Transitions
is in progress at the Shoppes of Benton, just off Interstate 30 in Benton. And Arkansas Online has reported that franchisee Kevin Morrow plans to open locations in Cabot, Searcy and Batesville “over the next several years.” The Wichita, Kan.-based fast-casual chain/franchise operation also has three Northwest Arkansas outlets, in Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale.
Our invitation to the ribbon cutting must have gone astray, but the new Taco Bueno at 113 W. Pershing Blvd., North Little Rock, just west of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, opened Dec. 11. Hours are 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. The phone number is (501) 747-1810. A west Little Rock location is in the planning stages for West Markham Street and John Barrow Road.
You can’t keep a good location down. Or, apparently, even a revolving-door location like the one at 220 W. Sixth St. that has housed various incarnations of Lulav and, most recently and lamentably, The Veg, which settled there after a long search for a permanent home and then was forced to exit shortly thereafter after the June 30 shootout that wounded 28 people at the upstairs Power Ultra Lounge nightclub. Now, according to eagle-eyed correspondents and a colleague, something called Aloha Poke is moving in. (Poke — pronounced “POH-keh” — is a Hawaiian bowl dish centering on cubed raw fish, and is enormously trendy.) It does not, at least immediately, appear to be part of the Chicago-based chain of the same name — the logo, for example, is distinctively different. We have uncovered two other tidbits of information: one Sonny Baoson Nguyen filed incorporation papers with the state secretary of state’s office in July, and a notice on indeed. com, a job listing site (indeed. com/q-Manager-Restaurantl-Little-Rock,-AR-jobs.html), seeks a manager.
Larry Carter, operations manager and namesake of Larry’s Pizza, says his family has recently bought the two Little Rock locations that weren’t under its control, at 801 S. Bowman Road and 12911 Cantrell Road, “so the original family has central Arkansas back under our daily operations.” That includes the Larry’s outlets downtown (1122 Center St., Little Rock), 5933 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in North Little Rock and the restaurants in Cabot and Bryant.
After more than a year, Russ Jefferson (of S.O.B. fame, among other endeavors) has reopened his Frenchie’s New Orleans Cafe at 2012 Central Ave., Hot Springs (once the site of Pompeii). We’re being told it’ll serve dinner Thursday-Saturday, Sunday breakfast/brunch, and Jefferson is planning a big New Year’s Eve party (facebook.com/ events/162680527799060). The most recent phone number we have, (501) 321-2337, sent us to voicemail.
And here’s our promised list of places that have told us they expect to open Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, pretty much in the order the information showed up in our inbox. As always, it’s not comprehensive. The information is supplied by the restaurants; the presence of any restaurant not on this list is not intended to be an endorsement; and it’s always a good idea to check in with any establishment to make sure it’s actually open and whether or not to make reservations.
Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, 27 Rahling Circle, just off Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, will offer a Christmas Eve brunch buffet, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday, featuring fresh-rolled sushi, chef-carved prime rib, maple-and-Coca Cola glazed ham, herb-roasted chicken and pan seared white tuna; pasta and omelets made fresh to order; and side items including dill peas and carrots, stuffed mushrooms, green beans amandine, sweet-potato casserole and three-cheese au gratin potatoes. $24.95, $12.50 for children 8-12, $7.50 for children 3-7, free for children under 3. (501) 8211838. The steakhouse and its next-door Oceans at Arthur’s will be open for dinner, 4-10:30 p.m., and closed Christmas Day.
The 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Christmas Day buffet brunch at the Wyndham Riverfront, 2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock, will feature bourbon-glazed pit ham and herb-encrusted steamship round of beef au jus at the carving station, plus roasted tom turkey with traditional cornbread dressing and giblet gravy and chicken marsala at the entree station, a waffle-omelet station, soups, salads, sides and desserts. $27.75 (plus tax and gratuity), $22.75 for senior citizens, $14.95 for children 5-10 and free for children under 5 with paying adult. (501) 907-4826.
The Flying Saucer, 323 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, will be open Christmas Eve — 11 a.m.-10 p.m. — and closed Christmas Day. (501) 372-8032.
Larry’s Pizza in Cabot, 2797 Southfork St., will be open this Sunday and next (Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve), for lunch, regular hours — 11 a.m.2 p.m., offering its buffet and regular menu. The employees, says operations manager Larry Carter, had a choice and chose to be open. (501) 843-7992.
Forbidden Garden Chinese Restaurant, 14810 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, regular hours — 11 a.m.-9 p.m. — and with their regular menu. (501) 868-8149. (Many other area Chinese restaurants should also be open.)
And Offers.com has verified that these chain restaurants, or at least some restaurants in each chain, will open Christmas Day. Disclaimer: Exact hours (and whether a restaurant is open) can vary by franchise or individual location, so it’s wise to call in advance to confirm. Benihana; most Buffalo Wild Wings locations; some Chuck E. Cheese locations, noon-6 p.m.; Denny’s, which once upon a time closed only on Christmas Day, now extends its 24 hours, 365 days a year to include Christmas; most IHOP locations (some will open on reduced hours); some McDonald’s locations will be open, but hours (and whether it’s open at all) vary by franchise; Macaroni Grill; Starbucks (check your location’s hours); and, of course, Waffle House, which is open 24/7/365, and that includes Christmas. Visit offers.com/blog/post/restaurants-open-on-christmas.