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
Eclectic
ACADIA
3000 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 603-9630
Three-course, prix-fixe dinners on Mondays and Tuesdays are one of the area's top restaurant values at owner-chef James Hale's homelike Hillcrest spot, with a creatively eclectic, seasonally changing menu and superlative wine list.
Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Moderate.
BRAVE NEW RESTAURANT
2300 Cottondale Lane, Little Rock, (501) 663-2677
Chef-owner Peter Brave consistently fulfills his advertised promise of the freshest and highest-quality ingredients with an eclectic New American tenor.
Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations. Expensive.
CAPERS
14502 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-7600
With wine country flair and Southern fare (Gulf seafood, fried catfish, fried green tomatoes with homemade tomato jam, etc.), Capers caters to classy couples and ladies who lunch.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat, brunch Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate-expensive.
COPPER GRILL
300 Third Tower, 300 E. Third St., Little Rock, (501) 375-3333
Capers and Cajun's Wharf magnate Mary Beth Ringgold has struck culinary gold with an eclectic, slightly eccentric menu in a copper-dominated decor.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate-expensive.
LOCA LUNA
3519 Old Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 663-4666
There has been a recent remodeling and menu tweak at what uber-foodie Rachael Ray once hailed as "one of America's best neighborhood restaurants." But you can still get the fabulous Blue Mesa cheese dip and brick-oven-baked pizzas and some first-rate fish dishes.
Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sun, brunch Sun. Full bar. Reservations (seven or more people). Moderate.
UPDATE! ROCKET 21
Wyndham Riverfront, 2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock, (501) 690-2605
Owner Frank Fletcher has moved the restaurant (formerly Ferneau and named for one of his racehorses), from Little Rock's Kavanaugh Boulevard to North Little Rock, joining the other two restaurants (Benihana, Riverfront Steakhouse) in his Wyndham Riverfront hotel, but kept the emphasis on steaks (best bet) and seafood and expanded the wine list.
Dinner Tue-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations. Moderate-expensive.
UPDATE! 1620 SAVOY
1620 Market St., Little Rock (501) 221-1620
Semi-legendary Chef Denis Seyer, back in Little Rock as an adviser to the parent company, has revamped the menu at this this chic old-new eatery.
Dinner Mon-Sat, brunch Sun. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate-expensive.
SO RESTAURANT BAR
3610 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-1464
There's still an emphasis on seafood (including raw bar), at the intimate Hillcrest establishment that remains on the area's top restaurant rung.
Lunch Mon-Sat, dinner daily. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations (six or more). Moderate-expensive.
TABLE 28
Best Western Premiere Governor's Suites, 1501 Merrill Drive, Little Rock, (501) 224-8051
Chef Scott Rains, who made his culinary bones in the Bay Area and once operated a first-rate Italian place (Horseshoe Vinyard) west of Hot Springs, returns to Arkansas with a "comfortable and casual" fine dining establishment with a real wow factor (plus a $200-a-meal chef's table that gives the place its name).
Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Expensive.
TRIO'S
Pavilion in the Park, 8201 Cantrell Road, Suite 100, Little Rock, (501) 221-3330
Trio's walks the tightrope of predictability and surprise with as much agility as any central Arkansas restaurant and now offers Sunday brunch.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate.
Weekend on 05/15/2014