LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — From the Big Easy to the Little Rock!
For over 14 years Maddie’s Place has been serving up Cajun cuisine with an Arkansas-spin. Nestled in Little Rock’s Riverdale community, Maddie’s is unassuming on the outside but packed with a vibrant and funky vibe on the inside.
“There’s people that don’t know about us, but once they come to eat once, they will be back,” Chef Brian Deloney said.
Deloney is a native Arkansan who learned to cook out of necessity.
Growing up his mother stayed busy with community events and his fathers culinary skillset was limited to fish sticks. Brian craved more, so he taught himself to cook.
Eventually his interest in food and recipes took him to culinary school in Little Rock. From there he became the sous-chef at celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans restaurant.
Deloney and his wife returned home to be closer to family and to start one of their own. They would have two children, twins.
Their children actually inspired the business's name-- the restaurant is named after their daughter Maddie, and the bar is named after their son Austin.
You’ll find all the Cajun staples you’d expect in the French Quarter, but it’s the southern-spin that Chef Deloney adds to these classic menu items such as shrimp and grits and jambalaya that has cemented Maddie’s reputation.
The team at Maddie’s takes a lot of pride in what they put on plates every day. No corners are cut and only the highest quality ingredients are used.
Deloney describes it as a “fun, casual restaurant with really good food.” We couldn’t agree more.
Maddie’s Place is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. They are located at 1615 Rebsamen Park Road in Little Rock.