Vino's Pizza Pub Brewery on Little Rock Appetite.com

Award-winning beer isn't the only thing brewing at Vino's. For nearly two decades, the downtown pizzeria and brew pub has fermented political campaigns, rock bands, and theatrical productions. Maybe its something in the New York-style pizza, or the plump calzones, or the Firehouse Pale Ale, that emboldens dreamers. Or maybe it's the diverse, urban vibe -- facial piercings and power ties -- that subliminally fosters thinking outside the box.

Whatever the case, Vino's has acquired the patina of a cultural landmark in Little Rock.

"This is one of the most uniquely eclectic places in town," says founder and owner Henry Lee.

"When we first opened, it was one of very few restaurants downtown. People told us we were crazy."

Crazy good—the menu started out simple and stayed that way, offering pizzas whole and by the slice, bursting-at-the-seams calzones, salad and a few hearty sandwiches. A few years later, in 1993, the restaurant began handcrafting beer, eventually installing a copper and steel brewery in a dedicated wing.

Four regular house brews are now served year-round, with other recipes making appearances on the menu as the brewmaster is inspired.

One of them, "Rock Hopera," won a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Fest in Colorado this year. Not the first award for a Vino's brew, and unlikely to be the last.

House brew (including a proprietary mix of root beer) is sold to-go in "Growlers," half-gallon glass containers (think of prohibition-era moonshine jugs).

With a covered, cooled and heated deck, two main dining rooms and a generously proportioned events room with a stage, there's a place for everyone at Vino's. And everyone -- from legislators and office workers, to toddlers and teens -- appreciates the casual ambiance, unique character, and quality flavor that have combined to make a local landmark.