Food Hall News

Plano's Legacy food hall throws chowder and lobster stand overboard

Sea Breeze is known for its lobster rolls.

Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill

There's another casualty at Legacy Hall, the food hall in Plano, this time seafood: After two years serving lobster rolls and clam chowder, Sea Breeze Lobsta & Chowda House will close on Sunday, March 15.

According to a release, owner Rick Oruch was asked to close by the owners of Legacy Hall.

"We've loved our time at Legacy Food Hall, and will miss seeing those guests," Oruch says. "It appears the hall owners would like to go another way. We're happy, though, that we can continue to serve all the favorites from Legacy Hall at Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill, where we’ve been serving fantastic fresh fish for over a decade."

Oruch, who'd worked as a purveyor in the seafood market in Dallas since the '90s, opened Sea Breeze in Plano's LakeSide Market at Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway in 2007.

Capitalizing on the booming lobster roll trend, he created the food hall outlet as a more casual spinoff; it opened for the food hall's debut in late 2017.

Legacy Hall has seen its share of comings and goings, some quietly, some not so much.

A Legacy Hall spokesperson said that the hall would replace Sea Breeze "with a concept they feel is better with the evolution of the hall in general." Hopefully one where the name doesn't take a word that ends with "er" and turn it into an "a."

Sea Breeze Lobsta & Chowda House will make the most of its remaining time by serving Lenten specials on Fridays, beginning on February 28 and continuing until March 13. It'll be Fish Fridays, just like they do in the Northeast, with fish & chips for $14.

The release says that staffers have been offered positions at Sea Breeze and they're seeking alternative locations where they can re-open Sea Breeze Lobsta & Chowda House.

closings

Stir Fry News

Mom-and-pop Asian chain from Austin makes Dallas debut in McKinney

Fire Bowl

A small Asian chain from Austin has entered the Dallas market: Called Fire Bowl Cafe, it's a small chain that has opened its first DFW location in McKinney, at 4060 W. University Dr. #300, in a new shopping center west of US-75.

Fire Bowl Cafe was founded by husband-and-wife Gigi Lee and Daniel Pao in 1996 with a focus on customizable bowls prepared in sizzling woks. They have four locations in Austin and one in Colorado.

Bringing the concept to McKinney is Dallas-based hospitality group DLC Restaurant Holdings (Firo Pizza, Craft Pies Pizza, Desperados), according to a release.

“We are thrilled to bring Fire Bowl Café to McKinney and introduce our unique dining experience to the wonderful community here,” says CEO Mike Daniel in a statement. “Our mission is to ensure that every customer leaves satisfied and happy, and we can’t wait to share our passion for fresh, customizable Asian cuisine with our new neighbors in North Texas."

To give it local flavor, they've partnered with Julian Rodarte, who co-founded Beto & Son, the Mexican restaurant at Trinity Groves in west Dallas, and also served as Trinity Groves' CEO. He was briefly executive chef at COSM at Grandscape and is currently culinary director for Dee Lincoln Concepts.

The menu has a Pei-Wei vibe, featuring a mashup of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, with favorites like edamame, spring rolls, crab rangoon, pad Thai, pot stickers, and lettuce wraps.

There are noodle and rice bowls, topped with vegetables and choice of protein; and a make-it-your-way stir-fry where you choose from proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, tossed in a wok with vegetables, then combine it with your choice of "carb" — noodles, brown or white rice — and a wide selection of sauces, from teriyaki to spicy peanut to classic Chinese.

Prices are $12-$14. They do not currently serve alcohol, but have plans for it at a future date.

openings