Deep Ellum Dining News

Powerhouse Dallas bar team graduates to restaurant big time in Deep Ellum

Mussels will be on the menu at Independent House.

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The team behind Club Dada, City Tavern, and Off the Record is adding a distinctive new concept to its menagerie with Independent Bar & Kitchen, opening in Deep Ellum in spring 2016.

Independent represents a shift into artisanal food with an accompanying craft bar program, and there's a worthy chef on board to execute it: Andrew Dilda, formerly of Barter and Reata in Fort Worth.

Owner Josh Florence says that the concept is a European-style restaurant and bar, which they hope will fill in a niche for Deep Ellum.

"We love all our neighbors in Deep Ellum and think that everyone occupies a special role in creating the flavor of the neighborhood," he says. "But we felt like there wasn't yet something like this, doing rustic European-style comfort food.

"Having owned Club Dada for the past six years, we felt like we had a good idea of what the neighborhood is lacking that also works with our interests, and the idea of doing a very casual-atmosphere bar and kitchen with an elevated level of food spoke to us."

By European comfort food, they're talking pub food: bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, fish and chips. "Andrew went off to the races," Florence says. "He's doing mussels and frites, and this fantastic rabbit with pappardelle. We're excited about his talent level and hope to give him a place to shine."

They've nabbed the space that was most recently Pepe's Ranch, which occupies a space in the very center of Deep Ellum at Main and Crowdus streets. The renovation is being done by 44 Build, the company that's done venues such as Blind Butcher and Mudsmith.

"It'll have their flavor on the inside, a little on the masculine side with dark woods," Florence says. "That address has an amazing patio, which we'll make the most of by blowing out the front wall of windows so that they'll flip all the way open to create an open-air feeling right into the restaurant."

Florence and company have a stellar record of opening one unique concept after another, rather than unrolling the same thing over and over. "We all get a lot of creative satisfaction out of creating something new like this," he says.

Deep Ellum News

Ex-Deep Ellum speakeasy paves way for spiffy new Dallas restaurant-bar

Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen

In sad news, a Dallas speakeasy has closed. In happy news, there's a swanky new restaurant and bar in its place: Called Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen, it recently opened at 2618 Elm St., in the Deep Ellum space that was home for more than a decade to Truth & Alibi, which closed in August after 11 years.

Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen is from Victor García, who is very familiar with the location: He built a career at Truth & Alibi, starting as a dishwasher 10 years ago, and climbing the ranks to become bartender at the pioneering bar that helped usher in Dallas' great speakeasy era of 2021-2022.

Garcia had already been looking for a location to open his own restaurant and lounge, when he learned that Truth & Alibi owners Chris and Mark Beardon were going to close their Deep Ellum concept.

“I took care of the place as if it were mine," Garcia says. "It is home to me, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to bring my dream to life. Every time I come here, it reminds me of the first day I stepped into this place. It changed my life."

A native of Michoacán, Mexico, who moved to Dallas when he nine years old, Garcia also previously worked at the now-closed Avenu Lounge.

At Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen, he's kept some of the key elements of the former space, such as the layout and chandeliers. But he's also added brighter elements that help transition the space from sophisticated and welcoming restaurant into a lounge and nightclub after 10 pm, with thematic events, DJs on weekends, burlesque on Wednesdays, and Sunday socials.

For food, he partnered with chef Mike Church to build a menu that provides a highly creative fusion of Spanish and American cuisine with Latin elements. There are "diablo" deviled eggs, Spanish risotto, ceviche, and an elote "dip" with all the good parts of the Mexican corn dish fashioned into a dip.

Entrees include flank steak with chimichurri sauce and Latin-braised chicken with olives, peppers, onions, and tomatoes with penne pasta. There are tapas-style dishes such as papas fritas, and intriguing vegetarian items such as a portobello steak, or beet tostadas layered with goat cheese, apple, and pistachio. Dessert includes a clever tres leches carrot cake.

Prices are reasonable, ranging from $8-$16 for appetizers and $18-$24 for entrees.

Scarlet Garden cocktail Spanish Garden cocktail served in a "bird cage".Scarlet Lounge

The creativity also shows in the cocktails, where bartender Hector Santana (Tipsy Alchemist, Snowbird) serves innovative drinks with theatrical Instagram-friendly presentations. These include a tequila Reposado and pineapple Piña para la Niña cocktail and a drink called Spanish Garden, containing rum, passion fruit, and strawberry, served with frozen fruits in a lighted bird cage, with nitrogen that creates a wall of smoke.

They've also kept some Truth & Alibi favorites such as the 12am Alibi, Fushia Fusion, Lies and Secrets and Black Bourbon Smash.

They've kept the late-night hours on weekends, open Friday-Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am, and Tuesday-Thursday 5 pm-10 pm. They host a generous happy hour from 5-7 pm with 20% off food and drink specials, and unlike most places in the area, they offer complimentary valet during restaurant hours.

Beyond the creative food, drink, and atmosphere, Garcia is laser-focused on customer service — on good hospitality.

"People walk by and come check us out," Garcia says. "Once there are here, we do our best as an entire team to offer the best service. We are very happy that customers that try us all leave with a positive experience. That is our main focus."

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