Arkansas

ARKANSAS’ BEST BURGER: Watermelons aren’t Cave City’s only claim to fame | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2024

ARKANSAS’ BEST BURGER: Watermelons aren’t Cave City’s only claim to fame | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

CAVE CITY — Mention Cave City and many Arkansans immediately think of the immensely popular watermelons grown here. But those big green-striped watermelons with the authentic Cave City watermelon seal are not the only claim to fame for this northeast Arkansas town.

Located in a historic rock building in downtown Cave City, Bailey’s Family Restaurant is drawing locals and visitors to try its home-style cooking, including its most famous offering — The Caveman Burger, which was recently named Arkansas’ Best Burger by the Arkansas Beef Council.

To check out this monster burger — the single has a 2-pound patty with a 9-inch bun — my sister and I headed to Cave City on a recent Saturday, arriving near the lunch peak. Most of the restaurant’s 20 or so tables were occupied with folks enjoying a variety of dishes from the extensive menu, including the daily specials, which included a brisket plate ($13.99), an open-faced roast beef plate ($11.99), a half-rack rib plate ($16.99) and vegetable beef soup ($6.99). Although the specials sounded very good, especially after having only yogurt for breakfast before our two-hour drive from Little Rock, I was there on a mission — to check out the state’s best burger.

When the waitress arrived to take our order, she smiled as she issued a warning about the Caveman’s unusual size. Unfazed, I told her I would take what I didn’t finish home in a box. My sister, a fried catfish aficionado, ordered a fried catfish dinner with plans to also sample my burger. For drinks, we each ordered sweet tea.

As we waited for our order, a waitress brought food to the customers at the table next to us.

Papa Bills two-piece fried catfish dinner comes with fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, tartar sauch, onion, pickled tomatoes and pinto beans. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

“Oh my God,” one person said as a Caveman Burger order was delivered to their table, complete with a large steak knife planted in the middle of the sesame-seed bun. It is hard to imagine just how big they are until your order arrives.

I ordered mine with a single patty and American cheese ($24.99). You can also add bacon, and if you are really ravenous and/or brave, there is the double patty version ($31.99). I added an order of fries. My sister got the Papa Bill’s two-piece catfish dinner ($12.99), which came with fries, hush puppies, pinto beans, coleslaw, onions, pickled tomatoes and tartar sauce.

I asked for all the fixings and the waitress suggested I get them on the side so that the burger wouldn’t get too “mushy,” especially if there were leftovers for the trip home. My order was delivered on a platter with the giant burger on one side and a plate with mustard, mayonnaise, onions, dill pickles lettuce and tomato on the other. The handmade patty, made daily from fresh, not frozen, ground beef, was covered with what appeared to be at least four, maybe five, melted cheese slices.

I used the knife to cut the burger in half, and then cut each half into thirds. Each third was about the size of a regular burger. I could have easily cut the thirds into slider-size and fed three or more people.

Does anyone finish the Caveman in one sitting, I asked? Yes, there have been a few, including two young girls, ages 8 and 9, who managed, much to the restaurant staff’s amazement, to polish one off at the restaurant.

My burger was truly grilled to perfection — well done throughout but not overcooked. The combination of the moist burger, toasted bun and fresh fixings created the perfect traditional cheeseburger. While I am not opposed to trying burgers with exotic seasonings and toppings, just give me an old-fashioned burger like the Caveman, and I will be completely satisfied.

What about the catfish? My sister gave it a thumbs up, noting that it was among the best she has had. She especially enjoyed the side of pinto beans, which reminded both of us of those made by our mother. I sampled the fish, which was straight out of the fryer. The traditional cornmeal-based breading was just right — not too thick or too thin — while the fish was moist and flaky.

Shelly Bailey (left), Andi Bailey (center) and McKee Bailey proudly hold their Arkansas Best Burger poster. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

BEST BURGER CONTEST

Although the Caveman and the restaurant’s other dishes have been a hit for a while now, their popularity has gotten a big boost since the Arkansas Beef Council, which promotes research and market development for the beef industry, named the Caveman burger the state’s best burger last month.

