Man! That was a great burger! Unless you're against bacon (to each their own, of course) I highly recommend getting bacon on your meal if you can - they use thick, juicy, locally sourced delicious bacon and it is *awesome* You do have to go through a metal detector to get into the Clinton Library, and you have to take that main entrance to get to Forty Two, just a heads up, that caught me by surprise with a belt and a pocket full of change. Came in here with a big group for lunch, and we had a blast. There were 25 of us, which kind of overwhelmed the place at lunch - which was being served/bussed by only three people, and pretty busy not including us. I'm not sure if they're used to big groups or what, but they were definitely short staffed. Enough fluff, on to the food! So I had the fortune of seeing/trying the salmon salad, steak salad, house burger, house chips, fries, sweet potato fries and muffuletta. I also saw a glimpse of the wine list (not bad), the bar (Long Island Ice Tea and a White Russian), and I ordered a Lost Forty Honey Bock for myself. Verdict: Yum! Everything was well cooked, portions weren't bad, the flavors were excellent, and the presentation very impressive. The Salmon Salad was especially good on that last mark. I had the house burger, with smoked cheddar cheese and bacon, with sweet potato fries on the side. The burger was delicious and juicy, and *stacked.* It took some muscle to squish it down enough to take a bite with all the layers in it, but of all problems to have, that was a good one! The sweet potato fries with a burger are very, very good - but I started chowing down on someone's sweet potato fry order (the solo appetizer) by accident, and the sweet potato fry appetizer comes with some excellent barbecue sauce, be sure to ask for that with your normal fries! That sauce doesn't come with the burger side, sadly. The Long Island Iced Tea was described by the manly man drinking it as "strong," and my honey bock came cold, in the can, and I had the choice to keep it in the can or pour it into a chilled glass (pre-chilled glass, nice touch!) Some service notes: As mentioned above, they were understaffed, but big points for being honest about that, apologizing, and making obvious extra effort as best they could. Plus, we were a group of 25 split between two tables, and we kept playing musical chairs so everyone had the chance to socialize. Considering all that, they kept up admirably. But- We never saw a drinks menu, any of us. When orders came out they had no idea where orders where supposed to go (which was understandable since we kept moving), and no one was ever asked how they wanted their burger cooked (rare, medium, etc), when I asked for that barbecue sauce as an extra, it never came. And our servers kept switching out - one person would take the orders, then three or four different people came out at different times to check the orders, and all of our meals came out from different people. It wasn't a problem, it was just strange, and I imagine because of it, a lot of messages were mixed up. All in all, our service was friendly and attentive, but... well, confusing. It worked though. I really liked the space, the food was delicious, the chairs were exceptionally comfortable, and it comes with a very nice view of the lawn and pedestrian bridges, not counting the outdoor patio, which is super nice on a nice day. Service was far from bad, despite the above confusion, and it was both classier and more affordable than I expected. I'd come back!
I'm not a fine dining person, and was surprised at how pretty this cafe was. It is on the bottom floor of the Presidential Library. You do have to go through the x-ray (it's an easy x-ray, they just send your purse through the scanner, then you walk through the detector. It is exactly like the JFK memorial in Dallas.) I asked, and you don't need to pay museum admission to eat there. It is very softly lit, with white table cloths, and crystal stemmed water glasses. a small vase with bamboo plants on each table. Though it was breezy, there's a nice patio seating available. Jazz music softly played in the background. You can watch the Arkansas River from your table. The reflection sometimes creates natural light. I talked to the chef, and the menu items are made from locally (when possible) grown vegetables, organic when available, and the meat is local as well. The recipes are chosen from favorite recipes, often of the MAN himself (that would be President Clinton). Each month they have a fine dining night, where chefs come in from different places, and cook dishes from other countries. I had lunch there. Chicken Panini with home made potato chips. The panini was carefully made with a mixture of mustard greens...here's the actual ingredients: Arkansas Raised Grilled Chicken Breast, Apple Cider Braised Mustard Greens, Pepper Bacon with a Maple Bourbon Aioli The homemade chips were thick, and seasoned well.I tasted a kind of Cajun origin. It cost me $8.90, and was a very memorable experience. One I hope to bring a family member to, at a later date. They really made this cafe nice and classy. The atmosphere, itself (with picture on the wall of jazz musicians, and the monotone with the bamboo greenery), makes it worth 5 stars. And the price? They could charge much more for the quality of food they offer.
