The latest, and as yet firmest, opening date for Piro Brick Oven & Barroom, 1318 S. Main St., Little Rock, is Feb. 17; the restaurant will be holding some controlled soft-opening events prior to that. Hours will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 374-7476; the website, pirolr.com.
And speaking of Neapolitan-style pizza, the Pizzeria at Terry's, 5018 Kavanaugh Blvd., is now open for lunch. The new hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 551-1388.
According to the Facebook page facebook.com/BoneheadsLittleRock, Feb. 13 is now the target date for the opening of the Smyrna, Ga.-based Boneheads chain's Little Rock outlet in the Promenade at Chenal shopping center, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. The Afro-Caribbean menu focuses on grilled fish and piri piri chicken, a peppery preparation that originated in Mozambique. Hours will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Though we were unable to get anybody to answer it by deadline, the listed phone number is (501) 821-1300; check out the menu at eatboneheads.com.
Somehow we missed the word that Rocket Fizz, a California-based "soda pop & candy shop," chain/franchise operation, had opened a location at 1010 Oak St., Conway. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday- Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; the phone number is (501) 504-6947 and the website is rocketfizz.com.
Chik-fil-A outlets, to express pride in their new sustainably sourced Thrive Farmers Coffee ("and freshly brewed for you"), are serving up complimentary 12-ounce hot or 16-ounce iced coffee "all day, everyday," through Feb. 28.
We've been getting a great big wave of inquiries recently asking us to update our October report on the supposed return of legendary Little Rock barbecue outlet The Shack, which, according to the website, theshackisback.com, is supposed to "open soon" at 402 E. Third St. in Little Rock's River Market District. Since then, we have had no additional word on when that opening is to take place. The phone number, (501) 404-2020, still returns the identical voice-mail message it did last fall, saying they'll be opening soon and to keep checking for updates -- which we have been doing, each and every week since. The windows are covered with brown paper and the door is locked -- we check that every week, too -- and there is yet no sign of a sign. Please rest assured, restive folks, that the moment we get any new word at all, we'll keep you posted.
Cache Restaurant, 425 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, is hosting a "Men's Shopping Night at Cache," 5:30-7:30 p.m. today in the upstairs lounge. Participants can sip cocktails, munch on heavy appetizers and puff on West End cigars as reps from local boutiques (florist About Vase, clothiers Fringe Clothing and LUV, jeweler Robinson Lane and "pamperers" Belle & Blush and Just Blow) "help you pick the perfect Valentine gift for your sweetheart." You must be 21 or older; tickets are $25, available through Eventbrite (tinyurl.com/cache21); a portion of the proceeds goes to the American Heart Association's Arkansas branch. Call (501) 850-0265.
And Birmingham, Ala.-based Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, which has four restaurants in central Arkansas and two in Northwest Arkansas, is the first, and so far only, U.S. restaurant franchise operation to receive Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership (REAL) certification from the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC). That's a "holistic nutrition and sustainability certification program for the food service industry," according to a news release, modeled after the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design "green" building certification program.
The REAL certification process, according to the release, "requires a voluntary audit whereby a USHFC-approved registered dietitian reviews menus, ingredients, preparation methods and sourcing and awards points based on a wide range of criteria such as the use of nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits and whole grains; scratch cooking and minimally processed foods; healthier cooking methods and moderate portion size; unsweetened beverage and healthy children's options; and more sustainable sourcing methods such as local and organic."
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 02/05/2015