Hot dogs and lawsuits

Trinity Groves welcomes Hofmann Hots and, soon, restaurant incubator Kitchen LTO

Trinity Groves ushered in its new hot dog diner concept, Hofmann Hots, with a reception for friends and family on February 6, as a preview to the official opening February 8. Hofmann Hots showcases hot dogs from Hofmann Sausage Co., a Syracuse, New York-based company that's been making hot dogs since 1879.

The restaurant is the first in a chain whose investor-owners include Trinity Groves founder Phil Romano. Romano and company recently filed a lawsuit against company CEO Frank Zaccanelli for misuse of company funds. Zaccanelli is accused of racking up personal expenses, including $34,000 for an employee named Megan Lucas.

But there was no talk of the lawsuit at the opening event. Instead, attendees including Susan and John Cuellar, owners of Corazon de Tejas restaurant soon to open in Oak Cliff, and Dotty Griffith, the new executive director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, lined up for gourmet hot dogs, spicy chili mac and cheese, and tater tots.

The restaurant has a cool '50s diner design, with white tiled walls, stainless steel countertops, gleaming red tables, and blue-and-white vinyl chairs. Also spotted in the hungry crowd: Cindy and Tony Waldrop, Kristy Nail, Melanie Weiser, Summer Graham, Michael Swaim, and Beaux Wellborn.

In other news, Trinity Groves recently announced a mini-incubator project called Kitchen LTO, created by Greenz founder Casie Caldwell. LTO, which stands for "limited time only," will be a pop-up restaurant site with a new set of chefs and designers moving in and out every quarter.

A screening committee will review applicants, but the public will decide who's in, by voting through the company's website and social media channels. Chefs and designers are invited to submit applications by February 27.

Chefs must have culinary training and five years of experience, but design applicants can be students. To apply, visit the website or email contact@kitchenlto.com.

Dotty Griffith (left), new executive director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, chats with fellow diners.

Photo by Jerry McClure

Dotty Griffith (left), new executive director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, chats with fellow diners.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 hot happy hours for April

Heyday Celina

Espresso martini at Heyday Celina with Tito's, Caffè Borghetti, brown sugar, vanilla, and 1418 cold brew.

April is income tax month and for many of us, that means it's belt-tightening time. If there's any month of the year that you need a happy hour, April is it. For this edition of CultureMap's monthly Where to Drink column, we've left no stone unturned in our dogged search for five worthy happy hours, from northwest Dallas to the Design District and all the way to Celina.

Here's where to drink for April:

Chefika
Turkish restaurant from industry veteran Serdar "Sam" Sensel (Istanbul Grill) located at Preston Hollow Village serves classics like pide (a Turkish flatbread), lamb shank, and a hanger steak kebab. There's also an in-house cake shop with sweets such as cheesecake and magnolia custard. They do a weekday happy hour on Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm, where they take $2 off entrees, but the best deals are on the drinks: wines by the glass for $8, beer for $5, and cocktails for $11-$12.

Claremont Neighborhood Grill
Neighborhood restaurant in Midway Hollow from Katz Bros. Hospitality (Beverley’s, Clifton Club, Green Point Seafood), known for its very Dallas menu of deviled eggs, pimento cheese, brisket sliders, tortilla soup, and Caesar salad, has a very attractive happy hour on Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm that features $10 margaritas (either frozen or on the rocks!!); $10 classic, cosmo, lemon drop, or gimlet martinis; and $10 wine by the glass. Snacks include a dip duo with white queso, black bean dip, and tortilla chips for $10 and a quarter-pounder cheeseburger with onions, pickles, and American cheese, plus fries for $12.

Heyday Celina
Buzzy restaurant specializing in craft cocktails, eclectic American food, and good vibes has been the toast of Celina ever since it opened in the downtown square in 2024. For discount-seeking sippers, they offer three great deals: Wine Down Wednesday with half-priced wine, both by the bottle and glass, all day. Mondays, it's martinis for $10 featuring Townes vodka from Texas. Last but surely not least is their weekday happy hour, extending from 2-6 pm with half-price appetizers such as calamari, arancini, tuna crudo, and their irresistible "zoodle" zucchini fries with ranch — plus $2-off on beers and classic cocktails.

Jo’Seon Wagyu Omakase
The specialty at this recently-opened omakase restaurant in the Design District is an unusual 12-course Wagyu-themed omakase fusing Japanese A5 Wagyu with Korean culinary techniques. But they also offer an a la carte menu from 10:30 am-5 pm with Korean-inspired small bites and mains, including an A5 Wagyu burger and traditional Galbijjim (braised short ribs). If you order from 2-5 pm, you get $5 off food and discounts on drinks including house wine for $7 and cocktails for $10-$11.

Torchy’s Tacos
Taqueria concept from Austin hosts a chain-wide weekday "Hooky Hour" from 2-5 pm with a serious deal: half-price beer and house margaritas. And right now, you can also sample their new menu category: nachos. Available for a limited time this spring, the nachos layer tortilla chips topped with Torchy's signature green chile queso, pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream, with optional additions like fajita chicken, steak, pork, or brisket. The nacho plate is regularly $11, but during happy hour, they offer a smaller mini-version priced at $7.

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