13 Best Restaurants in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Sim’s Bar-B-Que

There would be no real smoked meats on a list of the best places in Pine Bluff without them. Lots of people wait in line to eat at Sim’s Bar-B-Que, where the barbecue is cooked slowly over hickory wood and tastes great. This BBQ place has been owned by black people for more than 40 years, and it has stayed in the Sims family, who use traditional methods and their own recipes.

As their specialty, they serve tender, smoky beef brisket. But you can’t go wrong with any meat, like smoked sausages, ham, turkey, pulled pork sandwiches with Sim’s spicy house-made sauce, or ribs that melt in your mouth. Sides like coleslaw, vinegar slaw, baked beans, and potato salad go great with smoked meats. Sometimes there is a line, but after just one bite, you’ll know it was worth the wait.

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Signature Dishes: Beef Brisket Platters, Ribs, Polish Sausage Sandwiches

What Locals Say: “The very best barbecue in SE Arkansas hands down. That brisket melts in your mouth!”

Insider Tip: Call ahead for quicker pickup or place catering orders for events

Glass Slipper Bistro

Book a table at Glass Slipper Bistro if you want a cozy French meal with a small-town feel. This cozy cafe is tucked away on a quiet downtown corner. It has a Parisian feel to it with its red leather banquettes, fresh flowers, and old French posters. Chef de cuisine Jeremy Ragas, who is talented, uses his Louisiana-French background to make classic Provençal dishes like bouillabaisse, steak frites, and croque monsieur with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Asparagus with garlic and parsley butter or seared duck breast with fig demi-glace might be on the daily offers menu. The carefully chosen wine list has affordable French bottles that go well with your food. The Glass Slipper Bistro takes its guests straight to France without them having to leave Arkansas. Its service is both formal and friendly, and it has a lot of charm.

Signature Dishes: Bouillabaisse, Cassoulet, Steak au Poivre

What Locals Say: “Wonderful French cuisine! Knowledgeable staff provides excellent recommendations.”

Insider Tip: Save room for their outstanding Grand Marnier bread pudding.

The Ohio Club

The Ohio Club is nostalgic because it has been open for the longest time in Pine Bluff. This elegant, recently rebuilt Victorian mansion is located downtown. It has several dining rooms, each with its own style, from the formal main dining room to the more casual Hunt Room. Hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, pasta dishes, and specialty sandwiches are some of the new American and continental foods that have been added.

No matter where you eat, you can expect great service, high-quality products, and traditional ways of cooking. Check out the rest of this historic building; the porches outside look out over beautiful gardens and statues, and the Tap Room bar serves craft cocktails in a stylish lounge setting. The Ohio Club is a luxurious and nostalgic place to eat, whether you’re enjoying a special event or just going out for the night.

Signature Dishes: Filet Mignon Au Poivre, Lobster Risotto, Crispy Fried Catfish

What Locals Say: “First class service and cuisine in a gorgeous historic setting. Fine dining at its best!”

Insider Tip: Sit on the veranda at sunset for a magical dining experience with pretty garden views

OneMo’ BBQ & Soul Food

You can’t miss OneMo’ if you want great barbecue, classic soul food, and live blues music. This family-run restaurant is tucked away on the edge of town. Every day, they use their own smoker to make sweet brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, smoky links, pulled pork, ham, turkey, chicken, and all the sides. People who want comfort food also like soul food favorites like roasted pork chops, oxtails, fried fish, and neck bones.

As daily treats, you might find smoked sausage pasta bake or peach ginger fried catfish. There is a nice, country vibe to OneMo’, and the smell of smoked meat makes it feel more like a backyard barbecue than a restaurant. Sometimes there are live blues bands that make the fun even better. People in the area love OneMo’ because they serve delicious barbecue and soul food the old-fashioned way.

Signature Dishes: Brisket Burnt Ends Platter, Mac & Cheese, Cucumber Salad

What Locals Say: “Some of the most tender, juicy smoked meat in Arkansas. That fried catfish is EVERYTHING!”

Insider Tip: The peach ginger catfish sells out fast so get there early if it’s on the specials board!

