Greenville Avenue
Clubby new restaurant-bar nabs Blind Butcher space on Dallas' Greenville Ave
After months in the works, there's a new tenant ready to open in the former Blind Butcher space at 1919 Greenville Ave. Called Alamo Club, it's an upscale neighborhood restaurant and bar serving American classics in what a release describes as an old-school comfortable setting.
The restaurant has been sneak-peeking meals but will officially open on February 20, and will open for dinner only, with weekend brunch added in a few weeks.
Alamo Club is from restaurant veteran Austin Rodgers, who has worked at Nick & Sam's and with Nick Badovinus' Flavor Hook restaurant group (Neighborhood Services, Town Hearth, Offsite Kitchen). This is his first place of his own.
In a statement, Rodgers says that Alamo Club "is a place where everybody will know your name." Hmm, that sounds so familiar, like it's a slogan for a TV show or something.
As for the menu, Rodgers describes it as "simple with comfort food done well that guests know and want to eat." Much preferable to food that you're unfamiliar with and are forced to choke down.
Appetizers include Nancy's Pink Dip — wait, that does not sound familiar — ceviche, steak tartare, tuna crudo, beet salad, and "club wedge."
Entrees include a fish option such as seared snapper with Anson Mills rice polenta, carrot vichy, and pan jus; house-made pastrami sandwich with fontina, caramelized onions, kraut, and Dijon; Prime NY strip steak and pasta; and "club spaghetti" with cherry tomato sauce, what's with the club, is everything club here.
The bar program focuses on cocktails using minimal ingredients, with riffs on classics such as a barrel-aged old fashioned with Sagamore Rye, sugar, and black walnut bitter; and a Badovinus-esque drink called Not Tonight Mike with light and dark rum, citrus, orange, passion fruit, grenadine, and Myers float.
The wine program offers 50 selections of both Old- and New-World wines, priced well so guests can participate in a number of differing options.
Bar Manager is Kyle Buckelew, who has been bartending in Dallas for more than 12 years most recently at Los Almas Rotas and Cedars Social. His beverage menu is "cocktail forward" with something for everyone including hurricanes, martinis, and gin and tonics.
Chef is Kyle Newberry, so many Kyles, who spent the last 15 years traveling around the country seeking experience in Italian and Asian cuisines. Most recently, he was at Enotecas and Vespaio in Austin. His methodology to the menu at the Alamo Club: "approachable classics with a twist made with love and attention to detail." His must try items: a 10-ounce prime NY strip sandwich, and the roast bird and the fries with aioli.
The shotgun space has been beautifully done with a renovated patio, dark woods inside, and an eye-catching tile entryway with "Alamo Club" in gleaming brass letters. Definitely some dough dropped here. There's cozy seating, a community high top table, and a bar.
Rodgers, who is a young 33, says he's "excited to be opening on Lowest Greenville, taking special care of the locals who live nearby. We want Alamo Club to be their home away from home."