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
UPDATE! DAMGOODE PIES
2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock; 6706 Cantrell Road, Little Rock; 10720 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, all
(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. The Kavanaugh location has been undergoing renovations; the new River Market brewpub is set to open March 14 in the former Boscos space.
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.
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.
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.
NEW! THE PIZZERIA AT TERRY'S FINER FOODS,
5018 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 551-1388
For pizza purists, this is authentic Neapolitan-style pizza (they brought a wood-burning, 1,000-degree pizza oven over from Naples), near-perfect, 10-inch, artisan, gourmet pies guaranteed to please the pickiest of pizza patrons.
Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat. Full bar. Moderate.
U.S. PIZZA
2710 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-2198; 5524 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 664-7071; 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, 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 03/05/2015