Capitol Smokehouse & Grill — Restaurant in Little Rock

I am a bbq snob. I have been to Kansas City and eaten at some of the best places up there, and "meh"ed them. Been to Texas, LOVE their bbq down there, but this is perhaps some of the best I've ever had. The cozy confines of the building is perhaps the only drawback. When I walked in there, I noticed the meat was served from ziploc bags. I thought this was going to be something of a cafeteria-like food. The second I tasted the brisket, it was tender, warm and moist. It really didn't need sauce, which is the signature of great bbq. The pork (which is considered the 'only' bbq in Arkansas) was very tender and smokey, and paired stupendously with the mustard based sauce. Then the ribs. I was very impressed with the ribs, and while I don't think they're the best I've ever had, they are certainly not disappointing.

Sides are almost as important as the meat itself. Coleslaw is one of my favorites, but it has to be done right. The slaw here looked like potato salad, but was actually delicious, with a nice texture, and a great proportion of slaw to sauce.

They don't have fries, nor do they have commercial chips. They have homemade chips, which are nice, but not something I would make the trip for.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to try the banana pudding (I was really full).

The sauce was excellent. The Pig Trail sauce is a typical bbq sauce, with a bit of a kick. DELICIOUS! Their Froggy Bottom sauce is perhaps the best mustard-based sauce I've ever had. I was told it was a cross between a North and South Carolina style, which was not too sweet yet not too tangy. They also added something that I can't put my finger on. Nonetheless, one of the best bbq sauces I've had! I will be ordering some for thanksgiving.

Perhaps what impressed me the most was the fact that everyone was greeted and talked to for a good amount of time. The fact that the owners were out there cooking and chatting with the customers really says something about this place.

In conclusion, I think this is a fantastic place with great food, and yes, I will be back. I recommend this to everybody who wants great bbq, and I STRONGLY recommend this to out of towners- get a REAL taste of the south...

Ok, so I had lunch from here twice to get a somewhat balanced review. On the first visit I had the smoked chicken leg quarter with green beans, mac-n-cheese and corn bread. Everything was excellent except the corn bread which was just bland, like not much actual corn flavor. Then today I had the half slab rib plate with green beans, baked potato salad and a roll (yep, skipped the corn bread). The green beans and roll were good but the tater salad was just ok. I'm not a massive fan of the dish but I've had better at other places. Which leaves the ribs and they're kind of a mixed bag. There wasn't much of a rub on them so you really need the sauce. I chose the mild sauce and honestly it's not bad. Could've used a bit more actually. They were cooked well but were also a bit on the tough side. Definitely not fall off the bone style. I don't think I would order them again but perhaps I'll try the brisket next time. The server both times was friendly and helpful. Most definitely a cool...

Great spot for lunch!! It's the only place I cared to order the meatloaf from on more than one occasion. Everything I've ever had from this restaurant is absolutely amazing!!

The jalapeno cornbread is a staple for me. I go there, they have other types of bread to choose from with your lunch. However, for me it's just a really cool item that is on the menu. It's not super spicy but it's a little different.

The next time I go here I'm going to have to try their barbecue, it's supposed to be amazing. It is a cafeteria type style ordering system, you walk through. Just tell him what you want and they serve it up. They offer to go orders which is extremely convenient if you're running low on time. I do know that they cater also which is a huge plus if you have lots of hungry people. Better catch him before 2:00 p.m. cause they do...