Pie Trail
Here in Arkansas every day is "pie day." Don’t just take our word for it though. Jane and Michael Stern, authors of the Roadfood guides and website, declared in a November 2003 Gourmet Magazine article, that "Arkansas is known as one of America's foremost pie states…” And in the January 22, 2010 edition of USA Today, SeriousEats.com creator Ed Levine highlighted his Top 10 pie spots in the nation. One of his choices? The Family Pie Shop in DeValls Bluff. Here are a few locations (in no particular order) where you can honor the All-American dessert in style with some of The Natural State’s best pies. This is, by no means, a comprehensive list.
Backyard Barbeque Company
Magnolia, AR
Beef, pork barbecue, potato salad, slaw, barbecue baked potatoes; homemade coconut cream, pecan, cream cheese, Oreo, and banana pudding pies
Big John's Shake Shack
Marion, AR
Retro dining; featured in Off the Eaten Path in Southern Living; best known for homemade and fried pies made fresh daily; fried broccoli and cheese bites; fried green beans, fried pickles, Texas Toothpicks (fried onions and jalapenos), and Munchers (fried tater tots with cheese and jalapenos); huge variety of shakes
Big Springs Trading Company Restaurant and Smoked Meats
St. Joe, AR
Serving lunch and dinner featuring old-fashioned cooking, including sandwiches, barbecue, steaks, ribs, lots of side orders; homemade desserts including pies; smoked hams, turkey, bacon, cheeses and more to take with you. Jams, jellies, and pickles are available seasonally; located close to the Buffalo National River.
Bobby's Country Cookin'
Little Rock, AR
Home-style cooking; plate lunches include one entree, two vegetables; three vegetables, or four vegetables, all with roll or cornbread, homemade pie by the slice; homemade casseroles and pies available for purchase; casseroles include lasagna, chicken lasagna, chicken spaghetti, Mexican chicken, Mexican beef, beef stroganoff, spaghetti, enchilada, ranch, chili spaghetti, beef taco bake; pies include coconut, chocolate, cherry cheesecake, pecan, the McRae, lemon, lemon icebox, whipped strawberry, peanut butter.
Boo's Bulldog Diner
Greenwood, AR
Appetizers, chili dogs, onion rings, burgers, fries; homemade pies including chocolate, coconut, buttermilk; country fried steak, country pit ham.
Cafe 1217
Hot Springs, AR
Award-winning restaurant features gourmet food "on the go." The menu changes every month and can include salads, entrees, soups, sandwiches, gluten free sandwiches upon request, vegetables, homemade pies and cakes; children's menu. Specialties include gourmet American foods and marrying of international cuisines. Uses locally grown products and local vendors. Herbs used are all homegrown.
Catalpa Cafe
Ozone, AR
Down-home cooking; daily specials; featuring the Catalpa Burger, catfish, shrimp, frog legs, steak, salads; known for homemade lemon, coconut cream, chocolate cream, apple, cherry, peach and pecan pies.
Keo, AR
Historic pharmacy building, complete with old walnut soda fountain. Sandwiches, including the famous "Keo Klassic," salads, burgers, shakes, sundaes, malts; homemade pies, cakes; coconut pie selected as one of the top pies in the South by Southern Living Magazine readers.
Cliff House Inn & Restaurant
Jasper, AR
Five-unit inn, three cabins and restaurant all which overlook the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks on Scenic 7 Byway. Good home-cooking featuring the restaurant's signature "Company's Coming" pie; perfect stop for photographing the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks.
DeValls Bluff, AR
Specializes in coconut, chocolate, sweet potato and egg custard pies as well as crescent-shaped fried pies filled with fruit, an Arkansas delicacy. The fried peach pie is popular and the chocolate and coconut pies, topped with beautiful ¾-inch layers of meringue are Southern classics according to USA Today (05-24-2007). Known to locals as "Mary's Place." Has also been featured in the New York Times and Roadfood by Jane & Michael Stern.
Godsey's Downtown Grill
Jonesboro, AR
Large variety of burgers, sandwiches, wood-fired oven pizzas, several dips including Ro-tel, steaks, seafood, huge array of appetizers, salads, pasta, side orders, home cooking such as country fried steak, turnip greens; homemade desserts; catering available.
