Plans for Ashley’s at the Capital Hotel Updates No Rush Job

Joël Antunes, far right in photo, in December replaced Lee Richardson as executive chef of Little Rock’s Capital Hotel restaurants. 

Remember hearing that fine dining restaurant Ashley’s at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock was getting a facelift? And that Ashley’s new executive chef, Joël Antunes, was launching a cooking website?

Well, we’ve got a little appetizer for you.

Hotel spokesman Chuck Magill gave some details via email.

“Plans for updating the look and feel of the restaurant and the capacity of the kitchen itself have been developed and are under discussion, but there is no hard timetable,” Magill said of the progress.

“Like all independently owned and operated businesses, decisions come slowly. Hiring Joel Antunes was a bold statement of the Stephens’ devotion to the hotel, so they will be careful to make the right decisions moving forward.”

Magill said Antunes has been at work in Ashley’s kitchen for some time now, but “He has not finalized a culinary team, however, which has limited his visibility.”