Head southeast from Little Rock and before long, you’ll stumble onto one of Arkansas’ greatest hidden secrets. It’s a restaurant that has been acclaimed for its pies and delicious sandwiches. Now, AY Publisher Heather Baker and KARK host Carmen Rose are traveling to Charlotte’s Eats & Sweets in Keo to taste some of the best home-style food for the last installment of the Southern Plates Bucket List.

 

According to Baker, Charlotte’s is the ideal capstone to the Southern Plates Bucket List. “We cannot stop this without coming to Keo at Charlott’s Eats & Sweets,” Baker says.

 

“I heard fantastic things about this – famous pies,” Rose says.

Since its founding in 1993, Charlotte’s has racked up plenty of notices for its food. Southern Living declared the restaurant’s coconut pie to be the best in the South.

 

Now, Baker and Rose are readying for a tremendous meal in Keo.

 

“She is in there baking us the pie of a lifetime with all these amazing sandwiches,” Baker says.

 

“I’m ready to get in there and have a bite,” Rose says.

Inside, owner Charlotte Bowls and her staff are hard at work, preparing an array of food for the duo. The highlights include a turkey sandwich with Monterey jack cheese with avocado, tomato and onion on sourdough bread; the Charlotte’s Choice, a turkey sandwich with Turkey sandwich with Monterey jack cheese with avocado, tomato and onion on sourdough bread, a Reuben sandwich, a traditional club sandwich and their famous cheeseburger.

 

Of course, there’s also the table full of pies and cake to go along with it!

“This looks fantastic. I have all the eats,” Rose says.

 

“And I have all the sweets. All of them,” Baker finishes.

Rose starts her meal off with the Keo Classic, while Baker heads straight to dessert with a chocolate pie. While Baker says the chocolate pie is her favorite, she admits that the coconut pie is “iconic.”

 

The best part of the pies, Baker says, is that you can preorder the pies. Call ahead the day before, and you can drop by to pick up a whole one!

After finishing the Keo Classic, Rose tries the Charlotte’s Choice, and is immediately impressed. “I think I like this one,” she says.

 

Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets does not only provide the food to qualify it for a Southern restaurant but the atmosphere. The down-home spot, located in a former drug store, is a slice of small town Americana.

“This is the most Southern restaurant you can get,” Baker says.

 

“So homey, so cozy. We have really been given the best food and the best treatment,” Rose says.

“The grill here makes you feel like you’re at home, and I love everyone who works here,” Baker says.

 

Over the last month, Baker and Rose have made their way through Central Arkansas, finding some of the best Southern plates. This Bucket List tour is coming to an end, but they’ll be back next week with a brand-new list. Make sure to tune in and check it out.

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