Afterthought Bistro & Bar

Chef Mike has brought this so-​so dining establishment to a great level of tasteful deliciousness. Everything we tried was awesome. Flavors were deep, even the salad dressings were outstanding. Definitely will become a regular. Give it a try, you won’t be sorry.

A little overpriced and lacking in ambience for the prices and slow service. The burgers, Reuben, and truffle fries were all pretty good. Their truffle fries have just the right amount of fat and salt to make them perfectly addicting. Again, if you want a burger with fries, expect to pay $ 15+ tax and tip. Add a drink and you’re at $ 22. Excessive in my opinion.
Note: if you want medium rare on your burger, you might try asking for it rare.
Not a lot on tap: I think they had five or so beers, most local though, which was nice. Live music on Wednesdays, and brunch on the weekends.

The owner is the biggest asshole ever! I have never been so rudely spoken to in my life! I never even write reviews don’t call there asking any question he will hang up on you. This place won’t get cent from me.

Arguably the best non-​smoking bar in Little Rock! Food, drinks, and service — all exceptional! Live music the night we were there was out of this world! A must-​try destination in the historic Hillcrest neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and go!

Dinner date here last night was amazing. Attentive service & delicious food. I ordered the crab cake small meal, which was the perfect amount of food. My fiancé got the salmon dinner with shrimp risotto. The brocollini (veggie of the day) was delish — smoky, grilled flavor. We shared the crème brûlée for dessert & were able to meet the executive chef. No long waiting, we even got the amazing yeast rolls as a to-​go order with honey butter. SO good! We will definitely be back :)

My favorite brunch in town. Sunday’s, good food, good drinks, friendly people and live jazz!

I took a date here and had an awesome experience.
My bartender was derick. Black guy with dreads. He was awesome. Super classy. He knew exactly what he was doing behind the bar. I ordered a gimlet and it was one of the best I ever had. My date had a dirty martini, which is an easy drink. but where the bartender earn my respect is where he chiled every glass before shaking his cocktails. Ask for derick by name. He’s legit.
Their wine list was pretty good too. I feel like it was diverse enough that everyone should be able to find something they like.
There was also a white lady that was serving. Although she wasn’t our server, she still checked on us and was super friendly. She seemed to honestly care if customers were taken care of.
The music was, as you would guess, really good.
I will absolutely go back. Everyone needs to try this place at least once.
It’s relaxed, friendly, chill and comfortable.

After been here since the menu change. I had the salmon entrée and she had the tuna taco’s. Both amazing! So now not only great music, drinks, but excellent food. Can’t wait to try their special burgers. Heather was wonderful in helping us out.

Went for The Cons of Formant
Samuel Ellis on the fiddle was awesome
The bar was tiny but very comfortable
Plenty of space to move
Drinks were liberal
Happy night

Before I give you my review I feel that it’s necessary you know a few things about me. First of all, I’m not what you’d call a breakfast guy. I’m the guy who takes his family to Waffle House at 8:00 AM and orders a cheeseburger and chili. No, seriously. I’ve done exactly that as recently as last month. Second, when I do eat a breakfast item, it’s usually sausage, hash browns, and maybe fruit. I’m not an egg guy, and I’m not a pancake/​waffle guy. That’s why I usually shy from breakfast in general.
I got a wild hair, though, and I wanted brunch. It’s a seed that had sprouted because one of my clients owns a restaurant that serves brunch on the weekend and seemed shocked when I told her I don’t like brunch. She told me I don’t live. So I figured maybe this weekend I’ll live a little.
Noah H has a great list called Brunch-​capades, Little Rock Edition, so I read all of the reviews in the list. I really could have stopped after the first one though; because he had pictures of something called a Cajun Omlette. SOLD! I love cajun _​anything_​, so if there was a breakfast thing I would like, this is it.
Thanks to Noah H’s review, I didn’t pull on the first door I came to, which was the one for the bar side. Instead, I kept walking and went into the second, where I was greeted warmly. I was immediately daunted by the décor, and a little worried to see the prices on the menu, honestly. I hadn’t expected it to be quite so nice, and due to my low expectations, I felt a tad underdressed.
We ordered and everything was delivered to the table shortly after. My wife had the Strawberry Crunch salad and loved it. The dressing was tangy and delicious. My father had the eggs benedict, and loved it. My mother had blueberry pancakes and loved it. We split a cup of fruit and a blueberry pancake between the kids for four dollars total, and THEY loved it. And as I mentioned before, they had me at «Cajun Omlette,» and I loved it. I actually expected it to be spicier, because usually things called cajun are, but I was far from disappointed. Not that the portions were small by any stretch, but if someone forced me to complain about my meal, it would be that I wanted more when I was done, but I really think that’s more to their credit than a critique. Their home fries were also quite delicious, and the fruit must have been local, because it was a lot sweeter than I’m used to fruit being.
Everything was as it was supposed to be. This meal not only taught me that breakfast for lunch could be a good thing, but also set the bar really high!

