Food Bites: Sharks Fish & Chicken, Funky Stretch Pizza & More

We have no shortage of food bites throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events and specials to restaurant openings and awards. Do you have news to share? Please email us at press@aymag.com.

Need ideas for Valentine’s Day? AY’s got you covered! Check out our list of ways to celebrate!

Funky Stretch Pizza, located at 500 N Magnolia St in North Little Rock, will officially open on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Sharks Fish & Chicken will open a new location THIS MONTH at 102 Markham Park Dr in Little Rock.

Double B Ranch, located on Wye Mountain in Roland, is working on getting the new Double B Ranch Farm Market & Mercantile store ready for the spring season!

Insomnia Cookies, the cult-favorite bakery known for its warm, gooey, late-night cookies, will host the grand opening of its first-ever Little Rock location on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 417 President Clinton Ave! Click here for more details.

Parlay on 8th, Bentonville’s newest elevated sports bar, is opening soon in the city’s 8th Street Market.

Wright’s Barbecue is opening a second location in Little Rock, according to media reports. Click here for more details.

Purple Cow’s newest location at 3300 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy in Rogers is almost ready! The opening date will be revealed soon.

Roost & Tap Kitchen will be opening this March in the former home of Panera Bread in Conway. An entertainment district has also been approved for the area. Click here for more information.

Matthew Cooper, chef and owner of Conifer in Bentonville, Jason Paul, chef and owner of Heirloom at the 1907 in Rogers, and Onyx Coffee Lab in Rogers are semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. Click here for more details.

Written by the Seasons, a Texas-based restaurant recommended by Michelin for the past two years, will reportedly open a new location in Bentonville this year.

Beignets & Brew, known for its hot, made-to-order New Orleans-style beignets and handcrafted specialty coffee, is expanding to Jonesboro. Click here for more details.

Hazel’s Public House, a burger-forward restaurant brought to you by the team behind Allsopp & Chapple, is set to open at 225 E Markham St (formerly Big Whiskey’s) in Little Rock in early 2026. Click here for more info.

Benny’s Bagels, a new made-from-scratch, NY-style bagel joint, is expected to open at 826 N Leverett Ave in Fayetteville later this month.

Soup Sunday 2026, where attendees can sample soups while helping to raise money for a good cause, will take place on March 1 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

The 2nd Annual Delta Diamond Chef Awards Gala and Competition will take place at Saracen Casino on Monday, May 4. Click here for more details.

AQ Chicken House will be opening soon at 100 W Emma Avenue in Springdale. An exact opening date has not yet been revealed.

CAVA, a Mediterranean restaurant, is in the works at 12318 Chenal Parkway in Little Rock. Click here for more information.

Kabab Bowl, a new restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine, is in the works at 420 W Dickson St in Fayetteville.

North Bar will be opening a location at 3321 S. Bowman Rd, Suite J, in Little Rock, as part of Bowman Pointe Apartments.

Ria Pizzeria, the newest joint serving Neapolitan-style pizzas, will be opening very soon at 200 N 1st Street in Rogers.

Cura, a Northern Italian Osteria, is in the works at 312 S 1st Street in Rogers.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, a popular fast-casual concept known for its sweet and savory crêpes, will open its first Arkansas location in Rogers in early 2026.