Breakfast News

California diner scrambles up breakfast all day for Dallas-Fort Worth

It's that most valuable commodity: breakfast all day.

Black Bear Diner

A California-based restaurant chain is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth, with that most valuable commodity, breakfast all day: Black Bear Diner, which serves classic, home-style comfort food, is executing a Texas expansion for 2022 that includes a location in Mesquite, at 3730 Towne Crossing Blvd.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in mid-2022.

Black Bear Diner was founded in 1995 by Bruce Dean and Bob Manley in Mt. Shasta, California. They bring home-style comfort food classics and personal service to the dining experience. The quickly growing family dining concept, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers a vast, enticing menu anchored in hearty portions and excellent value, with service rooted in genuine hospitality.

Their motto says it all: breakfast served all day, lunch that's quick and satisfying, and dinner with comfort food classics. They also have a cute little bear theme such as black bear insignias on the coffee cups.

The menu is a deliciously sprawling document. Breakfast includes pancakes, French toast, omelets, scrambles, biscuits & gravy, and benedicts. Among the notable items:

bear claws, to go with the bear theme
French toast made with cinnamon rolls
chorizo breakfast burrito
breakfast sliders with choice of hot Italian or mild Italian sausage

There's steak & eggs and also CFS & eggs, featuring a 10-ounce steak breaded & fried golden brown, with country gravy, three eggs, & two biscuits.

Lunch has classic sandwiches such as a tri-tip dip, stacked on a ciabatta hero, served with au jus; and a Reuben, with Swiss on grilled rye. There's chili made with ground beef, mild Italian sausage, and beans, yes that's right, with beans; and four bountiful entree salads.

A slew of burgers includes bacon cheddar, chili cheddar, avocado & jack cheese, and a Parmesan sourdough burger with Dijon mustard, Swiss cheese, tomato, and grilled onion on thick-cut sourdough bread grilled golden with a garlic Parmesan cheese crust.

Dinner is very home-cooking with meatloaf, pot roast, roasted turkey, chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, fish & chips, chicken pot pie, and open-faced hot turkey sandwich on white bread with turkey gravy, red-skinned potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

Desserts include cream pies, cobbler, 5-layer chocolate cake, cheesecake, bread pudding, brownie sundae, and banana split.

It all sounds very Highland Park Cafeteria-ish.

Black Bear Diner currently has nine locations in Texas, most located in the suburbs of Houston; the most recent opened in October 2021 in Brownsville.

In addition to the Mesquite location, they're also opening restaurants at the following addresses by October 2022:

San Antonio: 2707 Southeast Military Dr
Pasadena: 3497 East Sam Houston Parkway South
McAllen: 602 W Expressway 83
Fort Worth: 9501 N Fwy.
Harker Heights: 401 W Central Texas Expressway

The new diners are a combination of conversions and ground-ups and will incorporate recent design changes to better accommodate off-premise dining. Once all six locations are open, Texas will have the most Black Bear Diner locations outside of California. Yay us.

In a statement, CEO Anita Adams says that expanding their footprint in the Lone Star State is a key part of their long-term plan to continue to push eastward.

"We are pleased to introduce Black Bear Diner to new communities this year, and we look forward to serving up our delicious food and family-style dining experience to more guests," Adams says. "Our founders built Black Bear Diner as a unique space where people can gather and enjoy a delicious meal together in a relaxing and fun environment. That sense of community and connection remains a core part of who we are today and extends to our fantastic franchise owners and development partners."

openings breakfast brunch

Wine News

New Vinifera Wine Lounge and Bistro debuts on Flower Mound’s Riverwalk

Vinifera

Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro

A new wine bar and bistro has opened in Flower Mound. Called Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro, it's at 4120 River Walk Dr., in a space formerly occupied by a short-lived pizzeria, joining a string of bars overlooking the Riverwalk.

Vinifera is from Jamie Creevy, a British native who moved to Dallas in 2007, and who has worked at concepts such as Henderson Tap House and Peppersmash Concepts. At Vinifera, he's partnered with Chris Kummer, a former US Marine with experience in nightclubs and restaurants, including Chill in Grapevine.

Running the kitchen is executive chef Justin Samsill, who has worked at a wide range of high-end places including Knife, Town Hearth, The Mitchell, Smoke, and Hide. The menu has a big selection of seafood such as mussels, shrimp cocktail, squid pasta, and scallops, as well as steak au poivre, pasta bolognese, and trendy items such as steak frites and a smash burger, with entrees ranging from $19 to $35.

Vegetarian options include an unusual rendition of ratatouille, in which vegetables such as eggplant and tomato are cut into slices and arranged like a pinwheel. There are also salads and harissa carrots with Greek yogurt.

They describe the wine list as being "from all over the world", with 38 offerings by the glass. There are also cocktails.

Between the indoor dining room and outdoor space, the restaurant seats about 130 people. It shares a private event room with next door neighbor Whiskey & Smoke.

Riverwalk is the 158-acre mixed used development developed in 2017 and designed as a destination resembling the Riverwalk in San Antonio, with live music, events, and a range of eatery options including Whiskey & Smoke, Pennywise Pub, and Underdogs Burgers & Brews.

“We are looking to be creative and pivot to keep the area fresh," Creevy says. “People are looking for live music, value, free events, we want to entertain the residents and the community at an inexpensive rate."

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