Since the Times began publishing weekly, we’ve run more than a thousand dining reviews. From 1992 until March 2008, we used stars to grade the restaurants. Below are the highest-rated restaurants during that time.

Five-star reviews

Open:

Brave New Restaurant, May 7, 1992

Homer’s, April 1, 1993

The Terrace, May 27, 1993


James at the Mill (Johnson), April 7, 1995

Sims Bar-B-Que, Jan. 23, 1998


Ella’s (Fayetteville), Sept. 5, 2003

The Cornerstone Deli and Pub (North Little Rock), Oct. 28, 2004

Ristorante Capeo (North Little Rock), Sept. 21, 2006

So Restaurant-Bar, Aug. 16, 2007


Ferneau, Dec. 13, 2007

Ashley’s, Dec. 27, 2007

Closed:

Zachary’s (Fayetteville), Aug. 13, 1992

English Tea Room, Nov. 5, 1992

Cassinelli 1700 (North Little Rock), June 24, 1995

Cassinelli 1700 (North Little Rock), Aug. 4, 1995

Alouette’s, June 6, 1997

Cassinelli 1700 (North Little Rock), April 16, 1999

Aydelotte’s (North Little Rock), Feb. 17, 2005


Nu Cuisine, June 1, 2006

River Road (Helena), March 15, 2007

Four-and-a-half-star reviews

Open:

Bubba’s Barbecue (Eureka), Aug. 18, 1995

1620, Sept. 15, 1995

Zack’s Place, March 22, 1996

1620, April 11, 1997

Graffiti’s, March 13, 1998

Stubby’s (Hot Springs), May 1, 1998

The Pancake Shop in Hot Springs, April 9, 1999

Ristorante Capeo (North Little Rock), July 1, 2004

Acadia, Nov. 4, 2004

So Restaurant-Bar, Feb. 2, 2006

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, May 4, 2006

Trio’s, Sept. 28, 2006

Sushi Cafe, Feb. 7, 2008

1620, March 13, 2008

Closed:

Romedio’s Club (Dardanelle), July 19, 1996

Josephine’s Library, Oct. 11, 1996

Chez Charles’ (Eureka Springs), July 11, 1997

Spaule, Aug. 22, 1997

Three Monkeys (Hot Springs), May 15, 1998

Amore (Conway), Feb. 26, 1999

Sassafras (Fayetteville), July 12, 2002

Horseshoe Vineyard Italian Restaurant (Bonnerdale), April 4, 2003

Vermillion Italian Bistro, June 9, 2005

Bill Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant (North Little Rock), May 17, 2007

Ferneau, May 31, 2007

Aydelotte’s, Oct. 11, 2007

Four-star reviews

Open:

