So my accomplice is REALLY starting to get into the whole “let’s go try out places that have some sort of famous food/large amounts of meat” thing. Who can blame him really? Hanging out with somebody at restaurants that have delicious food is such a tough gig right? this particular little adventure took us right to the heart of downtown Little Rock to a place that is well known for its big burgers….Cotham’s in the City.
The original Cotham’s (pronounced “cottums”) is in Scott, Arkansas and has served as everything from a mercantile for local farmers to a holding cell for local criminals. Once they started making burgers to feed local workers, the rest as they say is history. Former President Bill Clinton was known to grab a bite there, and George W. Bush stopped by the Little Rock location for a fried pie while in office.
Naturally, I had to see what all the fuss is about. I am by nature a very skeptical person, and in general don’t believe anybody when they say a place is really good. As you may have seen from previous posts, I typically only write about places I enjoy, because when I go somewhere that’s not so great, I don’t feel like giving them the publicity. So, with a very skeptical mind, we strolled into Cotham’s ready to be underwhelmed.
Upon entering Cotham’s, one is immediately overwhelmed by the political decor that is stuck in every possible nook and cranny of the place. 
Besides the obvious pride in their political connections, the place definitely has a mom and pop vibe and just looks like the kind of place where the food will be good. Our waitress (who was awesome by the way) brought us the sweetest sweet tea I have ever had. That is not an exaggeration. You could pour it over pancakes if it was thicker. And I slurped up two glasses in case you’re wondering. We glanced over the menu which has the standard burgers, fries, and onion rings. However in a fun twist, you can substitute fried pickles or fried green tomatoes instead of fries for an additional fee. The also have chicken tenders, fried catfish, and daily specials. Every day of the week has a different special, and they vary among a rotation of things like chicken and dumplings and chicken fried steak. They have a variety of daily sides as well, but on this day, it was all about the burger. He got the famous “Hubcap Burger” and I got the regular sized one, with a side of fried pickles. I got a side by side pic to compare but somehow it doesn’t really do justice to the gigantic mass of burger he got.
that's my little burger in the front and his in the back
My concerns that this place are all hype were put to rest as soon as I dove in to the burger. It was juicy and flavored well and I could totally see why it has won all sorts of awards. The fried pickles are nothing short of perfect. Unlike a lot of other places that just put the pickles in flour and fry them, these are dredged in a catfish style breading and the actual pickles are sharply dill. A little dab of ranch dressing and it’s fried food heaven. The accomplice was equally thrilled with his burger, marveling at how it was not just huge, but also delicious. We didn’t really talk much during the meal, which is always a sign of how good it is for us.
We ended the meal by splitting a chocolate fried pie a la mode. Sadly it disappeared too quickly for me to get a picture, but rest assured, it was as good as the rest of the meal. I left there totally full, and totally impressed. If you get a chance to be in the area from 11-2 M-F, stop in and have burger or a lunch special, you will enjoy the food and the historical ambiance. Check out the menu before you go on the web at www.cothams.com
