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.
Asian
LILLY’S DIM SUM THEN SOME
11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 716-2700 Owners Kathy Webb and Nancy Tesmer widen local dining horizons with commendable Pan-Asian food ranging from Pad Thai to Korean Bibim Bop with grilled steak to Japanese noodles sukiyaki-style.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (six or more people). Bargain-Moderate.
SAI GON CUISINE
6805 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 663-4000 The Vietnamese dishes outshine the menu’s Thai and Chinese items at this Cantrell Road restaurant, where top choices include noodle-filled soups to which meats can be added.
Lunch, dinner Tue-Sun.
Beer, wine. Reservations.
Bargain.
THAI TASTE
1516 W. Main St., Jacksonville, (501) 985-1854 Central Arkansas’ last surviving Thai restaurant offers delicious dishes deftly seasoned to the customer’s taste in a homey storefront. Stick to the menu rather than the buffet.
Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Reservations. Bargain-moderate.
VANLANG
3600 S. University Ave., Little Rock, (501) 570-7700 The Vietnamese eatery draws a good many Asian customers, perhaps a testament to the authentic nature of its seafood dishes and other items, which come in big portions at low prices.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations. Bargain.Brazilian
CAFE BOSSA NOVA
2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 614-6682 Diners who stereotype Brazilian cuisine by envisioning hefty chunks of grilled meat will have their eyes opened by owner-chef Rosalia Monroe’s varied menu, which is strong on chicken, seafood and vegetarian fare.
Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat;
brunch Sun. Full bar.
Corkage fee. Reservations (five or more people).
Moderate.
GAUCHO’S GRILL
3 Rahling Circle, Little Rock, (501) 821-1814 The specialty of Jerry Barakat’s South American barbecue restaurant is the churrasco, various grilled meats that are brought tableside for an all-you-can-eat sampling for $19.95.
Dinner daily, Sun lunch. Full bar. Reservations for 10 or more. Moderate-expensive.
Weekend, Pages 38 on 09/23/2010