Jimmy's Diner - Thumbs Up!

I thought when we moved I had left my favorite burger place behind me.  As fate would have it, a new favorite burger place was not far behind.  We went into Benton to do some errands.  When we called my sister-in-law to join us for lunch, she was already headed to my now new favorite, Jimmy's Diner.  Not only that, but Jimmy used to head the food service at UALR at the same time I worked there...it is a small world.

I like my burger with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato.  Chuck ordered a cheeseburger with everything.  Peggy got the Club sandwich.  They have a Blue Plate Special, but we were 'burger' bound.  They are hand patted and that makes the difference between a 'favorite' burger and 'thumbs-down' burger.

If you are in Benton and on Edison Ave., stop at Jimmy's.  In fact, if you are any where in the area, made a special trip to Jimmy's...You won't regret it!

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurants, Arkansas

I have now eaten at:

La Hacienda in Benton

La Hacienda on Cantrell in Little Rock

La Hacienda in Hot Springs


...and have yet to find anything that I absolutely wanted to go back and eat. Usually, I will find at least one item on a menu that I will order every time I go to that restaurant.  i.e. Buffalo Grill-Grilled Turkey sandwich or the Guacamole Salad or Franke's Roast Beef or Country Fried Steak and of course, a Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, and mayo at Arkansas Burger with fries, no salt.


But not at La Hacienda.  We keep trying but no such luck.

One more chance...
La Hacienda, West Little Rock
Keeping my fingers crossed!

Also, trying to figure out if they are connected in any way or is La Hacienda just a popular name?
Well...upon investigation...

The menus look alike

The logos look alike

The food looks the same

Conclusion: If it walks like a duck,

talks like a duck,

and looks like a duck...

It is probably 

La Hacienda !

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.