Ellington

Description

Copeland's is part of Al Copeland Investments, named for the colorful New Orleans entrepreneur who was most famous for founding Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits (and getting into fights and driving neighbors crazy with excessive Christmas displays). Copeland, who also owned several other chains, comedy clubs and hotels, died in March.
An animated spirit lives on in the atmosphere and the food at the newest Copeland's of New Orleans, which opened this month in west Little Rock's Shackleford Crossing shopping center. This is the second Arkansas eatery for the chain that has one in Rogers, as well as locations in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.
The food is not always perfect, but it deserves credit for being more bold than most chain fare.
Courteous and efficient staff, upbeat music, mixed drinks served from a bar accented with cool, colored lighting (sure there's wine or beer, but it's a New Orleans place, so get a hurricane) and sizable crowds warm up the rather dark dining room that might otherwise seem dreary. Seating is padded wood chairs and tables, in cozy booths or at tall tables in the bar area.