Mt. Fuji, Aug. 27, 1992

1620, Sept. 17, 1992

The Faded Rose, Jan. 28, 1993

Community Bakery, April 15, 1993

Cajun Boilers (Hot Springs), July 1, 1993

Gaston’s (Lakeview), Oct. 21, 1993

Oak Street Bistro (Conway), May 26, 1994

The Terrace, Nov. 25, 1994

Autumn Breeze (Eureka Springs), Sept. 1, 1995

Prego, Nov. 10, 1995

Fantastic China, Dec. 1, 1995

Neal’s Cafe (Springdale). Feb. 16, 1996

Izzy’s, Feb. 23, 1996

Catering to You, March 29, 1996

Corky’s, June 14, 1996

Sparky’s Roadhouse Cafe (Eureka Springs), Aug. 16, 1996

Benihana (North Little Rock), Sept. 6, 1996

Delicious Temptations, Nov. 8, 1996

Doe’s Eat Place, April 25, 1997

Capers, Sept. 26, 1997

Zaffino’s Grapevine Cafe (Sherwood), Nov. 28, 1997

Emmy’s German Restaurant (Fort Smith), Dec. 26, 1997

Bordino’s (Fayetteville), Jan. 16, 1998

1620, June 25, 1998

Loca Luna, Aug. 14, 1998

The Cross-Eyed Pig, Oct. 30, 1998

Lucky Dragon Cafe (Berryville), Nov. 20, 1998

Gaston’s Resort on the White River, June 25, 1999

Dave’s Place, July 2, 1999

Cafe 1217 (Hot Springs), Aug. 27, 1999

Zaffino’s Grapevine Cafe (Sherwood), Sept. 3, 1999

Ashley’s at the Capital Hotel, Dec. 17, 1999

Sekisui, Feb. 11, 2000

Red Apple Inn (Eden Isle, Heber Springs), Feb. 18, 2000

Riverfront Steakhouse (North Little Rock), May 19, 2000

The Mean Bean Cafe (Conway), June 16, 2000

Cafe Klaser (Heber Springs), July 21, 2000

River Grille (Bentonville), July 28, 2000

Whole Hog Cafe, Sept. 8, 2000

Boulevard Bread Co., Oct. 20, 2000

1620, May 4, 2001

Ciao Baci, July 13, 2001

Terrace on the Green, Aug. 17, 2001

Doe’s Eat Place (Fayetteville), Sept. 21, 2001

Cafe Rue Orleans (Fayetteville), Oct. 5, 2001

Cheers, Oct. 26, 2001

Capers, Feb. 8, 2002

Capriccio, Feb. 15, 2002

Flying Fish, April 19, 2002

Graffiti’s, April 25, 2002

Victorian Garden (North Little Rock), May 24, 2002

Lilly’s Dim Sum then Sum, June 14, 2002

Best Impressions, July 19, 2002

Star of India, Aug. 30, 2002

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, Sept. 27, 2002

The Butcher Shop, Oct. 18, 2002

Lilly’s Dim Sum then Sum, Oct. 25, 2002

Mt. Fuji, Nov. 1, 2002

Rod’s Pizza Cellar (Hot Springs), Nov. 15, 2002

Acadia, Dec. 13, 2002

Dizzy’s Grill and Bistro (Benton), Dec. 20, 2002

Cheers in the Heights, Jan. 10, 2003

Zaffino’s by Nori (Sherwood), Jan. 31, 2003

1620, May 2, 2003

J&S Italian Villa (Hot Springs), June 27, 2003

Ristorante Capeo (NLR), July 4, 2003

Rivertowne BBQ (Ozark), July 18, 2003

Acadia, Nov. 14, 2003

Brave New Restaurant, April 9, 2004

Riverfront Steakhouse (North Little Rock), June 17, 2004

Cold Stone Creamery, July 8, 2004

Osaka Japanese Restaurant, Aug. 5, 2004

Sonny Williams’ Steak Room, Nov. 11, 2004

Ciao Baci, Dec. 16, 2004

Cafe 42, Dec. 23, 2004

Star of India, Jan. 13, 2005

Saddle Creek Woodfired Grill (North Little Rock), Jan. 20, 2005

La Regional, April 7, 2005

1620, May 12, 2005

Mike’s Place (Conway), July 14, 2005

Savannah’s River Front Cafe (Dardanelle), Aug. 11, 2005

Damgoode Pies, Nov. 10, 2005

Osaka Japanese Steakhouse (Hot Springs), Dec. 29, 2005

Brave New Restaurant, Jan. 19, 2006

Lulav, April 13, 2006

Rocky’s Pub (North Little Rock), July 13, 2006

Neumeier’s Rib Room (Fort Smith), July 27, 2006

Pei Wei Asian Diner, Nov. 2, 2006

Boulevard Bread Co., March 1, 2007

Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, July 5, 2007

A.Q. Chicken House (Fayetteville), July 19, 2007

Bonefish Grill, Aug. 2, 2007

Whole Hog Cafe, Aug. 23, 2007

Cregeen’s Irish Pub, Oct. 25, 2007

Capital Bar and Grill, Nov. 29, 2007

Layla’s Halal, Jan. 17, 2008

Uncle Gaylord’s (Fayetteville), Oct. 8, 1992

36 D-Lux (Fayettville; now called 1936 Club), Jan. 10, 1997

Closed:

