Yay! More Pizza

New York-style pizza chain flips out big-time for Dallas-Fort Worth

Flippin’ Pizza does it whole pizza or by the slice.

Photo courtesy of Flippin’ Pizza NY Pies and Slices

A New York-style pizza chain is headed for North Texas, touting the simplicity of its dough. Flippin' Pizza comes from California and will open branches in Plano and Fort Worth this spring.

The Plano branch is opening at the Shops at Willow Bend; Fort Worth is at the Chapel Hill Shopping Center, west of downtown. According to a spokesperson, those two branches will open in the first quarter of 2017.

Flippin' follows a fast-casual format but, rather than the Neapolitan-style pizza that has been the trendsetter, it does a larger, floppier New York-style pizza that’s baked in a brick oven. They also offer pizza by the slice, beer and wine, and delivery.

The chain brags about the fact that its dough has four ingredients only, with no oil, sugar, or high-fructose corn syrup. You wouldn't expect any pizza dough to have those, but apparently some do.

Its other selling point its that it uses "filtered, NY-style water," which is an interesting ingredient.

"Ever wondered why New York pizza tastes so much better?" they ask. "It's the water. (Yes, really.) That’s why we use a special filter to make sure we get the right PH balance with minerals, like calcium and magnesium, just like New York water."

The chain was founded in 2007 and is based in the San Diego area. Herminio Llevat, a Cuban-born immigrant and entrepreneur who owns more than 75 restaurants of various franchise concepts, bought a controlling interest and has overseen the expansion.

Pizzas include pepperoni, tomato-basil-garlic, white pie with garlic and cheese, a meat, a veggie, and Hawaiian bacon. There are a trio of pizzas with chicken: Buffalo chicken, barbecue chicken, and chicken-mushroom-pesto. There are calzones and pizza by the slice. And there is a gluten-free crust option, which will undoubtedly be delicious, as all gluten-free foods are.

In addition to pizza, the menu includes garlic knots, meatballs, wings, pepperoni rolls, and an actual green thing: roasted broccolini dressed with olive oil and garlic. There are four salads, including a garden salad, Caesar, spring mix with gorgonzola, and a bacon-ranch chicken salad.

Flippin' isn't stopping there: Two more branches will open in North Texas, both in Frisco, later in 2017.

pizza openings

Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 6 small bar gems for February

Rayo

Cheers at Rayo in Expo Park.

Cut through the noise of loud bars with something a little more lowkey. This is nothing against the big fun flashy hangout. But sometimes you need a place that's laid-back. These small gems fit the bill, from a new hotel bar to one of the oldest bars in Dallas — most with happy hour offerings, and those are always welcome.

Here's where to drink in Dallas right now:

Cannon's Corner Irish Pub
Oak Cliff Irish pub located in Cannon's Village, the cool Tudor-style building at 1314 W. Davis St., is a neighborhood bar for Oak Cliff with a weekday happy hour from 2-7 pm featuring $4.75 wells, $8 Irish mules, $5 red ale, and $4.50 domestic beers. There are also food specials including $7 mussels, corned beef & cabbage rolls, and Irish nachos. On Wednesdays, they have discounts on select whiskey over $12 at half price all day.

Kleo
Hotel restaurant and bar is tucked inside the Hotel Indigo in Las Colinas, which opened in December. Like the restaurant, the bar has a Mediterranean theme, in drinks such as the Mediterranean old fashioned with a Mediterranean spice cordial and cocoa bitters; the Turkish fire drill; and a Tzatziki martini with dill infused Bombay and blanc vermouth. Check them out during the bar's weekday happy hour Monday-Thursday from 2-6 pm when cocktails are half price.

Rayo
Cool little bar in Exposition Park opened across from Fair Park in mid-2024. It's from two former Portland bartenders who envisioned an offbeat yet refined bar and eatery with an extensive cocktail program. Happy hour is Tuesday-Friday from 4-6 pm and features $7 margarita, $8 slushy, $6 daily punch, $5 Modelo. They also do some respectable food; one recent menu addition is the Spit Fire slider with spicy chorizo & Wagyu, Swiss, guacamole, caramelized onions, grilled jalapeños, chili polvo, and a quail egg on brioche.

Rodeo Cold
Throwback 1970s dive and backyard bar that opened in East Dallas in late 2024 has happy hour specials Tuesday-Friday from 3-7 pm including $5 bottled and draft beer, $5 ranch water, paloma, and The Man from Waco. If you're into drinks for the table, they carry sharable drinks like The Dolly, a glittery cocktail of pink whitney vodka, peach schnapps, and pink lemonade for $45. They have specials on bites, too, including a smash burger, patty melt, and chili dogs for $6 each; stacked fries are $8.

Saint Valentine
East Dallas bar co-owned by legendary cocktail guy Gabe Sanchez (Black Swan Saloon) features a happy hour Wednesday-Sunday from 5-8 pm. Drop in on Wednesdays for $1 wings. Classic drinks including daiquiris and margaritas are $8, a dirty gin or vodka martini is $10, and the Yo Kolby! featuring High Life Pony and Fernet Blanc is $8. In terms of food, the so-called happy meal includes a black garlic burger and fries for $12.

Stan's Blue Note
Neighborhood sports bar on Greenville Avenue is one of the oldest in Dallas, first opened in 1952. It's since grown into a spot to catch a game or beer with friends, but they also have some of the cheapest drink specials in town, Monday-Friday from 4-7 pm. Mondays feature 99-cent Busch Light drafts and $2 wells, and for those with an appetite, $1 hot dogs and tacos. They also have a new late night girl's night featuring $5 wine, White Claws, and frozen espresso martinis on Saturdays starting at 10 pm.

cocktails nightlife where to drink Where to Drink