When it comes to attending a show, there are three things we worry about.
   Where are we sitting?
   What are we wearing? And, most importantly, where are we eating? If we choose a winner for the last one, we find the first two really don't seem to matter at all.
   An easy, enjoyable meal does so much to set the stage for a full evening of entertainment. Likewise, a hectic, harried meal can do so much to wreck one.
   Taking concerns like reservation policies and ease of parking into consideration, we visited a wide range of downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock restaurants -- serving everything from pizza to prosciutto-wrapped scallops -- near theater and concert venues. And we dined on performance nights to experience the shownight scene.
   

BENIHANA
   
Wyndham Riverfront, 2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock, (501) 374-8081. No reservations.
   Parking: The hotel offers free valet parking for those dining there before a downtown event. A recent Saturday evening found a free shuttle running the couple of blocks to and from Alltel Arena for those attending a scheduled show (gratuities are appreciated). If you're going to downtown Little Rock, it's just a hop, skip and a jump across the Main Street bridge to get to your destination.
   Pre-show : Benihana starts serving dinner at 5 p.m., so go early and you won't have much of a wait. Sit at the sushi bar in the lounge (after all, the hibachi show could leave you pressed for time) and have all-youcan eat sushi for $17.95 or order from the menu, which boasts myriad chicken, seafood and beef dinners ($13 to $30) that are supposed to come with soup, salad, an appetizer, rice and green tea. But be warned, we ordered the Salmon Tsutsumi-Yaki specialty dinner ($19.95), and never did see our rice or green tea. And as part of our hibachi vegetables, we received a few carrots and some crinkle-cut French fries placed decoratively around our salmon.
   Post-show : Benihana serves dinner until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, which doesn't leave much time to eat after most of our local shows.
   -- Rosemary Boggs
   

BOSCOS
   
500 President Clinton Ave., (501) 907-1881, www.bos cosbeer.com. Reservations recommended for parties of six or more.
   Parking: On-street parking, if you can get it, but you'll have better luck at one of the several lots and the parking deck within two blocks of the restaurant. However, we snagged a prime spot at a lot cater-corner from Boscos, paying a flat fee of $5.
   Pre-show : At about 6:15 p.m. on a Friday, we found the restaurant less than half full, so there was no waiting for a table. But service can be not-so-fast (not slow, but not fast) depending on how many tables your server is handling.
   We were seduced by the appetizer menu into choosing Fried Artichoke Hearts ($7), a generous plateful of piquant buds accompanied by a buttermilk (very milky) garlic dipping sauce, as well as crispy Smoked Duck Spring Rolls ($7).
   The dinner menu includes fish, chicken and pork, but we chose the 6-ounce steak filet ($23 and not on the menu) with seasoned new potatoes and steamed asparagus spears. Everything is cooked to order, but the food arrives within 15 minutes. We still had time for dessert before our 8 p.m. show, so we indulged in delightfully tart and smooth lemon Sorbet de Giorno ($3) and the swooningly rich Chocolate Calzone ($6.25), espresso chocolate mousse in a praline puff pastry. Expect dinner to take about 90 minutes, but you can save time by skipping appetizers or dessert.
   Post-show : The restaurant/bar is open until 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday ; until 1 a.m. Friday; midnight. Saturday ; and 10 p.m. Sunday. A full menu is available until 10 p.m., with a pared-down bar menu offered from 10 p.m. until closing. -- Rhonda Owen

CAMP DAVID AT THE HOLIDAY INN PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
East Sixth Street and Interstate 30, Little Rock, (501) 975-2267 (CAMP); reservations for large parties.
   Parking: No problem -- there's a big lot right in front of the hotel, and if there's no convention in town there's plenty of room. In a pinch you can park on nearby streets. The location is only a couple of minutes away by car from the Repertory Theatre, Robinson Center Music Hall or the Clinton Presidential Center.
   Pre-show : On a recent Saturday night with no conventions in town the dining room was practically empty from 5-7 p.m. The menu is an odd combination of Asian appetizers (the kitchen and most of the wait staff are Asian), such as beef satay, and continental entrees, including a tasty preparation of sea scallops in a mushroom sauce over angel-hair pasta. The decor is sort of early hunting lodge, in keeping with its name; there's an outdoor deck in fine weather.
   Post-show : The kitchen stays open until 10:30 p.m. on weekends; the bar stays open much later. -- Eric E. Harrison

CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
The Peabody Little Rock, Three Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock, (501) 906-4000, www.peabodylittlerock.com. Reservations accepted online or over the phone.
   Parking: Valet parking is free with order of entree.
   Pre-show : The Peabody's Thomas Marshall says the restaurant is used to accommodating pre-symphony and pre-theater guests within an hour to 75 minutes. Reservations are recommended -- a high-end hotel restaurant can be busy on any given night of the week. Marshall says almost any entree, from Lobster Ravioli ($23.50) to Capriccio's signature 24-ounce Rib Eye steak ($38.50) is fair game, but a steak prepared medium-well is going to take longer. When in a hurry, one should avoid requesting extensive modifications or ordering dishes not listed on the menu.
   Post-show : The restaurant is open for dinner from 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 5-9 :30 p.m. Sunday; if you want a light meal after that, try the Peabody's Lobby Bar, open until 1 a.m. Monday-Friday, midnight Saturday, and 10 p.m. Sunday.
   -- Philip Martin
   

CIAO
   
405 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 372-0238. Reservations are accepted.
   Parking: You'll have to park on the street, but that's not an impossible feat after 5 p.m. when the downtown workers are gone.
   Pre-show : Arriving about 6:25 p.m. the evening of a recent Arkansas Repertory Theatre show, we found no reservation was needed. Diners filled most of one of three intimate dining rooms. Ciao is always good about getting one's food out well in time for the show. We enjoyed the delicious Pasta Elizabeth ($8.50 for a half-order ) and the palatable Veal Marsala, $15.50. We were in and out in roughly an hour.
   Post-show : Dinner is served Thursday-Saturday until 9 to 9:30 p.m. If it's a matinee or early-evening show, feel free to return to discuss -- or dissect -- what you just saw.
   -- Helaine R. Williams
   

DON VICCI'S
   
211 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, (501) 372-3700. No reservations.
   Parking: There is parking available on the street. If it's a good night for the restaurant, you might have to walk around the block.
   Pre-show : Most nights you can get a table without much of a wait, because Don Vicci's has plenty of tables. The trick is, do they have enough wait staff for all those tables? The staff seems spread a little thinly, but their good humor makes the little wait a little more tolerable. And the food is worth the wait. No "stop the world, this is the greatest I've ever had," but it's good Italian. Don Vicci's has the usual Italian fare but seems to excel at chicken dishes, like the Chicken Piccata and the Chicken Marsala. And you can't go wrong with a plate full of spaghetti with meatballs and sausage. We were in and out in an hour, and it could have been sooner had we needed to be.
   Post-show : There's not much to speak of anymore. Over the summer Don Vicci's was open late with live entertainment, but that has since passed and the restaurant closes at 9 p.m.
   -- Matt Spence
   

FLYING FISH
   
511 President Clinton Avenue, Suite 100, Little Rock, (501) 375-3474. No reservations.
   Parking: Don't try to park on over-automobiled President Clinton Avenue; head one block south and park in the easy-in-and-out public lot at Commerce and East Second streets. It's free, and will save you time because you won't have to stop to pay a parking attendant.
   Pre-show : The line that's probably snaking out Flying Fish's door moves quickly, giving you just enough time to study the menu posted above the counter where you place your order. Make your choice between grilled or fried seafood -- tilapia, rainbow trout, shrimp, catfish, red snapper, all served with well-cooked side dishes such as grilled zucchini, slaw, rice and beans or fries -- along with oysters, snow crab, gumbo, chicken and nightly specials. You'll get a pager that will flash when your order is ready -- the restaurant says it'll be off the grill within 15 minutes -- so fetch it and settle in for a feast (no tipping!). On a busy evening recently, we got in and out within 45 minutes.
   Post-show : Dinner is served until 10 p.m. daily; that means you'll be fed if you get there by 10.
   -- Karen Martin
   

FLYING SAUCER
   
323 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, (501) 372-7468. No reservations.
   Parking: You can usually find a spot in the lot next to the building because parking is $10. If you've got the time, go for the free parking a couple of blocks away, or take a ride on the River Rail. It runs right in front.
   Pre-show : There's a small window of opportunity for getting a table. Lots of people get happy from 4-7 p.m., and they don't move out soon on Friday, since Happy Hour lasts until 8 p.m. But it's not so busy you can't pull up a couch. The menu consists mainly of burgers and sandwiches, or you can get a cheese tray that serves as many as 20. And then, there's the beer. Darks, lights, ambers, wheat, berry, pale ale, German, Austrian, Japanese -- it goes on and on and on. Let's try this one now, and, oh, this one will go good with chips and salsa, and this will go great with the bratwurst. Pretty soon, if you're not careful, you'll forget all about going to the show and you'll be wondering if you can have one more before the cab gets there.
   Post-show : Things are just heating up then. Walking in after the show, it's no easy task to get a table, and even harder to flag down a waitress. Last call during the week and Saturday is 12:30 a.m., and on Friday it's 1:45 a.m., and the kitchen is open until last call.
   -- Matt Spence GUSANO'S