Conway, AR
Serves up such favorites as fried chicken, hash brown casserole, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, mac ‘n cheese; banana cream and peanut butter pies; open for lunch only; has been in business since 1999
Lindsey's Barbecue, Catering & Hospitality House
North Little Rock, AR
Opened in 1956 serving home-cooking and barbecue for lunch; chopped barbecue beef, pork, ribs, smoked links and chicken; fried chicken, catfish; variety of side items including mixed greens, pinto and baked beans, potato salad, onion rings, cabbage; homemade pies including egg custard, sweet potato, fried pies. GROUPS: facility can handle up to 350 guests on-site; no size limit off-site
Lonoke County Co-op One Stop
Humnoke, AR
Serves biscuits/breakfast sandwiches, hot deli items, Pizza Pro pizza, sandwiches, burgers and daily lunch plates.
Ms. Lena's Pies
DeValls Bluff, AR
Fried pies made from a secret family recipe. Open Saturdays only. Peach, Apple, Apricot, Chocolate and Coconut made fresh every Saturday. Additional flavors such as Cherry, Mounds and Pecan made on alternate Saturdays. Special orders can be made any day of the week -- just call. Featured in Southern Living magazine.
Eureka Springs
Serves breakfast and lunch; open Friday and Saturday evenings for desserts, coffees and spirits; sandwiches, salads; freshly baked goods such as the blueberry cream homemade pie; gourmet coffees; featured in Southern Living magazine. Located in Underground Eureka; the building was built at street level in 1888; the spring that runs underneath the town in the late 1800s kept flooding the street, thus the name Mud Street. The street has since been built up, putting the cafe level down a flight of stairs; interior features old limestone walls, large wooden beams, and stained glass lighting. The original street is viewable from the underground windows.
Nick's Bar-B-Q & Catfish
Carlisle, AR
Barbecue chicken, pork and beef; seafood; catfish with all the trimmings; homemade fried green tomatoes, onion rings; cheese dip and salsa, salads; homemade fried pies (including coconut) and cobblers for dessert.
Mountain View, AR
Visit working craft artisans and folk musicians. Learn how iron is forged, soap is made, wool is woven and experience more than 20 crafts. Purchase handcrafted goods. Hear live string band music on the outdoor stage. Acoustic Southern Mountain music and special concerts offered as evening shows in the 1,000-seat theater. 60 duplex cabins, conference center, restaurant, visitor center, gift shop, youth programs, and a Heritage Herb Garden are also on the property.
Patty's Down The Road
Royal, AR
Home-style, country cooking; daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials; fried chicken, catfish with all the trimmings, prime rib, chicken and dressing, spinach wraps, burgers, soups, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, homemade and fried pies made daily
Pickens Restaurant & Commissary
Pickens, AR
Traditional Southern fare; daily plate lunches; signature dishes include skillet fried potatoes and onions, squash dressing; fresh vegetables, chicken salad, fried catfish; homemade desserts include coconut cream, chocolate, strawberry and pecan pies; hamburgers
Lake Village, AR
Different menu featured daily; homemade tamales, hot lunches, fried chicken, catfish, roast beef; homemade pies including the popular half-and-half
Shangri-La Resort & Marina
Mount Ida
One or two-bedroom housekeeping cottages with furnished kitchens; motel rooms; cable television; tennis court, swimming pool; restaurant features down-home cooking, daily lunch specials, homemade desserts; legendary pies including blueberry, apple, cherry, peach and cream-filled; full-service marina, tackle shop, fully rigged fishing boat and party barge rental
Three Sam's Barbecue
Mabelvale, AR
Family-owned; pork and beef barbecue, burgers, chili dogs, onion rings, fries, chili; homemade desserts including peanut butter, strawberry and lemon ice box pies.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant
Greenbrier, AR
Menu is Southern-style cooking; featured in Michael and Jane Stern's Roadfood. The review states: "At the Wagon Wheel, freshly-baked, high-domed rolls envelop breakfast sandwiches of eggs and Petit Jean bacon; bread baskets come piled with white toast that is rich as cake; and tall meringue pies are Arkansas-excellent. Chocolate gravy with your morning biscuits!! Normal gravy is available, too, and it is excellent. This is a cozy sort of place where locals hang out and discuss things over coffee every morning. The tall (pie) meringues were Arkansas-excellent, and that is saying a lot, for Arkansas is one of this nation's premier pie places."
Vacation Ideas
