you want to pick it up. T


Call 501-663-3000 for the Cantrell Store...now...you won't be sorry!

Last Chance Lakeside Cafe Thumbs Up!

We normally eat at  "Last Chance" after we finish a round of golf before heading back to Little Rock.  


But last night we celebrated our sister's birthday.  No matter the occasion "Last Chance" is a great place to eat.  We have always liked everything we have ordered and at a price that fits our pocketbook.  

Our favorite is the Broasted Chicken Dinner.  You can get 1/2 chicken or just 2 pieces.  I found that the 2 pieces are enough for me.  However, we decided to try something different.  I got Chicken Fingers and Sweet Potato Fries and Chuck got the Coconut Shrimp.  Peg and Del stayed with the tried and true...Broasted Chicken, which they gave a 'thumbs up'.  Chuck was not impressed with his Shrimp..."tasteless" was his comment. I shared some of my Chicken Fingers with him and had enough left to bring home for a snack lunch.  I have had the Chicken Fried Steak and can definitely recommend it!  Oh, I am not sure what they serve as their house Pinot Grigio, but I like it. They are not stingy with their serving so be sure and have a designated driver if you have more than one!

 If you have the chance to be in Hot Springs Village, be sure and stop at the Last Chance on Balboa Lake. Whether you sit in a booth, at the tall tables, or the bar, you will not be disappointed.*


*I could not find a web site for them or a menu on Yelp or Urban Spoon.  Next time we go I'll get a menu and scan it in for you.

Chipotle Grill Jury's Out

Weren't we lucky...we got a gift card for Chipotle Grill for Christmas.  We have been wanting to try them out since they opened, but every time we went the line was out the door.  We aren't good at waiting in line.  


Tonight we decided to use our card and take a chance on the line. Yea!  There was a line but it was inside out of the cold..42 degrees at 6:00pm.

I have to report that we were under-whelmed.  I got the Burrito Chicken Bowl with a side of Guacamole and chips. 

Chuck got three tacos...one crisp and two soft with a different meat in each one.  We usually order different items so we can share.  The Bowl was definitely the easiest to eat. The tacos were very messy.  The Guac was good, but we give the chips a 'thumbs down'.  They were cold and stale. We have had better out a bag we bought at the grocery store.


We can understand why their stock sells for $300+ a share.  It is the business model...very low overhead and a lot of customers.  They advertise: Food with Integrity...meaning ingredients raised with respect for the animals, environment and the farmers and no antibiotics in the meat.  The portions are substantial.  We can see why it appeals to families with young children and young adults looking a good bargain.


We have a little left on our card and we will go back.  The next time we will split something. Maybe try a Burrito?  The customer in front of us got one...it looked huge.  You definitely get your money's worth in quantity if not quality.

The Pantry Thumbs Up!

We have been wanting to eat at The Pantry since they opened.  I have to admit I am not sure when they did open.  The one time we tried it was Sunday and they were closed.
We finally got the chance when our friends suggested we go there to share a "pre-Christmas" dinner.  We were not disappointed.  The service was excellent. Our server was very knowledgeable and treated us as if we were her only table for the night.  She was not overly attentive, but made sure she was available should we need something.  Her knowledge of the wine list was commendable as we always have questions.


The food is eclectic and leans toward Eastern European as the owner is from the Czech Republic. There were five of us and we all ordered something different.  We wanted to experience as much as we could for a first-time visit.  I got Wiener Schnitzel with Iron Skillet Potatoes and Chuck got The Pantry Pie, Goulash Stew with mashed potatoes cooked like a Shepherd's Pie.  Our friends got the Lasagna Al Forno, Czech Roast Beef , and Seared Salmon. We got Hummus as an appetizer for the table.  One of us (who shall not be named:) always gets dessert and shares.  This time "she" got one of the chocolate choices...not sure which one?  I told you it was eclectic!


It was all delicious; however, we decided we liked the Wiener Schnitzel the best with the Pantry Pie and Salmon coming in second and third.

The acoustics are not good for visiting, but we did anyway.  They are working on correcting the problem.  I suggest something soft on the walls and/or ceiling.  Everything right now is "hard-scrape". 


Chuck and I will put it on our list to go back to...sit at the Bar or maybe in the Lounge; have a beer for him and wine for me; and share the Baby Back Ribs and maybe the Bio Mushrooms or Pommes Frites (translated-fried potatoes).


Highly recommend The Pantry if you are not already a fan.

Browning's OUT OF BUSINESS

After more that 50 years in business Browning's sadly closed in the early 2000's. My husband remembers going there as a child with his parents and sister. I remember going there in the 60's and 70's. The new Browning's didn't make it either. Sad. Time moves on!


