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.
UPDATE!!! 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.
UPDATE!!! 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, along with salads, sandwiches and a daily pasta special.
Lunch daily. Bargain-moderate.
JIM'S RAZORBACK PIZZA
16101 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-3250; 20608 Arkansas 365 N., 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.
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 N., 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 (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. 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, offers dependable "straight" and specialty pies, sandwiches and salads in quirkily decorated surroundings just like it's parent eatery.
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 05/22/2014