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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Burgers Burger joint of the week: Arkansas Burger Company

Posted by Kat Robinson on Thu, May 26, 2011 at 8:04 AM

THE ROCK: Arkansas Burger Companys massive pounder

Kat Robinson
THE ROCK: Arkansas Burger Company's massive pounder

There’s no doubt that the Cantrell Road drive-in is good. It does fine Greek salads and has a good cheese dip and is doing gyros of all things now. But Arkansas Burger Company's burgers will get you into fights. Heck, the cheese dip will too.

Kat Robinson

Now, I can see where someone might want to say that the standard burger at Arkansas Burger Company might not rate up there with the burger at, say, Midtown Billiard’s. ABC’s straight burger is wide and flat on a sesame seed bun, a little like a burger from the backyard grill served with a bag of chips. If you look at it that way, doesn’t have much on anything else, right?

Kat Robinson

Nah…

You gotta splurge sometime and get The Rock. For $6.50, you can have an experience. The big two-fisted burger comes on a buttered sesame seeded bun — that end up three inches apart thanks to two gigantically thick half pound patties coated in cheese, hamburger dill pickles and white onion on the bottom, shredded iceberg lettuce and a big thick slice of tomato on the top.

Those loose-packed hand formed patties have a nice light burger crust, seasoned with a little salt, pepper and Greek seasoning. They’re so loose packed that when you bite down the burger

Kat Robinson

breaks off into your mouth. This burger is so juicy, it’s about the only local burger I usually order without condiments. It serious holds its own without ketchup, mustard or mayo.

Kat Robinson

There is one thing that I don’t like about the burger — and that’s the fact that it comes with just that one little pre-packaged bag-o-chips. If you have the money and you’re planning to share the burger anyway (which, seriously, it’s a pound. It doesn’t need to be consumed by one person in one sitting), you need to order some cheese dip(small $4.95/large $6.95). It’s a whitish queso with tiny bits of green pepper. It’s worth fighting over. I have a lot of friends who believe it’s the best cheese dip they’ve ever had. I’m not one of them, but I can appreciate it. The queso is of medium thickness, has a mild flavor and goes well with the salty yellow tortilla chips they provide — though, to be honest, I usually eat them with the Lay’s that come with my sandwich.

Kat Robinson

Kat Robinson

One more reason you should go to Arkansas Burger Company, if you’ve never been… the décor. If you’re from around these parts you’ll probably sight something on one of the walls that brings back a wave of memories. It’ll smack you in the head. The interior of the restaurant has become a repository for all things Arkansawyer. And that’s worth seeing in itself.

You’ll find Arkansas Burger Company at 7410 Cantrell Road. It’s open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. (501) 663-0600 or check out the Facebook fan page.

Tags: burger, Arkansas Burger Company, Little Rock, Cantrell Road

        
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Speaking of...

Another bike/car crash on Cantrell

March 15, 2012

by Max Brantley

Blogger Tim McKuin's MoveArkansas blog is back on a favorite unpleasant topic today — the city's failure after lo these many years to provide a proper space for the part of the alleged River Trail that must use a narrow sidealk along Cantrell where it passes between the Episcopal Collegiate School and Dillard's. /more/
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Comments (16)

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ABC has gotten to be a regular habit for me. I love their burgers! Their fries are great too but even a small order is too much for one person. I've never tried their cheese dip so I'll have to remedy that soon.

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Posted by NeverVoteRepublican on 05/26/2011 at 6:45 PM

LOVES the ABC! The fries are irresistible with the burger! (Yes, both portions are too big for one person. I can manage the burger, but hate leaving over half the fries. Never figured out how to make leftover fries really work.)

Only quibble? Last I breezed through The Rock, ABC had added servers who take your order at your table, bring your order, and the check. In other words, what used to cost, say $9-$10 with a soft drink had shot up 20%, with the tip. $12 for a burger, fries and a Coke is approaching L.A. prices.

And no celebrities to schmooze with.

Smaller portions? Smaller prices? I don't know.

Next day, lunching with a friend who suggested ABC, I mentioned my experience of the day before (I was only in The Rock two days).