Splash, June 18, 1992

Weidman’s Old Fort Brew Pub (Fort Smith), Aug 6, 1992

Powerhouse Seafood, Nov. 19, 1992

Cafe D’Roma, Dec. 3, 1992

Percito’s (North Little Rock), Jan. 14, 1993

Romedio’s on the River (Dardanelle), Feb. 4, 1993

The Plaza (Eureka Springs), Feb. 11, 1993

Cafe Armagost (Eureka Springs), Feb. 25, 1993

Dave’s Place, Jan. 13, 1994

Chattie’s, March 17, 1994

Le Casse Croute, March 31, 1994

Cafe Cou Rouge, June 3, 1993

Rose and Crown (Conway), July 15, 1993

Folie A Deux (Fort Smith), Aug. 19, 1993

Coy’s Place (Fayetteville), Sept. 23, 1993

Chester Street Café, May 19, 1994

Ten Mile House, Aug. 25, 1994

The Bagel Factory, Sept. 22, 1994

Ozark Brewing Company (Fayetteville), Sept. 29, 1994

Beans and Grains and Things, Oct. 13, 1994

Siam Kitchen, Dec. 2, 1994

Andre’s West, March 3, 1995

Lotus Restaurant (Hot Springs), May 12, 1995

Spaule, June 9, 1995

Vicenza’s (Tonitown), Sept. 22, 1995

Bell’s Ducks by the Levee (Helena), Nov. 3, 1995

The Campbell Street Bistro (Fayetteville), April 12, 1996

Catfish Willie’s, July 12, 1996

The Horizon Restaurant/Deli, July 26, 1996

Jasmine Harbor (Hot Springs), Aug. 2, 1996

Suburb-b-que (Maumelle), Sept. 13, 1996

Goodson’s Grill and Bakery (Fort Smith), Oct. 4, 1996

Sir Loin’s Inn (North Little Rock), Nov. 15, 1996

La Familia (Fayetteville), Nov. 22, 1996

Sufficient Grounds (in Hillcrest), March 21, 1997

China Inn, April 18, 1997

Mollie’s (Hot Springs), June 13, 1997

Tony Roma’s, Aug. 8, 1997

Northwest Port-of-Call, Aug. 29, 1997

Andre’s Hillcrest, Sept. 5, 1997

Jim and Brent’s Bistro (Eureka Springs), Sept. 19, 1997

RiverRock Brewery, Oct. 10, 1997

Stage Left, Oct. 24, 1997

Acropolis: Greek and Mediterranean Food (Fayetteville), Oct. 31, 1997

Antonio’s (Arkadelphia), Nov. 11, 1997

Watson’s Bistro (Rogers), Dec. 5, 1997

Ghazi’s Pesto Cafe (Fayetteville), Feb. 6, 1998

Kelley’s Bistro, Feb. 27, 1998

Cajun’s (on W. Markham), April 17, 1998

Bruno’s, May 22, 1998

Blackboards Cafe (Bella Vista), July 10, 1998

St. Pascual’s Kitchen, Aug. 7, 1998

Sonny’s Pizzeria (Eureka Springs), Dec. 4, 1998

Mary Maestri’s (Tonitown), Aug. 20, 1999

Folie a Deux (Fort Smith), Oct. 1, 1999

Vermillion Bistro, Oct. 15, 1999

Fayray’s (El Dorado), Dec. 10, 1999

Cafe Chisme (Van Buren), March 31, 2000

Spaule, June 2, 2000

Sir Loin’s Inn (North Little Rock), June 9, 2000

The Kitchen Table (Bentonville), Feb. 2, 2001

Elizabeth’s on Crestwood (North Little Rock), Oct. 12, 2001

The Plaza at the Village (Rogers), Jan. 1, 2002

Sims Bar-B-Que, Feb. 1, 2002

Bene Vita, March 8, 2002

Gaucho’s Grill, June 7, 2002

Mr. Mason’s, Aug. 16, 2002

Brioso Brazil (Bentonville), Aug. 23, 2002

Cafe Pompeii (Hot Springs), Oct. 4, 2002

Vermillion Water Grille, Nov. 8, 2002

Chloe (Fayetteville), Nov. 29, 2002

Sink’s Kitchen (Hot Springs), Feb. 14, 2003

Stillwater Grill (Hot Springs), May 16, 2003

Vermillion Bistro, Dec. 26, 2003

Anderson’s Cajun’s Wharf Bar, May 28, 2004

Vermillion Water Grille, Sept. 9, 2004

The Plaza at the Village (Rogers), Nov. 25, 2004

Nu Cuisine Lounge, Dec. 2, 2004

Ferneau, Jan. 27, 2005

Erba, March 3, 2005

Taste of Heritage (Bryant), March 24, 2005

Sassafras (Fayetteville), May 5, 2005

Crazy Cajun (Hot Springs), Dec. 15, 2005

Vermillion Water Grille, March 23, 2006

Imagine, Nov. 9, 2006

Coy’s Steakhouse (Hot Springs), April 5, 2007

Sook & Sung’s Korean Cafe (Fayetteville), March 6, 2008

Layne’s (Star City), Aug. 18, 2000