(5)
Leila L.
This is a great combo of ambiance and affordable, delicious food. The price of lunch here is comparable to most other places in downtown Little Rock. But at Forty Two you also get white tablecloths, a relaxing atmosphere, and wide windows overlooking the river and gardens. Food quality always comes first for me, and everything I have had off their menu is delicious. Check them out next time you're looking for lunch in the downtown area, but make sure to check if they are open before heading to the restaurant. They have limited operating hours. Enjoy!
(4)
Andrew W.
Good lunch place along the river. Outdoor patio is amazing and the food is excellent for the price. We definitely will make this place a routine stop.
(4)
Amber L.
Cafe 42 (now called Forty Two - minus the Cafe) may be a little too fancy for my taste, yet the unique food options and reasonable prices definitely get my vote. I also love the location, overlooking the Arkansas River and the Clinton Bridge. I've been to Forty Two twice - first for Sunday brunch, and most recently, for lunch. They are open 11-2 daily. They have a large lunch menu with unique, local options at affordable prices. I was quickly intrigued by dishes such as the Forty-Two Arkansas BBQ (Site Smoked & Pulled Arkansas Pork, Shredded Slaw, Smoked Blackberry BBQ Sauce, Toasted House Made Brioche); Chicken Panini (Arkansas Raised Grilled Chicken Breast, Apple Cider Braised Mustard Greens, Pepper Bacon with a Maple Bourbon Aioli); and Street Vendor Tacos (House Made Chorizo and Carnitas, Diced Onion, Cilantro, Smoked Salsa Fresca served with Lime and Jalapeno on the side.) I opted for the latter (the waiter's recommendation), and was pleased. The serving size was perfect, and the fresh fruit made for a good side. However, they have a selection of sides you can choose from (homemade chips, sweet potato fries, etc.). My husband ordered the Ham & Cheese Panini (CPC-Cured Tasso Ham, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Red Pepper- Strawberry Jam, Grilled on a Sourdough Loaf) - which sounded somewhat plain to me, but was far from it. The ham was smoky and really good. The sweet potato fries weren't the best we'd ever tried, but were good enough. For Sunday brunch, expect to pay around $40 per person. It's costly, but they offer a heap of options - omelet bar, waffles, muffins, bacon, seafood, pastries...the list goes on and on. Nice for a special occasion, as we had the whole extended family together, which included about 15 or so of us.
(4)
Donna B.
I was expecting much more from this place. I had a panini (haverti and meunster cheese and thai basil pesto) and 1/2 bowel of seafood chowder. The soup was disappointing, it was just a bowl of cream with some crawfish tails and shrimp pieces. My sister-in-law had the cuban panin and another soup. This is not really a place I will be running back to anytime soon. I hear that their brunch is good but it will be a while before I return.
(3)
Sabrina S.
Came through when we were driving across country in 2009. The food was DEFINITELY five star worthy. That being said, service was crappy. Seriously crappy. We were among three tables in the whole restaurant that were occupied and getting a server to remember we existed was nearly impossible. It was a shame because the food was really memorable. That being said it was 3 years ago, so who can even say what service is like now. We are driving back across country this year and have scheduled our drive through Little Rock to be timed perfectly to visit the museum again and stop in for another lunch. I know the menus are seasonal, but I uploaded our pictures of our meal. My husband got a sandwich which was homemade from the bread to the chips and my salad had local greens, peaches and goat cheese with spicy walnuts. AMAZING. Also, super cheap. Well, maybe we thought so because we were from Los Angeles, but even looking at the menu tonight it seems like prices held steady. Can't wait for our return!
(4)
Dale R.
I was surprised at the quality of food here. We had a lunch meeting and found the food exceptional. The service left a lot to be desired to say the least. We returned twice to eat because the food was so good, the choices were surprising, the quality and preparation was astounding. I had duck Prosciutto salad and the wife had a panini and sweet potato fries with this amazing strawberry jalapeno jam. I was surprised to learn from a chef that walked out to check on customers all the meat is cured there and the jams are made fresh. Adam said they make numerous items there I can't remember all of them. I tried the fried oysters the second time we visited, The batter was like a thin tempura just enough batter and the oysters were large and perfectly fried. Although I was not a fan of Pres Clinton, he sure has a great restaurant in his center. I am going to be a regular there for lunch, brunch and Holidays when they have a special menu.