CHICAGO STYLE PIZZERIA
313 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-1441. No reservations.
   Parking: There's free parking in the lot at East Second and Commerce streets, and there are several pay-to-park lots and street parking nearby. The restaurant is located near the trolley line, which makes it convenient for getting back and forth to Alltel Arena events.
   Pre-show : Start with Gusano's delicious Bread Stix with Cheese ($3.50), which is plenty for three or four folks. Or try the Cheese & Crackers ($3.50), Pizza Dip ($6.49), Hot Wings ($6.95) or Spinach Dip ($6.95). The restaurant offers the Chicago-style pizza with a twoinch crust loaded with toppings and marinara sauce. If you prefer a traditional-style crust, Gusano's is crisp and seasoned just right. Specialty pizza prices range from $13.75 to $16.95 for the Chicagostyle crust, and from $8.50 to $13.95 for traditional crust. Or create your own special pie from their list of toppings.
   Post-show : Gusano's is open until after midnight every night but Sunday, so you can stop in after your event for a snack, an alcoholic beverage and a game of pool if you're so inclined. There are also several televisions placed strategically around the room, and what looks like a small stage, which could mean live music if you're lucky.
   -- Rosemary Boggs
   

HANAROO SUSHI BAR
   
205 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock (501) 301-7900. Reservations accepted.
   Parking: The sidewalk on both sides of Capitol Avenue has been torn up for weeks, but that work's over, so you can park in front of the restaurant; and there's more parking on Louisiana Street.
   Pre-show : Dinner is served beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 5 p.m. Saturdays, ideal for catching the 8 p.m. curtain at The Rep (no Hanaroo on Sundays).
   We were able to order within three minutes of sitting down, and our delicious meals arrived 12 minutes after we ordered. Our party of four ate comfortably and well for less than $60, including two beers and a bland little appetizer bowl of edamame. The sushi's lovely and made on the spot. The salmon teriyaki ($13.95) will bring us back for more: grilled but tender salmon, crisp grilled vegetables, a bowl of steamed white rice. The accompanying iceberg salad was rescued from boredom by a pretty ginger dressing.
   Post-show : The door locks at 9:30 p.m.
   -- Celia Storey
   IRIANA'S
   201 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 374-3656. No reservations.
   Parking: You can drive round and round the block Iriana's is on, and not find a single parking place, because there are none. You could park on Main Street a block away, or for a real adventure, pay 50 cents (cheaper than parking in a lot) and park somewhere along the trolley route -- the trolley will drop you in front of Iriana's and take you back to your parking area later on, since it runs until 10 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (but only until 5 p.m. on Sunday).
   Pre-show : Arriving on a Friday at 6:27 p.m. for an 8 p.m. event, we got our own premium window seats immediately and ordered a couple of pre-pizza beers which arrived in five minutes, accompanied by unordered waters, which we think is a fine touch. A salad my wife ordered came out in four more minutes and I found it impossible to resist helping her polish it off. Our large Canadian bacon/mushroom pizza ($12.15) arrived on its elegant pedestal at 7:02, and a few slices later, at only 7:19 p.m., we were paid up and gone.
   Post-meal : Wait! What's the hurry? There are, I sadly report, no desserts at Iriana's, so we got back on the trolley that crosses the river and rode it across and back and around a bit until it was showtime.
   -- Jack W. Hill
   JUANITA'S
   1300 South Main St., Little Rock; (501) 374-3271, www. juanitas.com. Reservations are accepted for parties of five or more.
   Parking: No biggie. If you can't find a nook or cranny on the street around the restaurant, park in the gravel lot across Main Street from it.
   Pre-show : We got there about 5:40 p.m. on the evening of Celebrity Attractions' recent showing of The Rock & the Rabbi. Business was brisk, and we had a slight wait before someone noticed and seated us, but there were plenty of places to sit. Dinner was fairly prompt, and we enjoyed our Grilled Tilapia dinner ($10.95) and our Wild Mushroom Fajitas ($8.95). We were out in a little over an hour... early enough to score decent street parking for the show and to have to wait for ushers to open the auditorium doors.
   Post-show : Juanita's Cafe closes at 9 p.m. on Mondays, but you might be able to squeeze in a meal if your show ends early enough on its other nights of operation -- it's open until 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday ; and 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. If you want a post-show nightcap, Juanita's Bar is open until 2 a.m. Tuesday-Friday ; 1 a.m. Saturday. (Juanita's Cafe is closed on Sundays, but the bar is often open for special shows.)
   -- Helaine R. Williams
   

