Drink up
Big Whiskey’s American Bar and Grill, a Springfield, Mo.-based concept, will open its first Little Rock location at the corner of Markham and Cumberland in the space that previously housed Velo Rouge as early as mid-November, according to Paul Sundy, who leads the ownership group in Springfield.
As its name suggests, it's a full bar with a pub-style menu — burgers, a wide variety of sandwiches, steaks. You can get a look at the menu here.
Sundy, who's partnering with a Little Rock restaurant group that includes Daniel Bryant (Flying Burrito, Ernie Biggs, the Fountain) and Brett Smith, says his long term goal is to have 10 to 25 Big Whiskey's in the region, with likely two more of those in Little Rock.
Sundy says he plans to use the back room in the building as a staging area, initially, and a private dining room eventually. He also hopes to occasionally close the adjacent parking lot for outdoor parties.
And new for the River Market, as far as I know: whiskey on tap and a bar with 25-30 plasma TVs. Probably means they'll be all throughout the bathrooms, too.
As its name suggests, it's a full bar with a pub-style menu — burgers, a wide variety of sandwiches, steaks. You can get a look at the menu here.
Sundy, who's partnering with a Little Rock restaurant group that includes Daniel Bryant (Flying Burrito, Ernie Biggs, the Fountain) and Brett Smith, says his long term goal is to have 10 to 25 Big Whiskey's in the region, with likely two more of those in Little Rock.
Sundy says he plans to use the back room in the building as a staging area, initially, and a private dining room eventually. He also hopes to occasionally close the adjacent parking lot for outdoor parties.
And new for the River Market, as far as I know: whiskey on tap and a bar with 25-30 plasma TVs. Probably means they'll be all throughout the bathrooms, too.
Comments
Whiskey on tap????????? I may have to but one of those lofts down there after all so I can walk home.
Posted by: bopbamboom![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 15, 2008 05:16 PM
Anything on tap in Springfield? I thought it was dry, in addition to being boring.
Posted by: hugh mann![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 15, 2008 06:37 PM
Nah. Springfield is wet. It IS boring however.
Posted by: bopbamboom![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 16, 2008 07:31 AM
Oh Boy! More bar food in the River Market! I hope the fries come with a side of grease for dipping.
Posted by: pollen![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 16, 2008 02:32 PM
That's what I was thinking too pollen. We're losing scallops and portabello mushrooms for more burgers and wings? Great.
Posted by: EY![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 06:52 AM
Forest for the trees, boys...
Whiskey on tap!
Posted by: bopbamboom![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 09:35 AM
Yup, my thoughts exactly, EY and pollen. Anyone want to place bets on how long this one will stick around?
My guess is longer than Velo Rouge because its menu and whiskey on tap (um, gross) appeals to a broader customer base.
*Yawn*
Posted by: JenJens![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 10:58 AM
You had me at "whiskey on tap." Yeah, it's bar food, but brown party liquor makes things funner. Y'all wouldn't know bout that.
Posted by: gloves![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 12:03 PM
gloves, you know how much i love the whiskey, but WHO THE HELL wants to go to a bar with 25-30 televisions??? WTF??
television is for the living room, yo.
Posted by: spinsouth![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 01:08 PM
I would typically agree that the last thing we need in the River Market is more bar food, but that location has never seemed to be able to make it with high-end appeal. For example: Cafe St. Moritz, Nu, Velo Rouge. So I hope SOMETHING can be successful there since it should be a prime location.
Posted by: jamestown![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 01:36 PM
Sometimes television helps me forget how ugly everyone is in the bar/restaurant. But whiskey serves this same purpose, so you may have a point. Nevertheless, don't knock a place with whiskey on tap until you have tried it.
Posted by: gloves![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 01:38 PM
AWESOME.
MORE TV'S. Just what America needs.
Well.
I REFUSE to eat anywhere where I can't watch "American Idol" or "Are You Smarter Than A Hole In the Ground?" What else are grown people meant to do over a meal? Talk to one another? Engage in conversation???
Unheard of!
Posted by: JenJens![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 01:45 PM
If we're lucky, maybe we'll get a cigar bar next. Or one where they have live animals in cages, and guns for you to shoot at them while you down your whiskey.
And topless waitresses.
Building Arkansas culture....
Posted by: MuddlingThrough![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 19, 2008 08:47 AM
I am going to add my voice to being terribly underwhelmed with this concept.
First, chains get an extra hard glare from me on general principle.
Second, the menu leaves me wondering why. There was not really anything there that intrigued me or made me think about flavors I have not already had in town.
THird, whisk(e)y on tap? Pretentious and gimmicky.
Fourth, the TVs are a problem for me. I don't really want to watch TV when I am out for a good dinner. I generally don't want to watch TV when I ought with my friends on the town.
I really hope that something can survive in that location, but I would prefer a local restaurant that can bridge the gap between Nu & this places gustations.
Posted by: Joel![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 25, 2008 09:51 AM