Leo Delgado, who took over as chef at Juanita's three months ago, plans roll out an improved menu to the public next week. Delgado said the menu will be at least 90 percent new, with fresher ingredients, daily preparation of everything in-house, more attractive presentation of dishes, and updated recipes.

Vieux Carre, the Hillcrest restaurant celebrating its seventh year in the ownership of the Bennett family, is relaxing its atmosphere at bit, replacing its white tablecloths with patterned fabrics under glass and emphasizing its bistro fare — wraps, hamburgers, sandwiches — while keeping favorite entrees.

Chef David Bennett said some items that were specials will now always be available, like the spicy burger, Mediterranean turkey and shrimp and grits. And here's something to toast: The changes mean Vieux Carre is lowering its prices.

Sandwiches will range between $7 and $9, with the exception of David's Outstanding Crab Cake Sandwich, at $12. Entrees — jambalaya, grilled chicken a la boursin, creamy bow tie pasta and blackened redfish — will run $15 to $17.

Vieux Carre is at 2721 Kavanaugh, next to the Afterthought, its bar that features live music six days a week. Phone number is 663-1196.

Dogtown Coffee and Cookery, a comfort-food (plus gourmet soup) eatery at 6725 JFK Blvd., will start serving dinner Thursday through Saturday next week and will have music from Bluesboy Jag on Friday nights, owner/chef Jason Godwin says.

The menu at Dogtown includes plate lunches, specials on Mondays and Thursdays, sandwiches and soups, like today's truffle, leek and potato with bacon crumbles on top. Specials include things like pulled pork tacos, pastas, etc. On the dessert list: muffins, cookies, scones, funnel cakes and homemade ice cream. There's no booze. "We're in the trifecta of churches," barrista Michael Hale explained. I've eaten lunch there and can vouch for it. Delicious.

Godwin was chef at Simply the Best Catering before opening Dogtown in July.

Ed David calls with word that his Bowman Road outlet of the Faded Rose has closed. He'd hoped to remain open through Saturday, Oct. 29, but staff had begun bailing out and he decided to close early.

Declining business dictated the closing after 23 years, David said. A lack of retail traffic lures in the shopping center, changes in the neighborhood and competition from chains all contributed, along with the poor economy.

The original Faded Rose on Rebsamen Park Road is still going strong, David said. "Join us there."

There has been a bit of shuffling lately in the River Market’s Ottenheimer Hall. Fat Sam’s Louisiana Café — purveyors of some reliably tasty New Orleans-style eats — unfortunately was forced to close because of a family illness. Shugg’s BBQ Kitchen recently took over the former Fat Sam’s spot. Andina’s Café recently moved out of the west end of the hall and into a spot in the Tuff Nutt Building on East Third Street.

Jim Rice, COO of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, which handles leasing in the River Market, said the large spot formerly occupied by Shugg’s will most likely be split into two parcels. So far, there have been several proposals submitted, including a Mexican concept, a gourmet to-go operation, an ice cream concept and a few others that the LRCVB staff hasn’t had time to fully examine yet, Rice said.

An advisory committee makes the final selection about which applicants are awarded leases. All parcels lease for $3 per square foot.

He didn’t disclose any specific applicants, but said he would probably be able to discuss more details later next week. When considering applicants, the committee takes into account "diversity of offerings."

"We don’t want three of the same things," he said.

Other factors include "the quality, the reputation — but startups are also absolutely considered — experience of the operator and what we feel would best fit around what is offered currently."

The former Andina’s parcel will not be leased for a restaurant, Rice said. The open-air nature of the space makes it difficult to effectively heat and cool, he said.

A sometimes sparkling "nuevo Latino" menu, a trendy setting in a popular shopping center and the sure hands of restaurant veterans apparently weren't enough to sustain Capi's. The restaurant will close Sunday after brunch.

The good news is that owners Brent Peterson and Capi Peck will pull back into their Trio's restaurant with a good addition — Sunday brunch and Sunday dinner with half-off wine prices.

Their full news release:

Yarnell's has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and buyers are aimed to purchase the company's property, trade name and recipes.

Meanwhile, during my travels in west and southwest Arkansas lately I've discovered that some Yarnell's cartons are still available at CV's and Harp's in different locations. Have located Death By Chocolate, Homemade Peach and the Razorback cookie dough flavor, but sadly no Ozark Black Walnut.

