TRANSITIONS

The Mark Twain Riverboat offers a Mother’s Day brunch on the river Sunday.
The Mark Twain Riverboat offers a Mother’s Day brunch on the river Sunday.

Scott McGehee and his partners, doing business as Yellow Rocket Concepts, are buying Browning's Mexican Grill, 5805 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, from BMG Group LLC, and will change the concept and the name to Heights Taco & Tamale Co. Browning's will operate through June; the new restaurant will open sometime in late summer or early fall. Evidently it will not be a new Heights branch of Local Lime: McGehee told our Business reporter Jack Weatherly this week that "working with tamales in our test kitchen last fall inspired me to revisit the recipes my father created during his days as co-owner and co-creator [with Mark Abernathy] of Blue Mesa Grill and Juanita's."

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, a local franchise of an Alabama-based mini-chain with locations on Cantrell Road and Chenal Parkway in west Little Rock and Oak Street in Conway, "broke ground" last month on a location in North Little Rock's McCain Mall, next to Regal McCain Mall Stadium 12 movie theater, with an outdoor patio area and a fall target opening date. We'll keep you posted.

And speaking of Taziki's, it'll join Bray Gourmet, Capital Hotel Bar & Grill, Dizzy's Gypsy Bistro and Hillcrest Artisan Meats for the Historic Arkansas Museum's Pimento Cheese-off! competition, 1-4 p.m. Saturday as part of the annual Territorial Fair on the museum grounds, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock. Guests will sample the spreads and vote for a People's Choice. Admission is free.

The Little Rock Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Taste of the Rock food and beverage showcase, 5:30-7:30 p.m. today in the River Market Pavilions, behind the Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. You must be at least 21 -- take your ID. Call (501) 377-6016 or (501) 374-2001 or visit littlerockchambr.com.

The new owner-chef at Victorian Garden Bistro, 4801 North Hills Blvd., North Little Rock, is reportedly one Eric Greer, who we hear opened the restaurant at 7 a.m. Monday for breakfast and plans to add back in lunch and dinner hours. Greer takes over the establishment from Margie Michell, who semi-retired last week after 21 years. Patrons of the North Little Rock Farmers Market have had access to Greer's hummus, which he is likely to add to the restaurant menu. We were unable to reach Greer at the restaurant -- (501) 690-3902 -- by deadline.

Drew Weber, U.S. Pizza's CEO and chief operating officer, says the target date for the reopening of the mini-chain's rebuilt Heights location, 5524 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, will be either May 19 or 27, "depending on how we finish up." It'll have the same phone number as before: (501) 664-7071.

Sunday, if you haven't realized it yet, is Mother's Day, and it's one of the biggest brunch days on the calendar. If you haven't made reservations somewhere -- and we have a brief list of such brunches in the area -- be prepared for long waits or fast-food drive-thrus.

The Mark Twain Riverboat, 100 E. Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock, will board for Mother's Day on the Mark Twain at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and sail out from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost of the buffet and voyage is $45 per person. Call (501) 372-5777.

The Sunday brunch menu at 1620 Savoy, 1620 Market St., Little Rock, will feature herb-crusted pork, biscuits and gravy, an artichoke chicken crepe and a lobster burger. Call (501) 221-1620.

Mother's Day at The Hive, in the 21c Museum Hotel, 200 N.E. A St., Bentonville (thehivebentonville.com), will offer a prix-fixe brunch -- $35, $18 for children -- 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Call (479) 286-6575.

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 05/08/2014

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