Wow!  Chuck and I decided to eat out after his guitar lesson.  I read until he finished then we headed to Cantrell Road.   We have been curious about Chipolte that just opened in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. Well, imagine our surprise...they were lined out the door to get in to eat.  We are not patient "waiting in line" customers.    After circling the parking lot we headed to the Heights for Chinese until we remembered that Browning's had reopened under new management.  Since our taste buds were still set for Mexican so we settled for Browning's.  

Yes, we are talking about the Browning's Mexican Food Restaurant that has been a Little Rock fixture for over 60 years.  I say 60 years because that is how long Chuck remembers eating at Browning's. In the 1940's his family would travel from Benton to Little Rock for a night out.  There were very few places to eat out in Little Rock:  Hank's Dog House, Bruno's, The Embers, Tijuana and Browning's...can you think of more?

We are back to the "Wow"!  What a transformation!  It is very open, updated and very trendy.  

This is what should have been done the last time Browning's opened under new management...but no they had to give in to public pressure and go for the "same ol'; same ol'" stuff.  We love the new ambiance.  The acoustics aren't great, but bearable. It keeps your conversation private even if you can't hear yourself think.  There are TVs for sports, booths, tables, and a great bar area...something for everyone!  ...and the best part, scrumptious Margaritas!

Saltillo Plate

Chuck had the Saltillo Plate and I had the Summer Plate. They are both menu items from the original Browning's.  Chuck had a punch for nostalgic reasons. The helpings are bigger and the guacamole side is definitely a step-up.


When we go back and we will, we are going to sit at the bar and try some new menu items: Salmon Vera Cruz and Grilled Shrimp Tacos and White Cheese dip when they figure it out. It wasn't available because they had not perfected it...so said the waitress.  Speaking of waitresses, none of the original crew was to be seen.  I think they finally retired. There is a youngish wait staff full of energy and ready to serve.  Just when I said, "I think our food should have been here by now", it arrived.  It was delicious!


Highly recommend you give Browning's a try!

On the Border! Thumbs Up!

We got one seat immediately at the bar. Our new favorite thing---sitting at the bar with a glass of wine and a beer on tap.  It is a good vantage point to watch people.  Also, when it's slow, you can have a good visit with the bartender.  The acoustics aren't that great here, but not so bad that you can't visit while you sip.  


We are liking our new favorite thing so much, we are eating at the bar, too.  No. 1 you don't have to wait for a table during busy times and No. 2 the service is faster.


When Chuck got a seat, we ordered. We split a Border Sampler*  as our entrée.  It was delicious and more than enough for us.  We find that we can't eat as much as we did when we were younger. We get that uncomfortable "stuffed" feeling if we do.  We have learned the hard way to limit our quantities and split when we can.


 *Chicken Quesadillas, Steak Nachos and Chicken Flautas. Served with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and original queso

Corky's Thumbs Up!

Our new routine...we eat out on Saturday's.  We both work all day on Saturday. Neither one of us wants to cook.  However, I work two hours longer than Chuck so he gets to cook on Saturday...cook: meaning at home or eating out. Nine times out of ten he will select eating out on Saturday.

This time he chose Corky's-in his mind.  Then, I mentioned perhaps Corky's because I wanted to stop at Michael's which was on the way. It is amazing how often that happens. One of us thinks of something and the other one of us picks up on it, too!  It is a real phenomena to us...we call it spooky:)

Well, back to Corky's.  I am not sure why we haven't been in the last few years.  We always love what we order and the servings are more than ample.  In fact, we usually take some home.  

We usually order catfish and chicken tenders.  This night was no exception.  We brought home some of the chicken fingers.  We got two sides each and substitutes were allowed.  Last, but not least---the rolls are wonderful.  They are served first and you can fill up on them if you are not careful.  Honey and butter is on the table.  I could make them the whole meal! 


The service was excellent and our server was perfect (read: smiled and didn't hover-was always available when we needed her).

Izzy's Thumbs Down

I am not sure why we keep going back to Izzy's.  I guess it's like a bad experience: the further you get away from it you lose sight of the experience itself.


We have never ordered any item that motivates us to come back.  Yet, we did it again Saturday night.  After I got home from work we didn't want to cook so away we went.  We wanted Pizza.  We want Pizza at least once a week and indeed, that is what we ordered.   Their menu has untraditional Pizzas; we went for the veggie instead of the "all meat"...our names...they have "Grab You" names.  


The crust and sauce were great.  However, it was as if they cooked they crust first. Then threw the veggies and cheese on top; stuck it back in the over to melt the cheese.  The rest is history.  There was a lot of uncooked spinach and a lot, and I mean a lot, of uncooked Zucchini squash.  Maybe the next time, and I mean maybe, we will build our own cheese pizza with Pepperoni.    The veggie pizza will not entice us to come back.  


Some people must like it.  The dining room was full.   I am not sure why.  There are better places to get Pizza....and Mexican...and hamburgers. Maybe they have found something that we haven't in the last 15 years.