Ila’s Southern Eatery

Ila’s is the place to go for hearty Southern cooking in a warm, friendly atmosphere. They serve big amounts of comfort food favorites. The family-owned restaurant is in a renovated house from the early 1900s and serves Southern dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Soul food favorites like smothered oxtails, crispy fried chicken, skillet-fried catfish, collard greens, black-eyed peas, sweet yams, red beans and rice, and cornbread are all on the menu. There are also daily meat-and-two deals, such as slow-cooked pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and ham hocks with rice and lima beans. Ila’s is a beloved neighborhood restaurant because of its affordable costs, friendly service, and hearty food.

Signature Dishes: Sunday Dinner Chicken, Smothered Pork Chops, Oxtails & Rice

What Locals Say: “Comfort food just like Mom used to make – only better! True Southern soul food here.”

Insider Tip: Can’t decide what to order? Go family-style and get an assortment so you can try a few dishes!

Twin City Grill

People love going to Twin City Grill, which is in a classic 1950s-style diner, for home-style comfort food, sweet treats, and a heaping side of memories. It’s a family-owned restaurant with counter dining that’s been serving daily blue plate specials that will stick to your ribs since 1973.

A lot of people love greasy spoon foods like patty melts, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, pot roast, and anything country-fried. These foods go well with sides like mac and cheese, green beans, black-eyed peas, or boiled potatoes. Their famous pies with meringue on top and old-fashioned ice cream parfaits are not to be missed. With its old-fashioned lighting signs and jukebox playing songs from the past, Twin City Grill is sure to please people who want to feel nostalgic while eating comfort food.

Signature Dishes: Country Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole

What Locals Say: “Step back in time and enjoy classic diner food done right. Those homemade pies though!”

Insider Tip: Save room for pie – they bake only a few of each daily so go early for the best selection!

Terri-Lynn’s BBQ Express

Terri-Lynn’s highway stand is the best place to get quick and tasty barbecue on the go. This well-known drive-thru BBQ place on the edge of town serves delicious ribs, chopped pork sandwiches, Polish sausages, bologna sandwiches, and sides like baked beans, slaw, potato wedges, and onion rings. As daily treats, you might find smoked wings or fried catfish.

Every day, everything is smoked right there, and most of the food on the menu costs less than $10. Terri-Lynn’s is a great place for a quick barbecue meal that doesn’t skimp on taste because it doesn’t have a lot of extras and the prices are low. Don’t be fooled by how simple it looks; one bite of the juicy pork sandwiches or melt-in-your-mouth ribs will show you why locals wait in line during lunch. This Pine Bluff mainstay shows that great barbecue doesn’t need fancy toppings.

Signature Dishes: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Smoked Bologna Sandwiches, Rib Platters

What Locals Say: “Some of the most flavorful ‘cue in Arkansas – never disappoints! Love the spicy vinegar sauce.”

Insider Tip: Bring cash to ensure quick service. They accept cards but cash keeps the line moving!

Juanita’s Fresh Mexican Kitchen

Juanita’s is the place to go for homemade Mexican food that is full of bright, real taste. Using old recipes, this lively downtown restaurant makes classics like enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and quesadillas. There are also favorites from different parts of Mexico, such as mole sauce from Oaxaca and cochinita pibil from Yucatán. There are also signature salsas and complex moles like tinga and ranchera.

Fresh starters like lime-cilantro shrimp ceviche, pineapple salsa, or classic guacamole will help balance out the strong, complex tastes. A cocktail, sangria, or Mexican beer will help you wash it all down. Juanita’s is a fun place to hang out because of its holiday decorations and happy vibe. But one bite of the complicated, home-cooked food shows that each dish is made with heart and soul.

Signature Dishes: Enchiladas Rancheras, Carne Asada Tacos, Mole Poblano

What Locals Say: “Juanita cooks regional Mexican specialties you won’t find anywhere else in town. So full of flavor!”

Insider Tip: Chicken mole enchiladas are the house specialty and sell out daily so arrive before the lunch rush!