(5)
Renee D.
This place has the best Sunday brunch. Now, it's going to set you back a bit but still, it's worth it. They have freshly made waffles and french toast. The french toast was so perfectly toasted that the outside crisped and the inside was heavenly goodness. The salads will truly knock your socks off (if you are wearing them but most of the people around me were in their Sunday bests so no socks). The greens are fresh and crisp, the bacon cooked that am, freshly shaved cheeses, I could go on. There are always bacon, grits, "breakfast foods" but last time they had chocolate gravy and a lovely chicken/ veggie medly. The dessert was a 3 tiered table that had huge slabs of turtle cheesecake (with a thick layer of fudge and fresh nuts!), along with muffins and fruit. If you are going to go on a special holiday, make sure you make a reservation or you won't be eating there that day. I think the brunch is about $25 a person. Normally for 2 adults, 1 child with soft drinks and tip is around $80. Can't do this every week but for a special day, it's worth it. FYI, you do have to go in through the metal detector because of the museum but other than that, not a big deal. Plus, the simple yet elegant decor of the place is very classy. You'll be treated wonderfully!
(5)
Arwen L.
I mentioned this in my review on the Clinton Library but it deserves its own shout out. My friends and I were lured downstairs by the smell of bacon. We joked that maybe they piped the smell up to make folks hungry. We were seated in a lovely little area that could have been just a basement. I mean getting there made me think of a hospital cafeteria--out of the way, sterile looking hallways, etc. But when you walked in, everything changed. Lovely simple greenery and stone. Simple tables, comfortable chairs and terrific place settings. Our waiter was there in a heartbeat. The menu was simple in choices but rich in ingredients. There was an obvious effort to provide local cuisine with an upscale twist. One of my dining companions had fried catfish. She said it was delicious. I chose a salad simply because it advertised a goat cheese fritter. I mean, really. How much more southern and upscale is that? You have a fritter (fried something or other on any Southern menu) that uses a great ingredient like goat's cheese. The salad came with candied walnuts, field greens and a tart balsamic vinaigrette. When it arrived, the greens were cold and the fritter was pleasantly warm. It was a salad that will live on in my memory. All in all, there is nothing I can saw bad about our experience here. Just a great little hidden gem in Little Rock.
(5)
Noah R.
I was blown away with the classiness of the restaurant given the low price. You could eat at this fine dining restaurant for sub $10. I ordered a chipotle flank steak soup special that was filled with garden herbs and delectable spices. They also gave a generous portion of mushrooms and flank steak. My date had the "presidential" sandwich which resembled a club. She said it was good, but not great. Service was attentive. Ambiance was pleasant. Overall I would come back if I was in Little Rock again. If you are at the Clinton library - definitely check it out.
Located downstairs at the Clinton Library, Cafe 42 is a great getaway for lunch. The food is delicious with some unique menu selections, and the service is spot on. On nice days, ask for a patio seat overlooking the Arkansas River, and don't neglect seeing the library if you have time. 42 also sponsors special prix fixe dinners throughout the year with different cuisines from around the world. Since these are served in courses, plan on an entire evening for the experience if you decide to take advantage. Much like President Clinton's tenure as POTUS, you will leave satisfied, getting more than you expected for the experience, and with no deficit. Recommended! Go, see, eat!!!
(4)
Beez H.
Went there for lunch. Food was delicious. Good service as well. Not as pricey as I expected. A def must for fans of good food. We ate outside on a lovely day.
(5)
Carla G.
