Grab It To Go From Kris and Sam's in Little Rock.

Most Arkansas restaurants serve sit-down meals in a location. Kris and Sam’s is best known for what people take away – lunch boxes and desserts that provide a highly satisfying alternative to make-it-yourself.

The red roofed shop at the corner of Bowman and Kanis in west Little Rock is open six days a week from eight in the morning until four in the evening.  It’s open just in time to pick up an already packed lunch for yourself, your spouse, your child – which is especially good when you’ve run out of time and need to grab something quick.  This has happened to me numerous times.

Lunch box options delve between sandwiches and wraps, with vegetarian options available.  Among those sandwiches you’ll find a really good chicken salad, tuna salad, a BLT, ham, pastrami, grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly and pimento cheese.  All sandwiches come with a choice of cheese (American, Swiss, cheddar or pepper jack),

vegetables (lettuce, tomato and red onion) and condiment, along with crackers or chips, a string cheese strip, fresh fruit and a choice of cookie.  My favorite is the pastrami – it’s packed with a lot of meat, and I get mine with cheddar cheese.  It’s actually a little more than I need for lunch, but that’s OK.  I also dig the Mediterranean wrap, which is turkey, cream cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion with mozzarella and olive tapenade. It’s really good.

Those cookies… are something else. Kris and Sam’s started out as a cookie store, but the lunches and salads there made smart additions.  The chocolate no-bake is a favorite of mine, a simple classic of chocolate, peanut butter and oats that I could make at home, but usually haven’t the time to bother with.  They’re melt-in-your-mouth good.  I’m also a sucker for the lemon shortbreads.

Small sweet treats are the real stars at Kris and Sam’s.  Brownies come in all sorts of flavors, from Rocky Road to Heath bar, and there are a dozen different cookies on the menu.  You can also pick up chocolate covered and white chocolate covered strawberries.

And then there are the cake balls.  Kris and Sam’s grabbed onto the craze when it started up, and didn’t let it go.  The cake balls from Kris and Sam’s are oversized, big as your palm and a couple of perfect bites of sweet to end your meal.  They come in several flavors, including vanilla, pecan, chocolate and strawberry.

Kris and Sam’s also caters, so if you’re looking for a sandwich or fruit platter for your luncheon or just want to treat the folks at work with a plate of cookies, this place has you covered.  Check out the website or call (501) 223-3100 for more information.