Several of the central Arkansas restaurants featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives are planning events focused on the culinary road trip television show.
Host Guy Fieri filmed the series in Little Rock and North Little Rock in late August, the Democrat-Gazette previously reported. The first episode set in the state, episode 3 of season 29, “Pretzels, Pork and Paella,” will air at 8 p.m. Friday and again at 11 p.m. Saturday, according to Food Network's website.
Flyway Brewing in North Little Rock announced on Facebook that the eatery will host a watch party Friday and Saturday, with food and beer specials, including $1 off Bluewing pints. The brewery plans to give a free pretzel or cheese fries to anyone who enters the restaurant dressed as Guy Fieri.
La Terraza Rum & Lounge is hosting a private viewing with family and friends Friday, celebrating the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance and their three-year anniversary all at once, the restaurant wrote in a Facebook message.
“From Big Burgers to Little Italy,” the season’s fourth episode, is set to premiere Oct. 26.
North Bar in North Little Rock is planning an event for that Friday night, with a week-long food special: the bar’s eponymous burger will be $8 all week. The restaurant will also be announcing two new menu items in honor of the show: a queso burger and a pepperoni pizza burger, an employee said Thursday afternoon.
Bruno’s Little Italy in Little Rock will save some seats for people who appear in the show and bring in a few extra TV screens, but the night will mostly be business as usual, the eatery said in a Facebook message. The restaurant plans to suspend service during the 7-minute segment Bruno’s is featured, so that everyone on staff can watch.
Episode 5, “Meaty Mashup,” will air Nov. 9; and episode 6, “Burgers, Bacon and BBQ,” will air Nov. 23. All episods air at 8 p.m.
The other suspected restaurants featured — Little Rock’s The Root Cafe and The Fold Botanas & Bar — didn’t immediately answer questions about watch party plans. As of Thursday afternoon, a reporter was directed to an email address for The Root, and The Fold’s voice mailbox was full. A Facebook message to The Fold received no reply as of Thursday afternoon.