What a lovely lunch hubby and I had before we toured the Clinton Presidential Center. It was, according to hubby, the best meal he ate on our vacation. Forty Two is on the lower level of the library. It is a white table cloth, stemmed water glasses, well lit, real bamboo plants on the table for center pieces, and wonderful food. It was not over priced for the quantity or the quality of the food. Both hubby and I had wonderful lunches. Hubby had a pasta Alfredo dish that was creamy and delicious. Hubby also ordered the sweet potato fries which were wonderful. I ordered a Prosciutto Panini that was wonderful and complex in its flavors. My Panini came with home made potato chips that were dusted in Parmasian cheese. I opted for dessert and had the cherry cream brulee, which was wonderfully sweet and tart at the same time. Only suggestion is that if you get a to go box, leave it at the guest services desk before touring the library or you will have a guard tell you to take your food to the guest services desk. The guard that confronted my husband was a tad bit on the condescending side. I wish more restaurants were this relaxing and had the level of service this one did. It was a delight to eat here after our drive from Memphis and before our library/museum tour.
(5)
Taylor R.
A great place to relax after (or before) a tour of the Center. All of the food was fresh and seasonal. I started with mushroom & rice soup--perfect for a cold day. For my main meal, I had roasted chicken, brussels sprouts, and fruit. It was all light, but filling. Dessert was a wonderful bread pudding. Our waiter was a little slow in taking care of us, but very nice. I loved the bright atmosphere!
(4)
Lisa C.
Great food, super staff and interesting menu with reasonable prices! Definitely worth eating at the restaurant while visiting!
(5)
Ken P.
If not for the host, or visit could've been a disaster. Our assigned server had a table of at least 16, including a bunch of little kids. He was a little busy. The host stepped in, took our drink order, food order and made sure we were taken care of. Our server finally was able to come by and check on us later. As a former waiter and restaurant manager, I had no problem, since we came to eat. The food was so-so. I had the club sandwich and my companion had the bacon and egg burger. Mine was better than hers. When we paid the check the server never returned our change. I figured he figured that was his tip. It was less than he would've gotten if he'd brought back the change. My advice? Eat before you go to the museum.
(2)
Daniel S.
The signs say Forty Two and Coffee Bar so I assumed there would be a coffee bar, no. You have to order coffee from the hostess who didn't know what they had to offer but it was only 4 types of flavored coffee. There was no where to stand and put cream and sugar in so we did so on the dessert tray. They should just remove the Coffee Bar from their sign, it's a sit down restaurant that has coffee.
(2)
Jose P.
Roasted egg plant and squash salad was tasty... Asparagous chauder delicious... Service was little less than fair... Still a good place to stop.
(4)
Marquette M.
If you MUST eat at the Presidential Library - like if George W. Was holding an unlicensed gun to your head - ok, you could eat here. It wasn't awful, just mediocre. The chicken and white bean chili was pretty good but we also had the tomato bisque, which tasted like it came from a jar soup. The grilled cheese sandwich had promise but was too cheesy - yeah as impossible as that sounds - it was just too buttery fat without a good balance of crusty, tasty sourdough bread for balance. I wish we would have eaten at once of the local places just blocks away. The library itself was FABULOUS. I'll write a much better review of that. It may have been tastier if we'd been able to eat outside - the ambiance and view were good, but that's not what nourishes me when I'm hungry.
(2)
Andrew T.
This is a sit down restaurant, which is unusual for a museum, even a museum as prestigious as a presidential library. Service was rapid and efficient. We had lunch here so focused on sandwiches. But they were tasty and large. Bbq in Texas toast was the highlight.
(3)
Soumya V.
Came here with my family. We ordered portobella hash, mom's veggie sandwich with sweet potato fries and a classic chicken sandwich. The staff was great, the food was fantastic, and the view was beautiful. Overall, I was happy with my experience here.
(5)
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Address :Clinton Presidential Center,1200 President Clinton Ave
Little Rock, AR, 72201
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Noah H.
