Italian Eats
Houston's vets open exciting Italian restaurant at luxe Dallas center
Dallas' sad Italian-restaurant scene has an exciting newcomer in the works: Il Bracco, an Italian-inspired restaurant from a team with deep experience in the Houston's/Hillstone group, slated to open in the spring.
Located at 8416 Preston Center Plaza, in a former bedding store called Iron Bed, Il Bracco will offer a fresh take on classic Italian dishes with everything made from scratch, including breads, pastas, and sauces. Fresh fish will be delivered daily and all proteins will be butchered on-site.
A release notes that Il Bracco comes with an impressive pedigree, representing 25 years of experience on the part of CEO Robert Quick and COO Matt Gottlieb.
Quick graduated from SMU where he played football, before following his true passion and attending the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California.
He worked for Thomas Keller as a chef de partie at Ad Hoc and Bouchon, before working as kitchen manager for Hillstone Restaurant Group (Houston's).
He was president and co-owner of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, which he helped grow from 30th largest national pizza chain to 19th under his 5 years of leadership.
He and his wife moved back to Dallas in 2018, where he founded his company Western Addition. Il Bracco is the first concept to open in this portfolio. The official name is il Bracco with a small "il" but CultureMap frowns on special type treatments, even if they are technically accurate. Il it is.
Gottlieb was a 10+ year general manager with Hillstone Restaurant Group, with experience at nine locations nationally. He's been in the Dallas market for the last eight years, running Hillstone, R+D Kitchen, and Houston's, and has thus become a familiar personality.
The 3,200-square-foot restaurant will seat 74 in its dining room, plus 18 seats at the full-service bar, and another 46 on the patio.
A full-service outdoor experience will be home to large umbrellas fortified with hedges to offer an intimate, relaxed dining experience.
The design of the interior pulls from different time periods and uses luxury neutrals such as wood, brass, terrazzo, and leather to create a sophisticated setting.
Il Bracco's wine list will mix Italian varietals and approachable New World wines, allowing guests to explore Italy or stick with a bottle of their favorite domestic.
Signature cocktails will be a take on classics with an Italian twist and made to complement the food.
"The Plaza at Preston Center is a development full of rich history and is a cornerstone of well-positioned dining and shopping in the Park Cities and Dallas. We are thrilled to be surrounded by a great community and so many excellent businesses," Quick says.