Mmmm, brunch!
Strolled up to Afterthought with my wife on a lazy Sunday, looking for coffee and eggs. Tried the door, it was locked. Scratched my head and stood there confused for a moment, then went to the other door — oops! There’s a bar section and a restaurant section, and they keep different hours, just saying :) A very friendly server greeted us at the correct door, and said he’d been on his way to help but was glad we’d found our way.
It was far classier on the inside than I’d expected for a bistro attached to a bar, and there was even a jazz guitarist providing a nice musical backdrop to the many brunchers who’d made it in before us. They seated the two of us in a front-​window table, where we could enjoy an uninterrupted view of the beautiful day outside.
That set the tone for our visit: we were unprepared, un-coffee’d, and confused, and Afterthought’s deliciously satisfying food, organized and varied menu, and top-​notch service made everything right again!
My wife had the Veggie Hash (see the photo!) that she really enjoyed, and I had the Cajun Omelette. Yum! Mine came with lusciously fluffy eggs, delicious fried pepper bits, and morsels of noticeably (but not aggressively) spicy sausage, next to excellently spiced country potatoes and a neat little fruit pile.
The portions were solid, the prices very fair, and the coffee was exactly the rejuvenating shot I’d needed. The coffee also came in a pair of Little Rock-​made, and very snazzy, coffee cups, I really enjoyed that touch.
All in all, highly recommended. Check it out when you’re in need of a breakfast date ;)
My brunch-​capades continue, but I will be back here to try to various Blood Marys and Mimosas with my next meal!

Get drinks
Get food
Get fun
Get live music
Just add yourself!
This is THE original joint–

Sat for ten minutes and never saw a server. Place was busy but servers were super slow. Lots of tables around with menus and no drinks or food and no one checking to take their orders.

Steer clear of this joke bar. Plenty of good options close by. So these guys have terrible service and a couple of large waitresses who rudely squeeze through the crowd who sits at the bar. The bar is located between a piano and the server station and the wait staff make it a point to knock you with elbows and spill your drink. So a combo of a bad setup and rude/​slow staff make for a bar you don’t want to be at. Beyond that they open up the the stage for any mediocre band to play at.

Cute little place! They had an open mic night going on and the talent was really great:)
We ordered some drinks and I ordered the buffalo wings (which are awesome, btw). And Beth, our waitress was so sweet and attentive. Will definitely be back soon!

We had an excellent meal & wine. Service was friendly & prompt despite a full house. My ahi salad was expertly prepared & the dressing was outstanding.

Horrible experiences the two times we have been. Overcharged us on 4 mimosas and Bloody Mary’s that she chose not to honor the advertisement for price in sync weekly. Tried to charge us a cover charge after we spent roughly $ 100 on drinks two hours previous to show. Ridiculous. Strongly advise others to avoid.

Greatest neighborhood bar EVER. Wide variety of music, awesome happy hour and delicious appys or full menu from next door. See you there!

Tues. night jam sessions with Carl Mouton, no cover, some of the best R&B I’ve heard from coast to coast. Constantly rotating groups other nights, so check their site. Access to full Vieux Carre restaurant’s (adjacent) menu in the Afterthought.
Vieux Carre restaurant next door (connected) has excellent food! Best crab cakes in town! Everything from one of LR’s best burgers to fine dining. All reasonably priced. Sunday brunch is popular. Terrific staff. Home away from home for many locals. No smoking (except outside).

Ahem…
TED LUDWIG TRIO
and also…
That dude who plays the piano on Wednesdays.
This place is so great/​awful. I hope it stays open (with the same schedule of events) forever.