The taco restaurant with a cause that started in Arkansas just a few years ago is poised to go national this year. Tacos 4 Life has a location under construction in Frisco, Texas, that is set to open before the end of 2017, and just this weekend, the restaurant group confirmed it is opening five restaurants in the Charlotte, NC, area. Plans are also in the works for locations in Nashville, Tenn. Tacos 4 Life is also opening locations in Springdale and in Jonesboro later this year. Tacos 4 Life gets its name from its mission to donate one meal to charity for every meal that is purchased at its locations. Those donations go to the Feed My Starving Children nonprofit.
There’s a different kind of wine dinner happening next week at The Capital Hotel. Next Thursday evening, the hotel is hosting Food, Libations & Conversations, a special family-style meal served in collaboration with O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor. The event will feature several Italian dishes paired with wine and beer, but unlike other ticketed dinners, this one will not be coursed out. Instead, the dishes and beverages will be brought to the table all at once, allowing guests to talk uninterrupted with their tablemates and the host team. This dinner is actually the first in a series; plans for future events will be announced at the dinner. Tickets for the dinner are just under $100 each and include all food, drinks, tax and gratuity.
Speaking of O’Looney’s, the West Little Rock liquor store is turning 17 years old this weekend. O’Looney’s is marking the occasion with a birthday celebration on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., when the team will be pouring some of their favorite wines from the past 17 years for you to try. O’Looney’s boasts a team with a wide array of wine certifications, meaning you’ll be in good hands trying some wines you might not have even bothered with. Even if you’ve never found a wine you really like, it’s worth letting the sommeliers at O’Looney’s walk you through what they have to offer.
More than a few of you have asked where former Natchez owner and chef Alexis Jones went after her restaurant closed two years ago. She is now in Birmingham, Ala., working at Roots and Revelry, an upscale American restaurant that opened just a few months ago in the downtown part of the city. Jones hails from Mississippi and worked at The Capital Hotel before opening her own restaurant in downtown Little Rock in 2012. Natchez was extremely well received, but ultimately had a location that proved too tough for an upscale restaurant to succeed.
And don’t forget, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, get to Stone’s Throw Brewing on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. for the annual Block on Rock celebration. The brewery is turning four years old and inviting other breweries around town as well as some food trucks and Rock Town Distillery to the party. Admission to the party is $5, though you can pick up discounted armbands at the taproom this week for $3. The party kicks off at 4 p.m. and is scheduled to go until 10 p.m. Stone’s Throw is donating a portion of all food, beer and admission proceeds to Preserve Arkansas, a nonprofit committed to preserving the state’s architectural and cultural history.
Most establishments in town don’t welcome pets, but there’s a new Main Street business changing that. We took our first look at Bark Bar this week and what it has to offer both pets and their humans alike.
Looks like a lot of Rock City Eats readers are ready for a downtown rooftop restaurant. Check out our widely shared story on the new spot coming to 4th Street near the River Market.
Events
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Specials
Yellow Rocket Concepts has released its specials for the month of July:
- Big Orange: Beer-Battered Fried Gulf Grouper Sandwich and Lemon Icebox Blueberry Shake
- Local Lime: Fried Chicken Tacos with Arkansas Corn and Lime Slaw
- Zaza: Local Heirloom Salad with Fresh Mozzarella and Market Pizza with Soppressata and Peppadews
Ristorante Capeo’s weekly special is a fresh fish entree. The risotto of the week is made with sausage and mushrooms.
