• Home
  • popular
  • Events
  • Submit New Event
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • News
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Home + Design
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Innovation
  • Sports
  • Charity Guide
  • children
  • education
  • health
  • veterans
  • SOCIAL SERVICES
  • ARTS + CULTURE
  • animals
  • lgbtq
  • New Charity
  • Series
  • Delivery Limited
  • DTX Giveaway 2012
  • DTX Ski Magic
  • dtx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Your Home in the Sky
  • DTX Best of 2013
  • DTX Trailblazers
  • Tastemakers Dallas 2017
  • Healthy Perspectives
  • Neighborhood Eats 2015
  • The Art of Making Whiskey
  • DTX International Film Festival
  • DTX Tatum Brown
  • Tastemaker Awards 2016 Dallas
  • DTX McCurley 2014
  • DTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • DTX Beyond presents Party Perfect
  • DTX Texas Health Resources
  • DART 2018
  • Alexan Central
  • State Fair 2018
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Zatar
  • CityLine
  • Vision Veritas
  • Okay to Say
  • Hearts on the Trinity
  • DFW Auto Show 2015
  • Northpark 50
  • Anteks Curated
  • Red Bull Cliff Diving
  • Maggie Louise Confections Dallas
  • Gaia
  • Red Bull Global Rally Cross
  • NorthPark Holiday 2015
  • Ethan's View Dallas
  • DTX City Centre 2013
  • Galleria Dallas
  • Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Homes in Dallas Texas
  • DTX Island Time
  • Simpson Property Group SkyHouse
  • DIFFA
  • Lotus Shop
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Dallas
  • Clothes Circuit
  • DTX Tastemakers 2014
  • Elite Dental
  • Elan City Lights
  • Dallas Charity Guide
  • DTX Music Scene 2013
  • One Arts Party at the Plaza
  • J.R. Ewing
  • AMLI Design District Vibrant Living
  • Crest at Oak Park
  • Braun Enterprises Dallas
  • NorthPark
  • Victory Park
  • DTX Common Desk
  • DTX Osborne Advisors
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • DFW Showcase Tour of Homes
  • DTX Neighborhood Eats
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • DTX Auto Awards
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2017
  • Nasher Store
  • Guardian of The Glenlivet
  • Zyn22
  • Dallas Rx
  • Yellow Rose Gala
  • Opendoor
  • DTX Sun and Ski
  • Crow Collection
  • DTX Tastes of the Season
  • Skye of Turtle Creek Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival
  • DTX Charity Challenge
  • DTX Culture Motive
  • DTX Good Eats 2012
  • DTX_15Winks
  • St. Bernard Sports
  • Jose
  • DTX SMU 2014
  • DTX Up to Speed
  • st bernard
  • Ardan West Village
  • DTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Taste the Difference
  • Parktoberfest 2016
  • Bob's Steak and Chop House
  • DTX Smart Luxury
  • DTX Earth Day
  • DTX_Gaylord_Promoted_Series
  • IIDA Lavish
  • Huffhines Art Trails 2017
  • Red Bull Flying Bach Dallas
  • Y+A Real Estate
  • Beauty Basics
  • DTX Pet of the Week
  • Long Cove
  • Charity Challenge 2014
  • Legacy West
  • Wildflower
  • Stillwater Capital
  • Tulum
  • DTX Texas Traveler
  • Dallas DART
  • Soldiers' Angels
  • Alexan Riveredge
  • Ebby Halliday Realtors
  • Zephyr Gin
  • Sixty Five Hundred Scene
  • Christy Berry
  • Entertainment Destination
  • Dallas Art Fair 2015
  • St. Bernard Sports Duck Head
  • Jameson DTX
  • Alara Uptown Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival fall 2017
  • DTX Tastemakers 2015
  • Cottonwood Arts Festival
  • The Taylor
  • Decks in the Park
  • Alexan Henderson
  • Gallery at Turtle Creek
  • Omni Hotel DTX
  • Red on the Runway
  • Whole Foods Dallas 2018
  • Artizone Essential Eats
  • Galleria Dallas Runway Revue
  • State Fair 2016 Promoted
  • Trigger's Toys Ultimate Cocktail Experience
  • Dean's Texas Cuisine
  • Real Weddings Dallas
  • Real Housewives of Dallas
  • Jan Barboglio
  • Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
  • Hearts for Hounds
  • Okay to Say Dallas
  • Indochino Dallas
  • Old Forester Dallas
  • Dallas Apartment Locators
  • Dallas Summer Musicals
  • PSW Real Estate Dallas
  • Paintzen
  • DTX Dave Perry-Miller
  • DTX Reliant
  • Get in the Spirit
  • Bachendorf's
  • Holiday Wonder
  • Village on the Parkway
  • City Lifestyle
  • opportunity knox villa-o restaurant
  • Nasher Summer Sale
  • Simpson Property Group
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Dallas
  • Carlisle & Vine
  • DTX New Beginnings
  • Get in the Game
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • Dallas DanceFest
  • 2015 Dallas Stylemaker
  • Youth With Faces
  • Energy Ogre
  • DTX Renewable You
  • Galleria Dallas Decadence
  • Bella MD
  • Tractorbeam
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Fresh Start Dallas
  • Dallas Farmers Market
  • Soldier's Angels Dallas
  • Shipt
  • Elite Dental
  • Texas Restaurant Association 2017
  • State Fair 2017
  • Scottish Rite
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • DTX_Stylemakers
  • Alexan Crossings
  • Ascent Victory Park
  • Top Texans Under 30 Dallas
  • Discover Downtown Dallas
  • San Luis Resort Dallas
  • Greystar The Collection
  • FIG Finale
  • Greystar M Line Tower
  • Lincoln Motor Company
  • The Shelby
  • Jonathan Goldwater Events
  • Windrose Tower
  • Gift Guide 2016
  • State Fair of Texas 2016
  • Choctaw Dallas
  • TodayTix Dallas promoted
  • Whole Foods
  • Unbranded 2014
  • Frisco Square
  • Unbranded 2016
  • Circuit of the Americas 2018
  • The Katy
  • Snap Kitchen
  • Partners Card
  • Omni Hotels Dallas
  • Landmark on Lovers
  • Harwood Herd
  • Galveston.com Dallas
  • Holiday Happenings Dallas 2018
  • TenantBase
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2018
  • Hawkins-Welwood Homes
  • The Inner Circle Dallas
  • Eating in Season Dallas
  • ATTPAC Behind the Curtain
  • TodayTix Dallas
  • The Alexan
  • Toyota Music Factory
  • Nosh Box Eatery
  • Wildflower 2018
  • Society Style Dallas 2018
  • Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 2018
  • 5 Mockingbird
  • 4110 Fairmount
  • Visit Taos
  • Allegro Addison
  • Dallas Tastemakers 2018
  • The Village apartments
  • City of Burleson Dallas

