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.arkansason line.com/restaurants/.
American
ALLEY OOPS
11900 Kanis Road, Suite D-10, Little Rock, (501) 221-9400
Easygoing and cheery Alley Oops offers a menu of mostly sandwiches and salads, with some standout specialties, such as the cheese-and-bacon-smothered Chicken Oops and a well-seasoned sirloin strip.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Bargain-moderate.
BUFFALO GRILL
400 N. Bowman Road, Little Rock, (501) 224-0012; 1611 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock, (501) 296-9535
The bottom line at these sibling locations is as noteworthy as the reliably good burgers and other familyfriendly items.
Lunch-dinner daily. Full bar. Bargain-moderate.
CAPITAL BAR AND GRILL
Capital Hotel, 111 W. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 374-7474
The Capital Hotel’s “second” restaurant has its own kitchen and haute cuisine with an Arkansas accent, including rice-fried catfish, sugar cane-brined pork loin and made-in-kitchen moon pies for dessert.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Moderate-expensive.
CHEERS IN THE HEIGHTS, CHEERS IN MAUMELLE
2010 Van Buren St., Little Rock, (501) 663-5937; Cheers in Maumelle, 1901 Club Manor Drive, Maumelle, (501) 851-6200
The enduring Heights neighborhood eatery pays as much attention to the appetizers and side dishes as it does the excellent entrees, many with a New Orleans flair. Also try its big, bustling sibling in Maumelle.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat, brunch Sunday (Maumelle). Call-ahead seating (six or more, Maumelle location). Full bar. Corkage fee. Moderate.
GADWALL’S GRILL
7311 North Hills Blvd., North Little Rock, (501) 834-1840
Heavenly home-cut fries, including sweet-potato fries, are a magnet for faithful patrons of this extremely casual eatery, where the white chili (made with chicken breast, Great Northern beans and green chilies) is another wonder.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Bargain.
IZZY’S PLACE
5601 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, (501) 868-4311
Jaunty tabletop art by coowner Heather Isbell spices dining on top-flight tamales, soups, salads, burgers, pastas, pizzas and milkshakes served at aim-to-please prices by a cheerful staff.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Beer, wine. Reservations. Moderate.
SADDLE CREEK WOODFIRED GRILL
2703 Lakewood Village, North Little Rock, (501) 812-0883
A broad menu of chicken, ribs, seafood, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, pizza and salads awaits diners at this Montana-fashioned restaurant, where the charm falls somewhere between elegant lodge and hunter chic.
Lunch Sun, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations (10 or more), call-ahead seating. Moderate-expensive.
SHORTY SMALL’S
11100 Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 224-3344; 4317 Warden Road, North Little Rock, (501) 753-8111
There’s nothing short about the menu or small about the portions at lively shackstyled Shorty Small’s, where substantial dinner platters, sandwiches, salads, pasta dishes, ribs and steaks can be preceded by fried appetizers and followed by deep-fried Twinkies.
Lunch, dinner daily (Little Rock location: brunch Sun). Full bar. Call-ahead seating. Bargain-moderate.
Weekend, Pages 48 on 11/25/2010