Selected restaurants
Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges. Restaurant reviewers’ visits are anonymous and all
expenses are paid by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Pizza
UPDATE! DAMGOODE PIES 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 6706 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-2239; 10720 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-2239 The original Hillcrest location of this friendly multi-outlet eatery has reopened, producing terrific signature pies with four sauce options: traditional red, pesto, white (ricotta, parmesan, olive oil) and pink (red/white combo). The recently opened River Market brewpub also offers pizza by the slice; the west Little Rock to-go/delivery operation is closing Dec. 31. Lunch, dinner daily. (Rodney Parham location is carryout/ delivery only.) Delivery. Beer, wine. Bargain. GUSANO’S CHICAGO-STYLE PIZZERIA
313 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-1441 This congenial sports bar might be a somewhat raucous watering hole, but the Chicago-style pizza, sandwiches and salads are prime. Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar (private club license in Conway). Reservations. Bargain-moderate.
IRIANA’S
201 E. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 374-3656 Iriana’s pies continue to rank among the area’s best; the restaurant and also serves simple salads and grinders and Paisano chianti in its casual, friendly downtown digs near the River Market. Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. Beer, wine. Delivery. Bargain/moderate.
JAY’S PIZZA
Ottenheimer Market Hall, River Market, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 3745297 The daily pasta special has begun to challenge Jay Baxter’s excellent thin-crust gourmet pizzas (some of them more exotic than others — for example, Janet’s Napoletana with onions, olives, capers and anchovies and Wild Mushroom and Brie), available by the pie or by the slice, along with salads and sandwiches. Lunch Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Moderate.
PIZZA CAFE
1517 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock, (501) 664-6133; 14710 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-2600 Pizza Cafe West, the long-standing Riverdale original, offers dependable “straight” and specialty pies, sandwiches and salads in quirkily decorated surroundings. Lunch, dinner daily. Beer and wine. Moderate. THE PIZZERIA AT TERRY’S FINER FOODS
5018 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 551-1388 For pizza purists, this is authentic Neapolitan-style pizza (they brought a wood-burning, 1,000-degree pizza oven over, by boat, from Naples), near-perfect, 10-inch, artisan, gourmet pies guaranteed to please the pickiest of pizza patrons. Plus there’s a list of intriguing appetizers and the bar has eight regularly changing brews on tap. Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat. Full bar. Moderate. UPDATE! RADUNO BRICK OVEN & BARROOM
1318 Main St., Little Rock, (501) 551-1388 After a name change (the original, Piro, ran afoul of Memphis mini-chain Pyro), this SoMa standout has recently added to its menu of authentic, artisan Neapolitan-style pizzas, plus a range of fancy appetizers and a wide variety of beers (including a new growler program). Lunch, dinner Tue-Sat, lunch/ brunch Sun. Full bar. Moderate. VINO’S PIZZA PUB & BREWERY
923 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 375-8466 Vino’s continues to dish up some of the town’s best pizzas, hand-shaped and handthrown the old-fashioned way, plus delicious calzones and several sandwiches, along with flavorful, on-premises-brewed beers and ales. Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (very large groups). Bargain-moderate.