Selected restaurants

An onion ring tops the bone-in prime rib at Riverfront Steakhouse.
An onion ring tops the bone-in prime rib at Riverfront Steakhouse.

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. Bargain means a meal (without beverage or dessert) is typically less than $12. Moderate is $12 to $25. Expensive is $25 and up. To read recent restaurant reviews in their entirety, visit arkansasonline.com/restaurants.

Steak

ARTHUR'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

Village at Rahling Road, 27 Rahling Circle, Little Rock, (501) 821-1848

New Executive Chef Brian Kearns plans some changes to the menus to the steakhouse and the next-door seafood component, Oceans at Arthur's, but proprietor Jerry Barakat promises continuing top quality prime beef and the freshest possible seafood.

Arthur's: Dinner Mon-Sat, brunch Sunday; Oceans: lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations. Expensive.

THE BUTCHER SHOP

10825 Hermitage Road, Little Rock,

(501) 312-2748

Reasonable prices add flavor to the red-meat dining at this Little Rock institution, with an informal tone and a simple, almost fail-proof business model: plenty of thick and pleasantly served steaks.

Dinner daily. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations (seven or more). Moderate-expensive.

DOE'S EAT PLACE

1023 W. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 376-1195

This down-scale steak joint, an offshoot of a Greenville, Miss., landmark, continues to deliver on its basic premise of flavorful beef cuts big enough to feed a family, plus top-notch tamales and worthwhile seafood options.

Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations (eight or more). Moderate-expensive.

THE FADED ROSE

1619 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock,

(501) 663-9734

The good times roll for fans of Creole and Cajun dishes as well as steaks at this amiable Louisiana-oriented operation, a local favorite since the 1980s.

Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Moderate.

UPDATE! RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE

Riverfront Wyndham Hotel, 2 Riverfront Drive, North Little Rock,

(501) 375-7825

The restaurant serves succulent and tender steaks in a tastefully appointed atmosphere, with a menu that extends more variety (recently also adding several entrees and appetizers from the now-defunct Rocket 21) and larger portions at lower prices than many of its estimable competitors.

Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations. Expensive.

SONNY WILLIAMS' STEAK ROOM

500 President

Clinton Ave., Little Rock,

(501) 324-2999

Other capital city steakhouses may offer more cuts of beef, but Sonny's three-week aging process and Sonny's-style seasoning provide steaks with a welcome variety of flavor, worth every penny of the expense-account prices.

Dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Corkage fee. Reservations (five or more). Expensive.

Weekend on 10/02/2014

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