Man! That was a great burger! Unless you're against bacon (to each their own, of course) I highly recommend getting bacon on your meal if you can - they use thick, juicy, locally sourced delicious bacon and it is *awesome* You do have to go through a metal detector to get into the Clinton Library, and you have to take that main entrance to get to Forty Two, just a heads up, that caught me by surprise with a belt and a pocket full of change. Came in here with a big group for lunch, and we had a blast. There were 25 of us, which kind of overwhelmed the place at lunch - which was being served/bussed by only three people, and pretty busy not including us. I'm not sure if they're used to big groups or what, but they were definitely short staffed. Enough fluff, on to the food! So I had the fortune of seeing/trying the salmon salad, steak salad, house burger, house chips, fries, sweet potato fries and muffuletta. I also saw a glimpse of the wine list (not bad), the bar (Long Island Ice Tea and a White Russian), and I ordered a Lost Forty Honey Bock for myself. Verdict: Yum! Everything was well cooked, portions weren't bad, the flavors were excellent, and the presentation very impressive. The Salmon Salad was especially good on that last mark. I had the house burger, with smoked cheddar cheese and bacon, with sweet potato fries on the side. The burger was delicious and juicy, and *stacked.* It took some muscle to squish it down enough to take a bite with all the layers in it, but of all problems to have, that was a good one! The sweet potato fries with a burger are very, very good - but I started chowing down on someone's sweet potato fry order (the solo appetizer) by accident, and the sweet potato fry appetizer comes with some excellent barbecue sauce, be sure to ask for that with your normal fries! That sauce doesn't come with the burger side, sadly. The Long Island Iced Tea was described by the manly man drinking it as "strong," and my honey bock came cold, in the can, and I had the choice to keep it in the can or pour it into a chilled glass (pre-chilled glass, nice touch!) Some service notes: As mentioned above, they were understaffed, but big points for being honest about that, apologizing, and making obvious extra effort as best they could. Plus, we were a group of 25 split between two tables, and we kept playing musical chairs so everyone had the chance to socialize. Considering all that, they kept up admirably. But- We never saw a drinks menu, any of us. When orders came out they had no idea where orders where supposed to go (which was understandable since we kept moving), and no one was ever asked how they wanted their burger cooked (rare, medium, etc), when I asked for that barbecue sauce as an extra, it never came. And our servers kept switching out - one person would take the orders, then three or four different people came out at different times to check the orders, and all of our meals came out from different people. It wasn't a problem, it was just strange, and I imagine because of it, a lot of messages were mixed up. All in all, our service was friendly and attentive, but... well, confusing. It worked though. I really liked the space, the food was delicious, the chairs were exceptionally comfortable, and it comes with a very nice view of the lawn and pedestrian bridges, not counting the outdoor patio, which is super nice on a nice day. Service was far from bad, despite the above confusion, and it was both classier and more affordable than I expected. I'd come back!
(4)Courtney S.
42 was pretty yummy! It's a very cute little restaurant in the basement level of the Clinton Presidential Library. Our waiter was a little gruff, but the food was good enough to excuse his short-ness. I had the half and half...half presidential club and half chili bowl. Both were delicious, and just the right amount of food for lunch. My husband and I shared the creme brûlée for a little afternoon dessert. That was delicious as well...plenty of vanilla beans went into it...just the way I like it!
(4)Rhonda S.
I'm not a fine dining person, and was surprised at how pretty this cafe was. It is on the bottom floor of the Presidential Library. You do have to go through the x-ray (it's an easy x-ray, they just send your purse through the scanner, then you walk through the detector. It is exactly like the JFK memorial in Dallas.) I asked, and you don't need to pay museum admission to eat there. It is very softly lit, with white table cloths, and crystal stemmed water glasses. a small vase with bamboo plants on each table. Though it was breezy, there's a nice patio seating available. Jazz music softly played in the background. You can watch the Arkansas River from your table. The reflection sometimes creates natural light. I talked to the chef, and the menu items are made from locally (when possible) grown vegetables, organic when available, and the meat is local as well. The recipes are chosen from favorite recipes, often of the MAN himself (that would be President Clinton). Each month they have a fine dining night, where chefs come in from different places, and cook dishes from other countries. I had lunch there. Chicken Panini with home made potato chips. The panini was carefully made with a mixture of mustard greens...here's the actual ingredients: Arkansas Raised Grilled Chicken Breast, Apple Cider Braised Mustard Greens, Pepper Bacon with a Maple Bourbon Aioli The homemade chips were thick, and seasoned well.I tasted a kind of Cajun origin. It cost me $8.90, and was a very memorable experience. One I hope to bring a family member to, at a later date. They really made this cafe nice and classy. The atmosphere, itself (with picture on the wall of jazz musicians, and the monotone with the bamboo greenery), makes it worth 5 stars. And the price? They could charge much more for the quality of food they offer.
