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
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) in two sit-down locations and one to-go/delivery operation.
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; 2915 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, (501) 329-1100
This congenial sports bar might be a somewhat raucous watering hole, but the Chicago-style pizza, sandwiches and salads are prime.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar (private club license in Conway). Reservations. Bargain-moderate.
IRIANA'S
201 E. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 374-3656
Iriana's pies continue to rank among the area's best; the restaurant also serves simple salads and grinders and Paisano chianti in its casual, friendly downtown digs near the River Market.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Beer, wine. Bargain.
JAY'S PIZZA
Ottenheimer Market Hall, River Market, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-5297
Jay Baxter's excellent thin-crust gourmet pizzas (some of them more exotic than others -- for example, Janet's Napoletana with onions, olives, capers and anchovies and Wild Mushroom and Brie) are available by the pie or by the slice.
Lunch Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Moderate.
JIM'S RAZORBACK PIZZA
16101 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-3250; 20608 Arkansas 365 North, Maumelle, (501) 851-4120
This pizza palace with antecedents 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.
UPDATE! 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; 2797 Southfork Drive, Cabot, (501) 843-7992
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 (pepperoni), specialty (including Steak Alfredo and Cheeseburger) and dessert (including peach, chocolate, berry and apple) -- 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; Cabot: lunch, dinner Tue-Sat, lunch Sun. Bargain.
PIZZA CAFE
1517 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-6133; 14710 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-2600
Pizza Cafe West, which recently joined the long-standing Riverdale original, also offers dependable "straight" and specialty pies, sandwiches and salads in quirkily decorated surroundings.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer and wine. Moderate.
VINO'S PIZZA PUB & BREWERY
923 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 375-8466
Vino's continues to dish up some of the town's best pizzas, hand-shaped and hand-thrown the old-fashioned way, plus delicious calzones and several sandwiches, along with flavorful, on-premises-brewed beers and ales.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (very large groups). Bargain-moderate.
Weekend on 08/21/2014