Evatt Ralston dishes up two smash burgers for Central Arkansas Restaurant Week

Evatt Ralston, chef of kitchen at The Root Cafe in Little Rock, will serve two smash burgers for Central Arkansas Restaurant Week. The specials aim to draw diners to both locations while raising support for the Arkansas Foodbank.

The Little Rock restaurant is participating in Central Arkansas Restaurant Week for the third time. Locals have through Sunday to take part, with proceeds supporting the Arkansas Foodbank.

Ralston chose two different smash burgers for this year’s event. One is offered at the SoMa location, and the other at the Breckenridge spot.

“At our SoMa location we have The Root Smash,” Ralston said. “It’s made with McNeal Farms beef smashburger with American cheese, pickles, and burger sauce.”

“Here at our Breckenridge location we have The Smokesstack,” Ralston said. “It’s a McNeal Farms beef smashburger with smoked cheddar, fried onions, and bulgogi BBQ sauce.”

How the week helps

Central Arkansas Restaurant Week gives a portion of proceeds to the Arkansas Foodbank. The campaign encourages residents to dine out and fight local hunger at the same time.

The Arkansas Foodbank is a statewide hunger relief organization. It distributes food through partner agencies across Arkansas.

Both burgers use beef from McNeal Farms, a regional farm. Each burger is offered only during the restaurant week window.