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.
Pizza
DAMGOODE PIES
2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 6706 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-2239
The original Hillcrest location of 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). The relatively recently opened River Market brewpub also offers pizza by the slice.
Lunch, dinner daily. Delivery. Beer, wine. Bargain.
GUSANO'S CHICAGO-STYLE PIZZERIA
313 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-1441
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. 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, 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, 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 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.
PIZZA CAFE
1517 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-6133; 14710 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-2600
Pizza Cafe West offers, like its elder sibling, the long-standing Riverdale original, dependable "straight" and specialty pies, sandwiches and salads in quirky surroundings.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer and wine. Moderate.
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, by boat, from Naples), near-perfect, 10-inch, artisan, gourmet pies guaranteed to please the pickiest of pizza patrons. Plus there's a list of intriguing appetizers and the bar has eight regularly changing brews on tap.
Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat. Full bar. Moderate.
RADUNO BRICK OVEN & BARROOM
1318 Main St., Little Rock, (501) 551-1388
After a name change (the original, Piro, ran afoul of Memphis minichain Pyro), this SoMa standout has recently added to its menu of authentic, artisan Neapolitan-style pizzas, plus a range of fancy appetizers and a wide variety of beers (including a new growler program) and an enhanced Sunday brunch menu.
Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat, lunch/brunch Sun. Full bar. Moderate.
d Drive, Maumelle, (501) 851-0880; 8403 Arkansas 107, Sherwood, (501) 992-1512
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 07/07/2016