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Bacon Jam App (shared), Wedge, Butcher’s Block (shared). SMOKE. Tulsa, Oklahoma. 4.22.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: The bacon jam with goat cheese and pork rinds was solid. Wedge was solid. Pork chop and brussels were solid. Steak, sausage, potato croquette, and salmon were bland. This was a better-than-average meal, but for what it is (and at this price point), there are probably better options. Just the same, I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid this place.

Currently ranked first of 14 April meals.

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Spicy Chicken Deluxe Combo. Chick-fil-A. Muskogee, Oklahoma. 4.22.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Too short on time to do anything else. You know what it is.

Currently ranked 10th of 13 April meals.

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Loaded Lox, Golden Goat (shared both). The Bagel Shop. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.21.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Fantastic combo, these two. Way more personality than the first time I came here.

Currently ranked first of 12 April meals.

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Lunch Catering (Sandwiches, Turkey Salad). Bray Gourmet Catering. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.19.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Their smoked turkey salad is always solid. Sandwiches were meh. Salad was decent.

Currently ranked 8th of 11 April meals.

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Mark’s Salad w/Crab Cake, Cheese Dip App (shared). Loca Luna. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.18.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Not great, but not bad. First salad I've eaten in a minute. Next time try a different one.

Currently ranked 3rd of 10 April meals.

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Pork Chop w/Greens, Yams. The Xperience Kitchen & Lounge. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.12.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Roaming downtown, looking for something different, I saw people walk out of what I thought was a nightclub with to-go containers. Turns out they opened for lunch last week. Still felt like I was in a night club, but that porkchop was solid. I mean, it was a little too salty, and the yams were a little too sweet, but I was eating my stress, so I left happy. I'd like to try more things here. Both sides were good.

Currently ranked 4th of nine April meals.

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Southwest Cobb Salad. Bray Gourmet Catering. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.10.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: I have no idea what the "southwest" part of this southwest cobb salad is, but it's a solid catering meal. Burnt bacon (in a good way) and ripe avocados go a long way for me. I have always been a fan of their smoked turkey salad, but this is my first interaction with their catering and I didn't know they actually have a store-front deli less than a mile from my office. I'm going to go hunt it down and it may become a staple for me. I need a place with a simple, good salad.

Currently ranked 3rd of eight April meals.

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Ora King Salmon. The Bar (Loew’s Hotel). Arlington, Texas. 4.3.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Nothing special here. Like, at all. (I also ate the rest of someone else's $70 steak. Also not special.) Try to eat somewhere else next time.

Currently ranked 4th of sixth April meals.

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Steak Salad, Fruit Tart. Loews (Catering). Arlington, Texas. 4.3.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: I was here two years ago for a meeting and basically had the same catered meal. Nothing worth craving.

Currently ranked third of five April meals.

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Chicken Biscuit. Chick-fil-A (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.3.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: I went for the Egg White Grill, but they didn't serve them here. This biscuit sandwich is somehow both too buttery, but also dry?

Currently ranked last of four April meals.

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Taste of Little Rock (Samples from 40ish restaurants). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.2.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Best bites came from Afrobites, the Pizzaria, Certified Pies, and I forget where I got that pasta with pork, but that was good too. I did a bad job of keeping up with everything this year.

Currently ranked 1st of three April meals.

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Chicken Wings, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole, Cabbage. Platnum BBQ (River Market). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.2.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Solid, across the board.

Currently ranked first of two April meals.

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Chicken Shawerma w/Fries, Baba Ghanouj. Maryam’s Grill. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.1.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Nice change of the downtown lunchtime pace, but those fries were not worth it. Shawerma was fine, but needed more veggies.

Currently the only meal I've have this week.

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Dine-Out Meals of April 2024, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

Of note, this is the fewest amount of meals I've had out in a month since clocking 11 in November of 2020.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Spring Rolls (shared), Crispy Duck. A Taste of Thai. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.6.2024.

Smoked Duck Ceasar. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.8.2024.

Anthony Bourdain’s Blue Cheese Iceberg Wedge with Bacon, The Patsy Searcy Pie. Deluca’s Pizza. Hot Springs, Arkansas. 3.23.2024.

Roast Duck Noodle Soup. Gold Bowl. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.27.2024.

Drunken Fish Roll. Kobe Hibachi & Sushi. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.7.2024.

Kemuri Lunch Combo. Kemuri. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.1.2024.

Mixed Green Salad, Chicken Picatta (WTS Lunch). 42 Bar & Table (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.14.2024.

Wild Mushroom Stroganoff. Draft + Table. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.6.2024.

Five-Onion Soup, Smoked Salmon Sandwich. Brave New Restaurant. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.29.2024.

Small Plates Buffet (Salad, Corn Bread, Charcuterie, etc.). Sterling Market. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.28.2024.

Cobb Salad, Lemon/Raspberry Dessert (?). Statehouse Convention Center Catering. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.28.2024.

Pineapple Pizza. Papa John’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.14.2023. (No photo.)

Dinner Buffet (Sandwiches, Dips). Picassos Fundraiser (H.A.M., Whole Hog BBQ, Hill Station). Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.9.2024.

Cheeseburger w/Chips (to go). Buffalo Grill. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.10.2024.

Catered Pizza Buffet. U.S. Pizza. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.7.2024.

Breakfast Buffet. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.8.2024.

Breakfast Buffet. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.7.2024.

Sausage Pizza (to go). Domino’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.26.2024.

BBQ Chicken Wrap w/Chips (to go). Red Robin. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3.7.2024.

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Five-Onion Soup, Smoked Salmon Sandwich. Brave New Restaurant. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.29.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Soup was solid. I wanted more out of the sandwich, though. Could have made it at home. And the chips were too burnt for my tastes. Bad order, on my part.

Currently ranked 9th of 19 March meals.

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Small Plates Buffet (Salad, Corn Bread, Charcuterie, etc.). Sterling Market. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.28.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: The best thing was that pork & potatoes thing. And the cornbread. Nothing to die for.

Currently ranked 9th of 18 March meals.

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Cobb Salad, Lemon Raspberry Cake. Statehouse Convention Center Catering. Little Rock, Arkansas. 3.28.2024.

NOTE TO SELF: Exactly what it looks like. Not bad, not great. This is the second year in a row we've had that dessert at the Downtown Little Rock Partnership Annual Meeting. The other options was a chocolate thing. I ate half of Sasha's. Next time, opt for that.

Currently ranked 9th of 17 March meals.