NU CUISINE & LOUNGE
   
225 E. Markham St., Little Rock, (501) 378-7500, www.nu cuisine.com. Reservations are accepted.
   Parking: Free valet parking is available. There's also a pay lot just to the west of the restaurant.
   Pre-show : Seated without a reservation at 6:45 p.m. on a recent Friday, wife Marcia and I told attentive server Don that we had about an hour to eat before heading to The Rep. He and the kitchen paced everything so smoothly that we were out Nu's door promptly by 7:45, glowing with the pleasure of an excellent if quite expensive ($119) dinner for two.
   The hour gave us time for appetizers and main courses from Paul Novicky's kitchen, plus two glasses each of wine (perhaps one glass more than is advisable for full alertness at the theater). Dessert would have been a stretch, in terms of both time and stomach capacity. In fact, the appetizers -- good as they were -- could also have been skipped, given the generous portions of the main courses. Both these extensively garnished dishes were delicious: Prosciutto Wrapped Diver Scallops ($24) with gorgonzola savory custard, braised julienne leeks and fried shiitake mushrooms, and Rose Peppercorn Crusted Prawns ($26) with tempura red onions and black linguine tossed with key lime beurre blanc.
   Post-show : Dinner is served until only 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, making for a rush job at best after a play or concert. But an inviting "amuse bouche tasting menu" is offered until midnight in the lounge.
   -- Jack Schnedler
   RENO'S

ARGENTA CAFE
   
312 Main St., North Little Rock, (501) 376-2900, www. renosargentacafe.com. No reservations.
   Parking: Even if the show is taking place at nearby Alltel Arena, there are always a few free street spots to snag in Argenta, sometimes right on Main Street.
   Pre-show : If you've already blown all your retirement savings on show tickets, you might not wish to spend a fortune on a fancy dinner, too. That's where easygoing pub-like place Reno's comes in handy. You can still enjoy fine, affordable fare -- perhaps a spirited Blackened Tilapia dinner ($10.50) or a gourmet pizza (the audience members sitting near you thank you for not ordering the fragrant Gene's Roasted Garlic pie) like the zesty Basil Lover's ($8.95) with pesto sauce, grilled chicken, tomatoes, feta and mozzarella -- fast and without fuss. No reservations, no jacket and only a 30-to-45-minute stay is required. Of course you're welcome to stay as long as you want to linger over drinks and maybe live music.
   Post-show : The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. and, depending on the crowd, the bar might stay open until midnight or later on show nights.
   -- Jennifer Christman

RISTORANTE CAPEO
425 Main Street, North Little Rock, (501) 376-3463, www. capeo.us. Reservations accepted. Parking: A breeze, especially during pre-show hours. Parking at the curb in front of the restaurant along this charming but sleepy stretch of downtown North Little Rock is not an unreasonable expectation. Don't let the commute trick you into believing you're robbing yourself of table time: Shooting across the river is actually faster than circling the River Market for a parking space.
   Pre-show : No matter how early-bird your special is, confide your entertainment plans to your server if you don't want to be receiving your rich, refined Italian entrees around intermission of the show you were supposed to be seeing. It'll be your fault for not speaking up: The restaurant, small enough to feel like a discovery but large enough to deter a clog in the waiting area, conforms to the European notion that gestures like the unsolicited introduction of the bill are a rude suggestion that you should think about leaving. The service is honeyed, attentive, even affectionate -- a side-hug from the hostess on the way out the door can be a sweet nightcap -- but not what you would call speedy.
   But, on the alert that you regretfully can't linger, Capeo will graciously step into a supporting, rather than starring, role, providing an atmosphere hushed enough to quiet you for curtain and elegant enough to multiply the pleasures of an evening of treating yourself. Just go early and streamline, streamline, streamline.
   Post-show : Reservations are accepted for as late as 10 p.m. For shows with an 8 p.m. start, that's a close shave but not inconceivable. (Box offices can usually predict a show's running time.) But don't be one of those theatergoers who make for the door as soon as they sense the show wrapping up -- that's tantamount to giving a dinner guest the bum's rush.
   -- Kyle Brazzel
   