"Oh," she said. We went to Pei-Wei instead.

Just sayin'.

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Posted by Norma Bates on 05/26/2011 at 7:11 PM

Norma--I've never seen waiters taking orders at ABC and I've been there at least twice a month over the past year or so. All orders are made at the front counter and paid in advance.

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Posted by NeverVoteRepublican on 05/26/2011 at 7:21 PM

NeverVoteRepublican - ABC has evidently just started the waiter bit in the last 4-6 weeks. I saw them last Saturday when I was there and they weren't there the last time I was there in April.

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Posted by arkdemocrat on 05/27/2011 at 12:03 PM

Arkdem--I have only been there at lunch time in recent months--and on weekdays, so maybe it is something they only do at certain times? I was there within the past 2 weeks and ordered at the counter as usual.

They've always had a tip jar so you can tip at the counter if you choose or leave a tip on the table for the server who brings you your burger.

I think $10 for a burger, fries and drink is about average for LR for places like ABC, Five Guys, Buffalo Grill etc. I don't think their prices are out of line (or as high as LA as Norma suggested) whether or not they are taking orders at the table!

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Posted by NeverVoteRepublican on 05/27/2011 at 12:50 PM

ABC is a regular stop for hugh jr. and me, on the evenings mzrz mann has classes. Evenings, for sure, have switched from counter service to table service.

I'm with Kat on the chip/dip: I prefer the Lay's for the dip for as long as they last. The last few times I've had their fries they have been good. However, there was a time not long ago when the fries regularly came out less than fresh.

Their ice machine makes that wonderful crushed iced you used to see all the time, but is less common nowadays. Speaking of "nowadays"...the memorabilia is indeed a good enough reason for true Arkies to try ABC at least once. Plus, they have copies of the Arkansas Times available until they're all gone.

(Question: Does that little Ziploc® bag of water on the front door really keep flies away?)

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Posted by hugh mann on 05/27/2011 at 4:23 PM

I've lived here for almost 11 years and I've never eaten there. Just never got around to it. Question- what kind of beer do they have?

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Posted by 50to49 on 05/27/2011 at 6:27 PM

Count me in as someone who does not like ABC. Burgers not that great the last time I was there...and way too pricey for mediocre food. I have several friends who also feel the same way about the place.

What's the latest on The Box?

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Posted by CammackLife on 05/27/2011 at 7:12 PM

I love ABC. Great food and great decor! In my opinion, The Dairyland Drive-In has the best burger in Little Rock/NLR though. ABC is WAY up there though.

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Posted by AllenK on 05/28/2011 at 2:06 AM

50to49, I *think* they have some domestic bottled beer, but nothing on tap. The kid and I usually go for the root beer.

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Posted by hugh mann on 05/29/2011 at 12:49 PM

Hugh- Just curious. Beer and burgers just go so well together.

But as a father to be, I will probably also be going the root beer route at such establishments.

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Posted by 50to49 on 05/29/2011 at 2:01 PM

As far as great burgers go.....I'm a recent convert to Najiyyah's Fishboat (and more) across from UALR on University.....and I've been to ABC and many others.....all very adequate but not over the top like Fishboat.....since The Box closed (for good apparently) I've been in burger withdrawal till I discovered Fishboat about a month ago....and the people who work there are very friendly!

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Posted by jerico on 05/29/2011 at 2:23 PM

I love their onion straw things. So tasty!

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Posted by anonforthis on 05/31/2011 at 11:08 AM

Congrats, 50to49. Good idea to save the beer consumption for the times mom is on duty.

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Posted by hugh mann on 06/01/2011 at 12:36 PM

Whoa! jerico, Simply Najiyyah's Fishboat and More has good burgers? I've never darkened the door, but might have to try it. I get a kick out of the name, 'cause there's nothing simple about it!

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Posted by hugh mann on 06/01/2011 at 12:39 PM

Confirmed: Simply Najiyyah's has good burgers. BIG, messy, flat-grilled burgers. Had to finish mine with a fork. That messy. Fries are pedestrian...from food service, but not terrible.

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Posted by hugh mann on 06/02/2011 at 1:30 PM

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