Southern-theme restaurant and lounge TAE will officially open Monday, for initially lunch only, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., but eventually for dinner 5-9 or 10 p.m. daily at the 625 W. Capitol Ave. dining space in what is now again the Hotel Frederica.
The name stands for "True Arkansas Eatery," and, perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, it's "eat" spelled backward. Owner Justin Patterson says he and partner CC Key, both late of Southern Gourmasian, will have their full "Southern comfort-type food with a contemporary twist" menu in place, including "a few dishes that really represent historical Arkansas food" -- a cheese dip; a purple hull pea hummus; pork and cornbread sliders; CC's Tortilla Soup; the gluten-free, vegan Power Ninety Two salad, "named after a local radio station" -- field greens, Brussels sprouts, carrot, apple, edamame and avocado; the Calling the Hog barbecue pork sandwich on a brioche bun; an Arkansas hot tamale; Nealie Mae's Cornbread Dressing ("Family recipe that was never written. Passed down three generations") with brown gravy and cranberry relish); "Arkansas Toothpicks" (smoked country-fried spare ribs) and meatloaf.
The dinner menu, when it surfaces, will feature blackened scallops and shrimp, "in homage to the legendary scallop dish served in this restaurant space during the 1950s"; twice-fried fried chicken; and a char-grilled sTAEk, which you will not be allowed to order medium-well or well done. The phone number is (501) 301-0892; a website, truarkeat.com, is under construction.
Also now slated to open Monday, permits permitting, is Ira Mittelman's long-awaited, eponymous Ira's, 311 Main St., Little Rock, initially just for dinner; the bar will open at 4 p.m., with kitchen service starting at 5 Monday-Saturday (closing hours will depend on the volume of business). Mittelman is still looking to start lunch service July 2. The phone number is (501) 902-4911; the website: irasrestaurant.com.