RIVERFRONT STEAKHOUSE
   
Riverfront Wyndham Hotel, North Little Rock, (501) 375-7825. Reservations accepted.
   Parking: See Benihana above.
   Pre-show : The catering to the concert crowd doesn't stop at the parking. On show nights, the dimly lit, comfortable steakhouse offers a special, slightly smaller menu of entrees that take less time to prepare. On it, you're sure to find a fair number of liberally seasoned and perfectly cooked steaks, from the succulent 6-ounce filet ($19.95) up to a mighty 20-ounce rib-eye ($27.95), as well seafood, chicken and pork selections. Entrees come with choice of soup or trips to the considerable salad bar; all other sides, like the monstrous baked potatoes, are served a la carte. Servers are eager to please and get you on your way to the show (they'll likely ask you if you are going before you can warn them you are).
   Post-show : The kitchen is open until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 10 p.m. on weekends. The hotel's bar stays open until about midnight on show nights.
   -- Jennifer Christman
   

RUMBA
   
300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, (501) 823-0090, www. rumbarevolution.com. Reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more.
   Parking: Always a challenge, given that it's located in the River Market at the busy corner of La Harpe Boulevard and President Clinton Avenue. By-the-hour parking lots are available in the vicinity, two and more blocks away; expect to pay at least $4 for two hours. There's on-street parking, but don't bet on finding a space available or being able to get into it if you do -- no matter what time you arrive.
   Pre-show : Our event started at 7 p.m. on a Thursday, so we arrived at a near-empty restaurant at 5:30 p.m. A few people sat at the tables on the outdoor patio, but there was only one other couple inside. Our server, having so few to wait upon, was very attentive and efficient, appearing almost before we sat down to take our order.
   Check out the tapas selection, where you can get orders of three ($7.99), six ($14.99) or nine ($19.99) from the tasty appetizer menu: coconut shrimp, portobella/roma skewer, sauteed corn botons, chicken tequitos and other tasty items. Follow up with a modestly sized entree of flavorful Mango Citrus Marinated Pork Tenderloin ($14.99).
   We were out of the restaurant in about an hour, giving us plenty of time to cross the bridge to Alltel Arena for the concert.
   Post-show : The kitchen is open until 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday ; the bar is open until 1 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
   -- Rhonda Owen

SONNY WILLIAMS' STEAK ROOM
   
500 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, (501)-324-2999, www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more.
   Parking: You can cross your fingers, say your prayers and hope to find a parking spot in the River Market or take advantage of the valet parking. The valet parking, which is free, is the way to go.
   Pre-show : With reservations only accepted for larger parties, you'll need to call and at least get an idea of any possible wait time. Those with early shows -- say, a 7 or 7:30 curtain -- ought to figure on a 5:30 or earlier arrival. This upscale restaurant isn't necessarily slow, but even a filet cooked rare is going to take some time. Add in soups and appetizers and you're looking at an hour at the very least. But Sonny Williams' rewards patience with a pull-out-the-stops dining experience. Our blackened 10-ounce filet ($33.95) was as delicious a piece of meat as we have ever had the luck to consume. The waiter was also very mindful of our concerns about making it to the show on time. One thing to also note: Unless you order just the soup, the Sonny Williams' meal is going to be a heavy one. Maybe try to squeeze in some coffee before your evening of theater or music.
   Post-show : Dinner is served until 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday. And the piano bar stays open until 11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and until "late" Friday-Saturday. You can feel especially cosmopolitan post-show at Sonny Williams' .
   -- Werner Trieschmann
   

STARVING ARTIST CAFE
   
416 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 372-7976, www.starvin gartistcafe.net. Reservations accepted.
   Parking: There are metered parking places all along Seventh Street, and even around the corner on Spring Street, and if you're coming before a show, you need not worry about feeding meters.
   Pre-show : Like this restaurant's name suggests, they're hip to the arts, and they even send out e-mails asking if you are "heading to the REP, The Weekend Theater, Robinson Auditorium, Alltel Arena or other downtown venue?" If so, they offer a Pre-Show Prix Fixe on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, consisting of three courses for $29, which on the night of The Rep's latest opening, when we attended, was fresh tomato salad, mahi-mahi with red garlic butter and fresh berry clafouti and included a glass of house chardonnay.
   You can read the specials of the day by checking the Web site www.starvingartistcafe. net.
   From the time we parked our car a few feet away at 6:15 p.m., it was only 12 minutes until our orders were taken and another 42 minutes until our entrees arrived. Half an hour later, well fed on an assortment of regular menu items, we were gone with plenty of time to travel the few blocks to the nearby Rep.
   Post-show : Dinner is served only until 9 p.m., so, alas, you can't go back for those desserts that were so appealing.
   -- Jack W. Hill
   

