Arkansas Cafe

Was not impressed. I'm from the Southern US, and have had my fair share of good barbeque. While the meat here was decent, the service, decor and prices were all a big let down.

I see no reason to go back, especially when there are so many other things to eat in the building
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KK
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Saturday, February 23, 2008

I have been several time - and as a Yank who has endured British Beef for near on a decade I can truefully say this is a Gold Mine of authentic, down home, american food! Yes, the place is cramped, yes the staff are brusk at times, and they do serve the meat rarer that Brits - but that is the charm!

I guess I am spoiled as I booked the whole place for a party - the Half Pig was to die for! Even got Bubba to show off the bespoke Roasting Pit! Now to be honest, he kids me for be a Yankee (an authentic Connecticutt Yankee who took hours of ribbing, but cemented a close bond with Bubba that evening). He went out his way to entertain and satisfy the group. The Crackling was delicious - but again, not for everyones taste.
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Yankee Doodle
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Friday, June 08, 2007

Well where do I begin? Went to arkansas cafe with a couple friends an was greeted by a freaky/slightly sleezy "Bubba" who began the whole ordeal off by saying "yeahhhh, jus' sit by the window ladies! gotta keep the pretty faces by the windows"

After a quick look through the menu (mmm... sticky cover) We decided to go for the regular hamburgers £6: One of the strangest things my tongue has ever experienced, dark terracotta coloured meat which spurted out dark oily juice on every bite an a side order of Garlic an herb fried potatoes , which were like little leather balls marinaded in oil an WEIRD flavourings (undectable).

I think the worse had to be the Coleslaw- my god, it tasted like after shave,. How they produced that flavour without throwin in a dash Hugo boss is beyond me. Finally the bill came.... REDICULOUSY OVER PRICED, an the constant passive agressive comments from rude Bubba over by the BBQ was enough to ruin my experience of Spital Fields market that day.
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Naomi
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, June 03, 2007

Ew Ew Ew!

four of us went for "Burgers" at this joint last week.

I've never tasted anything like it. it managed to be really really oily and wet and really DRY and burnt all at the same time!!?? I think the side orders must have been sitting there for a good few days!

Horrible, miserable staff and the chef actually shouted at us because the waitress hadnt come for us to place an order!

please stay away from this place, its completely over priced and yucky yucky food!
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jess
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, May 31, 2007

The service at this place is appalling and the restaurant decor is one of the worst that I have seen anywhere in the world! It looks more like a disused warehouse than a place where civilised people can eat. The food also comes on tiny plastic plates.

However, the meat is excellent! I've been to Arkansas cafe a few times and the Irish steak sandwich is simply outstanding. Like someone else said. they cook it on the rare side, so its best to order one degree up. The burgers are also pretty good.

Although the meat here is delicious, I'm not sure I'd recommend this place simply because the staff are incredibly rude and the setting exceptionally unappealing.
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Steve Green
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 5
Friday, February 16, 2007

Overpriced and the food tastes like nothing I've ever had before- and not in a good way. I had a barbecue pork sandwich which set me back £6, and tasted of some strange pungent chemical. The meat was dry and while it might have been organic or free range or whatever, I have tasted better non-organic non-free range stuff.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, February 05, 2007

Took my work colleague here in search of what was billed as the best ribs in town. Ate ( well, tried to force down ) some very tough ribs and a left a very undercooked sausage (the insides were frozen and red whilst the outside was burnt ). Service did not exist. The chap doing the bbq outside was exceptionally rude. Sat here currently regretting eating the ribs and wondering about the possibility of salmonella poisoning
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Ravmeister
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, December 21, 2006

Just had lunch at the Arkensas with a couple of friends. What a find! The best steak (had the Irish) I have had in some time. Washed it down with a bottle of Anchor Liberty Ale (San Francisco brewery).

For a good BBQ meat fix, quick service & no-fuss informal atmosphere you just can't beat it. There's a reson why gems like this are tucked away. Why would you want to waste your time at a bland chain?
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Derek McCallum
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

I work near spitalfields market and visit the Arkansas cafe regularly. The steaks are fantastic and service had always been friendly. I have absolutely no idea as to why the previous posters had such a bad experience, but several of my work colleagues and I will defintely be going there again!! The 8oz irish steak sandwich is always cooked to perfection and whilst I agree that the sides arent the best in the world, the steak more than makes up for it.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Saturday, November 25, 2006

I ate in here on Sunday. We paid £16.70 for two cheese burgers and two diet cokes. The food was revolting, the burgers were chard on the outside and so dark on the inside that they looked like some kind of reconstituted wild mushroom affair.

The feeling of glutinous hot liquid oozing into my mouth with every bite made it impossible for me to finish.

There was no salad and no fries. Just a rather sad looking burger served on a normal morning roll on a paper plate. This despite an elaborate claim on the menu that the rolls were hand made.

The sign outside the stall said "Bubba can cook" from a review in the Evening Standard - a clear breach of the Trades Description Act.

A burger and a coke in nearby Petticoat Lane or Brick Lane would have cost under £4 and would, I suspect, have been edible.
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Lee
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 09, 2006