Fire pits on the patio at 42 Bar & Table allow for guests to enjoy a meal outside even when temperatures are dropping.

This restaurant makeover has been almost a decade in the making — eight years to be exact. But according to Mike Selig, director of food, beverage, and special events at the Clinton Center, it was well worth the wait.

Although this possibility has been in conversation for eight years, he said they really buckled down on specifics in January 2017 and began working towards the remodel.

“We really just transformed the whole thing,” Selig said.

The Clinton Center’s restaurant has been updated and rebranded as 42 Bar & Table and now serves dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. According to Selig, the only elements that are the same as pre-remodel are the floor and ceiling. The decor is tastefully patriotic with red and blue accents highlighting the modern space.

From the heated patio, guests have a view of the bridge and river.

“There’s no other setting in Little Rock with this kind of a view,” Selig said. “It’s amazing. The bridge — the reds, blues and bright colors once they light up hit the underside of the building.”

The patio also features new furniture and fire pits for guests to gather around. The bar inside allows guests to charge their phones at USB ports and outlets. Guests can also take advantage of free valet parking.

“It’s those little items and attention to detail,” said Rebecca Tennille, a spokesperson for the Clinton Center. “You just drive up here and the rest is taken care of. It’s nice for parents who are used to doing everything and being the ones in charge and planning. It’s nice to be pampered for a little bit and have the presidential experience. I think it’s a great date night spot, especially outside at the fire.”

For the last eight years, the restaurant has hosted a monthly “Around the World” dinner featuring cuisine and beverages from a different country each month. Selig said that they used those dinners as a basis when creating the menu for 42 Bar & Table.

“We took all of those experiences and combined it and put it into the menu,” Selig said.

Some of the menu items include crab empanadas, a chile sesame noodle bowl, hühner schnitzel, molé spiced lamb chops and more. The wide variety of cuisine allows each guest to find something to his or her liking.

42 Bar & Table offers a sophisticated and diverse menu with cuisine from a variety of cultures and a wine menu to complement it all.

42 Bar & Table is open from 5-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and the bar stays open until midnight. The restaurant is also open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

For dinner, Selig strongly suggests making reservations at DineAtFortyTwo.com by using the Open Table widget on the homepage.