(5)Leila L.
This is a great combo of ambiance and affordable, delicious food. The price of lunch here is comparable to most other places in downtown Little Rock. But at Forty Two you also get white tablecloths, a relaxing atmosphere, and wide windows overlooking the river and gardens. Food quality always comes first for me, and everything I have had off their menu is delicious. Check them out next time you're looking for lunch in the downtown area, but make sure to check if they are open before heading to the restaurant. They have limited operating hours. Enjoy!
(4)Andrew W.
Good lunch place along the river. Outdoor patio is amazing and the food is excellent for the price. We definitely will make this place a routine stop.
(4)Amber L.
Cafe 42 (now called Forty Two - minus the Cafe) may be a little too fancy for my taste, yet the unique food options and reasonable prices definitely get my vote. I also love the location, overlooking the Arkansas River and the Clinton Bridge. I've been to Forty Two twice - first for Sunday brunch, and most recently, for lunch. They are open 11-2 daily. They have a large lunch menu with unique, local options at affordable prices. I was quickly intrigued by dishes such as the Forty-Two Arkansas BBQ (Site Smoked & Pulled Arkansas Pork, Shredded Slaw, Smoked Blackberry BBQ Sauce, Toasted House Made Brioche); Chicken Panini (Arkansas Raised Grilled Chicken Breast, Apple Cider Braised Mustard Greens, Pepper Bacon with a Maple Bourbon Aioli); and Street Vendor Tacos (House Made Chorizo and Carnitas, Diced Onion, Cilantro, Smoked Salsa Fresca served with Lime and Jalapeno on the side.) I opted for the latter (the waiter's recommendation), and was pleased. The serving size was perfect, and the fresh fruit made for a good side. However, they have a selection of sides you can choose from (homemade chips, sweet potato fries, etc.). My husband ordered the Ham & Cheese Panini (CPC-Cured Tasso Ham, Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Red Pepper- Strawberry Jam, Grilled on a Sourdough Loaf) - which sounded somewhat plain to me, but was far from it. The ham was smoky and really good. The sweet potato fries weren't the best we'd ever tried, but were good enough. For Sunday brunch, expect to pay around $40 per person. It's costly, but they offer a heap of options - omelet bar, waffles, muffins, bacon, seafood, pastries...the list goes on and on. Nice for a special occasion, as we had the whole extended family together, which included about 15 or so of us.
(4)Donna B.
I was expecting much more from this place. I had a panini (haverti and meunster cheese and thai basil pesto) and 1/2 bowel of seafood chowder. The soup was disappointing, it was just a bowl of cream with some crawfish tails and shrimp pieces. My sister-in-law had the cuban panin and another soup. This is not really a place I will be running back to anytime soon. I hear that their brunch is good but it will be a while before I return.
(3)Sabrina S.
Came through when we were driving across country in 2009. The food was DEFINITELY five star worthy. That being said, service was crappy. Seriously crappy. We were among three tables in the whole restaurant that were occupied and getting a server to remember we existed was nearly impossible. It was a shame because the food was really memorable. That being said it was 3 years ago, so who can even say what service is like now. We are driving back across country this year and have scheduled our drive through Little Rock to be timed perfectly to visit the museum again and stop in for another lunch. I know the menus are seasonal, but I uploaded our pictures of our meal. My husband got a sandwich which was homemade from the bread to the chips and my salad had local greens, peaches and goat cheese with spicy walnuts. AMAZING. Also, super cheap. Well, maybe we thought so because we were from Los Angeles, but even looking at the menu tonight it seems like prices held steady. Can't wait for our return!
(4)Dale R.
I was surprised at the quality of food here. We had a lunch meeting and found the food exceptional. The service left a lot to be desired to say the least. We returned twice to eat because the food was so good, the choices were surprising, the quality and preparation was astounding. I had duck Prosciutto salad and the wife had a panini and sweet potato fries with this amazing strawberry jalapeno jam. I was surprised to learn from a chef that walked out to check on customers all the meat is cured there and the jams are made fresh. Adam said they make numerous items there I can't remember all of them. I tried the fried oysters the second time we visited, The batter was like a thin tempura just enough batter and the oysters were large and perfectly fried. Although I was not a fan of Pres Clinton, he sure has a great restaurant in his center. I am going to be a regular there for lunch, brunch and Holidays when they have a special menu.
