Transitions
By Eric E. Harrison (Contact)
LITTLE ROCK — The toughest occasions to get a table at a central Arkansas restaurant? New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, of course, and also right after the Race for the Cure, when just about every one of the thousands of runners and their friends and families descend on area eateries. So if you’d normally head out for a late Saturday breakfast or early lunch, this Saturday be aware you may have a bit of difficulty. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to phone ahead to any place that makes reservations and make one.
To help relieve, at least a little, of the load, Vieux Carre, 2721 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, which normally doesn’t open for lunch on Saturday, will be open for a special Race for the Cure Brunch at 10:30 a.m., “when the runners start trickling back to Hillcrest,” says Chef David Bennett, and stay open until perhaps “1:30 or so.” Runners who bring in their race number will get a 20 percent discount on theirfood. The telephone number is (501) 663-1196.
You may have missed this squib in our Business section last week, so we’ll reprise it for you: Juanita’s Cafe and Bar, 1300 S. Main St., Little Rock, has changed hands. New owner Johnny Weaver, who auctions foreclosed properties for a day job and who sings as a member of the band Thirteen X, has bought the place from Lisa Mc-Neir. He says he plans to keep Juanita’s basically the same, with some “small improvements,” including a few additions to the menu - expect grilled fish tacos and additional salsas - and a refurbished patio. The restaurant number will continue to be (501) 372-1228.
North Little Rock’s Argenta Downtown Council is sponsoring an “Argenta Scratch-Off Card” restaurant promotion at participating Argenta restaurants: Argenta Seafood Company, Cornerstone Bar & Grill, Starving Artist Cafe, Benihana, Ristorante Capeo, Bill Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant, MacDaddy’s, Reno’s Argenta Cafe and Margo’s Catfish Diner.
Each card has six scratch-off boxes covering six of 11 randomized prize numbers that match the prizes offered by participating restaurants: free desserts, free appetizers, $5 off entrees, free child’s meal with adult meal or 20 percent off your tab. Each card is a winner. Don Chambers, general manager ofthe Argenta Downtown Council, says the intent is to “push business to our restaurants” and he hopes to extend the idea across the river to Little Rock’s River Market next year.
The promotion runs through Dec. 30. Call (501) 786-2324 or visit the Web site, www.argen tadc.org.
Capriccio Grill Italian Steakhouse at the Peabody Little Rock hotel has new operating hours: 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant has also instituted a 5-9 p.m. Friday evening “Land and Sea”buffet, featuring appetizers, salads, prime rib carving station, soups, seafood, vegetables, side dishes and desserts, for $39.95, and a lunchtime made-to-order pasta bar, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday, $10.95 a person. The telephone number is (501) 399-8000.
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 e-mail to:
eharrison@arkansasonline.com
This article was published Friday, October 10, 2008.
Weekend, Pages 82 on 10/10/2008
