Selected restaurants

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LITTLE ROCK — Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges. To read recent restaurant reviews in their entirety, visit www2.arkansasonline.com/restaurants/.

Eclectic/New

American

ACADIA

3000 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 603-9630

Three-course dinners at the fixed price of $23.50 on Mondays and Tuesdays are one of the area’s top restaurant values at owner-chef James Hale’s homelike Hillcrest spot with a creatively eclectic menu and superlative wine list.

Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Moderate.

BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT

2300 Cottondale Lane, Little Rock, (501) 663-2677

Chef-owner Peter Brave fulfills his advertised promise of “the freshest and highest-quality ingredients” with an eclectic New American tenor and a spacious deck overlooking the Arkansas River that is one of Little Rock’s loveliest dining venues.

Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations. Expensive.

CAPERS

14502 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-7600

Cooking along in fine form, the enduring Mary Beth Ringgold operation delivers brisk service as well as inventive seafood dishes, the likes of Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut as well as top-drawer steaks and chops.

Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate expensive.

CIAO BACI

605 Beechwood St., Little Rock, (501) 603-0238

This stylish Hillcrest nook is still the place for the young and well-heeled to see, be seen and munch on chef Greg Loyd’s inventive, if increasingly expensive, menu.

Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations (eight or more people). Moderate-expensive.

COPPER GRILL AND GROCERY

300 Third Tower, 300 E. Third St., Little Rock, (501) 375-3333

Capers and Cajun’s Wharf magnate Mary Beth Ringgold has struck culinary gold with an eclectic, slightly eccentric menu in a copper-dominated decor.

Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate expensive.

LOCA LUNA

3519 Old Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 663-4666

Professional foodie Rachael Ray acclaims this “one of America’s best neighborhood restaurants,” where the quasieclectic menu has gone a little more upscale, but you can still get the fabulous cheese dip and brick-oven-baked pizzas, along with filet mignon and some first-rate fish dishes.

Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sun, brunch Sun. Full bar. Reservations (seven or more people). Moderate.

SO RESTAURANT BAR

3610 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-1464

There’s still an emphasis on seafood (including a raw bar), at the intimate establishment in Hillcrest that keeps its place on the top rung of Little Rock restaurants.

Lunch, dinner daily, brunch Sun. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations (six or more). Moderate to expensive.

TRIO’S

Pavilion in the Park, 8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 100, Little Rock, (501) 221-3330

After two decades of pleasing Ladies Who Lunch and an amiable mix of other dining demographics, Trio’s manages the tightrope act of being predictable and surprising with as much agility as any restaurant in central Arkansas.

Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate.

Weekend, Pages 38 on 10/15/2009