(5)Renee D.
This place has the best Sunday brunch. Now, it's going to set you back a bit but still, it's worth it. They have freshly made waffles and french toast. The french toast was so perfectly toasted that the outside crisped and the inside was heavenly goodness. The salads will truly knock your socks off (if you are wearing them but most of the people around me were in their Sunday bests so no socks). The greens are fresh and crisp, the bacon cooked that am, freshly shaved cheeses, I could go on. There are always bacon, grits, "breakfast foods" but last time they had chocolate gravy and a lovely chicken/ veggie medly. The dessert was a 3 tiered table that had huge slabs of turtle cheesecake (with a thick layer of fudge and fresh nuts!), along with muffins and fruit. If you are going to go on a special holiday, make sure you make a reservation or you won't be eating there that day. I think the brunch is about $25 a person. Normally for 2 adults, 1 child with soft drinks and tip is around $80. Can't do this every week but for a special day, it's worth it. FYI, you do have to go in through the metal detector because of the museum but other than that, not a big deal. Plus, the simple yet elegant decor of the place is very classy. You'll be treated wonderfully!
(5)Arwen L.
I mentioned this in my review on the Clinton Library but it deserves its own shout out. My friends and I were lured downstairs by the smell of bacon. We joked that maybe they piped the smell up to make folks hungry. We were seated in a lovely little area that could have been just a basement. I mean getting there made me think of a hospital cafeteria--out of the way, sterile looking hallways, etc. But when you walked in, everything changed. Lovely simple greenery and stone. Simple tables, comfortable chairs and terrific place settings. Our waiter was there in a heartbeat. The menu was simple in choices but rich in ingredients. There was an obvious effort to provide local cuisine with an upscale twist. One of my dining companions had fried catfish. She said it was delicious. I chose a salad simply because it advertised a goat cheese fritter. I mean, really. How much more southern and upscale is that? You have a fritter (fried something or other on any Southern menu) that uses a great ingredient like goat's cheese. The salad came with candied walnuts, field greens and a tart balsamic vinaigrette. When it arrived, the greens were cold and the fritter was pleasantly warm. It was a salad that will live on in my memory. All in all, there is nothing I can saw bad about our experience here. Just a great little hidden gem in Little Rock.
(5)Noah R.
I was blown away with the classiness of the restaurant given the low price. You could eat at this fine dining restaurant for sub $10. I ordered a chipotle flank steak soup special that was filled with garden herbs and delectable spices. They also gave a generous portion of mushrooms and flank steak. My date had the "presidential" sandwich which resembled a club. She said it was good, but not great. Service was attentive. Ambiance was pleasant. Overall I would come back if I was in Little Rock again. If you are at the Clinton library - definitely check it out.
(4)Michelle F.
My experience at this restaurant doesn't seem to match with what other reviewers are saying. The food was really not that good. Tuscan Chicken soup - extremely salty. Couldn't appreciate any other flavors in the bowl due to overwhelming level of salt. Club sandwich - fine, nothing wrong with it, but nothing to write home about Arkansas Chicken Biscuit sandwich - texture of the chicken was very unappetizing. The meat was rubbery and hard to bite. Perhaps it had been frozen/thawed/refrozen? At the same time, the meat was too moist, which caused the breading to fall off. The pear-pepper jelly and biscuit were good. House-made potato chips: hit-or-miss. Some of them were good, but others had retained too much oil and just tasted like grease. The décor and ambience of this restaurant are very nice, so that's why I'm giving in 2 stars. Wait staff was ok. We didn't complain about the food, so I don't know what they might have done.
(2)John B.
Located downstairs at the Clinton Library, Cafe 42 is a great getaway for lunch. The food is delicious with some unique menu selections, and the service is spot on. On nice days, ask for a patio seat overlooking the Arkansas River, and don't neglect seeing the library if you have time. 42 also sponsors special prix fixe dinners throughout the year with different cuisines from around the world. Since these are served in courses, plan on an entire evening for the experience if you decide to take advantage. Much like President Clinton's tenure as POTUS, you will leave satisfied, getting more than you expected for the experience, and with no deficit. Recommended! Go, see, eat!!!
