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 arkansasonline.com/restaurants.
Pizza
NEW!!! BRUNO’S LITTLE ITALY 310 Main St., Little Rock, (501) 372-7866 From the family that introduced pizza to Chicago’s Loop, the most recent revival of this venerable (since 1948) Italian restaurant, now in its fourth location, has reintroduced the pizza window, where customers can watch the pizza maker toss the Neapolitan-style pies before ladling on the sauce (tomatoes and water only), toppings and spices.
Dinner Tuesday-Saturday (lunch hours pending). Full bar. Moderate.
DAMGOODE PIES 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 6706 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 10720 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-2239 This friendly multi-outlet eatery produces terrific signature pies with four sauce options: traditional red, pesto, white (ricotta, parmesan, olive oil) and pink (red/white combo).
Lunch, dinner daily. (Rodney Parham location is carryout/delivery only.) Beer, wine. Bargain.
GUSANO’S CHICAGO-STYLE PIZZERIA 313 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-1441 This congenial sports bar might be best known as a somewhat raucous River Market watering hole, but the Chicago-style pizza, sandwiches and salads are quite satisfactory.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations. Bargain-moderate.
IRIANA’S 201 E. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 374-3656 Iriana’s continues to be a contender for the state’s best pizza, and also serves simple salads and grinders and Paisano chianti in its casual, friendly downtown digs.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Beer, wine. Bargain.
JIM’S RAZORBACK PIZZA 16101 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-3250; 20608 Arkansas 365 North, Maumelle, (501) 851-4120 This pizza palace with origins in Northwest Arkansas serves regular, wheat, gluten-free and deep-dish pies in a kid-friendly atmosphere.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar (Maumelle), beer and wine (Cantrell). Bargain-moderate.
LARRY’S PIZZA 801 S. Bowman Road, Little Rock, (501) 400-8260; 12th and Center streets, Little Rock, (501) 372-6004; 12911 Cantrell Road, Little Rock (501) 224-8804;
5933 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, (501) 812-5353; 4500 Arkansas 5 North,Bryant, (501) 847-5003 At this burgeoning chain, founded by entrepreneur Larry White, most of the pizzas don’t even make it to the pizza-and-salad buffet; servers carry the pies - traditional, specialty and dessert - to tables, dropping off slices as they go.
Bowman: lunch, dinner daily; downtown: lunch Mon-Fri;
Cantrell Road and John F. Kennedy Boulevard: lunch, dinner daily; Bryant: lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Bargain.
U.S. PIZZA 2710 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-2198; 9300 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 224-6300; 3307 Fair Park Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 565-6580; 3324 Pike Ave., North Little Rock, (501) 758-5997; 4001 McCain Park, North Little Rock, (501) 753-2900; 650 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, (501) 851-0880; 8403 Arkansas 107, Sherwood, (501) 992-1512 Day-in, day-out throngs at all locations generate a din of happy chatter and plenty of brand loyalty for the steady quality of the thin-crust pizzas.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine (full bar at Hillcrest, beer only at McCain). Bargain-moderate.
VINO’S PIZZA PUB & BREWERY 923 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 375-8466 Vino’s continues to dish up some of the best pizzas in town, hand-shaped the old-fashioned way, plus delicious calzones and several new sandwiches, along with flavorful beers and ales brewed on the premises.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (very large groups). Bargain-moderate.
Weekend, Pages 39 on 11/21/2013