Opening News

Seafood restaurant with incredible patio opens at Grand Prairie marina

That is some patio.

Photo courtesy of Blue Sunshine

A location with one of the best patios in Dallas-Fort Worth is now home to a new restaurant: Called Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill, it's a seafood-driven restaurant opening in Grand Prairie at 5700 Lake Ridge Pkwy. off Texas 360, in the space that was previously The Oasis at Joe Pool Lake.

The restaurant was acquired as part of a purchase of Lynn Creek Marina by Dallas-based Suntex, which owns and operates marina properties in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Blue Sunshine is the name of a marina restaurant in Sarasota, Florida also owned by Suntex.

Joe Pool Lake is 7,500-acre flood control lake built and operated by the Army Corp of Engineers. The lake was filled in 1989 and is always kept 100 percent full. Lynn Creek Marina was built and began operations on July 13, 1990. It has been expanded twice, with 528 wet slips capable of accommodating vessels up to 50 feet, and 116 dry storage stacks for boats up to 28 feet.

The marina also has a rental boat fleet, fishing pier, gasoline dock, boat ramp, and boat service center.

The property was previously owned by Don Walker, who told the Fort Worth Star Telegram that "the Walkers are hanging it up. We’re going to retire. After 75 years doing business in Grand Prairie and 31 at Lynn Creek Marina, it’s been a great ride."

The restaurant, which seats 450, was added in 1992. It's a floating restaurant and bar with one of the greatest views of the lake and the surrounding area.

The new menu leans heavy on seafood with starts that include oysters, fried alligator, seafood-stuffed alligators, nachos, mahi tacos, shrimp cocktail, wings, and fried pickles. It's not exactly cheap - fried pickles are $8 and nachos are $14.

There are salads including a Caesar, wedge, and Cobb; and sandwiches and burgers including a "works" burger with bacon, American cheese, & mushrooms, fish sandwich, Reuben, Louisiana po’boy.

Entrees include catfish, fried shrimp, mahi-mahi crusted in potato, fish & chips with hush puppies and slaw, black Angus ribeye, chicken-fried steak, and chicken-fried chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, and Texas toast

Other changes the the facility include renaming the Big Kahuna excursion boat, now called The Wave. It can hold 97 passengers and is equipped with slides, coolers, layout chairs, a Bluetooth stereo system, and BBQ grill which the captain and deck hands operate. A golf driving range located adjacent to the marina will be renamed the Lynn Creek Driving Range.

Fun fact: Suntex is owned by Bryan Redmond, husband of Brandi Redmond of Real Housewives of Dallas fame.

"We are excited to take over a staple on Joe Pool Lake in the heart of the southern Dallas suburbs,” says Suntex Marinas VP Michael Warntjes. "We anticipate infusing some immediate capital to improve the amenities and security for guests, while focusing on long-term development of the entire property. We are confident that Lynn Creek will be an excellent reflection of the Suntex experience when completed."

openings

Red letter opening

Dallas bar veterans open Italian speakeasy-restaurant in Denton

Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Exposed stone walls and a backlit glowing bar anchor the subterranean space at Red: Italian.

A new speakeasy lounge serving high-end Italian food has arrived at a cool historic building in Denton. Called Red: Italian, the subterranean restaurant opened in the basement of Ruby Rodeo, a bar and live music venue located at 122 N. Locust St. on Denton Square.

The concept comes from Victor García and Mike Church. García spent years at Truth & Alibi — the popular speakeasy lounge disguised behind the faux storefront of the Deep Ellum Candy Company — before acquiring the same space for Scarlett Lounge and Kitchen in Deep Ellum in 2024. Church, a commercial pilot, trained at The Culinary School in Fort Worth and the Ritz-Carlton to refine his passion for cooking.

The business partners say they fell in love with the historic nature of the 1877 building in Denton, which housed Andy’s Bar for 30 years.

“We have always loved the building — it is the oldest building on the square. We saw the vision and loved the aesthetics for both our Ruby Rodeo and Red: Italian concepts,” Church says.

After opening Ruby Rodeo, the duo launched Red: Italian this month. Church notes that the "red" naming convention across their concepts — Scarlett, Ruby, and now Red — nods to his favorite color, a symbol of passion, and the red wines and tomato sauces central to Italian dining.

Church’s passion for Italian cuisine defined the menu, which he created alongside executive chef Denise Gabrielle, his former culinary school instructor. Gabrielle brings decades of hospitality experience from the Westin Hotels, The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and most recently, The Taste Project in Fort Worth and Arlington.

The 58-seat underground space — which includes 10 seats at the bar — serves elevated Italian classics. Entrees range from $25 to $40, with menu highlights including:

Spicy sausage lasagna with arrabbiata sauce
Cacio e pepe bucatini
Chicken piccata
Braised lamb leg
Mediterranean Sea bass
Shrimp diablo
Espresso-crusted filet mignon with Italian seasoning

Appetizers are priced under $15 and include house-made fried mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, grilled artichokes, bruschetta, meatballs, and flatbreads. The kitchen also serves salads, featuring a classic Caesar and a house chopped salad with nine toppings.

Shrimp diablo served over pasta with toasted slices of bread at Red: Italian.Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Desserts feature house-made panna cotta, ricotta-amaretto Italian cheesecake topped with drunken cherry sauce, and a table-side bananas Foster served with house-made amaretto gelato.

The bar program leans into Italian flavors with options like an Italian margarita made with house limoncello, tequila, amaretto, and simple syrup, alongside a peach Bellini and a smoky Godfather. The wine list spotlights Italian bottles and a selection of Napa Valley options.

“The place has the perfect intimate, upscale, fun Italian wine and food ambience,” Church says.

While entering Red doesn't require a password, it still has an off-the-beaten-path entry that is characteristic of speakeasies. Social media posts direct patrons to "look for the red awning" adjacent to Ruby Rodeo’s black awning. A set of red stairs leads guests downstairs to a door with a small sign reading "Red:".

To preserve the speakeasy atmosphere, cell phone use is discouraged. The space also features subtle Easter eggs for guests to discover, such as conversation starters tucked beneath the napkins.

Following a sold-out opening weekend, Red: Italian is now open, with an official ribbon cutting planned for September (exact date to be announced).

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 5-10 pm, with last seating at 9 pm to wrap up dinner service before Ruby Rodeo’s live music starts upstairs at 10:30 pm.

speakeasy italian restaurant denton