(4)Beez H.
Went there for lunch. Food was delicious. Good service as well. Not as pricey as I expected. A def must for fans of good food. We ate outside on a lovely day.
(5)Carla G.
What a lovely lunch hubby and I had before we toured the Clinton Presidential Center. It was, according to hubby, the best meal he ate on our vacation. Forty Two is on the lower level of the library. It is a white table cloth, stemmed water glasses, well lit, real bamboo plants on the table for center pieces, and wonderful food. It was not over priced for the quantity or the quality of the food. Both hubby and I had wonderful lunches. Hubby had a pasta Alfredo dish that was creamy and delicious. Hubby also ordered the sweet potato fries which were wonderful. I ordered a Prosciutto Panini that was wonderful and complex in its flavors. My Panini came with home made potato chips that were dusted in Parmasian cheese. I opted for dessert and had the cherry cream brulee, which was wonderfully sweet and tart at the same time. Only suggestion is that if you get a to go box, leave it at the guest services desk before touring the library or you will have a guard tell you to take your food to the guest services desk. The guard that confronted my husband was a tad bit on the condescending side. I wish more restaurants were this relaxing and had the level of service this one did. It was a delight to eat here after our drive from Memphis and before our library/museum tour.
(5)Taylor R.
A great place to relax after (or before) a tour of the Center. All of the food was fresh and seasonal. I started with mushroom & rice soup--perfect for a cold day. For my main meal, I had roasted chicken, brussels sprouts, and fruit. It was all light, but filling. Dessert was a wonderful bread pudding. Our waiter was a little slow in taking care of us, but very nice. I loved the bright atmosphere!
(4)Lisa C.
Great food, super staff and interesting menu with reasonable prices! Definitely worth eating at the restaurant while visiting!
(5)Ken P.
If not for the host, or visit could've been a disaster. Our assigned server had a table of at least 16, including a bunch of little kids. He was a little busy. The host stepped in, took our drink order, food order and made sure we were taken care of. Our server finally was able to come by and check on us later. As a former waiter and restaurant manager, I had no problem, since we came to eat. The food was so-so. I had the club sandwich and my companion had the bacon and egg burger. Mine was better than hers. When we paid the check the server never returned our change. I figured he figured that was his tip. It was less than he would've gotten if he'd brought back the change. My advice? Eat before you go to the museum.
(2)Daniel S.
The signs say Forty Two and Coffee Bar so I assumed there would be a coffee bar, no. You have to order coffee from the hostess who didn't know what they had to offer but it was only 4 types of flavored coffee. There was no where to stand and put cream and sugar in so we did so on the dessert tray. They should just remove the Coffee Bar from their sign, it's a sit down restaurant that has coffee.
(2)Jose P.
Roasted egg plant and squash salad was tasty... Asparagous chauder delicious... Service was little less than fair... Still a good place to stop.
(4)Marquette M.
If you MUST eat at the Presidential Library - like if George W. Was holding an unlicensed gun to your head - ok, you could eat here. It wasn't awful, just mediocre. The chicken and white bean chili was pretty good but we also had the tomato bisque, which tasted like it came from a jar soup. The grilled cheese sandwich had promise but was too cheesy - yeah as impossible as that sounds - it was just too buttery fat without a good balance of crusty, tasty sourdough bread for balance. I wish we would have eaten at once of the local places just blocks away. The library itself was FABULOUS. I'll write a much better review of that. It may have been tastier if we'd been able to eat outside - the ambiance and view were good, but that's not what nourishes me when I'm hungry.
(2)Andrew T.
This is a sit down restaurant, which is unusual for a museum, even a museum as prestigious as a presidential library. Service was rapid and efficient. We had lunch here so focused on sandwiches. But they were tasty and large. Bbq in Texas toast was the highlight.
(3)Soumya V.
Came here with my family. We ordered portobella hash, mom's veggie sandwich with sweet potato fries and a classic chicken sandwich. The staff was great, the food was fantastic, and the view was beautiful. Overall, I was happy with my experience here.
(5)