When I say the largest, I mean, in visiting more than 400 Arkansas barbecue joints over two years, I never encountered anything close to Pigzilla - and that sandwich isn’t even the most interesting thing at the restaurant.
Bailey’s Family Restaurant opened in Cave City in June 2024. Andrea “Andi” Bailey’s grew up working in her parents’ restaurant, Bailey’s Country Cooking, which operated in Melbourne for ten years. The big barn-sized facility on the main stretch drew in lots of families and groups with consistently good entrees, burgers, and desserts of all sorts. But running a restaurant takes a lot.
“I was there for a long time,” Bailey says. “My dad, mom, they just got wore out. So now I decided I wanted to get back in it.”
The Cave City location came together after a bank contacted Bailey’s father about reopening a vacant building they owned. Bailey was initially hesitant due to the commute, but after reviewing the space and renovations the bank agreed to complete, the decision was made to move forward.
“The banker said, ‘what needs to be done?’ And dad told him and they did it. So here we are,” Bailey states.
The restaurant quickly became part of the community after opening. When a tornado struck the heart of Cave City just a few months after the eatery started up, Bailey’s closed briefly, then reopened to serve residents and relief workers.
“As soon as we got up and going, we started serving our community,” she shares. “We fed lots and lots of people.” Donations from local businesses helped offset costs.
The menu has some similarities to what Bailey’s Country Cooking offered in Melbourne - with steaks, daily specials, and catfish common. Andy doesn’t limit fish to Fridays.
“When people figure out we do catfish all the time, they go wild,” she grins. “We do it every day that we’re open.”
Bailey’s Family Restaurant received significant attention in 2024 after winning the Arkansas Beef Council’s Best Burger competition for its Caveman Burger. Bailey says the whole affair was a surprise.
“We just started getting nominated by all these different people,” she says, noting she initially thought the notification was a scam because they hadn’t formally entered anything. “I was like, Mom, this is a scam… we didn’t win nothing,” she recalls. “That thing, it took off,” Bailey says of the burger. “People are driving from all over just to try it.”
Barbecue is a central focus of the menu. Pulled pork is served regularly, with ribs and brisket available on weekends. “Yes, we do ribs on the weekends,” Bailey shares. “We do a smoked brisket on the weekends. We’ve got our barbecue.” She learned smoking techniques from her father, who still assists with preparation.
I dig the brisket quesadilla - the gorgeous smoky notes of hickory and a touch of cherry work well with both the meat itself and its presentation between tortillas.
And then, there’s Pigzilla. I’ve seen a lot of crazy sandwiches out there, stacked high or sent to the table with some crazy add-ons, but for sheer size there’s nothing quite like this sandwich. It’s two pounds of pulled pork, packed between the top and bottom of a New Orleans style muffuletta loaf - sturdy enough to hold such a large amount of smoked meat without dissolving.
Slaw comes with the sandwich, but on the side. Crazier still, the sandwich is often delivered to the table by a staff member in a pig costume - because, y’all, this sandwich isn’t just a sandwich, it’s an event. It’s also served sliced - you get a cake server to dole out the slices to folks sharing your table with you. It’s rare the sandwich gets eaten by a single person in a single setting - though this, too, has happened.
For those who still have room after whatever repast they choose, there are lots of great desserts made by Shelly Bailey, Andi’s mother.
“My mama does the desserts and they are delicious,” Bailey shares, “she makes strawberry delight, Oreo cake, and Butterfinger cake, and whatever she wants to. They're all good. But she’ll tell you real quick… ‘I don’t make the cheesecakes.’ They’re from the Cheesecake Factory.”
It’s a family affair, even now. Though Bailey’s father works a full-time job elsewhere, he helps at the restaurant after hours. Her sister works on weekends, and her daughter is also part of the staff.
Andi Bailey isn’t planning to start a franchise, or range up the size of the establishment. The goals are simple - feed a community, enjoy the connections, have a little fun.
“You’re not going to get rich here,” she says. “As long as I can pay all my bills and we all get a paycheck, I’m happy.”
You'll find Bailey's Family Restaurant at 208 South Main Street in Cave City. Call (870) 916-2195 for to-go orders and check out the restaurant's Facebook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/baileyscountrycookin
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