For more than three decades now the drill has been more or less the same.
We distribute ballots in issues of the Arkansas Times.
Readers fill them out.
Editors laboriously tally the votes — taking care to set aside obvious efforts to stuff the ballot box.
Then we announce the winners of our annual restaurant contest, accompanied by a variety of feature articles on good food and places to get it (not all necessarily winners in this contest).
This year’s winners (and don’t forget that being a runner-up — they are listed alphabetically — is a whole lot better than kissing your sister):
OVERALL
LITTLE ROCK
Brave New Restaurant
RUNNERS-UP: Ferneau, Loca Luna, Trio’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
James at the Mill of Johnson
RUNNERS-UP: Bordino’s of Fayetteville, Ella’s of Fayetteville, Mike’s Place of Conway.
NEW
LITTLE ROCK
SO Restaurant Bar
RUNNERS-UP:
Imagine, Starving Artist Cafe, Vieux Carre.
ITALIAN
LITTLE ROCK
Ristorante Capeo
RUNNERS-UP: Bene Vita, Bruno’s, Graffiti’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Ermilio’s of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Belle Arti of Hot Springs, Bordino’s of Fayetteville, 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
Casa Manana
RUNNERS-UP: El Porton, La Hacienda, La Palapa.
AROUND ARKANSAS
La Hacienda of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Jose’s of Fayetteville, La Huerta of Fayetteville, Los Amigos of Conway.
FUN
LITTLE ROCK
Purple Cow
RUNNERS-UP: Gaucho’s, Loca Luna, Sticky Fingerz.
OTHER ETHNIC
LITTLE ROCK
Star of India
RUNNERS-UP: Bossa Nova, Terrace on the Green, Van Lang.
AROUND
ARKANSAS
Rolando’s of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Acropolis of Fayetteville, Bavarian Inn of Eureka Springs, Mollie’s of Hot Springs.
BAKERY
LITTLE ROCK
Community Bakery
RUNNERS-UP: Boulevard Bread Co., Old Mill, Silvek’s.
AROUND
ARKANSAS
Little Bread Co. of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Ambrosia of Hot Springs, Ed’s of Conway, Rick’s of Fayetteville.
BARBECUE
LITTLE ROCK
Whole Hog Cafe
RUNNERS-UP: Chip’s, Corky’s, Dixie Pig.
AROUND ARKANSAS
McClard’s of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Bubba’s of Eureka Springs, Craig’s of DeValls Bluff, Rib Crib of Benton.
BREAKFAST
LITTLE ROCK
Ozark Mountain Smokehouse
RUNNERS-UP: IHOP, Mimi’s Cafe, Satellite Coffee Co.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Pancake Shop of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Cracker Barrel of Bryant, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs, Uncle Gaylord’s of Fayetteville.
CATFISH
LITTLE ROCK
Flying Fish
RUNNERS-UP: Catfish City, Cock of the Walk of Maumelle, Grampa’s of North Little Rock.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Denton’s Trotline of Benton
RUNNERS-UP: Dondie’s of DeValls Bluff, Fish House of Conway, Jason’s Burgers and More of Hot Springs.
DELI/GOURMET SHOP
LITTLE ROCK
Boulevard Bread Co.
RUNNERS-UP: Diane’s, Jason’s, Wild Oats.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Breitweiser’s of Benton, Mollie’s of Hot Springs.
HAMBURGER
LITTLE ROCK
Buffalo Grill
RUNNERS-UP: Arkansas Burger Company, Cotham’s in the City, Purple Cow.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Jason’s Burgers and More of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Cotham’s of Scott, Sparky’s Roadhouse of Eureka Springs, Feltner’s Whatta-Burger of Russellville.
PIZZA
LITTLE ROCK
Damgoode Pies
RUNNERS-UP: Pizza Cafe, U.S. Pizza, Vino’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Geraldi’s of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Rocky’s Corner of Hot Springs, Rod’s Pizza Cellar of Hot Springs, Tim’s of Fayetteville.
SEAFOOD
LITTLE ROCK
Cajun’s Wharf
RUNNERS-UP: Brave New Restaurant, Red Lobster, Vermillion Water Grille.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Cajun Boilers of Hot Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Denton’s Trotline of Benton, Joey’s Seafood of Conway, Powerhouse Seafood of Fayetteville.
STEAK
LITTLE ROCK
Sonny Williams’ Steak Room
RUNNERS-UP: Butcher Shop, Doe’s, Faded Rose.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Herman’s of Fayetteville
RUNNERS-UP: Coy’s of Hot Springs, Mike’s Place of Conway.
DESSERT
LITTLE ROCK
Trio’s
RUNNERS-UP: Acadia, Capriccio Grill, Chip’s Barbecue.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Charlotte’s of Keo
RUNNERS-UP: Cafe 1217 of Hot Springs, MarketPlace Grill of Conway, Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs.
COFFEE
LITTLE ROCK
Sufficient Grounds
RUNNERS-UP: Argenta Coffee, Boulevard Bread Co., Starbucks.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Mud Street Cafe of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Something’s Brewing of Conway.
HOME COOKING
LITTLE ROCK
Dixie Cafe
RUNNERS-UP: Franke’s Cafeteria, Homer’s, Your Mama’s Good Food.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Cracker Barrel
RUNNERS-UP: Bryce’s Cafeteria of Texarkana, Holly’s Country Cooking of Conway, Oasis of Eureka Springs.
FAMILY
LITTLE ROCK
Purple Cow
RUNNERS-UP: Dixie Café, Franke’s Cafeteria, Shorty Small’s.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Cracker Barrel
RUNNERS-UP: Bryce’s Cafeteria of Texarkana, Ed and Kay’s of Benton, Myrtie Mae’s of Eureka Springs.
ROMANTIC
LITTLE ROCK
1620
RUNNERS-UP: Aydelotte’s of North Little Rock, Brave New Restaurant, Ferneau.
AROUND ARKANSAS
James at the Mill of Johnson
RUNNERS-UP: Brauhaus of Hot Springs, Mike’s Place of Conway, Rogue’s Manor of Eureka Springs.
WINE LIST
LITTLE ROCK
Ferneau
RUNNERS-UP: Acadia, Capers, 1620.
AROUND ARKANSAS
Autumn Breeze of Eureka Springs
RUNNERS-UP: Bordino’s of Fayetteville, James at the Mill of Johnson, Mike’s Place of Conway.
OTHER CITIES
We also asked our readers to choose the best restaurants in each of the following cities.
EUREKA SPRINGS
Ermilio’s
RUNNERS-UP: Cottage Inn, Oasis, Rogue’s Manor.
HOT SPRINGS
Belle Arti
RUNNERS-UP: Cafe 1217, J’s Italian Villa, McClard’s.
FAYETTEVILLE AREA
James at the Mill of Johnson
RUNNERS-UP: Bordino’s, Powerhouse Seafood, 36 Club, all of Fayetteville.
FORT SMITH
Rolando’s
RUNNERS-UP: Bella Italia, Calico County, Taliano’s.
THE WINNER
Linda Brown of Little Rock wins $100 in our ballot drawing.