RESTAURANT TRANSITIONS: Trio's cuts back dining as covid-19 cases go up

Dine-in, pickup menus are listed for Thanksgiving

(Special to the Democrat-Gazette/courtesy of The Hive in Bentonville)
(Special to the Democrat-Gazette/courtesy of The Hive in Bentonville)

Trio's, 8201 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, last week rolled back its dining capacity to 25%, in keeping with recommendations from the White House coronavirus task force, out of caution for the safety and well-being of customers and staff. "We have two dining rooms which allows us to do this easily," according to the Facebook post (facebook.com/TriosLR) announcing the change. "We are not waiting for a mandate from the governor." You will remember that it has been just two months since owner-chef Capi Peck, with great trepidation over the rise even at the time of covid-19 cases, reopened her dining room after six months of only curbside pickup and delivery, at the then-recommended 66% capacity. The restaurant will continue to offer curbside pickup, online ordering and third-party delivery. "When we make the decision to close for dine-in, which we believe is inevitable, we will continue with these options," adds the Facebook post. The phone number is (501) 221-3330; the website, triosrestaurant.com.

Zangna Thai Cuisine has moved from the Shackleford Crossings shopping center, 2604 S. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, to the north end of the Bowman Curve Shopping Center, 400 N. Bowman Road, Little Rock, most recently a succession of short-lived Mexican restaurants and originally the second Little Rock location of The Faded Rose. Hours are, or used to be, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. The phone number remains (501) 227-7785.

The area's latest Starbucks opened last week at 418 E. Broadway, North Little Rock, abutting the Simmons Bank Arena. Hours are 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. weekdays, 6 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The phone number is (501) 366-5374.

Cinnaholic, the bakery franchise-chain known for its cinnamon rolls and other baked goods that are "100% vegan, dairy & lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free," according to its Facebook page (facebook.com/Cinnaholic.Arkansas), opens its first Arkansas location Dec. 11 at 12800 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, next-door to the Cold Stone Creamery. The grand opening includes a contest to win free cinnamon rolls for a year — like the Facebook page and enter at the website, woobox.com/2qjaw3. We're awaiting details on the hours; the phone number is (501) 916-2170.

And we regret to report that April D. Williams, co-founder of Little Rock's Brown Sugar Bakeshop, died Nov. 5. The operation functioned in several Little Rock area spaces, including a food truck, 2009-16.

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As of our ridiculously early holiday deadline, we have no new additions to report on the list of places that are open today, Thanksgiving, but we promised we'd reprise the list for those who didn't see it last week or are, as we, procrastinators in making dining decisions. It is also possible, even likely, that some hotel dining rooms and even some Chinese and other Asian restaurants will be open, but have not chosen to notify us. Note that most, if not all, places require a reservation.

◼️ Arthur's Prime Steakhouse, 16100 Chenal Parkway, will be open from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $45 per person, $15 for children 7-12, $9 for children 3-6. The last reservation will be at 3:15. A curbside pickup menu for catering-quantity orders is available on the Facebook page, facebook.com/arthursprimesteakhouse. (501) 821-1838.

◼️ Benihana, in the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, 2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock, will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thanksgiving, serving their current dinner menu. (So, no hibachi turkey.) Reservations are required — (501) 374-8081.

◼️ Bobby's Cafe, 18505 MacArthur Drive, North Little Rock, will be open 11 a.m.-2 p.m., serving only its Thanksgiving dinner. (501) 851-7888.

◼️ Outlets of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; available all day: Grandma's Holiday Sampler, "a new breakfast tradition featuring hand-breaded country fried turkey alongside buttermilk pancakes." Or you can order in advance one of two Thanksgiving Heat n' Serve Feasts, complete meals that can be prepared in two hours — one that serves 8-10 and a smaller feast that serves 4-6. crackerbarrel.com.

◼️ Taj Mahal, 1520 Market St., Little Rock, will be open. Call for times: (501) 520-4900; Tajmahalar.com.

◼️ Verona Italian Restaurant, 190 Skyline Drive, Conway, is teaming up with Conway's PattiCakes Bakery to offer a free Thanksgiving dinner to those in need; Verona will serve turkey, stuffing, gravy and salad "at no cost for anyone in our community that can't be with family or can't afford to prepare it at home," while the food lasts, and PattiCakes will supply the desserts, according to its Facebook page. (501) 358-6801; veronasitalianrestaurantconway.com.

◼️ YaYa's EuroBistro, in the Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, will serve a plated Thanksgiving dinner for $40, $14.95 for kids 12 and younger. The menu: turkey (white and/or dark meat), ham, cauliflower steak or carved beef tenderloin with a chianti gorgonzola demiglaze (an additional $10 per person), plus sides — mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, stuffing, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce, plus your choice of pecan or pumpkin pie. (501) 821-1144; tinyurl.com/y5pxwnpa.

◼️ Denny's, IHOP and Waffle House locations are, mostly, open 24/7/365; some IHOPs close early on Thanksgiving Day. However, with the pandemic in play, check in advance to make sure.

◼️ And in Northwest Arkansas, The Hive, in the 21c Museum Hotel, 200 N.E. A St., Bentonville, will be open, 1-6 p.m. Chef Matt McClure's "classic" Thanksgiving menu includes pasture-raised turkey with cornbread stuffing, pole beans, gravy, whipped potatoes and cranberries and pecan pie, as well as "Hive favorites like ... campanelle with vermouth cream, Swiss chard and roasted squash." Reservations are a must; call (479) 286-6575.

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. Send email to: eharrison@adgnewsroom.com

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