It’s all pretty much semantics … so whether you want to call each of these restaurants below a hidden gem or underrated or a hole-in-the-wall, one thing is for certain, they don’t receive a lot of attention and they should.

Brewsters 2 Soul Food Café & Lounge
We love our fried catfish in Little Rock, and I’m here to tell you Brewsters serves up the very best I’ve eaten in town. The sweet potatoes, greens, and peas are also fantastic, but don’t rest on the cheeseburger. It’s so simple but so freaking delicious. Location: 2725 S. Arch Street

El Torito
Remember when El Palenque was this obscure restaurant that not many folks knew about? Those days are long gone. I bring up El P because I firmly believe El Torito is very similar. Most people think it’s just a grocery store, but there’s a little café adjacent to the store that serves up some dynamite Mexican food. The shrimp and beef fajitas come out sizzling and are some of the best I’ve had in Little Rock. The tacos are simple but well-executed. Get the carnitas, barbacoa, or al pastor tacos with flour tortillas along with a pile of rice and refried beans. El Torito is also a great take-out option. Location: 303 Bowman Road

Super 7 Grocery Store
You talk about a place that gets absolutely no attention. That’s a shame because the chicken and beef milanesa tortas are divine. As the name suggests, this small eatery is actually inside a grocery store. And I can’t personally vouch for it, but they have a lunch time buffet for around $10 that seems quite well-received. Location: 1415 John Barrow Road

La Terraza Rum & Lounge
If you follow this blog, you know I’ve been singing the praises of La Terraza this past week. And while it’s certainly not a hole-in-the-wall (smack dab in the middle of Hillcrest), it doesn’t get much attention. I think the restaurant must have gotten off to a shaky start (according to some reader feedback). All that said, I really believe you may want to give La Terraza another try…or a try. Hell, just go for the mojitos. They have 8 or 9 different flavors, all fresh and quite flavorful. The meat and cheese board is a winner, as is the arepas and the beef carpaccio. Location: 3000 Kavanaugh Blvd

Sandy’s Homeplace Café
This lunchtime spot is tiny but oh so good! If you’ve been, then you know what I’m talking about. Sandy’s rotates two items each day (like chicken fried steak and chicken livers) paired with a small selections of sides. It’s simple, stick-to-your ribs Southern cooking. And did I mention it’s a buffet? And did I mention it costs like $8 or $9 bucks? You even get a dollar off if you pay in cash. Location: 1710 E. 15th Street

Pho and More
Do you love pho? I mean … do you REALLY love pho? Then make the 35-minute drive up to Jacksonville to Pho and More. It’s the best pho in Central Arkansas. Yes, even better than Mike’s Café (and I love Mike’s). Should I bore you with all of the details about what makes this pho so special? No? Good, I won’t. The vermicelli bowls are also outstanding, and I hear the sushi isn’t too shabby either. Location: 123 S. Jeff Davis Street (Jacksonville)

Milford Track
By now, many of you have heard about Milford Track, the tiny deli located in an office building in the Westlake business park, so why have you still not gone? MT serves up the usual quick-lunch items, but the real reason to go is the hand-made pasta. Few places in town even make their own pasta, much less from scratch right after you place an order. If you do get the pasta, be patient … greatness takes a few extra minutes to arrive at the table. Location: 10809 Executive Center Dr # P2

Smoke Shack Bar-B-Q
If you live in Maumelle or are just a bbq-seeking maniac who’s always on the prowl for good ‘cue, I really think you’ll enjoy Smoke Shack. While it won’t blow you away as some award-winning bbq, it will deliver good food at a great price. I recommend the chopped beef sandwich with a pile of fries, as well as the smoked chicken and the addictive tomato relish. The prize of the establishment, however, is the sweet & spicy bbq sauce. Location: 20608 AR-365 (Maumelle)