STICKY FINGERZ CHICKEN
   SHACK
   
107 S. Commerce St., Little Rock, (501) 372-7707, www. stickyfingerz.com.
   Parking: A crowded President Clinton Avenue led us to the public lot at Commerce and East Second streets. It was convenient and free.
   Pre-show : On a recent not-busy weeknight, we seated ourselves, perused the foreignto-us menu and got our food -- an appetizer of warm Cheesy Dip with crispy tortilla strips, a Sticky Fingerz Sammich and Chicken Twin Tacos -- within 20 minutes. Our server was friendly, kept our drinks filled and didn't mind answering questions like, "How long should you expect to wait on a busier night, like on a weekend?"
   Post-show : Our server said that the size of the crowd varies, but the kitchen now stays open till midnight -- which we were glad to hear.
   -- Amy Harbottle
   

VERMILLION WATER GRILLE
   
200 S. Commerce St., Little Rock, (501) 371-9600, www.ver millionwatergrille.net. Reservations accepted for parties of nine or more.
   Parking: After 5 p.m. or on the weekends, free parking abounds on the street and in the lot across Commerce.
   Pre-show : There are plenty of tables early in the evening in the dining area, at the bar, or on the covered patio. Don't expect to get in and out in 30 minutes though. Appetizer, dinner and dessert could take as much as an hour and a half to enjoy. The kitchen offers plenty of options for that fancy night on the town, with salmon, veal and duck on the menu. The crab cakes seared without the breading are a great option as a side dish ($9 with an entree) or as a main course ($21.95). There are also daily specials and an extensive wine list starting at $5.50 per glass.
   Post-show : The posted closing is 10 p.m., so getting back for dessert will be a little difficult. So don't forget that dessert at dinner. The Roulade served cold with a buttery glaze melts in your mouth.
   -- Jeff Lindsey
   

V LOUNGE AT LULAV
   
220 W. Sixth St., Little Rock, (501) 374-5100. Reservations accepted.
   Parking: It's easiest to put your car in one of the metered spaces on Sixth Street right in front of the restaurant (you don't have to feed the meter after 6 p.m.), but if those spaces are full, you can park across the street in a pay lot or around the corner on Center Street. Or if you're headed for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, less than two blocks away, you can park there and walk down.
   Pre-show : The restaurant isn't especially crowded between 6 and 7:30 p.m. There's a handful of Napa Valley/Mediterranean fusion appetizers, including mussels and a Caprese salad (tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and balsamic vinegar), and another handful of steak, fowl (two) and seafood (two) entrees, plus specials. The wine list is impressive, and the restaurant is now less likely to be out of what you order than it has been recently. Seating in the mostly red-and-gold dining room is at cream-clothed tables topped by whimsical Tim Burton-like candleholders; service dishes and even wine glasses have an unusual tilt.
   Post-show : There's a uniqueto-this-area reverse happy hour after 10 p.m. and a special appetizer menu available until 1 a.m.
   -- Eric E. Harrison
   VINO'S
   923 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, (501) 375-8466, www. vinosbrewpub.com. No reservations. Parking: The big gravel lot across the street makes parking easy.
   Pre-show : No reservations were needed on a typical Saturday night around 6 p.m., as the ordering line was still fairly short. Pizza is the main attraction at Vino's, and the brewery's supreme "Special" is $16 for a large and is also sold by the slice for $3. Even though the Vino's crowd is still pretty thin before dark, plan for dinner to take at least an hour.
   Post-show : Vino's closes the kitchen down at midnight on Friday and Saturday nights and might be great for a drink and a cheesecake dessert ($2.85) before you go home. But it is probably best suited for those seeking another late-night entertainment opportunity, because around 10 p.m. a band will most likely still be rocking and the place will be too loud for deep post-play discussion.
   -- Melissa Tucker

This story was published Friday, October 06, 2006