Maddie's Place Thumbs Up!

Friends called..."Let's Get Together"!....which means let's eat out so no one has to cook.  "You decide where to go since you eat out more in Little Rock than we do."


We went through our lists: West Little Rock, Midtowne, Downtown, "Riverside" area.  Chuck had been to Maddie's Place in the "Riverside" area...foot of Cantrell Hill...for lunch.  He came home bragging about the Shrimp Po-Boy...best shrimp I have had in a long time.  He picked up a menu and we went with his choice.  We were not sorry.  

See a side note below...

The weather was nice so we sat outside on the patio.  We had a delightful waitress...thanks, Jennifer!  The food was superb: Grilled Shrimp Salad: 1/2 order Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Tenders w/Shoestring Fries (yes, 1/2 orders are available for a lot of the selections); Crawfish Po-Boy; Crawfish/Shrimp Po-Boy.


We were not disappointed.  We don't won't to over sell, but I think you won't be disappointed either.


BTW...this building was the old "Faded Rose" in the 70's/80's.  They moved in a renovated building next door.

The Pizza Cafe Thumbs Up!

The Pizza Cafe

Our favorite pizza; our favorite place to eat pizza!  It has to be.  We keep coming back for more.  

West Little Rock

We venture off thinking there must be another one so special.  We haven't found it.  

We have looked far and wide....

Way out Hwy 10

Pleasant Ridge close to I430

Downtown, River Market

....and all around!

Hillcrest Little Rock

Last night was "pizza night"!  We eat pizza at least once a week. We eat pizza when we are too tired to or don't want to cook/eat at home.  Where did we go?  Of course, our old stand-by and "favorite", The Pizza Cafe.  Yum-m-m-m!  

Sitting at the bar watching a basketball game-Beer in a mug from the fridge, a small dinner salad with ranch on the side and a 10" Supreme Pizza. It was not only Supreme; it was sublime.

Vacation Day at Dugan's Pub Thumbs Up!

Every once in a while Chuck and I take a day off and pretend we are out of town on vacation.  When in actuality, we are not.  


Wednesday was one of those days.  We wanted to make a trip to Artist Outfitters downtown.  With that in mind and it being close to lunch we went on vacation.  

Our stools were the ones on the right end of the bar.

We found the nicest out of the way pub to help us in our fantasy...Dugan's Pub on 3rd and Rock. What a great find! We got there about 11:30am to beat the lunch crowd, but didn't.  It was already crowded and all tables were taken.  No problem! Vacationers sit at the bar!.  We ordered Blue Moon beer on draft and were surprised at the generous serving.  We didn't have a designated driver so we didn't/couldn't finish them.  Never had Blue Moon before, but will have it again.


I got a Rueben...the best I have ever had!  I shared a bite with Chuck and he agrees.  He got fish and chips...why would you order anything else?...when in Ireland, do as the Irish do!  The cod was cod...not catfish, but good.  The fries were fresh and cooked just like we like them.  


We visited with Don Dugan, the owner, and immediately found a mutual friend connection.  We felt like we were in "Cheers", where everyone knows your name.


We recommend Dugan's.  You will not be disappointed!

Mimi's for Brunch Thumbs Up!

Nothing like a coupon for a free breakfast a Mimi's....and then again, there's nothing like Mimi's.  We especially like it for breakfast/brunch.  We have never been for dinner and only a couple of times for lunch.  It is the morning fare that keeps us coming back...and of course, the coupons we get because we gave them our e-mail address. 


Mimi's fits into the route we take when doing our errands, usually on Monday.

Today, it was Wednesday.  They were our first stop after we had been to Yoga at the Fitness Center and Chuck had opened the market with the opening bell.  Then, we worked our way backwards...Academy Sports for wrist weights and swim googles...oops...goggles!  Then, Michael's, Office Depot, gasoline at Kroger and Target and home.

Chunky potatoes...usually cold!

I digress...back to brunch.  I had the French Toast Breakfast (Yummmm). Chuck had the Mardi Gras Omelet.  Mine was the best...Chuck says I always order the best one.  The only thing we do not like at Mimi's is potatoes.  First of all, I am a "grits" person and second, they just aren't good to us.  I know, a lot of people must like them or they would have removed them from their menu.  Wouldn't they?  

Baked on-site, but when reheated
in Microwave...they are tough
and chewy..not good!

Chuck got a blueberry muffin with his omelet.  We left a suggestion:  don't nuke the muffin.  Heat it some other way or serve it cold...it was tough.  Can you imagine a tough muffin?  Well, it was.  I chose to follow my guideline.  If it is not worthy of the calories, I don't eat it...it wasn't; I didn't!




We keep coming back.  The service is always excellent and the staff is always friendly.  We haven't encountered any "attitudes" here.  We high recommend Mimi's!