Brick Oven Pizza Company

Brick Oven Pizza Company makes tasty thin-crust pies every night in a cool industrial space where they serve handmade brick oven pizza and craft beers. This meeting spot is in downtown in a warehouse that has been turned into something else. It goes well with beer. While you wait for the pies, which take about seven minutes in a hot oven that is 600 degrees, you can eat snacks like baked goat cheese or fried ravioli.

You can make your own pie or choose one of their classic dishes, like the BLT with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo, or the Carnivore with pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon. You’ll love every bite of this pizza because the sourdough crust is crispy and has just the right amount of chew. There is live music every night, which makes the place even more fun to hang out with friends over good food and drinks.

Signature Pie: The BLT, The Works, Carnivore

What Locals Say: “Fantastic pizza – love the thin, crispy crust! Good beers and fun music nights too.”

Insider Tip: Happy hour specials run from 4-6pm. Grab a craft beer and appetizer special while you wait on your pie!

Lloyd’s Restaurant

Fans of Down South soul food made from scratch love Lloyd’s, which has been around for a long time in Pine Bluff. The family-owned restaurant on Pullen Street is in a small, unassuming building. Since 1947, they’ve been serving delicious fried chicken, catfish, smothered pork chops, oxtails, and all the sides.

Deals of the day like fried pork chops and oven-baked jerk chicken keep things interesting. Lloyd’s is a popular place for lunch and dinner in the area because the prices are fair. Don’t skip cake; the peach cobbler, banana pudding, and sweet potato pie will fill you up.

Signature Dishes: Smothered pork chops, jerk chicken, fried catfish

What Locals Say: “The food is delicious. Big portions for fair prices. Staff provides great services with a personal touch.”

Insider Tip: Call ahead on Mondays and Tuesdays as Lloyd’s is closed those days

Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales

Going to Rhoda’s roadside tamale stand will give you some of the best hot tamales you’ll find outside of the Mississippi Delta. Rhoda Adams, who is from Arkansas and runs this famous Pine Bluff spot, makes hot tamales from a recipe her family passed down from the delta.

People in the area have said that these hot, peppery beef tamales cooked in corn husks are “sinfully good.” Rhoda serves tamales, as well as filling breakfast plates, burgers, ribs, catfish, and fried pies. Since there aren’t many tables outside, it’s best to get your food to go. Don’t be fooled by the simple decor, though. Rhoda’s food makes this one of the best places to eat in Pine Bluff.

Signature Dishes: Hot Tamales, Rib Tips, Burgers
Memorable Dessert: Sweet Potato Pie
What Locals Say: “Those tamales will light your world on fire. So good!”

Insider Tip: Go early – when they sell out of tamales for the day, they close up shop!

Saracen Landing Restaurant

Saracen Landing Restaurant is the best place to enjoy high-class food with a beautiful view of the river. This modern American restaurant is inside Pine Bluff’s casino entertainment center. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the Arkansas River. You can start with a creative starter like the mini crab cakes or fried alligator bites. Then you can choose from aged steaks, fresh seafood, or signature pasta recipes.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert. Their salted caramel cheesecake and mile-high carrot cake are both delicious. Some menu items are on the more expensive side, but you’re getting high-quality ingredients, expert preparation, great service, and a classy environment. Without a question, it’s one of the best high-end dining experiences in Pine Bluff.

Signature Dishes: Shrimp & Lobster Fettuccine, 8oz Filet Mignon, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

What Locals Say: “Elegant atmosphere and amazing food. The steak and seafood were phenomenal – worth a special occasion!”

Insider Tip: Make reservations to guarantee a good view of the river

Conclusion

Pine Bluff has a wide range of restaurants, from barbecue joints to bistros, serving tasty food with local tastes. Lloyd’s, Rhoda’s, and Sim’s serve traditional Down South soul food and barbecue, while Saracen Landing Restaurant and Glass Slipper Bistro bring more high-end options to town. People in the area love Twin City Grill and OneMo’ because they serve comfort food in casual settings that have a lot of small-town charm. If you’re in Pine Bluff, there are a lot of great restaurants where you can enjoy great food and unique dining experiences.