I’ve always loved the look wood-and-greenery look of the space that until recently housed Acadia restaurant. The deck is one of the best in town, and there should be parties happening on that thing. Well, judging from the info that came along from my colleague Michel Leidermann over at El Latino, something fun indeed is coming to Hillcrest.

The new place is called La Terraza Rum and Lounge, and they’ve announced a soft opening date of October 1—which coincides with Hillcrest First Thursday. An official “Grand Opening” will also be announced at that time. The new venture is the work of Venezuelan couple Carlos Valdivieso and Ana Lara and co-owners Armando and Sarah Bolanos, who are taking a restaurant concept they’ve operated in Caracas for more than 20 years and moving it right into the heart of one of Little Rock’s favorite neighborhoods. 

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Sarah Bolanos says the lunch menu will be primarily sandwich-based, including arepas, a stuffed corn-flour pocket sandwich (similar, we’re told, to the Mexican gordita and the Central American pupusa), and Reina Pepiada, an arepa with shredded chicken, avocado and a housemade mayonnaise/mustard blend. On the Latin American-Mediterranean dinner menu authentic dishes made with plantains and yucca, like Pabellon Criollo, a shredded beef and black beans over rice dish that has been called the national dish of Venezuela, and Cachapa, cornmeal pancakes folded around queso fresco.

There will also be some Italian-style items, including a lasagna with Italian sausage, bechamel and meat sauces, and “some Spanish influence,” up to and including paella. The drink menu will include a lot of rum-based drinks (think mojitos and Cuba libres). Tentative hours for the kitchen will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. with the lounge staying open (and probably serving some late-night tapas-type items) until legally mandated closing time (2 a.m. most nights, 1 a.m. Saturdays), contingent on demand. They may or may not be closed on Mondays. No phone number yet, but as soon as we know more so will you.

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