As of our deadline this week, negotiations were still underway between owner Batulzii "Crystal" Bataa, owner of Igibon Japanese Food House, 11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, and her landlord to stave off the Dec. 27 closure of the venerable west Little Rock Japanese restaurant. The phone number is (501) 217-8888. We'll keep you posted.
Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co., 215 Center St., Little Rock, is open, more or less. Earlier this week they were taking to-go orders, and today is the scheduled soft opening, with a grand opening Jan. 8. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; the phone number is (501) 372-1739.
Matthew Cooper, general manager and executive chef of Cache Restaurant, President Clinton and River Market avenues, Little Rock, is leaving the restaurant at year's end "to pursue a new opportunity" that a news release did not specify. Chef and co-owner Payne Harding will take over the title of executive chef. "Matthew Cooper has been integral in our initial success at Cache," says co-owner Rush Harding, Payne's dad, in the release. "We hate to lose Matt, but his job over this first year was to help us get the restaurant created and to jump start us to being successful in the heart of the River Market. He has done that and done it well. We appreciate his efforts and we wish him all the best in his new endeavor."
It happens -- not very often, but it happens. Right after our review last week of the New York Style Pizzeria, 4200 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, we started getting alarmed messages from folks who read the review, tried to eat there and found it shuttered. One of our correspondents got this message from the management via Facebook shortly thereafter: "We are sorry but the owner of the restaurant lost the lease so we were forced to close yesterday we are very sad about this but will be looking for a new location soon." The phone number, (501) 834-1501, has not yet been disconnected, but we couldn't get anybody to answer it during working hours.
Speaking of pizza, Toledo, Ohio-based Marco's Pizza opened its latest outlet Sunday at 105 Country Club Parkway, Maumelle, with a free pizza VIP event that, we're told, caused some minor traffic jams. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 851-2222.
And to the folks who were concerned to recently find a locked door at the Luby's Cafeteria at 12501 W. Markham St., Little Rock, a manager told our Jennifer Christman that the restaurant was, in fact, closed Dec. 6 due to an emergency, but they are still open and functioning. The phone number, should you ever need to check, is (501) 219-1567.
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, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to:
eharrison@arkansasonline.com
Weekend on 12/18/2014