LITTLE ROCK — Bumpy’s Tex Mex Grill & Cantina, in what had been the former west Little Rock branch of
The Faded Rose, in the Bowman Curve Shopping Center, 400 N. Bowman Road, Little Rock, has been going through a soft opening since April 2, says owner Wade Greenough, and will hold its grand opening today with an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting. Greenough says the kitchen is using all-local produce and locally produced, nonfrozen meat and chicken. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 379-8327; the website, bumpysmexican.com.
Seoul Korean Cuisine & Grill
in the Heights, 5923 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, has closed after less than a year in operation, and its telephone number, (501) 227-7222, is now being used by its successor,
Early Bird, which will be having its soft opening today - or at least that’s when chef Carson Reynolds says he’s turning on his hot biscuit sign. “That ought to bring ’em in,” he says. The menu features “Southern cuisine with a cultured palate,” which includes pancakes; biscuits and gravy; freshly baked-all-day cornbread; red, white and/or Brazilian black beans and rice; greens; and soups, 5 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
And speaking of the Heights, May 15 is the target date for the opening of
RJ Tao Restaurant & Ultra Lounge, a “modern steakhouse and ultra lounge” in the Shops in the Heights, 5501 KavanaughBlvd., Little Rock. The “R” is Robert Tju, longtime protege of restaurant mogul Lulu Chi, and has for a long time been running her
Sushi Cafe
up the street at 5823 Kavanaugh Blvd. The “J” is Chi’s son Justin. The upscale steakhouse will also serve seafood and some Asian dishes. We’ll keep you posted.
Husband-and-wife team Jeff and Aimee Weaver opened Arkansas’ first
Mooyah Burgers, Fries and Shakes
outlet, 3954 Central Ave., Hot Springs, on Monday. Operating hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. The phone number is (501) 520-5000. The second outlet, Little Rock’s first, is still on target to open in mid-May at 14810 Cantrell Road.Developer Scott Strzelecki optimistically says there may be as many as 50 Arkansas and north Louisiana outlets in the next few years; the Weavers’ territory includes Benton and greater Little Rock.
And speaking of Hot Springs, April 30 is the target opening date for
Vina Morita Restaurant and Winebar, 610B Central Ave., Hot Springs, in what had been the
Spa City Sports Grill, which had occupied the space for less than a year (we reported its opening in July 2011). Hours for the Mexican restaurant and wine bar are tentatively set for 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 625-7143.
And still speaking of Hot Springs, Cord Kopkau, owner of the Wine Rack & Spirits Shoppe in Hot Springs, will host a tasting of more than60 wines with a focus on the regions of Washington and Oregon, 3-5 p.m. Sunday at
Central Park Fusion Cuisine, 200 Park Ave., Hot Springs. The restaurant’s chef, Matt Fuller, will provide heavy hors d’oeuvres; a selection of beer and specialty cocktails will also be available. Tickets are $40 (seating is limited).Call (501) 624-2080 or (501) 623-0202.
We reported previously about the closing of the
Ryan’s Family Steakhouse
on Central Avenue in Hot Springs; we somehow in the process overlooked the
Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, 1400 U.S. 64, Conway, probably because it was in theprocess of closing last week. The phone number, (501) 327-7926, has been disconnected.
And Stu Soffer, a foodie, wine maven and an occasional correspondent to this column, reports an act of heroism on the part of Chris Maynes and Whole Hog Enterprises, the parent company of
Whole Hog Cafe, for shipping a couple of six-packs of their signature barbecue sauces - at their own expense and after sensitively removing all Whole Hog logos and other references to non-halal creatures - to liven up the dull fare at an Army unit at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The unit’s colonel (Soffer’s son-in-law) says the sauce “helps the food go down much better.” The second six-pack they shared with special operations troops training Afghan commandos, who apparently are getting even less variety in their diets than the folks at Camp Eggers. A replenishment shipment isin the works. “Small patriotic gestures like this deserve maximum publicity,” Soffer modestly notes. He’ll help any other merchants send nonperishable items to the unit; e-mail him at votestu@yahoo.com.
Has a restaurant opened - or closed - near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 121 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72201. Send e-mail to:
Weekend, Pages 38 on 04/19/2012