Selected restaurants

Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges. Restaurant reviewers' visits are anonymous and all expenses are paid by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. To read recent restaurant reviews in their entirety, visit arkansasonline.com/restaurants.

Pizza

UPDATE! 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 multioutlet 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. (Keep your eyes peeled for the new River Market brewpub going in where Boscos once was.)

Lunch, dinner daily. (Rodney Parham location is carryout/delivery only.) Delivery. 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. Delivery. Bargain/moderate.

UPDATE! JAY'S PIZZA

Ottenheimer Market Hall, River Market, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-5297

The daily pasta special has begun to challenge 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), available by the pie or by the slice, along with salads and sandwiches.

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.

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, offers, like its elder sibling, dependable "straight" and specialty pies, sandwiches and salads in quirkily decorated surroundings.

Lunch, dinner daily. Beer and wine. Moderate.

U.S. PIZZA

2710 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-2198; 5524 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 664-7071 (reopening this month); 9300 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 224-6300; 3307 Fair Park Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 565-6580; 3324 Pike Ave., North Little Rock, (501) 758-5997; 4001 McCain Park, North Little Rock, (501) 753-2900; 650 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle, (501) 851-0880; 8403 Arkansas 107, Sherwood, (501) 992-1512

Day-in and day-out, throngs at all locations generate a din of happy chatter and plenty of brand loyalty for the steady quality of the thin-crust pizzas.

Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine (full bar at Hillcrest, beer only at McCain). Bargain-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 11/20/2014

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