Harry and Jorge's, Daniel Bryant's new sit-down Mexican restaurant in the former home of Flying Burrito, opened last night. The voluminous menu features all the standards we've come to expect from Americanized Mexican restaurants — plenty of burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, quesadillas and tacos. Plus, more unique fare — dip made of guacamole, jalapeno's and chunks of blues cheese and several barbacoa options.

Here are the four parts of the menu: 1, 2, 3, 4.

The restaurant's open 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It'll be open during Riverfest with yet to be determined drink specials. There's a full bar.

The phone number is 372-7272, and the address is 300 President Clinton Ave.

Received an email from the folks over at OW Pizza... they've closed their West Little Rock location. Unfortunately, the rough winter and rising gas prices have increased produce costs, so they've raised the prices at their location in the shadow of the State Capitol at 1706 West Third Street. On the other hand, they're beginning to grow their own tomatoes, bell peppers and herbs.

Menu changes have been promised. I'll be keeping an eye on this... and will check out those changes for you once they're implemented.

Hot Springs' The Ohio Club, which claims to be the oldest bar in Arkansas (open since 1905), has a new owner, Mike Pettey, and a new menu. One of our staffers was up recently and raved about the made-from-scratch burger and locally made bun. The club otherwise serves up an assortment of bar food, has happy hour 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and live music Wednesday through Sunday.

The Ohio Club is on 336 Central Avenue. The phone number is 501-627-0702.

Was going out with a friend for lunch last week and discovered that Masala Grill and Teahouse was closed. Fortunately, it's just a temporary affair. The restaurant will be open some Saturdays in the next few weeks and plans to reopen on a regular schedule in mid-January.

A reader alerted me to the menu change that struck last night at Capi’s. I was surprised about the change, to a point. I loved the idea of a small plates restaurant here in town. But…

Before we went out there last night, I dropped an email to Brent Peterson and asked about the change. Like many Central Arkansas restaurants, receipts were down in August and September. He had a brainstorm about using dishes Capi was known for over at Trio’s, and discovered she’d had similar thoughts. The new idea was explored, a menu was born and here it is.

Brent explains the new menu this way:
“Capi and I have both traveled extensively in Mexico, New Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The cuisines of these locales rank at the top of our list of favorites. We like bold flavors, and Capi is masterful in developing these recipes to let each of the ingredients ‘speak for themselves’without allowing the subtle flavors to be overpowered by heat from too many chiles. You will see a broad selection of enchiladas, tacos, tamales steamed in banana leaves and fajitas; plus, pozole, tumbada (paella), two types of queso, two salsas, a garlic shrimp and Cuban picadillo from the original Capi's menu and some healthy, substantial salads. Capi and I both speak Spanish, and for some time she has frequented the local Mexican markets to find fresh ingredients for our Trio's specials. Now many more ingredients will be provided by these local merchants.”

My curiosity piqued, the hubster and girlchild and I headed that way last night.

There's a lot of news rolling around about Arkansas' restaurants right now — openings, closings and whatnot. Hang onto your hats — there's a lot to cover.

The epicenter of restaurant change seems to be in Conway right now — with two openings in a week’s span. I was told before I went up yesterday that David’s Burgers would be opening soon. They were already open, with a packed lot. Turns out from conversation at both places that the place does have direct ties to CJ’s Butcher Boy Burgers in Russellville; David's is owned by Butcher Boy founder David Bubbus, who started CJ's in Russellville and has family-run outlets in Magnolia and, in the near future, in El Dorado. David Bubbus Jr., founder David Bubbus' son, is running the Conway branch. The concept is the same at all locations — simple, straight forward burgers, fries, shakes and beverages. I’m going to have to get back there and get myself a burger.

The other big story out of Conway is PattiCakes, the new bakery opening next week behind Stoby’s. It’s actually the second PattiCakes; the original is next door to the Russellville Stoby’s and has some of the best fudge I’ve ever tried. Let’s hear a big yay for Patti Stobaugh’s Colossal Cinnamon Rolls. I’m sure the Conway Stoby’s is going to benefit from having baked goods created within shouting distance of that store.

More on Conway, Fort Smith, Russellville, North Little Rock and Little Rock restaurants... on the jump.