    Uptown News

    Cafe Express hits reset with new Dallas owners and interactive brunch

    Teresa Gubbins
    Jan 17, 2018 | 3:14 pm
    Cafe Express salad
    Cafe Express is reopening its location in Uptown Dallas.
    Photo courtesy of Cafe Express

    A Dallas location of Cafe Express celebrates its grand re-opening in January as a new-and-improved restaurant that not only replaces the torn-down original, but also gives local diners a first look at the fast-casual chain's new rebranding efforts.

    The restaurant is on the ground floor of the M Line Tower, a new 20-story residential building in Dallas' Uptown District. The location was formerly a free-standing Cafe Express, with a parking lot and grotto-like patio that sprawled across a city block. But with all the infill happening in Dallas' core, the restaurant was razed in 2016, with a promise to regulars that it would return.

    The new Cafe Express boasts a host of features including digital menu boards, an updated layout designed to improve navigation and traffic flow, and a refreshed decor with new colors and seating.

    They're also relocating the famed Oasis Table, where diners can help themselves to embellishments such as imported olives and breadsticks. A signature element since the chain was founded in 1984, it always sat in the center of the restaurant like some shrine of freebie excess. Now it sits more discreetly, and more logically, to the side of the ordering counter.

    According to president and CEO George Hailey, the Uptown location represents a new direction for the chain. "This will serve as the prototype for our other locations as we begin rebranding those restaurants," he says.

    On the rebound
    Cafe Express is on the rebound, with a new owner in M. Terry Enterprises, who rescued the chain from some dark days. Its headquarters have been moved from Houston to Dallas, from which it operates 15 locations in Dallas, Houston, and Austin.

    The company was founded by Houston chef Robert del Grande and restaurateur (and CultureMap co-founder) Lonnie Schiller, and was an early fast-casual concept at a time when fast-casual was still new. Over the years, it changed hands twice: Wendy's bought the concept, and it was then acquired by Houston real estate company Redstone.

    Hailey and COO Bobby Jaramillo both joined the company in 2017, with a mission to renew the chain's culinary focus. The two previously worked in various management roles for Chili's and Brinker International.

    "The reason we're here is that the food is fantastic," Hailey says. "We've both been in the restaurant business our entire lives, and we've been blown away by what Cafe Express does. I think one thing that's not as well known is that the food is all from scratch, and that's amazing."

