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 $24.50 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 as well as top-drawer steaks and chops.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderateexpensive.
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 enjoy an inventive 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. Moderateexpensive.
LOCA LUNA
3519 Old Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 663-4666 Uber-foodie Rachael Ray acclaims this as “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 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 decades of pleasing Ladies Who Lunch and an amiable mix of other dining demographics, Trio’s managesthe 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 40 on 02/03/2011