The people have spoken.

We’re happy again to announce the winners in the Arkansas Times’ annual Readers Choice awards to the best restaurants in Arkansas. It’s the state’s longest-running restaurant contest.

We ran ballots on successive weeks in November. We spent weeks afterward tallying thousands of votes. Now we present the winners, accompanied by features on a variety of food-related topics from all over Arkansas. We have barbecue, curry, a historic Heights haunt, baseball park cuisine and a find in western Arkansas, among other gastronomic delights.

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The winners follow. Runners-up are listed alphabetically.

OVERALL

LITTLE ROCK

Brave New Restaurant

RUNNERS-UP:

Ferneau, Starving Artist Cafe, Trio’s.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Mike’s Place of Conway

RUNNERS-UP:

Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs, James at the Mill of Johnson.

NEW

LITTLE ROCK

Bill Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant

RUNNERS-UP:

Arthur’s, Bonefish Grill, Cregeen’s.

ITALIAN

LITTLE ROCK

Capeo

RUNNERS-UP:

Bene Vita, Bruno’s, Villa.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Ermilio’s of Eureka Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Belle Arti of Hot Springs, DeVito’s of Eureka Springs, Pesto Cafe of Fayetteville.

ASIAN

LITTLE ROCK

Lilly’s Dim Sum Then Some

RUNNERS-UP:

Fantastic China, Mount Fuji, P.F. Chang’s.

MEXICAN

LITTLE ROCK

El Porton

RUNNERS-UP:

Cotija, Hacienda, Senor Tequila.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Hacienda of Hot Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Jose’s of Fayetteville, Los Amigos of Conway.

FUN

LITTLE ROCK

Chuck E. Cheese

RUNNERS-UP:

Cajun’s Wharf, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Murry’s Dinner Theater.

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OTHER ETHNIC

LITTLE ROCK

Star of India

RUNNERS-UP:

Bossa Nova, Leo’s, Terrace on the Green.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Bavarian Inn of Eureka Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Blackwood’s Grill of Conway, Taste of Thai of Fayetteville.

BAKERY

LITTLE ROCK

Community Bakery

RUNNERS-UP:

Boulevard Bread Co., Old Mill, Silvek’s.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Ed’s of Conway

RUNNERS-UP:

Klappenbach’s of Fordyce, Little Bread Co. of Eureka Springs, Rick’s of Fayetteville.

BARBECUE

LITTLE ROCK

Whole Hog Cafe

RUNNERS-UP:

Corky’s, Mr. Mason’s, Sims.

AROUND ARKANSAS

McClard’s of Hot Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Bubba’s of Eureka Springs, Craig’s of DeValls Bluff, Penguin Ed’s of Fayetteville.

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BREAKFAST

LITTLE ROCK

Ozark Mountain Country Restaurant

RUNNERS-UP:

Delicious Temptations, Mimi’s, Satellite Coffee Co.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Common Grounds of Fayetteville, Cracker Barrel, multiple locations; Ed and Kay’s of Benton.

CATFISH

LITTLE ROCK

Flying Fish

RUNNERS-UP:

Catfish City, Cock of the Walk of Maumelle, Grampa’s of North Little Rock.

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AROUND ARKANSAS

Denton’s Trotline of Benton

RUNNERS-UP:

Catfish Hole of Fayetteville, Dondie’s of Des Arc, Fish House of Conway.

DELI/GOURMET SHOP

LITTLE ROCK

Boulevard Bread Co.

RUNNERS-UP:

Diane’s, Fresh Market, Jason’s Deli.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs

RUNNERS-UP:

Cheese Corner of Hot Springs, Ozark Natural Foods Co-operative of Fayetteville.

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HAMBURGER

LITTLE ROCK

Buffalo Grill

RUNNERS-UP:

Arkansas Burger Company, Cotham’s, Sports Page.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Hugo’s of Fayetteville

RUNNERS-UP:

Sparky’s Roadhouse of Eureka Springs, Whatta-Burger of Russellville.

PIZZA

LITTLE ROCK

Damgoode Pies

RUNNERS-UP:

Iriana’s, U.S. Pizza Co., Vino’s.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Larry’s of Bryant

RUNNERS-UP:

Chelsea’s Corner Cafe and Bar of Eureka Springs, Rod’s Pizza Cellar of Hot Springs, Sonny’s of Eureka Springs.

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SEAFOOD

LITTLE ROCK

Cajun’s Wharf

RUNNERS-UP:

Bonefish Grill, Brave New Restaurant, Flying Fish.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Dondie’s of Des Arc

RUNNERS-UP:

Cajun Boilers of Hot Springs, Denton’s Trotline of Benton, Fisherman’s Wharf of Hot Springs.

STEAK

LITTLE ROCK

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room

RUNNERS-UP:

Butcher Shop, Doe’s, Faded Rose.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Mike’s Place of Conway

RUNNERS-UP:

Coy’s of Hot Springs, Herman’s of Fayetteville.

DESSERT

LITTLE ROCK

Trio’s

RUNNERS-UP:

Capriccio Grill, Community Bakery, Gypsy’s.

AROUND ARKANSAS

Charlotte’s of Keo

RUNNERS-UP:

Ed and Kay’s of Benton, Marketplace of Conway, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs.

COFFEE

LITTLE ROCK

Starbucks

RUNNERS-UP:

Boulevard Bread Co., Satellite Coffee Co., Sufficient Grounds.

AROUND ARKANSAS

McDonald’s, multiple locations

RUNNERS-UP:

Arsaga’s Block Street Bakery of Fayetteville, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs, Something’s Brewing of Conway.

HOME COOKING

LITTLE ROCK

Dixie Cafe

RUNNERS-UP:

Franke’s Cafeteria, Homer’s, Your Mama’s Good Food.

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AROUND ARKANSAS

Ed and Kay’s of Benton

RUNNERS-UP:

Holly’s Country Cooking of Conway, Neal’s Cafe of Springdale, Oasis of Eureka Springs.

PLACE FOR KIDS

LITTLE ROCK

Purple Cow

RUNNERS-UP:

Buffalo Grill, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Chuck E. Cheese.

ROMANTIC

LITTLE ROCK

1620

RUNNERS-UP:

Brave New Restaurant, Capeo, Ferneau.

WINE LIST

LITTLE ROCK

Crush

RUNNERS-UP:

Arthur’s, Ferneau, Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant.

OTHER CITIES

We asked readers to vote for their favorite restaurant of any description in several cities around the state.

EUREKA SPRINGS

Ermilio’s

RUNNERS-UP:

Cafe Soleil, Rogue’s Manor, Sparky’s Roadhouse.

HOT SPRINGS

McClard’s

RUNNERS-UP:

Back Porch, Belle Arti, Cafe 1217.

FAYETTEVILLE AREA

James at the Mill of Johnson

RUNNERS-UP:

Bordino’s of Fayetteville, Copeland’s of Rogers, Penguin Ed’s of Fayetteville.

CONWAY

Mike’s Place

RUNNERS-UP:

Marketplace, Oak Street Bistro, Stoby’s.

THE WINNER

Bill James won $100 in our ballot drawing.

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