    Tightening up the menu was one of their first steps.

    "Robert's recipes still live on, there are certainly the favorites we've had all along, but the menu itself was a little klunky, and we've made it easier to navigate," Hailey says. "We've added some dishes such as the shrimp skewer, and we have a few vegan and vegetarian items that are clearly marked. We'd like to add a 'healthy' section to help people find items like our salmon."

    Jaramillo has also spearheaded new programs in two key food groups: coffee and craft beer.

    "We've sourced some great organic and fair trade coffee, and have baristas on staff who can make any of the espresso drinks you'd find at a coffeehouse," he says. "As for the beer, our level of dedication includes running three of our taps on nitrogen. We're pouring a red velvet stout from San Diego brewer Ballast Point that's exceptionally creamy."

    Their wine list ranges from Napa Valley reds to Italian Pinot Grigio to rosé from Spain, and every one of their wines is available by the glass. It's a generous 8-ounce pour, which they're emphasizing via upgraded wine glasses with a nice big bowl.

    Make your own mimosa
    One area that's about to be expanded is brunch, an increasingly important meal, and not just in brunch-loving Uptown.

    "We've already introduced a fun mimosa program where you make your own," Jaramillo says. "For $8.50, you get orange juice and a 20-ounce liter of champagne, and get to mix it yourself, which customers enjoy."

    The digital menu board allows them to add new items and see what succeeds. One recent hit is another interactive dish: their "deconstructed" tortilla soup, in which a bowl of rich ruddy broth comes with a plate of customizable additions such as guacamole, chopped red onion, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, and tortilla chips.

    They've also done some behind-the-scenes tinkering on their ordering system to make sure to-go orders go out fast and right.

    Uptown will serve as a kind of test for other locations, as well.

    "We'd eventually like to remodel all of our restaurants, although some are going to require a little bit of love," Hailey says. "We're definitely going to make our restaurants more inviting, and give each a look that fits its neighborhood."

    openingsuptown
    news/restaurants-bars
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

    Steak & Ale News

    Local opening of Dallas chain Steak and Ale gets derailed

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 16, 2025 | 5:27 pm
    Steak and Ale
    Steak and Ale
    Steak and Ale

    The long-in-the-works return of Steak and Ale in Dallas is being shelved for now: The casual steakhouse chain which in its heyday had nearly 300 locations is no longer opening a location it planned for in Grand Prairie.

    According to a May 11 post from company owner Paul Mangiamele, the restaurant is definitely now a no-go.

    "After years of very hard and exhausting work for making the Grand Prairie side by side S&A and Bennigan’s happen, the rug has been yanked out from under us," Mangiamele said in his post.

    Often referred to as a pioneer in casual dining, Steak and Ale debuted in 1966, offering an affordable steakhouse experience with rustic Tudor design that included wooden beams and stained glass. In addition to steak and a signature salad bar, the menu featured then-fancy items such as steak Oscar, baby back ribs, and Hawaiian chicken with pineapple teriyaki sauce.

    The chain remained a buzzy destination throughout the '70s and '80s, but by 2008, the parent company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the remaining locations closed.

    In 2023, businessman Paul Mangiamele, chairman and CEO of Legendary Restaurant Brands (which includes Monte Cristo sandwich purveyor Bennigan’s and Bennigan’s On The Fly, which he has also revived), launched a long-held plan to revive the Steak and Ale concept that included opening a new Steak and Ale in Burnsville, Minnesota, as well as partnering with a franchisee to open a location in Grand Prairie, side-by-side with a Bennigan's.

    The Minnesota location opened in August 2024, but Grand Prairie will not be so lucky, and according to Mangiamele, it's due to the shenanigans of the franchisee.

    "For years, we were being told by the developer and owner of the land how he was going to be our franchise partner," Mangiamele says. "He shared with me numerous times how he grew up with the brands and wanted to do his part in honoring Norman Brinker and would be a proud franchise owner. Well, after he finally (3 years later) received his money for selling some of his land, instead of being our franchise partner, he changed his tune, and wanted to instead, sell his land to us!!"

    According to Mangiamele, not only did the franchisee try to sell back the land, he tried to make a profit.

    "Our special deal was a ‘discounted’ price per foot on the land we’d need," Mangiamele says. "After a few due diligence calls, the discounted ’deal’ price was 20% higher than the comparable prices in the same area!! Simply unbelievable!"

    Mangiamele says they are still talking to other interested parties in the greater DFW area and should have more news soon.

    closings
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...