News
Hillcrest’s brilliant Thai restaurant kBird is putting together a series of can’t miss Friday dinners that will run during August and September. Chef and owner Richard Glasgow will serve three “khantoke” dinners with food from northern Thailand to mark the end of the summer. In northern Thailand, it is common to sit on the floor while dining. But for special occasions, they use a khan tok, or small table, to keep food off the ground. The dinners will be held on August 26, September 9 and September 23. Reservations will be made over email starting this Friday, so keep an eye on kBird’s Facebook page for the announcement. If kBird’s regular menu is any indication, this will be a dinner you don’t want to miss.
Little Rock Restaurant month hits week two, this time the deals and specials move to midtown/Hillcrest/Heights. The big standouts from this week’s lineup are a $25 3-course dinner at Ciao Baci, 20% off lunch or dinner at La Terrazza, buy one get one sushi rolls at Kemuri, and 30% off brunch/lunch/dinner at Trios. Here is the full list of this week’s deals.
David’s Burgers has finally begun construction on its new River Market location in the spot where Boulevard Bread Company used to set up shop. Owner Alan Bubbus tells me now that work is underway, he hopes to progress quickly and be open sometime this fall. This will be the eighth location for David’s Burgers in Central Arkansas, and work will soon begin on the ninth spot. Bubbus is opening a second restaurant in Conway on Dave Ward Drive just off Interstate 40. This will be the first David’s location that will be a complete standalone restaurant.
The new Indian cuisine and healthy dining restaurant Juice Leaf is now expanding its lunchtime delivery service on Chef Shuttle. Juice Leaf was handling its own deliveries until this Monday when Chef Shuttle took over. Juice Leaf delivery is available for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.
Leave it to the quirky and innovative folks at Dunbar Community Garden to come up with a cooking contest unlike anything else around. Dunbar has teamed up with The Naterators to host the second annual tater tots cooking contest on September 17. Contestants can make any dish to submit, as long as it features tater tots. The Naterators is a family group that raises money to fund juvenile diabetes research. All proceeds from the contest will go to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Every Monday in August, Vesuvio Bistro is offering a special four-course meal for just $20 per person. The first two meals featured the restaurant’s spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Parmesan. Vesuvio posts the menu for the Monday dinner the day before, so be sure to check its Facebook page every Sunday to see what that week’s special is.
All beer lovers need to get to Rebel Kettle tomorrow for the release of this year’s Ales for ALS brew. Rebel Kettle brewed it in partnership with eight other Central Arkansas beermakers. Read about it and all of the beer news around town in this week’s Growlers feature.
Downtown’s lunch options just got an upgrade this week with the grand opening of Bruno’s Deli. We stopped by to get a first look at the long-awaited restaurant.
Very few men have the knowledge or attention to detail in the wine and spirits industry like Jonathan Looney, owner of O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor. We sat down for a 1-on-1 conversation in this week’s Drink Insider.
Events
August 10th La Terraza Rum Dinner – La Terraza’s first themed dinner will feature El Dorado 12-Year Rum paired with five courses of Venezuelan fare. Tickets are $55. Call 501-251-8261 to make your reservation.
August 19th Taste of the Finest – This annual event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arkansas and will feature food and beer from a number of Little Rock restaurants and breweries. Tickets start at $75 per person and are available here.
August 19th Rocktoberfest Launch Party/Fundraiser – Diamond Bear Brewing Company will celebrate the 2016 launch of its Rocktoberfest with a special fundraiser. A quarter of all proceeds from the event will go to Concerns Of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
August 30th 5 Beers 5 Bites Dinner – It’s the monthly beer dinner between The Southern Gourmasian and Stone’s Throw Brewing. The menu for the event has not yet been announced. Ticket’s are $50 a piece or $90 when you buy two. You can buy tickets in person at The Southern Gourmasian or pick them up online here.
September 1st Good Earth Garden Center Food Truck Meet-Up – August’s meet had to be canceled due to excessive heat, so your next chance to get all these trucks together will be next month. Past events have included Katmandu Momo, Hot Rod Wieners, The Southern Gourmasian and more.
September 15th Zoo Brew – The Little Rock Zoo will host this annual craft beer festival celebrating Arkansas beer and brews from around the world. You’ll also find some of the the city’s best food trucks as well. Tickets are $25 now through the end of the month, so make sure to get yours early.
Specials
Yellow Rocket Concepts has released its monthly specials for August:
- Big Orange: Hatch Green Chile Burger, Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie and Blueberry Lemon Bar Yogurt Shake
- Local Lime: Fried Chicken Tacos with House-Made Spicy Ranch and a Snickers Turtle Pie
- Zaza: Vietnamese Chicken Salad and various new gelato flavors
