Restaurant Transitions: Ex-NFL player's seafood eatery misses target opening; update on Aji Ramen Bar; Sweet Soul returns

Sweet Soul served chicken and dumplings when it was in a kiosk in the River Market.
Sweet Soul served chicken and dumplings when it was in a kiosk in the River Market.

Former Henderson State/NFL linebacker K.D. Williams missed his Sunday target to open The Capital's Seafood House, which he said he was timing to the start of the pro football season. A peek on Sunday through the front door of the one-time gas station at 1706 W. Third St., Little Rock, catty-cornered from the state Capitol, showed the interior was definitely not yet finished, nor did we see any furniture, although we have seen vehicles parked out front so some work may be proceeding. Calls over the past couple of weeks to Williams' cellphone went unanswered and messages were not returned; in the past couple of days, all we got was a recorded message that the phone's owner "cannot take calls at this time," so we have no details. Williams had said he's planning to offer "real authentic Caribbean seafood taste -- it's our passion, this is what we do," along the lines of, and with the same menu as, the Tampa restaurant he operates with his wife, Erika Carter -- K&D Crustaceans. (Check it out at kdcrustaceans.com.) The building was converted from a service station to a used car lot and eventually, in the late '80s, to a restaurant, the previous occupants of which were Solar Cafe (1989-1993), Olde World/O.W. Pizza (1994-2013) and, most recently (June 2015-January 2016) Fresh! -- An Urban Eatery.

And speaking of missed targets, last weekend's heavy rains demonstrated that the roof is still leaking over the space in the Westchase Plaza shopping center, 301 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, that is due to become Aji Ramen Bar. Owner Oki Sutanto says he's still awaiting repairs before he sets a target date. Still no phone number, website or Facebook page.

Sweet Soul, which moved out of the River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall in December 2016 and was originally supposed to reopen a short time later near the state Capitol, has finally resurfaced, in the basement of the federal administration building, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock. Our federal courthouse reporter, Linda Satter, reports that to get there, you have to pass through metal detectors (so you'll have to ditch your pocket knives and possibly take off your belt). Hours are 6:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday; you can check out the daily menus, etc., online at facebook.com/501SweetSoul. The phone number is (501) 291-9996.

Mugs Cafe, 515 Main St., North Little Rock, has extended its weekend hours to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and is offering music. Hours otherwise are 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 379-9101.

Fassler Hall, 311 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, hosts an Oktoberfest celebration Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. and possibly going until closing time, 2 a.m., featuring wiener dog races at noon (register at 11 a.m.), a 3 p.m. bratwurst-eating contest, a Sam Adams stein-hoisting competition at 8 p.m. and music from 5-10 p.m. They'll serve German food, German margaritas (made with tequila, lime, triple sec and hefeweizen beer) and a variety of Oktoberfest brews. The phone number is (501) 246-4757.

To mark National Bakery Day, Kat Robinson will sign copies of her recent book, Another Slice of Arkansas Pie, 3-5 p.m. Friday at PattiCakes Bakery, 2106 Robinson Ave., Conway. Patti Stobaugh, owner of the bakery and Stoby's Restaurant, says the first 100 guests will receive a free PattiCakes wooden spoon and all guests that day will get a free cookie. The phone number is (501) 205-1969.

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, for the September portion of its "Year of Giving" campaign, will through Sept. 30 donate $1 to Arkansas Children's Hospital for every Facebook check-in done in any of the restaurant's seven Arkansas locations. Restaurant officials will present a check to the hospital Sept. 25 at the 10-year anniversary event at the Taziki's location at 8200 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. Visit facebook.com/tazikiscantrell.

Timothy Mosby, former corporate sales manager of Simply the Best Catering and event liaison to the Arkansas Arts Center, is the new catering director at Cathead's Diner, 515 Shall Ave., Little Rock.

Chef Andre Poirot is pairing five courses with the vintages of the Staglin Family Vineyard for a wine dinner, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24, at the Capital Hotel, 111 W. Markham St., Little Rock. (Garen and Shari Staglin bought the distinguished Rutherford Bench estate in the Napa Valley town of Rutherford in 1985.) The menu pairs, for example, a first course of lump crab meat and avocado mousse Napoleon with a chardonnay gelee with the 2016 Salus Estate Chardonnay; pairing for the third course, cabernet-braised beef short ribs, cream-cheese mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and broccolini, is the 2014 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon. Tickets are $200 per person, including tax and gratuities. Call (501) 374-7474 or visit tinyurl.com/staglindinner.

The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce will host A Taste for Business, its annual food, beverage and business networking event, 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 on the concourse level of North Little Rock's Verizon Arena. Attendees can register and win tickets to forthcoming Verizon Arena events and for a raffle for a PK360 Grill & Smoker -- raffle tickets are $10 or three for $25. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door; proceeds support the chamber's educational programs. Call (501) 372-5959, email nlrchamber@nlrchamber.org or visit nlrchamber.org.

One of our eagle-eyed correspondents reports the closure of the Hardee's, 2006 N. Reynolds Road, Bryant, and the presence of a note on the door indicating a planned reopening at another Bryant location in 2019. The listed phone number, (501) 847-0533, had not yet been disconnected as of deadline.

And speaking of Bryant, the Facebook page (facebook.com/Yum-Yum-Hibachi-2125369027706250) for Yum Yum Hibachi Express, going into the former Paula Lynn's Sandwich and Sweet Shop, 302 S. Reynolds Road, Bryant, now offers a phone number: (501) 943-7330. Our calls were not answered or returned by deadline.

The Hive, in the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, 200 N.E. A St., is marking Bourbon Heritage Month with a three-course dinner, crafted by executive chef Matt McClure, paired with spirits and cocktails featuring small-batch bourbon distiller Jefferson's Bourbon, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Cost is $89 per person; call (479) 286-6518 or email ewilkerson@21cHotels.com. The restaurant is also offering an all-bourbon cocktail menu for the rest of the month.

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

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

A bratwurst-eating competition will be part of the Oktoberfest celebrations Saturday at Fassler Hall.

Weekend on 09/13/2018

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