It was the first year for the contest, which got more than 2,400 nominations for more than 410 different burgers, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Ten finalists were named.

“The Caveman burger received the highest score among the finalists from an anonymous panel of judges with evaluations based on the taste of the burger patty, appearance and presentation, proper cooking, and overall impression,” the news release said.

The Caveman burger is made with two pounds of ground beef and a nine-inch bun. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Bailey’s Family Restaurant is owned by Andi Bailey and operated by her sister McKee and her parents, Scott and Shelly, who “work together alongside a staff that feels like part of the family,” according to the news release.

In addition to catfish and burgers, Bailey’s offers:

Granny Marlene’s Baskets of hand-battered chicken tenders, chicken fritters and butterfly shrimp served with fries, slaw and roll. ($9.99 to $11.99)

Papa Frank’s Burgers and Sandwiches, including regular-size burgers ($7.99 to $13.99), a patty melt ($9.99), grilled chicken sandwich ($8.99), fried bologna sandwich ($6.99) and several more.

Appetizers such as battered mushrooms ($5.99), cheese curds ($5.99), fried pickles ($5.99), chips and queso ($5.99) and chips and salsa ($3.99)

Bailey’s also offers daily lunch specials such as those mentioned above, and a list of desserts far too long to name here, including the restaurant’s bestseller, strawberry delight, and in season, the city’s famous watermelon. We bought a piece of triple-chocolate cheesecake and an order of strawberry delight, which was made with vanilla cake, whipped cream and strawberries, to go. After returning home, we enjoyed those desserts, as well as our leftovers, and agreed that our trip to Cave City and Bailey’s was certainly worth the drive.

Bailey’s Family Restaurant in Cave City. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

The Caveman burger can easily feed more than one person. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

The triple chocolate cheesecake is a chocolate-lover’s delight. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)

Bailey’s Family Restaurant

Where: 207 S. Main St.
Cave City
(870) 916-2195
facebook.com/baileyscountrycookin/
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Arkansas

DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers a week’s worth of summer fun in Arkansas

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers a week’s worth of summer fun in Arkansas

Bismarck, Ark. (KATV) — If your idea of a perfect summer getaway includes a clear lake, plenty of elbow room and enough activities to keep the whole family busy for days, DeGray Lake might be calling your name.

In the run-up to America’s 250th birthday, DeGray Lake is being highlighted as Arkansas’ only resort state park — a place designed to be a one-stop vacation spot where guests can settle in and stay put.

“We are Arkansas’s only resort state park, and with that, we have enough to keep a guest and their family busy for really a whole week,” a park representative said.

The park’s setup is meant to keep everything in one place, from the lodge and pool to the restaurant and swim beach. Visitors can also find trails, four stables, golf, disc golf, fling golf and interpretive programs held every day during the summertime.

“So really, the whole package is designed so that people, they would never leave, never need to leave the park while they’re here on vacation, they can be here all week,” the representative said. “We’ve got your food, we’ve got your lodging, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy and having a good time. That’s what makes us Arkansas’s only resort state park.”

Water sports are a big summertime draw, and the park also offers a range of ways to stay overnight — whether you want comfort, something in-between, or a more traditional camping experience.

“If you like getting in the outdoors, but you don’t like staying in the outdoors, you can come stay in our comfy lot,” the representative said, noting the lodge has 96 rooms. For a “step up from camping,” the park also has three yurts available, described as a more glamorous option with bunk beds, a sky dome and a door that locks. Campsites are also available, ranging from RV hookups to simple tent sites.

For anglers and lake lovers, the park representative said the fishing is great and the water is clear, with options that include line fishing, spear fishing and scuba diving.

“It’s a beautiful lake,” the representative said. “We’re nestled right here in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.”

The park is described as a little off the beaten path — but that’s part of the charm.

“I tell people all the time it’s kind of like the best kept secret, because you look out there at that lake, not too busy,” the representative said.

For more information on planning a visit, click here.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

14 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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